NeuroDivine

Across the hills of heathered gold

1
Across the hills of heathered gold,
Your gathered ones stand strong;
You call us, Lord, as saints of old,
To lift one steadfast song.
Like rivers threading ancient stone,
Your mercy winds its way,
And binds us in the love You’ve shown,
A people shaped to pray.

2
In quiet glens where shadows rest,
Your peace is soft and near;
You guard the weary and distressed,
And chase away our fear.
As Brigid’s flame once warmed the night,
Your Spirit lights our days;
Like hawthorn bright in springtime light,
You teach our hearts Your praise.

3
With Phoebe, bearer of the Word,
A servant strong and wise,
And Prisca, teacher undeterred,
Whose witness never dies;
With Junia, an apostle named,
Long hidden, now restored,
We walk with women unashamed
Who served and loved the Lord.

4
With Mary, tireless in her care,
And Persis, brave and true;
With Tryphosa and Tryphaena fair,
Whose labour shone anew.
As wild swans cross the silver lake
And dusk lights bog and briar,
Their names rise like the prayers we make,
Bright sparks of holy fire.

5
With Julia, gentle in her grace,
And Nereus’ sister too;
With households held in God’s embrace
Where quiet faith grew through.
As meadowsweet by lough and stream
Gleams pale in summer’s air,
Their steadfast love through ages’ dream
Still calls us into prayer.

6
With brothers, sisters, friends of old—
Urbanus, Stachys, Rufus dear;
And Rufus’ mother, strong and bold,
A shelter drawing near.
As curlews cry above the reeds
And ash trees guard the lane,
We join their ancient, faithful deeds
In Christ’s enduring reign.

7
To You, the God who strengthens still,
Be glory without end;
Your grace outpours on every hill,
Our shelter and our friend.
Through Christ, the mystery now revealed,
Your saving love we see;
All heaven’s promises unsealed—
Forever praised are You to be.

Hymn information 

First line: Across the hills of heathered gold
Text: Michael McFarland Campbell
Metre: DCM
Theme: Romans 16, Women in Ministry

Reflection

Romans 16 is often read quickly, as though it were only a list of names at the end of a letter. Yet it is one of the most revealing passages in the New Testament. In greeting the believers in Rome, Paul quietly opens a window onto the living network of the early church. Among those he honours are many women whose ministry was vital to the life of the gospel.

He begins with Phoebe, a deacon of the church at Cenchreae and likely the bearer of the letter itself. Then come Prisca, a teacher and co-worker in Christ; Junia, whom Paul calls “prominent among the apostles”; Mary, Tryphaena, Tryphosa, Persis, Julia, and others whose labour in the Lord he remembers with gratitude. These are not passing mentions. Paul speaks of their work, their courage, their leadership, and their partnership in the mission of Christ.

Reading Romans 16 from Ireland, I imagine these names carried on a landscape of quiet faithfulness. Their witness feels like rivers threading through ancient stone, unseen yet shaping the land. Like hawthorn in spring or curlews calling across the bog, their presence is woven into the life of the community even when history forgets their stories.

The chapter reminds us that the church has always been sustained by a wide fellowship of disciples—women and men whose service, teaching, hospitality, and endurance make the gospel visible in the world. Paul does not treat them as footnotes but as fellow workers in Christ.

In that sense, Romans 16 is less a list than a map of grace. It shows us a church alive with friendship, courage, and shared mission—like a landscape where many streams flow together, all reflecting the light of Christ.

Copyright

© Michael McFarland Campbell. 2026. 
Permission granted for local church or parish use with attribution. Not for commercial reproduction.