Very Personal

We praise together while we are singing hymns and anthems. However, I have thought “praise” itself is very personal thing. We can sing together with same hymn but our hearts would reponse differently depends on each person. Also, some people like to raise their hands when they praise or some people claps. Sometimes, we just kneel down completely to express our gratefulness to the Lord. I remembered that I used to dance at my small room to praise the Lord. My dad was very worried that I was involved some kinds of strange religious group. However, I enjoyed dance to the Lord while I was praising the Lord. As we all know from the bible, David loved also dance to the Lord as well as playing a harp or singing. How about you? Do you feel shy when you praise the Lord with other people? I am honestly shy too. Like last Sunday while we were praising “Spirit of the Living God”, I really wanted to lift my two arms and hands but I was too shy to do that. I confessed to the Lord that I was thinking about what people think first. I think we should be free to express our hearts to the Lord at least during the worship. I know it is not easy but let’s try to think about Him only! He would love to see us praising Him freely.

In Christ Alone

This week, we will sing "In Christ Alone" for an anthem. As we all know, this song is very popular and many people's favorite. As I read some stories related to the song, there are many people experiencing miracles and presence of God with the song. The text is powerful as well as the melody. I pray that we all can feel God's presence through this song.
Here is the text.

In Christ alone my hope is found,He is my light, my strength, my song;this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,firm through the fiercest drought and storm.What heights of love, what depths of peace,when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!My Comforter, my All in All,here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! who took on flesh. Fullness of God in helpless babe!This gift of love and righteousness. Scorned by the ones he came to save:Till on that cross as Jesus died,The wrath of God was satisfied -For every sin on Him was laid;Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay. Light of the world by darkness slain:Then bursting forth in glorious Day Up from the grave he rose again!And as He stands in victory. Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,For I am His and He is mine -Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,This is the power of Christ in me;From life's first cry to final breath.Jesus commands my destiny.No power of hell, no scheme of man,Can ever pluck me from His hand;Till He returns or calls me home,Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

Hallelujah!!

Abide with me

This week anthem is "Abide with me", a famouse hymn arrangement.

Here is the text.

Abide with me, fast falls the eventide;
the darkness deepens: Lord, with me abide!
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
help of the helpless, O, abide with me.

I need thy presence every passing hour;
what but thy grace can foil the tempter's powers?
who like thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

Hold thou my cross before my closing eyes; shine through the gloom and point me to the skies:
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me, abide with me.

New semester, new rehesrsal schedules for the choirs

I know you all are very anxious when our choirs start. We will start rehearsals on Wed. 27th.

As usual, the youth hand bell will start at 5:00 on Wed. Please, come at 4:40 to set the tables and bells. The chimers also will start that day with Ms. Sarah at the yellow door room at 5:00 on Wed. The children's choir will be at 6:15 in the chapel!

The chancel choir's rehearsal will be 7:15 at the Sanctuary as normal. On Thursday at5:30, the adult handbell will meet at the sanctuary.

The Youth choir will meet on August 24th, 4:30 in the Sanctuary. Please bring your instruments if you play any.

I am very excited to start a new semester with all those choirs. I am already planning for Christmas music.

If you or your children are interested in joining any of the choirs, please contact me!! I am a nice person. ^^ Don't hesitate to talk about it.

Looking forward to seeing y'all soon! YEAH!

How to praise?

I will start a new Sunday school class at my office from August 24th with a book "Let us praise" by Judson Cornwell. I read when I was trained in a missionary group in Korea. The missionary group does mission through "worship and praise". Jason was there as a staff for several years but I was only for two years. I learned and experienced many things in new and variety ways. It was amazing how God works through the worship and praise service among the people. Every time before the service, there is a prayer meeting for the service for an hour. And there is a staff prayer meeting everyday for two hours. I honestly lost my voice because of the prayers and ended up couldn't sing anymore. However, God used the team to save, heal, and touch countless people through the worship. I believe that God still presents in our worship and praise especially works through the music. The music makes soften people's hearts to open to the Lord directly. Most of all, our God needs to be praised! In this book, the author tells many different ways to praise God. If you are interested in, please contact me or buy a book and come to the class on 24th between the services. Let's Praise the Lord!!

Give me Jesus,

Here is our anthem this week. I am totally agree "you can have all this world, but give me Jesus!" Let's testify it.

In the morning when I rise, in the morning when I rise, give me Jesus!

And when I am alone, and when I am alone, give me Jesus!

Give me Jesus, give me Jesus!

You can have all this world, but give me Jesus!

And when I come to die, and when I come to die, give me Jesus.

And when the trumpet sounds, when the trumpet sounds, give me Jesus!

Give me Jesus, give me Jesus!

You can have all this world, but give me JESUS!!

Let us talents and tongues employ

This Sunday is the first Sunday of August! We will have a communion service.

I have chosen Jamaican folk melody based anthem, "Let us talents and tongues employ."

Here is the text. Enjoy!

1. Let us talents and tongues employ, reaching out with a shout of joy:

bread is broken, the wine is poured, Christ is spoken and seen and heard.

Refrain:

Jesus lives again earth can breathe again pass the word around: loaves abound!

2. Christ is able to make us one, at the table he sets the tone.

Teaching people to live to bless, love in word and indeed express.

3. Jesus calls us in, sends us out. Bearing fruit in a world of doubt, gives us love to tell,

bread to share: God Immanuel every where.