Such is the Love of God

It is third Sunday of Lent. The chancel choir will lift up a beautiful song," Such is the Love of God". The children's chime will play a musical offering too. Time flies so fast that we hardly have a moment to think about God's love. I pray that we all think about how much He loves us throughout this Sunday service.

Here is the lyric of the Anthem.

Such is the Love of God

What wondrous love is this? A rushing wind, a mountain high, a forest deep, an ocean wide; beyond the thought of human mind, such is the love, the love of God. Such is the love, the love of God. The lightning flesh, the thunder roar, the pounding waves upon the shore, the quiet hush beyond the storm such is the love, the love of God. Such is the love, the love of God.

A lonely prayer, Gethsemane, a rugged cross on Calvary; God gave His son, at last I see. Such is the love, the love of God. Such is the love, the love of God. What wondrous love is this?

Once Upon A Tree

It will be our second Sunday of Lent this Sunday. The youth handbell will praise "Here I am to worship" as a call to worship and the chancel choir will lift up " Once upon a Tree". This week lectionary reading is from Gospel Mark 8:31-38. Jesus taught His disciples that He will be rejected, be killed, and rise again after three days. And told them "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."
Our anthem is basically telling the Passion of Christ as a story. I have prayed that we all be humble, deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him especially in this Lent.
Once Upon A Tree
Once upon a tree, a good man died, and though He did no crime, He was crucified. If the story ended there, I would have no song to share, but my heart will ever sing the story. Once upon a tree, so the story goes, and all its mystery surely no one knows. Could the Father's will be done through the suffering of His Son? And there comes the answer, " Once upon a tree." For God so loved the world, He gave His priceless pearl. What greater love could there be? He died, He rose again, still the story doesn't end, for His spirit is living in me. What tales of human love could there ever be told? What song could compare with the one I hold? Through everything I am and through everything I'll be, let me sing my story; " Once upon a tree. Once upon a tree."

One Cup, One Bread

Lent starts tomorrow! And this Sunday is the Holy Communion Sunday. I am looking forward to having the Communion. It is a true blessing that we can be a member of Christ's family at His table. The chancel choir will praise " One Cup, One bread" as our anthem. It is from our Lenten Cantata "At the Ninth Hour". Jesus washed our feet and served the cup and bread for us. And told us to remember Him by doing same as he did for us. Let's serve each other and share God's grace as one family. Here is the text.

One cup, one bread, one promise in the Word, he said. One hour to recall one life; one life poured out for all. Come to the table, all hearts that are dry, and drink of the Spirit he gives, for only the love of the Lamb satisfies the thirst where our loneliness lives. Come to the table, hearts that are full, rejoice with your Savior and friend. Sing of forgiveness that makes us whole, a promise of life without end. Come to the table, all you who are weak, let hearches be lightened by grace. Come to the table, you who are strong, be humbled to meet face to face.Come with your faith, come with your doubt, be healed by the same

Lift Your Light

This is our last Sunday before Lent starts also, Transfiguration Sunday.
The chancel choir will praise " Lift Your light" as our anthem. It is a very uplifting gospel type song. During Lent it seems everything become dull and foggy. So, we need more light to get through the season for sure. Jesus is the Light, light of the world and He called us as children of the light. Let's lift our light to the world especially this season.
Here is the text.
Lift Your light
Lift your light, let it shine high in the darkness; let it shine all over the world, Jesus loves you! Lift your light, light it high, high in the darkness; Jesus is the light of the world. Lift it higher. Lift your light. (x2)
Jesus is the light, light of all the world; Lift the light within you, shine it all around the world. Let it glory rise; raise it the sky; Let your light for Jesus shine! This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine! This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Breathe

Our anthem this week is " Breathe". The song is well combined with a hymn "breathe on me breath of God" and a recent composed song "Breathe". The Inspire-Ring (adult handbell choir) will praise with the chancel choir as well as the little ladies singers(the youth choir). I have prayed that everyone can breathe in Him and feel His presence.

Here is the lyrics.

Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love what e'er you love, and do what you would do.

This is the air I breathe. This is the air I breathe, you holy presence living in me. This is my daily bread, this is my daily bread, your very word spoken to me. And I, I am desperate for you, Jesus; and I, I'm lost without you, I'm lost without you. Breathe on me, Breath of God, so shall I never die, but live with you the perfect life of your eternity. And I am desperate for you, I'm lost without you.

Bless the Lord, O My Soul~!

In this Sunday, the chancel choir lift up "Bless the Lord, O My Soul" as our anthem and the children's choir will praise "Magnificat anima mea Dominum" and " I will praise you" as our musical offering. Three songs have same theme "praise". One of privilege being His children is get to praise Him freely. When we praise Him, as I believe, all our concerns and all chains will be loosen. Praise has power to untie those bindings. Let's praise the Lord!

These are lyrics of our songs.

Bless the Lord, O My Soul by Joel Raney

Bless the Lord, o my soul, let all that is within me bless God's Holy Name. Bless the Lord, o my soul; and remember God's great mercy. Bless the Lord, o my soul; let earth and sky and heaven bless God's Holy Name. Bless the Lord, o my soul; and sing God's praise for ever. Bless the Lord whose almighty power renews our strength when hope is gone. Bless the Lord, whose abounding love can take an empty hear and fill it with a song! Bless the Lord, o my soul; let all that is within me bless God's Holy Name. Bless the Lord, O my soul; and remember God's great mercy. God from whom all blessings flow and sing God's praise for ever and ever. Bless the Lord, o my soul!!

Magnificat

Magnificat, Magnificat, Magnificat anima mea Dominum.(My soul magnifies the Lord)

I will praise You.

I will praise You, O Lord with all my heart. In everything I sing I will praise You, O Lord with all my heart. In the things that I do, in the words I say, I will praise You, O Lord with all my heart. I will serve You, O Lord with all my heart. In everything I do now I will serve You, O Lord with all my heart. In the things that I do, in the words that I say I will serve You I Lord with all my heart. Lord I will sing of Your goodness and grace. Lord, I will tell Your glory. Lord, I will love You and serve You more each day with all my heart, O Lord I give You praise.

In Remembrance

This Sunday is our first Sunday of February, and we will have Holy Communion. I always grateful that we have the Communion at least once a month. It is one of blessings that we are allowed to have a bread, and wine in Christ as one His family members. Have you thought about having this communion in one huge table that we all can sit at the same time? It might become true in heaven. I remember also Jesus washing his disciples feet at the communion table. Interestingly, I could imagine the scene like truly I saw before like a movie. I have prayed that we do remember His love and compassion through the Communion, we get rid of our prejudice and own thoughts toward others and accept as one family in Christ.

Here is the text of our anthem. Let's praise the Lord.

In Remembrance of me, eat this bread. In remembrance of me, drink this wine. In remembrance of me, pray for the time when God's own will is done.

In remembrance of me, heal the sick. In remembrance of me, feed the poor. In remembrance of me, open the door and let your brother in, let him in.

Take eat, and be comforted; drink, and remember too, that this is my body and precious blood shed for you, shed for you.

In remembrance of me, search for truth. In remembrance of me, always love. In remembrance of me, don't look above,but in your heart, look in your heart, look in your heart for God.

Do this in remembrance of me.

Do you hear God's voice through the song? I do. Let's have a communion in remembrance of Jesus.