This weekend and beyond

The chancel choir annual retreat will be held on this Friday and Saturday at our church. There will be three rehearsals, meals, a lecture, and games. We will have time to glimpse with a number of songs which can cover until next Spring. On Friday night, we start at 6:00 for our dinner, 7:15 for our first rehearsal. On Saturday, the breakfast will be served at 7:30.

It is exciting that we will have our time together for a weekend.

Our choirs have started rehearsals last week. I was very thankful that there were a few new members in each choirs: three for the children's choir, two for the adult handbells, two for the youth handbells, one for the chancel choir, two for the youth ensemble, two for the youth choir.

Please keep our music ministries in your prayer. I would like to focus more in true worshipping the Lord.

May the Lord bless our music ministries that we worship the Lord with our hearts, mind, and spirits and share our gifts to others to remind God's love.

Music for Sat. & Sunday

The chancel choir will sing at Matt Freeman's funeral on Sat. We will meet at 9:30 for a rehearsal. Please be early and ready. We will sing several songs; "In Christ alone", Lord of the dance, and Eternal Father(navy hymn).

On this Sunday, we lift up "Many gifts, One Spirit" as our anthem. There will be "Ministry Fair" at 10:00 this Sunday in the Gill. It is a very lovely song with great text.

Many gifts, one spirit, many songs, one voice. Many reasons, one promise, many questions, one choice. O God, we pray for unity, give guidance from above. In our differences unite us in the circle of Your love. O God, remind us we are not alone. Though we move on different path ways, we are walking to Your throne. Help us learn to love each other, show us ways to understand. We are members of one family, growing strong by joining hands. Take our many ways of working, blend the colors of each soul into the beauty of a rainbow, give us life, Lord, make us whole.

changed plan

We will lift up something other than And the Father will dance. We will lift the song on 23rd of this month instead. One of our church member's son got killed in Afghanistan yesterday and many people have been sad deeply. Even though I didn't have time to get to know the family well, we are still a family in God. I don't want to sing and dance with our grief. I know that we can celebrate his brave life but still it is time to pray and embrace each other with God's love and comfort. We will meet a little bit earlier than usual so, please come earlier than 8:20 tomorrow morning.

May the Lord give His comfort and peace to the Freeman family and friends.

And the Father will dance

Our schools start on this Friday. All students start a new semester. I would like share a joyful song as our anthem as remembering God's love toward us. The song is based on Zephaniah 3:14, 17 and Psalm 34:2, 4. Those verses are truly encouraging for all of us. Our Father will be rejoicing over us with singing and dancing. How amazing His love is! Let's praise the Lord with the song!

And the Father will dance over you in joy~! He will take delight in whom He loves. Is that a choir I hear singing the praises of God? No, the Lord God Himself is exulting over you in song! And He will joy over you in song; and He will joy over you in song!

My soul will make its boast in God, For He has answered all my cries. His faithfulness to me is as sure as the dawn of a new day.

Awake, my soul! Awake, my soul! Awake, my soul! and Sing!!Let my spirit rejoice in God!

Sing, O daughter of Zion, with all of your heart! Cast away fear for you have been restored! Put on the garment of praise as on a festival day. Join with the Father in glorious, jubilant song. And He will joy over you in song!

VBS and this Sunday

Our VBS has been wonderful. There have been more than 200 kids every day. They all have been excited to being there. While I was teaching and lifting songs with the kids, I realized that how beautiful they are! Especially, when they worship in their hearts, I could feel their faith and love toward God. As I was facing them, I blessed each of them in my heart that they will keep their faith and love in their lives and may the Lord be with them always.

On this Sunday, they will sing three songs from VBS. They already asked which songs we will sing. You will see how beautiful they are.

The Chancel choir will praise the Lord with " Seek to serve". It is a simple but a very intimate song written like a Gregorian chant. The text lays beautifully with the chanting melody. Here is the text.

May I live in the world as one who always seeks to serve. May I live as one who knows the love of God. Lord, teach me how to live and how to serve. With my ears may I hear, with my eyes may I see. With my lips may I speak. May Your word be heard through me. Thus as I live each day may love sustain the will to serve. Amen, Amen.

Gloria!

The chancel choir will praise the Lord with "Gloria!" by Jay Althouse on this Sunday. Gloria is one of doxology during Mass service. However, it has been composed as a piece and performed separately. Gloria is usually very angelic and joyful, praising music. I pray that we all praise the Lord when our choir lift the song on this Sunday.

Gloria, Gloria, Gloria in excelsis Deo. (Glory be to God on high)

We sing out this song to all people on earth. We sing out this song of good cheer. We sing with one heart and with one solemn voice. We sing so all people may hear.

Let us now rejoice with a song in our heart. In music our voices we riase. Let us now consider that life here on earth is ever deservicng of praise, of praise.

Gloria, Gloria, Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Psalm 86

The anthem of this week will be Psalm 86 by Carl J. Nygard, Jr. As we know, it has prayer and praise by David. I pray that we all praise and pray to the Lord with this beautiful music in the worship service on Sunday. Here is the text.

Hear my voice, o Lord, when I pray.
Hear my prayer when I cry from the lowly place;
in your mercy, Lord, let me stay; hear my voice, o Lord, when I pray.

Hear my voice, o Lord, when I cry;
Hear my words when I call from the lowly place; I will pray, O Lord, lest I die:
hear my voice, o Lord, When I cry.
From the grave's descent You have taken me, when the men of the world have forsaken me.
In my day of need and my time of grief, hear the prayer for my body and soul's relief.
In the morning , Lord, I will sing with a song that will rise from the holy place,
And my praises, Lord, it will bring: in the morning, Lord, I will sing.
Alleluia~
Amen.