Bless the Lord, O My Soul!

What a beautiful day! It is still little bit hot and humid, but the sky tells that it is autumn! When I drove out from the dawn service at the Korean church, I was amazed how beautiful the sunrise was this morning. I started praising God with a song"Bless the Lord who reigns with beauty; bless the Lord who reigns with wisdom and with power. Bless the Lord who reigns my life with so much love, He can make a perfect heart." I am just so thankful for our awesome Creator!

The chancel choir will bless the Lord with a joyful song "Bless the Lord, O My soul." We sang in the beginning of Feb. this year. This song is full with joy from above. We have been praying that May the Lord pour out His love and blessings in our worship. Let's praise and bless the LORD!

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!!

God of Grace

Today is October 1st already and this Sunday is our communion Sunday and it is "world communion Sunday". It is amazing to imagine that all churches in the world is having a communion on this Sunday. In one Spirit as a family in Christ, we are having all the communion!

We will praise and remind God' grace throughout the service, and the chancel choir will sing "God of grace"as the anthem. Also, the youth ensemble will praise "Blessed Assurance" at the second service. I would like to share a prayer from GBOD website for the world communion Sunday.

"Jesus prayed that we might be one.One in spirit One in mission In union and communion with each other and with You.
Today, God, we confess fumblings and failures in accomplishing unity, as we set aside yet another day to remind ourselves of the task.On this World Communion Sunday, give us eyes to recognize your reflection in the eyes of Christians everywhere. Give us a mind to accept and celebrate our differences.Give us a heart big enough to love your children everywhere.We thank you for setting a table with space enough for us all! Amen."

Here is the text of our anthem this week. May the Lord have mercy upon us and pour His spirit to us throughout the worship.

God of Grace
God of grace, amazing wonder, irresistible and free. O the miracle of mercy, Jesus reaches down to me. God of grace, I stand in wonder as my God restores my soul; His blood has paid my ransom, awesome cost to make me whole.
God of grace who loved and knew me long before the world began, sent my Savior down from heaven, perfect God and perfect man. God of grace, I trust in Jesus, I am accepted as His own; everyday new grace sustains me as I lean on Him alone.
God of grace, I stand astounded, cleansed, forgiven and secure. All my fears confounded and my hope is ever sure. God of grace, now crowned in glory where one day I’ll see Your face; and forever I’ll adore You in Your everlasting grace. And forever I ‘ll adore You, in Your everlasting grace.

Children's choir

Our children's choir will sing at 11:00 service on this Sunday with two songs. It has been a wonderful year with new kids among them, exciting that we will have a chance to share the songs at the service. Two songs have very meaningful text that make me think about my Christian life. I have prayed that people also have a chance to think about ourselves as so called christians. I also pray that the children will praise the Lord with their hearts and focus on God throughout their lives.

The chancel choir will sing " Blessed is the One" as our anthem also. May the Lord bless these music that glorify Him and use as His instruments delivering His words and love toward people.

Here are text of three songs.

With One Heart
With one heart and one voice we will glorify the Lord as we learn to gether to sing with one accord. Though each one hear is different in so many ways, we can all join together in one song of praise. With one heart and one voice come now to sing, raising one alleluiah to Christ, our King.
Lord, You have shown us Your mercy, you’ve shown us forgiveness each day. Now help us to love obe another and show the world Your spirit of Grace.

Do Unto Others
Do unto others, do unto others, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Be kind to others, be good to others, be fair to others as you would have them do unto you.
Try to be patient, and forgiving, a friend in all you say and do. God will guide you to love others as Good has shown love to you. Do unto others, do unto others, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.Be kind to others, be good to others, be fair to others as you would have then do unto you, as you would have them do unto you.

Blessed is the One

Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven. Blessed is the one whose sins are covered, the one to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity in whose spirit is no guile. You are my hiding place. You will preserve me from trouble, surrounding me with songs of deliverance.
Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven. Blessed is the one whose sins are covered,
The one in whom the Lord imputes no iniquity, in whose spirit is no guile.
You are my hiding place. You will preserve me from trouble. When mighty waters rise, they will not reach me. Blessed is the one, blessed is the one, blessed is the one, O Lord.

Psalm 47

Our Chancel choir will lift up Psalm 47 as our anthem this week and adult handbell will play two songs; Jesus loves me, & Let there peace on earth in both services.

Psalm 47 is a uplifting praise and worship poem. And a composer made the text more uplifting by using many percussion and a cappella. (no key board accompaniment)

Let's praise the Lord!!

Clap your hands, Oh shout all you people, praise the Lord for His victory. For the Lord most high is the ruler over all the land and the sea. God has triumphed over the nations, Praise the Lord and shout joyfully! Praise the Lord with sound, Sound of trumpets! Come, sing praise to God shout all people!

If we truly believe

This Sunday is the first Sunday of September, and there will be a communion. The chancel choir will lift up a communion anthem " If we truly believe". Even though it will be a long weekend of Labor day, we will lift up our hearts to the Lord in worship service.

Here is the text.

Let us come to the table of our Lord, He bids us pause and leave our troubles here. As we bow in prayer, the comfort of these words gives us strength to lay aside our fears.

Refrain: "Take and eat, this is His body, take and drink, this is His blood; Freely given for you and for me. Take and eat, this is the promise; take and drink, this is the love; This is the hope that can set our spirits free, if we truly believe."

As we rise to go in different ways, Although we all have separate lives to live, we are joined as one in communion with our Lord by this gift which He alone can give.

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.