Stand Up!

Have you had a special energy drink to boost yourself? I had a few times especially when I had to be awake for nights to study. I personally do not like them at all. However, they surely helped me to be awake. I have had a thought about our Spiritul boost. How can we be ALWAYS fully empowered by the Holy Spirit? Are there any spiritual boost drinks so to say? I have found several of them for me: prayer, God’s words, and songs. I know again that they are not brand new products. However, they surely work for me to get empowered by Him.
The chancel choir will lift up an anthem with “Stand up!” on this Sunday. The song is made up of six hymns written words with “stand up”. Those hymns are one of my boost ones. My mom used to sing them in Korean with lively clappings especially when we faced difficult times. I did not understand when I was little but now I found myself doing same thing with lively clappings to get empowered. The song starts with a hymn “stand by me”: “When the world is tossing me, like a ship upon the sea, thou who rulest wind and water, stand by me.” The songs help us to assure God’s promise.
I would like to share also an encouraging word from Hebrew 4:14-16.
14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrew 4:14-16)
I pray that we all get empowered by His Holy Spirit ALWAYS because His Spirit is within us.
Let’s stand up on the promises of God!

Here is the lyric of our anthem this week. Enjoy!
When the world is tossing me, like a ship upon the sea, thou who rulest wind and water, stand by me.
Standing on the promises of Christ my King, through eternal ages let his praises ring; "Glory in the highest," I will shout and sing, standing on the promises of God, Standing on the promises, standing on the promises, standing on the promises of God, my Savior; standing on the promises, standing on the promises, O Yes, I'm stanidng on the promises of God.
I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how, o how, he could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean. How marvelous, how wonderful! and my song shall ever be; How marvelous, how wonderful is my Savior's love for me!
O~ it's me! it's me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer. It's me, it's me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer. Not my brother, not mysister, but it's me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer. Not my father, not my mother, but it's me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the Cross, lift high his royal banner, it must not suffer loss; from victory unto victory his army shall he lead, till every foe is vanquished and Christ is Lord indeed.
I'm standing on the promises, I can not fall, listening every moment to the Spirit's call, resting in my Savior as my all in all, standing on the promises of God. Standing, standing, standing on the promises of God, my Savior!
On Christ the solid Rock I stand; all other groud is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.
I am standing on the promises of God!!

Here I am Lord

This week anthem is "Here I am Lord" which is one of our favorites. It will be lifted up by both the chancel choir and the youth handbell.
Whenever I sing the song, it gives me joyful tears feeling with love of God. Especially, seeing a tragedy of Haiti, God tells us who He is really beyond all pains and sadness through the song. Even though lots of people question where God was when the earth quake happened, we need to keep our faith in Him that He is a loving Father.
I pray that Lord be glorified by this anthem on this Sunday, uses this song to comfort people's hearts with His abundant love.
Here is the lyric. Enjoy!

Refrain:
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?I have heard you calling in the night.I will go, Lord, if you lead me.I will hold your people in my heart.

1.I, who made the stars of night,I will make their darkness bright.Who will bear my light to them?Whom shall I send? I, who made the stars of night,I will make their darkness bright.Who will bear my light to them?Whom shall I send?
2.I, the Lord of snow and rain,I have borne my people’s pain.I have wept for love of them.They turn away. I will break their hearts of stone,Give them hearts for love alone.I will speak my words to them.Whom shall I send?
3. I, the Lord of wind and flame,I will send the poor and lame.I will set a feast for them.My hand will save. Finest bread I will provide,'Til their hearts be satisfied.I will give my life to them.Whom shall I send?

The River

This Sunday will be "Baptism of the Lord" Sunday to remind the baptism of Jesus, and also have a moment to renew our baptism.

The chancel choir will lift up " The River" as our anthem. Thinking about Jesus' baptism gives me a thought of humility. He is the Son of God but totally was humbled himself. This picture is the baptism of the Lord from Cathedral of our Lady of the angels in LA, California. When I went there to perform, I was inspired with this picture. It was hung right behind a baptismal water pond in the sanctuary. I am not sure whether Jesus was baptised like this picture, but could feel His wholesome of humility. I want to be deeply humble to God more than anything else.

All choirs have started rehearsals again this week. Please pray for our music ministry to grow in God to worship, and praise Him with all our best. I am very excited to observe how God will lead us in our music ministry in 2010!

Here is the text of our anthem this week.

Shall we gather at the river, where bright angel feet have trod, with its crystal tide forever flowing by the throne of God?

Yes, we will gather at the river, the beautiful, the beautiful river; gather with the saints at the river that flows by the throne of God. "Deep river, my home is over Jordan. Deep river, Lord, I want to cross over into campground.

O don't you want to go to that gospel feast, that promised land where all is peace?

O don't you want to go to that promised land, that land where all is peace?

Shall we gather at the river, the beautiful, beautiful river, gather with the saints at the river that flows by the throne of God!

Merry Christmas!

Emmanuel~ !

I wish you all have a Happy Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

I am sorry that I haven't had a chance to update much in this site. It sounds like an excuse but true that our church Internet was not good for couple of weeks. There were two services last night for Christmas Eve, and there will be a regular service on Sunday. The chancel choir will sing " Walk in the Light" as this week anthem.

I pray that everyone has had a chancel to feel and content with His deep peace and love during this wonderful season.

A festival of Lessons and Carols and beyond~!!

A Festival of Lessons and Carols will be tomorrow at 5:00 in our Sanctuary. Please come and join in adoring the Lord, Jesus with us! There will be eight different groups will play, praise, and dance to praise Him who came to us as Emmanuel!

The chancel choir will sing " Come and Adore" as our anthem tomorrow morning with a trumpet and handbells.

I pray that May the Lord be with us in our worship services, and send people to worship Him with their whole heart!

Come, and Adore Him

Come and adore Jesus the newborn King!Glory and praise let voices be raised! Praise to the newborn King! Sing gloria, sing gloria! Sing glory to God on high!

O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O Come, Let us adore Him, Chris the Lord!For He alone is worthy, for He alone is worthy, for He alone is worthy, Christ the Lord!

Sing gloria! sing gloria! Sing glory to God on high!

Waiting for a King

It is our second Advent Sunday this week.

The chancel choir will lift up "Waiting for a King" as our anthem and the youth choir will sing "Ave Verum" at 11:00 service. The anthem is a rather simple but beautiful meaningful song for Advent. Ave Verum is a well known song by Mozart. I pray that we all get to have a intimate moment with the Lord during this Advent.

Here are text of two songs.

Waiting for a king; when will he come? Waiting for a king; God's holy One.
Will the world be ready? Is His advent near? Waiting for a king when will he appear?
Waiting for a king, when will he come? Waiting for a king, God's only Son.
Will the world receive him? Will He stand alone? Waiting for a king to come and take his throne.
In the fullness of time the Prince of Peace will come, the promised Messiah, God;s chosen One. For those who are righteous, hope will be restore.
Their eyes will be opened, eyes will be opened, eyes will be opened,
they will know the Lord.
Waiting for a king, ruling in might. Waiting for a king to shine in our night.
Will the world be ready? When he comes to stay?
Waiting for a king; will this be the day?

Ave verum corpus, natum de Maria Virgine,
vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine,
cuius latus perforatum fluxit aqua et sanguine:
esto nobis praegustatum in mortis examine.
O Iesu dulcis, O Iesu pie, O Iesu, fili Mariae. Miserere mei. Amen.

Hail, true Body, born of the Virgin Mary, truly suffered, sacrificed on the cross for humankind,
whose pierced side flowed with water and blood:
May it be for us a foretaste [of the Heavenly banquet] in the trial of death.
Oh dear Jesus, Oh merciful Jesus, Oh Jesus, son of Mary,
have mercy on me. Amen.

Emmanuel!

Wishing you all have a blessed Thanksiving this week!

This coming Sunday is first Advent Sunday. It is such a blessed time to think about Jesus who came to us as "Emmanuel", His salvation, God's grace toward us, and to have a heart for also coming Jesus again.

Our chancel choir will lift up "Born to set Thy people free" as our anthem, and I will lift up " We shall behold Him". Praying that we all worship Him with our desire and thirst for presence of God in truth and heart.

Here is the lyric of two songs. May the Lord bless you all with His Holy Spirit!

Born to set Thy people Free

O Come, o come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until our God appears.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
Come, Thou long expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free; from our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in Thee. Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art; dear Desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver, born a child a yet a king, born reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring. By Thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by Thine all sufficient merit raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Come, Thou long expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free.

We shall behold Him

1. The sky shall unfold preparing His entrance. The starts will applaud Him with thunders of praise. The sweet light of His eyes shall enhance those awaiting, and we shall behold Him then face to face.

refrain: We shall behold Him, we shall behold Him. Face to face in all of His glory. We shall behold Him, we shall behold Him, face to face our Savior and Lord.

2. The angel shall sound the shout of His coming. The sleeping will rise from their slumbering place; and those who remain shall be changed in a moment, and we shall behold Him then face to face.