Philip Doddridge’s hymn Hark The Glad Sound, The Saviour Comes is well matched with Thomas Hawel’s tune RICHMOND, which hymnary describes as ‘florid’, but which I’ve always liked singing.
Again, there seem to be numerous versions of the lyrics and verse selections in circulation.
This an assured rendition of choir, congregation, instruments, and organ.
The power of the promises kept through Jesus are such that God’s people live as if the fullness were at hand even when only the promise is present.
For those unable to join us at MGPC, the service will be live-streamed.
The video is available at our website and youtube channel.
Song: Broken Vessels
Welcome:
Call to Worship
Song: What A Beautiful Name
Prayer Of Confession
Song: On Jordan’s Banks the Baptist’s Cry
Affirming our Faith
Song: Now To The King Of Heaven
Bible Reading: Acts 20: 1-16 – Paul traverses the region of Asia Minor, visiting numerous churches, including a memorable encounter with someone who fell asleep during one of Paul’s talks.
Bible Memorisation: James 5:13
Song: O Little Town Of Bethlehem
Bible Reading: Hebrews 11:1-40
Sermon: A Better Faith
Announcements:
Pastoral Prayer:
Closing Blessing
Song: God Is For Us
I know a few folk who are having some bad days.
Time will tell if they’re the worst days of their lives.
I would hope they’d be spared too many that are worse.
This poem from Connor Gwin resonates with their experience.
Sit down (or fall down). Anywhere will do.
Wherever you are, stop. Breathe. Cry.
There is no quick fix or easy path,
no way out but through, so sit.
Take these words (or don’t). Take nothing
but that which holds or calms or joins this pit
you find yourself in. Here, in this place,
even good news can ring untrue.
No matter what you do it won’t undo
the moments and movements that led to this.
So sit and pray, but not artfully, beautifully.
Let your words fall apart with you.
Shattered, tear-soaked prayers like those
from dirt or cross or grief green garden.
Jesus won’t make this better, not if better means go away.
He will cry with you. I will cry with you too.
He does and I do and the grace of this day might only be
shared tears and good food and the silence that follows why.
The over-under on your suffering is impossible to know.
I cannot say it will all be okay. Tomorrow
may only be the second worst day;
But that is tomorrow (of course) and this is today.
So sit or crumble or pray and take these words (or don’t).
Toss them up like glitter or else throw them away.
Remember O Thou Man seems to have a number of variations of lyrics, along with any number of verses and settings floating around.
Have a search on the internet and you’ll see.
Nathan Clark George and Mark Stoffel provide an acoustic folk setting that I prefer to some of the more elaborate renditions available, even if the number of verses is somewhat abbreviated.
mgpcpastor's blog 