ALWAYS POINTING TO CHRIST

When in our music God is glorified,
And adoration leaves no room for pride,

It is as though the whole creation cried
Alleluia!

How often, making music, we have found
A new dimension in the world of sound,
As worship moved us to a more profound
Alleluia!

So has the Church in liturgy and song,
In faith and love, through centuries of wrong,
Borne witness to the truth in ev'ry tongue,
Alleluia!

And did not Jesus sing a psalm that night
When utmost evil strove against the Light?
Then let us sing, for whom he won the fight,
Alleluia!

Let ev'ry instrument be tuned for praise!
Let all rejoice who have a voice to raise!
And may God give us faith to sing always
Alleluia! Alleluia!

                                            Fred Pratt Green

A  Sourcebook about Music, compiled by Alan J Hommerding and Diana Kodner. 1997. Liturgy Training Publications: USA. Page 103

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Foha_fUFRQk

With thanks to Youtube

MUSIC TO HEAV'N AND HER WE OWE

Your voices tune, and raise them high,
Till they echo from the vaulted sky
the blest Cecilia's name.

Music to heav'n and her we owe,
The greatest blessing that's below;
Sound loudly then her fame!

Let's imitate her notes above,
And may this evening ever prove
Sacred to harmony, sacred to love.

                                      Newburgh Hamilton

A Sourcebook about Music, compiled by Alan J Hommerding and Diane Kodner. 1997. Liturgy Training Publications: USA. Page 52

MY BELOVED IS THE MOUNTAINS

My Beloved is the mountains,

And lonely wooded valleys,
Strange islands,
And resounding rivers,
The whistling of love-stirring breezes,

The tranquil night
At the time of the rising dawn,
Silent music,
Sounding solitude,
The supper that refreshes, and deepens love.

                                                 St John of the Cross

                                                                         Sixteenth century

LIGHT SHINING OUT OF DARKNESS

LIGHT SHINING OUT OF DARKNESS

God moves in a mysterious way,

His wonders to perform;

He plants his footsteps in the sea,

And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines

Of never failing skill

He treasures up his bright designs,

And words his sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,

The clouds ye so much dread

Are big with mercy, and shall break

In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

But turst him for his grace;

Behind a frowning providence,

He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,

Unfolding every hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste,

But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,

And scan his work in vain;

God is his own interpreter,

And he will make it plain.

William Cowper

A MORNING PRAYER

A MORNING PRAYER
God my Father believes in me
Dear God my Father, You believe in me,
You made me, I believe in You and
I believe that You are close to me.
I believe that wherever I go, You go.
I believe that You will be with
me all through this day.

God my Father trusts me.
Dear God my Father, You trust me.
You have given me many gifts, family, friends, talents. I depend on You
For everything, adn so I trust You
completely. Without You I can do
nothing.

God my Father loves me.
Dear God my Father, You have known
me and loved me from eternity.
You love me with a greater love 
than I could ever imagine.
I love You in return because You
first loved me.

Lord Jesus, my Brother, You said "Just
as I have loved you, you also
must love one another."  Let me
prove my love for Your Father and
mine by seeing and serving You in
all the people I meet today.

                Author unknown

THIS IS THE DAY GOD HATH MADE

"THIS IS THE DAY GOD HATH MADE"

Look to the day with a challenge!
 Lift your eyes to the sun,
          not the shade!
Keep your heart filled with song,
         as you travel along
For this is the day God hath made!
Look to the day with a purpose
 Of fulfilling the plans that you've had,
With a joy in your heart
      that will never depart,
For God made this day to be glad!
    Look to the day with a prayer
And a quiet request for His aid,
   And be glad all day through
      in whatever you do,
For this is the Day God hath made!
                               Author unknown
    

CONSECRATION

"I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves 

and be holy, because I am holy."

Leviticus 11:44

THE TEACHER

"You have one Teacher, the Christ."

Lord Jesus 

A GOLDEN RULE

"We should never look with contempt 

on any man for whom Christ died."

                                           William Barclay

CROSSING THE BAR

             Crossing The Bar

Sunset and evening star,

            And one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar,

            When I put out to sea.

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,

             Too full for sound and foam,

When that which drew from out the boundless sleep

              Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,

              And after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness of farewell,

               When I embark;

For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place

                The flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my Pilot face to face

                 When I have crossed the bar.

                 Alfred, Lord Tennyson

INDIAN SUMMER

Indian Summer

Along the line of smoky hills

The crimson forest stands,

And all the day the blue-jay calls

Throughout the autumn lands.

Now by the brook the maple leans

With all his glory spread,

And all the sumachs on the hills

Have turned their green to red.

Now by great marshes wrapt in mist,

Or past some river's mouth, 

Throughout the long, still autumn day

Wild birds are flying south.

Wilfred Campbell

KEEP A SENSE OF WONDER

"Keep a sense of wonder and curiosity ... a daring to risk failure ... the capability to reach out with zest and enjoyment ... the softness to care about things and people ... the eternal need to discover new things about yourself ... and the belief in a loving, understanding Creator."                                                                        Art Linkletter

Art Linkletter. Women are my favorite people. 1974. Doubleday & Company, Inc: USA. Page 161