Bulletin

Generally, the bulletin is updated the Friday prior to the service.

Songs for Sunday Morning Worship

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing (TH #457).  This beautiful hymn is rich in theology and is wed to a melody that serves it well.  In light of the sermon's Scripture, and the enormous work of Christ upon the cross, we sing of our loving Shepherd:  "Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God.  He, to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood".  The hymn closes in what is essentially a prayer of praise and supplication:  "O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be; let that grace now, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee.  Prone to wonder - Lord, I feel it - prone to leave the God I love:  here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above."  This hymn was written by 18^th century British pastor and hymnist Robert Robinson at the young age of 22, and is set to an American folk melody the beautifully conveys the language.

How Deep the Father's Love For Us. This is an incredibly moving contemporary hymn, Stuart Townend, co-writer of "Speak, O Lord", which we sang a few weeks ago and of well-known "The Power of the Cross".  This is, perhaps, one of the only hymns written from the perspective of considering the love of the Father and the immense cost of giving His son.  We are encouraged to remember that the gospel is not "God is Love", but "God so loved...that he gave". It leads us to reflect upon the glory Christ laid aside in coming for us.  Consider this stanza:  "How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure, that He would give His only Son, to make a wretch His treasure.  How great the pain of searing loss, the Father turns His face away, and wounds that mar the chosen One bring many sons to glory".  And, inconcluding this beautiful hymn:  "I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, nor wisdom.  But I will boast in Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection.  Why should I gain from his reward?  I cannot give an answer.  But this I know with all my heart:  his wounds have paid my ransom". It is a particularly stirring hymn, and it is hard to get through it without being incredibly moved.  "How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure, that He would give His only Son, to make a wretch His treasure.  How great the pain of searing loss, the Father turns His face away, and wounds that mar the chosen One bring many sons to glory".  And, "It was my sin that held Him there until it was accomplished, His dying breath has brought me life.  I know that it is finished."

Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted (TH #257).  The hymn was written and arranged by Thomas Kelly, and appeared in his work published in 1804 entitled Hymns On Various Passages of Scripture.  In it, we sing through the account of Christ's final hours upon the cross.  All of history turns upon this single event, and the hymn expresses that truth:  "Tell me, ye who hear Him groaning, was there ever grief like His?  Friends through fear His cause disowning, foes insulting his distress.  Many hands were raised to wound Him, none would interpose to save; but the deepest stroke that pierced Him was the stroke that Justice gave".  The hymn closes with the good news of the Gospel that "none shall ever be confounded, who on Him their hope have built".  Kelly originally had aspirations of working in the legal field.  However, he felt called into the ministry after his conversion and served as an Anglican Priest in native country of Ireland.  He was a prolific hymn writer and was known for his Christian love and benevolence in all good causes.  Musically, it is a lament at the death of Jesus with echoes of praise in every verse.  The melody is predominantly in a minor key, conveying the solemnity of the event.  However, the third line of each stanza has a major key transition and reflects the encouraging truth of the corresponding text as it applies directly to us before returning again to a minor key.  This hymn is worth reviewing ahead of the service, that it might be sung from our hearts as we prepare to receive God's Word.

When I Survey The Wondrous Cross (TH #252).  This hymn is among the most beloved of Christians since it first appeared in Isaac Watts' Hymns and Spiritual Songs in 1707.  For many, it is known by heart.  Note the thoughtful, poetic language of the text with its rich communication of profound Gospel truth:  "See from His head, His hands, His feet:  sorrow and love flow mingled down.  Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?"  As the hymn continues, and our vision of the cross becomes ever greater, we sing:  "Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small; love so amazing, so diving, demands my life, my soul, my all."  Watts wrote hundreds of hymns, many of which are still in regular use to this day ("Joy To The World" is just one example).  It is said that Charles Wesley once remarked that he would give up all of his own hymns to have written this one.  The musical setting for the version we know best was composed many years later by Lowell Mason, a 19^th century church music director (and public school music teacher) who is often referred to as the "father of American church music" for his many contributions.