Ash Wednesday God, Your Love is Everlasting BEACH SPRING 8.7.8.7 D (“God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending”) God, your love is everlasting and your grace is ever-near, Yet our worship and our fasting aren’t enough to please you here. We love songs and prayers and preaching, yet, O Lord, we must confess That our actions aren’t in keeping with our talk of righteousness. Even on this day of worship, many hurt and we don’t see. While we bask in food and friendship, others long for dignity. Lord, we love to get a bargain, but the waitress where we eat Can’t afford to feed her children, as her wage won’t make ends meet. Some are cheated as they labor to produce the things we buy; We don’t see our hurting neighbor, just what labor can supply. We don’t see the cost of violence; we don’t challenge and resist. Lord, forgive us when our silence towers like a wicked fist. God of mercy, how you love us! May we seek to live your way. May we welcome in the homeless; may we … [Read more...]

Good Friday Simon Peter Stood There Waiting BEACH SPRING 8.7.8.7.D (“God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending”) Simon Peter stood there waiting, listening, wondering what to do. Soon a woman asked the question, “Are you with him? Is it true?” “No, I’m not!” said Peter to her. He just sought to slip away. What would we have done? We wonder. And would we say “yes” today? Now we see in our own nation, Christ, you’re here— a refugee. You face mass incarceration. You are longing to be free. In the streets, alone, you cower. In the war zone, Lord, you cry. Are we with you in that hour when your dreams begin to die? Lord, we’re sorry we reject you when the risk is hard to bear. When you need us to protect you, when we leave you standing there. Lord, we’re sorry when we see you and we don’t know what to say— When we claim we do not know you and we simply turn away. Biblical Reference: John 18:1-19:42 Tune: The Sacred Harp, 1844 Text: Copyright © 2018 by Carolyn Winfrey … [Read more...]

Maundy Thursday In This Room, a Towel and Basin GALILEE 8.7.8.7 (“Jesus Calls Us”) In this room, a towel and basin Stand as gifts we don’t deserve. Christ, you humbly knelt to use them; Showing us the way to serve. On a table, set for dinner Are your gifts of wine and bread. Christ, you give to every sinner Food and love, till all are fed. From you, Lord, we hear a teaching: “Now I give a new command. Love as I have loved, out-reaching! Then the world will understand!” Basin, supper, word and witness— Then a cross— revealed your Way. May we put our faith in practice, Humbly serving you each day. Biblical Reference: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17; 31b-35 Tune: William H. Jude, 1887 Text: Copyright © 2018 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved. Click here to return to the hymn order page … [Read more...]

Palm Sunday Sing of Hope! Pass It On! Our King Comes to His Throne! PERSONENT HODIE 6.6.6.6.6 WITH REFRAIN (“On This Day Earth Shall Ring”) Sing of hope! Pass it on! Our King comes to his throne! Where is he? See him yet? On a donkey riding; What is he conspiring? Will he go…go…go… overthrow…throw…throw…? Will he set us all free? Hail! Hosanna! Save us! Yet he comes not in might, with no horse, with no fight, Who is he? See him yet? On a beast of burden, Bearing peace for certain! Riding low… low… low… will he go…go…go…? Will he be lifted high? Hail! Hosanna! Save us! Christ our Lord, hear our prayer… May we see what you bear… All the pain of the earth… On a donkey riding… on a cross a-dying… May your peace… peace… peace… now increase… crease.. crease. through the church that you call Hail! Hosanna! Send us! Biblical Reference: Mark 11:1–11; John 12:12–16 Tune: Piae Cantiones, 1582. Text: Copyright © 2018 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights … [Read more...]

Fifth Sunday in Lent Every Seed That Grows Toward Glory RATHBUN 8.7.8.7 “In the Cross of Christ I Glory”) Every seed that grows toward glory First is buried in the ground. So, our Lord, you told this story, Showing us where hope is found. You once told the path you’d travel— How you would be glorified; Hope would seem to come unraveled When you took your cross and died. Yet you promised resurrection; Love wins out! New hope is born! You who faced the world’s rejection, Lead us into Easter morn. Biblical Reference: John 12:20–33 Tune: Ithamar Conkey, 1851 Text: Copyright © 2018 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved. Email: [email protected] New Hymns: www.carolynshymns.com Click here to return to the hymn order page … [Read more...]

Fourth Sunday in Lent Remember God is Gracious AURELIA 7.6.7.6.D (“The Church’s One Foundation”) Remember God is gracious, and know what God has done! God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son. Now all those who believe him, who trust in Jesus Christ, Can know they will not perish; they’ll have eternal life. God did not send us Jesus in judgment— to condemn; He sent him as a promise, so we’d be saved through him. Our Savior came to free us— not just for heaven’s joy But here, where so much need is, where sin seeks to destroy. Your love, Lord, leads us outward to love the world you freed— To care for your creation, to help all those in need; We welcome in the stranger for we were strangers, too. O God, we pray for courage to love the world with you. Biblical Reference: John 3:14-21 Tune: Samuel Sebastian Wesley, 1864 Text: Copyright © 2018 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved. Click here to return to the hymn order page … [Read more...]