Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples…
9 Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
SING A NEW SONG! This morning our church here in Brandon was still reverberating from the week-long vacation Bible-school. A record-breaking 150 kids (plus a host of volunteers) brought noise and joy and life to the campus.
So I’m not surprised that it was moments involving kids that spoke so clearly to me at Sunday’s services. First, a few of the children offered a reprise of their favorite song from the week as a call to worship. Next, Rebekah did what was probably her last Brandon baptism. Then, Sam Sutherland’s kid’s-moment encouraged the children to shine as compelling evidence of God’s love in their families and the world.
The buzz around church was palpable, and when Rebekah preached on the 5th of the Six Great Ends of the Church series, Social Righteousness, she picked up the vibrant spirit of life in the sanctuary, and folded it right into her message.
RENEWAL: I believe that worship renewed us this weekend in ways that other forms of rest and refreshment could never begin to approach. There’s something about being in the presence of God – with such deliberation and intention – that works healing to the depths of our souls. In fact, I’ll go so far as to say that I believe Christian worship feeds the soul of the hungry pilgrim in ways that it is impossible to replicate.
- There’s something about being in the presence of God – with such deliberation and intention – that works healing to the depths of our souls.
When Rebekah walked little Christian around the congregation, he reached out, touched her face, and then offered her a huge grin. Rebekah said that there is a sense in which his spirit and her’s seemed to recognize one-another, and she believes God has something very special in store for his life. But, and this is always the case, Rebekah and I genuinely believe that God has something exceptional in store for each one of us; we simply have to learn to walk more purposefully in the light, as Followers of the Jesus Way.
Just look at this baby! Look at the amazing, promise-filled testimony to life. God is so creative in the way that he speaks to me. I am so ready for another new week!
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
Bow down before him, his glory proclaim;
with gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness,
kneel and adore him: the Lord is his Name!(John Samuel Bewley Monsell, 1863)
