Category: Church

The four ‘means of grace’

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

cf Acts 2:

The Scriptures, God’s Words to hear and to read,
to keep safe from error – we grow as we ‘feed’;
rich fellowship – all those in Christ love and share,
encourage each other in faith, loving care.

The meal of remembrance we keep as He said,
remember His death with the wine and the bread:
reminder of how our salvation Christ won:
His church tells the world of what He has done.

And gather together to pray to our Lord,
He wants us to pray and to trust in His Word,
and also to pray on our own by his grace –
we’ve access through Christ to his ear and embrace.

Tune: Houghton

Where there is love and trust

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On Psalm 133
Unity and love – what blessing:
precious, fragrant, spreading far,
pure joy, and those possessing
through all hardships gladness share.
Like anointing oil from heaven
love is by the Spirit given.

Heading on towards our homeland,
Christ has set us on the Way,
made us new and looking forward
– care, help others every day.
Like anointing oil from heaven
love is by the Spirit given.

Tune: 87 87 77 or 87 87 47

Once we were not, now we are …

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Belonging to God – can it be?
His people redeemed – even me?
His ‘temple’ to show forth his praise
and teach what we’ve learnt of His ways.

Adopted, created to be
part of his close family
with fellowship, love with all those
receiving the grace He bestows.

His ‘field’ and His ‘vine’ to grow fruit,
in Him is our life-drawing root,
for rescued from darkness and night
brought into His wonderful light.

Before we were strangers unknown
unpardoned, we were not His own.
But now we’ve received mercy, grace,
been drawn to His precious embrace.
cf 1 Peter 2:9, 10

Revive your church to tell the world

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cf Psalm 67

God be merciful and bless us,
shine upon us – warmth and light:
wake us, guide us, sanctify thus
so those now in truth’s dark night
might soon know of your salvation,
all your way of mercy, grace
and then sing in jubilation,
praise arise in every place!

You are great and very holy,
daily we need mercy’s gift,
and a thirst to love you fully,
as you pardon, spirits lift;
for your presence is our greatest
blessing though you give so much –
hearts kept steady through each latest
trouble, know your strengthening touch.

When God known throughout the nations,
what Christ purchased once for all,
many finding that salvation,
as they also to him call.
May we never be forgetful,
of our debt to Jesus, Lord,
Only thus can we be useful
spreading glory to our God.
on Psalm 67

Tune: 87 87 87 87

Personal, Church, and Society

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‘We long for you and loving grace,
each morning need your strength to face
the day that lies ahead whatever
may come our way, we would endeavour
to walk with you our Help and Guide
indwelling, and there at our side,
and when encountering distress
please save us in our helplessness.

‘Oh, fill your church with righteousness,
repentance for its waywardness,
give wisdom, valuing your Word
to bow in awe before you, Lord.
What treasure ours when you we own,
but in our times so few have known
this sure foundation that they need’ –
available, his presence heed.

Tune DLM

“Oh, LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress. … he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness. He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.” Isaiah 33:2, 5b, 6

Being part of an eternal ‘building’

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“I’ll build my church: it will not fail,
the wiles of hell will not prevail.”
It will for ever stand complete,
satanic schemes will know defeat.

He’ll build it well of living stones,
each made to fit the neighbouring ones,
supporting, each one different, so
with various skills his will they’ll do.

Not just a pile of rolling stones,
a church, a body – Jesus hones,
refines, directs us, sanctifies:
we work together, praises rise.

If one believer goes it ‘lone’,
the wall is weakened where a ‘stone’
has left a hole – and those nearby
lack help on which they could rely.
Tune: LM eg ‘Church Triumphant’ by James Elliott

Matthew 16:18 Jesus said, ‘I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.’
1 Peter 2:5 ‘You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.’

No more isolation from God!

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The churches are empty, and so is the tomb!
We’re longing to worship together as one,
but still we are thrilling, and each lift our voice –
whatever may happen we know, and rejoice:

for Christ is alive and hats bought us his gift
of life everlasting that heals the great rift –
from him we no longer need keep far apart –
he took all that sin which infected our heart.

Tune: 11 11 11 11

Heart-felt ‘worship’?

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“Worship” can be worthless noise
in God’s ears; he will despise
ostentatious singing vain,
just lip-service brought again –
looks for love of righteousness
helping others in distress.

Some hope that a formal show
when to church, bored, choose to go,
hope it earns a future heaven –
sins acknowledged, sins forgiven
in Christ Jesus is the way,
loving justice, truly pray.

Many things can take my heart,
keeping me and God apart:
tune my lips to sweet aroma,
adoration of the Saviour,
justice rolling like a river,
righteousness pours forth for ever.

“I hate, I despise your religious feasts … Away with the noise of your songs … But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream” Amos 5:21,23,24

Tune: 77 77 77 eg Dix (tune of ‘As with gladness men of old’)

‘the blood of the martyrs …

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… is the seed of the church’.
Stephen stoned – he looks, he sees
risen Jesus standing there
ready to receive his friend
– Stephen peaceful and in prayer
for those angry, ignorant
– Saul would soon of this repent.

Angry, persecuting this
infant church they would destroy,
seek out, into prison cast,
scattering others – but what joy
for it’s thus this gospel’s spread
everywhere those Christians fled.

Unexpected outcome this
– not the persecutors’ plan.
Saul soon wakes up to the truth
– cannot stop what God began.
Jesus came to die for sin,
church world-wide soon honours him.

Acts 7:54-8:4 Tune: 77 77 77 eg tunes of ‘Rock of Ages’

Not Just a pleasant homily

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Poets, playwrights please their patrons,
pastors are employed to preach,
and as shepherds listen, counsel,
to each lamb explain and teach
that they may be pardoned, progress,
and eternal life possess.

Pastors may have need to chasten,
beckon back into God’s Way,
leave backsliding from the Father,
notions false that lead astray:
pastors are not paid to flatter,
but to help us know God better.

Not as followers of a patron,
ministers should truly serve
God, and those he’s drawn to love him,
truth revealed they must preserve,
not to pander to our folly,
not leave us lost and jolly.