My husband and I spend the month of February in Florida. While there, we make our church home the Miami Beach Community Church. One of the things I enjoy when attending services there is "reading" their hymnal. Isaiah 24:14 is used to introduce it:
They raise their voices, they shout for joy;
from the west they acclaim the Lord's majesty.
At the top of each page is a portion of scripture to which the hymn on that page relates. Reading the scripture while the organist plays the introduction to the hymn provides extra meaning to the text of the hymn itself - thus, increasing my experience of the musical worship portion of the service.
Following is a list of some of the hymns and linking scriptures used during our stay last winter:
Mathew 10:38
And anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Beneath the Cross of Jesus
1 Corinthians 15:25-26
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
Jesus Shall Reign
John 14:18-19
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
Because He Lives
Proverbs 4:20-22
My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body.
Faith of Our Fathers
Romans 16:27
To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen
Gloria Patri
Luke 5:11
So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Lead on, O King Eternal
Revelation 15:3
And sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb.
Holy, Holy, Holy
John 6:50
But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die.
Break Thou the Bread of Life
During a recent service at Abiding Presence, we sang the following five hymns. If you were selecting scripture to introduce these hymns, which ones would you use? If you take this challenge, please share your choices with me.
Let Us Break Bread Together;
Oh, Worship the King;
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling;
Rejoice, O Pilgrim Throng!; and
Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.
Lord, thank you for musicians and writers
who
bring so much meaning to our worship of you.
Amen
Contributed by Nancy E.
Sunday December 3, 2006
Liturgical Year C Week 1