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This Sunday, our opening hymn is O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing, written by Charles Wesley.
Wesley rote this hymn on the year anniversary of the renewal of his Christian faith. According to Wikipedia, (one of the founts of knowledge on the internet), he was suffering from a bout of pleurisy in May of 1738, and he was plagued by extreme doubts about his faith. One day he was attended by a group of Christians who offered him testimony and basic care, and was deeply affected by this. (All of you caregivers out there, take note: your efforts are never in vain and can have far-reaching impacts on those who receive your care...)
One year after this renewal, Wesley was compelled to write a hymn of 18 stanzas... our hymnal retains 5 of those (short) stanzas, and we'll sing all 5 of those (really short stanzas) in worship this Sunday.
O for a thousand tongues to sing
my dear Redeemer's praise,
The glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of God's grace!
The name of Jesus charms our fears,
and bids our sorrows cease,
Sings music in the sinner's ears,
brings life, and health, and peace.
Christ speaks, and listening to his voice
new life the dead receive;
The mournful waken to rejoice;
the poor in heart believe.
My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
the honors of thy name.
To God all glory, praise, and love
be now and ever given
By saints below and saints above,
the church in earth and heaven.
What, you may ask, was in the other stanzas that didn't make it into our current hymnal? You'll have to click here and go to Wikipedia to find out!!
Now, speaking of the caregiving topic, come to worship this Sunday (in-person, online, or drive-in) to hear about how we can care for one another in the church! It all starts with a loaded two verses of scripture:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God.
-2 Corinthians 1:3-4
I look forward to seeing you Sunday!!
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