2023 May

 

O My Soul, Praise the Lord

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/1/23

 

O my soul, praise the Lord,

For all the Lord has done.

For the Lord has been good to me,

Granting me redemption.

 

O my soul, praise the Lord,

For my soul has been blessed.

Each day now and forevermore,

Granting eternal rest.

 

O my soul, praise the Lord,

May the Lord's name be praised.

I'll join the heavenly chorus when,

From death my soul is raised.

 

Jesus Loves the Little Children (new verses)

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/1/23

 

Jesus loves the little children,

All the children of the world,

Whether evangelicals,

Or progressive liberals,

Jesus loves the little children of the world.

 

Jesus loves the little children,

All the children of the world,

Lesbian or gay or straight,

Jesus loves and does not hate.

Jesus loves the little children of the world.

 

Jesus Is the Way

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/2/23

 

Sometimes in life we all are lost,

And what more can I say,

Upon the cross Christ paid the cost,

For Jesus is the way.

 

If you don't know which way to turn,

Or what to do today,

From Jesus teachings we may learn,

For Jesus is the way.

 

When doors close with no way to go,

Turn to the Lord and pray.

Watch! God will open a window,

For Jesus is the way.

 

We Come before the Lord

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/4/23

 

We come before the Lord and bring,

Our offerings and tithes.

We worship as we pray and sing,

And pledge to God our lives.

 

We celebrate all God has done,

Because God loves us so.

God's loves poured out on everyone,

That in love we might grow.

 

Love God with heart, soul, strength, and mind.

May God's love in you grow.

And so love all of humankind,

That God's love they all might know.

 

Lord Almighty, Just Who Am I

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/6/23

 

Lord Almighty, just who am I,

That you would love me so?

That on the cross for me you'd die,

That your love I might know.

 

You number the hairs on my head,

And care about me so.

By your holy word I am fed,

That your love I might know.

 

You have given so much to me,

That I have been blessed so,

That by your grace, so may it be,

Bet your love I might know.

 

There Are Those Times (Ezekiel 37)

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/7/23

 

There are those times we are half dead,

Our weary bones seem dry.

Like in the valley bones were spread,

In Ezekiel’s mind’s eye.

 

But God commanded they should live,

To come to life again.

And to the prophet God would give,

For the people, a sign.

 

Soon the Holy Spirit would blow,

A new-life-giving breath.

Revived the people then would know,

New life overcomes death.

 

Hear what the prophet says today,

To those who feel half dead,

God's not done with us, there's a way.

New life is just ahead.

 

Here in the Quiet of Daybreak

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/8/23

 

Here in the quiet of daybreak,

To this new day I now awake.

Help me to see what I may do,

Thy will be done, by me for you.

 

As the sun rises in the sky,

Help me your name to glorify.

By each task that I undertake,

May I do well, all for your sake.

 

As evening comes at end of day,

I come before you and I pray.

Thanking you for each job well done,

For you have helped me with each one.

 

As night falls may your peace descend,

Upon another good day's end.

All I have done I’ve done for you,

Now grant me rest the whole night through.

 

Lord Jesus, Let Me Follow You

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/9/23

 

Lord Jesus, let me follow you,

And learn the things that you do too.

Let me faithfully always serve,

And worship you as you deserve.

 

Lord Jesus, let me follow through,

With all the things I pledge to do.

Help me to help my neighbors too,

That through my actions they see you.

 

Lord Jesus, give to me your strength,

That I might go to any length.

Shine upon me your loving grace,

That I might see your holy face.

 

Lord Jesus, when my time is come,

And all my work on earth is done,

At the end of this life's story,

Welcome me into your glory.

 

Open Our Hearts, O Lord, Today

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/11/23

 

Open our hearts, O Lord, today,

And with open hearts, let us pray.

Pour out your love down upon us,

This we pray in the name of Jesus.

 

Open our hearts to feel your love,

Raining down from heaven above.

From Jesus help us all to learn,

How to love others in return.

 

Open our hearts to love your flock,

And to walk your walk and talk your talk.

May your love show in all we do,

By loving our neighbors through and through.

 

Open our hearts this is our prayer,

As you have taught us, let us share,

Your love with those who are around us,

All for the sake of the Lord Jesus.

 

O Lord, Open Our Hardened Hearts

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/11/23

 

O Lord, open our hardened hearts,

By your love and your forgiveness,

That we in turn each do our parts,

And likewise our neighbors bless.

 

O Lord, open our stubborn minds,

That we might fully understand,

Your will for all of humankind.

May we obey your great command.

 

O Lord, open our rigid doors.

Send us out and set us free,

That into the world your church pours,

Your love for humanity.

 

Lord, There Are Times We’re at a Loss

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/12/23

 

Lord, there are times we're at a loss.

We don't know where to go.

When doors are closed all looks hopeless,

You open a window.

 

When things seem to be at their worst,

You seem to do your best.

You call us just to put you first.

You'll help us with the rest.

 

At those times when we are overwhelmed,

And don't know what to do,

Help us to give to you the helm,

Trusting you'll guide us through.

 

When we look back on our story,

Upon those bleakest days,

May we give you all the glory,

The honor and the praise.

 

Come before God in Humble Prayer

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/13/23

 

Come before God in humble prayer,

Sharing your wants and needs.

You will be blessed by the Lord's care,

Follow as the Lord leads.

 

Come before God in humble prayer,

Seeking to do God's will.

May God reveal a need right there,

You can help to fulfill.

 

Come before God in humble prayer,

Be open to God's lead.

God has given you a heart to share,

You can fulfill a need.

 

Come before God in humble prayer,

Let the Lord speak to you.

Go and share God's love everywhere,

By all you say and do.

 

We Have Been Blessed

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/14/23

 

We have been blessed by mothers who,

We aren't related to.

They bless us fully through and through,

By loving things they do.

 

We have been blessed by mothers who,

We have known through the years.

For each one we give thanks to you,

With laughter and with tears.

 

We have been blessed by mothers who,

Care for us lovingly,

Who sacrifice by all they do,

And do it joyfully.

 

We have been blessed by mothers who,

Often made such a fuss,

Down through the years through all they'd do,

They have been there for us.

 

We have been blessed by mothers who,

Are in heaven with you.

Watching and guiding all we do,

Until we get there too.

 

Give to the Lord Your Thanks and Praise

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/15/23

 

Give to the Lord your thanks and praise,

For all the Lord has done.

The Lord has blessed us all our days,

Since creation day one.

 

The Lord has put us on this earth,

And giving us this day.

Christ died to show us what we are worth,

Now let us live that way.

 

What might we do to thank the Lord,

For all the Lord has done,

Let us this day to work toward,

Our mission’s completion.

 

Lord God Almighty, We Come before You

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/16/23

 

Lord God almighty, we come before you,

Giving you thanks and praise for all you do.

You have created everything.

Your people celebrate with thanksgiving.

 

Lord God almighty, we lift up your name,

For as Lord Jesus to the earth you came,

Bringing from heaven your mercy and love,

For by your love everything was made of.

 

Lord God almighty, everything you give,

Blesses our lives every day that we live.

From Daybreak to the setting of the sun,

May we live fully that “thy will” will be done.

 

Open Our Minds, Lord

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/17/23

 

Open our minds, Lord, that we might receive,

Life giving words of faith we might believe.

Give us your wisdom and show us the way,

That we might follow you each and every day.

 

As we come together with praise let us sing.

Honor and glory to the Lord we bring.

For all that has been done now we sing our praise,

We will be grateful, Lord, for the rest of our days.

 

When worship is over the service begins.

We are renewed by forgiveness of sins.

Help us to rise up and exit these pews,

Empowered by Christ’s love and all Christ’s Good News.

 

Back into Heaven Jesus Did Ascend

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/18/23

 

Back into heaven Jesus did ascend,

When his time on earth did come to an end.

40 days after the resurrection,

Jesus ascended back into heaven.

 

The disciples stood there and watched him ascend,

Knowing this part of their journey did end.

But he had promised the spirit he'd send.

They praise God daily till it would descend.

 

Today lift your eyes up and look at the sky,

Watching the birds and the clouds floating by,

Imagine the disciples as they watched Jesus,

From heaven Jesus now watches over us.

 

Open Our Hearts, Lord

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/20/23

 

Open our hearts, Lord, that we might receive,

Your love and mercy that we might believe.

We are beloved because you are love,

And it is your love the whole world is made of.

 

Open our minds, Lord, that we might perceive,

Your holy word for us that we believe.

Help us be faithful and to follow you,

Your word will guide us in all that we do.

 

Open our doors, Lord, that we might conceive,

Your love for others that we might believe.

You call us to go out to all whom we greet,

And take your Good News to all people we meet.

 

Lord, There Are Those in Need

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/21/23

 

Lord, there are those in need,

and things to do indeed,

to show your love.

Help us to love like you,

in all the things we do,

that your great love shines through,

from heaven above.

 

Lord, forgive us our sins.

Your love heaven opens,

to let us in.

We turn to you in prayer,

and confessions we share.

At the cross, meet us there,

the victory win.

 

Lord, there are those today,

who do not know the way.

Help us we pray.

May we share faith in you,

by all we say and do,

that your pure love shines through,

to show the way.

 

The Day of Pentecost

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/22/23

 

The Day of Pentecost,

when all the world was lost,

your Spirit came.

Bringing your power and love,

down from heaven above,

in the form of a dove,

or burning flame.

 

With your eternal fire,

disciples you inspire,

to share Good News.

Rekindle in our hearts,

that we each do our parts,

that your revival starts,

within our pews.

 

Send us out to the street,

where everyone we greet,

may meet you too.

May seeds of faith be sown,

that your love may be known,

your loving grace be shown,

in all we do.

 

Send down your holy fire,

disciples to inspire,

to do your will.

As seeds of faith we sew,

inspire your church to grow,

as people come to know,

and do your will.

 

We Are Blessed by God’s Creation

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/23/23

 

We are blessed by God's creation,

Of the world and each of us.

We are blessed by God's eternal love,

And by the love of Jesus.

Refrain:

Praise the Lord of all creation,

Who is yet creating still.

Praise the Lord who created us,

To desire to do God's will.

 

All around us are God's blessings,

If we take the time to see.

There are opportunities where,

God's hands and feet we might be.

Refrain:

 

Praise the name of God Almighty,

Praise Jesus’ holy name,

And praise to the Holy Spirit,

Each unique and yet the same.

Refrain:

 

O Holy God, We Come to You

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/24/23

 

O holy God, we come to you,

With heartfelt singing and with prayer.

Reveal your will, show us what to do,

That we share your love everywhere.

 

O holy God, speak now to us,

Forgive our sins, our souls renew.

Reveal to us the love of Jesus,

That we might live that way for you.

 

O holy God, now send us out,

Inspired by you when this place we leave.

Help us help others overcome their doubt,

To come to know you and believe.

 

O Lord, We Come to Worship You

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/25/23

 

O Lord, we come to worship you.

We offer you our offering.

Your holy word our souls renew.

We lift our prayers and our praise we sing.

 

In fellowship we are made one,

With all the Saints in church today.

We are blessed when worship is done,

As we follow Christ on the Way.

 

Into the world now send us out,

To go wherever you may lead,

That your work we might be about,

Sharing your love with those in need.

 

We Sing God’s Praise

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/26/23

 

We sing God's praise for God is love.

God rains down love from heaven above.

By God's love we all are blessed,

From our birth to our heavenly rest.

 

We sing God's praise each and every day,

To God we reverently pray.

We share with God our hearts and needs,

And humbly do our works and deeds.

 

Today with joy we sing God's praise,

With thanksgiving our hymn we raise.

Sing out to God most joyfully,

For without God, we would not be.

 

We sing God's praise for creating us,

And lovingly sending Jesus.

That in his name our sins forgive,

And in his name, we'll forever live.

 

Lord, Thank You for Everything You’ve Done

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/27/23

 

Lord, thank you for everything you've done.

Through love you have made all of us.

From day one when the world was begun,

All through the Word - the Lord Jesus.

 

At your command all came to be,

Each animal on land and sea,

And all the plants and all the trees,

And all the birds and all the bees.

 

But your creation wasn't done,

Until in your image you made,

Adam and Eve in the garden,

And to be fruitful, them you bade.

 

Down through the ages unto us,

We have been blessed by your mercy.

And through the love of the Lord Jesus,

We will live for eternity.

 

Into a World Completely Lost

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/28/23

 

Into a world completely lost,

Down came the Spirit at Pentecost.

With divine power the Spirit came,

Upon each head with a tongue of flame.

 

The Spirit sent them out onto the street,

To speak to everyone that they would meet.

Overcoming the don'ts with the do’s

To everyone they shared the Good News.

 

May we now pray that it happens today,

That God empowers us to live that way,

That the Good News people might believe,

As they God's grace and mercy receive.

 

For All God Has Done

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/30/23

 

For all God has done, give thanks and praise.

Give God the glory now and always.

For all of time God's been with us.

At the right time God sent us Jesus.

 

For all God's doing, give thanks and praise.

We gather to worship our voices we raise.

When worship is o’er, we exit the pews,

Out to the world to share God's Good News.

 

For all God will do, give thanks and praise.

God will be with us the rest of our days.

We will be blessed by all that we do.

We know that God will see us through.

 

We Sing Your Praise

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/31/23

 

We sing your praise, O Great God of love.

You shower blessings from heaven above.

As we gather here at this time and place,

We give you thanks for your love and grace.

 

We hear you speak when your scripture is heard,

And by the message our souls are stirred.

Together we lift our hearts and pray,

Send us from here to live that way.

 

Out in the world and out on the street,

May we share Jesus with all whom we meet.

Help us to share our faith in you,

By all we say and all we do.