2025 March

 

When We Confess Our Sins

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 3/3/2025

(Tune: Dennis UMH 557)

 

When we confess our sins,

And temptations resist,

Our journey to Easter begins,

As we journey with Christ.

 

We let go and let God,

Guide us on the path through.

Discern as on the way we trod,

What we for Christ may do.

 

What’s done in forty days,

Might be a prelude for,

How for Christ we might live always,

Now and forevermore.

 

In a World Torn by Strife

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 3/4/2025

(Tune: Dennis UMH 557)

 

In a world torn by strife,

We come before the Lord,

Who offers us eternal life,

And a heavenly reward.

 

As we await that day,

We have much work to do.

Do all you can and to God pray,

That God will see us through.

 

Others need us today,

To help them in their need.

May we assist them on the way,

By some much-needed deed.

 

In the Worst of the Worst Times

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 3/5/2025

(Tune: Dennis UMH 557)

 

In the worst of the worst times,

Without reasons nor rhymes,

When all is gripped by dread and fear,

It is then that God draws near.

 

Do not fear. Do not moan.

You're never left alone.

The Lord will go to any length,

To give you hope and strength.

 

Seek the Lord every day,

Face your fears, come what may.

In comparison you feel small,

But God rules over all.

 

This may be new for us,

But it's not for Jesus.

Throughout history God's been there,

When needed anywhere.

 

For All the Lord Has Done

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 3/7/2025

(Tune: Dennis UMH 557)

 

For all the Lord has done,

To God we sing our praise.

From the beginning, on day one,

God's been with us always.

 

God has asked us to act,

In loving, caring ways.

That all we do for God, in fact,

Might give God all the praise.

 

When our job here is done,

And we are all called home.

We'll stand before the Holy One,

In heavenly Shalom.

 

On Those Worst of All Days

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 3/8/2025

(Tune: Dennis UMH 557)

 

On those worst of all days,

When we are down and out,

God's strength lifts us up and always,

Overcomes fear and doubt.

 

On each of our best days,

We make dear memories.

We sing to God our thanks and praise,

For treasured days like these.

 

And old days in between,

We serve the Lord with care.

Through all we do, God's love is seen,

Indeed, our faith we share.

 

The Lord Has Given Us

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 3/11/2025

(Tune: Dennis UMH 557)

 

The Lord has given us,

The world to take care of,

And so, in the name of Jesus,

We share God's care and love.

 

We repent of our sin,

For in this we have failed.

We commit to begin again,

And not to be derailed.

 

Lord, you are overall,

In faith help us restart.

The things we do both large and small,

Help us to do our part.

 

We’ve Got the Care of Creation

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 3/12/2025

(Tune: He’s Got the Whole World)

 

We’ve got the care of creation in our hands,

We’ve got the care of creation in our hands,

We’ve got the care of creation in our hands,

Creation Care is in our hands.

 

We’ve harmed the whole of creation by our hands,

We’ve harmed the whole of creation by our hands,

We’ve harmed the whole of creation by our hands,

We’ve harmed the whole world by our hands.

 

With God we all can do better hand in hand,

With God we all can do better hand in hand,

With God we all can do better hand in hand,

We can do better hand in hand.

 

There’s a world of destruction on our hands,

There’s a world of destruction on our hands,

There’s a world of destruction on our hands,

The world’s destruction is on our hands.

 

Let there be restoration by our hands,

Let there be restoration by our hands,

Let there be restoration by our hands,

Restoration is in our hands.

 

We’ve got the care of creation in our hands,

We’ve got the care of creation in our hands,

We’ve got the care of creation in our hands,

Creation Care is in our hands.

 

We Contemplate the Mystery

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 3/14/2025

(Tune: St Agnes UMH 561)

 

We contemplate the mystery,

Of the life of Jesus,

From both ends of eternity,

And what it means for us.

 

In the beginning Christ was there,

When creation began.

The Word was spoken everywhere,

And then those things happened.

 

And then upon one fateful night,

God gave the world a sign,

And was born Jesus the Light,

And a star did shine.

 

At the end of his earthly life,

On a cross Jesus died.

After three days he arose alive,

Upon deaths other side.

 

When he arose up to heaven,

Followers did believe,

Someday we'd be with him again.

New life we will receive.

 

Each Day a Moment Comes Along

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 3/15/2025

(Tune: St Agnes UMH 561)

 

Each day a moment comes along,

With potential for change,

Leading a way that's right or wrong,

Familiar or strange.

 

It might be a slippery slope,

Or a steep climbing hill.

We might be dangling by a rope,

But God is with us still.

 

So be prepared to face this day,

Whatever it presents.

Ready to face it, come what may,

Walk in the Lord's presence.

 

God of Creation

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 3/17/2025

(Tune: National Hymn UMH 567)

 

God of creation, hear us as we sing.

With contrite hearts our confessions we bring.

As stewards we have surely been the worst.

Help us restore things like they were at first.

 

Help us to see the harm that we have done,

And with your help, that things can be undone.

Your world has been defiled by our own hands,

We've polluted your air, your seas, your lands.

 

Grant us conviction, be it so resolved:

Grant us wisdom that problems can be solved.

May we now see creation reverently,

That the outcomes now turn out differently.

 

Grant us your grace that we might try once more,

That the world's wounds we might fully restore.

Grant us the strength to fully do your will,

That stewardship of this your world fulfill.

 

We Lift Our Voices

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 3/18/2025

(Tune: National Hymn UMH 567)

 

We lift our voices, God, to you in praise.

We lift our prayers, to you petitions raise.

Hear our confessions of all of our sins,

That through forgiveness new life now begins.

 

We worship you together in this place,

And go to serve all others by your grace.

We bring to you our offerings and tithes,

That through your church your Good News will change lives.

 

Grant that we see what you would have us see.

Help us to be all that you'd have us be.

Unite your church that we might live for you,

And share your love by all we say and do.

 

Throughout the Day

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 3/19/2025

(Tune: National Hymn UMH 567)

 

Throughout the day, come to the Lord and pray.

With inner ears, hear what the Lord does say.

You might perceive your call and then believe.

You might receive a need you can relieve.

 

Then might we be what God needs us to be,

With eyes to see what God reveals clearly.

God gives us might to then do what is right,

With God's insight to relieve someone's plight.

 

Come Before God Today

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 3/20/2025

(Tune: Italian Hymn UMH 568)

 

Come before God today.

Come before God and pray,

Your heart restore.

Come before God in prayer,

Everything you can share,

For you, the Lord does care,

Forever more.

 

Come before God today.

Come before God and pray,

Your heart restore.

Command to God confess.

Share with God every mess.

God will forgive and bless,

Forever more.

 

Come before God today.

Come before God and pray,

Your heart restore.

Come and lift other’s needs.

Listen to where God leads,

Leading to holy deeds,

Forever more.

 

Sing Praises to the Lord

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 3/21/2025

(Tune: Italian Hymn UMH 568)

 

Sing praises to the Lord,

That the Lord be adored.

Let us proclaim,

As we praise God today,

May God hear what we say,

As we honestly pray,

In Jesus’ name.

 

Sing praises to the Lord,

That the Lord be adored,

By how we live.

Our faith comes shining through,

The things we say and do.

Our testimony’s true,

And freely given.

 

Creator of All Creation

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 3/25/2025

(Tune: St Peter UMH 549)

 

Creator of all creation,

We call upon your name.

Hear our most humble confession,

We offer in our shame.

 

All that you have made in glory,

We have defiled by greed.

For this we are truly sorry.

And for your mercy plead.

 

God, please give us another chance,

To do what you decreed.

That we find a truer balance,

And with your help succeed.

 

Give us resolve to follow through,

By your benevolence.

There are things that we each can do,

To make a difference.

 

O Lord God Almighty

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 3/26/2025

(Tune: St Gertrude UMH 575)

 

O Lord God almighty,

We come before you,

Giving thanks and praises,

For all that you do.

We lift our prayers to you,

Knowing that you hear,

And we sing our praises,

As we gather here.

Chorus:

O Lord God almighty,

We come before you,

Giving thanks and praises,

For all that you do.

 

O Lord God almighty,

Heroes as we pray.

To glorify your name,

We've gathered today.

Down throughout the ages,

Your people have sung,

Praising you in every,

Language and tongue.

Chorus:

 

Onward Christian Marchers

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 3/26/2025

(Tune: St Gertrude UMH 575)

 

Onward Christian marchers,

Marching up the street,

Protesting injustice,

Tyranny defeat.

Concentrated power,

In a single hand,

Cannot be permitted,

In freedom's homeland.

Chorus:

Onward Christian marchers,

Marching up the street,

Protesting injustice,

Tyranny defeat.

 

We Come Before the Lord

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 3/28/2025

(Tune: Festal Song UMH 576)

 

We come before the Lord,

And give our thanks and praise.

We offer prayers and confessions,

And ask for the Lord's grace.

 

We listen to the word,

As the scriptures are read.

Receiving love and forgiveness,

We take the cup and bread.

 

We share an offering.

We hear a message preached.

A benediction sends us out,

That others might be reached.

 

Rise Up, People of God

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 3/29/2025

(Tune: Festal Song UMH 576)

 

Rise up, people of God,

Enter into God's gates,

With honor, praise, and thanksgiving,

As God's kindom awaits.

 

Our faith has been tempted.

Our journey has been long.

We've met each trial and each test.

Right has overcome wrong.

 

We'll come before the Lord,

When these days are no more.

We'll be judged by the love we've shared,

Now and forevermore.

 

Lift Up Your Hearts

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 3/30/2025

(Tune: Festal Song UMH 576)

 

Lift up your hearts in prayer,

And let your voice resound.

Come seek the Lord God everywhere.

In prayer the Lord is found.

 

This is the day God's made,

Let us rejoice and sing.

We've been set free, our debt Christ paid.

To God all praises bring.

 

God calls us to believe,

To believe and not doubt.

To spread God's love that all receive,

God calls us to go out.

 

Rise Up, People of God

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 3/31/2025

(Tune: Festal Song UMH 576)

 

Rise up, people of God.

Protest things that aren't right.

When things are wrong they can't go on.

Resist with all your might.

 

There are wrongs we have done.

All sins let us confess.

God grant us grace, and let us face,

And do what we profess.

 

When people are oppressed,

This simply should not be.

Justice is not just for just us,

But all humanity.