2025 May

 

Praise God All Gathered in This Place

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 5/1/2025

(Tune: Old 100th UMH 621)

 

Praise God all gathered in this place.

Praise God, we all are blessed by grace.

Praise God through generosity.

Praise God the Holy Trinity.

 

We Celebrate this Church Still Stands

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 5/3/2025

(Tune: Old 100th UMH 621)

 

We celebrate this church still stands,

Our faiths in Christ. We are in good hands.

Down through the decades in this place,

We fought the fight, we've run the race.

 

The pastors have both come and gone,

Yet still in faith we carry on.

Through the good times and tough times too,

We've gathered here to worship you.

 

Long time ago this church was found,

On faith in Christ with doctrine sound.

In this place down through the years,

We have shared both laughter and tears.

 

O God of Love, Mercy, and Grace

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 5/6/2025

(Tune: Gift of Love UMH 643)

 

O God of love, mercy, and grace,

Forgive our sins each one erase.

Give us today a renewed heart,

That each of us might do our part.

 

You've given gifts to each of us,

For us to use all four Jesus,

To spread Good News both here and there,

To everyone, everywhere.

 

As we go forth out from this place,

You set the course. You set the pace.

Revealed to us what we might do.

Help us obey and follow you.

 

God, Hear Our Prayer

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 5/9/2025

(Tune: Gift of Love UMH 643)

 

God, hear our prayer we ask of you,

And help us hear what you say too.

This holy time we set apart.

May this time be our heart-to-heart.

 

For deep upon our hearts and souls,

Our lowest depths, our highest goals,

Hear each of these we lay on you.

Forgive our sins. Make all things new.

 

As followers with renewed strength,

Help us to go to any length,

That we might do all that you ask,

A mighty deed or humble task.

 

Here in a World So Filled with Sin

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 5/10/2025

(Tune: Gift of Love UMH 643)

 

Here in a world so filled with sin,

We do not know where to begin.

Guide us, O Lord, how we might do,

A do-over, Lord, all for you.

 

Jesus came down to show us how,

Remind us what we might do now.

Here in this time and in this place,

May it be done today by grace.

 

For there are hurts, and there are needs,

In need of love and loving deeds,

Done by your people everywhere,

Offering tender, loving care.

 

Rejoice and Sing the Lord Is Good

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 5/13/2025

(Tune: Gift of Love UMH 643)

 

Rejoice and sing the Lord is good.

We praise God's name just as we should.

For all God's done we offer praise,

And serve the Lord all of our days.

 

Rejoice in the Lord. Dwell in joy,

And for the Lord all gifts employ.

For God has gifted each of us,

That we might use them for Jesus.

 

In all you do and all you say,

What difference might you make today?

Share with others your love and care,

As you've been blessed with others share.

 

In the Midst of Life Jesus Is Near

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 5/14/2025

(Tune: Gift of Love UMH 643)

 

In the midst of life Jesus is near.

In the midst of strife the Lord is near.

In all our dramas Jesus is near.

In all our traumas the Lord is near.

 

In our pain and grief Jesus is near.

In our disbelief the Lord is near.

In our guilt and shame Jesus is near.

In times we are blamed the Lord is near.

 

In My Times of Meditation

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 5/15/2025

(Tune: Amazing Grace UMH 378)

 

In my times of meditation,

Hear me, Lord, as I pray.

In our holy conversation,

Hear all I have to say.

 

Let me also listen to you,

Your wisdom to receive.

Guide me in what all I can do,

Your vision to perceive.

 

Call to my mind things undone still,

That I might do today.

Grant me the strength to do your will.

All this to you I pray.

 

In the Depths

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 5/19/2025

(Tune: Amazing Grace UMH 378)

 

In the depths of my very soul,

I focus all on me.

I wish from God to take control,

Desiring to be free.

 

I'm just like the prodigal son,

Going out his own way.

Just like that I falsely reason,

I can have my own say.

 

I'll discover what that son learned,

My way is not the best.

The greener grass for which I yearned,

Was no better than the rest.

 

Today We Sing

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 5/20/25

(Tune: Amazing Grace UMH 378)

 

Today we sing and praise God for,

Those who’ve gone before us.

Our heartfelt praise to God we pour,

In the name of Jesus.

 

Back across a lengthy time span,

So many years ago.

Here in this place this church began,

Our debt to saints we owe.

 

People here have both come and gone,

Each having left their mark.

And this church faithfully lives on,

A beacon in the dark.

 

To God we give thanks to what was,

And all that we might do.

We celebrate all that God does,

To make this old church new.

 

To God Alone We Sing Our Praise

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 5/25/2025

(Tune: Gift of Love UMH 643)

 

To God alone we sing our praise.

We worship God now and always.

We hear the word, it's life lessons,

And lift our prayers and confessions.

 

To God alone we turn in fear,

For God alone we'll draw us near.

To God alone we shout and cheer,

For God is with us now and here.

 

To God alone in faith we pledge,

To go beyond protection’s hedge.

Guided beyond the status quo,

Venturing forth, in faith we go.

 

After Easter for Forty Days

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 5/29/2025

(Tune: Gift of Love UMH 643)

 

After Easter for forty days,

Christ related in many ways,

With the disciples he had led,

Then before them, he ascended.

 

Did it happen in Galilee,

Or in Zion’s vicinity?

We read stories to glean the facts,

In the gospels and in Acts.

 

Though the details are not all clear,

Something happened. Christ disappears.

Into the clouds Jesus arose,

And up to heaven Jesus goes.

 

Might this for us be a story,

Of Jesus Christ full of glory.

When our time comes may this show us,

Our spirits will follow Jesus.

 

We Come in Joy

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 5/30/2025

(Tune: Gift of Love UMH 643)

 

We come in joy the Lord to praise,

For the blessings throughout our days.

With heartfelt praise to God above,

We have been blessed by God's pure love.

 

We come in pain. We come in grief.

We come seeking our soul’s relief.

And at the cross there before Christ,

We’re saved by what he sacrificed.

 

We come in doubt and disbelief,

To turn over a brand-new leaf,

And from our fears to be set free,

To follow Christ, for God's glory.

 

Lord, Hear Us When We Come to Pray

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 5/31/2025

(Tune: Maryton UMH 654)

 

Lord, hear us when we come to pray,

For unto you we bear our hearts.

Hear everything we have to say,

From our souls’ depths your healing starts.

 

Beyond our fears you know our pain.

Enfold us in love's pure embrace.

Remove our guilt. Remove our shame.

Remove our sins. Grant us your grace.

 

In the darkness deep in our soul,

Shine forth your light. Reignite the flame.

Our brokenness, Lord, you make whole.

We pray all this in Jesus’ name.