2026 January

 

For Some New Year Begins Today

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/1/2026

(Tune: Old Lang Syne)

 

For some New Year begins today,

For some it's their date of birth.

No matter which you choose, I pray,

You'll find what this year is worth.

 

Some wish each other happiness,

For this day and the year.

May each day you feel blessedness,

By God who holds you dear.

 

This year live fully to the max,

And treasure each new day.

Take some time to rest and relax,

Also take some time to pray.

 

God Inspires When Dreamers Dream Dreams

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/3/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

God inspires when dreamers dream dreams,

In the scripture so it seems.

God grants to dreamers great insight,

While they sleep at night.

 

God's promise was revealed and kept,

To Jacob while he slept.

A stairway running up and down,

Showed he had slept on holy ground.

 

Joseph understood his dreams too.

God showed him something new.

The Lord revealed what he should do,

And Joseph followed through.

 

Is Life More Like a Long Journey

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/4/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

Is life more like a long journey,

Or a mere wandering?

Do you perceive a destiny,

Or are you meandering?

 

Is there a purpose or a goal?

Have you a lifelong dream?

What does give meaning to your soul?

And to you what does it mean?

 

Take time to meditate and pray.

Seek wisdom and insight,

That you might start your quest today,

Following God’s guiding light.

 

Save, O Lord, the Remnant (Jeremiah 31)

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/5/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

Lord, you alone bring salvation,

To every penitent.

When all is said and all is done,

Save, O Lord, the remnant.

 

All who are scattered far away,

On every continent,

May they return to you this day.

Save, O Lord, the remnant.

 

All who've been lost will now be found.

For our sins we repent.

We'll worship you on holy ground.

Save, O Lord, the remnant.

 

Epiphany

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/6/2026

(Tune: The Lion Sleeps Tonight)

 

Refrain:

We-e-e-e, We-e-e-e,

See Epiphany.

We-e-e-e, We-e-e-e,

See Epiphany.

 

Chorus:

Epiphany, Epiphany,

Epiphany, Epiphany,

Epiphany, Epiphany,

Epiphany, Epiphany.

 

1. In a dark world, a very dark world,

A bright light shines tonight.

In a dark world, a very dark world,

A bright light shines tonight.

 

2. In the village, the peaceful village,

The Christ child sleeps tonight.

In the village, the peaceful village,

The Christ child sleeps tonight.

 

3. Be believers, don’t fear, believers,
God shines on us God's light.
Be believers, don’t fear, believers,
God shines on us God's light.

 

Blessed Be the God and Father (Ephesians 1)

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/7/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

Blessed be the God and Father,

Who in Christ has blessed us.

We're adopted as God's children,

Through the Lord Jesus.

 

In Jesus we have redemption,

According to God's will,

Forgiveness of our trespasses,

Our debts are paid in full.

 

So, we who put our hope in Christ,

Sealed by the Spirit Holy,

As God's own people we're redeemed,

To the praise of God's glory.

 

I Believe

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/8/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

I believe in God almighty,

Who did make everything.

I believe in Christ most holy,

Of whom the angels did sing.

 

The Holy Spirit on Mary came,

And she conceived a son.

The mother of Christ she became,

For she was the favored one.

 

Pontius Pilate made Christ suffer,

And had him crucified.

His life for us Christ did offer,

And on the cross he died.

 

On the third day up from the dead,

He rose triumphantly,

And sits on the right hand of God,

I believe faithfully.

 

The World Was Created through Christ (John 1)

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/9/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

The world was created from nothing,

When spoken by Jesus.

We believe the Lord became flesh,

And here lived among us.

 

He gave the power that we'd become,

The children of God.

Born not of the will of the flesh,

But of the love of God.

 

The law was given through Moses.

Through Christ came truth and grace.

Though no one has ever seen God,

We see God in Jesus’ face.

 

God Has Called Us to Be Servants

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/10/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

God has called us to be servants,

Upon the Lord to wait.

Let us welcome at the entrance,

All who come to heaven's gate.

 

We are right here at the right place,

Positioned at the door,

To greet each pilgrim face to face,

To their home forevermore.

 

After the long journey of life,

When all is said and done,

Come let go of the pain and strife.

Come and meet the Holy One.

 

To Bring Justice to the Nations (Isaiah 42)

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/12/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

To bring justice to the nations,

God's Spirit comes upon call mom

One who can bring restorations,

Until the job is done.

 

This servant a bruised reed won't break,

Nor quench a burning wick,

But will bring justice for God's sake,

And we'll heal those who are sick.

 

The Lord called us in righteousness,

God takes us by the hand,

To release those in the darkness,

And spread the Good News to the land.

 

The former things have come to pass,

And good things God now declares.

To all the people God sends us,

To share just how much God cares.

 

God Shows No Partiality (Acts 10)

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/13/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

God shows no partiality,

To people anywhere.

God calls for Christian unity,

For people everywhere.

 

For the Lord we are witnesses,

To spread Good News around.

In faith may we do what God says,

That the lost may all be found.

 

Christ shares with us the bread and cup,

To forgive all our sins.

On the third day God rose Christ up,

That new life in Christ begins.

 

Jesus Came Down to the Jordan (Matthew 3)

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/14/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

Jesus came down to the Jordan,

To be baptized by John,

But John would have prevented him,

By a role reversion.

 

But Jesus said, “Let it be so.”

So Jesus was baptized.

While this was happening below,

God opened up the skies.

 

Like a dove, God's Spirit came down,

And rested on Jesus.

God's voice declared, “This is my Son,

The one whom my heart pleases.”

 

God Offers the World Salvation (Isaiah 49:6)

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/15/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

God offers the world salvation,

Through the love of Jesus.

Speak Good News to every nation,

Is the call to each of us.

 

As the Word has been proclaimed to us,

Our lives have been most blessed.

We are called to go share Jesus,

And to give it our best.

 

From the Lord We Are Given Grace (1 Cor. 1)

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/17/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

From the Lord we are given grace,

To forgive all our sin.

From the Lord we are given peace,

That piece may dwell within.

 

From the Lord we are given light,

God opens heaven's door.

From the Lord we are given might,

That we might sin no more.

 

From the Lord we are given faith,

That we might truly believe.

From the Lord we are given love,

May we share all we've received.

 

John the Baptist Prepared the Way (Matthew 5)

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/19/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

John the Baptist prepared the way,

For Jesus to be known.

So, when Jesus passed by one day,

The Lamb of God was shown.

 

The Lamb of God, a sacrifice,

Offered for you and me,

The Lords offering would suffice,

That from sin we are set free.

 

Of Jesus, John had much to say,

Revealing Christ to us.

What is it we can say today?

For you who is Jesus?

 

The Best of Times the Worst of Times (Isaiah 9)

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/20/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

The best of times; the worst of times,

Happen within our days.

Beyond all reasons and all rhymes,

Are the mysteries of God's ways.

 

Those who are up will be brought down,

As the low ones are raised.

All in God's time, it will be shown,

God's glory will be praised.

 

Here on this earth, we may not know,

And may not fully see.

A revelation God will show,

Of all eternity.

 

Paul Wrote to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 1)

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/20/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

Paul wrote to the Corinthians,

With a dear pastor’s heart,

What to do about the visions,

That were tearing them apart.

 

If we're in Christ, we're one body,

Made-up of many parts.

What Christ has joined, let nobody,

Try to tear it now apart.

 

Only Jesus was crucified,

To free us all from sin.

In Paul's name no one was baptized.

Christ’s the one we are baptized in.

 

We Raised Our Family in a Land

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/21/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

We raised our family in a land,

Of “Minnesota nice.”

But now we join to take a stand,

Together against ICE.

 

Like blizzards and storms that assault,

This ICE-y storm is felt.

Yet Jesus calls us to be salt,

Which causes ice to melt.

 

Pray for a January thaw,

That ice might melt away,

And ICE, jammed by the rule of law,

Be removed, let us pray.

 

As He Walked by Jesus Did See (Matt. 4)

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/22/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

As he walked by, Jesus did see,

By the Sea of Galilee,

Peter and Andrew in a boat,

For they were fisher-folk.

 

Zebedee's sons both James and John,

Jesus next came upon.

He called them from mending their Nets,

To see what the Lord had next.

 

Ministry began with these four,

But soon there would be more.

Wherever Jesus walked around,

Other followers were found.

 

Today the Lord's still calling to,

People like me and you.

A new life in Christ we will find,

If old ways we leave behind.

 

What Does the Lord Require of Us

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/23/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

What does the Lord require of us?

What did God, through Micah, say?

To do justice, to love kindness,

And walk humbly on the way.

 

Daily to do this and do it well.

May the Lord bless your soul.

All scripture’s here in a nutshell,

Three parts that can make us whole.

 

As you are able, pass it on,

By all you do and say,

That others might reflect upon,

How they too might live this way.

 

Some Seek to Know God with Their Mind (1 Cor. 1)

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/24/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

Some seek to know God with their mind,

That answers they might find.

Yet others see God with their heart.

God's love is where they start.

 

Some ask for signs, others wisdom,

It is a conundrum.

Jesus offers to us the cross.

Victory comes through a loss.

 

A stumbling block, Christ crucified,

By wisdom it's denied,

Believers faithfully proclaim,

Resurrection in Christ’s name.

 

Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit (Matt. 5)

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/25/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

Theirs is the realm of heaven.

Blessed are those who also mourn,

They'll be comforted again.

 

Blessed too are those who are meek,

They'll inherit the world.

Blessed are those who are hungry,

For truly they'll be filled.

 

Blessed too are the merciful,

They will receive mercy.

Blessed too are the pure in heart,

For the Lord God they will see.

 

Blessed too are the peacemakers,

They're called children of God.

Blessed are the persecuted,

Theirs is the reign of God.

 

Blessed are you when you're reviled,

Rejoice and don't be sad.

Prophets were persecuted too,

Rejoice then and be glad.

 

When in Corinth Paul Did Decide (1 Cor. 2)

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/27/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

When in Corinth Paul did decide,

To share with them the name.

Jesus Christ and him crucified

This Good News he did proclaim.

 

In weakness and in fear he came,

Relying on God's power.

For the world's wisdom held no claim,

In some ivory tower.

 

Paul shared the God's hidden mystery,

And spoke of God's wisdom.

In Jesus we can be set free,

And enter God's kin-dom.

 

Learn from the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5)

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/28/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

Learn from the Sermon on the Mount,

You're the salt of the earth.

Flavorless, it's of no account,

For it then has lost its worth.

 

Like a city built on a hill,

For the world, you're the light.

Don't hide your light. Fulfill God's will.

Let God's light in you shine bright.

 

Jesus also affirmed the law,

Likewise, the prophets too.

A glimpse of heaven's gates we saw,

Where the faithful will pass through.

 

What Truly Makes a Good Hymn Good

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/28/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

What truly makes a good hymn good?

I'd really like to know,

that I might write one if I could,

to help people, in faith grow.

 

Many hymns to God offer praise,

while others offer pleas.

Some hymns suggest various ways,

how the Lord God we might please.

 

Some hymns reiterate stories,

from scripture or from life,

of people's triumphs and glories,

or their grief, pain, or strife.

 

Somehow these hymns do resonate,

deep in the listener’s soul.

The faith that they communicate,

becomes deeply meaningful.

 

For Forty Days and Forty Nights (Exodus 24)

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/29/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

For forty days and forty nights,

Moses was on the mount.

He received the law from those heights,

Ten commandments was the count.

 

For forty days and forty nights,

Out in the wilderness,

Jesus was tempted and saw sights,

But maintained his righteousness.

 

For forty days and forty nights,

This Lent what might we do?

Beyond giving up mere delights,

Let's prepare for what is new.

 

Through forty days and forty nights,

Transformations happen.

Be open to revealed insights,

For it can happen again.

 

We Heard When God from Heaven Said (2 Peter 1)

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/30/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

We heard when God from heaven said,

And these words we believed,

“This is my Son, my Beloved,

With whom I am well pleased”.

 

So our message has been confirmed,

You will do well to hear.

May your faith likewise be confirmed,

By what you have heard here.

 

Up a Mount Jesus Took with Him (Matt 17)

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 1/31/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

Up a mount Jesus took with him,

Peter and James and John.

Christ was transfigured before them.

His face shone like the son.

 

Moses and Elijah appeared,

With him they were talking.

To set up camp Peter offered,

In response to what they’d seen.

 

As a bright cloud overshadowed,

A voice from the cloud said,

“This is my Son, the Beloved,

With him, I am well pleased.”

 

Fearful the disciples fell down,

God told them, “Do not fear.”

They looked and Jesus was alone,

Yet they knew that God was here.

 

As they came down from the mountain,

They were not to mention,

About what had just happened then,

Until the resurrection.