2026 July

 

Always Let Love Be Genuine

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 7/4/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57) Romans 12

 

Always let love be genuine.

Hold fast to what is good.

Love with mutual affection,

And serve the Lord your God.

 

Just be patient in affliction,

And persevere in prayer.

Let hope guide your conviction,

When you offer love and care.

 

Bless all those who persecute you.

Bless and do not curse them.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, too.

Weep with those who weep. Amen.

 

If Any Wish to Follow Christ

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 7/6/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57) Matthew 16

 

If any wish to follow Christ,

Let them deny themselves.

Those who lose themselves for Christ’s sake,

Will find their own true selves.

 

If any wish to follow Christ,

Let them take up their cross,

And find the way to live new life,

Once their old life is lost.

 

If any wish to follow Christ,

Jesus says, “follow me.”

Turn from the way that leads to death,

Choose instead, eternity.

 

There Are Times in Each of Our Lives

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 7/7/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57) Exodus 12

 

There are times in each of our lives,

That start new days for us.

As we recall our soul revives,

Our relation with Jesus.

 

For the people what marked this day,

They shared a holy meal.

It tied them to a special way,

To make their memories real.

 

There were such times back long ago,

For those with eyes to see,

Passover was the time to go,

To flee Egypt and be free.

 

There Have Been Times When We've Been Called

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 7/7/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

There haven't been times when we've been called,

Beyond our comfort zone.

With you we take a leap of faith,

With you we're not alone.

 

The Great Commandment Paul Did Know

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 7/9/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57) Romans 13

 

The Great Commandment Paul did know;

In the Romans, he did write,

There is nothing that we should owe,

Except doing what is right.

 

Paul warned the time is getting late,

Salvation has drawn near.

There is no time to hesitate.

Night is gone, the day is here.

 

Throw off the works of the darkness,

Let's walk as in the day,

Not in evil licentiousness,

Let us follow on the way.

 

When We Gather in Jesus' Name

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 7/10/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57) Matthew 18

 

When we gather in Jesus’ name,

The Lord is among us.

With two or more we still can claim,

Here with us is Jesus.

 

We're never ever all alone,

For Jesus is with us.

As his disciples will be known,

If we follow Jesus.

 

Jesus is with us as we go,

Out in the world today.

To others let us Jesus show,

By what we do and say.

 

When Moses Led the Israelites

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 7/11/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57) Exodus 14

 

When Moses led the Israelites,

The sea became dry land.

The Lord led them by day and night,

Heading for the promised land.

 

Despite their fears, God's people went,

And passed between the sea.

They walked upon God's firmament,

To a land of liberty.

 

When our journey of faith today,

Is met by a roadblock,

Remember Jesus is the way.

He will safely guide his flock.

 

Move forward and do not backslide.

By faith, this we can do.

Thus, we will reach the other side.

The Lord will see us through.

 

The More We Serve Together

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 7/13/2026

(Tune: The More We Get Together)

 

The more we serve together, together, together,

The more we serve together more Christ-like we'll be.

With your love, and my love,

And their love, and our love,

The more we serve together more Christ-like we’ll be.

 

The more we pray together, together, together,

The more we pray together more faithful we’ll be.

With your prayers, and my prayers,

And their prayers, and our prayers,

The more we pray together more faithful we’ll be.

 

The more we share together, together, together,

The more we share together more caring we'll be.

With your gifts, and my gifts,

And their gifts, and our gifts,

The more we share together more caring we’ll be.

 

Ecumenical Institute

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 7/14/2026

(Tune: Auld Lang Syne) a proposed Alma Mater

 

Ecumenical institute,

We raise our song to thee.

Our praise to you is resolute.

We are blessed by your degree.

 

As students we’ve faithfully yearned,

We raise this song to thee.

For we have diligently learned,

To be all that we can be.

 

We’ll treasure, as the years go by,

All we have learned from thee.

And share with all whom we draw nigh,

Practical theology.

 

We're Not to Judge One Another

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 7/17/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57) Romans 14

 

We are not to judge one another,

Or spend time quarrelling.

We are called to love each other,

And be reconciling.

 

For we do not live for ourselves,

We live unto the Lord.

We strive to be our own best selves,

As each day we move forward.

 

We'll stand before God's judgment seat,

And before God will bow.

We'll be judged like we're goats and sheep,

For what we do here and now.

 

Ezekiel's Circles

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 7/17/2026

(Tune: Jacob’s Ladder)

 

We are in Ezekiel’s circles.

We are in Ezekiel’s circles.

We are in Ezekiel’s circles,

Going round and round.

 

Every round goes rounder, rounder.

Every round goes rounder, rounder.

Every round goes rounder, rounder,

Going round and round.

 

Sinner, do you love confusion?

Sinner, do you love confusion?

Sinner, do you love confusion,

Going round and round?

 

We will find there's no conclusion.

We will find there's no conclusion.

We will find there's no conclusion,

Going round and round.

 

When We Confess the Lord Forgives

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 7/18/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57) Matthew 18

 

When we confess the Lord forgives,

For that is God's nature,

Then redeemed lives each person lives,

Of this we can be sure.

 

As we're forgiven we forgive.

Forgiveness we pass on,

That others then might truly live,

Free of their guilt and burden.

 

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 7/20/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57) Matthew 18

 

Give us this day our daily bread,

We pray in the Lord's prayer.

It's what the Israelites had said,

In the wilderness somewhere.

 

Each morning, they found on the ground,

Something they never knew.

God's provision laid all around.

God's manna would see them through.

 

Today think of what all you need.

Your needs may just be few.

Like your ancestors, to God plead,

For what all you need too.

 

Pentecost

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 7/21/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57) Acts 2

 

In ancient times only a few,

Received God's holy word.

The prophet spoke of what they knew,

What, from the Lord they heard.

 

On Pentecost all of that changed.

The apostles heard God's word.

They spoke to those who had been estranged.

Some thought it was absurd.

 

In languages from every realm,

They spoke of the Lord's power.

A message that would overwhelm,

Changed lives that very hour.

 

The words of Joel from days gone by,

Peter shared with the crowd.

The young and old would prophecy,

And share visions aloud.

 

As we read these ancient things,

Share what you see each day.

What is it that God's Spirit brings?

Share your good news today.

 

Jesus Said the Last Shall Be First

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 7/23/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57) Matthew 20

 

Jesus said the last shall be first,

And the first shall be last.

To those who did hunger and thirst,

He offered his own repast.

 

When thousands came to hear him preach,

With no food to be had.

There was one more lesson to teach,

With bread and fish from a lad.

 

With prayer and breaking of the bread,

Everyone did receive.

By the Lord's grace they all were fed.

Things happen when we believe.

 

When There Was No Water to Drink

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 7/23/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57) Exodus 17

 

When there was no water to drink,

Out in the desert sand,

With his staff Moses struck the rock,

Water flowed at God's command.

 

Is the Lord among us or not?

People to Moses cried.

So, Moses struck at Horeb’s rock,

And water, the Lord supplied.

 

Likewise, for us there may be times,

When we might wonder too.

We feel alone. We feel afraid.

Watch and see what God will do.

 

When Peter and John Met a Man

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 7/25/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57) Acts 3

 

When Peter and John met a man,

Who from birth had been lame,

The man was healed in Jesus’ name.

He would never be the same.

 

Leaping up he glorified God,

His body had been healed.

Peter began to testify,

That Christ’s power was revealed.

 

In life what wonders have you seen,

That Christ you might proclaim?

What made a difference in your life?

Testify in Jesus’ name.

 

While in the Temple Jesus Taught

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 7/28/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57) Matthew 21

 

While in the temple Jesus taught,

To a receptive crowd.

Their objections, the chief priests brought,

And questioned him aloud.

 

The elders acted indignantly,

Causing tension and strife.

Who gives you this authority?

They asked the author of life.

 

Beware that when you share your faith,

That some will take offense.

Tell all what Christ tells you to say.

Jesus is your sure defense.

 

God Spoke to Moses with These Words

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 7/29/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57) Exodus 20

 

God spoke to Moses with the words,

Of the ten commandments so,

God’s people would do what they heard,

God's word they would all follow.

 

There are thou shalts, and thou shalt nots,

In God's most famous list.

Jesus summarized in his thoughts,

Loving God is first and best.

 

How will you live your life today,

To do good and not sin?

What rules of life will you obey?

Here's a good place to begin.

 

A Crippled Man Was Erected

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 7/30/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57) Acts 4

 

A crippled man was erected,

In Jesus’ name alone.

The stone the builders rejected,

Has become the cornerstone.

 

When Jesus was resurrected,

These words on new life shone.

The stone the builders rejected,

Has become the cornerstone.

 

And Peter healed a man afflicted,

The prophecy was shown.

The stone the builders rejected,

Has become the cornerstone.

 

Once Jesus Said and People Heard

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 7/30/2026

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57) Matthew 21

 

Once Jesus said, and people heard,

This parable about,

A landowner with a vineyard,

To tenants, it was leased out.

 

When harvest came with its produce,

Servants went to collect,

The portion from the vineyard's use.

They were treated with neglect.

 

The owner sent his son to them,

The tenants killed him, too.

Jesus then asked, what happened then?

What would the owner do?

 

Though this was spoken long ago,

It speaks to us today.

Reminding us, who ought to know.

Listen to God and obey.