Sermons

“I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints … and to know the love of Christ … filled with all the fullness of God.”

Christ, Who Was Before the World Began Brenda Portman text by Angier Brock Christ, who was before the world began; Christ with God, as all things came to be; Christ in ev’ry atom, ev’ry span Of hope and light across eternity; You took on our humanity; You walked the shores of Galilee. You healed the blind and set the captives free, And still you walk with us through history. Christ, we are your people gathered here, Holding earth’s near future in our hands. Needs are great, but good news draws us near With dreams of justice, love’s sweet providence. Come set our hearts at liberty And give our faith vitality. Help us to serve, in peace and confidence, As faithful stewards of your new covenant. Christ the hope of generations past; Christ as yet our compass, star, and guide; Christ who summons us to feast and fast By which the greatest love is multiplied: You pour out grace unsparingly,You ask us to live daringly. Teach us to answer with a clear “Amen!” And through your church, may you be glorified.

Anthem We Shall Walk Through the Valley arr. Undine Smith Moore African American Spiritual Ah, Lord we shall walk, shall walk in peaceWe shall walk through the valley in peace We shall walk through the valley in peace And if Jesus himself shall be our leader We shall walk through the valley in peaceThere will be no trials there There will be no trials there And if Jesus himself shall be our leader We shall walk through the valley in peace

Anthem A City Called Heaven arr. Josephine Poelinitz African American Sorrow Song I am a pilgrim, a pilgrim of sorrow, I’m left in this wide world, this wide world alone! Ain’t got no hope, got no hope for tomorrow, Trying to make it, make heaven my home.   Sometimes I’m tossed and I’m driven, Lord. Sometimes I just don’t know which way to turn, Heard of a city, a city called heaven Trying to make it, make heaven my home.