3rd Sunday After Epiphany

This Sunday’s readings are made all the more poignant by our current political climate and the actions of our new administration. In Nehemiah 8 we are commanded to “not be grieved, for the joy of the Holy One is our strength.” Psalm 19 details how all God’s creation proclaims God’s glory, describing how the sun “comes out like a bridegroom from their wedding canopy and runs their daily course with joy.” The words of Paul to the Corinthians in Chapter 12 remind us that the body of Christ is made of a myriad of different parts, but we all work together to bring about the Kin-dom of God, “having the same care for each member of the body”. These words have brought me strength this week and help to describe what I believe our mission is in this new and uncertain era we live in.

I always tell my choirs “All we do is proclaim God’s word in the most beautiful and memorable way possible”, and I pray that the words we speak and sing are prayers for each of you, sung from the heart, strengthening or changing your heart and mind with their power.

The Choir’s Choral Prelude is found at UMH #544 “Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song”, where Carl P. Daw’s beautifully penned 1981 text is perfectly wedded to Peter Cutts’ tune BRIDEGROOM. The last verse text speaks so powerfully to today’s readings and our world today: “With the healing of division,
with the ceaseless voice of prayer, with the pow’r to love and witness, with the peace beyond compare:
come, Holy Spirit, come.” And all God’s people said AMEN!

Our opening hymn “God of Love & God of Power” (UMH 578) calls us to rise to this current moment, and I urge you to pray each word as you sing it on Sunday. Verse 1 reads: “God of love and God of power, grant us in this burning hour grace to ask these gifts of thee, daring hearts and spirits free. God of love and God of power, thou hast called us for this hour.” My Opening Voluntary will be based on this tune, just in case it is less familiar to anyone….it is my first time to sing it in my 61 years!

Our Anthem is Haydn’s familiar setting of Psalm 119: 1, 2 from his oratorio “The Creation” of 1798. Much of his most famous oratorio is completely unknown, but“The Heavens Are Telling” has been sung by choirs of all kinds around the world ever since it was written 225 years ago! I pray that all the timeless words we sing at Worship each week bring peace, strength, and inspiration to your daily lives!

I invite you to join the amazing artists of Voices of Change this Saturday at 3pm in our Parlor here at Grace for a beautiful 1-hour program of music you will not hear anywhere else, including a world premiere written for two of the artists. $15 Tickets are available online and at the door after 2:30pm Saturday. My husband David and I have been blessed to serve as General Managers of this amazing modern music ensemble since 2018, and Voices of Change is celebrating its 50th Season this year. I hope you can join us and also stay for the reception after to meet the artists.

With a full and grateful heart,

Kenton