Sundays after Pentecost
Unifying Theme: |
||
| Scripture | Theme | Hymns |
|---|---|---|
| Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 --or-- Zechariah 9:9-12 |
Isaac comforted in Rebekah --or-- Israel to rejoice in the coming of the king |
61: Come, Thou
Almighty King 540: I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord |
| Psalm 145:8-14 --or-- Psalm 45:10-17 |
A God of compassion and comfort --or-- Honor in answering the king's call |
436: The Voice
of God Is Calling 472: Near to the Heart of God |
| Romans 7:15-25a | Good and evil--Christ saves us from our sinful self | 369: Blessed
Assurance 378: Amazing Grace 616: Come, Sinners, to the Gospel Feast |
| Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 | God's servants rejected by men; a light burden for those who will accept it | 297: Beneath the
Cross of Jesus 359: Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed 467: Trust and Obey 685: Now, on Land and Sea Descending 723: Shall We Gather at the River |
There are sounds and settings that create their own atmospheres. A child's giggle makes people smile. A creaking door can send shivers down your spine. In Paris, love is in the air. On Wall Street, everything is business. Everywhere we go, everything we see, and everything we hear influence us in many ways. As enjoyable as they can be, though, sometimes we need to step back from these external influences. We have to make time for special, quiet moments when we can simply reflect on ourselves and our relationship with God our creator.
This week's featured hymn was written in 1901 by Cleland McAfee, a Presbyterian minister who lived in Chicago. One day he received news that two nieces had died from diphtheria. Grieving from the loss, he turned to the words of the Psalmist. As he read the scriptures, he was inspired to write the words and the tune to “Near to the Heart of God.” McAfee delivered the first public performance of the hymn at the girls' funeral. The hymn became popular immediately and it spread quickly.
Although it was written in the shadow of the loss of loved ones and is often used during funerals, the hymn should not be limited to times of grief. The text guides us to refuge and comfort. It leads us to the presence of our Savior. It searches the depths of our souls and proclaims release and joy and peace for each one of us today. In your devotions--the special time that you devote to your personal relationship with God--take this hymn with you and read these words prayerfully:
| 1. There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God; a place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God. (Refrain) |
2. There is a place of comfort sweet, near to the heart of God; a place where we our Savior meet, near to the heart of God. (Refrain) |
| 3. There is place a place of full release, near to the heart of God; a place where all is joy and peace, near to the heart of God. (Refrain) |
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God, hold us who wait before thee near to the heart of God. |
What is influencing your life today? Do you need a quiet place that is free of evil? A place full of joy? A place of communion with Christ? McAfee found it and was inspired to write a guide to go there. The place is near to the heart of God. May each of us find this place today and every day.
God bless you--
Lection at HymnSite.com
God bless you!
| Passages suggested are from The Revised Common Lectionary: Consultation on Common Texts (Abingdon Press, 1992) copyright © by the Consultation on Common Texts (CCT), P.O. Box 340003, Room 381, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Reprinted with permission of CCT. |