Proper 5 [10]Praise God for His mercy; Serve God by doing His will |
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| Scripture | Theme | Hymns |
|---|---|---|
| 1
Samuel 8:4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15) --or-- Genesis 3:8-15 |
We demand a king when we really need The King --or-- Our sin can't hide, and neither can we |
66: Praise, My Soul, the
King of Heaven 73: O Worship the King 138: The King of Love My Shepherd Is 365: Grace Greater than Our Sin 553: And Are We Yet Alive |
| Psalm
138 --or-- Psalm 130 |
Kings praise the Lord --or-- The Lord is merciful |
96: Praise
the Lord Who Reigns Above 121: There's a Wideness in God's Mercy 139: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty 355: Depth of Mercy 482: Lord, Have Mercy |
| 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 | Our common message comes from our common faith |
258: O
Wondrous Sight! O Vision Fair 496: Sweet Hour of Prayer 526: What a Friend We Have in Jesus 702: Sing with All the Saints in Glory |
| Mark 3:20-35 | God's family does God's will |
131: We
Gather Together 465: Holy Spirit, Truth Divine |
John and Charles Wesley were ordained in the Church of England. Both travelled to the New World to minister in the colony of Georgia, but returned to England discouraged. They had not seen their ministries bear fruit for the kingdom of God. It was not long, though, before each of them experienced the Holy Spirit move powerfully in their lives. First Charles recorded that he experienced "a strange palpitation of the heart," and he knew that he believed. Three days later John felt his heart "strangely warmed" as Luther's preface to the book of Romans was being read, describing the change that God works in the heart through faith in Christ. By Easter the next year Charles and John were attracting crowds to their "open air preaching." The movement would continue to grow, with "Methodist Societies" being established across the country.
To promote discipline and the integrity of teaching within the societies, John began to assemble the leaders for conferences. Conferences began in 1744 on a quarterly basis. Later they were held annually. Over the years a number of traditions developed, one of which included opening the conference with the singing of And Are We Yet Alive, a hymn by Charles Wesley.
Annual conferences remain key organizational groups and governing events in Methodist and United Methodist churches today. These conferences frequently occur near the celebration of Pentecost, and often continue the tradition of opening with the singing of Charles Wesley's hymn. As you read the words, think about the regular gatherings that you participate in. The conferences among church leaders. The fellowship of all the saints in the church universal. What has God done in your life since you last gathered?
| 1.
And are we yet alive, and see each other's face? Glory and thanks to Jesus give for his almighty grace! |
2.
Preserved by power divine to full salvation here, again in Jesus' praise we join, and in his sight appear. |
| 3.
What troubles have we seen, what mighty conflicts past, fightings without, and fears within, since we assembled last! |
4.
Yet out of all the Lord hath brought us by his love; and still he doth his help afford, and hides our life above. |
| 5.
Then let us make our boast of his redeeming power, which saves us to the uttermost, till we can sin no more. |
6.
Let us take up the cross till we the crown obtain, and gladly reckon all things loss so we may Jesus gain. |
Are we yet alive? Indeed, in Christ we are alive forever! May we gather yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily to celebrate the help of God in our lives and the gain of Jesus everywhere.
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. |