WORSHIP NOTES Volume 15, No. 11 (November 2020) †A Scriptural Meditation †But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for …
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 14, No. 11 (November 2019) As, we look ahead to another Christmas celebration, I really have no new thoughts on the wonder of the Incarnation, so I thought I would direct you back to some previous issues’ reflections on the subject: Worship Notes 1.12 (December 2006): God with Us Worship Notes 2.12 (December 2007): The Canticles of Christmas Worship Notes 3.12 (December 2008): Christmas in Unexpected Places Worship …
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 12, No. 7 Â (July 2017) (original cover artwork by Emily Ozier for our 2010 Festival of Lessons & Carols) THE ELEMENTS OF A LESSONS & CAROLS SERVICE (continued) 2. THE THEME Obviously the theme is the birth of Christ! But often we have looked at the Christmas story from varying angles, with an overarching sub-theme giving direction and focus to the individual lessons and to the …
Thinking Ahead: A Christmas Festival of Lessons & Carols (part 2 of 2) Read More »
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 12, No. 6 (June 2017) Those of us involved in church music ministry know all to be well that it is high time that we were about making plans for our 2018 Christmas services. The publishers know that too: they have already been dumping new issues on us for a couple of months now. My now-grown children are grateful that they no longer have to be subjected …
Thinking Ahead: A Christmas Festival of Lessons & Carols (part 1 of 2) Read More »
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 11, No. 12 (December 2016) O Source of all good, what shall I render to Thee for the Gift of gifts,Thine own dear Son, begotten, not created,my Redeemer, proxy, surety, substitute,His self-emptying incomprehensible,His infinity of love beyond the heart’s grasp. Herein is Wonder of wonders: He came below to raise me above,was born like me that I might become like Him. Herein is love: when I cannot …
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 11, No. 11 (November 2016) As we enter this season of Advent and Christmas, I decided I could do not better than to offer these meditations on the Incarnation from figures down through the centuries. I hope your spirits will be refreshed anew as you meditate on these words. A number of them are quite suitable for use as readings, responsive readings and prayers in Christ services; …
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 12 (December 2015) This year our elders decided that, for the six Sundays from November 29-January 3, we should combine our Classic and Contemporary Services and all meet together for the Christmas season. (This in response to such positive feedback from combining services about once every two months throughout the year.) It was a challenge, and a lot of work! But it seems to have come …
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 11 (November 2015) God is the almighty Creator of the universe; the Bible calls Him “the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords; who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light” (1 Timothy 6:15-16). And yet – wonder of wonders! – this infinite God has condescended to be with us. “God with us” – in the Hebrew “Emmanuel” – …
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 9, No. 11  (November 2014) 1. The Glory of God in Christ’s preincarnate state (John 1:1; 17:5) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. “And now, Father, glorify Me in your own presence with the glory that I had with You before the world existed.” 2. The Glory of God in Christ foreseen (John 12:41) Isaiah said …
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 8, No. 12 Â (December 2013) 6. FROM GLORY TO GLORY: God’s Glory in Romans (and in Christmas) The Fall For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling …
Important New Testament Worship Passages (Part 7) Read More »
