Faith Builders Chorale

Good morning and greetings in Jesus' name to all of you. It's very good to be with you, and I appreciated the devotional and singing already this morning as a preparation. They certainly stand alone, but it's a good prelude to our theme as well on pilgrimage.

And one of the things that we begin with this morning is the first song, which is really a psalm of praise and declaration that God is completely able to take care of us in the world. And as people on pilgrimage, that's so important. We wouldn't have the courage, the faith, unless we have a growing confidence in who God is and His ability to take care of us. And so we believe that because we have a history of His acts within the world. So often in Scripture, the prophets speaking for God said, "Don't you remember what I did for you at the crossing of the Red Sea? That's who I am." And that's who He continues to be.

And Cedric's comments were very appropriate as we think about living in faith and courage in the world. And so our music here this morning is a series of reflections, declarations, different facets of what it means to be pilgrims in the world.

Clap, oh clap, your hands! Clap, your hands! Clap, your hands! Clap, your hands! Clap, your hands! Clap and all your leaders should shout with a joyful voice. For the Lord most high is to be feared. He is the great reach beyond the earth.

He shall set you forth under him, forth under us, and the nations under our feet. He shall choose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob whom He loves. The pride of Jacob whom He loves.

God has gone up, God has gone up with our shouts! The joke with the sounds of a trumpet's thatch! God has gone up with our shouts! The joke with the sounds of a trumpet's thatch! The joke has gone up with our shouts!

The joke with the sounds of a trumpet's thatch! The joke has gone up with our shouts! The joke with the sounds of a trumpet's thatch! The joke with the sounds of a trumpet's thatch! The joke with the sounds of a trumpet's thatch!!

Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to God! Sing praises to our King! For our God is heaven and earth! Sing praises with us!

Sing praises with us! Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises with us! Sing praises to our King! Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises with a song! God reigns over the nations. God sits on His holy throne.

The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God. He is greatly exalted! He is greatly exalted! He is greatly exalted! He is greatly exalted!

Clap, oh clap, your hands! Clap, oh clap, your trumpet's thatch!

Clap, clap, your trumpet's thatch! Clap, clap, your trumpet's thatch! Clap, clap. Clap, clap, your trumpet's thatch! Clap, clap, your trumpet's thatch! All you leaders should shout with a joyful voice. Shout to God with no sorrow! Shout to God with no sorrow!

Amen.

I have my hand blunted and safe when I stay in the hell forlorn. Thy lord is my delight and delight! Thy lord is my delight! Thy lord is my delight!

Thy lord is my delight! I have my hand blunted and safe when I stay in the hell forlorn. Thy lord is my delight and delight! Thy lord is my delight!

Thy lord is my delight! O let my swears of my soul live! O let my swears of my soul live! And it shall praise me! And thy judgments shall help me! O let my swears of my soul live!

O let my swears of my soul live! And it shall praise me! And thy judgments shall help me!

Several years ago, I became painfully aware of selfishness that I saw in my heart. I pled with God to root it out of me and grow instead a lion that serves and sees the people around me. I was crying with David, "O let my soul live, and it shall praise thee, and thy judgments shall help me."

Not long after, my grandmother had a stroke, and I moved in with her and cared for her for a year and a half. I have not felt more selfish than I have ever been that day in my life.

I learned that I don't always know where my heart cries will lead.

Often, sometimes our cries for life and death lead us to the places that feel a lot like death. And we can always choose how death looks. Jesus says in Mark chapter 8, "If anyone would follow me, let him find himself; take up his cross and follow me.

Whoever saves his life will lose it. But he says whoever loses his life for my sake, the same shall find it." It's in dying to self that we experience true liberating.

Should there be another cue?

Sir, can you do that again?

So several years ago, I became aware of selfishness that I saw in my heart. And I asked God to root it out of me and grow instead a love that serves the people around me. I was crying with David, "O let my soul live, and it shall praise thee, and thy judgments shall help me." Soon after, my grandmother had a stroke, and I moved in with her and cared for her for a year and a half.

Needless to say, I have not felt more selfish than I did during that season in my life. I learned that I don't know where my heart cries will lead. Sometimes our cries for life and growth lead us into places that feel a lot like death, and we can't always choose how that looks.

Jesus says in Mark chapter 8, "If anyone would follow me, let him deny himself; take up his cross and follow me. Whoever loses his whoever saves his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake, the same will find it."

It's in dying to self that we experience truly living.

If anyone would follow me, let him deny himself; take up his cross and follow me. Take up his cross and follow me.

If anyone would follow me, let him deny himself; take up his cross and follow me. Take up his cross and follow me.

Whoever saves his life will lose it. Whoever saves his life will lose it. But he who loses his life for my sake, the same will save it. The same will save it.

What profit is it to a man? What profit to a man to gain the world and lose his soul? To gain the world and lose his soul.

Whoever saves his life will lose it. Whoever saves his life will lose it. But he who loses his life for my sake, the same will save it. The same will save it.

If anyone would follow me, let him deny himself; take up his cross and follow me. Take up his cross and follow me.

If anyone would follow me, let him deny himself; take up his cross and follow me. Take up his cross and follow me.

I'm just a foreign, fareign stranger.

I'm traveling through this world alone. Yet there's no sickness or no danger in that bright land to which I go.

We are pilgrims. We are strangers.

Traveling through this fragile world with a warm and waiting hope, keep in mind that final hope stranger now he traps strangers in his place. We are pilgrims on the earth, journey on, journey on. We are strangers in this land with no place to call our home, but the place we are heading, heading for. We are pilgrims.

We are strangers.

Strangers.

We are travelers on his way, seeking for the King of love. As we might uncover this heart, hope still, and through our lives his glory shine.

We are pilgrims on the earth, journey on, journey on. We are strangers in this land with no place to call our home, but the place we are heading for.

I'm going, going there to meet my Savior. I'm going there, no more to roam.

I'm just a going over Jordan.

I'm just a going over more. I'm going, going home.

Journey on.

A faithful shepherd is my Lord, who doth great plenty me of food. Who leads me to pastures green, gives me to drink from waters unseen. A faithful shepherd is my Lord. A faithful shepherd is my Lord. With loving hands he giveth bread, his gentle spirit calms my dread. With health my body he endows, with blessings all my labor crowns.

A faithful shepherd is my Lord. A faithful shepherd is my Lord.

On pathways narrow with fear I go, I shun not hardships, fear no foe. He is my rod, he is my staff; through joy all forms, my soul doth laugh. A faithful shepherd is my Lord. A faithful shepherd is my Lord.

Father, Father, Father.

Father, in thy mysterious presence kneeling, faith would our souls feel of thy kindling love. For we are weak and need some deep revealing of trust and strength and calmness from above.

Nor we are weak, and nor we are damned, for we are damned from sorrow.

And thou hast faith, each step and onward walked. And we will ever trust each unknown morrow; thou will sustain us till its work is done, till its work, O Lord, is done.

In the heart's dance of Easter Eve and holy abode. And when pain seems to have its way, for we despair, for we despair, O may that peace rise slowly. May that peace rise slowly, stronger than ever money and gleaming steel.

Father, Father, Father.

Now, Father, now in thy dear presence kneeling, our spirits yearn to feel thy kindling love. Now make us strong, make us strong. May make us strong. Oh, make us strong. We need thy deep revealing of trust and strength and calmness from above.

Amen.

Take My Hand and Lead Me was an early favorite of mine, and I'm not sure all what was so attracted to me, although I know I loved the music. But I think I also loved the intimate and very personal characterization here of a walk with Jesus and a prayer, really. So take my hand and lead me.

And the German, which we sing, One Stands and then sing a translation of it, translated literally might be something like, So take my hand and lead me until I come to my blessed end eternally. I can't go anywhere without you, not even one step.

Where you go and where you stay, take me with you.

Step by step, step by step, I stand and lead. Take my hand and lead me, my God and light.

So nimmt er meine Hände und führt mich bis an mein Seligende und ewiglich. Ich kann allein nicht gehen mit deinem Schiff. Wo du willst, geh nur schwimmen, dann nimm mich mit.

O take my hand and lead me, my guide, my light. My path is rough and narrow in life's dark night. Your hand will safely hold me through night and day. You are my true companion, O with me stay.

You cover me with mercy and cleanse my heart. Your goodness fills my being in every part. And with your hand to guide me, I'm not alone. Your presence lights my pathway until I'm at home. Take my hand and lead me, lead my guide, my light.

As step by step we travel to meet our goal. Our songs of faith will echo and feed my soul. So take my hand and lead me until I see the hand where you receive me eternally.

Eternally.

How precious is your step that slowly grows. We find our refuge

under the shadow of your wing.

How precious is your step that slowly grows. We find our refuge

under the shadow of your wing.

How precious is your step that slowly grows. We find our refuge under the shadow of your wing.

How precious is your steadfast love, O God. And it's in that steadfast love that we anchor our lives. Little Hallelujah is a simple song of praise. Hallelujah means praise God. And it's a song of praise that I think arises very naturally out of that awareness of God's steadfast love.

You've got to hold on to the rock of ages, hold on to the cornerstone. Stand strong on the sure foundation, surrounded by the fortress strong. When all the storms of life are raging, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on to the rock. You've got to hold on to the rock of ages, hold on to the cornerstone.

Stand strong on the sure foundation, surrounded by the fortress strong. When all the storms of life are raging, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on to the rock. You know that it doesn't take a mighty earthquake to shake the ground, yes, yes, oh boy. 'Cause life can change like a hurricane and blow all the plans behind, oh boy. Well, the ground is gonna shake and the wind is gonna blow. Oh, and tell me who you're gonna trust and to where you're gonna go. You've got to hold on to the rock of ages, hold on to the cornerstone.

Stand strong on the sure foundation, surrounded by the fortress strong. When all the storms of life are raging, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on to the rock. You know sometimes when life is easy, it's so easy to keep the faith, to be grateful for every blessing, when every blessing comes your way.

When life shakes us to our very soul, who you're gonna trust and to where you're gonna go. You've got to hold on to the rock of ages, hold on to the cornerstone. Stand strong on the sure foundation, surrounded by the fortress strong.

When all the storms of life are raging, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on to the rock. You've got to hold on to the rock. You've got to hold on to the rock. Hold on to the rock.

Heaven's Our Lord Jesus, Heaven's Our Lord Jesus, Heaven's Our Lord Jesus, quickly come. Heaven's host descending, godly saints attending, trials and sadness ending, quickly come. The signs of thought is coming, creation waits to see. Time is nigh, look on high, will He find us watching?

Heaven's Our Lord Jesus, Heaven's Our Lord Jesus, Heaven's Our Lord Jesus, quickly come. Will He find us praying and His word obeying? Someday hear Him saying, "My Son, welcome." Heaven's Our Lord Jesus, Heaven's Our Lord Jesus, quickly come. Heaven's Our Lord Jesus, quickly come.

Heaven's Our Lord Jesus, quickly come.

Oh what a beautiful city. Oh what a beautiful city.

Oh what a beautiful city.

Twelve gates into the city, a hallelujah.

What a beautiful city.

Twelve gates into the city, a hallelujah.

What a beautiful city.

Twelve gates into the city, a hallelujah.

Three gates in at east, three gates in at the west, three gates in at the north. Three gates ready down south, making it twelve gates into the city, a hallelujah.

My Lord kneeled in that city, and He said He was just a four square, and He said He'd rather lose Hear to. City in at east, making it twelve gates into the city, a hallelujah.

Oh what a beautiful city. Oh what a beautiful city.

Oh what a beautiful city.

Twelve gates into the city, a hallelujah.

The Quaker tune, "My Life Flows On in Endless Song," captures something of a way to think about life, that each person's life is a song that's being composed, it's being sung. And we all know there's many times in which we strain to catch the melody, right?

We don't quite see, we don't hear, and yet by faith we keep walking. Many stories have God singing the world into being. And of course we know God sings over us, and different scriptures hint at God's singing. And so as we sing this song, we hope that you can be encouraged, that your life is part of God's song in the world as your life flows on.

My life flows on in endless song above earth's lamentation.

I hear the sweet call far off in that hails a new creation.

Jubilate, sing for joy. Jubilate, jubilate, jubilate, sing for joy. Jubilate day long. Through all the tumult and the sigh, I hear the music beneath. It finds an echo in my soul, how can I keep from singing?

Jubilate, sing for joy. Jubilate, jubilate, jubilate, sing for joy. Jubilate day long. No storm can shake my inmost calm out to that rock I'm clinging. Since love is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?

Jubilate, sing. Jubilate, jubilate, sing for joy. Jubilate, jubilate, jubilate, sing for joy. Jubilate day long. Jubilate, sing. Jubilate, jubilate, sing for joy. Jubilate, jubilate, jubilate, sing for joy. Jubilate day long.

Jubilate, sing. Jubilate, jubilate, sing, jubilate day long. Jubilate day.

Do you all sing the Lord's Speak the Lord's Prayer every Sunday morning? Not quite. Okay. Many? Quite often. I enjoyed hearing you pray the Lord's Prayer this morning. And this is another musical setting to that text. And I've often thought about the value of read prayer, so a prayer that we learn, we read it, we memorize it, and we pray it. And as a child, I remember my first sort of felt encounter with that was in my grandfather's living room when we would go to his house summer vacation.

And my grandfather was a dairy farmer, so after the morning milking, we would come in and eat breakfast, and then we would have family devotions, and we would end the devotional time with we would kneel around the living room furniture there, and my grandfather would pray. It was generally only he would pray.

And he was a big man and a little older, and he would mumble a lot. And we would patiently wait for grandpa to mumble through the prayer, but it was a sincere, good prayer. And it was just that it was grandpa, it was who he was. And yet we always knew that when he said, "And as thou hast taught us to pray, our Father who art in heaven."

And

I don't usually do this, but anyway. So what's meaningful about that is that as a child, it kind of comes and goes. It's just grandpa, it's what happens here.

And yet as you get older, you realize how utterly comprehensive the prayer is and becomes more and more meaningful. And because we speak it by habit, let's say you do it most Sunday mornings, it could get a little familiar, but all you have to do is to stop and think. But even if you're not thinking fully one Sunday morning, perhaps, the prayer continues to embed itself into you and who you are. And so we offer this prayer in that same spirit.

Father who art in heaven, hallowed thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven.

Hear us this day, our daily bread.

Forgive our sins as we forgive them.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us. Deliver from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, thine is the power, thine is the glory forever.

Amen.

Thank you so much for allowing us to share with you this morning and for hosting us for the lunch, all of those things overnight. I appreciate it very much.

We conclude with God be with you to a meet again. And again, most of us have probably grown up singing this song, usually at farewells for someone going into missions or a family moving away. And again, these things become very familiar to us, but we offer it here as a blessing, knowing that as pilgrims, as strangers, we never say goodbye for the last time. God be with you till we meet again.

Lord, here with you shall we meet again.

By His counsel's guide I'll call you.

With His sheep securely fold you.

God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again.

In His light and empty heart, you will be with me.

God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again. When life's perils become found, you brought His arms unfailing round you. God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again.

Keep us batter floating o'er you.

Smite death threatening way before you.

God be with you till we meet again.

Till we meet. Till we meet. Till we meet.

Till we meet as Jesus speaks. Till we meet. Till we meet. Till we meet. Till we meet.

God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again.