Lovely, True, Good News

    Monday musical meditations on God's good news An opening prayer:      Hark! the glad sound! the Savior comes,      The Savior promised long:      Let every heart prepare a throne,      And every voice a song.      He comes the prisoners to release      In Satan’s bondage held;      The gates of brass before him burst,      The iron fetters yield.      He comes, the broken heart to bind,      The bleeding soul to cure;      And with the treasures of his grace      To enrich the humble poor.      Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,      Your welcome shall proclaim;      And heaven’s eternal arches ring      With your beloved Name.  Amen. Luke 4:14 –2 1 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread thr...

   Monday musical meditations on God's good news An opening prayer:      Jesus, come, as you have promised,       Guest and Master, Friend and Lord.      Now, as once at Cana’s wedding,      Speak and let us hear your word:      Lead us through our need and doubting,       Hope be born and joy restored.     J esus, come! Transform our pleasures,      Guide us into paths unknown.      Bring your gifts, command your servants,      Let us trust in you alone:      Though your hand may work in secret      All shall see what you have done.      Jesus, come, in new creation,      Heav’n brought near in pow’r divine,      As you once revealed your glory,      Changing water into wine:      Rouse the faith of your disciples— ...

  Monday musical meditations on God's good news An opening prayer:      From wilderness to Jordan came       The final prophet to proclaim      That judgment soon was to begin       To punish mankind for its sin.      Although of Abraham’s descent,       Since all have sinned all must repent      And, like the Gentiles, undergo       Baptizing, and their sorrow show.      But when Christ came, no judgment dire      Did he pronounce with venging fire;      Himself baptizing underwent,       The sinless One, subservient.      On him the Spirit as a dove       Descended, and the Father’s love      Voiced his approval that the One       Baptized was his beloved Son.      All who believe and are baptiz...

Monday musical meditations on God's good news An opening prayer:      As with gladness, men of old      Did the guiding star behold,      As with joy they hailed its light      Leading onward, beaming bright,      So, most glorious Lord, may we      Evermore your followers be.      As with joyful steps they sped      To that lowly manger bed      There to bend the knee before      You whom heaven and earth adore;      So may we with willing feet      Ever seek your mercy seat.      As they offered gifts most rare      At that manger rude and bare,      So may we with holy joy,      Pure and free from sin’s alloy,      All our costliest treasures bring,      Christ, to you, our heavenly King.      Holy Jes...