Singing our Faith 4 - The Dawning

I am the light of the world, no follower of mine shall wander in the dark; they shall have the light of life.” John 8:12

In the early 90’s I wrote a musical for St Thomas Charisma Choir called Day Star tracing the significance of Christ’s incarnation. As well as all the features of the Saviour’s birth, I wanted to hold as one, the joint significance of the Crib and the Cross; in that it is not possible to consider one without the other. At the centre of the musical, just as Mary and Joseph bed down for the night and prepare for the impending birth, the scene changes to depict dying words of Jesus from the cross. In the attached track you will hear the words of Jesus before before the vocal theme comes to life with these words.

To get the full impact of this sequence click here.

See the Light, shining upon our world;

Light of God, shining for you.

Pure and Holy Light, Lighting the darkest night,

Light of the world, shining for you.

Come Great Light in our hearts today.

Change our night into your day.

Take all fear away, give light to light our way,

Light of the world, shine now today.

See the light, shining for you;

See the light, making things new.

See the light, God’s true light,

Shining for you.

“God’s light not only exposes deep things in our souls, but it also can produce the assurance of warmth. It can illuminate our surroundings, bring clarity to our path, and instil confidence in God’s direction.” ― Gary Rohrmayer

Singing our Faith 3 - Your are the one who cares

“So Do Not Fear, For I Am With You; Do Not Be Dismayed, For I Am Your God. I Will Strengthen You And Help You; I Will Uphold You With My Righteous Right Hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Click here for the music track

You are the one who cares,

The one who always shares,

Such love beyond compare

With me each day,

You are my strength my tower,

The source of living power;

The living God you are,

I will worship you.

Creator God so near,

Who on earth shall I fear,

Your life, your truth, your way,

Are mine each day.

Your comfort is my hope,

And by your strength I cope

Whilst dangers mar my view

I will worship you.

Father I hold your hand

And with the Son I stand,

Spirit now breath through me

So I might be

Made in your image new,

Changed by your love, renewed;

On fire I’ll work for you,

I will worship you.

“When trouble comes, focus on God's ability to care for you.” Charles Stanley

Words, Music and Artwork by Rev’d Paul Collings

Singin Our Faith 2 - Give Me Faith

Join with us in our online worship here

Matthew 11:22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “TrulyI tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Listen to the music of “Give me Faith” here

Give me faith, dear Lord, I ask,

Faith to meet each given task.

Then and only then I’ll be

Living proof you are in me.

Let my actions speak for you

Showing all you love them too

Then and only then I’ll be

Living proof you are in me.

Faith and actions joined in one

So your will in me is done

Then and only then I’ll be

Living proof your are in me.

Words, Music and Artwork by Rev’d Paul Collings

“Sometimes you must stand still in order to get moving to where God wants you to go.”

D.A. McBride

Singing our Faith 1 - Like A Beacon On A Hill

To hear the accompanying music click here

Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

This hymn was written for St Thomas Methodist Church, Exeter in the late 1990s for their Faith Forward initiative of Renewing People, Purpose and Property.

1 Like a beacon on a hill,

Burning bright within God’s will.

We the body, Christ our head,

Face faith’s future, Spirit led.

Here before his throne we stand,

Reaching up with holy hands,

God of wonder, God of grace

Set your heart within this place.

2 Open, Lord, each heart, each hand 

To your purpose, power and plan.

Mark each mind with love’s own cross;

Grace redeeming, love’s true cost.

Here before your throne we stand,

Touching lives with with holy hands.

God of wonder, God of grace,

Meet each heart within this place.

3 Build your church with lasting grace,

Set each heart into its place.

Open doors that all may see

Christ the Saviour, this our plea.

Lord within this place now stand

Blessing us with holy hands.

God of wonder, God of grace,

Bless each heart within this place.

4 Help us Lord to meet each need

And with living bread to feed.

Share your love, your hope, your joy

Serving you our only ploy.
Thus, before your throne we stand

Praising you with holy hands.

God of wonder, God of grace

Share your glory in this place.

5 Yours the mission, yours the plan, 

yours the glory, ours the hands

Where through grace your will is done, 

and on earth your kingdom come.

Lord before your throne we stand; 

Set our lives within your hands.

God of wonder, God of grace, 

Lead us from this holy place.

Paul Collings

We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won't need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don't fire cannons to call attention to their shining- they just shine. - Dwight L Moody

Journeying along the Way 6 - His Light in Me

Psalm 119: 105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Jesus, I want you Lord

to shine on un me.

Your Light of freedom 

that can make my eyes see

How dark my life is,

How great your glory.

Light of the world, Saviour,

Shine on in me.

My eyes are blind 

I cannot see the light,

They tell me, Jesus Christ

Is here tonight.

Healer of Galilee, 

What of my sin.

Lord of this world, Saviour,

Burn deep within.

My life for you alone

I want now to shine.

Baring my soul to you;

To your love divine

Take me and make we

A flame of your will.

Light of the world, Savour,

Burn as you will.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Martin Luther King Jr

Faith in time of Crisis 9

Meditation by Dr J P Hunter 

Artwork “The Stillness” by Rev’d Paul Collings

Psalm 46:1-3, 8a, 9-11. 

¹ God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

⁸ Come and see what the Lord has done,
    
⁹ He makes wars cease
    to the ends of the earth.
  He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire.
¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

¹¹ The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Meditation

This is a Psalm of confidence and trust. It was written at a time of great crisis when Jerusalem had been under siege and was dramatically delivered. The first 3 verses are a defiant declaration that God is our refuge and strength and therefore no fear even when mountains falling into the sea, in floods and earthquakes. Then an invitation to see what the Lord has done and how he brought sieges to an end. After all these events God himself intervenes with the words “Be still and know that I am God”. That is an instruction to people under pressure to take to heart. We should follow his command and listen to Him when taken up in events of crisis and noise: Be still. Then we realise that God, our fortress, is with us.

Prayer

O Lord God, you are our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Help us not to be afraid when we are caught up in a crisis. Give us the insight to see that your life-giving love flows even through the worst of events and will sustain us. Help us to heed the wisdom of these words and obey its command: Be still and know that I am God. 

In the stillness we offer you, may we hear your voice. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. - Jonathan Aitken, adapted

                                                                                                                              

Singing the Faith 18, v. 1 and 3.

1 Be still and know that I am God.

   Be still and know that I am God.

   Be still and know that I am God.

3 In you, O Lord, I put my trust.

   In you, O Lord, I put my trust.

   In you, O Lord, I put my trust.

Journeying along the Way 5 - The newness of the norning

Psalm 143:8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

New ev’ry morning?

Yet I feel old,

Aged by my own deceit

Of shadowing Your new daylight,

Pure glow, tranquility.

I strive to be,

And that is me,

One tries hard to reach

The height of which your love seeks

The place where love is seen.

But as I listen to your word.

As timeless as you grace;

I also listen to the world

Confused, bemused, disgraced.

I clamour to be made anew,

But soiled, soiled by this dirt,

This filth that stains my very soul

I stumble neath the rising sun

Alone, confused and hurt.

I stand as if day’s not begun.

As if all life was dark.

New morning light

Shine in my heart.

I want to be renewed!

"God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfil His promises, leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself." Dietrich Bonhoeffer