January 18, 2021

January 18, 2021

Good afternoon,

" Summoned By the God Who Made Us"

   Song number 1 in the new Voices Together Hymnal

" Summoned by the God who made us,

  Rich in diversity,

  Gathered in the name of Jesus,

  Richer still in unity.    ( verse 1)

 Refrain

  Let us bring the gifts that differ, and in splendid, varied ways

  Sing a new church into being, one in faith and love and praise.

The Mennonite Church in North America has put out a new hymnal called Voices Together. This first song is to remind us of how diverse we are in our singing, our languages, our ethnicities and our beliefs. There are more contemporary songs than ever before. There are over a hundred different languages represented in the song selection. The committee thought about our world beyond Canada and the United States.

I am not a musician. I cannot read music. But, I love to sing. So, I need the help of other people to sing all the new songs in the book. I see this hymnal, and others before it, as our church prayer book. We sing our prayers, in the songs that we love. What are your favourite songs that you return to for you praying ? Do you have a COVID song ?

Prayer

O God,

   Accept our new songs

         as our deep and longing prayers to you.

             We trust that you are blessed,

               by offering our words, music and feelings

                      As acts of worship to you. AMEN

Fred

Soaring like Vultures

lifted up by unseen Hands

Trust, silent enters my fears

                                  Monica Pieper Landoni 2021