Walking around barefoot is not something that we do very often in front of other people. It’s why that sacred, beautiful, yet challenging practice of our brothers and sisters known as the Primitive Baptists—that practice of footwashing—causes us to hesitate just a little bit. [button link=”http://auburnfbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/AFBC_Martin_20150222.mp3″]Download MP3 Audio File[/button] Youth Choir singing “God is My…
'Grace' tagged posts
Grace, forgiveness is not an ending. It is not something that happened “back there” somewhere, long ago—and only a long time ago—as if it is something we don’t participate in. [button link=”http://bit.ly/1fhPxnQ”]Download MP3 Audio File[/button]
Hymn #52 in Celebrating Grace Hymnal — “O Worship the King” [pullquote_center width=”60%”]Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail, In thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail; Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end, Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.[/pullquote_center] One little verse of this 19th subjects. We get reflections on human…
Hymn #345 in Celebrating Grace Hymnal — “When Morning Gilds the Skies” [pullquote_center width=”65%”]Does sadness fill my mind? A solace here I find, May Jesus Christ be praised! Or fades my earthly bliss? My comfort still is this, May Jesus Christ be praised![/pullquote_center] This anonymous German text from around 1800 contains as many as twelve verses (as…
Before Jesus was born, there were all of these expectations about the coming of the Messiah, which were varied. There were a range of expectations about what the Messiah—or that word in the Greek: the Christ—would look like. Expectations about a kingly figure—of royalty. Expectations about liberation from outside oppression… But, no one expected the…
Hymn #471 in Celebrating Grace Hymnal — “Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy” [pullquote_center width=”78%”]Come, ye weary, heavy-laden, lost and ruined by the fall; If you tarry till you’re better, you will never come at all. Let not conscience make you linger, nor of fitness fondly dream; All the fitness he requireth is to feel your need…
Hymn #478 in Celebrating Grace Hymnal — “God Is Calling Through the Whisper” God is calling through the voices of our neighbors’ urgent prayers: Through their longing for redemption and for rescue from despair. Place of hurt or face of needing; strident cry or silent pleading: God is calling—can you hear? God is calling—can you hear? “Oh,…
Just five days ago we were poised—we were ready. We had these plans outlined in front of us and our goals etched in stone. This would be the year of renewed patience. Just five days ago our attentions were focused. This would be the year of more kindness and less busy-ness, and reconnections with others.…
Hymn #114 in Celebrating Grace Hymnal — “Gentle Mary Laid Her Child” [pullquote_center width=”75%”]Gentle Mary laid her child lowly in the manger; There he lay, the undefiled, to the world a stranger: Such a Babe in such a place, can he be the Savior? Ask the saved of all the race who have found his favor.[/pullquote_center] “The…
Hymn #281 in Celebrating Grace Hymnal — “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” [pullquote_center width=”85%”]Finish then thy new creation, pure and spotless let us be; Let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee: Changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place, Till we cast our crowns before thee ,lost in wonder, love,…