Thursday, August 28, 2025
Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Church music
We have been reassured about you, brothers and sisters,
in our every distress and affliction, through your faith.
For we now live, if you stand firm in the Lord.
What thanksgiving, then, can we render to God for you,
for all the joy we feel on your account before our God?
Every Sunday we sing, and when I sing I feel a surge of joy in my heart. But I have to open my mouth and stretch my vocal cords and fill my lungs and let the songs rush out. (Each song is linked to its lyrics)
When the boat is tossed upon the waves
When I wonder if You’ll keep me safe
Even in the storms, I’ll follow You
Even in the storms, I’ll follow You
… I believe everything that You say You are
I believe and I have seen Your unchanging heart
In the good things and in the hardest part
I believe and I will follow You
I believe and I will follow You
As in many churches, at Grace Covenant Church we sing four songs before our pastor’s sermon. Many of us know most of the songs. Although most of the congregation stands to sing, Margaret and I, in the back row, usually sit. Friends around us stand … unless they are older, like us.
We sing praise
We sing praise
We sing praise
We sing praise
We sing praise
Jesus Your name is power
It’s breath and living water
And Your spirit guides me
To the heart of the Father
Let Your praise ring louder
Every day and every hour
Cause Your spirit guides me
To the heart of the Father
I’ve never felt at home like this
Just like a child so innocent
And I’m safe inside Your arms
Musicians include a lead guitarist who often plays solo riffs, a bass guitarist, drummer and baby grand piano player. Our lead singer plays rhythm guitar along with one or two more singers who both accompany and lead. Violin and cello players often play. On very special occasions Aaron Lack, an accomplished vibraphonist, sets up on stage as well, two flying mallets in each hand.
When every creature finds its inmost melody
And every human heart its native cry
Oh then in one enraptured hymn of praise
We’ll sing Christ be magnified
Oh, be lifted high, Jesus
Let His praise arise
Christ be magnified in me
Oh! Christ be magnified
From the altar of my life
Christ be magnified in me
In the narthex there are usually donut holes (please, only 5 per person), great coffee, tea, lemonade and ice water. We get there early when we can -easier for us since we live just across the street from Grace Covenant Church’s campus, always in time to sing, and often to weep with joy.
A thousand generations falling down in worship
To sing the song of ages to the Lamb
And all who’ve gone before us and all who will believe
Will sing the song of ages to the Lamb
Your name is the highest
Your name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all
All thrones and dominions
All powers and positions
Your name stands above them all
And the angels cry, holy
All creation cries, holy
You are lifted high, holy
For the next year or so Matt Cassidy and other pastors are preaching through the book of Romans. Prayer, presence, encouragement … be overwhelmed together … put our teacups under the waterfall of Paul’s writing. We spent the first week on the first sentence, so I can see this will be a long trip:
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—  the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
As the service began, Matt asked Arthur, a retiring Austin police officer, to come up on stage. On the force for 21 years, he has been posted at our church on Sundays for 12 of those years. “We’re kinda sayin’ goodbye to him. We’re grateful for you helping preserve our peace and tranquility. Thank you.” After apologizing for not having a custom-built motorcycle for him, Matt presented Arthur a plaque and a weekend for he and his wife Vicky at a nearby resort.
Matt ended with his hands outstretched. “Let’s drink deeply from the book of Romans … and see what God does. For the next nine months, it starts here. Prayer, presence, and encouragement. We don’t want to be in bleachers, but on the field. Get us there, Lord.”
He shall return in robes of white
The blazing sun shall pierce the night
And I will rise among the saints
My gaze transfixed on Jesus’ face
O praise the Name of the Lord our God
O praise His Name forevermore
For endless days we will sing Your praise
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God
I don’t cry much, but I often cry when we sing at church. The music swells in our hearts. And next Sunday, we will sing again.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
And establish the work of our hands for us –
Yes, establish the work of our hands.
(1 Thessalonians 3, Psalm 90, Matthew 24)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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