The readings for October 1 were:
Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22
Psalm 124
The story of Esther doesn’t get read too often. The pastor preached from the Gospel reading and connected the story to World Communion Day.
Our introit was Holy, Holy, Holy (Santo, Santo, Santo), an Argentine folk song. We sang it twice in English and once in Spanish.
Holy, holy, holy.
My heart, my heart adores you!
My heart knows how to say to you:
You are holy, Lord!
Santo, santo, santo.
Mi corazon te adora!
Mi corazon te sabe decir:
Santo eres, Dios!
Our opening hymn was Come, Sinners, to the Gospel Feast by Charles Wesley. The tune is called Hursley from the Katholisches Gesanguch.
1. Come, sinners, to the gospel feast;
let every soul be Jesus' guest.
Ye need not one be left behind,
for God hath bid all humankind.
2. Sent by my Lord, on you I call;
the invitation is to all.
Come, all the world! Come, sinner, thou!
All things in Christ are ready now.
3. Come, all ye souls by sin oppressed,
ye restless wanderers after rest;
ye poor, and maimed, and halt, and blind,
in Christ a hearty welcome find.
4. My message as from God receive;
ye all may come to Christ and live.
O let his love your hearts constrain,
nor suffer him to die in vain.
5. This is the time, no more delay!
This is the Lord's accepted day.
Come thou, this moment, at his call,
and live for him who died for all.
Our second hymn was Let us break bread together on our knees
Let us break bread together on our knees,
let us break bread together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.
Let us drink wine together on our knees,
let us drink wine together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.
Let us praise God together on our knees,
let us praise God together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.
After the sermon we sang Change My Heart, O God. We have begun to sing this every Sunday after the sermon.
Change my heart, O God
Make it ever true
Change my heart, O God
May I be like You
You are the potter
I am the clay
Mold me and make me
This is what I pray
Change my heart, O God
Make it ever true
Change my heart, O God
May I be like You
Our anthem was As the Bread of Life Is Broken . It is by James Chepponis. The hymn tune is
Thaxted. It is the C theme from Jupiter of the Planets by Gustav Holst.
As the bread of life is broken,
the cup of love outpoured,
we are one in Christ, our Savior,
and sent to serve the Lord.
We, the many who are gathered,
are united here as one.
In this joyful celebration,
recall what God has done.
As the bread of life is broken,
the cup of love outpoured,
we are one in Christ, our Savior,
and sent to serve the Lord.
In the word of God proclaimed here,
the good news of truth is heard.
In the telling of the stories,
be open to God’s word.
As the bread of life is broken,
the cup of love outpoured,
we are one in Christ, our Savior,
and sent to serve the Lord.
In the bread of life here given,
we become what we receive.
In the cup of love here offered,
affirm what we believe.
As the bread of life is broken,
the cup of love outpoured,
we are one in Christ, our Savior,
and sent to serve the Lord.
Sent as blessing for God’s people,
to go forth in love and peace,
in our witness to God’s kingdom,
may charity increase.
As the bread of life is broken,
the cup of love outpoured,
we are one in Christ, our Savior,
and sent to serve the Lord.
The first Communion hymn was One Bread, One Body
One bread, one body, One Lord of all,
One cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many, throughout the earth,
We are one body in this one Lord.
Gentile or Jew, Servant or free,
Woman or man, No more.
One bread, one body, One Lord of all,
One cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many, throughout the earth,
We are one body in this one Lord.
Many the gifts, Many the works,
One in the Lord, Of all.
One bread, one body, One Lord of all,
One cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many, throughout the earth,
We are one body in this one Lord.
Grain for the fields, Scattered and grown,
Gathered to one, For all.
One bread, one body, One Lord of all,
One cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many, throughout the earth,
We are one body in this one Lord.
The second Communion hymn was Bind Us Together by B. Gillman
Bind us together, Lord,
bind us together with cords that cannot be broken.
Bind us together, Lord, bind us together, Lord,
bind us together in love.
There is only one God, there is only one King.
There is only one Body, that is why we sing:
The closing hymn was Love Divine, All Loves Excelling by Charles Wesley. The tune was composed by John Zundel and is called Beecher.
The tune
1. Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven, to earth come down;
fix in us thy humble dwelling; all thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation; enter every trembling heart.
2. Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit into every troubled breast!
Let us all in thee inherit; let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning; Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty.
3. Come, Almighty to deliver, let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return and never, nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love.
4. 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, and praise.
