Rebecca Hoeksema Snippe

This dramatic Christmas service was written to help children understand how the whole narrative of Scripture points to Christ. Through Christ’s fulfillment of the promises God gave in the Old Testament, we can know that we have a faithful God who was faithful in the past, is faithful now, and will be faithful in the future.Ideally every part would be memorized, but it is possible for at least some parts to be read. The following characters are needed:   -Narrators 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6   -Abraham   -Sarah    -Moses   -Isaiah   -Mary   -Gabriel   -Magi (could be multiple children with only one speaking)   -Chief priests and teachers of the Law (can be multiple children with only one speaking)   -HerodAdditional hymnal references: PfAS: Psalms for All Seasons (Faith Alive Christian Resources, 2012); SWM: Sing with Me (Faith Alive Christian Resources, 2006). We GatherSong: “The Lord Be with You” RienstraCall to WorshipLet us praise our Lord Jesus Christ.Alleluia! Jesus is coming! At Christmas Jesus came as a baby.Alleluia! Jesus is coming! He came to be like us because he loves us.Alleluia! Jesus is coming! He came to save us from our sin.Alleluia! Jesus is coming! He died, rose from the dead, and lives in heaven.He will come again because he loves us.Alleluia! Jesus is coming! We praise Jesus, who came as a babyand will come again at the end of time.Alleluia! Jesus is coming! —Reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, Second Edition © 2013, Faith Alive Christian Resources (TWS D.1.2.13).God’s Greeting and We Greet Each OtherSong : “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” Public Domain God’s Faithfulness: Abraham, Sarah, and MosesNarrator 1: This is the season of Advent, a time we celebrate God’s story and a time we learn more about our story. This is a time of year when we take time to celebrate the mysterious gift of grace in Jesus Christ.Narrator 2: Long, long ago, Abraham and Sarah received a promise.Abraham: You see, when my name was Abram,Sarah: and my name was Sarai,Abraham: God made me a promise. He said that my children would be as numerous as the stars in the sky!Sarah: That’s a lot of kids!Abraham: But, you see, God didn’t give us kids until we were really old. Finally, after we had learned to wait, God was faithful and gave us a son. We named him Isaac. Through Isaac, God promised to give us many, many grandkids.Sarah: And great-grandkids, and great-great-grandkids . . . I think you get the picture!Abraham: But first God wanted to test me. So God instructed me to sacrifice my son Isaac as though he were a goat or sheep. I obeyed; however, right before I was going to kill my son, God stopped me. God was faithful again!Sarah: This time, God saved our son. Some might call this bringing Isaac back from the dead!Narrator 3: Wait! Isn’t this story very similar to the story of Jesus?Narrator 1: I think I might know another Bible story that is similar to Jesus’ story!Narrator 2: Really? I’d love to hear it!Narrator 1: Okay! Not too long after Abraham, a man named Moses was born. Moses stood up for God and led God’s people through death to a brand-new life. Why don’t we have Moses tell us his story?[Moses enters, waving like a celebrity.]Moses: By faith my parents hid me for three months after I was born because they saw that I was no ordinary kid. They were afraid of the mean ruler, Pharaoh, who wanted to kill all Jewish babies like me. Yet one day Pharaoh’s daughter found me and took me home with her. I grew up in the palace as her son. When I got older, I chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than enjoy the comfy but sinful life in Pharaoh’s palace. I left Egypt, but I did not fear the Pharaoh’s anger. I knew that God would be with me. After a lot of tries, by faith the Israelites and I finally escaped Egypt. We walked through the Red Sea on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned (paraphrase of Hebrews 11:23–29).Narrator 2: These people and many more were part of God’s covenant, and so are we: “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:39–40, NIV).Song: “We’ve Come This Far by Faith” Goodson God’s Faithfulness: Isaiah the ProphetNarrator 3: Isaiah was a prophet who predicted that something better was coming: a Messiah who would be a bright light in a dark and scary world.Isaiah: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined” (Isaiah 9:2).Narrator 1: All of these people came long, long before Jesus. Their stories are told in the Bible so we can better understand God’s great faithfulness.Songs “The Steadfast Love of the Lord” McNeill“Tu fidelidad / I Depend upon Your Faithfulness” Cassina  God’s Faithfulness: The Big SecretNarrator 2: Before we even remember Jesus’ birth, we must remember Mary and Joseph. God entrusted them with a big secret—I’m talking a big, huge secret! Are you ready? You see, the angel Gabriel came to Mary and Joseph and said:Gabriel: “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. . . . Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:28, 30–32, adapted from NIV).Mary: “I am the Lord’s servant. May it happen to me as you said it would.” (Luke 1:38, NIrV)Gabriel: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20–21, NIV).Narrator 3: Now do you understand? This secret is the mystery of God’s great faithfulness! Mary’s son would come to save God’s people from their sins. The sacrifice of Jesus was predicted many years earlier when Abraham tried to sacrifice Isaac and when God spared Isaac; so too was Jesus’ saving power predicted in God’s saving the Israelites from the angry Egyptians. This is the huge secret of God’s faithfulness! LitanyGive praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;      make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him;      tell of all his wonderful acts.Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.      Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.Remember the wonders he has done,      his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.On this day, we remember with gratitude and joy God’s faithfulness:      in the lives of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph,      in the lives of Moses, Miriam, and Aaron,      in the lives of Ruth and David, Isaiah and Jeremiah,      in the lives of Mary and Martha, Peter and John,      in the lives of Paul, Barnabas, and Lydia,      in the lives of an Ethiopian eunuch and a Roman centurion,      in our own congregational life.      Truly, God is faithful.For God remembered his holy promise.God brought out his people with rejoicing,his chosen ones with shouts of joy; . . .that they might keep his precepts and observe his laws.Praise the Lord!Text: Psalm 105 © THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Litany: John D. Witvliet, 2011, © Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. “Recalling God’s Faithfulness.” Psalms for All Seasons 105ASong : “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” ChisholmNarrator 1: “So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. [Mary and Joseph enter and walk to the manger.] He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them” (Luke 2:4–7, NIV).Song : “Away in a Manger” Anon.  God’s Faithfulness: Let’s CelebrateNarrator 4: That first night was quite a celebration! In the fields nearby, a huge group of angels told some shepherds the secret. [Shepherds come forward and stand or kneel on steps.] It is written: “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them:Gabriel: “‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’Narrator 5: “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying [other angels join Gabriel at the microphone], ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests!’” (Luke 2:8–14, NIV).Song: “Angels We Have Heard on High” Anon.Narrator 6: Although the shepherds had absolutely no idea what Jesus’ birth really meant, they knew it was something special. They knew that God was faithful and that God was good—all the time! So these shepherds were eager to see whatever surprise God had in store for them that special night. [Shepherds and sheep move to the manger and put on party hats.]Narrator 4: Luke 2 says the shepherds “hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told” (Luke 2:16–20, NIV). Offering Suggestion: Have a children’s choir sing these songs during the offering: “Come On, Ring Those Bells” Culverwell“Tell It!” Berry Faithfulness: Come to the PartyNarrator 5: Others also knew that Jesus’ birth was really special. The Magi were very smart people. [Magi come forward carrying stacks of books.] They had studied all different kinds of things and knew that the star in the East was pointing to a special gift: the promised Messiah, the same Messiah that prophets such as Isaiah had talked about so long before. (The following narration and dialogue is adapted from Matthew 2:1–12, NIV.) So the Magi traveled to the city of Jerusalem and inquired,Magi: Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.Narrator 6: When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. [King Herod comes forward, looking stressed.] He called together all the chief priests and teachers of the law and asked them where the Messiah was to be born. [King Herod signals chief priests to come forward.]Chief priests and teachers of the law: The Christ will be born in Bethlehem in Judea, for this is what the prophet has written: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’Narrator 4: Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said,Herod: [Looks at Magi and points far into the distance] Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.Narrator 5: After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.Narrator 6: Everyone who came before pointed to the promised one—Jesus Christ! They were part of the covenant in which God demonstrated his faithfulness. We too are part of this covenant. Can our lives tell the story of God’s faithfulness?Narrator 4: The shepherds and Magi went to see Jesus to celebrate God’s remarkable gift. They went even though they could not fully understand the depth of God’s goodness. Can our stories reflect God’s goodness and grace?Narrator 5: For God has something good planned for all of us. God is faithful, and he calls us to celebrate his goodness every day!Song: “Joy to the World” Watts Closing PrayerGod of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,our hearts are filled with gratitudethat we have been grafted into your peoplethrough our union with your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.We bless you as the one who blesses and builds up,the one who comforts and creates, the one who speaks and nourishes.Strengthen our capacity to remember all your works and to take courage.Help us to contemplate and savor how good you are.How good it is to praise your name. Amen.—“A Prayer of Praise.” Psalms for All Seasons 147F. John D. Witvliet, 2011, © Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike.Sung Benediction: “The Lord Be with You” RienstraBenediction

This Sing 10 service was originally planned for a vesper service at the 2020 Calvin Symposium on Worship. It features songs that are found in the newly published bilingual (Spanish and English) hymnal Santo, Santo, Santo: Cantos para el pueblo de Dios / Holy, Holy, Holy: Songs for the People of God (Chicago, Ill.: GIA Publications, Inc., 2019). Many of the songs are available in other hymnals as well; alternative suggestions for songs are provided. You can listen to the original service at tinyurl.com/u6gzf2n. Scripture readings (from the NIV) are shown as responsive but could also be presented by multiple readers or by a single reader without congregational response. If the reading is done responsively, the congregation may respond with the Spanish phrase “Por la fe,” which means “by faith.” Other languages could be used depending on your congregational context. In Korean, 믿음으로 (Mi-dŭ-mŭ-ro) could be said. In French,  “par la foi” could be used. Song / Canción “Me alegré con los que me decían / I Was Glad When They Said to Me” Colón, SSS 397 (YouTube: tinyurl.com/vumuk2n) Alternatives “We Walk by Faith / Por fe debemos caminar” Alford, SSS 660, GtG 817 “Let All Nations Praise the Lord / Alabemos al Señor” Psalm 117, SSS 443, LUYH 588 God Is Faithful / Dios es fiel Scripture / Lectura de las Escrituras Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. Por la fe . . . . . . we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Por la fe . . . . . . Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. He was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. Por la fe . . . . . . Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Por la fe . . . . . . Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. —Hebrews 11:1–7 / Hebreos 11:1–7 Prayer / Oración We are thankful, Lord, for your abundant grace and faithfulness. We thank you for the beauty of this world and for the blessings of family and friends. Thank you for your Word. Thank you for the challenge to live out the gospel daily, and for your forgiveness when we fall short. Our hearts are filled with gratitude for your gifts of life, love, and hope. Gracias, Señor, por tu gracia abundante y por tu fidelidad. Te damos gracias por la hermosura de este mundo, y por la bendición de la familia y las amistades. Gracias por tu palabra. Gracias por el desafío de vivir el evangelio diariamente y por tu perdón cuando fallamos. Nuestros corazones están llenos de gratitud por tus dones de vida, amor y esperanza. Thank you, Lord. Gracias, Señor. Amen / Amén. —Maria Monteiro, 2020, © Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike Song / Canción “Tu fidelidad es grande / I Depend upon Your Faithfulness” Cassina, SSS 40, LUYH 371, GtG 831 Alternative “Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer / Oh Pastor divino escucha” Williams, SSS 51, LUYH 43, GtG 65 God Is Our Guide / Dios es nuestra guía Scripture / Lectura de las Escrituras By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. He made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Por la fe . . .  . . . even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. —Hebrews 11:8–16 / Hebreos 11:8–16 Prayer / Oración Señor, te pedimos por los que caminan, por los que no tienen hogar, no tienen casa, no tienen familia. We ask for those who roam and search for home. We ask for those who walk de pies descalzos, with bare feet, longing for belonging. We ask for those that journey; for the pilgrims between cities, between countries, caught in fragile places; for those who travel by their own will or because they were forced to do so; for those at the margins; for those who do not have a place at the table; por la viuda, el huérfano, el extranjero. Te pedimos por nosotros, we ask for ourselves as we journey to your holy city. Amen. —Marcell Silva Steuernagel © 2020. Used by permission. Song / Canción “Divino compañero del camino / O Lord, Divine Companion” Riveria, SSS 202 Alternative “His Eye Is on the Sparrow / Cómo podré estar triste” Martin, SSS 322, LUYH 441, GtG 661 God Hears Us / Dios nos escucha Scripture / Lectura de las Escrituras By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. Por la fe . . . . . . Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. Por la fe . . . . . . [Moses] left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. Por la fe . . . . . . he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. Por la fe . . . . . . the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. Por la fe. —Hebrews 11:23–29 / Hebreos 11:23–29 Prayer / Oración Let us pray. Oremos. O Lord of mercy, and deliverance, and power, emboldened by faith we join with those in our world who are crying out for bread, for shelter, for freedom, for justice. Señor de la misericordia, liberación, y poder, animados por la fe nos unimos a quienes claman por pan, por refugio, por libertad, y por justicia en este mundo. Like Moses, may we be willing to forsake  our palaces of pomp and pride and privilege. Help us by faith to follow your call, to speak your truth to the powerful,  and to be in solidarity with your children who are oppressed. Que como Moisés, estemos dispuestos a abandonar  nuestros palacios de pompa, orgullo y privilegio. Ayúdanos a seguir tu llamado por la fe, a declarar tu verdad a los poderosos, y a ser solidarios con tu pueblo oprimido. Kyrie eleison. Ten piedad de nosotros. Lord, have mercy. —Martin Tel, 2020, © Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike Song / Canción “Pelas dores deste mundo / Imploramos tu piedad / For the Troubles” Neto, SSS 579, LUYH 663, GtG 764 Alternative “Lead Me, Guide Me / Guíame, guíame” Akers, SSS 582, LUYH 329, GtG 740 God Hears Our Prayers for Peace / Dios escucha nuestra oraciones de paz Scripture / Lectura de las Escrituras By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days. Por la fe . . . . . . the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.  And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. —Hebrews 11:30–38 / Hebreos 11:30–38 Song / Canción “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord / Óyenos, Señor” Traditional, SSS 572, LUYH 884, PsH 624 Alternatives “Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying / Dios, oye el ruego de tus hijos” Medema, SSS 577, LUYH 896, GtG 469 “Ayúdanos, oh Dios / Oh, Help Us, Save Us” Miller, SSS 574 Prayer / Oración Let us pray. Oremos. O God of peace, in a world bent on torture and violence, we pray for the coming of the Prince of Peace. Dios de paz, en un mundo quebrantado por la tortura y la violencia, oramos por la venida del Príncipe de la Paz. It is you who breaks the bow and shatters the spear. Eres tú quien quiebra el arco y rompe la lanza. Hear us. Óyenos. Help us. Ayúdanos. Save us. Sálvanos. Give your peace to your church and make us one, and enable us to plant your peace  in the soil of this world Christ died to save, so that it may blossom into hope for all people. Da tu paz a tu iglesia y únenos; permítenos sembrar tu paz en el suelo de este mundo  por cuya salvación Cristo murió, para que pueda florecer la esperanza para todas las personas. Hear our prayer, O Lord. Oyenos, Señor. —Martin Tel, 2020, © Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike Song / Canción “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord / Óyenos, Señor” Traditional, SSS 572, LUYH 884, PsH 624 Alternatives “Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying / Dios, oye el ruego de tus hijos” Medema, SSS 577, LUYH 896, GtG 469 “Ayúdanos, oh Dios / Oh, Help Us, Save Us” Miller, SSS 574 God Perfects / Dios perfecciona Scripture / Lectura de las Escrituras These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. —Hebrews 11:39–40 / Hebreos 11:39–40 Prayer / Oración Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered in Christ’s name, you will also be there. Grant now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. We bring before you now our petitions: . . . In Jesus’ name, amen. Omnipotente Dios, que nos has, dado gracia para que en la ocasión presente te dirijamos de común acuerdo nuestras súplicas; y has prometido que cuando dos o tres estén congregados en tu nombre, les concederás sus peticiones; cumple ahora, oh Señor, los deseos y ruegos de tus siervos, como más les convenga; concediéndonos en este mundo el conocimiento de tu verdad, y en el venidero, la vida eterna. Ahora traemos ante ti nuestras peticiones: . . . en el nombre de Jesús, amén. —A Prayer of St. John Chrysostom, c. 349–407 Song / Canción “Somos uno en Cristo / We Are One in Christ Jesus” Anonymous, SSS 227, LUYH 255, GtG 322 Alternative “My Hope Is Built / Mi esperanza firme está” Mote, SSS 324, LUYH 772, GtG 353 Blessing / Bendición Al que puede hacer muchísimo más que todo lo que podamos imaginarnos o pedir, por el poder que obra eficazmente en nosotros, ¡a él sea la gloria en la iglesia y en Cristo Jesús por todas las generaciones, por los siglos de los siglos! Amén. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. —Ephesians 3:20–21 / Efesios 3:20–21 Song / Canción “Great Is Thy Faithfulness / Oh, Dios eterno, tu misericordia” Chisholm, SSS 48, LUYH 348, GtG 39 Alternatives “This I Believe / En esto creo” Crocker and Fielding, SSS 661 “We’ve Come This Far by Faith / Estoy aquí solo por fe” Goodson, SSS 58, LUYH 341, PsH 567

In an age of unprecedented division, when so many people around us experience racism, hatred, deportations, and fear, the church is called into unity and a spirit of Pentecost hospitality, working toward the day of re-creation. On that day everything will be made new, and all will join together around the heavenly throne, singing praises to the heavenly King in a beautiful chorus of many languages: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:8).

A hymnal is a treasure trove for learning and equipping Christians in all different settings with the tools and resources to worship together. A collection like this serves as an invitation for worshipers to speak about the unity found in the diversity of a common body of song.

Lent is a time to refocus and reframe our practices, clearing spaces in our minds and hearts to see and grasp anew the self-giving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. But for those involved in preparing worship for Lent this is a busy time of trying to balance preparing for Holy Week with church programs and initiatives that are in full swing. It may seem as though the work is piling dangerously high. We are tired. We are weary. We are worn. Yet week in and week out we find ourselves in the trenches of our busy and relentless church life.