Confession based on 1 Peter 4: 1-11 & 1st Thess 3: 6-13

God, forgive us.
We get ourselves locked up in old sinful habits –
Thinking of our own wants and needs,
Neglecting our brothers and sisters,
Failing even to hear your voice.
We've already put in our time in that God-ignorant way of life.
Now it's time to be done with it for good.

We confess to you.
Forgive us, Lord.

Now we ask you: Set us free,
So we can live out our days pursuing what You offer us,
instead of being tyrannized by what we want.

Guide us to do what we can to help others when their faith falters.
Pour on Your love so it fills our lives
and splashes over on everyone around us. Amen.

Draw me Near

Yesterday Mark asked for a couple of verses for "Jesus Draw Me Close". The end product is called "Draw me Near" and my verses read as follows:

1. Draw me near through Your Word
Draw me near as I pray
Draw me near in this place
as we gather together, receiving your grace.

2. For You came near to love
And you came near to heal
And you came near to save
as You died on the cross and you rose from the grave.

© 2006 Rick Lindholtz
melody available on request

CareCalendar.org

Check out www.carecalendar.org - we are just bringing our care ministry up on this neat idea which takes the familiar concept of an internet calendar and uses it to allow volunteers to provide meals and other kinds of caring to families in need. This is worth the attention of church leaders.

This Little Babe - for Christmas 06

Those familiar with "A Ceremony of Carols" by Benjamin Britten will recognize this edited text. I've long wanted to make slight adjustments to the text and write a singable melody - the melody (which I will post soon) has an old American hymn feel to it, arranged in such a way as to combine elements that suggest a lullaby with a military drum rhythm. If the combination sounds ironically mismatched, that's the point of the text.

This Little Babe
Robert Southwell (1561-1595) adapted by Rick Lindholtz
Melody © 2006 Rick Lindholtz

This little babe, so few days old
Has come to empty Satan’s fold.
All hell will at his presence quake,
Though he himself for cold do shake;
Though he is weak and small of size,
The gates of hell he will surprise.
If you would find fullness of joy
Depart not from this heavenly boy.

With tears he fights and wins the field,
His naked breast stands for a shield;
His battering shot a baby’s cries,
His arrows made of weeping eyes,
His martial ensigns cold and need,
And feeble flesh his warrior's steed.
If you would find fullness of joy
Depart not from this heavenly boy.

His mighty throne is in a stall,
Protected by a broken wall;
A crib his trench, hay stalks his stakes,
Of shepherds he his muster makes;
And though he comes so weak and poor
He holds the key to Heaven’s door.
If you would find fullness of joy
Depart not from this heavenly boy.

This little babe, so few days old
Has come to empty Satan’s fold.
So give yourself to Christ, my soul,
This little babe will make you whole,
Within his crib is surest ward,
This little babe will be thy guard;
If you would find fullness of joy
Depart not from this heavenly boy.