St. Andrew's United Methodist Church - Musical Musings

 This Sunday, we come to the Lord’s Table. And not just any table— the table of remembrance, of unity, of mystery. In Luke 22:13–20, Jesus sits with his disciples, takes bread, gives thanks, breaks it, and says, “This is my body, given for you.” He takes the cup and tells them to remember him every time they drink. This act of Communion is more than a ritual—it’s an invitation into a holy mystery . Christ gives himself fully. And in doing so, he transforms not only bread and wine—but us. Each time we come to the table, we’re reminded that we are part of something far greater than ourselves: the body of Christ, broken and blessed, gathered and sent. This Sunday’s hymns help guide us into and through that mystery. They prepare our hearts, echo our prayers, and remind us of who we are and who we are becoming. O Sing to the Lord / Cantad al Señor We begin with celebration! This lively, bilingual hymn invites us to lift our voices in joyful praise— “O sing to the Lord a new song!”...

  He Who is Faithful Will Not Forsake You As we prepare for this Sunday’s worship, I invite you to pause and reflect on the theme Pastor Norma will preach: “He Who is Faithful Will Not Forsake You,” grounded in Psalm 37:3–8, 23–29 . This Psalm is full of reassurance. It reminds us that when we trust in the Lord, commit our way to Him, and walk humbly, we are not alone . Even when we stumble, God’s hand is steady beneath us. He is faithful, He is near, and He never forsakes His people. Our hymn selections this Sunday are woven beautifully into that message, offering a musical expression of God’s presence, care, and call to live faithfully: “O Sing to the Lord (Cantad al Señor)” opens our service once again with joy and energy. Its call to praise—across cultures and languages—reminds us that God's faithfulness is worth celebrating over and over. It sets our tone with gratitude and delight as we enter into worship together. “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” serves as a theological a...

  Musical Musings: Singing One Gospel, Many Voices  This Sunday, we continue to explore the power of music to reflect who we are as a congregation — and who God is calling us to become. The scripture from Jude 1:17–25 invites us to stay grounded in the unchanging truth of the gospel. In a world of shifting voices and quick fixes, Jude offers a clear exhortation: Remember the message you received. Build up your faith. Stay in God's love. It’s a timely reminder that salvation isn't something we reinvent — it's something we respond to, again and again, with awe, gratitude, and faithfulness. That theme comes alive in our worship music this week. We will begin with the first verse of “O Sing to the Lord / Cantad al Señor” — sung in both English and Spanish. This hymn will be our opening song for several weeks as we lean intentionally into our identity as a blended Anglo and Hispanic congregation . By singing together in both languages, we are doing more than offering transl...

  Light, Transformation, and a New Beginning This Sunday marks a sacred milestone in our life together as we welcome  Pastor Norma  to the pulpit for her first Sunday of worship leadership at St. Andrew’s. She’ll be preaching on  2 Samuel 21:15–17 , a short but deeply resonant passage in which King David, exhausted in battle, is saved by Abishai—a companion who quite literally steps in to carry the weight when David no longer can. It’s a story about vulnerability, community, and light—how God often shines through the faithful presence of others. Pastor Norma’s theme of  light and transformation  flows throughout our worship. Our musical journey this week is intentionally curated to reflect both continuity and newness: We begin with  “Holy, Holy, Holy”  sung in  both English and Spanish  (v.1 English, v.1 Spanish, v.4 English, v.4 Spanish), symbolizing the universality of God’s holiness and our unity across language and culture. We follow...