7/13 - Light, Transformation, and a New Beginning

 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 directly with “This Is a Day of New Beginnings,” which you may recall we sang just two weeks ago on Pastor Sherri and David’s final Sunday. Singing it again now on Pastor Norma’s first creates a beautiful liturgical arc—one chapter closing, another beginning, with God’s faithfulness threading through it all.
  • As the children enter, we’ll sing the first verse of “This Little Light of Mine”—a joyful reminder that no light is too small to matter, and that the Spirit moves in all generations.
  • Our centering hymn before the message is “Thy Word”—a prayerful pause, rooting us in the truth that God’s Word is our guide and lamp, especially in times of transition.
  • The Choir anthem, “Walk in the Light” by Andrea Thomas, though originally written for Epiphany, feels tailor-made for this moment. It captures the invitation to not just admire the light of Christ but to follow it—to live transformed lives that reflect and radiate that light. It pairs beautifully with the Scripture’s image of standing beside one another in times of need.
  • We conclude worship with “Standing on the Promises,” a hymn of bold assurance. We walk forward into this new chapter—grounded not in our own strength, but in God’s unfailing promises.
This Sunday is not just about a new pastor—it’s about the ongoing journey of faith we share, a journey made brighter when we walk together in the light.

Music Tom 

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