St. Andrew's United Methodist Church - Musical Musings

Blessings St. Andrew's Family This Sunday, we step into one of the most sacred moments of the church year — All Saints Sunday . It’s the day when heaven and earth seem to draw close, and we remember that our worship is part of something much larger — the great communion of saints, past and present, who live in the light of God’s eternal love. Our worship moves like a river — flowing from remembrance into hope, from grief into joy. We’ll begin by singing “Shall We Gather at the River,” a hymn that reminds us of the eternal promise that God’s people will one day gather together again. During this hymn, you’ll hear a beautiful clarinet countermelody of “Deep River,” a soulful echo of longing and peace. Together, these two melodies, one from the river of life and one from the river of freedom — invite us to listen for the deeper current of God’s grace that carries us all home. The message, “When We All Get to Heaven,” calls us to look ahead with joy — to see heaven not only as our...

Greetings St. Andrew's Family This Sunday at St. Andrew’s, our worship centers on one of the most challenging and hopeful of Jesus’ Beatitudes — “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Pastor Norma’s message, “Called to Be Peacemakers: Living as Children of God,” invites us to explore what it means to be shaped by peace rather than by the noise and division that surround us. Our worship will weave this theme together through Word, Drama, and Song. The choir opens with “Blest Are They,” a hymn that echoes the entire journey of the Beatitudes — reminding us that God’s blessings often come disguised in struggle, loss, and longing. Then, through Kenn Bullock’s adaptation of Music Tom's powerful drama, “The Path of Blessing,” we’ll witness one man’s journey through those same words of Jesus. Step by step, he moves from brokenness toward surrender — discovering that peace isn’t the absence of pain, but the presence of grace.  The drama culminates in the tender strains of “I Surrender A...

This Sunday we continue our journey through The Beatitudes with Week 5 , focusing on two of Jesus’ most beautiful promises: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.” “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” — Matthew 5:7–8 Mercy is grace in motion. It’s compassion that steps in, forgiveness that restores, and love that acts. When Jesus blesses the merciful, He calls us to mirror God’s own heart — one that is gentle, forgiving, and endlessly welcoming. Our opening hymn, “There Is a Wideness in God’s Mercy,” reminds us that God’s compassion has no limits. It’s broader than any failure, deeper than any hurt, and wider than any boundary we set. Our centering hymn, “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian,” turns that mercy inward, becoming a personal prayer for transformation. As we sing it, we ask God to make our hearts more loving, more faithful, and more merciful — not only in worship but in how we treat one another every day. Purity of heart isn’t about ...

 Musical Greetings St. Andrew's Family This Sunday, we welcome back Pastor Tim Webster, who will be preaching from Luke 4:14–29. In this powerful passage, Jesus begins his ministry by reading from the prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and to let the oppressed go free.” Then Jesus declares, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Pastor Tim’s sermon asks the bold question: “Who Does God Favor?” The answer is found in Jesus’ own words—God’s favor rests on the very people the world overlooks: the poor, the broken, the silenced, and those most in need of healing and hope. The music of worship next Sunday traces this same journey and helps us sing our way through the gospel message. We begin with “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty.” This hymn is like a trumpet blast at the start of worship, calling us to re...