1/25 - Renewed in Christ

GRACE and Peace to you St. Andrews Family 

As we prepare for worship next week, our music traces a clear and hopeful journey—one shaped entirely by grace.

We begin with “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” lifting our hearts toward the God whose love initiates all transformation. Renewal does not begin with our striving or effort, but with God’s grace entering our lives—healing, shaping, and calling us into deeper life. This opening hymn sets the foundation, reminding us that divine love always moves first and will carry us through every step of the journey ahead.

From there, “Living Hope” draws us inward, centering our hearts on the risen Christ. Grace meets us in the present moment—right where we are, even amid doubt, weariness, or struggle. Hope begins to take root as we proclaim again that God’s power is stronger than anything that seeks to separate us from life, love, and joy. This song serves as a bridge from old ways of living into the new life God offers.

Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:1–10 ground this journey in truth. We are reminded where we began—dead in sin, separated, and bound by broken patterns. But God, rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ—not because of anything we earned, but purely by grace. The sermon, “Renewed in Christ,” invites us to see that God’s work in us is not confined to the past. Renewal is ongoing. Grace continues to form us, guide us, and lead us toward the life God has already prepared.

Gail Lewyn and the Choir will lift up “He’s Always Been Faithful,” a testimony to the steady presence of God across every season. Through doubt and waiting, struggle and triumph, God’s faithfulness has never wavered. This moment in worship reminds us that renewal is not a single moment, but a lifelong process sustained by God’s unfailing love. We invite you to sing if you know the refrain! 

We conclude with “Savior, Like a Shepherd, Lead Us,” sending us forward under the care of the One who continues to guide, protect, and shape us. Grace does not leave us where it finds us—it leads us onward.

From the first hymn to the final sending song, we tell a single story: we were lost, God made us alive, and we are continually being renewed in Christ. As a choir—and as a congregation—we proclaim not only with our voices, but with our lives, that God’s grace transforms, sustains, and sends us into the world as beloved people.

Blessings,
Music Tom

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