6/21 - The Heart of the Shepherd

Greetings St. Andrew's Family

This Sunday’s Hymn Sing, “The Heart of the Shepherd,” invites us to journey through the beloved words of Psalm 23, allowing Scripture and song to illuminate one another as we worship together on Father’s Day.
We begin not with Psalm 23, but with Psalm 24:1: “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” Our opening hymn, “This Is My Father’s World,” reminds us that all creation belongs to God and bears witness to the Creator’s loving care. Before we can call the Lord our Shepherd, we first acknowledge that the world itself rests in God’s hands.
From there we enter the familiar words of Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” By weaving together the opening verses of “The King of Love My Shepherd Is” and “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us,” we hear both the timeless testimony of God’s faithful provision and our own prayer to be led with gentleness and grace.
As we continue into Psalm 23:2–3, the imagery shifts from still waters to restored souls and righteous paths. A musical pairing of “He Leadeth Me” and “O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee” emphasizes that God’s guidance is not passive but active. The Shepherd walks before us, and discipleship calls us to walk faithfully behind, trusting every step. The repeated refrain, “He leadeth me,” becomes our shared confession of faith.
No reflection on Psalm 23 would be complete without the assurance of verse 4: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil.” “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” gives voice to that confidence, proclaiming that our courage does not come from our own strength but from the steadfast presence of God who never abandons us.
In recognition of Father’s Day, the service then pauses for a time of meditation and prayer, accompanied by the gentle refrain of “Shepherd Me, O God.” This moment offers space to remember those who have nurtured us, those we miss, and the ways our heavenly Shepherd continues to guide and comfort every generation.
The journey continues with Psalm 23:5, where God prepares a table and pours out overflowing blessing. “God Is So Good” responds with simple yet profound gratitude, reminding us that divine goodness is experienced not only in abundance but also in God’s abiding presence.
Finally, we arrive at Psalm 23:6: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” Our closing hymn, “Pass It On,” transforms the promise of God’s love into a mission. Having received grace, we are called to share it, allowing the warmth of God’s presence to spread from heart to heart.
And as worship concludes, our sending hymn, “Sent Forth by God’s Blessing,” reminds us that the story does not end with the benediction. We leave the sanctuary as people who have been led by the Shepherd and are now sent into the world to reflect Christ’s love, mercy, and peace.
May this musical pilgrimage through Psalm 23 renew your trust in the Good Shepherd and encourage you to follow wherever God leads.
Music Tom 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

7/6 - Freedom to Lead, Teach, and Serve

 Dear St. Andrew’s Family, Next Sunday, I have the honor of preaching as we gather during this July 4th holiday weekend. While our civic celebrations often focus on independence, our worship invites us to reflect on a deeper, enduring kind of freedom—the freedom we receive in Christ. The sermon is titled: “Freedom to Lead, Freedom to Teach, Freedom to Serve.” In today’s world, freedom is often seen as personal choice or independence. But Scripture offers a countercultural view: Christian freedom is not for self-indulgence, but for self-giving. It leads us into deeper connection, greater humility, and wider service. Guiding Scriptures Four key passages will frame our worship: Galatians 5:13 “For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.” Freedom in Christ is not about comfort or status—it’s about mutual love and service. 1 Peter 4:10 “Like good stewar...
Read more

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...
Read more

7/20 - Singing One Gospel, Many Voices

  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...
Read more