My Wordless Prayer

Welcome November! Can you believe that we are in already November? I love months of fall and December even though I get busier than before. I am very excited also about our new sermon series upon Psalms. This Sunday is the first one “a Word of Anguish” based on Psalm 6. A couple of years ago, I had a chance to recite Psalms each day for several months in my prayer time. I was looking for getting some helps to pray in English without hesitations. Even though I have lived in more than a decade in the States, still English is a main challenge especially praying in English is not easy. So, I intentionally put myself to read out loud for that reason for several months. Amazingly, not only it helped me in praying in English, but also restored me in deeper in prayers. After that period of time, I use often Psalms as my prayer, especially when I could not pray with overwhelming situations like David in Psalm 6.

I have chosen a song “My wordless prayer” for an offertory in 8 and 11:00 o’clock worship services. The song is carefully written as a musical prayer, related to Psalm 6. I pray that it might be lifted up as our prayers through the worship services this week.

The Viva voce ensemble will lift up a communion song called “Remember me” at 11:00 o’clock service. 

I pray that we might be able to go closer to God with our sincere prayers and praise through Psalms in a month of Thanksgiving. May the Lord help us to bear His Spiritual gifts through this time of year!

These are the wonderful lyrics of the two songs.

My Wordless Prayer

My words lie still and lifeless as dust upon the sand, I can no longer voice one request or one demand. My cup of tears is empty, I can no longer cry. My lips have fallen silent, my prayer is but a sigh.

Spirit, come and rest Your ear upon my heart, O come and hear my wordless prayer, my silent plea and take them far away from me. Take them from this heart of mine to the Father’s heart divine. Speak in tones unknown to man that God may hear and understand.

My voice is weak from calling to You both night and day. How long will You be silent? Why do You turn away? 

Spirit, come and rest Your ear upon my heart, O come and hear my wordless prayer, my silent plea and take them far away from me. Take them from this heart of mine to the Father’s heart divine. Speak in tones unknown to man that God may hear and understand.

Remember Me

At the close of the day in an upper room the Lord sat down with the twelve. It was then that he took the bread, broke it and blessed it and said: “Take, eat and remember me. This is my body I give for you. Take, eat and remember me.”

The disciples ate with their Lord that night, not knowing this was the last. It was then that he took the cup, raised it and blessed it and said: “Take, drink and remember me. This is my lifeblood I give for you. Take, drink and remember me.” 

Rejoice, the Lord is King!

I have tried hard to apply what we got challenged on last Sunday to live “Simple” life each day; found out that living a simple life requires many things to be organized with my priorities. Amazingly, when I put those things on my list and pray to lift them up to God to help me to do wisely, there has been a deep peace in my daily life. Even though there is still heavy traffic, and tons of works, somehow God has given me the peace with faith that He is the Lord! I have been still learning more how to surrender completely more in my daily life.

Both choirs- the Sonrise singers for 8:00 o’clock service, and the Sanctuary choir for 11:00- will greatly proclaim how great our God, the King of all is. 

The Sanctuary choir will lift up “Rejoice, the Lord is the King!” as an anthem at 11:00. This song is setting with a famous hymn “Rejoice, the Lord is the King” written by Charles Wesley. The handbell will praise with the anthem. At 8:00 o’clock, the Sonrise singers will sing “O Lord, our Lord, how excellent Thy name.” We pray that we proclaim and praise God more often to realize that God is the Lord and the King in our lives, and believe that it will help on us to live simpler lives which God wants us to live in this world.

From this new semester, the children’s choirs have been greatly enlarged and they are wonderful. You will get to hear them praising God on this Sunday.  The little praiser will sing “We are the church” at 9:15 and the JAM choir will sing “Come all ye people” at 11:00 o’clock service. We still need to have a director for the JAM choir. We have many children in the group, but no director. If you are called to serve in children’s music ministry, please join us. They meet on Wed. night 6:00-7:00. I am looking forward to sharing this beautiful music to be praise and lifted up to our Lord with our sincere hearts.

Let’s proclaim God together that He is the King and the Lord of all!

Here is the text of the anthem at 11:00. Enjoy!

Rejoice, the Lord is King!

Rejoice, the Lord is King! Your Lord and King adore! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing and triumph evermore: Lift up your heart, life up your voice! Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Lift up your voice, let all creation sing, rejoice, the Lord is King!

Our savior, Jesus, reigns; the God of truth and love; When he had purged our Savior took his seat above.

His Kingdom can not fail; he rules both earth and heaven: the keys of death and hell are to our Jesus given. Lift up your heart, lift up your voice! Rejoice, again I say, Rejoice!

Rejoice in glorious hope for Christ the Judge shall come to gather all his saints to their eternal home. Lift up your heart, lift up your voice! Rejoice, again I say, Rejoice!

Coming week prayer request

I have decided not only sharing music and announcement in this blog but also sharing prayer requests among us as well as in general.
Prayer is not an option if we are Christians. We are easily compromising with our circumstances so that we make reasonable excuses for less praying life. I do too all the time. However, I believe that we need to encourage each other to keep on praying without ceasing.

These are prayer requests for this week.
1.For Debbie Swartz's thyroid cancer surgery on Oct. 1st (Mon).
2. For the community of Herndon who are friends and relatives with the Peterson's.
3. For our church that we kneel down to God for seeking His mercy and grace upon those people especially who don't believe Jesus as their Savior.
4. For our music ministry to glorify God fully through our ministry with our best.
5. For our JAM choir director who God will lead to them quickly.
6. Yoon's safe trip to Indiana, and God's help upon her writing the dissertation.

May the Lord hear our prayers! Amen

Living Water, Guiding Spirit

Do you like water? Not only is it an essential element for life, but it is also a gift from God have I loved since I was a child. I enjoy drinking water (either cold or hot), swimming in it, touching its freshness or warmth, watching oceans, rivers, lakes, or even water fountains. And I love using water to wash things clean. I think water is a mysterious gift from God.  If we look at the Bible, it is amazing to see how often water was used as an important prop—the parting of the Red Sea, drawing water from the rock,  water becoming wine,  and Jesus walking on the water, and so on.

Whenever I sit down in our sanctuary, I hear the sound of flowing water from the fountain underneath the cross. For me, I feel that the sound is representing the love pouring down from God through the cross to us. It sometimes soothes me with deep peace, and tells me that the life given to us through the cross is still flowing upon us.

The Sanctuary Choir will lift up a beautiful anthem, “Living Water, Guiding Spirit” accompanied by flute, cello, and percussion. There are many rhetorical gestures in the song to represent the wind of the Holy Spirit, rushing waters, or soaring eagles to express God’s love among us. The song is inspired by Psalm 42. The Floris Strings will praise, “Love Divine, All Love Excelling” as an offertory at the service too.

The Sonrise Singers will lift up, “Take My Life” based on an old hymn at the 8:00 AM service.

I pray that we have a chance to be touched by God’s presence –His presence that quenches our soul and restores our faith in Him throughout  the worship services.

Here are the lyrics to, “Living Water, Guiding Spirit”.

Living Water, Guiding Spirit

Just as the deer longs for the water, my spirit longs for You, my God. 

Living water flow in me. Refresh my soul with Your truth and grace. Make in me Your vessel pure, a heart to hold Your praise, a heart to hold Your praise.

Just as the wind blows through the forest, move through my life today.  O Lord, I pray.

Guiding Spirit blow through me. Refresh my soul with Your truth and grace. Lift me up where eagles fly. Teach me a higher way, teach me a higher way. Teach me O Lord, I pray.

 

If you are Happy, Say Amen!

After thinking about last week’s sermon message about bitterness, I have tried to practice applying wisdom, purity, peace-loving qualities, consideration, submissiveness, mercy, the bounty of good fruits, impartiality and sincerity in my daily life. I can tell you that it has been very hard for me to not be bitter at bitter situations and people. However, I have learned that a physical smile helps to remind me to refocus into godly reactions. I intentionally make myself smile when I am in difficult situations and it has been working 99 percent of the time. There must be a connection between our facial muscles and our hearts. We find in Proverbs, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” I think that it is true that the joyful heart makes our heart thankful in any circumstance.
I have chosen an anthem for this Sunday’s 11:00 AM service with the thought in mind to share a smile and some happiness with you all. The anthem is called, “If You’re Happy, Say Amen!” It not only makes us feel joyful but it helps us to think about the root of happiness in our hearts–Jesus. Mario Gonzales and Jason Richards will praise with the choir through their instruments of double bass and drums.
Also, at the 8:00 AM service, I will sing an old hymn, “Thank You God” as an offertory. I used to sing this song in Korean during difficult times to remind myself how faithful my God has been. I pray that we all lift our joyful hearts up to the Lord through the worship services. Come let us sing together joyful songs to the Lord!
These are the lyrics of the songs.
If you’re happy, say Amen! By André J. Thomas
If you’re happy and you know it, say, “Amen!” say, “Amen!” Amen! Amen! Look in the manger! See the little baby! See him at the temple, talking to the elders. See Him at the seaside, preaching to the people. See Him on the cross bearing all our sins. Died to save us! Rose on Easter! Amen!
Thanks to God
Thanks to God for my Redeemer, Thanks for all Thou dost provide!
Thanks for times now but a memory, Thanks for Jesus by my side!
Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime, Thanks for dark and stormy fall!
Thanks for tears by now forgotten, Thanks for peace within my soul!
Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered, Thanks for what Thou dost deny!
Thanks for storms that I have weathered, Thanks for all Thou dost supply!
Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure, Thanks for comfort in despair!
Thanks for grace that none can measure, Thanks for love beyond compare!
Thanks for roses by the wayside, Thanks for thorns their stems contain!
Thanks for home and thanks for fireside, Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!
Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow, Thanks for heav’nly peace with Thee!
Thanks for hope in the tomorrow, Thanks through all eternity!

Do Unto Others

Are you excited for the new semester?  Even though my kids already started their school last Monday, I am so excited to jump into September.  As I shared with you last week, all music ministry groups will start this week and next.  Please visit our website to see their schedules. And particularly if you have kids in kindergarten through 6^th grade, please come and join us at the Open House on September 12 from 6-7:00 PM in the music room.

There will be a new student vocal ensemble called “Viva Voce” (living voice or the word of mouth) for students from 7 through 12^th grade. There will be a simple audition for members. They will sing new and various music in different  languages. If your students would like to try this new vocal ensemble, please bring them on September 9  at 4:00 PM to the music room.  One of reasons I decided to start this new ensemble is to give students an opportunity to explore and experience God’s calling through music.

 I started having my own voice lessons at the age of 13. Right after I joined the middle school choir at my home church, I started having confidence in my calling to be a singer. So, I asked my parents for voice lessons.  My church was an hour away by bus, but after I joined the choir, I went to the rehearsals on Saturday afternoon by myself, and woke up early on Sundays for the rehearsal before the 10:00 AM service. Believe or not, I hardly missed these rehearsals whether rain or snow. I still clearly remember those days and how important it was for my faith and calling. If we don’t try new things, we might miss an opportunity to find out our callings. I believe that it is very important especially for our children who will find out, cultivate, and grow in their callings.  I am truly looking forward to sharing my gifts with them!  

I picked a beautiful children’s song for the offertory this Sunday related to our new sermon series, “Stung by the Tongue.” The song is called “Do Unto Others” -- the golden rule! A few children from our children’s choirs will lift it up on Sunday morning at the 11:00 AM service. Also, there will be a special music during communion at the 11:00 AM service. The student ensemble will share a song “God is calling us” incorporated with a song “Kum ba yah”.

Both songs have meaningful reminders to us as Christians. I pray that our worship and praise may grow deeper and more powerful as we become restored to enter  a coming season.

Do Unto Others

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Be kind to others, be good to others, be fair to others as you would have them do unto you.

Try to be patient, and forgiving, a friend in all you say and do. God will guide you to love others as God has shown love to you.

God Is Calling Us

If the song’s to be sung, we must sing it! If the love’s to be shared, we must bring it! For God is calling us now, in deed, to go where there is need! If the Word’s to be heard, we must speak it! If you the peace is to come, we must seek it! For God is calling us now, indeed, to go where there is need!

Someone’s crying Lord, Kum ba yah! Someone’s dying, Lord, Kum ba yah! Someone’s praying, Lord, kum ba yah! O Lord, kum ba yah!  

Is it Your Best Effort?

I recently watched a DVD of a Korean TV drama and one of lead roles was the head of a department store. Whenever he gave approval for the launch of new events or programs, he always asked “Is this your best effort?” to make sure his employees were offering their best effort to the preparations.  Somehow, the phrase “Is this your best effort?” has been in my head ever since. “AM I giving my best effort in the ministry to which I have been called? How about you? I am very excited to invite you to be a part of Floris’ music ministry as we offer our best efforts to God.

The children’s music team will have an open house on Sept. 12^th at 6:00 PM in the music room. Please plan to come to find out about programs for kids from Kindergarten to 6^th grade. You will have a chance to meet directors and other families, and see what is new in children’s music this year. I can’t wait to share this new program with you all!

We are excited about some new ideas for the children’s music ministry at Floris. We will now have a “Children’s Music Team” consisting of volunteers who are willing to share great ideas and serve the children with a variety of music. If you have thought about being a part of this ministry, or if you feel God calling you to serve children in this way, please contact me at ynam@florisumc.org.  We will teach children not only songs but also various forms of music!   

One of my visions for the new season is having a full sanctuary choir each week. I want to literally see the seats of the choir loft full of people who are responding to their call to lead worship with through music and song. We need seven more sopranos, seven more altos, five more tenors, and six more basses for the sanctuary choir. If you have been saying to me “oh~ Yoon, you have plenty of people up there” when I asked you to join the choir, I’d like to say that we are always looking for more singers.  The good news is that there is no audition for the sanctuary choir! SO if God has been calling you to the music ministry, now is the time to join us! We are open to 6^th graders to 120 year olds. Please contact me right away!

The chamber choir, that sings once a month at the 11:00 o’clock service, needs three altos, two tenors, and two basses. The chamber choir is an audition-only choir that sings various forms of music from baroque to modern. They meet on every other Sunday at 2:00 pm in the music room! If you want to explore more challenging music, please contact me for these openings!

The Sonrise Singers, that sing every other Sunday at the 8:00 o’clock service, needs more than two sopranos, three altos, three tenors, and three basses. They sing simple but delightful hymn arrangements or anthems for the early service. If you are early birds, this will be your perfect opportunity to join a choir. The sonrise singers meet every other Sunday at 2:00 pm.

The Floris Strings are urgently looking for viola and cello players. We had two seniors in the viola section graduate and are looking for replacements. Also, we have only one cello so far. We are open to any strings but particularly violas and cellos!

Do you have children who are in middle school and high school? We have a new ensemble called “Viva Voce”!  Viva Voce is an audition-only group that will meet at 4:00 PM on Sundays. They will have vocal coaching and rehearsals, and perform regularly during worship services! Send me an e-mail if your kids are interested in Viva Voce.

We also have handbell choirs! Yes, we have openings in our adult, student and children’s handbell choirs. For more information about handbells contact Laura Shelton at handbellhog@gmail.com.

Are you excited to give your best effort to Him? I am! My heart has been beating faster thinking about this lately. God has everything; He must have beautiful choirs that we can’t imagine. However, He still wants us to worship Him with all of our gifts that He has given us. I can promise that your hearts will be filled with thanksgiving when you give your best to Him.

Looking forward to hearing from you all!  ynam@florisumc.org