tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97450282024-02-02T07:43:38.308-05:00ResQRevThe Ponderings of a Paramedic PastorJ.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-38813974976689125782019-11-19T21:21:00.001-05:002019-11-19T21:21:26.237-05:00Let's Try This AgainIt has been a long time since I've actually blogged. So... hopefully you'll begin to see some things very soon- Some theology, some more hymnody, some Emergency Services stuff, and some of just "this and that". While I do post things on FaceBook, generally those things don't probe things deeply. This will give me a little more opportunity to expand on things and to have some control over the comments (be kind and I don't care what your position is :). So.. see ya soon!J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-59907062092508630412019-03-25T17:06:00.001-04:002019-04-14T16:52:37.375-04:00Four Hymns on the Servant Passages of IsaiahFor our Midweek Lenten services this year we are examining the four "Servant Passages" of Isaiah. As there are no hymns that are specifically written for the Servant Songs, "necessity is the mother of invention."<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here it is. I may still refine these a bit more, but they worked well for the Office Hymn.<br />
<br />
I am dedicating this hymn in loving memory to my beloved Religion, Greek, and Hebrew Professor, The Rev. Dr. Merlin Rehm of Concordia College, Bronxville, NY, "The Lord's servant who taught generations of the Lord's servants about the Lord's Servant." </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 20.0pt;">Behold, My
Chosen Servant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">THE FIRST SERVANT SONG, ISAIAH 42:1-9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">Behold, my chosen servant, The
One Whom I uphold—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">My Spirit rests upon Him, As
prophesied of old.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">He grants the nations justice,
Without a cry or shout.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">The bruised reed is not broken,
The wick is not snuffed out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">He will not be discouraged But
filled with holy mirth,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">He faithfully brings justice to
nations of the earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">Proclaiming it to coastlands That
wait upon His law,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">He gives breath to the people Who
walk in holy awe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">In righteousness I called you and
take you by the hand,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">I give you as my promise to all
within the land,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">A light unto the nations That all
the blind may see,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">To rescue from death’s prison and
set the captive free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">I AM the Lord, your Savior, I AM
the Lord alone,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">I share no other glory with idols
carved from stone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">The former things have vanished,
the new things I declare<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">See, now they spring before you,
with Him my glory share.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border: none; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Text:
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">John George Fleischmann, b. 1960<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Tune:
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ewing</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">7676D<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Give Ear to Me,
O Coastlands<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">THE SECOND SERVANT SONG ISAIAH
49:1-13<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">Give ear to me, O coastlands, And
people from afar,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">Within the womb He named me, An
arrow fit for war.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">He said to me, “My servant, The
One I glorify”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">Though all my work is fruitless, His
mercy will not die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">And now my God has formed me So Jacob
is restored,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">And Israel is gathered And
Honored by the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">The Light of God upon me As
promised from of old,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">Will save the scattered nations And
break sin’s stranglehold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">The rulers of the nations Before
you shall arise,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">And all the royal princes Will
bow before your eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">I give you as My Promise To take
away all fears,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">The prisoners unshackled, The
darkness disappears.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">The mountains will be leveled The
roadways lifted high,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">All nations come before Him To
worship and draw nigh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">O shout for joy, you heavens O
earth and mountains sing,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">The Lord shows His compassion, The
Comfort of the King.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Text: </span><i style="font-size: 9pt;">John George Fleischmann, b. 1960</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">Tune: <i>Ewing</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">7676D<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">To Me it Has
Been Given<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">THE THIRD SERVANT SONG ISAIAH 50:4-7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">To me it
has been given the tongue to teach His Word,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">That I
may calm the weary with comfort from the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">Each
morning He awakens My ear to hear his voice,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">That all
within the nations may in His hope rejoice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">For in
the Day I heard Him his heart was my desire,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">When
trials lie before me I shirk not from their fire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">For I
have come as Savior to bear the Father’s will,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">To give
My life as ransom, and righteousness fulfill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">When
whip and rod came lashing I did not turn away,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">E’en
when my beard was taken the foe was kept at bay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">From
taunting words and spitting I did not hide my face,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">Yet
cheerfully embraced them, enduring their disgrace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">Behold
the Lord has helped me under the scourge and rod,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">Like
flint, my face is hardened, fixed on the Will of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">The
arrows of the devil can never bring Me shame,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">That I
may serve the Father and glorify His Name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Text: </span><i style="font-size: 9pt;">John George Fleischmann, b. 1960</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">Tune: <i>Ewing</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">7676D</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">My Servant Shall Act Wisely<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">THE FOURTH SERVANT SONG, ISAIAH
52:13-53:12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">My Servant shall act wisely as He is
lifted up,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">And He shall be exalted by drinking of
the Cup.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">His form was marred and battered, His
visage weak and pale<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">By which He sprinkles nations, and
tears the Curtain’s Veil. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">For He grew up before Him, a root out
of dry ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">No majesty or beauty, no form in Him
was found.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">He was despised, rejected yet we
esteemed Him not,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">A man of grief and sorrows on Whom
God’s wrath is wrought. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">The punishment He suffered, the
crushing He endured,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">The striking and the smiting our
righteousness secured.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">For it was our transgressions that
caused our breath to cease,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">The chastisement He suffered now
grants us life and peace. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">It was God’s will to crush Him on
Calv’ry’s holy mound,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">A Lamb led to His slaughter, He utters
not a sound.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">His body was an off’ring, placed in a
rich man’s grave<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Now many are made righteous, who call
on Him to save. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Text: </span><i style="font-size: 9pt;">John George Fleischmann, b. 1960</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">Tune: <i>Ewing</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">7676D</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-82633710036224794722018-09-13T13:53:00.000-04:002018-09-20T12:20:05.756-04:00Presentation for September 16, 2018<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFSDMYY3bTXXY_FVTQcRHTVSCv0XhhHt21bh9z0JNjtBMt-I0PbpcYRBoHxz3LnVIDYV4WtrE6LHRUkOMFPGBQtLP2h_wYrnZLYycThD2Qhmzr4YiD-LJ_KOPiQvnDkQU7N-H/s1600/IMG_5803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="693" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFSDMYY3bTXXY_FVTQcRHTVSCv0XhhHt21bh9z0JNjtBMt-I0PbpcYRBoHxz3LnVIDYV4WtrE6LHRUkOMFPGBQtLP2h_wYrnZLYycThD2Qhmzr4YiD-LJ_KOPiQvnDkQU7N-H/s320/IMG_5803.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My brother Jim and I "donned" the gear early in life!" This is a picture taken at<br />
the 1969 Scout-A-Rama at El Camino College, LA County. Note the<br />
LAFD Rescue Truck behind us. This was 3 years before the Show "Emergency"<br />
aired. Paramedic services began shortly after this picture was taken. </td></tr>
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“…and who is my neighbor?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thank you all for coming this afternoon. It is certainly has been quite a week—with 9/11 occurring on a Tuesday- they same way it was in 2001, and now with the news of Hurricane Florence decimating the Carolinas and Virginia, the work of emergency service providers is front and center in the public’s eye. Those who serve the public in this very special way understand that what we do is a calling. It’s not just a job or something we volunteer for just for fun. There is a deep passion to do what we do that makes no sense to many on the outside. But if you are wearing a uniform today, you understand this. It’s hard to put into words. We are there because we have to be there. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m not fond of the term “first responder”. That is a name that the media christened us with following 9/11, a term that is supposed to be all-inclusive. But the tasks that we are called upon to perform go well beyond being the “first ones” there. With the recovery effort of the dead and the lost brother and sister police officers, fire fighters, and paramedics, emergency providers were not just the first to be there, but they were the last to leave—over a year later. I prefer the term—emergency service provider --over "first responder" when the need arises to describe all who answer the call for help: Police, Fire, EMS, Dispatch, and anyone else that can be put under that category. Today, we are here to give thanks to the Lord for your service, and ask both His blessing and protection upon us as we continue to serve the public in this way.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We had asked several people to present today, but none were able to make this. So, being both the pastor of this church and a 42 year firefighter and EMT, and having served as a police chaplain for the Port Authority of NY and NJ, a police chaplain for Southampton Town Police, and most recently for the Suffolk County Sheriff’s office, I decided to fill the void. I didn’t intend to do this, and next year, when we repeat this service (perhaps in a different, larger space) I hope that one of our brothers or sisters would present.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The simple question that I asked the presenters to answer was: How does your faith impact your emergency services work? Granted, we all come from different backgrounds, different faith or no faith, but I believe it to be an important question.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For me the story starts at an early age. From the time I was old enough to remember, I was attracted to the fire service. It started with Matchbox cars and Tonka trucks in the 1960s. Living outside of Chicago, our village had a volunteer fire department and was surrounded by volunteer fire departments. Before I entered Kindergarten, I could tell the difference in the fire sirens from the surrounding stations. Several times a year I convinced my dad to take me to the firehouses in our area. So… I started young.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I also had an intense love of the Church. I went through parochial school through grade 6. We moved to Los Angeles County in 1966, and in the fifth grade my teacher asked us to write down what we wanted to be when we grew up. Of course, I wrote “fireman” (that’s what they were called in 1966). The next day, she told the class that she was a little disappointed; nobody wrote that they wanted to be a teacher or a pastor. That stuck with me. One Sunday, shortly thereafter, there was a visiting pastor at our church. He, too, challenged the youth to consider a vocation in church service. On my way out, when we greeted the pastor, I told him my dilemma. “I’ve thought about being a pastor, but I want to be a fireman.” His comeback was quick: “Be a pastor and put out the hell fires.” The thought remained in the back of my head.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsOZQP5h5laHbb55A4NTYydCCWKK805tBbTWB4V1BIMhgxR0LtXcLRU4yVuyvF6kDRkDn0CBtWWhwD3wZ2DriKU0ItzhATVwCJVcV-5fwh7jIqUEss3OdAi1E41RMsv5EVGFs/s1600/IMG_5682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1162" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsOZQP5h5laHbb55A4NTYydCCWKK805tBbTWB4V1BIMhgxR0LtXcLRU4yVuyvF6kDRkDn0CBtWWhwD3wZ2DriKU0ItzhATVwCJVcV-5fwh7jIqUEss3OdAi1E41RMsv5EVGFs/s320/IMG_5682.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the Cherry Hill engines in the pre-career days. </td></tr>
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We moved to Cherry Hill NJ in 1971 where my parents retired and my mom still lives. At the time, Cherry Hill had 7 fire districts and 8 stations. Everything was volunteer at the time. Seeing that we would probably remain in Cherry Hill, the idea of becoming a career firefighter started to dissipate. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In 1976, though, I took a bold step. I joined Cherry Hill Emergency Squad as a volunteer. The squad was extremely busy. It didn’t take long before I knew that I could do this, that I was proficient in first aid, and that I loved it. The station that our ambulances ran out of also was a firehouse, so it wasn’t long afterward that I found myself in fire school and donning the gear at the time of an alarm. My avocation of emergency services had begun.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But, with everything being volunteer, I had the need of a paycheck. I began college in 1978 <o:p></o:p><br />
in Westchester County as a music major-- I received my Bachelor's degree in music, and was making plans to become a music teacher. While in college, I joined the Eastchester Volunteer Ambulance Corps ("EVAC") where I still have a lot of friends. I kept up my EMS work at college in Eastchester and then in Cherry Hill on the weekends and during vacation. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xOpWPdKxmlN2diYzVEcLkLfoSt_HB1W62-eKL1kKLwds06uVgB13MsctbzXKZb-3J16k_UMtMljwRk1vPMya2ktsE2EJvOtIyUC2UC0mWMOwW_P0T2Ykw3rRyJDg63oBB8Kn/s1600/IMG_5802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="641" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xOpWPdKxmlN2diYzVEcLkLfoSt_HB1W62-eKL1kKLwds06uVgB13MsctbzXKZb-3J16k_UMtMljwRk1vPMya2ktsE2EJvOtIyUC2UC0mWMOwW_P0T2Ykw3rRyJDg63oBB8Kn/s320/IMG_5802.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">EVAC Ambulance "Car 61' along with Eastchester FD Rescue 5 and Captain Car 2102</td></tr>
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On May 31, 1981, I had the worst call of my life, a life-changing call for my co-workers and me. <o:p></o:p></div>
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At 5:40 on this gloomy Sunday morning, a call for an automatic alarm went off in the Northwoods section of Cherry Hill. My best friend, Chuck, who also was a firefighter and EMT, was in the ambulance, coming back from the hospital after an ambulance call. Normally, ambulances were not sent on automatic alarms, but Chuck and his partner had to pass by the neighborhood where the call was. He turned onto the street, Clark Drive, and witnessed pandemonium. Two adults—a husband and a wife were in the front yard, the husband with no shirt on and severe burns on his back. The wife, in her nightgown, was walking around like a zombie, crying. “My kids are inside!!!” he yelled to Chuck. The house was chumming—pressurized smoke coming out of the upper stories, with a heavy volume of fire on the first floor. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A clipping from the NY Times, June 1, 1981</td></tr>
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The first engine had not yet arrived. Chuck advised the dispatcher what he had, and as a firefighter did a quick 360 around the house. In the C/D Corner ( that’s the ¾ corner for Suffolk) on the D side there was a window. In that window was a child, banging on the glass screaming for help.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The first engine pulled up. Chuck ran for the extension ladder on the side of the truck and began to run toward that window to grab the boy. However, a firefighter came up, pushed Chuck down and said, “you can’t do that, you don’t have any gear on.” As Chuck lay on the grass on the D side of the house, he witnessed the little boy fall back into the room, and the room lit up. The firefighter never realized that he contributed to the death of this child. But Chuck did. He harbored anger toward that guy for the rest of his life. He had made a promise to that child, and he broke it. He suffered what we have come to know as “moral injury”. He spent the rest of his days blaming himself for that child’s death. Nobody could reach him. He finished out his career of 33 years with Cherry Hill (they had gone fully career by that point). </div>
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I responded in the second-due ambulance. We got to the scene about 5 minutes after all of this took place. We had no knowledge of it at the time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was like a nightmare. I saw teams doing CPR on victims with little legs in three different spots on the lawn. As I got out of the ambulance, firefighters brought the fourth boy out—the one that Chuck had tried to help, and laid him at my feet. CPR. Oh no, It’s a kid. My partner and I began CPR, loaded the child in the rig. I was driving the ambulance at the time, so we grabbed one of the firefighters to do compressions as we went to the hospital. I was numb behind that wheel on the four minute drive to the ED. I just couldn’t believe what I saw.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The parents arrived at the ED a few minutes later. Two of the children were brought to this hospital, the others were taken to other local hospitals. Four pediatric arrests at once. The parents went into the waiting room. The chief turns to me and says, “go out into the waiting room and stay with the parents.” It was the longest 15 minutes of my life. I didn’t know what to say. Or what not to say. Or what to do at all. There I sat. It was hard not to join them in their crying. I escaped when the doctor came in to tell them that the two boys had died. The phone calls came in from doctors from the other two hospitals with the same news about their other sons. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8W1CTkPwwgA4mOXsSVmnT7s56W2El7GoTPixp_7Q8hu-t6ONk1nuBgkgU2EwZuVl98YPzlJyihSgjOQLy_H6qODsxX5MP7q9QiwGxw2RmfRsrCvrru-zLUeUc-jVC_WgaCWs7/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="170" data-original-width="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8W1CTkPwwgA4mOXsSVmnT7s56W2El7GoTPixp_7Q8hu-t6ONk1nuBgkgU2EwZuVl98YPzlJyihSgjOQLy_H6qODsxX5MP7q9QiwGxw2RmfRsrCvrru-zLUeUc-jVC_WgaCWs7/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>
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We returned to the fire scene with the ambulances. We all sat in the back of one of the new modulances. Nobody said a word. There was no such thing as Critical Incident Stress Management, nobody knew anything about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Moral Injury, but we all had it. I looked at Melody, one of my partners. She still had soot around her mouth from doing mouth to mouth on one of the kids. She lived just a few doors down and started CPR on one of the kids before the rest of the crews arrived. Her eyes were large and wet. And there we sat for about another hour before going home. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Pondering all of this as I got home, I didn’t know what to think. I couldn’t sit still. I couldn’t close my eyes because I would see the little boy. Or the soot on Melody’s mouth and nose. Or the parents in that waiting room.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was a Sunday, and so I went to church with my parents that day. I couldn’t focus on the liturgy. My mind was a thousand miles away. I talked briefly to our pastor after church and told him that I had just gone through something horrible. I don’t remember what he said, because I couldn’t hear it through the din of my mind. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In pondering this situation, the idea of pastoral ministry once again popped into my mind. Actually, I think it was put there by God. I didn’t know what to say to the parents. I wanted to know how to minister to people like that—people at the darkest moments of their lives. I wanted to bring some light into it. I couldn’t do it for them. But I could do it for others. When I went back to college, I finished the prerequisite classes for seminary, and then in September of 1982 I entered seminary. I was ordained in 1986. The Lord has blessed me both in my ministry as well as allowed me to continue to do what I love doing—serving others as an active paramedic, firefighter, and emergency services chaplain. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8C4nADrhuwaaHNQzIpDiSrkFoVsX8DVFmON1JRHA4JXAyijroh8bRJhiubVm5IOBwiTgJagxRZxCOCBtVyrYjWgwKyJiLA6IsU_Hlt8jbgTNtXo33GomcaVStiClCFE8vJlb/s1600/fullsizeoutput_bb5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="216" data-original-width="183" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8C4nADrhuwaaHNQzIpDiSrkFoVsX8DVFmON1JRHA4JXAyijroh8bRJhiubVm5IOBwiTgJagxRZxCOCBtVyrYjWgwKyJiLA6IsU_Hlt8jbgTNtXo33GomcaVStiClCFE8vJlb/s200/fullsizeoutput_bb5.jpeg" width="169" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've been blessed to serve with Patchogue Ambulance since 1988.</td></tr>
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I’ve been blessed now to have pastoral ministry and emergency services come together in a great way in my life in two ways. First, through Chaplaincy. Providing ministry with boots on the ground for Fire, EMS, Police and Sheriffs. That is a great honor. And secondly, through my service on the Suffolk County CISM Team, which I became a member of in 1990. Being able to meet with those who have gone through the same stuff, those with the same scars, fears, and joys, and to assist them in getting it out. Talking about it. Finding strength and healing in both the Lord and in our peers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I share this with all humility. I do not want to be in the spotlight. I simply want to say that there is no way that I can divorce emergency services work from my faith in the Lord, or from my ministry to our neighbors. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdkPQgCNXK_YDgTQyvGjt1P2Ei4YCutDC3Jv8w8qF8NcWY3Vx38W62qw68V05hp_S7PjPFhL5FlZJJtfdQTKmGa7iM8hSzD0-FYH7YxiwjHjTHubeRiLJKQgrte7jMxr6kTKW/s1600/IMG_5577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="1024" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdkPQgCNXK_YDgTQyvGjt1P2Ei4YCutDC3Jv8w8qF8NcWY3Vx38W62qw68V05hp_S7PjPFhL5FlZJJtfdQTKmGa7iM8hSzD0-FYH7YxiwjHjTHubeRiLJKQgrte7jMxr6kTKW/s320/IMG_5577.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A picture taken at Center Moriches FD this past Memorial Day</td></tr>
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My story is not unique. You all have yours. Maybe things even worse. But it is through faith in Christ, His presence, His forgiveness from the Cross, His love and mercy, that we press on. <o:p></o:p></div>
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May the Lord bless and sustain you in your holy calling of emergency services.<o:p></o:p></div>
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J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-53786332058654359072018-01-20T09:30:00.000-05:002018-12-24T10:48:32.212-05:00Some of My Doctoral ResearchI am presently working on my Doctor of Ministry Capstone writing project for Trinity Seminary, Evansville, Indiana. My working title for the thesis is "Sparks in the Stubble: Ministry to Emergency Service Providers in the Congregation." The focus is distinctly different from Emergency Services Chaplaincy- there is a lot written on Chaplaincy. My thesis deals with being a <i>pastor</i> to those in the Congregation who serve in the Emergency Services (Chiefly Fire, Police and Emergency Medical Services). As a part of this, I am reviewing raw footage and radio traffic from LODD situations and Civilian Fatalities on YouTube. I am going to be adding videos to this blog page as I progress.<br />
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If you want to understand what Emergency Service Providers go through when one of their members is killed, watch the videos. They are graphic, so be forewarned.<br />
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If you are an Emergency Service provider and would like to take part in a future survey, please email me at resqrev@gmail.com.<br />
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Thank you.<br />
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Black Sunday Fire, FDNY/ Bronx, January 23, 2005</div>
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NYPD LODD Coney Island High Rise Fire, 2007 Surf Ave., Brooklyn</div>
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April 6, 2014</div>
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Bronx Fire with 12 Fatalities, December 28, 2017</div>
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Philadelphia Fire Department LODD, January 6, 2018<br />
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FDNY House Explosion, Bronx, 9/27/16</div>
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More to be added this week. After all are added, I will arrange these in chronological order. Until then I'm using this as a "clipboard" just to capture the videos I will be using.J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-53471416665831741142016-12-30T18:30:00.000-05:002016-12-30T18:30:23.245-05:00Sermon for the Feast of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>And at the end of
eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the
angel before he was conceived in the womb. Luke 2:21<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Καὶ ὅτε ἐπλήσθησαν ἡμέραι
ὀκτὼ τοῦ περιτεμεῖν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐκλήθη τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦς, τὸ κληθὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀγγέλου
πρὸ τοῦ συλλημφθῆναι αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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In the Name of our Incarnate Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A blessed New Year to you!
Every New Year we look back on the year past- remembering the joys and trying
to forget the tragedies. The temptation is
to look forward and think somehow that the New Year which we are entering will
be “kinder and gentler” toward us. If
that is the case you will be sorely disappointed. For our hope is not in the newness of a year,
but in a name- the Name of Jesus. And today our Gospel brings us to the
Circumcision and Naming of Jesus, a most important day on the Church Calendar
which we rarely get to observe.<o:p></o:p></div>
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On the eighth day, Jesus was circumcised. This alone could be the topic of a week’s
worth of sermons. But to unpack it just
a bit, circumcision was something that God commanded and worked in and
through. The Hebrews did this from the
time of Abraham. This act did several
things. First, it was God’s act. He made them a Child of the Covenant through
it. Second, it was an appropriate
reminder to all of God’s children that it would be through the loins and the
seed of the Israelites that the Messiah of the world would come through their
line. We don’t talk about that much, but that is why God chose this act for all
males 8 days and over. <o:p></o:p></div>
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For us, circumcision has been replaced by the Lord with
Baptism. It is God’s act. It has marked you as a child of the New
Covenant. It has forgiven all your sins
and made you a member of the Body of Christ. And, just as circumcision was done
to infants, so the Water and Word of Baptism pours over our Children as well,
granting them Faith through God’s Holy Spirit.
Withholding Baptism from infants is a new and false practice in the Church
of God.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At the time of His circumcision, our Lord was given His
name: YESHUA, in English, Jesus or Joshua. It means the same thing: Yaweh
Saves. We have often spoken of how
Biblical names reflected who each person was.
And Jesus came on this special mission from Heaven to save His people from
their sins.<o:p></o:p></div>
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An interesting point: within the Jewish faith, the name
Jesus is a common name. Many had
it. The Sixth book in the Bible proves
it: Joshua. And just as Joshua, who was
a type of Jesus, led God’s people into the Promised Land, Jesus does this for
you and me with His blood cleansing sacrifice of Calvary’s Cross, the only way
to the Father and into heaven. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In the Old Testament we never hear the Name Jesus applied to
our Lord. There are other names- we
heard them in the O Antiphons of Advent: Wisdom, Lord, Root of Jesse, Key of
David, Dayspring, King, and Emmanuel.
But never Jesus.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We first hear the name Jesus uttered in the First Chapter of
Luke, when the Angel Gabriel says to Mary, “You will be with child and give
birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” (Luke 1:31).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Joseph, likewise is given the name of their child by the
angel: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Behold, an angel of
the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear
to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy
Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will
save his people from their sins.” <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου
κατ᾽ ὄναρ ἐφάνη αὐτῷ λέγων, Ἰωσὴφ υἱὸς Δαυίδ, μὴ φοβηθῇς παραλαβεῖν Μαρίαν τὴν
γυναῖκά σου· τὸ γὰρ ἐν αὐτῇ γεννηθὲν ἐκ πνεύματός ἐστιν ἁγίου. τέξεται δὲ υἱὸν,
καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν· αὐτὸς γὰρ σώσει τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν
αὐτῶν.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Now, place yourself at Jesus’ Bris. As the Moil began the
rite of Circumcision and asked the Name of the Child, Mary and Joseph surprised
each other as they both spoke the Name “Jesus” at the same time. “You shall call his name Jesus, for He will
save His people from their sins.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Oh, there’s power in that Name, beloved. It is this NAME
that all things are made new. All of
Creation, The Church, You and Me. All
restored to God the Father through the Name Jesus. That name is branded upon you in the Mark of
the Cross on your Forehead and heart.
You belong to Jesus. And everyone who calls upon the Name of Jesus will
be saved.<o:p></o:p></div>
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No matter what 2017
or the future throws at you, who cares? <b><i>Take
they our life, goods, fame, child or wife, let these all be gone, the victory
yet is won: the Kingdom ours remaineth</i></b>. Because the name of Him who
saves is shown forth in who He saves, Alleluia!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Name of Jesus is an exclusive name. “No one can come to the Father except through
me.” Understanding this truth is the
driving force in our evangelism. All
rivers to not lead to the same ocean. It
does matter what you believe and whom you believe in. It is not your sincerity of belief in
whatever that saves. And this name is
only given to sinners. It can only save
sinners. It is not for those who
consider themselves sinless, nor will it save them in the end. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Peter and John were preaching to the Jews in the Name of
Jesus, because the Jews need Jesus also.
They cannot be saved under their old covenant, for God Himself made all
things new. And so, risking life and
limb, Peter and John do what most would consider to be politically incorrect
today: They go to the Jews, in their own Temple, and the preach the Name and
the Resurrection of Jesus. They do this not out of judgment, but out of
love. <o:p></o:p></div>
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They were arrested in an attempt to silence them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Their response is astonishing:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>There is salvation in
no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which
we must be saved.”</b> Acts 4:11-12<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν ἄλλῳ
οὐδενὶ ἡ σωτηρία, οὐδὲ γὰρ ὄνομά ἐστιν ἕτερον ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανὸν τὸ δεδομένον ἐν ἀνθρώποις
ἐν ᾧ δεῖ σωθῆναι ἡμᾶς.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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The Sanhedrin then called them in and “commanded them not to
speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Their response is what the Spirit leads us all to say:<o:p></o:p></div>
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“We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.:<o:p></o:p></div>
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What kind of a Name’ is that? Jesus. You shall call His Name Jesus for He
will save their people from their sins. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Sadly, I must say, it is much the same today. People get offended when we talk about
Jesus. Just ask the United States
military chaplains, who are no longer allowed to mention that Name in public,
only in the four corners of their chapels, and only when people who believe the
same are joining them. What does that tell you about the power of the Name of
Jesus? Why does no one ever say “devil
damnit”?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Because Satan knows the power of the Name of Jesus. That is the “one little word” that can “fell”
him that we sing of in “A Mighty Fortress.”
Jesus. Say it with me: Jesus. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Jesus is the name prevailing<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Over every name by right;<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>At this name, in terror quailing,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Powers of hell are put to flight;<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>God, in mercy, never failing,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Saves us by this Name of Might.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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The devil cannot stand it when Jesus’ Name is uttered by
us. He must flee at the Name of
Jesus. So He will do everything in His
power to keep us from uttering it, including kill those who confess it. Anything to keep you from uttering that
precious Name which has made you new. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Try as he will, Satan cannot eradicate that Name which is
his undoing. He tries. He tempts us to
only use Jesus’ name as we blaspheme Him.
Obey the Second Commandment. For God will not hold guiltless anyone who
uses His Name in vain. Mind your
training in the <i>Small Catechism</i> as
you only use Jesus’ name to pray, praise and give thanks. That is how you perform an exorcism in your
own lives. You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from
their sins. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As we heard throughout the end of the Church year and
Advent, Jesus is coming again. Paul
reminds us<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i>God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above
every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and
on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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ὁ θεὸς αὐτὸν ὑπερύψωσεν καὶ ἐχαρίσατο αὐτῷ τὸ ὄνομα τὸ ὑπὲρ
πᾶν ὄνομα, ἵνα ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ πᾶν γόνυ κάμψῃ ἐπουρανίων καὶ ἐπιγείων καὶ
καταχθονίων καὶ πᾶσα γλῶσσα ἐξομολογήσηται ὅτι κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς εἰς δόξαν
θεοῦ πατρός.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As every knee bows before the King and Judge Jesus, the last
thing everyone will say before entering eternity will be “Jesus.” “Jesus”. “Jesus.” For some, it will be a horrible name to say,
for they rejected Him. They cursed Him.
And now they must admit they were wrong and enter into eternal damnation
because of it. Ironic. They will confess “Yahweh Saves” and then not
be saved. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But for those who are under the blood, those who are marked
by this Name, they will experience the glory prepared for them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our brokenness cannot be defined by an outgoing year. Only
by sin. And our newness and hope does
not come from entering another year, but in the Name that is above all names.<o:p></o:p></div>
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You shall call Him Jesus, for He will save His people from
their sins.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen. <o:p></o:p></div>
J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-40065599736270889712016-12-28T09:45:00.000-05:002016-12-28T10:30:56.614-05:00Flowerets Bright<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">In
stable bright in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Was
born the King of All<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Scepter
and Crown of David's line<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Whom
David Lord did call.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">His
Kingdom is not of this world--<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">But
few would understand--<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">This
is the Heavenly Prince of Peace<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Sung
by angelic band.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">The
star arose upon his bed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">In
splendor shone on high.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Came
sages to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">To
worship and draw nigh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">“Where
is the one born King of Jews?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">The
sages did demand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">King
Herod then became enraged<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">For
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Judah</st1:country-region></st1:place>
was his land.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">“In
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:city></st1:place>” the
teachers said,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">“The
Prophet Micah told<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">‘A
Ruler will be born to you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">From
ancient times, of old.’”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Then
Herod called them privily<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">“When
did the star appear?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">“Go
unto <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:city></st1:place>
and search<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">That
I may, too, draw near.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">With
haste the sages went their way<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Gifting
the Infant pure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">And
worshiped there the King of Kings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">With
gold and spice and Myrrh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Then,
warned of God as in a dream,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">“Return
another way<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">For
Herod seeks to take His life,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">His
rivalry to slay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Too,
Joseph in angelic dream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Was
warned to flee the land<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">For
Herod sought to seize the child<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">And
slay him with his hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">“Take
Mary and the Holy Child<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">From
out of Herod's way<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">From
Egypt God will call His Son<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">E'en
as the prophets say.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">And
when the king had been deceived<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">His
fury burned with might<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">He
dispatched death to all the sons<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">From
when the star gave light.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">The
First in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region></st1:place>
to fall,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">O
Holy Flowerets bright,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Stand
as a sign against the world<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">That
gropes in death's dark night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Throughout
the land a voice is heard</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">That
ceases not to mourn;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">As
Rachel weeps for all her sons<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Who
died when they were born.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Jesus,
the Christ for whom they died<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Brings
forth not peace, but sword<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">That
soon would pierce His mother’s soul<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">When
He died as her Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Lord,
as the infants gave their all<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Your
Holy life to spare,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">May
we, anointed as your priests,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">In
truth Your Light declare.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Cause
us to stand, a holy band<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Unmoved
e'en pierced by sword.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Grant
us at last the Crown of Life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">The
Christ Child’s great reward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Written in 1995</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">John G. Fleischmann</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Tune: <i>Bethlehem</i></span></div>
J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-35186490220777346452015-10-26T09:10:00.000-04:002015-10-26T10:16:00.567-04:002015 Additions to the Hymn "By All Your Saints in Warfare"Every year I compose a hymn verse for each Congregational member who has died during the year for the hymn <i>By All Your Saints in Warfare.</i> I've been doing this since 2006; perhaps one of these days I will go back to 1991 and write a verse for those who died before I started writing these verses.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This year we have had 7 deaths thus far. Unfortunately, two of those died this past week-- after next week's bulletin was already printed, so they will be included in next year's verses (Mildred Krawcheck and Ruth Cloughen).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A brief history on each of those who died.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Gerard Reiss was confined to a wheel-chair for the majority of his life.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Bonnie Sherwood was a deaconess in our Congregation.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Paul Ferguson was a trumpeter who had, in the past, accompanied our congregation in song.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Betty Dorosky was very active in our LWML until she moved to an Assisted Living facility.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Marie Rybke was an expert seamstress, known throughout our community. She died just a few months shy of her 100th birthday.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here are the verses:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif;"><i><b>By All Your Saints in Warfare (Lutheran Service Book 517, 518)</b></i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">Verse 1<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">By all Your saints in warfare,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">For all Your saints at rest,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">Your holy name, O Jesus,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">Forevermore be blest! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">For You have won the battle <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">That they might wear the crown;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">And now they shine in glory<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">Reflected from Your throne.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Gerard Reiss<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The house was
overflowing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The ceiling
opened wide,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The paralytic
lowered<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Unto the
Savior's side:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">"To show
you are forgiven,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Take up your mat
and run!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Gerard now
stands in mercy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Through faith in
God's own Son.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Deaconess Bonnie
Sherwood<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">O Lord, for
faithful Bonnie,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Whose call upon
her life,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Showed forth
Your Holy Presence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Amidst our pain
and strife--<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We praise You
for her witness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">To Jesus as the
Lord,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Who loved your
saints like Phoebe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Through service
and the Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Paul Ferguson<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Lord is in
His temple;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Now worship Him
in Song.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">With strings and
lute and cymbal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">His praises now
prolong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As Paul, who led
our praises,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">By trumpeting
your grace,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Lead us to sing
Your glory<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Till we behold
Your Face!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<b><i><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Betty Dorosky<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Your Law, O God, is perfect<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;">And lights our earthly way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Your precepts lead and guide us<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Unto that Awesome Day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We thank you, Lord for Betty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Who trusted You as Lord,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now let Your Gospel guide us,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Your peace and joy afford.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before: always;" />
</span></u></b>
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marie Rybke<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The finest cloth
of purple<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">By Lydia of old<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Was spun and
weaved and tailored<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">To shelter kings
from cold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marie cared for
her neighbor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">With keenest eye
and hand;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Which pointed to
the garments<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">That clothe the
heavenly band.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">Verse 3<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">Then let us praise the Father <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">And worship God the Son<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">And sing to God the Spirit,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">Eternal Three in One,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">Till all the ransomed number <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">Fall down before the throne,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">Ascribing power and glory<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">And praise to God alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
</div>
J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-85235358958605740432015-02-28T11:51:00.003-05:002015-02-28T11:52:21.090-05:00"Be Faithful unto death and I will give you a crown of life."<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabmXQx_o73blsl_PS1LzPrXmn4Wd52JtjDm_SUyMI6xIIyBeF9s-VbBiLjGu2M1wt1GbYowTvgNncot8mMR2QoUQ27VcBUpQ12YHs1N3Y6uI0i8BMZ2fp09y4KiR0bo13Zk3w/s1600/21+Martyrs+of+February+15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabmXQx_o73blsl_PS1LzPrXmn4Wd52JtjDm_SUyMI6xIIyBeF9s-VbBiLjGu2M1wt1GbYowTvgNncot8mMR2QoUQ27VcBUpQ12YHs1N3Y6uI0i8BMZ2fp09y4KiR0bo13Zk3w/s1600/21+Martyrs+of+February+15.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-85690369316372085122015-01-07T09:01:00.000-05:002015-01-07T09:01:14.534-05:00Light From Above: An Epiphany Hymn<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Upon the formless
void, the Father uttered, “Light”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The universe
exploding beamed His glorious might.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Refrain<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Light from above!
With Grace divine, arise and shine His radiant love.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Created out of clay,
the Father-Sculptured-Man<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Rebelling, squelched
the breath of life, to darkness ran.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Refrain<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">No light in all the
world could ebb sin’s cloudy flow;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thick Darkness
overtook and swallowed all below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Refrain<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Begotten from above,
the Word took on our frame,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pierced through sin’s
choking darkness, Light of Light He came.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Refrain<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Drawn to that Risen
Sun, with Healing in His Wings,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The nations leap for
joy in light that Jesus brings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Refrain</span></i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Go spread to all the
world His saving beams divine,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The darkness plunder
with His Light, His mercy shine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Refrain</span></i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">___________________________________</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">©John G. Fleischmann,
1996<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Tune: Darwall’s 148<sup>th</sup><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Written for the
Atlantic District LWML Convention, 1996</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-82615241170213055702014-12-28T14:42:00.002-05:002014-12-28T14:42:40.892-05:00A Point to Ponder from Today's Sermon (Holy Innocents)<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>We don't know how many baby boys were slain in Bethlehem by Herod's Sword.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>We do know that millions upon millions more have been slain in the United States of America since 1973.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-62022695043485425132014-12-25T20:41:00.002-05:002014-12-25T20:41:39.445-05:00Blessed Christmass<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, it has been a very long time since I've had the time to sit down and blog. It's Christmass night and all of the services are finished. Thank goodness that there is a little breather between Christmass and Lent- these times are very intense in ministry. Once again, everything came together. The sermons went well, as did the music. <br />
<br />
With the lack of an organist, I turned to our organ's sequencer and controlled it remotely. While we normally utilize the excellent music from <i>Church Music Solutions</i> in our Sunday services, I had recorded Christmass Eve several years ago--, before we utilized their excellent services. As there are well over a dozen hymns, especially for our "Lessons and Carols" service, it was simply easier to reuse the old 3 1/2 inch disks. Once the services are on the disk, they remain so unless overwritten.<br />
<br />
The system was pretty "leading edge" 20 years ago when we purchased the organ. Hymns and liturgy can be input into the organ and each component of the service is saved on a different "track" on the disk. When activated, the sequencer actually "plays" the organ- (it's <i>not</i> and audio recording like a CD) complete with stop changes and in real time (yep, it records those accidental oopses quite well!) The organ is controlled remotely with a device that looks very similar to a TV remote. Each track is loaded remotely, and then you hit the "play" button and off it goes. <br />
<br />
The problem is that sometimes the disks-- which by today's standards are obsolete-- don't always "spin" correctly. If the humidity is up or the church is too warm or cold, there are usually problems with the organ. If the new track doesn't load, when you hit the play button, it replays the previous track. (There is no way to confirm that the new track loaded except by hitting the play button. Too bad that the technology of that time didn't allow for some kind of "handshake" between the organ and remote that would indicate what track was about to play). Oops.<br />
<br />
A missed load only happened once in three services, so I am grateful that it worked. I think next year we will order everything from CMS and I'll get a Confirmation student to be "organist" at each service as we do on Sundays. (Instead of an RF Remote, CMS utilizes an iPad with a MIDI interface. All of the liturgy and hymns are included, in order, and the student just needs to know when to press "play." Plus, they are much better organists than I). So there was a little "Russian Roulette" going on with the organ. I'm still standing, so I guess it worked ok. I think I was more stressed about the organ than anything else during the services.<br />
<br />
I'd really love to get an organist- even if only for the festival services at Christmass and Easter. It would surely make life so much easier. But until that time, this works ok. Most folk don't even realize that no one is sitting at the console, hidden up in the balcony. Hey- the ushers often include the (missing) organist in the "count" because they just assume someone is up there playing. Seriously it would help.<br />
<br />
BUT... try to find an organist today. Concordia-NY canned their music program over a decade ago (a sin in my mind, particularly since my BA is from there and it is in Church Music-- it used to be one of the leading places one could attend and study organ). The organists that are out there want more than I get paid as a pastor. Thank goodness for CMS. <br />
<br />
We had been spoiled for over 30 years with an excellent organist. But after her retirement, there was no one to be found who was able to play liturgically and lead the congregation. Frustrating!! I guess the Lord knew what He was doing when he called me to this congregation... We've never had a Sunday or Feast Day without the organ.<br />
<br />
Well, the voices were uplifted, the hymns sung, the offertories offered and we made it. The stress is over -- at least until Holy Week. Until then, I think I'm going to kick back and enjoy this mug of Egg Nog. Merry Christmass!<br />
<br />
<br />J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-52263321936850717492014-05-24T21:20:00.001-04:002014-09-13T12:57:17.208-04:00New Hymn<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><i><span style="font-size: large;">O Lord, Your Blessing Through These Many Years</span></i><span style="font-size: 20pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Written for St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Farmingdale, NY<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Wingdings 2"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-symbol-font-family: "Wingdings 2";">h</span><span style="font-family: "Wingdings 2"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-symbol-font-family: "Wingdings 2";">g</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 20.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">O Lord, Your blessing through
these many years<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">In joy and tears,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Has shown You hold us fast, and
will until at last<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">We join to praise the Lamb who
is the Great I AM.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Lift up your hearts, your
praises to the King!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Of Him We Sing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">For faithful pastors who
proclaimed Your Word,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">We praise You, Lord,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">They preached the Savior’s
strife and pointed to the Life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">That comes through Jesus’ Cross
despite our pain and loss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Their words are Yours, to
change a sinful heart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Your grace impart!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Here at the font, we died with
Christ, our Lord,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">The water poured<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">To drown the life of sin, and
all that lurked within<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">That we might rise anew to life
so pure and true.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">This gift is life, this fresh
and lavish flood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">In Jesus’ blood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">The Feast to Come, now on the
Altar spread,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Mere wine and bread,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Now bear the Savior’s Blood, and
Body for our good;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">True Bread from heav’n above brings
mercy, peace and love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Until He comes again, His death
proclaim,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">In Jesus’ Name!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Now lead us forth, unfurl your
Banner high,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">And draw us nigh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">That we Your Cross would bear, Your
Saving Gospel share,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">And boldly shine your beams of
Light Into the night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Within Your Body, bind us all
as One,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">O Risen Son!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">________________________________________</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">©2014
John George Fleischmann, b. 1960, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Tune:
Paul Liljestrand, b. 1931<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Setting:
Steven F. Wente, b. 1952</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;"><b>CONRAD</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">14 12 12 14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span>J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-31389300348245489242014-05-20T11:30:00.000-04:002014-05-20T11:30:55.007-04:00Easter Triumph, Easter JoyIt has been a rough couple of weeks.<br />
<br />
Since Easter I have either conducted, been to, or involved in ministry in 16 deaths. It's only the Fifth Week of Easter, and I venture to say that these are more deaths than I have ever experienced at once in nearly 30 years of parish ministry.<br />
<br />
Among those who have died were four close friends, and another is on hospice as I sit here at Mather Hospital and compose.<br />
<br />
It began with my dear friend, John M. Urevich. I've known John for many years- he was very active in the Fire Service in Suffolk County, younger than me, but we shared the same passion. When I wrote my blog article making suggestions to change EMS for the better, he was among the first to contact me and tell me that I was right on. He was the chair of the Suffolk County Wildfire Commission, and his teaching has literally circled the globe on the innovative ways that we protect our vast woods on Eastern Long Island. He would frequently invite my wife and me to dinner, to concerts, or to hang out . When his dog, "Happy" was to be put down, Johnny (as we called each other) called me to come to the Vet's office when it happened. I joined Johnny and his beloved wife, Cathy, as Happy crossed the Rainbow Bridge. A difficult, yet treasured moment in my mind that will stay with me all of my days. John had a stroke, and within two weeks another, to which he succumbed. That hurt!<br />
<br />
On the same day that John died, I received word that one of our former beloved parishioners, Robert Kamps, had gone to be with The Lord. Bob and our family were very close. When we moved into the Parsonage, he was our "point man." Whenever there was a leaky pipe, a heater issue, a problem with anything, Bob was there. He was a brilliant handyman, yet would never take on a project that needed professional attention. Bob was our miracle man. In 2001, Bob went hunting in the Catskills. While at the hunting lodge, he felt ill, made his way into the bathroom, and went into cardiac arrest. His hunting buddies performed CPR, which was continued until he reached the Catskill Regional Hospital. His heart beat and breathing were restored, and he was transferred-- by Nassau County Police Helicopter (Bob was a retired NC Police Officer) to Nassau County Medical Center. He remained on a ventilator for months, critical and uncoscious. Miracle of miracles, I saw him on Christmas Eve, 2001, and he opened his eyes. Within a couple of weeks we were having conversations, just as if nothing had happened. His wife, Mary, died in 2008- but Bob was given 13 more years. After he moved, we still visited with each other-- First in Amityville, and then in Floral Park. He made the trek out to Center Moriches last summer with a friend, and we had lunch at his favorite place, the Moriches Bay Diner. Last year, he was diagnosed with cancer, that finally won the earthly battle. I was invited to say a few words at his funeral, which I was honored to do. The pastor had invited me to participate, but I told him I didn't think I'd be able to do it without breaking down.<br />
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Robert "Bobby" Knight, another giant in the fire service in NY (we owe him a debt of gratitude for being the prime 'mover and shaker' in getting LOSAP Passed - the retirement plan for volunteer firefighters and EMTs was in Washington DC when he had a stroke and quickly succumbed to it. I've known Bobby since 2006. He was a down-to-earth man, who gave everything he had to the Fire Service. But again, a friend outside of the bells and whistles also. He used to razz me when I used my ipad for funerals-- "Hey Rev., what happens when your battery dies?? We're in for it, because you won't know when to shut up and sit down!"<br />
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Then, a valiant saint from our Congregation died from complications of COPD. Charlie Tyrie, whose wife, Hazel, is a dear and who has served in many capacities over the years in our Congregation, left quite a legacy. We had recently placed him on our Shut In List, as he deteriorated rather quickly. The support of our Congregation for his family was outstanding. The funeral took place the Second Week of Easter on a Wednesday afternoon, and the Church was packed.<br />
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Now, another friend is on hospice. The phone call I received a few minutes ago indicates that he will not last the day. I was with Pat when he realized something was wrong. I encouraged him to go to his physician. I didn't see him for a couple of weeks after that, when he showed up one evening where I serve as a paramedic and told me that he had been in Stony Brook University hospital and had brain surgery. They removed tumors that had spread from his lungs. At that point, he was not just a coworker, but a sheep. He had stopped going to his church about a year earlier, and was seeking spiritual care. How could I deny that? We met for lunch several times. During his illness he would come down to the ambulance building and stay with me for four hours each week, where we would talk about all those things that you would with a brother in Christ facing death. We worked on his will. We worked on getting him benefits to cover his medical care. I encouraged him to make peace with his family. He listened. And he did. And because of it, all of his brothers and sisters are either gathered around his bed this very moment, or on their knees praying for him because they can't make it to New York. I am hoping to see him later today- I'm waiting for my wife to come out of the recovery room following this morning's surgery.<br />
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That's 5.... if Pat does pass today, it will be 17 since Easter. The other 12 all count, too, among whom were one of my first Sunday school teachers who literally supported me when I was in Seminary, the brother of my daughter Katie's friend, Erin, only 25 and died a tragic death, and some other very special people.<br />
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So people ask, "How do you do this?" I ask it, too. Apart from being exhausted from the physical energy it takes to minister to the sick and dying, I'm doing fine. Not because I am a stoic- if you know me, you know that such a description could never be made of me. But because of Easter. The same season that seemingly brought about all of these deaths is the same "season" based on an event that has emasculated death. The tomb was Empty on that First Easter, and that means the tomb of these 17 will be opened on the Last Day, for the Triumphant Lamb, Jesus Christ, was sacrificed for our sins and raised for our Justification.<br />
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That's Easter Triumph, Easter Joy.J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-75902833299581636942014-02-25T10:59:00.001-05:002014-02-25T10:59:34.858-05:00Transfiguration HymnUp the Holy Mount Ascending
(Regent Square)
Up the holy mount ascending, Jesus’ glory now revealed;
Law and Prophet stand before Him, their true meaning now unsealed. <br />Alleluia! Alleluia! His departure soon to yield.<br /><br />
The disciple who confessed Him, with the two were wrapped in fear; Speechless, offered to build shelter, so to keep the moment near. Alleluia! Alleluia! “It is good, Lord, to be here.”<br /><br />
As the bright cloud did enfold them, and the heavens opened wide, “My beloved Son, My Chosen,” God the Father testified. Alleluia! Alleluia! Let His Word now be your guide.<br /><br />
When they heard the Voice, most holy, they fell face down on the ground; “Rise and fear not”, Jesus bade them; For a time to silence bound. Alleluia! Alleluia! As they left that sacred Mound. <br /><br />
Could this truly be Messiah as they pondered all they saw? Was not first Elijah coming, in fulfillment of the Law? Alleluia! Alleluia! They asked Him in fearful awe.<br /><br />
The fulfillment of Elijah to the world already came,
As he suffered under Herod, Son of Man must do the same. Alleluia! Alleluia! Then they recognized his name.<br /><br />
In Your Light and in Your Glory, to our altars now descend
With your Holy Body broken, and your blood Your curtain rend. As you climbed That Other Mountain, we now praise You without end!<br /><br />
Praise the Father who has made us, giving us His Son, most dear! Praise to Jesus Christ, who Saves Us, freeing us from death and fear! Glory to the Holy Spirit! It is good, Lord, to be here.<br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br />J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-73641707924151919522014-01-10T16:00:00.001-05:002014-01-10T16:00:50.442-05:00MagicThe weather outside literally has been frightful! Freezing rain hit the ground and put an invisible glaze of ice everywhere. <br /><br />As it is not a good day to be out, I've taken advantage of the time for reading, writing and a little "hamming". That's right; I said "Hamming" - i. e. getting on the airwaves. It's a past-time I've enjoyed since I was first licensed by the FCC in 1974. <br /><br />And here is the magic: while sitting at my desk reading, I heard a station from France sign on in the Morse Code section of the 21 MHz band (known as 15 Meters). I sent his call, followed by mine at about 20 words per minute.<br /><br />He came right back to me. His name was Mike, and he gave me a fairly descent signal report (569).<br /><br />I sent him a return report, and the entire contact was done in about 2 minutes. <br /><br />Here is the deal: while he was transmitting with about 100 watts of power, I was using only 3 watts. One-two-three, that is. Less power than is produced by a flashlight, and I was talking to France! No computer, no phone link, no transcontinental cable. Just my raw "fire to the wire" 40 foot long piece of wire in the trees in Center Moriches. And I physically built the radio myself a few years back, winding all the coils, soldering all of the connections, turning it on the first time and not seeing smoke, watching the meter bounce when I sent and hearing the blessed notes of Morse Code pinging in my speaker. The only thing better is doing this out in the woods- which I try to do each year during the Spring through Fall. It takes me way back to my Boy Scout Days. <br /><br />With all of the advances in technology, I still get a rush out of being able to do this. <br /><br />I still build stuff- I just completed a long wire antenna tuner for the field and am about to begin the challenge of building the "Mountaintopper" 2 band radio that is all "SMT" ("Surface Mount Technology- teeny tiny parts to solder). <br /><br />Even after I retire from EMS and Ministry, I can see myself doing this as long as I keep my health and mind :)<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=14/01/10/704.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/14/01/10/s_704.jpg' border='0' width='640' height='640' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br />J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-51886410589351975562013-11-29T08:29:00.003-05:002013-12-03T21:41:55.145-05:00New Hymn: Clouds of Glory,Trumpets Sounding<br />
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<span class="textexposedshow2"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-hide: none;">Clouds of Glory, Trumpets Sounding</span></b></span><span class="textexposedshow2"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="display: none; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-hide: special;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="textexposedshow2"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-hide: none;">A Hymnic Setting of Matthew 24:36-44</span></b></span><span class="textexposedshow2"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="display: none; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-hide: special;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Wingdings 2"; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-hide: none; mso-symbol-font-family: "Wingdings 2";"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: "Wingdings 2";">h</span></span></span><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Wingdings 2"; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-hide: none; mso-symbol-font-family: "Wingdings 2";"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: "Wingdings 2";">g</span></span></span><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="display: none; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-hide: special;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-hide: none;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Clouds of glory, trumpets sounding,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lightning lightens up the sky,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Every knee in honor bending<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">When the Son of Man draws nigh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">No one knows the day or hour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">When His coming all shall see;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Shadowed-will of God, the Father,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Set by His authority.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">For as in the Days of Noah<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">As the swelling clouds drew near;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Signs unread by scoffing sinners<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Suddenly will be made clear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Two were plowing, two were grinding<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">One was taken, one remained;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the Ark of God He saves us,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Standing in our place arraigned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Watch, therefore, the Lord is coming<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">As a thief lurks in the night;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like the Master, standing vigil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Guard your house against that plight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Holy Church prepare to meet Him<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">As the Groom with riven side;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">With His nail-pierced hands He lifts us<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">O’er the Threshold as His Bride.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Make us ready for Your Advent<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">In Your blood-washed robes of white.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Maranatha!</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> O, Lord Jesus,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Turn our Faith and Hope to Sight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">©2013 John George Fleischmann<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tune: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">O
der alles. </i>(Alternate Tune: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Merton)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></div>
J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-52155210509177663352013-11-03T20:47:00.004-05:002013-11-03T20:47:56.404-05:00All Saints HymnEach year on All Saints Sunday, I compose hymn verses for those members of our congregation who have died during the year.<br />
<br />
This year we had 2 members die: Hans Ratje and Hilda Spence.<br />
<br />
This is based on the hymn, "By All Your Saints in Warfare" as found in <i>Lutheran Service Book</i> hymn 517/518. The way that this hymn is sung is the first verse, the verse pertaining to the Saint day, and the Last verse. Even though there are 28 verses, normally only one of the 28 is sung as verse 2.<br />
<br />
In our case, the "in between verses" are determined by how many Saints from our parish have died. The record was 13 a few years ago. A great loss to our parish, as well as a challenge when it came to rhyme schemes (I don't like to re-use rhyme schemes in a hymn, nor repeat rhyming words in any of the verses).<br />
<br />
Some of the verses are very specific to the individual-- dealing with their respective vocations in life. Some are more general when there is not much to say.<br />
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This year's verses are as follow:<br />
<br />
(From the Hymnal):<br />
By all Your saints in warfare, For all Your saints at rest,<br />
Your holy name, O Jesus, Forevermore be blest!<br />
For You have won the battle That they might wear the crown;<br />
And now they shine in glory Reflected from Your throne.<br />
<br />
(Composed Verses):<br />
<b><i>Hans Ratje</i></b><br />
The humble are exalted, The hills are made a plain;<br />
The Master is the Servant Who seeks no earthly gain.<br />
O Lord, as Hans has shown us How you have served us all,<br />
May we, like him, serve others And heed your Holy call.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Hilda Spence</i></b><br />
"Well done, Blessed of My Father!" The Lord speaks to His Sheep.<br />
"You fed and clothed the needy For you are in My Keep.<br />
Now enter into glory Prepared e'er time began!"<br />
We bless you, Lord, for Hilda Bound in Your Holy Plan<br />
<br />
(From the Hymnal)<br />
Then let us praise the Father And worship God the Son<br />
And sing to God the Spirit, eternal Three in One,<br />
Till all the ransomed number Fall down before the throne,<br />
Ascribing power and glory And praise to God alone.<br />
<br />
The other point is that instead of using the tune, <i>King's Lynn</i>, I find it more appropriate to use the tune <i>Aurelia</i> ("The Church's One Foundation") as the tune links the departed to the Church and Her one foundation, Jesus Christ.<br />
<br />
I've been writing verses for this hymn since 2007 and have written 31 verses thus far. When I have the time, my goal is to go back and write verses for all of our Saints who died here since my installation in 1991.<br />
<br />
It is a wonderful thing to have a longtime pastorate, and these people whom the Lord has called to eternal glory have become like family to me. It's one way I can give back just a little to them.<br />
<br />J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-37067206370741652152013-07-18T07:58:00.001-04:002013-07-18T08:00:30.318-04:00Lutheran Witness Article from September, 1996Click on each picture to see full page<br />
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J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-32516493109522008422013-07-17T17:08:00.000-04:002013-07-17T19:04:57.355-04:0017th Anniversary of the Crash of TWA Flight 800 Tonight<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_51e70647c64927524197077">
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">17 years ago tonight I was dispatched on a call that literally changed my life and the life of our community. </span></div>
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Suffolk County FRES dispatched us to a "Signal 27" which means "downed airplane" off the coast of East Moriches. Who would know that it was a 747 and that 230 people would perish? </span></div>
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">The saddest thing I remember were all of the ambulances shutting off their emergency lights and being recalle<span class="text_exposed_show">d (canceled), going back to quarters... There was no one to help or save. The plane crashed several miles off shore. No need for EMS, except to support the months long recovery process.</span></span></div>
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="text_exposed_show">I immediately switched hats (collars?) and led the Suffolk County Critical Incident Stress Management Team on an assignment that, for us, was bigger than our response to the events of 9/11/01. </span></span></div>
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="text_exposed_show">I still remember what I saw, and won't share that with you, except it was really, really bad. The community has recovered, but it's always still in the back if my mind. I am still a director of the Team, and I'm glad we are able to bring some help to Emergency Service Providers even on the "smaller calls" that nonetheless leave their footprints on the human psyche.</span></span></div>
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="text_exposed_show">I will post (separate) an article that I wrote in September, 1996 in <em>Lutheran Witness, </em>the official magazine of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, to which I belong, reflecting on things Spiritual. It is pretty much self-explanatory. </span></span></div>
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J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-37430003992415603332013-07-10T17:56:00.000-04:002013-07-10T17:56:53.126-04:00The Concordia Choir 100th Anniversary Reunion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last weekend (June 28-30) 140 alumni members of the Concordia-NY Choir gathered together to mark the 100th Anniversary of Musical ensembles at the Bronxville Campus. It was a glorious-- yet very busy-- weekend!<br />
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The repertoire of songs sung were sung during different eras of the choir, spanning the 100 years of performance. The college also assembled a professional orchestra that accompanied the singing. For three days of rehearsing-- two of them with the orchestra, the sounds produced were simply amazing.<br />
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The rehearsals began with sectionals at 4:30pm on Friday, lasting to 6. After a short dinner break, the entire choir assembled and rehearsed until 10pm. On Saturday, after an early breakfast, the choir rehearsed through noon, and then, following lunch, rehearsed until 6pm. A long day on one's feet, and for one's voice! The three conductors were all aware that folk could over-sing and hurt their voices before the concert, so they kept reminding us to "save your voices." Good advice, indeed!<br />
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The concert took place on Sunday afternoon at 3pm. The choir and orchestra performed to a full-house.<br />
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I'm still numb from it all, in a good way! Seeing so many college friends, now some 30 years later, and in many cases, picking up right where we left off. We're all older and a little more blessed around the midline, most of whom are parents and many of which are now grandparents, but I guess we're all still college students at heart!<br />
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It was particularly good to reunite with Everette Greene, Janet Miller-Andrews, Daina Seely-Bartzsch, Karen Conlin, Tim Schulz, Deb Reiss (who I see more frequently due to my responsibilities with the Atlantic District-LCMS), and Bishop Greg Walton (of the Florida-Georgia District of the LCMS). All of them, and more, are in the picture above.<br />
<br />J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-70520346329843597082013-06-25T13:27:00.000-04:002013-06-25T13:27:53.333-04:00Exsultet!This is the final version of the hymn, "Rejoice, O Choirs of Angels" that I composed for Eastertide, 2013. <br />
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I have also composed the tune and setting for this hymn. If you'd like a copy of the music, please <a href="mailto:resqrev@gmail.com">email me</a> and I'll send you a PDF version. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Rejoice, you choirs of angels, your praises now prolong,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And join with all creation in everlasting song!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This is the night of glory, the night when death lies dead, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">For by His resurrection Christ crushed the serpent's head.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">2. Sound forth, O royal trumpets, the triumph of the King,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Who conquered sin and Satan, and plucked away death's sting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This night when chains are broken, and captives are set free,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">He raids hell's fiery furnace, declaring victory.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">3. O sinners now delivered from everlasting night,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Receive through Word and Water your dazzling robes of white.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This night the Son of David bursts forth as King of Kings,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The Firstfruits of salvation from whom the harvest springs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">4. Begone, you ancient darkness that swallowed all the earth</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Through Adam's condemnation that cursed us from our birth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This night the Sun is risen, the darkness chased away,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Destroyed, forever banished by Everlasting Day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">5. Alive He stands before you: Behold His hands, His side;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The Bridegroom is arisen to claim His Holy Bride!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This night the Church rejoices and echoes forth His might,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">For Christ makes death our passage to everlasting Light.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Albert New</span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">John G. Fleischmann, b. 1960</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">7676 7676 </span>J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-77298044185260434072013-01-18T21:29:00.002-05:002013-01-18T21:31:20.744-05:00Life is a Gift From God<br />
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">Life is a gift from God,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">Who ordered all my days<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">And wrote them in His Book of Life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">So I could give Him praise!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">He guards and still preserves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">That life He gave to me,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">And loves me with a Father’s love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">and will eternally!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">Life is a Holy Gift<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">Which God alone can give.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">He sets before us death and life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">Choose life that you might live!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">For God has sent His Son<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">Who could have come a king,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">but chose a mother’s womb instead <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">Eternal Life to bring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">Life is the Gift of God<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">So Jesus did partake,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">And took upon our human form<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">His heirs He did us make!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">When we were being knit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">He knew who we would be<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">And marked us as His very own<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">His Death has set us free!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-52480517946149539972012-01-07T17:05:00.004-05:002012-01-07T17:10:18.664-05:00The Spirit Brooded on the Moat- A Hymn for the Baptism of Jesus<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">The Spirit brooded on the Moat of formless waters deep,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 10pt; ">Divided by the Father’s Word the Firmament to keep.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 10pt; "><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Plunged in these depths sin’s stranglehold on Adam’s Children dies;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">With Pharaoh’s Host and Noah’s World beneath the water lies.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Throughout the Jordan Wilderness echoed the Herald’s cry:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“Prepare the way, your paths make straight; the Lamb of God draws nigh.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">The One by Whom all things were made takes on our human dress,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">And in the river, one with us, fulfills all righteousness.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">The sign of Jonah now fulfilled in everlasting Day,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 10pt; ">The Lord of Life bursts forth from death and rolls my stone away.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 10pt; "><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">With rushing wind the Spirit came the New Life to Inspire;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">That all who cross this Sacred Flood are washed with Holy Fire. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">O Spirit, bind us into Him Whom God raised from the dead;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">And through this Water, make us One, with Jesus as our Head.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Written 2008, The first in a series of hymns on Luther's "Seven Marks of the Church"</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:right 4.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Original Music and setting available for free by <a href="mailto:resqrev@gmail.com">contacting me</a></span></p>J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-18517489780885448912011-12-29T16:11:00.012-05:002011-12-29T17:39:53.809-05:00Father Dan Harris April 22, 1942- December 29, 2011<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSud7j2DIc5AaW3r61rwCQr62iHXkVWTyhRTkz7Wx0nt9ItxtICHBBIXPxzSz_ZPGl663T_zevToZhRUUtGFg8DgRytrVFmvSYlNCcR92OPcZeu4ErNTUOS6ZNbH1NtF2h1RL/s1600/masschap.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSud7j2DIc5AaW3r61rwCQr62iHXkVWTyhRTkz7Wx0nt9ItxtICHBBIXPxzSz_ZPGl663T_zevToZhRUUtGFg8DgRytrVFmvSYlNCcR92OPcZeu4ErNTUOS6ZNbH1NtF2h1RL/s200/masschap.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691678276231239026" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgia4y-MFD_HWjnKqBi5g6L9PFl0JOOMymPHO4yPmuY1uGZN9DTKqfAENkYPrDSy_5Fi0PxesR4OH8B6aYBGeN1BtI5q00n-uenAzkbq43EX_SYEXdw0VohVzFrMKcMOVC7Ewvx/s1600/Dan+Harris+2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 155px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgia4y-MFD_HWjnKqBi5g6L9PFl0JOOMymPHO4yPmuY1uGZN9DTKqfAENkYPrDSy_5Fi0PxesR4OH8B6aYBGeN1BtI5q00n-uenAzkbq43EX_SYEXdw0VohVzFrMKcMOVC7Ewvx/s200/Dan+Harris+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691661301624113442" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Once again, a dear friend has died. The Rev. Daniel Harris passed peacefully with his family at his side earlier today, December 29, 2011.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Father Dan”, as he was known, served as a Fire Chaplain since 1973. In his 38 years of chaplaincy, he served as Chaplain in many different agencies—The Weymouth Fire Department (MA), the Fire Chief’s Association of Massachusetts, the New England Fire Chief’s Association, the Massachusetts Corps of Fire Chaplains, and most recently, the Hampton Bays, NY and Shelter Island, NY Fire Departments.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Fr. Harris was also a member of the Suffolk County Emergency Services Critical Incident Stress Management Team.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>No stranger to horrific fire scenes, Fr. Harris was present at the Worcester Cold Warehouse Fire, December 3, 1999, where 6 firefighters were tragically lost searching for vagrants. He did extensive work throughout the attacks on our Country in 2001. He was one of three chaplains on the scene of The Station Nightclub fire in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Warwick</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">Rhode Island</st1:state></st1:place> on February 20, 2003, where 100 patrons perished. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>After the Station Fire, Father Harris was quoted by the Associated Press, saying, “A Firefighter is trained to rescue people and save people… And confronted with the horrific loss there is also the emotion of not being able to complete that job… you have not only the exposure to the death; you have the feeling of having failed… We remind them over and over again that this was not a failed effort on their part.” (Jack Hagel, <i>The Day</i>, Sunday, March 9, 2003 edition).</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Even in his lowest moments, his concern was always for others. Earlier this fall, Rev. Harris’ son, Joshua, died suddenly. Richard Schofield, a dispatcher and member of the Suffolk County Emergency Services CISM Team commented, “At his son’s wake, [Fr. Dan] said to call me if I needed any help in the <st1:place st="on">East End</st1:place>… At a time like that, he had others in his thoughts…” Such was the character of Father Daniel Harris.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>His parishes in Bay Shore, <st1:placename st="on">Hampton</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Bays</st1:placetype>, <st1:city st="on">Freeport, </st1:city><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Weymouth</st1:place></st1:city> and Shelter Island knew this, too. He was a caring, nurturing pastor to those over whom the Great Shepherd placed him.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>“Well done, good and faithful servant.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; ">Rest in peace, dear brother.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; "> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; ">I will miss you</span></p>J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745028.post-74948721554533412962011-11-01T23:05:00.004-04:002011-11-01T23:23:47.660-04:00All Saints HymnEvery year our Congregation sings "By All Your Saints in Warfare" on All Saints Sunday. I compose a verse for each of our saints who has gone to be with the Lord since the previous All Saints Sunday. Here is this year's hymn:<div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center">By all Your saints in warfare,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center">For all Your saints at rest,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center">Your holy name, O Jesus,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center">Forevermore be blest! For You have won the battle </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center">That they might wear the crown;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center">And now they shine in glory</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center">Reflected from Your throne.</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center"><br /></p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i>Joseph Koerber</i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i><o:p> </o:p></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Upon Your holy mountain</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">A table has been spread,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">With finest wines and marrow,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">With choicest meats and bread.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">We bless you, Lord, for Joseph;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">You broke his earthly fast,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Now at Your table feasting</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">With You, the First and Last.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i>Norma Wagner<o:p></o:p></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">For Norma, Lord, who loved You,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Who made the children smile;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">And, in her quiet service,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Though times of joy and trial,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Showed forth the love of Jesus, </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Who never left her side,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">We bless You and we praise You;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">O Lord, with us abide!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i><o:p> </o:p></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i>Christine Elberth<o:p></o:p></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Lord, like a faithful mother,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">You draw us to your breast.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">You bless us with Your mercy,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">You give us holy rest.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">As Christine knew Your presence,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Was drawn beneath Your wing,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">May we, O Lord, be gathered;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Your New Song ever sing.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <b><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US; mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"><br /></span></i></b> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i>Ruth Merkent<o:p></o:p></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i><o:p> </o:p></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">“Your people are my people,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Your God will be my God.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Wherever life may lead you</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Beside you, I will trod.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Like Ruth, who loved Naomi,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">She served with all her might,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Your faithfulness, unbroken</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">And now she dwells in Light. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i><o:p> </o:p></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i>Gladys Breitenbach<o:p></o:p></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i><o:p> </o:p></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">As at the feet of Jesus,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">When Mary heard his Word,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">And busy Martha served Him, </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Her Savior and her Lord; </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">May we, like faithful Gladys,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Who chose the better way,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Embrace the voice of Jesus</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">While it is still the day. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i>June Stozzetto<o:p></o:p></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">For June, who loved her family,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">We bless your Holy Name.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">She loved and served her country</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Not seeking praise or fame.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">As she worked for our freedom</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Upon the mighty sea,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Her life displayed the Savior;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Who died to set us Free. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i><o:p> </o:p></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i>Fred Kuehl</i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"> You are the Holy Bridegroom</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Who loved Your Holy Wife,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">As Lamb of God, unspotted, </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">You gave Your holy life.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">As <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Frederick</st1:city></st1:place> led Your people,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Washed in that Mighty flood,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Prepare us, Lord, to meet You,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Made holy by Your blood. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i><o:p> </o:p></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i><o:p> </o:p></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i>Walter Breitenbach</i><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">He plowed the field and scattered</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">The good seed on the land, </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">He tilled and fed and gathered</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">The gifts from Your own Hand.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">We bless you, Lord, for Walter,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Who by his earthly toil,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Gave witness to the Sower</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Whose seed fell on good soil. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Then let us praise the Father </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">And worship God the Son</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">And sing to God the Spirit,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Eternal Three in One,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Till all the ransomed number </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Fall down before the throne,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Ascribing power and glory</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">And praise to God alone.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><o:p> </o:p></p></div>J.G.F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06591679766794536970noreply@blogger.com0