The Source of Love

The source of love is God alone. Love shows that God is there.

Where love is scarce, there’s scarcely God for God has love to spare.

The only son of God has come that we, through love, might live.

Our sin is wiped away and we are free to share and give. 

—–

We can’t see God with eyes or hear God’s voice with human ears.

The Spirit God has given us displays that love is here. 

We tell you, friends, we testify this whole wide world is saved.

And God abides through Jesus Christ within us ev’ry day.

—–

In love there is no fear. It’s been cast out. We’ve been set free. 

We love because God first loved us. There is no penalty.

If you would claim to love the Lord, someone whom you’ve not seen;

you have to love all people, too. If THAT is what you mean. 

—–

Image:    Alexander Grey on Unsplash

Source:     1 John 4: 7-21   

Text:   David Alexander, 2023   CC BY-SA NC 4.0

Tune:    Salvation, Public Domain

Score:    https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/2011/Score/WhenStephenFull-Salvation.pdf 

Audio: www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission

Video: 1 John 4:7-21 The Source of Love

Stand in Awe

Praise the Lord, all you who fear him. Jacob’s offspring stand in awe.

God does not despise affliction nor the cry of pain ignore.

—

In the crowd I’ll praise aloud the One who listens, hears and heeds.

Satisfied are all who seek the Lord from what God daily feeds. 

—

All the ends of earth remember. Every nation bows to pray.

God’s dominion stretches over everyone along the way.

—

Even those who’ve passed remain in God’s eternal loving care. 

Future generations learn, and praises rise from everywhere.

—

Text:   David Alexander, 2023, CC BY-SA NC 4.0

Tune: Kaz Dziedaja, Public Domain

Audio:www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission

  Psalm 22:23-31 Stand in Awe

Stand Beside the Way

An angel said to Philip, Go, and stand beside the way.

A man is coming who has need of what you have to say.

When Philip saw his chariot he climbed aboard and they took up

a prophet’s word; and when he heard, the man believed that day. 

—–

Image:   은 하 on Unsplash 

Source:    Acts 8:26-40 

Text:   David Alexander, 2023   CC BY-SA NC 4.0

Tune:    Staff of Faith, Public Domain

Score:    https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/Score_PDF/MyFaithItIsAnOakenStaff.pdf

Audio: www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission

Video: Acts 8:26-40 Stand Beside the Way

Mansplained

Out of love they came to care. To a tomb in graveyard spare.

Bearing spices were prepared to embalm a body there. 

Finding not a sealed-up gate, but the stone, now rolled away.

Filled with fears and doubts unnamed, needing someone to explain.

---

They were bowed and terrified. For the one they’d loved had died.

Suddenly some white-clad men, came around and said to them,

“Don’t seek life amid the dead. He’s not here, just like he said.

Count the days out, one, two, three. Like he said in Galilee.”

---

They recalled the words he spoke, then sped off to other folk.

Mary, Mary and Joanne, carried  news to doubting men.

One got up and off he ran. Took a look, went home again,

at what happened was amazed. Saved it for another day.

---

 Text: David Alexander, 2022, CC BY-SA NC 4.0 

Tune: Riley, Public Domain 

Audio: www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGUmUZa03ck

The Wonder of Bread

Nearing a village he walked on ahead.

 “Spend the night here,” his companions then pled.

“Daylight is fading, this place has a bed.” 

So he remained to get rested and fed.

---

Then, at the table where there was some bread. 

He gave it to them, both broken and blessed.

That was the moment they saw him full right. 

In that same instant he vanished from sight. 

---

Feeling the truth to the depths of their souls, 

turning around they returned to their home.

“Jesus is risen. He’s no longer dead. 

Wonders are found in the breaking of bread.” 

---

Text: David Alexander, 2022, CC BY-SA NC 4.0  

Tune:   Bonnie George Campbell, Public Domain  

Audio:   www.smallchurchmusic.com Used by Permission

VIDEO: Luke 24:28-35   https://youtu.be/DZqhfiPtF4M

Road Trip

While on the way that very day two men discussed the news

The Lord himself came near and asked them why they looked so blue.

—–

Then one replied, in great surprise, supposing that no one 

was unaware of what the leaders of the town had done. 

—–

And further how some women told about an empty tomb

And spoke of angels and of ghosts. You know, THAT can’t be true.  

—–

He called them foolish, ignorant of prophets, slow of heart.

They didn’t understand Messiah’s suff’ring, painful part. 

—–

He quoted scripture, chapter, verse, explaining as they went.

The road was long; the night came on; the lesson had to end. 

—–

Image:   Alonso Cano

Source:   Luke 24:13-27

Text:   David Alexander, 2023, CC BY-NC SA 4.0  

Tune:   Armenia, Public Domain

Score:  https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/2014/Score/AllPraiseTo-Armenia.pdf

Audio:  www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission. 

Worship Video: https://youtu.be/h-tfI_Mr53s 

The Feast Isaiah 25:6-9

his is the feast God will host on the mountain;

plenty of wine and the richest of foods.

There, death will be destroyed; swallowed forever.

Tears wiped away, and ending of disgrace.

---

On that day we will behold what we’ve hoped for.

and will enjoy salvation we can see.

Then who we’ve waited for, none other than the Lord,

brings what we need, exactly what sets us free

---

Image:Крестьянская свадьба в Тамбовской губернии1880  

Text:     David Alexander, 2022, CC BY-SA NC 4.0  

Tune:   Bede, Public Domain 

Audio:   www.smallchurchmusic.com Used by Permission

Video: Isaiah 25:6-9 The Feast

I Am The One

I am the one who will lay down my li-fe. I am the one who you need when there’s strife.

You need a shepherd who won’t run a-wa-y. Trust me, I tell you that I’ll always stay.

—–

We know each other and trust in the Fa-ther, who sent me to you to see to your care.

Yes, there are others, and I’ll bring them al-so. One shepherd of the whole flock everywhere.

—–

It’s for your sake that I lay down my li-fe. It’s for your sake that I rise up again.

No one can take it unless I have giv-en. This is commanded, and this is my aim.

—–

Image:   Biegun Wischodi on Unsplash 

Source:   John 10:11-18

Text:   David Alexander, 2023   CC BY-SA NC 4.0

Tune:    Springfield, Public Domain

Score:    https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/Score_PDF/LordYouHaveGiven-Springfield.pdf 

Audio: www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission

Video: John 10:11-18 I Am the One

That’s How Love Abides

See the way Christ loved us; he laid down his life. We should love each other; that’s how love abides.

Truth and action show what word and speech attempt. If we love in action, we are not condemned. 

—–

Refrain

This is his commandment, that we should believe; keep to the commandments, and abide in him. 

—–

Bold before our maker, we’re not shy to pray. Trusting God’s provision each and ev’ry day. 

What we ask is granted, since we have obeyed, and what God commanded, is our chosen way.

—–

Refrain

This is his commandment, that we should believe; keep to the commandments, and abide in him. 

—–

Image:    Sara Ardin on Unsplash

Source:     1 John 3:16-24

Text:   David Alexander, 2023   CC BY-SA NC 4.0

Tune:    Hermes, Public Domain

Score:    https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/Score_PDF/OnOurWayRejoicing-Hermas.pdf 

Audio: www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission

Video: 1 John 3:16-24 That’s How Love Abides

Trusting in the Lord’s Attention

Trusting in the Lord’s attention,

I am nourished, rested, and

guided through all situations,

confident and hopeful yet. 

—–

Photo by Raul Popadineti on Unsplash

Source: Psalm 23

Text: David Alexander, 2020, CC0

Tune: Drakes Broughton, (Elgar) Public Domain.

Score: https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/2012/Score/SeeUsLord-DrakesBroughton.pdf

Video:  https://youtu.be/zUPWjWT-Bzg