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Advent Hymn: O Lord, We Seek

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“O Lord, We Seek”
A New Advent Hymn

Tune: VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN, Melchior Teschner, 1614
Lyrics by Rev. Elana Keppel Levy, 2019

1. O Lord, we seek the stillness that comes from trust in you.
When evil howls around us, we long for hope anew.
Let’s journey to that mountain where nations meet as friends.
We’ll change all of our weapons to tools that make amends.

2. O Lord, we seek the wisdom found in your holy word.
We find a peaceful kingdom, so peaceful it’s absurd!
The wolf and lamb together, the cow and bear shall graze.
Our God who so transforms them, shines through our broken days.
3. O Lord, we seek the fullness of wonders from your hand:
The desert flowers blooming, the weak who now can stand.
Your people scarred by exile, you set them homeward bound.
God, let us join their singing! Let joy and praise resound!
4. O Lord, we seek discernment to follow you aright.
We look for signs to guide us, but struggle for insight.
We see that God is with us in our Immanuel.
God’s love fills all creation, and so all shall be well.
5. O Lord, we seek the splendor of your warm light of grace.
The darkness will not triumph, to us you turn your face.
We bless the holy child, our counselor, Prince of Peace,
The light of Justice shining: let righteousness increase.
Submitted by Rev. Elana Keppel Levy, Co-Pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Bixby, Okla.
Attached: 8.5″ x 14″ insert of the music and lyrics together.
PLEASE use the attached copyright information when printing either words or music!
pdf icon O-Lord-We-Seek-bulletin-ready.pdf

Advent Hymn: Advent Leads Our Hearts

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Advent Leads Our Hearts
Rev. Elana Keppel Levy, 2018
(Tune of “Watchman, Tell Us of the Night”)
ABERYSTWYTH (Joseph Parry, 1876)
1. Advent leads our hearts to hope, when we wander lost, alone.
Though we in the darkness grope, we trust in a savior known.
Righteous Branch and Son of Man, breaking through this world of sin.
Life and justice in his hand, remakes all without, within.
2. Advent leads our hearts to peace, when the way seems rough, unclear
When fear and violence will not cease, we know that our God draws near.
Messenger of covenant, tell us of the Holy Son:
Who self-righteousness confronts, shaping us to live as one.
3. Advent leads our hearts to joy, when we need a festal song.
God renews each girl and boy, with a gladness bold and strong.
Shame removed and lame restored, outcasts gathered safely home –
We rejoice in God, the Lord, let us make our praises known!
4. Advent leads our hearts to love, when we need God’s tender care.
We’re the flock of One above – our good shepherd, always there.
Mighty One, to us be near as you were to Mary mild.
Let us serve you without fear, as we await the heavenly child.
5. Advent leads our hearts to Christ, we have seen a great light.
You have shattered sin’s device, that would keep us in the night.
Counselor and Mighty God, Ever Father, Prince of Peace,
By your grace we’re filled with awe, let our praise of you increase.
~Rev. Elana Keppel Levy, Trinity Presbyterian Church in Bixby, Okla.
Attached: PDF of the lyrics with musical score formatted for half-page legal bulletins (7″ x 8.5″)
pdf icon Advent-Leads-Our-Hearts-bulletin-ready.pdf

Affirmation of Faith for Holy Humor Sunday

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We believe in God who was before all things, maker of all things, source of all life. We were made in God’s image for vital work in this world – to do justice, to speak truth, to live in love. But we recognize that God’s image also blossoms in our lighter side when we are curious, playful, laughing. God has given us the gift of humor to laugh at ourselves, to unmask the weaknesses of sin, and to turn back to the arms of love. In Christ Jesus, God came and walked among us, teaching us to embrace the weightier matters with a light touch. Though we sinned and rejected him, he still chose to die for us. The forces of evil grasped to contain him, but he arose, laughing, breaking all the bounds of sin and death. As we follow him, we laugh with him, following the true light that cannot be conquered. We believe in the Holy Spirit who teaches us to smile, to bear with difficulty, and to endure from now until the joyful resolution of all creation. We look forward to the coming kingdom of heaven where laughter and love resound in every home and every heart. Amen.

 

Rev. Elana Keppel Levy, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Bixby, OK

Transfiguration Hymn: We Seek to Follow Christ

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Note: please include copyright info when reproducing hymns. Permission is granted for church use.

Text: Rev. Elana Keppel Levy, 2018
Tune: TERRA BEATA (“This Is My Father’s World”, Glory to God #370)

1. The disciples followed Christ
Up a high mountain apart.
He preached the Word, but they had not heard
The wisdom from his heart.
We seek to follow Christ
And listen for his call.
Help us to hear, even though we fear
Our faith may prove too small.

2. And before their very eyes
They saw him shining bright.
His face, his clothes, his very soul
Were bathed in glorious light.
We seek to follow Christ
With vision pure and clear
To see his glow everywhere we go
And to his truth draw near.

3. The disciples wanted Christ
And prophets from the past
To stay in tents, but they could not sense
The moment would not last.
We seek to follow Christ
Through what we can control.
Give us the nerve to let go and serve
G-d’s glory to extol.

Submitted by Rev. Elana Keppel Levy, Trinity Presbyterian Church in Bixby, Okla.

Should you prefer to have music and words interlined, the PDF is downloadable here:

pdf icon We_Seek_to_Follow_Christ.pdf

Litany to Commemorate the Victims of 9/11

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On this day we remember the fear and the anger, the shock and the chaos that shrouded our nation 15 years ago.  We cried out that day for answers, for peace, for justice. We shed countless tears for lives lost, for families ripped apart, for people missing and injured.

We will not forget the beauty of each soul that fell that day – the promise that their lives held, the hopes they had for the future.

We remember the 2,606 innocent victims of the Twin Towers. Abide with us, G-d. 

We remember the 125 innocent victims at the Pentagon. Abide with us, G-d.

We remember the 246 innocent victims on the airplanes. Abide with us, G-d.

We remember the first responders – the police and firefighters and paramedics – who faced the chaos with unimaginable courage to save and give hope to all that they could. We remember those who survived and the 411 who perished in the line of duty. Abide with us, G-d.

Holy G-d, we know that you hold their lives in your hands. Though they have fallen here, they are not lost forever. Through your Spirit, you have lifted them up, close to your heart where there is no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.

We cry out to you once more this day, Almighty G-d. Give us the courage to be peacemakers, to carry on in love, to have hearts uncorrupted by hatred. Speak to those who would be lured by the power and madness, the violence and the evil that is terrorism in our world. Show them that this seeming power is never the final victor. Touch their hearts so that they may see that love is stronger than death, that goodness is stronger than evil, that light casts out all darkness. Give them a way forward so that the world may be a home for all of us.

Gracious G-d, hear our prayer. Amen.

 

Submitted by Rev. Elana Keppel Levy, Trinity Presbyterian Church in Bixby, OK

**Note from the author: I envisioned a ritual to go along with this litany. We have a large, clear glass jar on the chancel. As each group of victims is listed, we will drop flower petals of different colors into the water. In the prayer following, the water is swirled so that the petals are seen being lifted.