Hide me now
Under Your wings
Cover me
Within Your mighty hand

Chorus: When the oceans rise
And thunders roar
I will soar with You
Above the storm
Father You are King
Over the flood
I will be still and know
You are God

Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know His power
In quietness and trust

(Chorus)
Text: Reuben Morgan
Text: © 2002 Hillsong Publishing Australia. Used by permission: CCLI no. 11180910

The pictures painted in the song “Still” by Reuben Morgan, bring such comfort to our souls. When thunders roar and oceans rise in our lives… God hides us with his wings like a hen to her chicks. He covers us within his mighty hand. When our lives feel like they are falling apart- maybe because of illness, job loss, or relationship problems, He is greater than all those problems.

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46:10

Our greatest problem, our sin, is nailed to the cross. As far as the east is from the west, so far has our sin been taken from us. We can rest in quietness and trust in Christ, our Savior. He isn’t waiting for us to come to Him. He isn’t waiting for us to please Him. He has already come to us and lived that perfect life for us. I will be still and know You are God!
 
In Christ’s Service,
 
Jennifer Rasch
Music Director
St. Paul Lutheran Church
You have turned my Mourning into Dancing Ps. 30:11​

Holy, holy, holy
Lord God Almighty
Early in the morning
Our song shall rise to Thee
Holy holy holy merciful and mighty
God in three Persons blessed Trinity


Holy, holy, holy
All the saints adore Thee
Casting down their golden crowns
Around the glassy sea
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee
Which wert and art and evermore shall be


From the cradle to the cross
God with us God with us
For this broken world You love
God with us God with us
You gave up Your only Son
God with us God with us
So that all the world will know our God with us

Holy, holy, holy
Lord God Almighty
All Thy works shall praise Thy name
In earth and sky and sea
Holy, holy, holy merciful and mighty
God in three Persons blessed Trinity

From the cradle to the cross
God with us God with us
For this broken world You love
God with us God with us
You gave up Your only Son
God with us God with us
So that all the world will know our God with us
So that all the world will know our God with us!

Text: John Bacchus Dykes | Matt Maher | Reginald Heber
​Text: © Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Getty Music Hymns and Songs (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.). Used by permission: CCLI no. 11180910
 
This Sunday, we celebrate Trinity Sunday, remembering our God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but not three Gods, One undivided God. What an incredible mystery! Holy, Holy, Holy, is one of the most well known hymns that celebrates the trinity- “God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity!” Matt Maher has taken this hymn and added a refrain to use in a Praise and Worship context.
 
The hymn was written by Reginald Heber(1783-1826) who was an educated young man in a wealthy family in England who won awards for his poetry. After he graduated, he became the rector of his father’s church in the small village of Hodnet in Western England, and cared devotedly for his people. After 16 years, he was appointed bishop of Calcutta. While in India, he wrote 57 hymns, but he was to humble to publish them himself. His wife had them published after he passed away, and Holy, Holy, Holy is the most well known.
 
In this hymn we praise our triune God early in the morning remembering his mercy and his might; his gospel and his law. When we sing our hymns and songs, we are united with all people around the world in all times and with all believers in heaven who are waiting for us. As Luther pointed out: “We can mention only one point (which experience confirms), namely, that next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. She is mistress and governess of those human emotions….which as masters govern men or more often overwhelm them….For whether you wish to comfort the sad, to terrify the happy, to encourage the despairing, to humble the proud, to calm the passionate, or to appease those full of hate….what more effective means than music could you find?”
 
Even the works of God are praising His name- the rocks are crying out the glory of the Lord. We se His handywork and we must recognize that our Triune God is a might God. He created an amazing world with great wonders and holds it all together.
 
And yet, he is not aloof. In the person of Jesus, showed His great love for us and walked among us. Then, He sacrificed His life on the cross for our salvation and rose again on the third day. 

​In Christ’s Service,
 
Jennifer Rasch
Music Director
St. Paul Lutheran Church
You have turned my Mourning into Dancing Ps. 30:11

esThis prayer to the Holy Spirit is one of the most significant ancient Latin hymns, next to the Te Deum. It was most likely written by Hrabanus Maurus (ca. 780-856.) Six original stanzas were used for ordinations, in Vespers, and British coronations, and laying of a foundation stone for churches. It was found in hymnals in England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain. Martin Luther translated it in 1524 and used a seven-stanza version which included the doxology at the end.

When Jesus left His disciples, He promised not to leave them as orphans, but to send the Holy Spirit to be in their hearts. They didn’t want Him to leave, but He reminded them that they wouldn’t be alone:

25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:25-27

​This Sunday, Pentecost Sunday, we remember the work of the Holy Spirit. This Hymn outlines beautifully the blessings that are given by the third person of the Trinity. When we are alone, the Holy Spirit reaches out to us through His Word and through the Body and Blood of Jesus given to us in the bread and wine, offering love that we can taste and touch.  We are reminded that He was part of the act of creation, and not only did he make us, but He gives us faith so that He will live in our hearts by His grace. When we are confused, the Holy Spirit works through His Word to enlighten us and teach us the truth. We pray that he will continue to teach us about Jesus and His grace. The Holy Spirit preserves our faith and protects it from the powers of the devil. Through the Spirit’s power, may we praise God’s name forever and share the truth with those around us.
 
Finally, we pray that the fruit of the Spirit may continually show in our lives. Come, Holy Ghost, with your life, your love, your truth, your peace, and your protection

​Praise we the Father and the Son
And Holy Spirit, with them One!

​In Christ’s Service,
 
Jennifer Rasch
Music Director
St. Paul Lutheran Church
You have turned my Mourning into Dancing Ps. 30:11

 

Herl, Josph Lutheran Service Book Companion to the Hymns  Vol 1, CPH
​

Every Sunday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Denton, we confess our sins to God our Father very early in the service. This sets the stage for the rest of our worship. We have nothing to brag about before God or with each other. We know that our hearts are corrupted. Our sins are not just outward, but we sin in our thoughts, our words, and our actions. Romans 3:23 reminds us “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Pastor responds to our confession by sharing the forgiveness of sins from Christ (The Absolution.) In John 20:21, after Jesus had risen from the dead, He promised His disciples, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven.” We call that promise the Office of the Keys. We come to the service feeling guilty about what we may have done. Christ reaches out to us in a special way through the absolution and forgives our sins through someone that we can see standing in front of us, connecting the words of absolution with his sacrifice on the cross. He knows how human we are, and sometimes we need a God with skin on. After that weight is lifted, we have such joy in our hearts, we sing a Song of Praise or a Song of Forgiveness. This week in the 10:45 service, we will sing a portion of “You are My King.” 

I'm forgiven
Because You were forsaken
I'm accepted
You were condemned
I'm alive and well
Your Spirit is within me
Because You died
And rose again
 
Amazing love
How can it be
That You my King
Would die for me
Amazing love
I know it's true
It's my joy to honor You
In all I do I honor You

Text: Billy J. Foote
Text: © 1996 worshiptogether.com , admin. Capitol CMG Publishing. Used by permission: CCLI no. 11180910
 
The forgiveness that Jesus offers in the confession and absolution is tied securely to the cross. On that cross, Jesus was forsaken by His Father and condemned to experience eternal suffering and separation from God. Because he was willing to suffer that condemnation on our behalf, we are forgiven our sins instead of suffering the condemnation that we deserve. Now Jesus is alive! He is our risen Christ, showing victory over the grave! How can it be that Jesus, the King of creation, would show such amazing love for us? Jesus died and rose for us, and now it is our joy to honor him in our songs, and in all we do.

With high delight
    Let us unite
In songs of great jubilation.
    Ye pure in heart,
    All bear your part,
Sing Jesus Christ, our salvation.
    To set us free
    Forever, He
    Is ris’n and sends
    To all earth’s ends
Good news to save ev’ry nation.

True God, He first
    From death has burst
Forth into life, all subduing.
    His enemy
    Doth vanquished lie;
His death has been death’s undoing.
    “And yours shall be
    Like victory
    O’er death and grave,”
    Saith He, who gave
His life for us, life renewing.

Let praises ring;
    Give thanks, and bring
To Christ our Lord adoration.
    His honor speed
    By word and deed
To ev’ry land, ev’ry nation.
    So shall His love
    Give us above,
    From misery
    And death set free,
All joy and full consolation.


Text: Georg Vetter, 1536–99; tr. Martin H. Franzmann, 1907–76
Text: © 1969 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005066

“With High Delight Let Us Unite” LSB 483 is a hymn full of joy and praise for the salvation won for us by Jesus’ death and resurrection. The sadness of so many weeks of Lent is over. On this Third Sunday of Easter, we continue our celebration. We “unite in songs of great jubilation.” Easter is such an important celebration; it can’t be summed up in just one day. We have 7 weeks to celebrate the season of Easter. In fact, each Sunday in the church year is a little Easter, which is the reason we worship on Sunday instead of Saturday. We sing to “Jesus Christ, our salvation, who has set us free forever.” That salvation makes us “pure in heart.” That good news is for every nation. How will they know unless they hear? He sends us to share that wonderful news!

Jesus is true God and has power over death and hell. His death has been death’s undoing. Because of that your death will be victory! “His life for us, life renewing.”

Because of what He has won for us, how can we not praise him? How can we not share that? “Let praises ring; Give thanks and bring to Christ our Lord adoration.” We not only praise and thank him here in our safe little church, but we tell our friends, and all people what an amazing Christ has saved us. We share that word to every land, every nation, showing the kind of love for others that Christ has shown to us, and sharing the Word to them that will also set them free from the grave. 

From misery and death set free,
All joy and full consolation.
 
With high delight
Let us unite
In songs of great jubilation

In Christ’s Service,
 
Jennifer Rasch
Music Director
St. Paul Lutheran Church
You have turned my Mourning into Dancing Ps. 30:11
 
​

 Sorenson, J.H. Lutheran Service Book Companion to the Hymns  Vol 1, CPH

’Tis good, Lord, to be here!
Thy glory fills the night;
Thy face and garments, like the sun,
Shine with unborrowed light.
 
’Tis good, Lord, to be here,
Thy beauty to behold
Where Moses and Elijah stand,
Thy messengers of old.
 
(Click below for the rest of the lyrics.)
 Tis Good Lord to Be Here lyrics.docx
​   ​

Imagine that you are on a mountain with Jesus and His Disciples, and suddenly, Jesus starts shining brighter than anything you have seen before! I can’t imagine what it would be like to be to see Him changed before my eyes. After walking with Him for so long and seeing him as a man who gets hungry and tired, this is quite a change! The hymn “’Tis Good, Lord, to Be Here” that we sing this Sunday, Transfiguration Sunday, allows us to enter into the scene. We are so glad to be with Jesus as He shows who He truly is, shining like the sun with his own glory with unborrowed light. We are so glad to be here with Moses and Elijah. As stated in stanza three, He fulfills the past – Jesus fulfills the law given by Moses as well as the prophets – represented by Elijah. Jesus is the hope for things to be, as promised in Rev. 7:14- All those who have “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” have hope of eternal life with Jesus Christ. With Peter, it is so tempting to make this hill our home. ‘Tis good, Lord to be here, but Jesus calls us off the mountaintop into the plain. He follows us into our everyday lives, filling us with His Holy Spirit, teaching us through His Word, and comforting us when we face difficulties. 

​’Tis good, Lord, to be here!
  Yet we may not remain;
But since Thou bidst us leave the mount,
  Come with us to the plain.

In Christ’s Service,
 
Jennifer Rasch
Music Director
St. Paul Lutheran Church
You have turned my Mourning into Dancing Ps. 30:11

 

Krueger, Walter Lutheran Service Book Companion to the Hymns  Vol 1, CPH
​

My hymn of praise shall be forever Jesus
My firm foundation in shifting sands
My strength and hope
Through many fears and failures
The disappointments of the past
His constant love has held me fast

So for all my days
I will sing my praise
To the King forever Jesus
Though the storms may rage
He is strong to save
He’s the King forever Jesus

Click link below to read the rest of the lyrics of “Forever Jesus.”
Complete lyrics for song
Text: Matt Papa | Stuart Townend
Text: © 2019 Getty Music Hymns and Songs (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) Getty Music Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) Love Your Enemies Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) Messenger Hymns (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.). Used by permission: CCLI no. 11180910

In Christ’s Service,
 
Jennifer Rasch
Music Director
St. Paul Lutheran Church
You have turned my Mourning into Dancing Ps. 30:11
 

Leader: Listen,

All: listen, God is calling
    Through the Word inviting,
    Offering forgiveness,
    Comfort, and joy.
 Leader: Jesus gave His mandate:
    
All: Share the good news
    
Leader: That He came to save us

 All: And set us free. Refrain
Leader:  Let none be forgotten

All:  Throughout the world.
    
Leader:  In the triune name of God
    
All:    Go and baptize. Refrain
Leader:     Help us to be faithful,

All:  Standing steadfast,
    
Leader: Walking in Your precepts,
    
All:  Led by Your Word. Refrain 
Text: tr. Howard S. Olson, 1922–2010; Kenyan
Text: © Lutheran Theological College, Makumira, Tanzania. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005066​

Speak, O Lord, Your servant listens,
    Let Your Word to me come near;
Newborn life and spirit give me,
    Let each promise still my fear.
Death’s dread pow’r, its inward strife,
Wars against Your Word of life;
    Fill me, Lord, with love’s strong fervor
    That I cling to You forever!

Oh, what blessing to be near You
    And to listen to Your voice;
Let me ever love and hear You,
    Let Your Word be now my choice!
Many hardened sinners, Lord,
Flee in terror at Your Word;
    But to all who feel sin’s burden
    You give words of peace and pardon.

Lord, Your words are waters living
    When my thirsting spirit pleads.
Lord, Your words are bread life-giving;
    On Your words my spirit feeds.
Lord, Your words will be my light
Through death’s cold and dreary night;
    Yes, they are my sword prevailing
    And my cup of joy unfailing!

As I pray, dear Jesus, hear me;
    Let Your words in me take root.
May Your Spirit e’er be near me
    That I bear abundant fruit.
May I daily sing Your praise,
From my heart glad anthems raise,
    Till my highest praise is given
    In the endless joy of heaven.

This tender hymn, “Speak, O Lord, Your Servant Listens” reminds us to listen to Jesus, in his treasured written Word of God. The original German poem written by Anna Sophia von Hessen-Darmstadt has some beautiful language. She asked God to “let Your Holy Word be closed up in my heart, identifying that Word with the faithful teachings that drive away all sorrow. What is the value of God’s Word? It gives newborn life through faith in Jesus Christ, the one true God. It gives peace with God and pardon from sin to all who repent. God’s Word is the living water, giving life to the thirsty soul, spiritual food to the hungry soul, a light to our path, and a sword against the enemy. We pray that God’s Word takes root in our lives so that we may reflect Christ in our lives and sing praise to Christ the incarnate Word forever!
 
In Christ’s Service,
 
Jennifer Rasch
Music Director
St. Paul Lutheran Church
You have turned my Mourning into Dancing Ps. 30:11
 

Herl, Josph Lutheran Service Book Companion to the Hymns  Vol 1, CPH
​

In the bleak mid-winter
All creation groans
For a world in darkness
Frozen like a stone
Light is breaking
In a stable for a throne
 
And He shall reign
forevermore forevermore
And He shall reign
forevermore forevermore
Unto us a Child is born
The King of kings and Lord of lords
And He shall reign
forevermore forevermore
 
If I were a wise man
I would travel far
If I were a shepherd
I would do my part
But poor as I am
I will give to Him my heart
 
And He shall reign
forevermore forevermore
And He shall reign
forevermore forevermore
Unto us a Child is born
The King of kings
and Lord of lords
And He shall reign
forevermore forevermore
 
Here within a manger lies the One
Who made the starry skies
This baby born for sacrifice
Christ the Messiah
Into our hopes into our fears
The Savior of the world appears
The promise of eternal years
Christ the Messiah
 
And He shall reign
forevermore forevermore
And He shall reign
forevermore forevermore
 
And He shall reign
forevermore forevermore
And He shall reign
forevermore forevermore
Unto us a Child is born
The King of kings
and Lord of lords
And He shall reign
forevermore forevermore
Text: Chris Tomlin | Matt Maher
Text: © 2016 S. D. G. Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) sixsteps Songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Worship Together Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Be Essential Songs (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) I Am A Pilgrim Songs (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC). Used by permission: CCLI no. 11180910

​Winter has finally come to Texas. Yes, the 100 + degree heat has now passed. We don’t have the snow of the northern states, but my coat has been out a few times, and frost has been on my car windows. It is chilly! Now, this is Texas, so my grass is still green, and some of the trees still have leaves. For a moment, let’s transport ourselves up north, where there is lots of snow, wind, and frigid temperatures. The trees are bare, the days are very short, and the nights are very long. Can we use the word Bleak? Frozen like a stone? Before Jesus came, our world was like that winter, cold and dark.  But Jesus brings light into the dark world. Instead of sitting on a throne, he comes as a baby in a manger. But make no mistake, He is the King of Kings and the Lord of lords. And He shall reign forevermore as the king of our hearts! When we think all is lost in the winter of this dark world, we can remember that the King of Kings is our Father. He is always on the throne.
We can enter into the story and picture ourselves as one of the shepherds offering a lamb, or one of the wisemen traveling such a long way to worship the Christ Child. We aren’t able to do those things. Instead, we serve Him by serving His children and by serving our neighbors.  It is such a mystery that the small helpless baby lying in a dirty manger was the “One who made the Starry Skies” and ultimately was born for sacrifice. Jesus Christ was not only the all powerful God, but he emptied himself to be a man and to die for the sins of all mankind.
“The Promise of eternal years, Christ the Messiah!”
As we sing this powerful song in the 10:45 service, this Sunday, 12/03/23, I invite you to remember that we look forward to Jesus coming into out our frozen, dark world one last time - taking us home where there is no need for a sun, for Jesus is our true light. Amen, Come Lord Jesus!
In Christ’s Service
 
Jennifer Rasch
St. Paul Lutheran Church
Denton, TX
Music Director
[email protected]
He has turned my mourning into dancing Ps30:11