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

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.

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​

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

In the darkness we were waiting
Without hope without light
Till from Heaven You came running
There was mercy in Your eyes
To fulfil the law and prophets
To a virgin came the Word
From a throne of endless glory
To a cradle in the dirt

Praise the Father
Praise the Son
Praise the Spirit
three in one
God of Glory
Majesty
Praise forever
to the King of kings

To reveal the kingdom coming
And to reconcile the lost
To redeem the whole creation
You did not despise the cross
For even in Your suffering
You saw to the other side
Knowing this was our salvation
Jesus for our sake You died

Praise the Father
Praise the Son
Praise the Spirit
three in one
God of Glory
Majesty
Praise forever
to the King of kings

And the morning that You rose
All of heaven held its breath
Till that stone was moved for good
For the Lamb had conquered death
And the dead rose from their tombs
And the angels stood in awe
For the souls of all who'd come
To the Father are restored

And the Church of Christ was born
Then the Spirit lit the flame
Now this Gospel truth of old
Shall not kneel shall not faint
By His blood and in His Name
In His freedom I am free
For the love of Jesus Christ
Who has resurrected me

Praise th Father Praise the Son
Praise the Spirit three in one
God of Glory Majesty
Praise forever to the King of kings
Praise forever to the King of kings

Text: Brooke Ligertwood, Jason Ingram, Scott Ligertwood
Text: © 2019 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia; Fellow Ships Music; So Essential Tunes. Used by permission: CCLI no. 11180910
 
Worship Leader Brook Ligertwood, along with her husband, Scott Ligertwood, and Jason Ingram wrote this meaningful song “King of Kings” that we will sing September 24, going through Jesus birth as a baby, his sacrifice on the cross, resurrection, and the birth of the church on Pentecost. Quoting Ligertwood, “It is deeply rooted in scripture and packed full of theology….We hope and we pray that the song articulates the heart of the Gospel and the story of the church…and then placing ourselves within that story with the birth of the Church and our salvation stories.”
She paints a picture of our brokenness without Christ, waiting for Him in the dark without hope. We don’t have our own inner light. Instead, we wait for His light. Such a beautiful picture, the eyes of Jesus showing mercy as he runs to us from heaven, fulfilling the law and fulfilling the promises spoken over and over by the prophets. He gave up his throne of endless glory to a human form, and a cradle- a manger- in the dirt.
He reconciled himself to us on the cross, saving us even though he had the power to walk away from it all. In the morning, when he rose, “All of heaven held its breath” … “for the Lamb had conquered death.”  And because of this, all who trust in Jesus were restored to the Father. When the Spirit was poured out, the Church of Christ was born. More and more people boldly were telling the great news of Jesus’ Resurrection who also resurrects us. Praise the Gather, Praise the Son, Praise the Spirit three in one! God of Glory Majesty. Praise forever to the King of Kings!

 
 
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
 
 
https://www.songfacts.com/facts/hillsong-worship/king-of-kings

​Who is Jesus; who is our mighty God who loves us? “This is Amazing Grace” by Phil Whickham attempts to answer that question. It starts with some questions: “Who breaks the power of sin and darkness? Whose love is mighty and so much stronger?” Answer: The King of Glory, the King above all kings. We continue to see that Jesus, our King of Kings is almighty, shaking the whole earth with thunder, and yet he is filled with amazing grace and unfailing love, taking our place on the cross, laying his life down so that we would be set free. Just as Paul stated in Philippians 2:6-11

6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
    did not consider equality with God 
something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death--
        even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

​Because sin has come into the world, we have been brought into chaos. Jesus broke the bonds of death and brings order back into our lives. When we meet him face to face, that order will be perfected, and the chaos will be no more. Without him, we are orphans, not receiving any inheritance, not under any protection.

4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.  6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[c] Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. Gal 4:6-7

Here we sing of Jesus power and his sacrifice. He is the king of glory who rules the nations with truth and justice. He is also the Lamb who was slain. Just as spotless lambs were offered as sacrifices in the Old Testament to atone for the sins of the people, Jesus willingly offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins on the cross to wipe away our sins. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain! Can you imagine the love it took to offer himself for us? He gave up so much for us! O, Jesus, I sing for all that you’ve done for me!
Jennifer Rasch 
Music Director 
St. Paul Lutheran Church 
Psalm 30:11 
You have turned my mourning into dancing. 

https://freeccm.com/2013/07/02/story-behind-the-song-this-is-amazing-grace-by-phil-wickham/
​

​The splendor of the King
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice
He wraps Himself in light
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
And trembles at His voice
 
How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see how great
How great is our God
 
And age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the End
Beginning and the End
The Godhead three in one
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb
 
How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see how great
How great is our God
 
Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God
 
Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God
 
How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see how great
How great is our God

Text: Chris Tomlin | Ed Cash | Jesse Reeves
Text: © 2004 sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Vamos Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Wondrously Made Songs (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.). Used by permission: CCLI no. 11180910
Text: Public domain
​
This Sunday, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Gary Keith, our Lay Minister, will be preaching (while Rev. Tieken is out of town) from the Job 38:4-18 text, reminding us that God rules all things. ​

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth
Tell me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurements-surely you know?”

And the text goes on that way, reminding us how small we are in comparison to our Great God. How often do we think we know better than God’s plan? How often do we think that since we can’t comprehend things like the Trinity, that they must be wrong? However, our God is greater than we can imagine. And we can trust him. We can let go of our pride and let God be God.
Looking at the first stanza, our King is clothed in majesty, wrapped in light. Even darkness, Satan, hides, flees from Him and trembles at His voice. In the second stanza we are reminded that he is eternal, the Beginning and the End, and the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the unfathomable Trinity. Jesus is the Lion, with power, and the sacrificial Lamb, who came humbly in peace to save us. That is why we praise him, because he is worthy of all praise. My heart will sing, How great is our God!

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

Text: Ban Shive/ Bryan Fowler/ Keith Getty/ Kristyn Getty/ Skye Peterson
This Sunday, July 20, 2023, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, we will open with this rousing and encouraging song “Rejoice” that written by Bryan Fowler and Keith Kristen Getty, and sung by Rend Collective with the Gettys. This song is based upon Philippians 4:6-7

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness[d] be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We have so many things in this world to worry about, even from childhood. The writers were thinking about their children, and they wanted them to have a good way to sing God’s Word and combat the arrows that Satan throws at them every day. This passage reminds us to rejoice in all circumstances, to let our thankfulness be made known to God in all seasons. So often this passage can be a downer, but the writers used it as a call to worship, just as it was historically. This is a sung version of the Philippians 4 passage, allowing God’s Word to sink into our hearts. When our anxieties overtake us, Jesus is greater than they are, and we can still praise the Lord.
The Chorus reminds us that each breath that we have been given is a gift, and we use each breath to praise the Lord. Even “in these times we live in,” we continue to praise the Lord. It is easy to sit and complain about everything around us, but we are called to praise Him who loves us, gives us each new day, forgives us, and calls us into his marvelous light.
Verse one in the song is based upon verses 4 and 5 in the passage. We don’t just Rejoice on our own, but we Rejoice as a family of grace, showing His gentleness (reasonableness) to one another, joining our hearts with praise.
In verse two of the song, based upon verses 6 and 7 in the passage, we pray that the peace of God would fill our hearts. We are called to lay our anxieties at the feet of Jesus, and pray to him when we are afraid or upset.
What a beautiful promise in the final stanza! “The hope that burns within us, the dark cannot destroy.” We have the sure hope of Jesus Christ that cannot be taken away by this world, by temptations, but anxiety, by Satan. “We have every reason to praise the Lord!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSmT3J2hV-0
 
In Christ's Service,

​Jennifer Rasch
Music Director
St. Paul Lutheran Church
Sing a New Song unto the Lord
Psalm 96:1