Midweek Message: The Gift of Music

Colossians 3:16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. (NIV)

                             One of the most enjoyable aspects of worshiping on Sundays is the inclusion of music. Whether it is played on the organ or piano, is sung by the choir or the congregation, or even played on instruments by adults or children, music is a centerpiece of how we cheerfully and sincerely praise God. The lyrics we sing and the harmonies we create, bring us together as a family of faith and connect us to Christian communities across the Earth, as well as with the angels who are forever singing before the throne of God. Without the inclusion of music, our worship would be empty and dull; with the gift of music, our worship becomes inspirational and meaningful.

                             I like today’s highlighted verse from Colossians. It reminds us that we have been singing God’s praises for thousands of years. The Apostle Paul emphasized the singing of hymns and psalms as a special and holy means to teach the Christian faith to the young church at Colossae. The words and music helped his people draw closer to God in both cheerful and sorrowful times. Similarly, throughout the centuries, many Christian communities have sung sacred songs to strengthen their resolve and overcome their problems. For example, the hymns and spirituals of the nineteenth century enabled enslaved people to persevere; the protest songs and community choruses of the 1960s inspired churches to fight for civil rights.

                             I hope that you enjoy the music on Sundays, too, and understand how important and precious the gift of music is for everyone in our congregation. As we sing our hymns, listen to the anthems, and reflect on the special music, may we all experience the presence of God’s Spirit and deepen our relationship with the Lord, as well as with one another.

                             May God bless you and all your loved ones.

Pastor John

Midweek Message: O When the Saints

Midweek Message: O When the Saints

Psalm 30:4 Sing to the LORD, you saints; praise God’s holy name.

One of the first songs I learned on the guitar was "O When the Saints." It's easy to play because it only has three chords, so when you're a beginner, it makes you feel good playing, strumming, and singing a whole song. I spent many nights in my bedroom as a teenager singing it at the top of my voice until my parents or siblings told me to keep quiet.

When I first played it, I didn't really know what I was singing about, after all, as far I was concerned, saints were very holy people who had died long, long ago. It was only years later when I was studying the scriptures at seminary that I learned 'saints' can be ordinary people, alive and well, who practice and proclaim their faith through acts of mercy and kindness, devotion and love.

As followers of Christ, we all have the potential each day to be saintly. People will cross our paths that need our help, support, and encouragement. If we express Christ's love to them through acts of compassion, care, and concern, we'll be doing saintly deeds. It won't make us any holier, more sacred, or even spiritually superior, but it will help change for the better other people's lives, as well as our own. And after all is said and done, wouldn’t we rather be a saint walking through this world and doing what we can to make it a better and kinder place, than believing saints to only be holy people from the past?

Point to ponder: What can I do today to help other people and spread God’s love?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You call us to be disciples and saints, to follow Your ways and fulfill Your words through acts of compassion, kindness, and care. Enable us to take the opportunities to serve You in a saintly way by helping, supporting, and encouraging others around us. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

God bless you all.

Pastor John

 

Book Review: The Rothschilds by Harry Freedman

 

A fascinating and engaging look at the history of the Rothschilds, this book explores the family’s remarkable influence across several centuries in a way that draws the reader in.

The book is well written and easy to read. By focusing on each generation in separate chapters, the author helps the reader follow the family’s story clearly while still maintaining a strong sense of continuity.

Harry Freedman has clearly researched his subject with great care, and he brings the family’s most important episodes to life in a thoughtful and accessible way.

The book also offers a fair and balanced account of the challenges the Rothschilds faced, particularly the antisemitism that shaped so much of their experience. Their perseverance in the face of opposition is presented as part of the broader story of how they influenced European politics, including their role in opposing figures such as Napoleon and Hitler. The author also shows how their financial support helped emerging nations, especially in the nineteenth century, develop their identities and strengthen their ambitions.

I also appreciated the attention given to the Rothschilds’ support of the arts and sciences, which adds another rich dimension to this detailed family history. Overall, I found the book a pleasure to read, especially because Freedman combines careful research with compelling stories and well-chosen quotes.

I rated the book with five stars. The Book is due to be published in December 2026.