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This episode I introduce the Lenten Movie Club, where we will discuss a religious movie you may not have seen before.

Whereas it may have been hard to access these movies, they are now easily accessible through both a Netflix account, an Amazon account, and/or a Hulu+ account. Each of these programs can be watched through one’s computer, if one does not have these services through their television, XBox or Blu-Ray Player

I believe that we live in a blessed time, where we have access to some of the most acclaimed religious movies of all time, through streaming. We just have to be open to trying new experiences.

I first go into the story of how I wrote This Time of Forty Days, and later how I worked on a video that went (somewhat) viral.

Are we really engaging the world, or are we hiding away in our little circles?

We live in a culture that is inundated with tons of stuff–movies, music, TV, blogs, video games, news reports, etc. Our culture is inundated by story, entertainment, distraction and laughter.

There is so much fear in the religious community by some of these stories. I shared an experience about hearing people complain about a massively popular young adult book series, as if this series alone would lead people away from the faith and towards witchcraft.

In contrast, I believe that we as Christians ought to be engaging culture as much as possible, trying to find those stories/songs/experiences that we can share with others.

Good people do great work in all these areas, but we do not do enough to support their work.

The Lenten Movie Club is my hope to introduce the Best Religious Movies You’ve Probably Never Seen. They were made mostly outside of Hollywood, and some are in other languages than English.

Lent is a great opportunity to watch these films; Lent is about dying to our own selves, and growing from others’ experiences. These films are considered (by many) to be the very best at what Christianity entails, and we ought to support all quality efforts that share the faith, even if we’re not used to watching black and white movies, with subtitles.

The schedule is as follows:
Lent 1: The Diary of a Country Priest (available on Hulu+)
Lent 2: A Man For All Seasons (available on Amazon.com)
Lent 3: Into Great Silence (available on Netflix)
Lent 4: Ordet (available on Hulu+)
Lent 5: The Passion of Joan of Arc (available on Hulu+)
HolyWeek: The Gospel According to St. Matthew (avail on Hulu)

There is a PDF download available for this worship session, which has all the show notes and lyrics to all the songs.  Right-click “Save As” on the term PDF Download.

SONG OF THE WEEK

“From the Dust” by Aaron Strumpel
From the album “Chair and Microphone, Vol. 2” (2006)
Copyright (c) 2006 Worship Circle Records

NOT THE SONG OF THE WEEK
“This Time of Forty Days” a parody of “King of Pain” by The Police, by Nick Alexander

EPISODE LOG TIMES

4:27 – Worship Session (Music and Prayer)
5:57 – Blind Man
8:54 – When Jesus Wept
10:00 – Out of the Depths
12:54 – Let Us Adore
15:30 – Jesu, Salvation’s Sun Divine
18:57 – The Glory of These Forty Days
21:40 – Emendemus In Melius
22:53 – Spoken, Spontaneous Prayer
30:25 – Song of the Week (“From the Dust” by Aaron Strumpel)
39:14 – Personal Reflections (“God’s Unique Plan for Lasting Change”)
57:01 – Final Comments and Doxology
******************SONGS*******************

BLIND MAN
Spiritual
1. Blind man stood by the way and He cried
Blind man stood by the way and He cried
Blind man stood by the way and He cried
Oh… oh… oh…

Show me the way…
Show me the way…
Show me the way… the way to go home.

2. The Leper stood by the way…
3. The Sinner stood by the way…

Copyright unknown

WHEN JESUS WEPT
William Billings, 1770
When Jesus wept the falling tear
In mercy flow’d beyond all bound
When Jesus groan’d a trembling fear
Seiz’d all the guilty world around.
Public Domain

OUT OF THE DEPTHS
Martin Luther (1483-1546) Tr. by Benjamin Latrobe (1725-1786)
Walther’s Geistliches Gesangbuchlein” Wittenberg (1524) arr by JS Bach (1685-1750)

1.Out of the depths I cry to Thee:
Lord, hear me I implore Thee.
Bend down Thy gracious ear to me,
Let my pray’r come before Thee!
On my misdeeds in mercy look
O deign to blot them from Thy book
And let me come before Thee.

2. Thy sov’reign grace and boundless love
Show thee, Oh Lord, forgiving;
My purest thoughts and deeds but prove
Sin in my heart is living:
None guiltless in Thy sight appear
All who approach Thy Throne must fear,
And humbly trust Thy mercy.

3. Like those who watch for midnight’s hour
To hail the dawning morrow.
I wait for Thee, I trust Thy pow’r
Unmoved by doubt or sorrow;
So let Thy people hope in Thee
And they shall find Thy mercy free,
And Thy redemption plenteous.

Public Domain

LET US ADORE
Unknown

Let us adore… the ever-living God…
And render praise… unto Him…
Who spread out the heavens…
and established the earth…
And whose glory…
is revealed in the heavens above…
And whose greatness…
Is manifest throughout all the earth.
He is our God… There is none else!

Copyright unknown

JESU, SALVATION’S SUN DIVINE
O Sol salutis, intimis. Ambrosian, 6th century
Tr. by the Primer of 1706, prob. by John Dryden
Music by Dijon Church Melody (A.G.M.), arr. by Nick Alexander

1. Jesus, salvation’s Sun Divine,
Within our inmost bosoms shine,
With light all darkness drive away
And give the world a better day.

2. Now days of grace with mercy flow,
O Lord, the gift of tears bestow
To wash our stains in ev’ry part
Whilst heav’nly fire consumes the heart.

Oh….. Oh…..

3. Rise crystal tears, from that same source
From whence our sins derive their course
Nor cease, till harden’d hearts relent
And soften’d by Your streams repent.

Behold the happy days return
the days of joy for them that mourn
May we of their indulgence share
And bless the God Who grants us pray’r.

4. May heav’n and earth aloud proclaim
The Trinity’s almighty fame;
And we restored to grace rejoice
In newness both of heart and voice.

Public Domain

THE GLORY OF THESE FORTY DAYS
OLD HUNDREDTH
Asc. to Gregory the Great, c. 540-604
Tr. by Maurice F. Bell, 1862-1947

The glory of these forty days
We celebrate with songs of praise
For Christ, through whom all things were made
Himself has fasted and has prayed.

Public Domain

EMENDEMUS IN MELIUS
Roman Gradual

Emendémus in mélius, quae ignoránter peccávimus:
Ne súbito praeoccupáti díe mórtis,
Quaerámus spatium paeniténtiae, et inveníre non possímus.
Atténde Dómine, et miserére: quia peccávimus tíbi.

Let us amend ourselves better
Where we do not know where we’ve transgressed
Lest if we’re swiftly overtaken by the day of death,
And we seek a moment to be penitent,
But we obtain it not, forever.
Give ear to us O Lord, and grant us mercy
For we have all transgressed before You.

Public Domain

Feel free to leave comments, questions, and/or prayer requests, at

http://www.prayermeetingpodcast/
or leave a message at 203/701-7771

Have you written a worship song that you’d like profiled on the podcast? Leave a message using the above number.

Did you know that Nick Alexander is available for keynotes? For comedy? For worship? For teaching about the faith?
Learn about what Nick Alexander can bring to your community, youth rally, keynote or event: http://www.nickalexander.com

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This episode I return to the fantastic resource to creating lasting change in your life, the book Change Anything by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, David Maxfield and Ron McMillan.

This book demonstrates that there are six areas in our lives where we are pulled–consciously or not–in a direction that helps determine for us whether the change will stick.

The six major hidden influencers are best encapsulated in a grid, with MOTIVATION and ABILITY at the top, and PERSONAL, SOCIAL and STRUCTURAL on its sides.

I then change the word “Motivation” to “Heart”, and “Ability” to “Mind”.

Assuming the change brought about will be an expression of “Strength”, then what is missing? The Soul.

We don’t pay well enough attention to our souls, because it appears intangible to us in a modern society; and yet, when we die, our soul will live on forever.

The rest of this episode asks what it means to add Soul to this chart:

SOUL/PERSONAL = Personal Commitment to Christ; puts your desire for lasting change in front of God; if it contradicts God’s will for you–either His personal will, or His desire that you be holy, then it will not last.

SOUL/SOCIAL = Sacramental Commitment to Others; puts your desire for lasting change in front of those in your life; whether your marriage partner, your children, or, for those who are committed to Holy Orders, their superiors and their congregations.

SOUL/STRUCTURAL = Following the precepts of the Church; puts your desire for lasting change in front of our Sunday obligations, or other times.

Bottom line: If we invite God to our decision for lasting change, in addition to the other six influencers in your life, you will receive an extra motivation to make this change, and it will last.

**********EPISODE LOG TIMES******************
3:40 – Worship Session (Music and Prayer)
4:28 – Hallelujah, Salvation and Glory
8:28 – In Christ There Is No East Or West
11:13 – O Glory, Glory, Glory!
12:53 – Come and Worship
14:17 – Santo, Santo, Santo
17:14 – Alleluia, Song of Gladness
21:40 – Illumina Faciem Tuam
24:00 – Spoken, Spontaneous Prayer
30:12 – Song of the Week (“Whom Shall I Fear (God Of Angel Armies)” by Chris Tomlin)
38:25 – Personal Reflections (“God’s Unique Plan for Lasting Change”)
54:52 – Final Comments and Doxology

A PDF Download is available, containing all the song lyrics and notes.  Right click and select SAVE AS to retrieve it.

****************SONG OF THE WEEK******************
“Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)” by Chris Tomlin
From the album “Burning Lights” (2013)
Copyright (c) 2012 Worship Together Music / Sixsteps Songs / A Thousand Generations Publishing / Alletrop Music

********************SONGS***********************
HALLELUJAH, SALVATION AND GLORY
Unknown

Hallelujah, salvation and glory
Honor and power to the Lord our God
For the Lord our God is mighty
Yes the Lord our God is omnipotent
The Lord our God, He is wonderful!

I will sing my praise to the King of Kings
And the Lord of Lords He is wonderful!

Hallelujah!
Hallelujah-Hallelujah-Hallelujah-Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! He is wonderful!

Copyright unknown

IN CHRIST THERE IS NO EAST OR WEST
W: John Oxenham (1908); M: Alexander R. Reinagle (1799-1877)
arr. by Nick Alexander

In Christ there is no East or West
In Him no South or North
But one great fellowship of love
Throughtout the whole wide earth

In Him shall true hearts everywhere
Their high communion find
His service is the golden chord
Close-binding all mankind.

A-men! A-men!

Join hands then, brothers of the faith
Whate’er your race may be.
Who serves my Father as a son
Is surely kin to me.

In Christ now meet both East and West
In Him meet South and North
All Christly souls are one in Him
Throughout the whole wide earth
Copyright unknown

O GLORY, GLORY, GLORY!
Unknown

1. O glory, glory, glory! O glory to the Lamb!
O Hallelujah! I’m bein’ saved, and I’m so glad I am.
O glory, glory, glory! O glory to the Lamb!
Hallelujah! I’m bein’ saved, and bound for the happy land!

2. On Sunday I am happy, on Monday full of joy
On Tuesday I have peace within that nothing can destroy
On Wedn’sday and on Thursday, I’m walking in the light
On Friday is a heav’n below and Saturday’s always bright!

Copyright unknown

COME AND WORSHIP
Unknown

Come and worship, royal priesthood
Come and praise Him, holy nation
Worship Jesus, our Redeemer
He is precious King of Glory.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Copyright unknown

SANTO, SANTO, SANTO
Argentenian Traditional; tr: by Nick Alexander

Santo, Santo, Santo, Mi corazón adora!
Mi corazón te sabe decir: Santo eres Señor.

Holy, Holy, Holy, My heart adores Thee!
My heart’s compelled to say these words:
Holy, art Thou Lord.

Public Domain

ALLELUIA, SONG OF GLADNESS
Latin, 11th Century by John M. Neale 1818-1866
DULCE CARMEN, 878787 , Essay on Church Plain Chant, 1782
Bridge from “All Creatures of Our God and King”
LASST UNS ERFREUEN; Arr. by Nick Alexander

Alleluia, song of gladness, voice of joy that cannot die
Alleluia is the anthem ever dear to choirs on high
In the house of God abiding thus they sing eternally.
Alleluia.

Alleluia, now resounding, true Jerusalem and free
Alleluia, joyful mother, all your children sing with glee
But by Babylon’s sad waters, mourning exiles now are we.
Alleluia.

Alleluia, we deserve not here to chant for evermore,
Alleluia, our transgressions make us for a while give o’er;
For the holy time is coming biding us our sins deplore.
Alleluia.

O praise Him, O praise Him. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Therefore in our hymns we now pray, grant us Blessed Trinity
At the last to keep you, Easter, in our home beyond the sky.
There to You forever singing Alleluia joyfully.
Amen.

Public Domain

ILLUMINA FACIEM TUAM (Psalm 31:16-17a)
Roman Gradual

Illumina Faciem tuam, super servum tuum.
Et salvuum me fac in tua misericordia.
Domine non confundar quoniam invocavi te

Illuminate, O face of Thine, upon this servant for Thee
And rescue me here, within Thy mercy, Thy great mercy.
O Lord, don’t be ashamed as I am calling upon Thee.

Public Domain
All songs are in the public domain, unless otherwise noted.
Any songs written or adapted by Nick Alexander are available on music notation, for those who wish to introduce these songs in their own communities.

*****************************************************
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Thank you for listening!

Next Week: ASH WEDNESDAY!!!

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This episode I talk about a fantastic resource to creating lasting change in your life.

The book is called Change Anything by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, David Maxfield and Ron McMillan.

This book may be found in either the Business section or self-help sections. (Don’t let that deter you–some really good resources can be found there!)

It goes without saying that every major change must begin with prayer, and a focus that this be accomplished as part of God’s will for your life.

It is a mirage to assume that willpower alone will enable change in your life.

The six major hidden influencers are as follows:

Do you have a plan to enact this change?
Is there anything that can spark or remind you of this desire to change?
Do you have a coach?
Do you have cheerleaders in your life?
Are there automated systems that can help grease the wheels for you to complete the task?
Are there signs, songs, visual reminders, audio reminders, cinematic reminders that surround you to remind you of this?

These six major hidden influencers are best encapsulated in a chart described on www.changeanything.com

If you answer these six questions honestly, you can find yourself naturally drawn to make lasting change in your life.

Episode Log Times

2:35- Worship Session (Music and Prayer)
2:50- Now Let Us Sing/Amazing Grace
5:14- There’s A Mighty Glory Coming
5:53- O Zion Haste
8:20- It’s A New And Living Way
10:25- Psalm 23
14:24- Give Me Jesus
16:42- Hear Oh Israel
19:25- Days And Moments Quickly Flying
22:28- Adorate Deum
24:02 – Spoken, Spontaneous Prayer
31:28 – Song of the Week (“Lamb of God” by10th Ave North)
37:53 – Personal Reflections (“Enacting Lasting Changes”)
51:46 – Final Comments and Doxology

A songsheet is available for download.  Right-click here to get it.

SONG OF THE WEEK
“Lamb of God” by Tenth Avenue North
From the album “The Struggle” (2012)
Copyright (c) 2012 Provident Label Group LLC, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

=================SONGS=================
NOW LET US SING/AMAZING GRACE
Unknown / John Newton

Now let us sing
(Sing to the power of the Lord come down)
Now let us sing
(Sing to the power of the Lord come down)
Lift up your hands
(Lift up your hands)
Don’t be afraid
(Don’t be afraid)
Now let us sing
To the power of the Lord come down!

1. Amazing Grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see.

2. Praise God Praise God Praise God Praise God
Praise God Praise God Praise God
Praise God Praise God Praise God Praise God
Praise God Praise God Praise God

Copyright unknown / Public Domain

THERE’S A MIGHTY GLORY COMING
Unknown

There’s a mighty glory coming
And it’s coming in our day, and it’s coming now to stay
There’s a mighty glory coming
And it’s coming from the presence of the Lord.

Copyright unknown

O ZION, HASTE
Mary A. Thomson, James Walch

1. O Zion haste, thy mission high fulfilling,
To tell to all the world that God is Light;
That He Who made all nations is not willing
One soul should perish, lost in shades of night:

Publish glad tidings; Tidings of peace;
Tidings of Jesus, Redemption and release.

2. Behold how many thousands still are lying
Bound in the darksome prison-house of sin,
With none to tell them of the Saviour’s dying,
Or of the life He died for them to win.

3. ‘Tis thine to save from peril of perdition
The souls for whom the Lord His life laid down;
Beware lest, slothful to fulfill thy mission,
Thou lose one jewel that should deck His crown.

4. Proclaim to every people, tongue and nation
That God, in Whom they live and move, is love:
Tell how He stooped to save His lost creation,
And died on earth that man might live above.

Public Domain

IT’S A NEW AND LIVING WAY
Unknown

It’s a new and living way, walk ye in it
It’s a new and living way, God has planned
It’s a new and living way, I am walking day by day
I am guided and led by His right Hand.

Public Domain

PSALM 23
Nick Alexander

The Lord is my shepherd
In verdant pastures, He gives me repose
He leads me by the restful waters
He refreshes my soul.

He guides me through right paths
Even though I walk through the dark valley
I fear no evil, for He is at my side
And I shall lack nothing.
And I shall lack nothing.

He spreads the table before me
At the sight of my foes
He anoints my head with oil
And my cup, overflows.

All the days of my life on earth
Only goodness and kindness follow me
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
For all eternity.

Copyright (c) 2001 Nick Alexander Music

GIVE ME JESUS
Spiritual

In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise, give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus, give me Jesus.
You may have all this world.
Give me Jesus.

I heard my mother say…

When I come to die…

Public Domain

HEAR OH ISRAEL
Unknown

Hear, Oh Israel
The Lord our God is one Lord.
You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart.
You shall love the Lord your God with all of your soul.
You shall love the Lord your God with all of your mind.
You shall love the Lord your God with all of your strength.

Copyright Unknown

DAYS AND MOMENTS QUICKLY FLYING
Trier Gesangbuch, 1872; E. Caswall, 1814-78

1. Days and moments quickly flying,
Blend the living with the dead
Soon will you and I be lying
Each within our narrow bed.

2. Soon our souls to God who gave them
Will have spread their rapid flight
Able now by grace to save them
O that, while we can, we might!

3. Jesus, infinite Redeemer,
Maker of this tiny frame
Teach, O teach us to remember
What we are and whence we came.

4. Whence we came and whither wending
Soon we must through darkness go
To inherit bliss unending
Or eternity of woe.

Public Domain.

ADORATE DEUM (Psalm 97:7c-8a)
Roman Gradual

Adorate Deum, omnes Angeli ejus:
audivit, et laetata est Sion:
et exsultataverunt filiae Judae.

Worship God, all you angels of God
Sion heard and they were glad; yes Sion.
And rejoicing was with the daughters of Judah

Public Domain

Feel free to leave comments, questions, and/or prayer requests below,
or leave a message at 203/701-7771

Did you know that Nick Alexander is available for keynotes? For comedy? For worship? For teaching about the faith?
Learn about what Nick Alexander can bring to your community, youth rally, keynote or event: http://www.nickalexander.com

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• This episode I talk about New Year’s resolutions, the likelihood that most of them have been broken by this juncture (three weeks in).
• I reference “Salad Bowl“, my parody about dieting, off of my “I Wanna Be Debated” album.
• There are two problems with most resolutions today:

1. Most resolutions are ME-centric, fueling your ego, facilitating pride, envy and greed.
2. Most resolutions are not properly set up so that you could find practical means to make them work.

• There is only ONE GOAL that should be on the forefront on every person’s mind, and that is we are all called to be a Saint.
• Most people are distracted in their day-to-day lives to actually consider thinking that Sainthood is for them, or that, with grace, it can actually be within their grasp.
• Some denominations believe that once one accepts a personal relationship with Jesus, that there’s nothing more to be done; I believe that such a relationship with Jesus is the beginning of understanding what God’s will is for one’s life, and then pursue it.
• Matthew 7:21 – the person who does the will of God is the one who gains entry into heaven.
• We have to balance our obligations for Family, Physical health, Mental health, Spiritual health, Financial shape, and Social Skill-sets.
• If we are lacking in any of the above areas, we find that we are shackled, to some degree, in preventing your full potential to being done.
• For example, if we commit to losing weight, it is not so that we are to become super-attractive and boost your ego; it is so that we are to be healthy enough and live a long life, so that we can fulfill God’s will for us in our life.
• It is natural to look back each year and probe how well you are doing in each of the six areas. At the end of each year, you are different from where you were at from the beginning of that same year.
• God can bring about His will even as you struggle to get your lives in order.
• The key to conquering resolutions is to look at your resolution through the eyes of how completing this resolution will assist you in fulfilling God’s will for you, thus, make you a Saint.

Episode Log Times
2:18 – Worship Session (Music and Prayer)
2:40 – Jesus, Lover of My Soul
7:22 – O Paradise!
10:40 – Lead Kindly Light
15:04 – Doing His Will / He Is Lord
20:25 – Entirely to Thee
23:27 – Omnis Terra
25:40 – Spoken, Spontaneous Prayer
31:45 – Song of the Week (“Rain” by Planetshakers)
37:38 – Personal Reflections (“New Year’s Resolutions”)
55:24 – Final Comments and Doxology

SONG OF THE WEEK
“Rain” by Planet Shakers Ministries
From the album “Limitless” (2012)
Copyright (c) 2012
******************SONGS*******************

JESUS, LOVER OF MY SOUL
Charles Wesley, Simeon B. Walsh
New arrangement by Nick Alexander

Jesus, lover of my soul,
Let me to Your bosom fly
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high
Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
Till the storms of life be past
Safe into Your haven guide,
Lord receive my soul at last.

1. Other refuge, have I none, Lord
I hang my helpless soul on Thee
Please don’t leave me all alone, Lord
But support and comfort me.

2. Plenteous grace, with Thee, I’ve found, Lord
Grace to cleanse from ev’ry sin.
Let Your healing streams abound, Lord
Make and keep me pure, within.

All my trust is in Your stead
(All my help from Thee I cling)
Cover my defenseless head
(With the shadow of Your wing)
Lord, spring up within my heart;
(Rise to all eternity)
You’re the fountain; Let me drink of Thee!

Copyright (c) 2012 Nick Alexander Music

O PARADISE!
F.W. Faber

O Paradise ! O Paradise ! Who does not crave for rest?
Who would not seek the happy land, Where they that loved are blest.

Where loyal hearts and true stand ever in the light
All rapture thru and thru in God’s most holy sight

O Paradise ! O Paradise ! ‘Tis weary waiting here.
I long to be where Jesus is, to feel to see Him near.

O Paradise ! O Paradise ! I want to sin no more
I want to be as pure on earth, as on Thy spotless shore.

O Paradise ! O Paradise ! I greatly long to see
The special place my dearest Lord, In furnishing for me.

O Paradise ! O Paradise ! I feel ’twill not be long;
Patience! I almost think I hear Faint fragments of Thy song.

Public Domain

LEAD KINDLY LIGHT
Blessed John Henry Newman, J.B. Dykes 1823-76

Lead kindly Light, amid th’encircling gloom
Lead thou me on.
The night is dark, and I am far from home
Lead thou me on.
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene, one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus nor prayed that Thou
Shouldst lead me on.
I loved to choose and see my path but now
Lead thou me on.
I loved the garish day and spite of fears.
Pride ruled my will; remember not past years.

So long Thy pow’r hath blest me sure it still
Will lead me on.
O’er moor and fen, o’er cragg and torrent till
The night is gone.
And with the morn, those angel faces smile.
Which I have loved, long since and lost awhile.

Public Domain

DOING HIS WILL
Mrs. C.H. Morris (1898)

Just to trust in the Lord, just to lean on His Word
Just to feel I am His ev’ry day
Just to walk by His side with His Spirit to guide
Just to follow where He leads the way.

Just to say what He wants me to say,
And be still when He whispers to me.
Just to go where He wants me to go
Just to be what He wants me to be.

When my way darkest seems, when are blighted my dreams, Just to feel that the Lord knows best;
Just to yield to His will, just to trust and be still
Just to lean on His bosom and rest.

Then my heart will be light, then my path will be bright
If I’ve Jesus for My dearest friend;
Counting all loss but gain, such a friend to obtain,
True and faithful He’ll be to the end.

Public Domain

HE IS LORD
Traditional

He is Lord, He is Lord;
He is risen from the dead and He is Lord
Ev’ry knee shall bow, ev’ry tongue confess
That Jesus Christ is Lord.

Public Domain

ENTIRELY TO THEE
Nick Alexander and Ed Luchansky

I surrender all
Entirely to Thee
I pledge my life, my will
Entirely to Thee

I give unto Thee
All I am
Entirely to Thee
All I am.

For You know all my needs
And I know You will provide
And You show me,
You’ll never leave my side.

(Lord, You know…)

Copyright (c) Nick Alexander

OMNIS TERRA
Roman Gradual

Omnis terra adoret te, Deus, et psallat tibi
Psalmum dicat nomini tuo, Altissime.

All the earth shall adore Thee, O God
and sing unto Thee
Songs I’ll sing out unto the Name of Thine
O Most High.

Public Domain

Feel free to leave comments, questions, and/or prayer requests below or leave a message at 203/701-7771

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This episode revisits the tragedy of Newtown, one month later, and provides a worship session that can work as a balm, a comfort, for all who mourn.

Outside of Newtown, the worship here is applicable to anybody who has lost a loved one, and is looking for comfort. I am not perfect, I can only hope that this helps.

I get to share my experiences with leading a similar worship session, some twenty-plus years ago, when a college friend of mine had a relapse and was at death’s door.

The uncomfortable reminder that we must all be aware of is that heaven is our true home, is more glorious than anything we experience here on earth, and every choice we make today has to take into account whether we are that much closer to the finish line.

A PDF songsheet download is available for this episode.  Right-click here and select Save As…

Episode Log Times
4:46 – Worship Session (Music and Prayer)
5:20 – Just A Closer Walk With Thee
8:25 – All the Way My Saviour Leads Me
10:49 – No, Never Alone / His Yoke Is Easy (mashup)
12:55 – It Is Well With My Soul / All My Trials
16:55 – Come, Ye Disconsolate
19:53 – I Must Tell Jesus
24:40 – Lux Aeterna
26:26 – In Heavn’ly Love Abiding
29:10 – Spoken, Spontaneous Prayer
33:14 – Song of the Week (“There’s A Light” by Beth Nielsen Chapman)
39:33 – Personal Reflections
50:40 – Final Comments and Doxology

******************SONGS*******************
JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE
Unknown

Just a closer walk with Thee
Grant it Jesus if you please
Daily walking close to Thee
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

I am weak but Thou art strong
Jesus, keep me from all wrong.
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Through this world of toils and snares
If I falter Lord, who cares?
Who, with me my burden shares?
Only Thee, dear Lord, only Thee.

When this troubled life is o’er
Time for me will be no more
Then guide me gently, safely o’er,
To Thy shore, dear Lord, to Thy shore.

Public Domain

ALL THE WAY MY SAVIOUR LEADS ME
Fanny Crosby, Robert Lowry

All the way my Saviour leads me,
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort
Here by faith in Him to dwell
For I know whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Saviour leads me
Cheers each winding path I tread
Gives me grace for ev’ry trial
Feeds me with the Living Bread
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul athirst may be
Gushing from the Rock before me
Lo! a spring of joy I see.

All the way my Saviour leads me
Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my Spirit clothed immortal
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song, through endless ages,
Jesus led me all the way.

Public Domain

NO, NEVER ALONE
Unknown

No, never alone. No, never alone.
He promised never to leave me;
He’ll claim me for His own.

No, never alone. No, never alone.
He promised never to leave me;
Never to leave me alone.

Public Domain

HIS YOKE IS EASY
Ralph E. Hudson

His yoke is easy, His burden light
I’ve found it so, I’ve found it so
He leadeth me by day and by night
Where living waters flow.

Public Domain

IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL
Horatio G Spafford & Philip P. Bliss

When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll.
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say
“It is well, it is well, with my soul.”

It is well, with my soul.
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight
The clouds, be rolled back as a scroll
The trumpet shall resound and the Lord shall descend
Even so, it is well, with my soul.

Public Domain

ALL MY TRIALS
Traditional

All my trials, Lord, soon be over.
All my trials, Lord, soon be over.

Public Domain

COME, YE DISCONSOLATE
St. Thomas Moore, Samuel Webbe

Come, ye disconsolate, where’er ye languish
Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel.
Here, bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish;
Earth has no sorrows that heav’n cannot heal.

Joy of the desolate, Light of the straying
Hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure!
Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying
“Earth has no sorrows, that heav’n cannot cure.”

Here, see the Bread of Life, see waters flowing
Forth from the throne of God, pure from above.
Come to the Feast of love, come everknowing
Earth has no sorrows, but heav’n can remove.

Public Domain

I MUST TELL JESUS
Elisha A. Hoffman

I must tell Jesus all of my trials;
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me;
He ever loves and cares for His own.

I must tell Jesus all of my troubles
He is a kind, compassionate Friend
If I but ask Him, He will deliver
Make of my troubles quickly an end.

I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone.
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

Tempted and tried I need a great Saviour
One who can help my burdens to bear
I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus
He all my cares and sorrows to bear.

O how the world to evil allures me!
O how my heart is tempted to sin!
I must tell Jesus, and He will help me
Over the world the vict’ry to win.

Public Domain

LUX AETERNA
Roman Gradual

Lux aeterna luce at eis Domine
Cum sanctis tuis in aeternum, quia pius es.
Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine
Et lux perpetua luce at eis.
Cum sanctis tuis in aeternum, quia pius es.
Requiescant in pace. Amen.

Light eternal, shine upon them O Lord.
With the Saints of Thine, eternally, because Holy, Thou art.
Rest of eternity, grant unto them, O Lord.
And light perpetual shine upon them.
With the Saints of Thine, eternally, because Holy, Thou art.
Rest in peace. Amen.

Public Domain

IN HEAV’NLY LOVE ABIDING
Anna L Waring; A.H. Brown

In heav’nly love abiding, no change my heart shall fear
And safe is such confiding, for nothing changes hear.
The storm may roar without me, My heart may low be laid,
But God is round about me and can I be dismayed?

Wherever He may guide me, No want shall turn me back;
My Shepherd is beside me, And nothing can I lack.
His wisdom ever waketh His sight is never dim;
He knows the way He taketh, and I will walk with Him.

Green pastures are before me, which yet I have not seen
Bright skies will soon be o’er me, where the dark clouds have been.
My hope I cannot measure, my path to life is free;
My Saviour has my treasure, and He will walk with me.

Public Domain

The Song of the Week is “There’s A Light” by Beth Nielsen Chapman.
In this episode I sample versions sung by Ashley Cleveland, Emmylou Harris, and by the author.  All versions are available in iTunes.  Support your favorite artists.

Feel free to leave comments, questions, and/or prayer requests, below,
or leave a message at 203/701-7771

Follow Nick Alexander on Twitter: @NickAlexCath