kj the dj

in worship last night,
our dear mindy s. sang
the
most
beautiful
song written by
our talented tom j.

(if she’s my ‘dear mindy’,
then he’s my ‘talented tom’,
though really
it’s more like
she’s our
mostencouragingtenderfaithful+talented mindy
and he’s our
talentedhumbleveryverywickedlyfunny tom)

i digress.

this song.
it’s the first i’ve heard it
(it’s debut, perhaps?*)
and
i want to hear it everywhere.
everywhere.
i want to download it on itunes,
i want to hear it in church
as often as possible and
in as many churches as possible,
i want to teach it to my kids
and hear nathan
wandering around humming it.

the song is ‘forgiven’
and it’s about the sacraments.

[mentally picture two people on stage:
mindy singing +
phil hamilton on guitar -
i seriously can't wait for
you to hear the tune.
to hear her voice
singing it.
oh my. melting.]

‘the table has been set
the elements prepared
a simple, holy meal
i long for us to share

the bread is my body
which was broken in two
the wine is my blood
which flowed for you

soon i’ll be going to a place you cannot see
so do this in remembrance of me

come let us reason together
come let us share the bread and
though your sins be as scarlet
they shall be like wool
since you are forgiven

when your heart is broken
when the pain has grown too deep
when your guilt has slowly robbed you of your joy
taste this sweet reminder
of the price that i have paid
so that you might be renewed
to face another day

soon i’ll be returning for all the world to see
so do this in remembrance of me.’

following this song,
tim preached from i cor 11:18-34
on the supper. the sacraments.
the table of unity.

which was followed by
communion.

and the final song,
that old old favorite hymn,
‘near the cross’
(william donae + fanny crosby, 1869)

[mentally picture charis + ryan
sitting behind me and
my ears being filled with
the beautiful voices of tender friends
and
chiming in my own voice
and positively
never wanting the hymn to end]

jesus keep me near the cross;
there a precious fountain,
free to all, a healing stream,
flows from Calvry’s mountain.

chorus:
in the cross, in the cross,
be my glory ever;
till my raptured soul shall find
rest beyond the river.

near the cross, a trembling soul,
love and mercy found me;
there the Bright and Morning Star
shed its beams around me.

chorus.

near the cross, i’ll watch and wait,
hoping, trusting ever.
till i reach the golden strand
just beyond the river.

chorus.

amen
+
amen.

and happy monday morning, friends.

*update:
we have it from the horse’s mouth
that this was one of the first songs
he ever wrote, maybe 20 yrs ago.
way to start strong, friend.