We Are God’s People
Text: Bryan Jeffery Leech (1976)
Music: SYMPHONY, Johannas Brahms (1877)
Arranged: Fred Brock (1976)
Ruth Pfister, organ
Musical notation with text (PDF)
We are God’s people, the chosen of the Lord,
Born of His Spirit, established by His Word;
Our cornerstone is Christ alone,
And strong in Him we stand:
O let us live transparently
And walk heart to heart and hand in hand.
We are God’s loved ones, the Bride of Christ our Lord,
For we have known it, the love of God outpoured;
Now let us learn how to return
The gift of love once given:
O let us share each joy and care,
And live with a zeal that pleases Heaven.
We are the Body of which the Lord is Head,
Called to obey Him, now risen from the dead;
He wills us be a family,
Diverse yet truly one:
O let us give our gifts to God,
And so shall his work on earth be done.
We are a temple, the Spirit’s dwelling place,
Formed in great weakness, a cup to hold God’s grace;
We die alone, for on its own
Each ember loses fire:
Yet joined in one the flame burns on
To give warmth and light, and to inspire.
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The Introduction of New Members
Jeff Anhut, Elder for Membership and Nominations
Andi Huber
Veronica and Daniel Chocoano
Dorothea and Nicholas Edmonds
Agnetha Pruim
Armin Zurburg
Introduction to the Vows of Membership
Hear the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. “You did not choose me, but I chose you that you should go and bear fruit. Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my father who is in heaven.” Friends, Jesus Christ has chosen you, and in baptism has joined you to himself. He has called you, together with us, into the church, which is his body. Now he has brought you to this time and place, so you may confess his name before others, and go out to serve him as faithful disciples.
State then your purpose here by answering the following questions.
The Vows of New Members
Do you acknowledge yourselves to be sinners in the sight of God and without hope for your salvation except in his great mercy?
Do you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Son of God, and the Savior of sinners, and do you receive and depend upon him alone for your salvation as he is offered in the Gospel?
Do you now promise and resolve, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live in a way that is fitting for followers of Christ?
Do you promise to serve the Lord in his church by supporting and participating with this congregation as it exalts Jesus Christ and serves others in his name, to the best of your ability?
Do you submit yourselves in a spirit of love to the government and discipline of this church, and to the spiritual oversight of this church Council, and do you promise to promote the unity, purity, and peace of the Church?
The Vows of the Congregation
Do you, the people of this church, promise to work together with these brothers and sisters to spread the good news of the gospel, to help them know all that Christ commands, and by your faith, love, and fellowship, to strengthen their family ties with the household of God? If so, please indicate your commitment to these new members by standing (if you are able).
The Prayer for New Members
Gracious God, we praise you for calling us from the East and West and North and South to be a servant people, and for gathering us into the body of Christ. We thank you for choosing to add to our number brothers and sisters in faith. Together, may we live in your Spirit, and so love one another, that we may have the mind of Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom we give honor and glory forever. Amen.
Reception of New Members
Ruth Pfister, organ
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him, all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Amen!