"Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!"

This was the processional hymn at church today. The words were a comfort to me, as today was the one year anniversary of our last worship service at our old church. We mourn the loss of that unique community of believers, our gifted pastor's teaching, and the service that was full of theological meaning, reverence, and the presence of the Lord.

But, time goes on, and we are trying to discern God's will for us concerning settling into a new church home. As the hymn says, He has redeemed us by His blood! We are not left as orphans in sorrow!


(ornate throne at St. Peter's in Rome)

"Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!"

Alleluia! sing to Jesus! His the scepter, His the throne.
Alleluia! His the triumph, His the victory alone.
Hark! the songs of peaceful Zion thunder like a mighty flood.
Jesus out of every nation has redeemed us by His blood.

Alleluia! not as orphans are we left in sorrow now;
Alleluia! He is near us, faith believes, nor questions how;
Though the cloud from sight received Him when the forty days were o’er
Shall our hearts forget His promise, “I am with you evermore”?

Alleluia! bread of angels, Thou on earth our food, our stay;
Alleluia! here the sinful flee to Thee from day to day:
Intercessor, Friend of sinners, Earth’s Redeemer, plead for me,
Where the songs of all the sinless sweep across the crystal sea.

Alleluia! King eternal, Thee the Lord of lords we own;
Alleluia! born of Mary, Earth Thy footstool, Heav’n Thy throne:
Thou within the veil hast entered, robed in flesh our great High Priest;
Thou on earth both priest and victim in the Eucharistic feast.