Chuck SpanglerGrace Memorial Parishioner Following the most significant week of the Christian year (Holy Week/Easter), we now follow the church calendar into a season of celebration and recommitment. Where are we going as followers of Christ? Do we share that lifestyle with others (directly or indirectly)? Who am I:
"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." 1 Corinthians 15:19-22 Anthem Lights is a quartet of talented “Twenty-something” men from Nashville that combine impeccable harmony with inspirational music, founded in 2007 by Chad Graham (tenor). They were awarded K-Love “Song of the Year” three consecutive years (2014, 2015, 2016). This cut was released on Easter Sunday, 2017. They rarely tour, but concentrate on social media (YouTube, Instagram, etc) for their popularity. Cut: “Easter Medley”
Artist: Anthem Lights CD/Album: Hymns Vol. 2 Because He lives, I can face tomorrow; because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know my Redeemer lives, I know my Redeemer lives. All of creation testifies, this life within me cries: I know … He holds the future, and life is worth the living just because He lives. The very same God that spins things in orbit, runs to the weary, the worn, and the weak. And the same gentle hands that hold me when I’m broken, they conquer death to bring me victory. Arise, my love. Arise, my love, the grave no longer has a hold on you. No more death’s sting, no more suffering, arise…arise. Well I know, my Redeemer lives, I know my Redeemer lives. All of creation testifies, this life within me cries: I know my Redeemer lives. And life is worth the living just because He lives.
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By Chuck SpanglerGrace Memorial Parishoner "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, be made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." Colossians 2:15 Another selection from Selah (Todd Smith, Allan Hall, & Amy Perry). As we experience the Passion of Christ, this music focuses on the dichotomy of “the Cross”: so inhuman and cruel, yet so life-giving and redemptive to us sinners. Cut: “Beautiful Terrible Cross” Artist: Selah CD/Album: You Deliver Messians, chapter 2; v. 15:Colossians, chapter 2; v. 15: "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your vain manner of life received by tradition from your fathers, But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot…" 1 Peter 1:18-19 As you may have surmised by now, Selah is one of my favorite Christian Praise music vocal groups, lead by Amy Perry whose beautiful voice is complimented seamlessly by Todd’s tenor and Allan’s keyboards. Their music is characterized by beautiful harmonies and not by heavy metal arrangements. This offering seems appropriate for Holy Week. Cut: “O the Blood” Artist: Selah CD/Album: You Amaze Us By Chuck SpanglerGrace Memorial Parishoner “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 This particular passage from John’s gospel is perhaps one of the most commonly repeated of Jesus’ quotes, recorded during a conversation with Nicodemus. Simple and impossible to misinterpret. We The Kingdom is a contemporary Christian music band consists of multiple generations of the Cash family. Ed Cash, the recognized leader, is well known for his songwriting abilities. Prior to the formation of WTK, Ed penned music for the likes of Chris Tomlin. The lone female vocalist, Franni Rae Cash, is Ed’s daughter; the drummer is Ed’s son; the lead guitarist is Ed’s brother; the keyboards are played by Ed’s nephew. The youth of Grace Memorial attended a We The Kingdom concert in Hattiesburg, MS, in March, 2022. Cut: “God So Loved” Artist: We The Kingdom CD/Album: Live at the Wheelhouse Come all you weary, Come all you thirsty, Come to the well That never runs dry
Drink of the Water, Come and thirst no more Come all you sinners, Come find His mercy, Come to the table, He will satisfy. Taste of His goodness, Find what you’re looking for. For God so loved The world that He gave us, His one and only Son to save us. Whoever believes in Him Will live forever. Bring all your failures, Bring your addictions, Come lay them down At the foot of the cross. Jesus is waiting there With open arms. The power of hell forever defeated, Now it is well, I’m walking in freedom For God so loved…God so loved the world. Praise God, Praise God, From whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, Praise Him, For the wonders of His love. Bring all your failures, Bring your addictions, Come lay them down At the foot of the cross Jesus is waiting, God so loved the world. By Jeanne VoorheesI was the Director of the Youth Service Bureau for 30 years. One of our several programs was Discovery/ Renew, which now greatly benefits from the GMEC Pumpkin Patch and Grace Baskets Ministries.
Our Grace Basket Ministry at Grace was born many years ago when one of the families served by Discovery/Renew was in crisis. Their children were in danger of being removed by the state because they were not able to provide a clean and safe home environment for them. The case worker was coming soon, and they needed help. Since I had a few hours available, I went to their home to see if I could help them with the cleaning. When I arrived, I asked if they had a broom. They showed me a handle with a plastic cap on the bottom, which had once held the bristles. There were tiny nubs where the bristles belonged. So I asked if they had a mop, or sponges, or paper towels, or disinfectant, or dishwashing soap - or any kind of soap! Sadly, they had none of those things. I looked under the kitchen sink, and it was bare. All they had were rags, which were old clothes with holes in them. The only thing I could do at the time was to help them straighten up the house. The staff then purchased the needed supplies and helped the family clean the home. The children were not removed. These were not lazy people nor neglectful parents- they deeply loved their children. The problem was extreme poverty. I was the Outreach Ministries Coordinator for Grace at that time, so I brought the problem to Father Paul. Soon thereafter, the Grace Basket Ministry was hatched! Initially, we filled actual laundry baskets full of a wide assortment of cleaning supplies to give to families in this kind of crisis. After many years of trying to carry 20 to 30 heavy, filled laundry baskets, we decided to collect funds and donate them to the program to use as needed for the purchase of cleaning supplies for families in need. It has been a powerful program that has helped many families, giving them the resources, encouragement, and morale boost they needed to tackle the many challenges in their lives with the help of the Renew/Discovery staff. In Tangipahoa Parish, 19% of our residents live below the federal poverty line- that’s almost 1 in 5! Those of us who are blessed to have a broom and some soap can deeply bless those who do not, through this powerful ministry. By Chuck SpanglerGrace Memorial Parishioner Selah is an internationally acclaimed Christian music trio (Todd Smith, Allan Hall, & Amy Perry) formed in 1997. The group took their name from the ancient Hebrew word “selah”, the exact meaning of which has been lost in antiquity. The word “selah” appears over 70 times in the Psalms…it is surmised by some theologians that its meaning is similar to “amen” in that no viable English synonym exists. Selah has sold more than 4 million albums resulting in 8 Gospel Music Association “Dove Awards”, and 8 #1 singles. Cut: “Wonderful, Merciful Saviour” Artist: Selah CD/Album: Press On Wonderful merciful Savior, precious Redeemer and Friend,
Who would have thought that a Lamb could rescue the souls of men… O, You rescue the souls of men. Counselor, Comforter, Keeper, Spirit we long to embrace, You offer hope when our hearts have hopelessly lost our way… O, we’ve hopelessly lost the way. You are the One that we praise, You are the One we adore, You give the healing and grace our, hearts always hunger for… O, our hearts always hunger for. Almighty infinite Father, faithfully loving Your own, Here in our weakness You find us, falling before Your throne… O, we’re falling before Your throne. You are the One that we praise, You are the One we adore, You give the healing and grace our, hearts always hunger for… O, our hearts always hunger for. You are the One that we praise, You are the One we adore, You give the healing and grace our, hearts always hunger for… O, our hearts always hunger for. |
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