From the upcoming brochure:

"Heart & Voice is an educational ministry promoting Christian worship practices, and music that is biblically and historically informed. Drawing from the teaching and examples found in both the Old and New Testaments of Holy Scripture; and from the liturgies and music developed in the Church down to our present day, Heart & Voice is here to provide training and resources for churches, pastors, music leaders, and individuals.

There are rich resources in the Scriptures, and in the liturgies past and present, that will lead God's people toward worship services and music that are more joyous, more robust, more profound, more edifying to the churches, and more pleasing to God. Our mission is to provide those resources in a helpful way in our generation."

The lyrics to the hymn below, found in a psalter published by the Presbyterian Publication Committee 1847, were revised ...apologies to Phillip Doddridge.

~ Dry Bones ~

Look down, O Lord, with gracious eye,
See Adam’s race in ruin lie;
Sin spreads its mis’ry all around
And dead men’s bones pollute the ground.

O, can these dead awake and live?
And can these sun-parched bones revive?
That, sovereign Lord, to You is known,
That wondrous work is all Your own.

Your prophets speak their words in vain,
To prophesy upon the slain;
In vain they call, in vain they cry, -
Till Your almighty aid is nigh.

But if Your Spirit gives them breath,
Life spreads through all the realms of death;
Dry bones obey Your mighty voice,-
They move, they waken, they rejoice!

So, when Your trumpet’s awful sound
Shall shake the heav’ns, and rend the ground;
Dead saints shall from their tombs arise,
To meet their Lord beyond the skies.

________________________________
lyrics: Phillip Doddridge ~revised by Rev Brian L. Penney
tune: ~Mendon L.M.

Heidelberg Q/A 1

The Heidelberg Catechism is one our doctrinal standards at Christ Covenant Church. It has been around since 1563, and has been the much-loved tool of teaching the Reformed Faith in many churches that have Reformation roots. Probably the most familiar Q/A is the first one, and it captures well the basics of personal faith in Christ. CCC has a new children's Sunday School class coming up in September and the song below is an attempt to put Q/A 1 into song. You can find the tune here:
http://www.ccel.org/cceh/0000/000075a.mid

I Belong to Jesus

Oh, what is your comfort, in life and in death?
And where does your hope, and your confidence rest?
That I, with both body and soul, do belong
To Jesus my Savior, to Him alone.

He's paid for my sins with His own precious blood;
He loved me, forgave me, and promised me good.
From all of the pow'r of the Devil set free;
He's purchased my pardon, He ransomed me.

My heavenly Father, in love, day by day,
Preserves me and keeps me in such a way,
Not even a hair can fall from my head;
But works together for salvation, instead.

And now by the Spirit, the Spirit divine,
He also assures me that His life is mine;
And so makes me willing and ready to live,
A life that is pleasing, obedient to Him.

___________________________
lyrics: Rev. Brian L. Penney 2007 (from the Heidelberg Cathecism Q/A 1)
tune: "I Love Thee", Jeremiah Ingalls, 1805

My Neighbor

Heart & Voice associate Rev. John Fleischmann (pastor of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, East Moriches, NY) wrote the hymn below recently, one of many songs he has written. Once we get rolling we hope to feature other Psalms & Hymns, not only by Pastor Fleischmann and Pastor Penney, but other composers and lyricists as well. If you, dear reader, would like to submit any original compositions, or if you know of someone who might, please contact me: blp22@optonline.net

This blog, we hope, will be just a beginning of our modest attempts at encouraging liturgical renewal and reformation.

Blessings,

Rev. Brian L. Penney
Christ Covenant Church
Copiague, NY

My Neighbor

Unclean and battered, torn by sin,
By things I do, my thoughts within,
I lie there bloodied on life's road
With death and hell my only load.

Across that road the world passed by
Turning a deaf ear to my cry,
No help to give, they could not save
And so they left me for my grave.

And, what of me, when I saw need,
did I my Savior's bidding heed?
Too often on the other side
I've walked away because of pride.


Sin bleeds from me and stops my breath,
In Adam all I know is death,
My works are rags, my offerings vain,
From dust I came, in dust remain.

But in my need my Savior died,
Not passing on the other side.
Re-breathed His Spirit in my dust,
Bound up my wounds, declared me just.

Now, safe within His Church I'm free;
Blood, Water, Spirit plead for me,
The Ark of God, the Inn of Grace,
Where I behold the Father's Face.

May I in Christ my neighbor know,
Binding wounds serves Christ below;
Make me Your Arms, Your Hands, Your Eyes,
So that in You he may arise.

You loved me when I could not love,
For my sin barred me from above;
In Christ my love is now set free,
O praise and bless the Trinity!

Text: John George Fleischmann, b. 1960
Tune: Tallis' Canon

Non-rhyming versification of Psalm 147

Praise the Lord, For it is Good ~ Psalm 147

Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God.
Praise the Lord!
For it is pleasant, a psalm of praise is beautiful.
The Lord builds Jerusalem;
He brings all His outcast ones home.
Heals His brokenhearted people;
And He binds up all their wounds.

Who is this Who counts the stars;
He Who calls them all by name?
Great Jehovah, God Almighty;
His understanding knows no end.
The Lord lifts up His humble people;
He casts the wicked down to the ground.
Sing, o sing heart-felt thanksgiving;
Sing praises on the harp to God.

Who is this Who clouds the heavens;
Who prepares the rain for earth?
Great Jehovah, God Almighty;
His mighty power knows no end.
He makes the grass to grow on the mountains;
He gives to every beast its food.
Oh what power, what condescension,
To care for ravens as they cry!

Does God care for the strength of horses;
Does He consider the legs of man?
God takes pleasure in those who fear Him;
In those who hope in His mercy sure.
Praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O city beloved!
He has strengthened your gates, O Zion;
Peace and prosperity are yours within.

God commands, and His word runs swiftly;
He sends His voice into all the earth.
Snow like wool and frost like ashes;
He casts out hail, who can stand His cold?
He sends out His word and melts them;
His wind to blow and the waters flow.
Great Jehovah, God Almighty;
Who is like our sovereign Lord?

Sons of Jacob, His chosen people;
Seed of the covenant with Abraham;
God has given you His word, His statutes;
Precepts, and judgments to Israel.
He has dealt thus with no other nation;
All His judgments, they have not known.
Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God.


Lyrics: Rev. Brian L. Penney 2007
Tune: Gwalia

Welcome to Heart & Voice....

There is a River

There is a river ever-flowing,

That makes the hearts of Christians glad;
A stream of grace that’s never-ending,
E’en though their lives are oft-times sad.
A well of living water flows,
Unto all those the Savior knows.


Our fathers baptized into Moses,
All ate the manna, spiritual food;
Their drink was more than man supposes,
God in His love gives all things good.
He gave them Christ to be their Head,
The Living Water, Living Bread.


Now unto to us a cup of blessing,
A true communion in Christ’s blood;
The holy bread we are partaking,
Body of Christ, is our true food.
“Take, eat, and drink,” the Savior said,
“I give you life, life from the dead!”

Come to the river ever-flowing,
Christ has redeemed us, be not sad;
Drink of His mercies never-ending,
Lift up your hearts, rejoice, be glad!
Now at His Table, let us raise;
Voices to God in endless praise.



Rev. Brian L. Penney ~ 2007
(sung to the tune ~ Neumark)