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