Showing posts with label Ephesians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ephesians. Show all posts

Sunday, July 27, 2025

"Togetherness"-- a new song for me

Today in worship I heard a new (to me) song-- "Togetherness". The lyrics were meaningful. When I got home, I looked up the song to learn about it.

The song is by Tiffany Hudson, Mitch Wang, and Joe L. Barnes. It was released in 2023 by Tiffany Hudson. 

The official video with lyrics:

Lyrics:

We don't always see eye to eyeAnd I've been asking for quite some timeWhy does that cause such a big divideWhy oh why
All accusationsBut no conversations, ohWay too busyBurning down bridgesForgot how to build 'em ohLord bring us back to this
You bless, You bless our togethernessPour out Your Spirit upon all fleshWe've come, we've come for nothing lessYou bless, You bless our togetherness
We're different in more than a million waysBeautiful colors that bleed the sameA long way to go but we're on our wayWe're on our way
Brothers and sistersIn need of forgiveness, ohLead us back to Holy religionBring death to divisionWe're ready to listenLord bring us back to this
You bless, You bless our togethernessPour out Your Spirit upon all fleshWe've come, we've come for nothing lessYou bless, You bless our togetherness
One heartOne peopleOne hopeOne gospel
One mindOne bodyOne churchCrying Holy
One faithOne baptismOne truthOne commission
One LordOne SpiritOne GodWe will worship
One heartOne peopleOne hopeOne gospel
One mindOne bodyOne churchCrying Holy
One faithOne baptismOne truthOne commission
One LordOne SpiritOne GodWe will worshipWe will worship

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The song brought two things to mind.

The first is Mandisa's song about how we all bleed the same.  "Bleed the Same" is the title. Its lyrics rem remind us of what that we have more in common and that coming together is the way forward.

                                            

LYRICS:

[Intro: Mandisa]
We all bleed the same
We're more beautiful when we come together
We all bleed the same
So tell me why, tell me why we're divided

[Verse 1: TobyMac]
Woke up today
Another headline
Another innocent life is taken
In the name of hatred
So hard to take (Hey)
And if we think that it's all good
Then we're mistaken
'Cause my heart is brеakin'

[Pre-Chorus: Mandisa]
Are you left? Are you right?
Pointin' fingеrs, takin' sides
When are we gonna realize?

[Chorus: Mandisa & TobyMac]
We all bleed the same
We're more beautiful when we come together
We all bleed the same
So tell me why, tell me why we're divided
If we're gonna fight, let's fight for each other
If we're gonna shout, let love be the cry
We all bleed the same
So tell me why, tell me why we're divided

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Besides Mandisa's song, the other thing that came to mind was Ephesians. Ephesians 4:5-7 (NRSV):

"one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift."

As we continue to have division in our world, reminders that we all bleed the same is important. We are better together.  

I invite you to read through the lyrics of both songs, to reflect on them, to see what resonates with you.

May we come together to end all "-ims" (to name some of them: racism, ageism, genderism, sexism, ableism, classism).

Peace,

Deb


Sunday, November 24, 2019

July through November 2019 sermons

I haven't posted any of my sermons since I've started my appointment at St. Elmo UMC.  I decided that I would post just the link for the audio for the sermons from the beginning of my time at St. Elmo UMC through the end of the church calendar year, Christ the King Sunday.

Maybe, eventually, I'll get around to posting the transcripts in the future (for future sermons), songs sung and/or played during the service, etc.

I post my sermons in case the message is helpful or encouraging to someone, somewhere.  If you desire to dialogue on any of the sermons, leave a comment below, letting me know which sermon you are referencing.  I'll get back to you.

May you be encouraged on your journey,

Debra

me, in front of St. Elmo UMC on my first Sunday, 7/7/19


JULY SERMONS

July 7 "May Peace Be on This House" Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 

July 21 "Are We Listening or Preoccupied?" Luke 10:38-42

July 28 "Rooted in Christ" Colossians 2:6-15


AUGUST SERMONS

August 4 "God's Faithful Love" Psalm 107:1-9, 43 

August 11 "God Speaks. Are We Listening?"   Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23 

August 25 "Rock of Refuge" Psalm 71:1-6


SEPTEMBER SERMONS

September 1 "For Whom Do We Labor?" Colossians 3:22-25

September 8 "In the Potter's Hand" Jeremiah 18:1-11

September 15 "Lost and Found" Luke 15:1-10

September 22 "Pray" 1 Timothy 2:1-7

September 29 "Rule of Life" 1 Timothy 6:6-19


OCTOBER SERMONS

October 6 "Increase Our Faith" Luke 17:5-10

October 27 "Poured Out" 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18


NOVEMBER SERMONS

November 3 "Love For All God's People" Ephesians 1:11-23

November 10 "God Called All of You"  2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 

November 17 "God Is the Strength of My Heart" Isaiah 12

November 24 "Living a Worthy Life" Colossians 1:10-20