REJOICING, REMEMBERING, AND RETELLING DURING THE LENTEN SEASON

A native of Louisiana, John Parker holds the BM in Vocal Performance from Louisiana College and the MM in Choral Conducting from Northwestern State University. Composing primarily for church and school choirs, John’s 600+ choral works are published by numerous state-side companies. Active as a choral clinician and lecturer, Mr. Parker is author of How to Start a Fine Arts Academy in Your Church and numerous drama collections. John and his family make their home in Austin, TX where John has served as Associate Pastor of Worship & Music at Austin Baptist Church since 2014.

Gathering weekly for corporate worship is important to a vital and growing relationship with God and with our fellow Christ-followers. At no season in our worship cycle is this more obvious than during Lent. Many key tenants of our faith are brought to the forefront in corporate worship during this season; Christ’s sinless life, miracles, suffering, healing, last supper, prayer, arrest, trial, beating, and crucifixion. As you plan and worship this Lenten season, may God call to mind all of these and more. May worshippers be deeply stirred as they remember, retell and rejoice!

REMEMBERING. The Bible compares us to sheep; not always the smartest of animals. Forgetful. Always wandering off. Will follow anyone, anywhere. That’s us! We’re not very smart. That’s why it’s imperative we gather weekly to remember all the great things God has done; how great, mighty, powerful, loving, forgiving, merciful and gracious He really is. Sometimes we forget. When we get together for worship, it helps us remember. May God bless you in your remembering this Lenten season.

RETELLING. Worship is all about retelling the story of God’s amazing plan for His creation and spreading His glory throughout the universe. When we gather for worship, we retell the story of God’s redemptive plan for humanity. In retelling the God stories, our hearts are drawn close to Him in intimate worship. May each of us draw near to God and one another as we retell the story of His redemption plan through His Son.

REJOICING. The Psalms are full of directives to rejoice in God’s presence. When we gather for worship, we reconnect with our true source of joy – our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Lost your joy? Worship holds the answer to reconnecting with God through ‘re-joicing.’ May God fill your heart with great joy and gratitude as you rejoice in worship.

May these lyrics inspire and stir you as you remember, retell and rejoice this lent season; “The One Who Bears My Shame” (HL 00149983)
THE ONE WHO BEARS MY SHAME

There stumbles through the street
Unsteady on His feet
Derided and defamed
The One who bears my shame.
Now struggling up the way
With not a word to say
Betrayed, He takes the blame
The One who bears my shame.

Who is this man who carries every sin?
The weight of the world is fixed upon Him!

They mock Him as He dies
Mid Mary’s silent cries
They curse the sacred name
Of the One who bears my shame.
This man upon the tree
Hangs there in place of me
Precious to me, the name
Of the One who bears my shame.

God be with you,

John Parker

God So Loved

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