Lent // Week 4 // Mar. 10-16
When we are afraid and have nowhere to turn
God, our help in trouble
When waters rise and forests burn
God, our help in trouble
When our last hope has been claimed
By the floods or by flame
Give us voice to call out your name
God, our help in trouble
When we are afraid and have nowhere to hide
God, our help in trouble
Mountains too high and rivers too wide
God, our help in trouble
When we don’t know what to do
And there’s no way through
Give us strength to call out to you
God, our help in trouble
When we are afraid and have nowhere to go
God, our help in trouble
When we find ourselves in a place we don’t know
God, our help in trouble
When we’re not sure who to trust
And our walls turn to dust
You are the one who will never leave us
God, our help in trouble
Lyrics: Seth Thomas Crissman and Greg Yoder, 2023
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman and Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Chass Kreider, Mitchell Yoder, Kristina Yoder
Lent // Week 3 // Mar. 3-9
God, we have sinned, we have gone astray
We have turned away and fallen
God, we have sinned, we have put our faith
In our own strength and fallen
When we fall short, when we fall down
You stay right here, You stick around
When we call out, call Your name
Your love is near and You give us grace
When we are lost, You seek and find
When we confess, Your heart is kind
You call our name, call us Your own
And You always forgive
God, we have sinned, we have gone astray
We have turned away and fallen
God, we have sinned, we have put our faith
In our own strength and fallen
When we fall short, when we fall down
You're always here, You're all around and
When we call out, call Your name
Your love is near and You give us grace
When we are lost, You seek and find
When we confess, Your heart is kind
You call our name, call us Your own
And You always forgive
Lyrics: Seth Thomas Crissman, 2023
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman and Lauren Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Lauren Yoder, Rachel Mast, Kristina Yoder
Lent // Week 2 // Feb. 25 - Mar. 2
Surely goodness and mercy
Surely goodness and mercy
Surely goodness and mercy
Shall follow me all the days of my life
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
For ever
Lyrics: Direct quotation of Psalm 23:6 (KJV)
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman, Jackson Todd Maust, Mitchell Reid Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Jackson Maust, Eastern Mennonite High School Chamber Choir
Lent // Week 1 // Feb. 18-24
Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress;
my eye wastes away from grief, O LORD, my soul and body also,
For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away.
I have passed out of mind like one who is dead
I have become like a broken vessel.
But I trust in you, O LORD; I trust in you, O LORD;
But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." "You are my God."
Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.
Let your face shine upon your servant; save me
Lyrics: Direct quotation of Psalm 31:9-10, 12, 14, 16 (NRSV)
Music: Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Ebony Nicole, Nichole Barrows, Kristina Yoder
Epiphany // Week 11 // Feb. 11-17
Christ before and Christ beneath
Move our hearts and move our feet
Fill the hungry, bless the meek
And lead us into peace
Lyrics: Seth Thomas Crissman, 2023
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman, 2023
Vocals: Lauren Yoder
Epiphany // Week 10 // Feb. 4-10
Gloria, gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, gloria, alleluia.
Lyrics: Luke 2:14a (Latin)
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman and Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Theresa Peachey Crissman, Eliana Crissman, Seth Crissman, Gina Coulson, Katie Maust, Julia Maust, Kristina Yoder, Ebony Nicole, Nichole Barrows, Sarah Halteman, Zach Halteman, Taylor Bess, Mitchell Yoder, Jackson Maust, Daniel Barrows, Greg Yoder
Epiphany // Week 9 // Jan. 28 - Feb. 3
We cry peace, peace, peace for the storms surround us
Peace, peace, peace for the fears that haunt us
Peace, peace, peace, God, we are perishing!
We cry peace, peace, peace for there is no peace
Oh hold, hold your arms around this tilting planet
Hold, hold your arms around the wounds of this world
Hold, hold your arms around your people, all of us,
Hold, hold your arms around the world
We cry peace, peace, peace — but there is no justice
Peace, peace, peace —- but some have more than others
Peace, peace, peace —- but there are hungry bellies
We cry peace, peace, peace — but there is no peace
Oh hold, hold Your arms around this tilting planet
Hold, hold Your arms around the wounds of this world
Hold, hold Your arms around Your people, all of us,
Hold, hold Your arms around the world
May we see the wounds within, around us truthfully
May we take the time and care they need to heal
Then bring our hammers and our hearts
A time for ends, a time for starts
Show us what to build and what to tear down to the ground
Peace, peace, peace, may our minds be set on it
Peace, peace, peace, may our fears make way for it
Peace, peace, peace, lay our weapons down for it
Peace, peace, peace, may we join in building it
Oh hold, hold Your arms around this tilting planet
Hold, hold Your arms around the wounds of this world
Hold, hold Your arms around Your people, all of us,
Hold, hold Your arms around the world
Lyrics: Susan Gascho-Cooke, 2021
Music: Susan Gascho-Cooke, 2021
Vocals: Susan Gascho-Cooke, Jackson Maust, Kristina Yoder
Epiphany // Week 8 // Jan. 21-27
For God alone
my soul waits in silence,
for my hope is from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
Lyrics: direct quotation of Psalm 62:5-6 (NRSV)
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman, 2023
Vocals: Kristina Yoder and Mitchell Yoder
Epiphany // Week 7 // Jan. 14-20
Come down, O love divine, seek Thou this soul of mine,
And visit it with Thine own ardor glowing.
O Comforter, draw near, within my heart appear,
And kindle it, Thy holy flame bestowing.
O let it freely burn, til earthly passions turn
To dust and ashes in its heat consuming;
And let Thy glorious light shine ever on my sight,
And clothe me round, the while my path illuming.
Let holy charity mine outward vesture be,
And lowliness become mine inner clothing;
True lowliness of heart, which takes the humbler part,
And o’er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.
Bless’d be the tie that binds our hearts and souls and minds.
And so the yearning strong, with which the soul will long,
Shall far outpass the power of human telling;
For none can guess its grace, till love creates a place
Wherein the Holy Spirit makes a dwelling.
Lyrics: Bianca da Sienna, d. ca. 1434; trans. Richard Frederick Littledale, d. 1890, with chorus by Seth Thomas Crissman, 2013
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman, 2013
Vocals: Mitchell Yoder, Nichole Barrows, Ebony Nicole, Lauren Yoder, Kristina Yoder
Epiphany // Week 6 // Jan. 7-13
On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
announces that the Lord is nigh.
Awake and harken, for he brings
glad tidings of the King of Kings!
We hail you as our Savior, Lord,
our refuge and our great reward.
Without your grace we waste away
like flowers that wither and decay.
And let us all our hearts prepare
For Christ to come and enter there
Then cleansed be every life from sin:
Make straight the way for God within
Make straight the way
Make straight the way for God within,
And let us all our hearts prepare
For Christ to come and enter there
Lyrics: Charles Coffin, d. 1749; trans. John Chandler, 1837
Music: Greg Yoder, Ebony Nicole, and Nichole Barrows, 2023
Vocals: Ebony Nicole, Jackson Maust, Kristina Yoder
Christmas // Week 5 // Dec. 31 - Jan. 6
Up in the fields, with shepherd and sheep
A withered old tree reaches out from her sleep
To call to the star, the night-watch now keeping
“Are you the one from the stories of old?
Is He the one sent to heal and make whole?”
Out on the plain, between dust and stone
A tender young sapling, hardly half-grown
Whispers to the family walking alone
“Are you the ones from the stories of old?
Is He the one sent to heal and make whole?”
To bind up the brokenhearted
Bring good news for the oppressed
With a garland instead of ashes
Planting oaks of righteousness
Down in the city, with no room for belief
An olive branch rustles, offers a leaf
And cries to the child, who has come like a thief
“Are you the one from the stories of old?
Are you the one sent to heal and make whole?”
Up in the fields, out on the plain,
Down in the city, they’re shouting his name
The mountains and trees sing with joy the refrain
“This is the one from the stories of old
He is the one sent to heal and make whole”
“This is the one from the stories of old
The one who the star and the prophets foretold
The Shepherd who gathers us into the fold
Jesus, the Son, sent to heal and make whole”
Lyrics: Greg Yoder, 2023
Music: Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Lauren Yoder and Mitchell Yoder
CHRISTMAS DAY
I am goin’ up to Bethlehem town
I am goin’ up hills and back down
Living in womb darkness like all peoples without the sun
King of Light, I Am the Bethlehem One
King of Light, I Am the Bethlehem One
We are goin’ up to Bethlehem town
We are runnin’ up fields and back down
“Glory to God and Good News!” they said, so we seek the new peace begun
Prince of Peace, we need you, Bethlehem One
Prince of Peace, we need you, Bethlehem One
We are goin’ up to Bethlehem town
We are climbin’ up mountains and back down
They call us wise but we are not, we only come weary, broken, undone
Son of the Wise God, we love you, Bethlehem One
Son of the Wise God, we love you, Bethlehem One
So glory to God in the highest!
And may Your favor and peace rest on all
Immanuel, God so big, baby so small
Immanuel, God so big, baby so small
Immanuel, God so big, baby so small
Lyrics: Philip Fisher Rhodes, 2009
Music: Philip Fisher Rhodes, 2009
Vocals: Ben Luna, Ebony Nicole, Jackson Maust
Gloria, gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, gloria, alleluia.
Lyrics: Luke 2:14a (Latin)
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman and Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Theresa Peachey Crissman, Eliana Crissman, Seth Crissman, Gina Coulson, Katie Maust, Julia Maust, Kristina Yoder, Ebony Nicole, Nichole Barrows, Sarah Halteman, Zach Halteman, Taylor Bess, Mitchell Yoder, Jackson Maust, Daniel Barrows, Greg Yoder
Advent // Week 4 // Dec. 24-30
Here am I, the servant of the Lord;
let it be with me according to your word.
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name,
and holy is his name.
Lyrics: direct quotation of Luke 1:38b, 46b, 47, 49 (NRSV)
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman, Nicole Barrows, Ebony Nicole, and Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Nichole Barrows, Ebony Nicole, Lauren Yoder, Kristina Yoder
Advent // Week 3 // Dec. 17-23
Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus for you.
Do not quench the Spirit.
Do not despise the words of prophets,
but test everything;
hold fast to what is good.
Lyrics: direct quotation of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-21 (NRSV)
Music: Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Ben Luna, Ebony Nicole, Nichole Barrows, Jackson Maust, Mitchell Yoder, Greg Yoder
Advent // Week 2 // Dec. 10-16
A voice cries out: "In the wilderness
prepare the way of the LORD,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed
Lyrics: direct quotation of Isaiah 40:3-5a (NRSV)
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman and Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Jessica DiPuma, Ebony Nicole, Nichole Barrows, Mitchell Yoder, Kristina Yoder, Greg Yoder
Come down, O love divine, seek Thou this soul of mine,
And visit it with Thine own ardor glowing.
O Comforter, draw near, within my heart appear,
And kindle it, Thy holy flame bestowing.
O let it freely burn, til earthly passions turn
To dust and ashes in its heat consuming;
And let Thy glorious light shine ever on my sight,
And clothe me round, the while my path illuming.
Let holy charity mine outward vesture be,
And lowliness become mine inner clothing;
True lowliness of heart, which takes the humbler part,
And o’er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.
Bless’d be the tie that binds our hearts and souls and minds.
And so the yearning strong, with which the soul will long,
Shall far outpass the power of human telling;
For none can guess its grace, till love creates a place
Wherein the Holy Spirit makes a dwelling.
Lyrics: Bianca da Sienna, d. ca. 1434; trans. Richard Frederick Littledale, d. 1890, with chorus by Seth Thomas Crissman, 2013
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman, 2013
Vocals: Mitchell Yoder, Nichole Barrows, Ebony Nicole, Lauren Yoder, Kristina Yoder
Advent // Week 1 // Dec. 3-9
The grass withers, the flower fades;
but the word of our God will stand forever.
The leaf shrivels, so too the shade,
But the word of our God will stand
May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy
May those who sow in fear be neither harmed nor destroyed
May those who sow in sorrow harvest with delight
For all who sow, sow for tomorrow, with hope that falls by night
O that you would tear open the heavens and come down
Lyrics: direct quotations from Isaiah 40:8 (NRSV), Psalm 126:5 (NRSV), and Isaiah 64:1a (NRSV), with additional lines by Greg Yoder, 2023
Music: Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Jackson Maust and Rachel Mast
Ordinary Time // Week 26 // November 26 - December 2
CALL US HOME
You will search for your sheep
Mountain high and valley deep
And You will find us, You will find us in our doubt
From our fear You will carry us out
You will search for Your sheep
For the Shepherd does not sleep
You will find us, You will find us in the thorn
You have known us, You have loved us from before we were born
Call us home, call us home
You will search for Your sheep
For the Shepherd does not sleep
You will find us, You will find us where we are
Torn and tattered, broken, battered, scared and scattered far
Call us home, call us home,
You are the Shepherd of the hungry and alone
Call us home, call us home
You will not leave us, for we are Your own
Call us home
Lyrics: Seth Thomas Crissman and Greg Yoder, 2023
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman and Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Lauren Yoder, Ebony Nicole, Nichole Barrows, Kristina Yoder, Greg Yoder
Ordinary Time // Week 25 // November 19-25
BEFORE YOU FORMED THE HIGHEST MOUNTAINS
Before You formed the highest mountains
Before You poured out the waters of the sea
Before You spoke and You created
You were and forever will be
Before You formed the ground beneath us
Before You called us, called us each by name
Before You breathed Your breath into us
You were and You never change, You never change
You are Maker of the universe, and Savior of our souls
Liberator and our Creator, the One who makes us whole
There is not a place that we can be that Your love isn’t waiting patiently
Maker of the universe, Savior of our souls
Before You formed the ground beneath us
Before You called us, called us each by name
Before You breathed Your breath into us
You were and You never change, You never will change
Holy, Holy One
Holy God, Three in One
Who was, and is, and is to come
Holy, Holy, Holy
Lyrics: Seth Thomas Crissman, 2023
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman, 2023
Vocals: Lauren Yoder, Mitchell Yoder, Kristina Yoder
Ordinary Time // Week 24 // November 12-18
MORE THAN CONQUERORS
Who will separate us from the love of Christ?
Will hardship, or distress, or persecution,
Who will separate us from the love of Christ?
Will famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come,
nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Lyrics: direct quotation from Romans 8:37-39
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman and Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Ben Luna, Kristina Yoder, Mitchell Yoder
Ordinary Time // Week 23 // November 5-11
GIVE US YOUR LABOR
I don’t know if we’re ready
I don’t know if we’re strong
But I know that Jesus can steady any
Rocky boat and make the waters calm
Jesus, make us ready
Teach us what You’d have us do
Jesus, give us courage
To work like You
Give us Your work
Teach us how to work Your land
Give us Your work
Give us Your labor in our hands
Lyrics: Greg Yoder, 2023
Music: Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Ben Luna, Ebony Nicole
