Easter Vigil

26 marzo 2016, sabato santo

I joined the Holy week Service in this 3 days, from Maundy Thursday, then the Good Friday to Easter Vigil. From "not to be served but to serve", then "The sinless Son of God was slain on Calvary's hill" to "He arose from death to life triumphantly". It's amazing, for salvation, He did for me.

For Easter day, Cathedral arranged some people to decorate the hall. They set much of flowers for decoration, the fragrance fulfill the hall.

This is 3 parts mainly in Service. First part is the Service of Light - blessing of new fire. Second part is baptism. Third part is the Holy Eucharist.

In Holy Eucharist, Cathedral choir sing a dedicated hymn "Because of Love" which is my favorite hymn to sing.

"Because of Love"
Music by Lanny Allen
Words by J. Paul Williams

Why would God come to earth?
Why would He choose a manger birth?
Why would He want to give me worth?
Why would God come to earth?

Because of love, because of love.
He left the peace of heav'n above.
He left His throne His Majesty and came to earth to ransom me.
Because of love, because of love, because of love.

Why would God choose Calvary?
Why would He suffer on a tree?
Why would He die for you and me?
Why would God choose Calvary?

Because of love.
For God so love the world, He gave His only begotten son.
That whosoever believeth, believeth in Him should not perish.
But have everlasting life.

He came to live in flesh and do His Father's will.
The sinless Son of God was slain on Calvary's hill.
But He arose from death to life triumphantly.
All this and mourn, Christ did for me.

Because of love, because of love,
He left the peace of heav'n above.
He left His throne His Majesty and came to earth to ransom me.
Because of love, because of love.
Because God so love.

I'm glad to witness more 70 babies, children and adults becoming Christian through baptist.

The Good Friday

25 marzo 2016, venerdi santo

The Good Friday, the cathedral choir sing 3 dedicated hymns while the Service in the process the Veneration of the Cross.

"When You Prayed Beneath the Trees"
Music by Lloyd Larson
Words by Christopher Idle

When you prayed beneath the trees, it was for me, O Lord;
when you cried upon your knees, how could it be, O Lord?
When in blood and sweat and tears, you dismissed your final fears,
when you faced the soldiers' spears, you stood for me, O Lord.

When their triumph looked complete, it was for me, O Lord;
when it seemed like your defeat, they could not see, O Lord!
When you faced the mob alone you were silent as a stone,
and a tree became your throne; you came for me, O Lord.

When you stumbled up the road, you walked for me, O Lord;
when you took your deadly load, that heavy tree, O Lord;
When they lifted you on high, and they nailed you up to die,
and when darkness filled the sky, it was for me, O Lord.

"God So Loved The World"
Music by John Stainer
Word from John 3:16

God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son,
that who so believeth, believeth in Him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world through him might be saved.

"The Cross: When I Survey / Wonderful Cross"
Music and Words by Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves and J.D. Walt
includes When I Survey by Isaac Walts and Lowell Mason
Arranged by Larry Shackley

When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of Glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.

Oh, the wonderful cross, oh, the wonderful cross,
bids me come and die and find that I can truly live.
Oh, the wonderful cross, oh, the wonderful cross,
all who gather here by grace draw near and bless your name.

See from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose, so rich a crown?

Oh, the wonderful cross, oh, the wonderful cross,
all who gather here by grace draw near and bless your name.

Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
Amen.

Maundy Thursday

24 marzo 2016, giovedi santo

Today,  I be the chorus to join the Service in Cathedral.

When Reverends washing of the feet to baptist-to-be like as Jesus performing this act, the choir sing the dedicated hymn "The Servant King", let us to remember "Not to be served but to serve".

THE SERVANT KING
music & lyrics: Graham Kendrick

1. From heav'n you came, helpless Babe, entered our world, Your glory veiled;
    not to be served but to serve, and give Your life that we might live. (refrain)

2. There in the garden of tears, my heavy load He chose to bear,
    His heart with sorrow was torn, 'Yet not my will but Your.' He said. (refrain)

3. Come see His hands and His feet, the scars that speak of sacrifice,
     hands that flung stars into space to cruel nails surrendered. (refrain)

4. So let us learn how to serve, and in our lives enthrone Him,
     each other's needs to prefer, for it is Christ we're serving. (refrain)

Refrain:
This is our God, the Servant King. He calls us now to follow Him,
to bring our lives as a daily offering of worship to the Servant King.

This year, Cathedral set up the garden of Gethsemane in the hall for public to pray and wait the Lord overnight. Thanks to God, we have some talent sisters to build up this beautiful garden to pray like as Jesus.