#1020 Father, Long Before Creation

1 Father, long before creation

Thou hadst chosen us in love,

And that love so deep, so moving,

Draws us close to Christ above.

Still it keeps us, still it keeps us.

Firmly fixed in Christ alone.

2 Though the world may change its fashion,

Yet our God is e'er the same;

His compassion and His covenant

Through all ages will remain.

God's own children, God's own children

Must forever praise His name.

3 God's compassion is my story,

Is my boasting all the day;

Mercy free and never failing

Moves my will, directs my way.

God so loved us, God so loved us

That His only Son He gave.

4 Loving Father now before Thee

We will ever praise Thy love,

And our songs will sound unceasing

'Til we reach our home above,

Giving glory, giving glory

To our God and to the Lamb.

Giving glory, giving glory

To our God and to the Lamb.

#779 I’ll Fly Away

1 Some glad morning when this life is o’er,

I’ll fly away;

To a home on God’s celestial shore,

I’ll fly away.

Refrain:

I’ll fly away, O glory, I’ll fly away;

When I die, hallelujah, by and by,

I’ll fly away.

2 When the shadows of this life have gone,

I’ll fly away;

Like a bird from prison bars has flown,

I’ll fly away. [Refrain]

3 Just a few more weary days and then,

I’ll fly away;

To a land where joys shall never end,

I’ll fly away. [Refrain]

#1022 Lord, We Confess Our Numerous Faults

1 Lord, we confess our numerous faults;

How great our guilt has been,

How vain and foolish all our thoughts,

How all our lives were sin.

But, O my soul, forever praise,

Forever love His name

Who turns your feet from dangerous ways

Of folly, sin, and shame.

2 ‘Tis not by works of righteousness

Which our own hands have done,

But we are saved by God’s free grace

Abounding through His Son.

‘Tis from the mercy of our God

That all our hopes begin;

Here by the Water and the Blood

Our souls are washed from sin.

3 Now through the purchase of His death 

Who hung upon the tree,

The Spirit is sent down to breathe

On such dry bones as we.

Raised from the dead, we live anew;

And justified by grace,

We shall appear in glory, too,

And see our Father’s face.

Raised from the dead, we live anew;

And justified by grace,

We shall appear in glory, too,

And see our Father’s face.

#434 Revive Us Again

1 We praise Thee, O God,

for the Son of Thy love -

For Jesus, who died

and is now gone above.

Refrain:

Hallelujah! Thine the glory!

Hallelujah! Amen!

Hallelujah! Thine the glory!

Revive us again.

2 We praise Thee, O God,

for Thy Spirit of Light,

Who has shown us our Savior

and scattered our night. [Refrain]

3 All glory and praise

to the Lamb that was slain,

Who has borne all our sins

and has cleansed every stain. [Refrain]

4 Revive us again;

fill each heart with Thy love;

May each soul be rekindled

With fire from above. [Refrain]

O Lord, We have been greatly distressed in our souls because we do not suitably come to the fountain that purges away all sin. We have labored too much for spiritual life, peace of conscience, and progressive holiness in our own strength. We beg You, show us the arm of all might. Give us belief that you can do for us more than we ask or think. Convince us that though we backslide, Your love will never let us go but will draw us back to You with everlasting cords. You provide grace in the wilderness and can bring us out. Keep us solemn, devout, faithful, resting on free grace for assistance, acceptance, and peace of conscience. Amen.

Heidelberg Catechism Question 1

Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death?

A. That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.

He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.

Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready

from now on to live for him.