1. O Zion, haste, your mission high fulfilling,
to tell to all the world that God is light;
that he who made all nations is not willing
one soul should perish, lost in shades of night.
Refrain: Publish glad tidings, tidings of peace,
tidings of Jesus, redemption, and release.
2. Publish to ev'ry people, tongue, and nation
that God, in whom they live and move, is love;
tell how he stooped to save his lost creation
and died on earth that we might live above.
Refrain: Publish glad tidings, tidings of peace,
tidings of Jesus, redemption, and release.
3. He comes again! O Zion, ere you meet him,
make known to ev'ry heart his saving grace;
let none whom he has ransomed fail to greet him,
through your neglect, unfit to see his face.
tidings of Jesus, redemption, and release.
3. He comes again! O Zion, ere you meet him,
make known to ev'ry heart his saving grace;
let none whom he has ransomed fail to greet him,
through your neglect, unfit to see his face.
Refrain: Publish glad tidings, tidings of peace,
tidings of Jesus, redemption, and release.
***
tidings of Jesus, redemption, and release.
***
Reconciliation can't wait for heaven. The season of Epiphany invites us to herald the good news right now. It must be told that Christ stooped to gather every people, tongue and nation into God's love and toward the unity of the life above.
But perhaps you feel like me. Sometimes, I don't know what to do. My congregation is divided. Some want to host refugees. Others support a travel ban. My lesbian friends say I'm not bold enough. My conservative friends say I push gay rights too much. I fear I am a cowardly leader. My heart breaks. But still I know, that the good tidings that God is love and sent Christ to die for a lost creation is good news for me too.
God, help me. Bend me toward people who don't look like me, people who don't think like me. Give me courage to take risks, to give up my life or even part of it, so others might live in the reality of your love. RIGHT HERE. RIGHT NOW. I'm sorry I'm a coward. Please make me strong like Jesus. Please, Jesus. Amen.
Brenda Satrum, '93
Pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Mont.
But perhaps you feel like me. Sometimes, I don't know what to do. My congregation is divided. Some want to host refugees. Others support a travel ban. My lesbian friends say I'm not bold enough. My conservative friends say I push gay rights too much. I fear I am a cowardly leader. My heart breaks. But still I know, that the good tidings that God is love and sent Christ to die for a lost creation is good news for me too.
God, help me. Bend me toward people who don't look like me, people who don't think like me. Give me courage to take risks, to give up my life or even part of it, so others might live in the reality of your love. RIGHT HERE. RIGHT NOW. I'm sorry I'm a coward. Please make me strong like Jesus. Please, Jesus. Amen.
Brenda Satrum, '93
Pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Mont.
The Luther Seminary
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