We invite you to join the West Tokyo Union Church family on Sunday at 10:00 am as we share together the ways in which God has taught us to “Sing a New Song” during this past many months of dealing with a pandemic reality. Our message will be an “open mic” time where we can share our thoughts, joys and struggles with each other as a community. Hamlet and some of Ruth’s puppet friends will start off the sharing time. Sounds like they might have a new song to sing.
Open Mic Points to Ponder:
- How has God helped you find a “new song” even in the midst of the pandemic? Examples from your life that show a new awareness or joy?
2. “Love one another,” says Jesus. How has this become easier or harder during this past year? What have you learned about loving others?
The Bible readings for this sixth Sunday of Easter are as follows:
Psalm 98 —
Sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things;
his right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
2 The Lord has made his salvation known
and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
3 He has remembered his love
and his faithfulness to Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
4 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
5 make music to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
shout for joy before the Lord, the King.
7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands,
let the mountains sing together for joy;
9 let them sing before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with equity.
John 15: 9 – 17 — “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.”
We hope to see you online on Sunday morning!