Wedding hymn
Lord, we stand with joy before You,
Looking back on all our way.
How we worship and adore You
For your goodness till this day.
Thankfully we sing your praises,
Lift our hearts in grateful awe.
How Your steadfastness amazes!
Lord our love on You we pour.
All through times of deepest sorrow
You have been our secret joy,
Bringing us to each tomorrow
With a peace none can destroy.
When the love of man has failed us,
Your great love has been our stay.
When our doubts and fears assailed us,
You have held us all the way.
Through the years Your grace has taught us
That Your promises are true;
Lovingly Your wisdom brought us
To this place of trust in You.
When the way ahead was clouded
You have been our shining light;
From the view which mists had shrouded
You have birthed a daybreak bright.
Now our lives have come together,
Joined our hands, our hearts are one.
You have been our guide forever,
You will lead through years to come.
Here we stand in celebration
Of Your constant faithfulness,
Praising, Lord, Your great salvation,
You, who save and heal and bless.
Make us, Lord, a light for others,
Those who stumble on the way;
Helping sisters, friends and brothers
Bear the burden of the day.
May we bring Your consolation
From the comfort we’ve received;
Standing on Your sure foundation,
Reaching out to those in need.
Lord, wherever you may take us,
We will follow all the way,
Gladly let your Spirit make us
Ones who trust you and obey.
Living as Your holy dwelling,
Let our hearts become Your throne,
Constantly Your wonders telling
As we make our lives Your home.
Prayer of faith
To the Tune of Thornbury
In times of disappointment,
When all our dreams are dashed,
The life we had constructed
In broken shards lies smashed;
When God Himself seems silent,
And prayer futility,
Yet even in the darkness
We hope, we trust, we see.
When prayers remain unanswered
And hope has ebbed away,
The grasp of death has stolen
The ones for whom we pray;
Our broken hearts can only
Cry out in agony,
Yet even in our anguish
We hope, we trust, we see.
When all our way is clouded,
The path trails out of sight,
We long for clear direction,
Yet still there is no light;
The mists of indecision
Shroud all in secrecy,
Yet even in confusion
We hope, we trust, we see.
When evidence is lacking
For what we once believed,
And doubt implores our reason
To turn from faith and leave;
Where once we knew God’s presence
We sense a vacancy,
Yet even in our doubting
We hope, we trust, we see.
For yet a day is coming
When hope will dawn as sight,
When faith will be rewarded
And morning will be bright.
And so in times of waiting
We hold this certainty
That when the clouds have parted,
Then face to face we’ll see.
Prayer for our nation
To the tune of Abbot’s Leigh
At this time of transformation,
Staring into days unknown,
Lord, we bring to You our nation
As we stand before Your throne.
Give us leaders filled with wisdom,
Those who yearn for righteousness.
May the coming of Your kingdom
Rid our hearts of hopelessness.
Heal, O Lord, the deep divisions
Which destroy community;
Ending hate and mending schisms,
Bringing peace and unity.
May compassion, love and justice
Heal the wounds our strife has caused.
May repentance rise within us
Till we hear all heaven’s applause.
Lord, we lift to You each neighbour,
Those in pain or grief or need.
Grant them just reward for labour;
Banish poverty and greed.
May our land embrace the stranger,
Offer shelter, warmth and care,
Rescue the oppressed from danger,
Give, and love, and serve, and share.
Righteousness exalts a nation;
Lawlessness is its reproach.
Cleanse our land from condemnation,
May we see You, and approach.
Let the grace of our Lord Jesus
Be the heart of all we do,
In our land the deeds that please us
Be the ones that lead to You.
The cross of Christ
I stand in awe and gratitude
for all that’s mine through Jesus’ cross,
with glad and humble attitude
at what I gain through His great loss.
It saves me from the guilt of sin,
however wrong the things I’ve done,
cleanses and makes me pure within,
as righteous as God’s holy Son.
It saves from the result of sin,
from punishment I should receive,
it opens Heaven to let me in,
becomes the ultimate reprieve.
It saves me from the rule of sin,
no more to be a helpless slave.
The habits that had drawn me in
lose all their power and I am saved.
I feel the spirit of despair
transformed into a cloak of praise,
the joy of Christ’s unfailing care
illuminating all my days.
It frees me from the fear of death,
which once had held me in its thrall,
and as I draw my dying breath
I’ll worship Him who gave His all.
Through all my life I’ll praise His name
who bought my freedom through the cross,
who gladly shouldered all its shame,
and thought it joy to bear my loss.
King beyond all praising.
Where do I start to tell Your worth
my Jesus, so amazing?
From heaven’s throne to humble birth,
the King beyond all praising.
The skies display Your grand design,
the earth proclaims Your story,
the dazzling sun, the stars that shine
seem dull beside Your glory.
You knew this world before its birth,
You are without beginning,
You came to share our life on earth,
yet lived it without sinning.
How could the great eternal one
stoop down to join creation?
We leave our questions, humbly come
and bow in adoration.
There is no limit to Your power,
Your purpose can’t be thwarted.
and by Your word from hour to hour
the world is still supported.
We owe to You our every breath,
provision that sustains us.
You saved us by Your willing death,
freed us from all that chains us.
How can I show my gratitude?
I’ll bring you, for your pleasure
not just a thankful attitude –
my time, my wealth, my treasure.
No sacrifice too great to give,
I come in full surrender
to You who died so I could live,
whose love is strong and tender.
rosbayeswriting 