Turn your eyes to the heavens
Our King will return for His own
Every knee will bow, every tongue will shout
“All glory to Jesus alone”
This final verse from the hymn ‘Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus’, recently sung at the 9:15 service, is a glorious summons for hope in the return of Christ. But it also contains the seeds of a theology of worship. Sunday by Sunday, each part of every worship service in its own way turns our gaze toward Christ and grows our faith in Him. Our sung worship particularly does that as it moves our emotions and affections towards God. As we sing, our hearts do indeed ‘bow’ and our tongues do indeed ‘shout’ glory and praise to Jesus, and we are moved afresh to live for Him alone. At least, that is the goal. And it is my goal.
As we approach another summer holiday season, it’s an opportunity for me to reflect on a year since I was appointed as Music Minister at All Saints. This Christ-centred place of music and worship is very much my longing for our church. It’s been a privilege to see it lived out this year through the servant-hearted efforts of our many musicians, and I wish to thank them for all their work. As we go into a quieter summer period, I’d love to ask you all to consider whether you’d like to get involved, perhaps singing in the choir, or serving on the sound desk. And of course, there is Christmas on the horizon – could you come and sing?
But if not, would you still join me in praying that the music and worship at All Saints would be increasingly Christ-centred, and would be used to draw people to Him.
George Parsons