PAUL SANNER
Dear God, thank you for today and every day. 
Please help us to keep our hearts, minds and hands turned to your presence,
listening to your call and working for your Kingdom.     
Scripture
1 John 5:9-13

If we take human testimony at face value, how much more should we be reassured when God gives testimony as he does here, testifying concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God inwardly confirms God’s testimony. Whoever refuses to believe in effect calls God a liar, refusing to believe God’s own testimony regarding his Son.

This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in his Son. So, whoever has the Son, has life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects life.

 My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God’s Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he’s listening. And if we’re confident that he’s listening, we know that what we’ve asked for is as good as ours.
(The Message)
Reflection
We continue our recent tour through some of the choir recordings we’ve made in the past year with what has become one of my favorite hymns: “When Morning Gilds the Skies.”  The melody is uplifting and the words are comforting, praiseful, and faith-affirmiing, all at once. The line in the last verse “be this the eternal song, through all the ages long: may Jesus Christ be praised!” evokes for me the catechism question: “What is the chief end of man? The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”  
Audio Recording -
When Morning Gilds the Skies
Words:
When morning gilds the skies, my heart awakening cries:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer to Jesus I repair:
may Jesus Christ be praised!

Does sadness fill my mind? A solace here I find:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Or fades my earthly bliss? My comfort still is this:
may Jesus Christ be praised!

Let earth’s wide circle round in joyful notes resound:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Let air and sea and sky from depth to height reply:
may Jesus Christ be praised!

Be this, while life is mine, my canticle divine:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this the eternal song through all the ages long:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Closing Prayer
We praise you God, today and always. May we worship you not only with our words and music, but with our whole lives -- through the caring acts that we show our neighbors, through our stewardship of your creation, and through our love and acceptance for each other as who we are, no more, no less -- as you love and embrace us. Amen.
Paul Sanner
The Presbyterian Church in Westfield continues to burn as a light in the darkness as our community weathers this fearsome storm of illness. Our reach of care continues to extend far beyond our immediate borders. You can help us make a real impact in the lives of others by joining in our work through your time, your talents, and also in the fruits of your labors.
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