Faith Invites Us on a Journey

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos
New Lenten hymn lyrics to an old familiar hymn tune

Faith invites us on a journey
that began with God’s own Son.
Jesus modeled joy and suffering
on the way to make us one.
There’s a road that we must follow
if we hope to reach our goal.
Every day we have the chance to
walk with Him who guards our soul.

Faith invites us on a journey
that expresses God’s own heart.
Grace and beauty frame the vistas
as each day we make our start.
There is nothing that can hinder
what God longs for us to see.
Every day the Lord provides us
glimpses of eternity.

Faith invites us on a journey
that concludes in God’s own time.
We are called to simply trust Him
as we heed direction signs.
There’s no reason to be anxious.
God will guide us as we go.
Every day we’re making headway
though our progress may be slow.

by Greg Asimakoupoulos
tune: Beach Spring

Waiting for Worship

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos
What does God have in mind for me today?

As I sit in silence
for the service to begin,
I wonder how the living Lord
might speak to me again.

Will it be the songs we sing
or in the pastor’s prayer?
It just might be the sermon
or a need somebody shares.

Maybe God will touch my heart
through laughter or a sigh,
or even through distractions
like a newborn’s hungry cry.

Whatever means God chooses
as He bends my ear His way,
I will worship God expectantly
for there’s something He will say.

Praying for a Ukrainian Mother

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos
Standing with those on the run

You crane your neck to glimpse your flag
while fleeing for the border.
You shield your kids while on the run
from Molotovs and mortars.

You grieve for what you’ve left behind.
You don’t know what’s awaits you.
May God protect you as you flee
from one who hunts and hates you.

Oh precious mother on the run
we stand with you while praying
that God will guide and open doors
to where you’ll next be staying.

A Prayer for Peace

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos
Lighting a candle for peace against the backdrop of war

God of all nations,
I give You thanks
for the country I call home
where liberty is prized,
justice is pursued
and freedoms are protected.

On this bright sunny day where I live,
the dark clouds of war
threaten peace far away.
I pray for those whose lives and liberties
are in grave danger.

Surround President Zelenskyy of Ukraine
with wise counsel.
Provide a hedge of protection
for his people in harm’s way.

Give the vulnerable courage.
Infuse the fearful with faith.
Heal those who’ve been wounded.
Honor the memories of those who have died.
Comfort the grieving.

Would You grant our President
and other leaders of the free world
the means to work together
for a peaceful resolution
to this complicated bloodshed?

Would You prevent this regional conflict
from becoming a world war?

Would You remind us of the lessons
painfully learned from past wars
that are too-easily and too-quickly forgotten?

Would You use this chaotic frightening scenario
as a means of opening our eyes, ears and hearts
to You and one another?

These things I seek and ask in Your holy name. Amen.

Out of Many, One

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos
It’s more than a motto on our money

Current events define us as a people.
But does the currency we carry in our pockets?

E Pluribus Unum.

It’s engraved on our money
that accounts for our wealth as a nation.
A wealth that has little to do
with our gross national product.
It doesn’t relate all that much
to the interest rates or market shares.
And it’s really not indicative of
saving plans,
pension funds
or even things we own.

E. Pluribus Unim

It’s a little three-word Latin phrase
that we haven’t lived up to recently.
It’s high time we heeded this motto
that has held us together in low times.
It’s time we remembered we will only thrive
when we celebrate our oneness
in the midst of diversity.