Dear CCPC Family,

O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High

O love, how deep, how broad, how high,
it fills the heart with ecstasy,
that God, the Son of God, should take
our mortal form for mortals' sake!

Yesterday was the First Sunday of Lent. Like Advent, it is a season of preparation and reflection.

In this time of the year that leads us through Holy Week and the cross, we are encouraged to examine ourselves in light of God' s love and provision for us. Often music heard during lent tends toward the somber and reflective as we ponder the enormity of God sending His very own Son to redeem us and bring to us life everlasting with Him.

In our first hymn of worship, the text of "O Love, How deep, How Broad, How High" conveys our utter amazement at God's love for us as sinners. The setting of that in our hymnal represents God's love in a powerful and majestic way. It is set in minor mode which paints the gravity of our sinfulness but also the awesomeness of the Creator of the universe who, because of His love for us, stooped to earth to bring us redemption.

The second stanza which is not in our hymnal says that the Lord of heaven could have sent an angle, or ambassador to us, but rather He sent Himself in human form, born in a manger:

He sent no angel to our race
of higher or of lower place,
but wore the robe of human frame
Himself, and to this lost world came.

As we continue the journey to the cross may we reflect on why He came: "that we might have life abundant in Him"

To Him whose boundless love has won
salvation for us through his Son
to God the Father, glory be
both now and through eternity.

David Hays
Director of Music Ministries

CCPC READS THROUGH THE PSALMS
Now through November 10
Join fellow congregation members as we read through The Psalms during 2008. To register CLICK HERE and let Joyce know your preferred email address to receive weekly devotionals and study guides.