Greg Yoder Greg Yoder

Easter // Week 7 // April 9-15

Oh, Christ is risen! Oh, risen indeed!

Oh, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Early on that Easter day, the women went down to pray

They went on down to the tomb and they found the stone was rolled away

Oh, Christ is risen! Oh, risen indeed! Oh, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Why do you look for the living among the dead?

Why do you look for the living among the dead?

Why do you look for the living among the dead?

He is not here; he has risen!

From the women at the empty tomb

To the disciples in the upper room

Spreading the word that the seed was in the dirt

Now it’s out and the sprout’s in bloom

Oh, Christ is risen! Oh, risen indeed! Oh, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Lyrics and music by Greg Yoder, 2023, with direct quotation of a portion of Luke 24:5-6 (NRSV)

Vocals: Crystal Yoder, Greg Yoder, Kristina Yoder


Set your minds on things that are above,

not on things that are on earth,

Set your minds on things that are above,

not on things that are on earth,

for you have died, and your life is

hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ who is your life

is revealed, then you also will be revealed

with him in glory.

with him in glory.

Lyrics: direct quotation from Colossians 3:2-4 (NRSV)

Music: Greg Yoder, 2023

Vocals: Michael Yoder, Jackson Maust, Mitchell Yoder

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Lent // Week 6 // April 2-8

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

African-American spiritual // Arr. Greg Yoder, 2023

Vocals: Ebony Nicole

Let the same mind be in you

that was in Christ Jesus, who,

though he was in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

as something to be exploited,

but emptied himself, taking the form

of a slave, being born

in human likeness. And being found in human form,

he humbled himself and became obedient

to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Therefore,

God also highly exalted him, and gave him the name that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus, so that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God.

Lyrics: direct quotation of Philippians 2:5-11 (NRSV)

Music: Seth Thomas Crissman and Greg Yoder, 2023

Vocals: Rachel Mast, Leah Wenger, Mitchell Yoder, Kristina Yoder

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Lent // Week 5 // March 26 - April 1

You give us more grace when our burdens grow greater,

You send us more strength when our labors increase,

To added affliction You add your great mercy,

To multiplied trials, you multiply peace.

Your love has no limit, Your grace has no measure,

Your power no boundary and never will end,

For out of your infinite riches in Jesus,

You give and you give and you give us again.

You give and you give and you give us again.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half-done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,

Our God, your full giving is only begun.

Lyrics: based on “He Giveth More Grace” Annie Johnson Flint (*1866-1932), alt. by Seth Thomas Crissman Music: Seth Thomas Crissman (2020)

Vocals: Stephen Horst

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Lent // Week 4 // March 19-25

And I will fear no evil, for you, my God, are with me

And I will fear no evil, for you, my God, are with me

Even though I walk through the valley,

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

You will lead me beside still waters

You will give me rest

And I will fear no evil, for you, my God, are with me

And I will fear no evil, for you, my God, are with me

Even though I thirst in the desert,

Even though I thirst in the desert and the wilderness

You have promised the greenest pastures

You have promised rest

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow

and I shall dwell in your house, O God,

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow

and I shall dwell in your house,

And you will give me light

And I will fear no evil, for you, my God, are with me

And I will fear no evil, for you, my God, are with me

Lyrics: Seth Thomas Crissman and Greg Yoder, 2023, based on Psalm 23

Music: Seth Thomas Crissman and Greg Yoder, 2023

Vocals: Valerie Bess, Lauren Yoder, Kristina Yoder

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Lent // Week 3 // March 12-18

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.

For us he was baptized and bore

his holy fast, and hungered sore.

For us temptation sharp he knew,

for us the tempter overthrow.

For us he prayed, for us he taught,

for us his daily works he wrought

by words and signs and actions thus

still seeking not himself, but us.

For us to wicked hands betrayed,

scourged, mocked, in purple robe arrayed,

he bore the shameful cross and death,

for us a length gave up his breath.

Eternal glory to our God

for love so deep, so high, so broad;

the Trinity whom we adore

forever and forevermore.

Lyrics: Thomas a Kempis, 15th century (Latin), trans. Benjamin Webb, 1854

Music: Greg Yoder, 2013

Vocals: Mara Carlson, Monica Carlson, Matt Carlson

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Lent // Week 1 // Feb. 26 - March 4

For your goodness and your mercy, we will sing

For your goodness and your mercy, we will sing

Each breath, a hallelujah

Each song, our offering

For your goodness and your mercy, we will sing

For the turning of the seasons, we sing praise

For the turning of the seasons, we sing praise

Every frost, a benediction

Every dew, a warm embrace

For the turning of the seasons, we sing praise

Lyrics: Seth Thomas Crissman, Greg Yoder, and Lindsey FitzGerald, 2023

Music: Seth Thomas Crissman, 2022

Vocals: Spectator Bird

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Epiphany // Week 13 // Feb. 19-25

We give thanks to you, LORD
For your mercies are new every day
And your goodness and love will sustain us.
We give thanks.

We sing praise to you, God,
You have broken the sword and the shield,
And your heart of love you revealed,
and we sing praise.

Teach us your way, teach us your way
That we may fear your name
Teach us to number out our days
That we may know the height and depth and breadth of your love.

Sing praise, sing praise, sing praise to the Holy One
Sing of God’s goodness that fills the whole earth
Sing praise, sing praise, sing praise to the Holy One
Sing and give thanks to the LORD

Lyrics: Seth Thomas Crissman, 2022 // Music: Seth Thomas Crissman, 2022 // Vocals: Lauren Yoder and Mitchell Yoder

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Epiphany // Week 11 // Feb. 5-11

ׁ ִשֽירוּ לַֽיהוָה ׁ ִשֽיר ָח ָֽדשׁ ׁ ִשֽירוּ לַֽיהוָֽה כָּל־ ָהאָֽ ֶרץ׃

ׁ ִשֽירוּ לַֽיהו ָה ָבּ ֲרכֽוּ ׁ ְש ֹמֽו ַבּ ּ ְׂשרֽוּ ִמ ֹּֽיום־לְֽ ֹיֽום י ְשׁוּעָ ֹתֽו׃

Lyrics: Direct quotation of Psalm 96:1-2 (Leningrad Codex) // Music: Anil Solanki, used with permission // Vocals: Seth Crissman

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Epiphany // Week 10 // Jan. 29 - Feb. 4

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, Blessed are the meek, Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are the meek, blessed are the meek,
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelu
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah,
Blessed are you

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelu
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah,
Blessed are you

Lyrics: Direct quotation of Matthew 5:3-6 from NRSV // Music: Seth Thomas Crissman, 2022 // Vocals: Jessica DiPuma

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Epiphany // Week 8 // Jan. 15-21

Because of the tender mercy of our God,
Because of the tender mercy of our God,
By which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to us from heaven

Rescue us from our pride and our arrogance.
And cover us in your mercy, O rising Son
Rescue us from our hate and indifference.
And cover us in your shadow, Almighty One.

And lead us in your way of peace
And lead us in your way of peace
And lead us in your way of peace
Amen, Amen, Amen.

Because of the tender mercy of our God

Lyrics: Direct quotation of Luke 1:78 (NIV) with additional words by Seth Thomas Crissman, 2022 // Music: Seth Thomas Crissman, 2022 // Vocals: Seth Crissman and Taylor Bess

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CHRISTMAS // Week 6 // Jan. 1-7

We give thanks to you, LORD
For your mercies are new every day
And your goodness and love will sustain us.
We give thanks.

We sing praise to you, God,
You have broken the sword and the shield,
And your heart of love you revealed,
and we sing praise.

Teach us your way, teach us your way
That we may fear your name
Teach us to number out our days
That we may know the height and depth and breadth of your love.

Sing praise, sing praise, sing praise to the Holy One
Sing of God’s goodness that fills the whole earth
Sing praise, sing praise, sing praise to the Holy One
Sing and give thanks to the LORD

Lyrics: Seth Thomas Crissman, 2022 // Music: Seth Thomas Crissman, 2022 // Vocals: Lauren Yoder and Mitchell Yoder

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CHRISTMAS // Week 5 // Dec. 25-31

Sing to the Lord a new song;
Sing of the wonderful birth,
Tell of salvation from day to day.
Oh, sing to the Lord, all the earth
Oh, sing to the Lord, all the earth

Sing his glory among the nations,
Behold his marvelous works
Sing to the Lord of all creation;
Sing to the Lord, all the earth
Sing to the Lord, all the earth

Honor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty and light
the mountains cry out, and the hills that adore him
Sing with us into the night,
Sing with us into the night

Sing to the Lord a new song; Sing of the wonderful birth,
Tell of salvation from day to day.
Oh, sing to the Lord, all the earth
Oh, sing to the Lord, all the earth

Let the heavens rejoice,
at the birth of our infant king
Let the earth be glad,
let all the trees of the forest sing
Let the heavens rejoice,
at the birth of our infant king
Let the seas resound,
let all the trees of the forest sing

Sing to the Lord a new song;
Sing of the wonderful birth,
Tell of salvation from day to day. Oh, sing to the Lord, all the earth
Oh, sing to the Lord, all the earth

Lyrics: Jackson Maust, 2022, based on Psalm 96 // Music: Greg Yoder and Jackson Maust, 2022 // Vocals: Jackson Maust, Mitchell Yoder, and Greg Yoder

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Advent // Week 4 // Dec. 18-24

Restore us, O God of hosts,
let your face shine, that we may be saved

When we lost the baby, I was broken
Chest split open, heart caught in my throat and
I was chokin’ on the notion,
we were adrift in the ocean
Searching for a rope and
something to hope in Something
to cling to, a song to sing,
but there was no one to sing to
Grief unspoken, belief just a token,
dried up on my tongue, just going through the motions
Like a marionette who had his strings snapped
Every time I try to explain it just falls flat
Like a vase that falls from the shelf can’t fix itself,
But the Potter collects the pieces makes something else
Mix gold in the lacquer, plaster the cracks,
and bring it on back to wholeness,
The boldness to not try to hide the flaws,
to not try to sweep away
The broken bits, mix gold in the dust,
be bold in our trust, put it all on display

Restore us, O God of hosts,
let your face shine, that we may be saved

Joseph had a technicolor dreamcoat
Made his brothers jealous like a raft envying a steamboat
He spoke of visions, and they saw him as a threat,
and they threw him in a well, didn’t get wet,
Yet his brothers got the best of him, sold him upriver
Dagger to their daddy’s heart, pull the arrow from the quiver,
They came quivering and shivering, bowing down before him
God softened his heart and Joseph restored them
When the baby cries in the darkness
A light shines forth, softening the hardness
And all the people living with their backs to the wall
Hear the baby’s call, and maybe they stand tall
I know we can’t all be shepherds in the fields
With the glory of the Heavenly hosts making us kneel
And our zeal turns to steel
when we wheel and we deal
In abstractions, obfuscating what is real,
Like a mother singing in the silence
Her lullaby the roar of a lioness
When the baby cries out, it’s thunder
Shakes the words out my mouth, awestruck in my wonder
That infinite Love wrapped itself in this form
So fragile, clinging to his mother to stay warm
Like a mother hen, gathering us close to the chest
Hope for the oppressed, father for the fatherless
Welcome for the foreigner, provision for the poor
And a vision for those vases broken open on the floor

Restore us, O God of hosts,
let your face shine, that we may be saved

Lyrics: Direct quotation of Psalm 80:7 (NRSV), with verses by Greg Yoder, 2022 // Music: Seth Thomas Crissman and Greg Yoder, 2022 // Vocals: Greg Yoder, Ebony Nicole, and Kristina Yoder

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Advent // Week 3 // Dec. 11-17

“Comfort, comfort O my people;
speak of peace,” so says our God.
“Comfort those who sit in darkness,
groaning from their sorrows’ load.
Speak to all Jerusalem
of the peace that waits for them;
tell them that their sins I cover,
that their warfare now is o’er.”

Hear the voice of one who’s crying
in the desert far and near,
calling people to repentance
for the kingdom now is here.
O that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way;
let the Valleys rise to meet him
and the hills bow down to him.

Then make straight the crooked highway;
make the rougher places plain.
Let your hearts be true and humble,
ready for his holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord
now o’er earth is spread abroad,
and all flesh hear love spoken
that his word is never broken.

Lyrics: Johann Olearius, 1671; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1863, alt.// Music: Seth Thomas Crissman, 2022 // Vocals: Rachel Mast and Kristina Yoder

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Advent // Week 2 // Dec. 4-10

Creator of the stars of night,
your people’s everlasting light,
O Christ, Redeemer of us all,
we pray you hear us when we call.
Hosanna

Creator of the stars of night,
your people’s everlasting light,
O Christ, Redeemer of us all,
we pray you hear us when we call.
Hosanna

Lyrics: 9th century Latin hymn, tr. J.M. Neale, 1852 // Music: Seth Thomas Crissman, 2022 // Vocals: Valerie Bess and Taylor Bess

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When the SEED finds good SOIL, life GROWS.