Holy Cross Music Notes with Chuck

Respecting the subdued theme of Lent, we will not have gathering or processional hymns this Sunday but will begin the musical portion of our worship with the Kyrie, the roots of which reach back to the Greek-speaking Jewish Scriptures

Our Sequence hymn is How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds celebrating the comfort, healing, and strength found in Jesus’ name, portraying it as a source of peace for weary hearts. It reflects on how Christ meets every human need—shepherd, friend, and Savior—bringing rest to the soul.

During our Offertory, we will sing Goodness of God written by Jenn Johnson and Bethel Music out of a season of reflecting on God’s steady faithfulness through both hardship and blessing. The song centers on trusting God’s unwavering goodness, celebrating a life shaped and sustained by His mercy and love.

Our Communion song is Spirit Song, written by John Wimber as a gentle prayer inviting Jesus to bring healing, comfort, and renewal through the Holy Spirit’s presence. Its theme centers on welcoming Christ’s love to soothe weary hearts and restore joy through the Spirit’s tender work. Time permitting, we will also sing Surely the Presence of the Lord is in this Place, written by Lanny Wolfe in 1977 after he sensed God’s nearness during a worship service, inspiring a simple chorus that captured that moment. Its theme affirms the comforting, awe‑filled awareness of God’s presence among His people, especially in gathered worship.

It is fitting to conclude this Sunday’s worship with the song God So Loved the World, drawn from John 3:16 and most often known through John Stainer’s 1887 anthem in The Crucifixion, which set the verse to a tender, devotional choral melody. It proclaims God’s sacrificial love revealed in Jesus, offering comfort and assurance of salvation to all who believe.