Rick Lee JamesHealthcare Chaplain, Bon Secours Mercy Health · Husband, Dad, Hospital Chaplain, Recording Artist, Podcast Host, Loyola University IPS Graduate, Alpha Sigma Nu Member, and Recording Academy (GRAMMY®) member - Contributing musician on a Grammy-nomin

The Church's One Foundation (Arranged by Rick Lee James)

26 Jun 2013 · 4 min

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4:24

In this spoken presentation, the arranger (Rick Lee James) introduces a musical arrangement of the classic hymn “The Church’s One Foundation” created specifically for the First Church of the Nazarene in Springfield, Ohio. The narration recites the hymn’s lyrics, emphasizing core theological ideas: Christ as the sole foundation of the church, the church as a new creation through baptism, the sacrificial death of Jesus, the communion of believers, the trials of persecution and schism, and the ultimate hope of a victorious, glorified church. The speaker also offers a prayerful appeal for grace, humility, and the promise of eternal communion with God, framing the arrangement as both a worship tool and a doctrinal affirmation for the congregation.

Chapters

This is "The Church Is One Foundation" arranged for our church at First Church of the Nazarene in Springfield, Ohio. The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord. She is his new creation by water and the word. From heaven he came and sought her to be his holy bride. With his own bloody body and for her life he died. One holy name she blesses, partakes one holy food, and to one hope she presses with every grace and dew. Mid toil and tribulation, and to maldiver moor, she waits the consummation of peace forevermore, till with the vision glorious her longing eyes are blessed., and the great church victorious shall be the church at rest. Yet she on earth hath union with God, the Three-in-One, and mystic sweet communion union with those whose rest is one. Oh, happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we, like them, the meek and lowly, on high may dwell with thee. Though with a scornful wonder men see her sore oppressed, by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed, yet saints their watch are keeping, their cry goes up, "How long?" And soon the night of weeping shall be the moon of song.