In the weeks leading up to our first National Foursquare Family Prayer Meeting on November 5, we have asked guest contributors to share their perspective on the value of prayer. Today, Harriet Mouer, Supervisor of the Western Ohio District and Assisting Minister of The Family Fellowship Foursquare Church in Amherst, Ohio encourages us to “Rise Up”.
-Glenn Burris Jr.
An interesting experience happened to me today. My husband, Bill, conducted a funeral service for a young woman who was a concert pianist. Her musician friends gave beautiful musical tributes in her honor. While at the graveside, Bill was rehearsing the 1 Thessalonians 4 passage and, as he was speaking about the trumpet of God, a flock of Canadian geese flew over honking loudly, so loudly that Bill paused, and as we were all lifting our heads to observe their noisy flight, he said, “Sounds like the geese are blowing their own trumpets!” Indeed, it seemed like an announcement in the skies for us to “look up” and yes, “rise up” even in a setting of heaviness and grief.
Recently the words of the hymn, “Rise up, O Men of God” have been on my mind: “Be done with lesser things.” Years ago the Seventh Day Adventist Hymn Committee loved this hymn, but felt it needed to be more inclusive, representing women and youth as well as men.
The following verses are their adaptations of William Merritt’s 1911 hymn:
Rise up, O Men of God!
His Kingdom tarries long.
Bring in the day of brotherhood
And end the night of wrong.Let women all rise up!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and mind and soul and strength
To serve the King of Kings.Rise up, courageous youth!
The church for you doth wait.
Her strength unequal to her task;
Rise up and make her great!Lift high the cross of Christ!
Tread where His feet have trod.
Disciples of the Son of Man,
Rise up, O Church of God!
May November 5, 2006, be an experience where Foursquare men, women, youth and children “Rise Up” in praise and prayer, in worship and warfare, in unity and strength. And may we join all creation, including the Canadian geese, in trumpeting the Coming of Our King.
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By: Harriet Mouer, supervisor of the Western Ohio District and assisting minister of The Family Fellowship Foursquare Church in Amherst, Ohio.
