St. George's Episcopal Church

This Church is Open to All with Love

Give online
  • Welcome
    • Welcome from the Rector
    • Get Involved
    • Visitor Form
  • Worship
    • This Sunday at St. George’s
    • Services
      • Live Stream Worship Archive
    • Baptisms
    • Servers
    • Weddings
    • Funerals
  • Music
    • St. George’s Choral School
    • Choirs
    • Instrumental Ensembles
    • Children’s and Youth Choirs
    • Concerts
    • The St. George’s Organ
  • News
    • News Blog
    • The St. Georgian E-Newsletter
  • Parish Life
    • 300th Anniversary Celebration
    • Growing and Learning
      • For Adults
      • For Youth
        • Youth Formation
        • Youth Group
        • Youth Mission Team
        • Youth in Global Community
      • For Children and Families
      • Education for Ministry
    • Fellowship
      • Shrine Mont
      • Saturday Night Supper
      • Episcopal Church Women
    • Pastoral Care
  • Grace in Action
    • The Table at St. George’s
    • Other Feeding Ministries
  • Community
    • Racial Justice and Healing
    • St. George’s Episcopal Preschool
    • Environmental Stewardship
    • World Mission
      • Afghan Allies
      • Port-au-Prince, Haiti
    • Resources
  • Giving
    • Donate to St. George’s
    • Stewardship and Giving
      • 2022 Generosity Campaign
      • The Story of the Budget
      • Ministry List
      • Frequently Asked Questions About Stewardship
    • New to Giving?
    • Planned Giving
      • Giving Money to Save Money
      • Donating Securities
      • Trustees, Trusts and Endowments
    • Donate to the Organ Fund
  • About Us
    • St. George’s Mission
    • St. George’s History
    • St. George’s Library
    • Contact Church Staff
    • Vestry
    • Other Lay Leadership
    • Building Use
  • Quick Links
    • Church Calendar
    • Server Schedule
    • This Sunday at St. George’s
    • Links and Resources
    • Submit a Prayer Request
    • Server Substitution Request
    • Altar Flowers
You are here: Home / Adult Formation / Precious in His Sight

Precious in His Sight

May 27, 2021 by St. George's 2 Comments

Like many of you, I grew up singing the song, “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red, brown, yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world” (“brown” has been added to the original). Later I learned that there is an additional refrain: “Jesus died for all the children…” We didn’t sing those words, but the message of Christ’s willing sacrifice is crucial to understanding his love.

The song’s familiar tune, “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp,” was written during the American Civil War as a marching tune (with different words) for the U.S. troops. The words of “Jesus Loves the Little Children” were written later, in the 1880’s, perhaps as a response to the utter failure in this country to love all the children of God during the era of Jim Crow. Out of the mouths of babes, we may hear this as a song about justice and equity. Jesus loves ALL the little children with the same love.

The song connects to many things we are marking this week and next. This Memorial Day weekend, we remember the sacrificial love of military service members who have tramp, tramp, tramped and died in the service of freedom. We also remember that our nation has failed many times to live up to the ideal of liberty and justice for all. As we mark the one-year anniversary of the public murder of a citizen by an officer of the law, we respond to the lamentation and renewed cries for justice that were lifted up after George Floyd’s death. We commit to do much more work to share the love of Christ so that “Red, Brown, Yellow, and Black” lives matter as much as those who have been called “white” (see note below about the racial justice study from the Episcopal Church). As we approach the month of June, we lift up all the colors of the rainbow as a sign of welcome and pride in all God’s beloved children who are LGBTQ+ (see announcement below). It’s also Trinity Sunday this weekend. God exists as unity in diversity, three and one, and the love of Jesus is also the love of God in the Holy Spirit.

As followers of Jesus, we strive to love every child of God just as he did. We are willing to make sacrifices for each other, just as he did. As another old hymn says, “This is our story. This is our song. Praising our Savior all the day long.”

Your rector and brother in Christ,
Joe+

Share this:

  • Email
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • Pocket
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit

Filed Under: Adult Formation, Fellowship, News Blog, Parish Life, Rector's Blog, Sermon Blog, We Grow, Welcome, Worship

Comments

  1. Joe Hensley says

    May 28, 2021 at 12:47 pm

    Here is a link to our Pride month page: https://www.stgeorgesepiscopal.net/pride/

    Reply
  2. Joe Hensley says

    May 28, 2021 at 12:50 pm

    Here is a link about the referenced racial justice study by the Episcopal Church: https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/pressreleases/episcopal-church-releases-racial-justice-audit-of-leaders/

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Request Prayer

We are called to reach out and journey with those we know who are experiencing life transition or crisis. … Request Prayer...

St. George’s News

Now Hiring – Ministry Assistant

We are now hiring a part-time Ministry Assistant to join our ministry staff at St. George's. The ministry assistant is responsible for … Read More...

Mourning and Responding in the Aftermath of Recent Mass Shootings

On Sunday, May 29, Pastor Joe Hensley offered a space after the morning service for people to gather and share how they are feeling in the … Read More...

Free Afternoon Organ Concert

St. George’s Episcopal Church will host an afternoon organ concert on Sunday, May 22 at 3 pm. Organists John Vreeland, Achim Loch, and … Read More...

YOU ARE WELCOME AT ST. GEORGE’S CHURCH regardless of race, nationality, sexual orientation, gender expression, or tradition.
© 2022 St. George's Episcopal Church · Physical Address: 905 Princess Anne Street · Fredericksburg, VA 22401 · Mailing Address: P. O. Box 7127 · Fredericksburg, VA 22404
Phone 540-373-4133 · Email office@stgeorgesepiscopal.net