A Congregational Act of Living Hope

We have experienced earthquakes, mass shootings, snow storms, missing airplanes, devastating mud slides, one country invading and taking over another, war, disease, famine, tornadoes, floods. Here is a congregational act of worship to give hope in difficult situations.

"My Hope Is Built," stanza one

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

Revelation 22:1-2, 23-24

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the
first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of
heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory
of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will
bring their glory into it.

"My Hope Is Built," stanza two

When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

Revelation 22:3-4

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of
God is with mortals. God will dwell with them as their God; they will
be God's peoples, and God will be with them;
God will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more,
mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things
have passed away."

"My Hope Is Built," stanza three

His oath, his covenant, his blood support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way, he then is all my hope and stay.
On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

Revelation 21:5-6; 22:20

And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all
things new. Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true."
Then he said to me, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning
and the end.
The one who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon."
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

"My Hope Is Built," stanza four

When he shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in him be found!
Dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne!
On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

This canticle may be downloaded, copied, or reprinted in worship bulletins. There are several options for singing “My Hope Is Built”:

• The United Methodist Hymnal, no. 368
• Use a contemporary setting based on the hymnal tune
• Use the tune, MELITA, also known as the NAVY HYMN