Theme song

Living Stones

Click the link above to hear the song sung by several Lee Street members

Dan Ensing, a musician, composer, and long-time member of Lee Street CRC wrote a song commemorating what God has done for 100 years in our church. Here is the song and his artist statement.

The title is based on 1 Peter 2: 4-5: As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house... showing the true building of the church is its people. We are the church.

The first verse expands on this idea and describes our church today. The second line is based on a motto we had a few decades ago; “Ordinary people serving an extraordinary God.” The third line is more personal, about our greeting before and during the greeting time in worship; a “hand” of greeting or filling a need and a “hug” when someone needs more comfort where just a hand is inadequate. The last line reflects a common description of our community; a friendly place.

Living stones of faith, gathered in this place,

built upon the Rock of Christ.

Ordinary folk we are serving our

extraordinary God.

In the warmth among God's family,

it's a hand or hug we need.

It's a friendly place working in God's grace,

living stones build unity.

Verse 2 is about the preaching of the Word of God. An earlier motto printed on the front of the sanctuary above the pulpit was “We preach Christ Crucified” which is also the theme of this centennial year. “Ways to show what God has wrought” is a reflection on the history and faithfulness of God in this place. The third line is more personal, taking our greetings in worship through a “shoulder” to lean on or to cry on, or a “smile” of greeting that can make someone feel acceptance. The last line reflects that our work here is not done.

Word of God applied, preach Christ Crucified,

faithfully the gospel taught.

Walk of faith we yearn, week by week we learn,

ways to show what God has wrought.

Seeking refuge with your people,

find a shoulder or a smile.

And we persevere in the work down here,

in the strength of Christ the son.

Verse 3 is based on the first answer of the Heidelberg Catechism which has been so faithfully preached throughout the history of our church. While just a summary, it is meant to express how doctrine has been so important to our heritage.

We are not our own but belong to Christ.

For in Him is all we ask.

He has paid the price with His precious blood,

set us free from Satan’s grasp.

Watching over us He guides us

working all things for our good.

We belong to Him and His Spirit shows

how to always live for him.

Verse 4 is about music and singing in our church. We are trying to be blended, mixing the old with the new, a difficult but rewarding path to follow. From the hundreds of songs we sing I only had room to mention a few; I probably didn’t include your favorite, but it is representative of a few decades of music.

Songs of faith we share through the ages bear,

young and old together praise.

From the old and new, blended lives renew

songs will hold us and amaze.

It is Well, Ten thousand Reasons, and The Power of the Cross;

Psalms and hymns to mold minds and hearts enfold.

Calm the most unsettled thoughts.

Verse 5 describes the strong power of the prayer life of our church. So many needs, so often seem unanswered, but I wanted to reflect prayer as an ongoing process in our relationship with God.

Symphony of prayer showing how we care

for our neighbors and our friends.

Intercessors strong, as in Christ we long

answered prayer and hearts to mend.

Bringing fervent cries to our God,

He will answer in His time.

Week by week we bring prayers and offerings

waiting on the Lord’s design.

Verse 6 reflects our current vision and mission statements. It describes the mix of our neighborhoods in worship to our God who loves us all and reflects the image described in Revelation 7:9...and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.

We are gathered here from our neighborhoods,

many tribes and tongues and kin.

Yet in faith we meet to revere the One

who desires to take us in.

Many cultures and traditions,

yet we all praise God as one.

Generations meet, harmony so sweet,

living stones forevermore.

Now a little about the composition process and format. I composed this in a typical hymn form with 4 musical phrases, the first and second being similar but in melodically question and answer form, the third line is a contrast in style and then the fourth line is a repeat of the second. Within each lyric line there are three phrases with the first two rhyming each other and the third rhyming the next line. While this may seem like a forced structure, it actually gives the song a unifying basis.

Although I could not stick to this structure all the time, (I could not change some lyric phrases to fit the rhyming structure because it would lose the meaning of the phrase) the rhyming structure actually helped make a stronger and deeper meaning because I had to research more word possibilities that gave me even better word choices than I had originally planned. When sometimes I started with a more generic phrase, by forcing it to fit the rhyming structure I would come up with lines that had a richer meaning than I originally had planned on.