Psalm 96:1-2
Oh, sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.

Many songwriters have drawn inspiration from the opening words of Psalm 96. Yet the psalmist is not calling God’s people to compose new hymns. He is calling us to sing about a new and mighty act of God— an act so great that it demands fresh praise from the whole earth.

The “old song” was Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the sea, God opened a way through the waters, drowned the enemy, and set His people free (Exodus 14–15). That rescue became the song of Israel, and the center of Israel’s praise. Exodus 15, Psalms 78 and 136 sing the song of God’s deliverance, and this rescue is referenced countless times in the Old Testament.

But God had always planned something greater than deliverance from the Egyptians. He would deliver his people from sin, death, and the devil himself. In the fullness of time, He sent His Son. Through His atoning death on the cross, and His glorious resurrection, Jesus Christ crushed Satan’s power and opened the way to eternal life. This is the “new song”— the song of deliverance in Christ.

Our Lutheran hymnal overflows with this new song. Some hymns tell about his life on earth— his incarnation, his death and resurrection. Some are thematic, and tell about Christ as Redeemer, the Word of God, or Baptism. And some of them are about our Christian walk— songs of hope and comfort, songs of witnessing, songs of prayer, songs of stewardship. Yet, all of these songs grow out of the great new song about Christ who lived and died for us.

Singing “a new song” is therefore not a call to write yet another hymn— though faithful new hymns are always welcome. It is a call to lift our voices in praise of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ.

That is why Easter is the new song the psalmist foresaw. Because of Easter all the earth should be singing his praise and blessing His name. Because of Easter, we should tell of His salvation from day to day.

Oh, sing to the LORD a new song!

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

✝️ Pastor Deming

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2026/2026-04-Newsletter.pdf

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

In Psalm 139:4, God says that He knows our thoughts before they form on our tongue. With that being the case, why does Paul encourage us to pray without ceasing? Prayer is not about you informing God— He already knows everything. Rather, God invites us to pray so we can know Him more deeply: His love, His care, and Fatherly concern for each one of His children in Christ. Just as an earthly father wants to hear everything his child wants to share, God wants you to come to Him, your Heavenly Father, in every need and in every moment of joy.

Fill the quiet moments in your day between tasks with quick check-ins with God. A friend shared with me that every time she hears a siren, she prays for everyone involved. What a wonderful habit!

So, talk to Him. When you think about your children, thank Him for the blessing of them, or ask Him to meet their needs. When you are pouring a cup of coffee, praise Him with the doxology. When commuting, use your time to ask Him for guidance. Before starting work, ask for His blessings upon your efforts.

Praying continually is not about long sessions with your eyes closed and hands folded. It’s about living every moment as His child—sharing with God throughout the day. And like any good habit, praying continually develops overtime, through small, incremental steps.

Start small. Pick one new moment to pray, such as when pouring coffee. And don’t try to add another until this one becomes a habit.

Psalm 145:18 says, “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” So, call on Him, and let Him draw near to you, give you the comfort of His promises, and shape your heart to be more like His.

I pray that after adding some new moments of prayer, your days will become one ongoing conversation with your Heavenly Father.

✝️ Pastor Deming

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2026/2026-03-Newsletter.pdf