The Music & the Spoken Word broadcast airs live via TV, radio, and internet stream on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. mountain time. For information on other airtimes, visit “Airing Schedules” at musicandthespokenword.org. 

This encore performance of Music & the Spoken Word has been specially selected for airing while the Choir and Orchestra are practicing social distancing. It contains a new Spoken Word written and delivered by Lloyd Newell.

Music

Conductors: Mack Wilberg and Ryan Murphy
Organist: Joseph Peeples
Narrator: Lloyd Newell

“My God Is So High”
Music and Lyrics: African-American spiritual
Arrangement: Ryan Murphy

“Deep River”
Music and Lyrics: African-American spiritual 
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg

“Toccata” (organ solo)
Music: Théodore Dubois

“The Lord My Pasture Will Prepare”¹
Music: Dmitri Bortniansky
Lyrics: Joseph Addison
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg

“One Person” from Dear World
Music and Lyrics: Jerry Herman
Arrangement: Ryan Murphy

“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”²
Music: American folk hymn
Lyrics: Robert Robinson
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg

1. On the CD This is the Christ.
   
2. On the CDs Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing, America's Choir, and in the CD set Anniversary Collection.

The Spoken Word

Worthy of Trust
 

“In God we trust” is the national motto of the United States of America. Those four words, found on coins and bills, buildings, and license plates, remind us of our ultimate source of confidence and security, peace and prosperity. That’s a healthy reminder because our natural habit is to trust ourselves—our own limited views and limited strength. When that fails, as it often does, it’s comforting to know that a loving, trustworthy God neither slumbers nor sleeps as He watches over us.¹ That doesn’t mean life will be easy, but we can trust that the future is in God’s hands and will be filled with evidence of His goodness and grace. 

If we want to reach that kind of assurance, trust in God must be more than a motto, more than a bumper sticker. For many people today, however, trusting is hard. We live in such a distrustful world, where trust has been fractured so often, that some decide that the only one they can trust is themselves.

Of course, it’s true that not everyone can be trusted, and we must be wise and discerning when granting anyone our trust. Even so, we also know that every meaningful relationship is built on trust. Without trust, our relationships are superficial and empty. Yes, trust can be damaged and destroyed, but thankfully, it can also be created. And when it has been broken, it can even be restored with patience and sincere effort over time. 

So maybe the best way to make the world a more trusting place is to be more trustworthy ourselves. We can all strive to be more reliable and truthful in everything we do. If past experiences have made us hesitant to trust others, we can seek out and hold fast to that which is trustworthy. And if we need a place to start, we can return to an old, familiar motto and remember that there is One who will never forsake us, One whose integrity is perfect and unchanging, One who is worthy of our trust.

1. See Psalms 121:4.