Every Friday in July, the Mount Carmell Worship Collective will host free live online Sermon and Song worship events where we will share one of the songs we are crowdfunding for. We will also have a guest pastor or ministry leader give a 10 minute sermon on the Scripture passage that inspired the song, as well as a scripture reading and prayer.
Song: “For God So Loved the World” written by Jazmine Rose and Ciara Reyes-Ton, Featuring Gabby Hart and Kendale on vocals.
Lyrics: “God sent his only son to die for us, the precious lamb whose name is Jesus.”
Scripture & Reading by: John 3:16; Parnell McCarter
Prayer by: Jacob Molewyck
Sermon by: Colin Fagan, Chaplain and former InterVarsity Campus Minister
Speaker Bio: Reverend Colin Fagan holds both an MA in Conflict Management and Master of Divinity from of Lipscomb University. Theological ethics grabs a lot of his attention particularly around adoption and the formation of adoptees within the believing community. This work has also led him to experience the rich Christian tradition of Spiritual Direction and Friendship particularly of the Jesuit sort. He is captivated by Jesus sharing so intimately in human life that he would invite us into friendship with himself. This deep companioning in all seasons and situations of life knows no bounds or conditions. Consequently, Colin enjoys holding space and journeying alongside those who find themselves in seasons and conditions of life that cause deep questions of God and existence to bubble up.
He was ordained as a vocational deacon in 2020 and is a part of the Diocese of Saint Anthony in the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches. He is currently editing a book on adoption that he hopes will offer constructive pathways for how the church understands and participates in this most important ethical activity. He also serves at Luminous Anglican, an Anglican community in Franklin, TN.
About the song: This song was inspired by John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." This is one of the most well-known scriptures in the Bible, and for good reason. It is the core gospel message in one simple and beautiful sentence. Jazmine and Ciara were inspired to put the verse to music one for a Bible study group they were a part of.