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STLT#109, As We Come Marching, Marching
The synchronicity of this song being today’s hymn, on the eve of the Women’s March, is not lost on me. Thus, I was going to do a bit of digging to learn more about the background of the phrase “bread and roses” and the poem, knowing it all sprung up a little over 100 years… Continue reading
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STLT#108, My Life Flows On in Endless Song
This is one of those cases where, given the times in which we live and the still unbelievable event about to happen on Friday (the inauguration of Donald Trump), all I can do is let the lyrics of this beautiful song of joy and resistance speak for themselves. This song has shaken me to my… Continue reading
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STLT#107, Now Sing We of the Brave of Old
Each morning, as I sit down to write about my singing experience, I sometimes find poetry flows out; other times theology or history; other times musicology; often humor and snark. This morning, only one thing came to mind: “For God’s sake, let us sit upon the ground and tell sad stories of the death of… Continue reading
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STLT#106, Who Would True Valor See
One of the tropes in musical theatre is the ‘my way’ trope: somewhere in the first act (usually toward the end of the act), a major character sings their song of defiance – the song that tells the audience they’re going to go against the grain, take the journey, follow their quest, follow their love. They’re often… Continue reading
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STLT#105, From Age to Age
I swear I didn’t set this up this way, but I am so glad that I’m singing this hymn today. It’s not my favorite melody (as much as I love Tom Benjamin and have waxed poetic about him before). But if we don’t sing a paean to the prophet souls on Martin Luther King Jr.… Continue reading
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STLT#104, When Israel Was in Egypt’s Land
I’m going to let you down, dear reader, because there is a distinct lack of content today. I feel like I have a lot more work to do to understand this song’s actual origins, the history of its use by Harriet Tubman as a code song for the Underground Railroad, and its use today. I… Continue reading
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STLT#103, For All the Saints
File this under Hymns that Make You Go ‘Huh.’ Sometimes these things begin with the ‘huh’, sometimes they begin on a joyful note and then somehow turn. I opened the hymnal and smiled because I love this one. As regular readers know, I love hymn tunes by Ralph Vaughan Williams, and this one is particularly… Continue reading
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STLT#102, We the Heirs of Many Ages
Welcome to another edition of Hymns I Have Never Sung and Plan To Use Now. We have now entered the next section of our hymnal; for those keeping track, we’ve finished the First Source songs and are now entering the Second Source, Words and Deeds of Prophetic People. (I hear you saying “people? Isn’t it… Continue reading
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STLT#101, Abide with Me
Fellow Whovians will understand why I chose the photo I did. For everyone else, it requires a geek confession: I opened the hymnal, started to sing, and instantly thought of Doctor Who. In particular, the episode called “Gridlock” where, in order to keep the residents of earth safe, they are told to go on massive freeways… Continue reading
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STLT#100, I’ve Got Peace Like a River
Happy Hundredth Hymn! Thanks, readers, for being here, commenting, engaging, and occasionally educating. Only 390 more to go! Now… this song is a unquestionably a zipper song. It is highly repetitive and easy to learn. What’s fun about it is when people start harmonizing – it turns it from ‘dear god make it stop’ (with flashbacks… Continue reading
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links
Learn more about my ministry at The Art of Meaning
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