Content Warning
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STLT#189 and190, Light of Ages and of Nations
I’ve kind of been dreading this one, knowing the complexities inherent in both the lyrics and the tunes (and by the way, this is the first of only two times when you’ll see me cover two numbers at once – they are the same lyrics to different tunes, so it seems appropriate). But, if this practice… Continue reading
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STLT#168, One More Step
A few short thoughts today. First, composer Joyce Poley is one of the sweetest people I have ever met and very much wrote this before we had an awareness of ableist language. But despite how sweet she is, she wrote one of the most annoying earworms we have. Sadly, it mostly gets played as an oom-pa-pa… Continue reading
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STLT#140, Hail the Glorious Golden City
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO. Holy cow this is a terrible hymn. Technically, it’s not terrible – the tune is a favorite – Hyfrodol, made fresh by Peter Mayer in 1064, Blue Boat Home (which will get its day next January). And the lyrics in terms of rhyme and meter are just fine.… Continue reading
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STLT#74, On the Dusty Earth Drum
It’s time for everybody’s favorite new game, “Who Will Love This Hymn I Hate” – this week, starring lyricist Joseph Cotter and composer Frederich Filitz! I wish I could make sense of this one. No, seriously. I mean, I get that the lyrics are a rain song, and thus appropriate for a section called The World… Continue reading
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STLT#67, We Sing Now Together
Hey, look! We’ve entered the “Harvest and Thanksgiving” section of the hymnal. And we start right off with the usual Thanksgiving song. C.J.: There’s a usual song? DONNA: “We Gather Together.” C.J.: The song. DONNA: That’s the usual song. C.J.: So you know it? DONNA: Everybody knows it. C.J.: I don’t know it. DONNA: [sighs]… Continue reading
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STLT#31, Name Unnamed
So…. (Chorus) Name unnamed, hidden and shown, knowing and known. Gloria! Beautifully moving, ceaselessly forming, growing, emerging with awesome delight, Maker of Rainbows, glowing with color, arching in wonder, energy flowing in darkness and light: (Chorus) Spinner of Chaos, pulling and twisting, freeing the fibers of pattern and form, Weaver of Stories, famed or unspoken,… Continue reading
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STLT#23, Bring Many Names
Bring many names, beautiful and good; celebrate in parable and story, holiness in glory, living, loving God: hail and hosanna, bring many names. Strong mother God, working night and day, planning all the wonders of creation, setting each equation, genius at play: hail and hosanna, strong mother God! Warm father God, hugging ev’ry child, feeling… Continue reading
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STLT#19, The Sun That Shines
The sun that shines across the sea, the wind that whispers in the tree, the lark that carols in the sky, the fleecy clouds a-sailing by, O, I’m as rich as rich can be, for all these things belong to me! The raindrops which refresh the earth, the springtime mantle of rebirth, the summer days… Continue reading
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STLT#8, Mother Spirit, Father Spirit
Mother Spirit, Father Spirit, where are you? In the sky song, in the forest, sounds your cry. What to give you, what to call you, what am I? Many drops are in the ocean, deep and wide. Sunlight bounces off the ripples to the sky. What to give you, what to call you, who am… Continue reading
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STLT#6, Just as Long as I Have Breath
Just as long as I have breath, I must answer, “Yes,” to life; though with pain I made my way, still with hope I meet each day. If they ask what I did well, tell them I said, “Yes,” to life. Just as long as vision lasts, I must answer, “Yes,” to truth; in my… Continue reading
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links
Learn more about my ministry at The Art of Meaning
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