Mood: Meditative
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STLT#142, Let There Be Light
It is easier to write about things you care deeply about, whether for good or for ill, than it is to write about things that are, well, fine, and don’t really bother you one way or the other. Such is the case here. This is a fine hymn. Sure. It works. It’s got decent lyrics… Continue reading
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STLT#137, We Utter Our Cry
I’m not sure I have much to say on this one today, short of what I muttered as I finished singing, and as poured my coffee, and I walked up the stairs to the office, and as I opened up this page: “Hmmm. Well.. okay.” I hoped for more insight from Jacqui James – but all… Continue reading
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STLT#132, Bright Those Jewels
Here’s another hymn I might have noticed if the title wasn’t just the first few words – and one I now plan to use. One of my regular readers, Kaye, has remarked more than once that using the first line rather than the actual (or at least more meaningful) title often leads us to ignore good hymns… Continue reading
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STLT#130, O Liberating Rose
Sometimes I know what I think about a hymn before I start singing, and let the experience of singing affirm or shift those thoughts. Sometimes I don’t know, and I let the experience of singing take me somewhere, and as a result some of my posts have been more theological, or musical, or silly, or… Continue reading
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STLT#127, Can I See Another’s Woe?
This one nearly speaks for itself – it asks the question many of us ask of those who seem to take a perverse joy at the suffering of others. Over and over, in the face of laws and judgments that seek to punish the victims, the oppressed, the suffering, we ask of those people: what… Continue reading
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STLT#123, Spirit of Life
There are some who consider this to be THE UU Hymn – it is perhaps the best well known of the insider songs, used throughout the denomination as an invocation, a sung response to joys and concerns, a hymn of meditation, even a song of welcome to membership (in my home congregation, if someone signed… 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#96, I Cannot Think of Them as Dead
I fell asleep last night thinking about the questions about end of life stuff that my sister raised about one of my cats, who is about to have major surgery to remove a malignant tumor (Shea is with her, five hours away, so I won’t be there the day of surgery if things go awry). In… Continue reading
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STLT#94, What Is This Life
“Sweet” is the word I would use to describe this hymn. Sweet lyrics, sweet sentiment, sweet tune. It’s not saccharine sweet, but rooted, old timey sound and wisdom sweet. It’s the kind of tune (another shape note tune, this time from the collection Missouri Harmony) you’d hope to hear played by a guitar, or maybe… Continue reading
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STLT#90, From All the Fret and Fever of the Day
As I dig deeper into this section of Mystical and Meditation Songs, I realize how much I love these songs – and need them. Right now, the congregation I serve only uses two hymns, so there is no contemplative hymn in the middle of the service. And oh, how I miss that. We still have… Continue reading
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links
Learn more about my ministry at The Art of Meaning
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