Mood: Meditative
-
STLT#89, Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life
I went on a bit yesterday about early Anglican poetry and music, not realizing that one of the most famous pieces – and my favorite – to come out of that era (1550-1650) was next on our hit parade. This poem, “The Call,” was written by George Herbert, an Anglican priest and poet from Wales.… Continue reading
-
STLT#88, Calm Soul of All Things
Here is another beautiful prayer – and when I first read the lyrics, I thought “why do I not use this more often?” And then I sang it. Now don’t get me wrong: I love the Tallis Canon. It’s particularly beautiful when done in three parts in a big echo-y chapel so that the bell… Continue reading
-
STLT#87, Nearer, My God, to Thee
The story goes that this is the last song the orchestra played as the Titanic was going down, that final prayer that we put things right because we’re surely going to die, and soon we’ll be nearer to God so we better pray now out of panic. But English Unitarian poet Sarah Flower Adams wasn’t… Continue reading
-
STLT#86, Blessed Spirit of My Life
Now this one really is a prayer. In fact, Jacqui James points out in Between the Lines that the incredible Shelley Denham wrote this as a prayer. And called the tune Prayer. And wow, what a prayer. It is gentle to self even as it calls for strength. It is a quiet prayer of preparation,… Continue reading
-
STLT#85, Although This Life Is But a Wraith
It’s a song for our time, this one. Now it sits in the middle of the mystical and meditation section, but it’s really a fight song, a reminder that we have to keep getting up off the mat, to always be open, to revel in that which brings us joy but not forget that there is… Continue reading
-
STLT#84, How Far Can Reach a Smile?
I remember in the mid 2000s, Rev. Linda Hoddy, who was my home congregation’s minister, asked me to learn this as a solo. I remember at the time thinking how wonky the rhythms were and marveling that such an odd piece of music would be in the hymnal at all. Linda agreed that this was not something… Continue reading
-
STLT#83, Winds Be Still
Merry Christmas to me – this is one of my very favorite hymns. First of all, let’s not kid ourselves – 19th century English composer Samuel Wesley knew what he was doing when he wrote the anthem “Praise the Lord, O My Soul,” which includes the melody that we know as “Lead Me Lord.” Its… Continue reading
-
STLT#55, Dark of Winter
This is such a gorgeous hymn, and a comforting one too. First, let’s talk melody – Shelley Denham knew what she was doing, writing a sort of lullaby to winter in a gentle 3/2. It is both simple to sing and delicious to sing. I imagine my college choir director reminding us to sing through… Continue reading
-
STLT#54, Now Light Is Less
Two new rules today, because the thing that makes UUs go “huh” should be the theology: Just look at these lyrics as a poem, which is how they started. Not bad, really. Very nature-oriented, and I’m sure that in the early 1990s, it was appealing to have more nature-based hymns in the hymnal, especially with… Continue reading
-
STLT#51, Lady of the Season’s Laughter
Finally – a hymn about the feminine divine. I’m not surprised these lyrics are by the Rev. Dr. Kendyl Gibbons – I love her writing and have used her words often in services, including her wonderful piece on the “love is patient, love is kind” passage from I Corinthians 13, which I use in my… Continue reading
Support this site
I am an entrepreneurial minister, which means I am a freelancer, and every part of my income comes from the work I do. The Hymn by Hymn Project was and is a labor of love, but I now am incurring increasing costs for hosting the site.
If everyone who visited gave just $5, those costs would be covered in a single week.
Whether you give once or monthly, your generosity will keep Hymn by Hymn free and available to to the tens of thousands of people who benefit from it.
Please support the project!
links
Learn more about my ministry at The Art of Meaning
Read my thoughts about congregational life at Hold My Chalice
You must be logged in to post a comment.