Personal Favorite
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STLT#119, Once to Every Soul and Nation
From the “I never really understood it until now” department comes this hymn. Wow. This is a familiar hymn to me, with its rolling triplets and pulsing, pushing melody. The tune sits for me in the same category as “Do You Hear the People Sing” from Les Miz – strong, defiant, meant to rouse and… Continue reading
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STLT#112, Do You Hear?
It is two days after the incredible Women’s March – one day after many ministers, including me, took to the pulpit to talk about our faith’s all to resist and rejoice, to do what’s next. And what is so very clear is that the people at and supporting the Women’s March, and the folks sitting in the… 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#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
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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
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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
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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
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STLT#21, For the Beauty of the Earth
For the beauty of the earth, for the splendor of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies: Source of all, to thee we raise this, our hymn of grateful praise. For the joy of ear and eye, for the heart and mind’s delight, for the mystic harmony linking… Continue reading
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STLT#18, What Wondrous Love
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul, what wondrous love is this, O my soul? What wondrous love is this that brings my heart such bliss, and takes away the pain of my soul, of my soul, and takes away the pain of my soul. When I was sinking down, sinking… Continue reading
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links
Learn more about my ministry at The Art of Meaning
Read my thoughts about congregational life at Hold My Chalice
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