Range: High
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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#79, No Number Tallies Nature Up
Any other day, I might be up for a significant rewrite of a classic poem, but today is not that day. Snarky, cynical Kimberley is back, and she’s not having it. I read the lyrics, sang (another fine Southern Harmony tune), then read again, feeling baffled. So I went to the internet to look up the… Continue reading
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STLT#71, In the Spring with Plow and Harrow
It’s almost like someone heard me complain about hymns going nowhere, and slid this one right in for me so I wouldn’t lose faith in our hymnal. This isn’t bad, as hymns go. The title hides the message, for sure – you wouldn’t think something called “In the Spring with Plow and Harrow” would be… 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#63, Spring Has Now Unwrapped the Flowers
I’m not sure I have much to say about this one – partly because I’m jetlagged and got too little sleep thanks to a trip to Phoenix. Yay. What I know is that the lyrics are fine – another praise for spring. Yay. This set is from the Renaissance, so it’s historical. Yay. And I… Continue reading
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STLT#61, Lo, the Earth Awakes Again
And with one turn of a page, we enter the sublimely ridiculous. Yes, it’s time, in these last days of autumn, as the nights grow dark and cold, to begin singing our Spring and Summer songs. Because if spiritual practice teaches us anything, it’s to expect bizarre coincidences and juxtapositions. Plus, this is what I… Continue reading
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STLT#59, Almond Trees, Renewed in Bloom
I am likely going to disappoint you all today – because I’m struggling to articulate much of anything this morning. I’m not feeling witty (although when I am these days, I am grateful – thanks to Victoria Weinstein for highlighting that as a gift of grace). I’m not feeling moved deeply (although I can see… Continue reading
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STLT#44, We Sing of Golden Mornings
I’m trying – I really am. These songs, tho’… We sing of golden mornings, we sing of sparkling seas, of prairies, valleys, mountains, and stately forest trees. We sing of flashing sunshine and life-bestowing rain, of birds among the branches, and springtime come again. We sing the heart courageous, the youthful, eager mind; we sing… Continue reading
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STLT#26, Holy, Holy, Holy
Hymns that make you go “hmmm….” Holy, holy, holy, author of creation! Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee; holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty; who was, and is, and evermore shall be. Holy, holy, holy, though the darkness hide thee, hindered by our vanities we have not eyes to see. Only… Continue reading
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STLT#22, Dear Weaver of Our Lives’ Design
Dear weaver of our lives’ design whose patterns all obey, with skillful fingers gently guide the sturdy threads that will survive the tangle of our days. Take up the fabric of our lives with hands that gently hold; bind in the ragged edge that care would sunder and that pain would tear, and mend our… 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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