Range: Moderate
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STLT#297, The Star of Truth
It seems that every month or so there is a day I let my faithful – and even not so faithful – readers down. Today is one of them. I’ll chalk it up to utter exhaustion after an amazing, if sleep-deprived, week at SUUSI, and a beautiful but long drive home from the Smoky Mountains of… Continue reading
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STLT#296, O Ye Who Taste That Love Is Sweet
Confession: sometimes I sing a hymn and all I really have to say is, ‘yep, it’s great’ and then I look for more to say. I love this hymn. It’s great. The melody, a late 15th century French tune by Franciscan monk Jean Tisserand, is lush and a bit bittersweet, and provides a perfect mood… Continue reading
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STLT#295, Sing Out Praises for the Journey
Of course this is the hymn today, as I set out on 14-hour trip home from SUUSI that was called Blessed Is the Path. And in fact, I’m a little surprised no one used this in their worship this week… except that it’s probably a bit stodgier than most of what we sing here. Yet… Continue reading
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STLT#294, Our Praise We Give
Here at SUUSI, we have a yearly theme; this year’s is “Blessed Is the Path,” and the resulting worship services have explored the many ways we are on our path, what we may encounter on the path, and what it means to say ‘yes’ to the path. Of course, my mind has spent a little… Continue reading
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STLT#291, Die Gedanken Sind Frei
I entered this morning’s hymn with trepidation; I’m familiar with it and I’ve sung it a few times, but I was a bit anxious about what is really a charming little melody, wondering whether it would be a problem the way the Austria tune can be. Between the Lines was no help really; James says… Continue reading
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STLT#290, Bring, O Past, Your Honor
I don’t wanna do this any more if it means I have to be eloquent and insightful about hymns like this one. Now I am sure there were good reasons for the Hymnal Commission to include it. The lyrics – written by Unitarian minister, professor at Meadville, and church historian Charles Lyttle – are indeed a… Continue reading
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STLT#289, Creative Love, Our Thanks We Give
Proof that this spiritual practice has changed me: Whenever I see an adaptation note at the bottom of the page now, I first go hunt down the original lyrics, because there’s a very good chance we did more than adjust some God, gender, and empire language. And there are times when I find that frustrating,… Continue reading
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STLT#279, By the Waters of Babylon
This round evokes in me another, which we’ll get to in November: Where does it come from? Who wrote it? Why is it in here? Where does it come from? How did it get here? Mystery. Mystery. This hymn’s a riddle and a mystery. Okay, so not all of it is a mystery – it… Continue reading
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STLT#274, Dear Mother-Father of Us All
These are the days I wish I was a pianist, or lived with one. Because while I have listened to a recording of this hymn at Small Church Music, I feel like I want to play with this rather square tune by Frederick Charles Maker. I don’t want to change it, partly because the tune… Continue reading
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STLT#273, Immortal, Invisible
My post will be short today, as I have succumbed to what is commonly known as “con crud” – the general flu-like illness that befalls many a convention attendee. But I wouldn’t be true to this practice without at least singing through this beloved hymn and making a few comments before the siren song of… Continue reading
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