I like listening to Bruce Cockburn’s Christmas album because of the range of songs he selected, including some non-English language material. I don’t imagine I’d use Mary Had A Baby, but it is a joyful spiritual. The call and response makes it easy to sing, and the simplicity of the melody invites embellishment. Maybe if …
At The Briefing, Sandy Grant offers helpful suggestions for getting the most out of Christmas gathering and worship for those who’ll be home, and for those on the road. Here are a few rough and ready suggestions I jotted up for our church about “making the most of every opportunity” (Col 4:5 NIV) for the …
In The Bleak Mid-Winter is a song that I only came to know a couple of years ago, but the artistry of Christina Rosetti’s poetry and Gustav Holst’s tune Cranham are both so winsome. Even with Mount Gambier’s fickle weather, our Christmases don’t really qualify as being mid-winter like, but this song evokes a feeling …
A Great And Mighty Wonder is John M. Neale’s translation of St. Germanus’ 8th century Greek lyrics. These words are set to Michael Praetorius’ harmonisation of an old German tune into Es Ist Ein Ros, which, you may remember, is used for Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming. I prefer to sing this song instead …
mgpcpastor's blog 