Chuck SpanglerGrace Memorial Parishioner “Messiah” is universally acknowledged as one of the finest musical pieces ever composed. The work was accomplished by Handel with assistance from Charles Jenners (an 18th century lyricist). The combination of a strong Christian theme, four part voice harmonies and solos, orchestral compositions (running the gamut of strings, percussion, and horns), and at times a unique and majestic harmonious blend of voice, instrument, and verse, “Messiah” is indeed worth listening to and reflecting on over many “takes”. If ever one could conclude that “Divine Inspiration” exists, this work offers convincing evidence: Handel commenced the “Messiah” on August 22, 1741, in response to a competition for a new work of music to be performed in Dublin on Easter, 1742. The work was somehow completed by Handel on September 14, 1741…a miraculous feat accomplished in twenty-three days! The Dublin audience was understandably in awe of the superb music. The Dublin debut was followed over the next few years by concerts in London and throughout Europe. Over the centuries a number of changes to the work have been made; however, the basic composition has stood the test of time. The seven YouTube videos highlighted below represent a portion of “Part I” which concentrates on the birth of Jesus. Each Advent season, our youth would be “exposed” to this classic which might be alternately labeled as the “First Christian Praise Music” composition! "Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith your God; speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem; and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness: - prepare ye the way of the Lord: make straight in the desert a highway for our God." ISAIAH 40: 1-3 “Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill made low, the crooked straight and the rough places plain.” ISAIAH 40:4 “Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name E M M A N U E L, God with us.” ISAIAH 7:14 “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” ISAIAH 9:6 “There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And lo! the Angel of the Lord ca me u po n them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.” LUKE 2: 8-9 “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, goodwill towards men.” LUKE 2:14 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout! O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, thy King cometh unto thee! He is the righteous Saviour, and He shall speak peace unto the heathen.” Luke 1:14
0 Comments
Chuck SpanglerGrace Memorial Parishioner They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’ The sinners in Zion are afraid; We love because he first loved us. Stars Go Dim is a 4 piece Christian rock band formed in 2007 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They began focusing exclusively on Christian Praise music with the release of the “Stars Go Dim” CD/EP in 2015. In 2016, they were nominated for a Dove Award for “New Artist of the Year”. Their music is characterized by excellent vocals (headlined by lead singer Chris Cleveland, who also writes a majority of their music) and upbeat, up-tempo arrangements. The contemporary style and sound of SGD had a unique appeal to the teenagers in our Christian Formation group. The specific message in “You Are Loved” was received by the kids as both uplifting and encouraging. "You Are Loved" Album: Stars Go Dim Artist: Stars Go Dim "You Are Loved" Lyrics: We hide pain in the weirdest places, Broken souls with smiling faces. Fighting for surrender, For now and the after, yeah. Just look around and you'll see that people, Are scared to say how they really feel, oh We all need a little honesty…You are loved. If your heart's in a thousand pieces, If you're lost and you're far from reason. Just look up, know you are loved, Just look up, and know you are loved. When it feels like something's missing…If it hurts but you can't find healing. Just look up, know you are loved. Just look up, know you are loved. We're not made to be superheroes…Photoshopped, all size zeroes. We're a light not expected, But not quite perfected yet, yeah. Look up see the sun is shining, There's hope on a new horizon. Calling you, it's calling. You are loved. If your heart's in a thousand pieces, If you're lost and you're far from reason. Just look up, know you are loved, Just look up, and know you are loved. When it feels like something's missin', If it hurts but you can't find healin'. Just look up, know you are loved, Just look up, know you are loved. You don't have to prove yourself, Don't try to be someone else. You don't have to prove yourself. Don't try to be someone else…You are loved. (Just look up, know you are loved)…(Just look up, know you are loved) (Just look up, know you are loved)…(Just look up, know you are loved)…You are loved. If your heart's in a thousand pieces. If you're lost and you're far from reason Just look up, know you are loved. Just look up, and know you are loved When it feels like something's missing…If it hurts but you can't find healing Just look up, know you are loved. Just look up, know you are loved If your heart's in a thousand pieces…If you're lost and you're far from reason Just look up, know you are loved. Just look up, and know you are loved When it feels like something's missing. If it hurts but you can't find healing Just look up, know you are loved. Just look up, know you are loved Scripture readings are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), Copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.
Selah, "Be Still" & "I'd Rather Have Jesus", Proverbs 17:28 & Luke 6:20, 24, 27-29, 32-33, 3511/15/2024 Chuck SpanglerGrace Memorial Parishioner "Noise"The noise, both and pre- and post-election, has been deafening. And there are a multitude of contributors! We have the news feeds, MSNBC v CNN v Fox v most of the printed press! Who do we trust? Who do we listen to? Who is speaking truth and only truth? And there’s the social media. We have friends, family, casual acquaintances, self-adorned “experts”, who have unbridled (and in some cases uncensored) opinions that they seem to passionately believe we need to hear. And there’s always someone that wants to engage the source in ugly, occasionally hateful, debate. Thanks be to God for the answer to this craziness: I hope you will read and contemplate on our latest Grace Memorial Newsletter where Mother Liz, Bishop Shannon, and Presiding Bishop Sean offer some inspiring words and prayer to deal with all of the rhetoric which seems to be drowning us. And there’s always the solution to abandon all news media and social media that partakes in strictly partisan political diatribe. With the above in mind, I offer you two (2) selections by Selah, “Be Still” and “I’d Rather Have Jesus”. Selah is an internationally acclaimed Christian music trio (Todd Smith, Allan Hall, & Amy Perry) formed in 1997. Todd’s and Amy’s remarkable voices fills this music with emotion and depth. The group took their name from the ancient Hebrew word “selah”, the exact meaning of which has been lost in antiquity. The word “selah” appears over 70 times in the Psalms…it is surmised by some theologians that its meaning is similar to “amen” in that no viable English synonym exists. Selah has sold more than 4 million albums resulting in 8 Gospel Music Association “Dove Awards”, and 8 #1 singles. Even fools who keep silent are considered wise; when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent. “Be Still” Artist: Selah "Be Still" Lyrics: It's so loud…I just can't seem to slow this down I need You more than ever now…Let the silence be the only sound Your glory, Becomes the only thing I see…Your beauty brings me to my knees The awe that You inspire in me Makes me want to be still…So still You can hear me breathing in…So still You can hear me breathing out Let Your calm descend upon me now So now… I stand before You broken down…My feet upon this holy ground I can feel Your presence all around Makes me want to be still…So still You can hear me breathing in…So still You can hear me breathing out Let Your calm descend upon me now I hear You whisper softly…I hear You speaking to me…I hear You In the silence You call my name. I want to be still…So still You can hear me breathing in…So still You can hear me breathing out Let Your calm descend upon me now I want to be still…So still You can hear me breathing in…So still You can hear me breathing out Let Your calm descend upon me now I want to be still…So still You can hear me breathing in…So still You can hear me breathing out Let Your calm descend upon me now I want to be still…I want to be still…I want to be still Be still Then he looked up at his disciples and said: “I’d Rather Have Jesus” Album: You Amaze Us Artist: Selah "I'd Rather Have Jesus" Lyrics: I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold, I'd rather be His than have riches untold I'd rather have Jesus than houses or land, Yes, I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand. Than to be the king of a vast domain, And be held in sin's dread sway I'd rather have Jesus than anything This world affords today. I'd rather have Jesus than men’s applause, I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame, I'd rather be true to His holy Name. Than to be the king of a vast domain, And be held in sin's dread sway I'd rather have Jesus than anything This world affords today He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom; He's sweeter than honey from out the comb; He's all that my hungering spirit needs; I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead Than to be the king of a vast domain, And be held in sin's dread sway I'd rather have Jesus than anything This world affords today Than to be the king of a vast domain, And be held in sin's dread sway I'd rather have Jesus than anything This world affords today Scripture readings are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), Copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.
|
RSS Feed
