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What is your favorite Christmas Hymn?

Two years ago, the USCCB released a document of revised guidelines for liturgical music titled "Sing to the Mountains" -- er, "Lord." In its 88 mostly tepid pages are found a meditation on the scriptural and theological foundations for the use of music in worship, notes particular to the celebration of special rites within the Mass, and handy tips for ordained and lay liturgical ministers, such as the suggestion that cantors "possess the ability for singing and a facility in correct pronunciation and diction."   And, as with so many products of committee, its prescriptions perform a two-step waltz:...

Herb Brokering, Lutheran Hymn Writer, Author, Poet, Dies CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Herbert F. Brokering, pastor, author, lyricist, speaker and hymn writer of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), died Nov. 7 of congestive heart failure at his apartment in Bloomington, Minn., according to his son, Mark. A memorial service is planned for Nov. 21 at Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis. Brokering, 83, was a member of St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Bloomington. "Herb Brokering's legacy includes carefully crafted words on the lips of believers gathered around the means of grace. He has helped us bring our faith to rich...

Just a post, to see what favorite song inspires freepers in praising the LORD? I have many, but I will say the one that connects to my soul like no other is *Through the Fire* by Jason Crabb and the Crabb Family http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP4OvUU-ZHU&feature=related

CHICAGO — At a gathering of Church composers and musicians recently, Msgr. Anthony Sherman asked how many people had looked at the revised order of the Mass. Almost everyone raised a hand.Msgr. Sherman, the executive director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Divine Worship, might have predicted the reaction during his breakout session at the National Association of Pastoral Musicians Convention in Chicago. After all, new Mass texts require new music — and pastoral musicians are preparing to provide it. “Given that music is integral to the celebration of liturgy, composers will have an important role to...

Sunday Poll: In your church, what kinds of songs do you sing? A Daily Poll

Hey all, this really lifted me today and I thought I would share it with you all. All is not Lost!!!!!!!

This shortened song video is accompanied with an autumn view, scenic sky, mountains and an animated perched juvenile red shoulder hawk. Singing is by the Church of Christ Choir!

As Joshua and Moses returned down the mountain after receiving the Law from God, they heard what at first they thought was the noise of war; but as they hurried closer, they recognized that the people were singing rather than fighting. Nonetheless, their song soon proved to be the sound of war as three thousand men of Israel lost their lives in punishment. The church of today faces a similar situation. With the prevalence of rock music in Christian services, those approaching the average church house will often find themselves wondering if the noise that they hear is that of...

Nearer, My God, to Thee - Words: Verses 1-5, Sar­ah F. Adams, in Hymns and Anthems, by William Johnson Fox, 1841; verse 6, Ed­ward H. Bick­er­steth, Jr. Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me, Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee. Refrain Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee! Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down, Darkness be over me, my rest a stone. Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God to Thee. Refrain There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n; All...

I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous) Verse 1 I stand amazed in the presence Of Jesus the Nazarene And wonder how He could love me A sinner condemned unclean Chorus How marvelous how wonderful And my song shall ever be How marvelous how wonderful Is my Savior's love for me Verse 2 He took my sins and my sorrows He made them His very own He bore the burden to Calvary And suffered and died alone Verse 3 When with the ransomed in glory His face I at last shall see 'Twill be my joy through the ages To sing of...

After watching the debate, I have a new song that I'm singing at the top of my lungs. It's called the Canticle of the Turning. I emailed our choir director at church to sing this hymn the next 3 Sundays at mass. Here are the lyrics My soul cries out with a joyful shout that the God of my heart is great, And my spirit sings of the wondrous things that you bring to the ones who wait. You fixed your sight on the servant's plight, and my weakness you did not spurn, So from east to west shall my...

This video is arranged with a short instrumental medley of hymns, “Softly and Tenderly” and “Lord, I’m Coming Home”, with a flowery hummingbird scene.

Should the Stars In Your Service Flag Turn To Gold (1918) lyrics by Dora F. Hendricks music by Charles H. Gabriel MIDI sequence os002.mid by John McDonnellShould the stars in your service flag turn to gold, If from somewhere in France comes the message you fear, Should the anguish of death on your heart be rolled, Creep close to God and you will hear His great heart throbbing, as soft and low He whispers: "Child, I know, I know! "Your very best for the world you've done: "I, also, gave my beloved Son, "I, also, gave my beloved Son." Like...

Click the link to listen to the following songs, each will make you laugh because they are so absurd, and cry because they do indeed fit so many who proclaim to be Christian. Blest Be The Tie That Doesn't Cramp My Style Pillow of Ages, Fluffed for Me I Surrender Some I'm Fairly Certain That My Redeemer Live Sit Up, Sit Up For Jesus Take My Life and Let Me Be What An Acquaintance We Have In Jesus Where He Leads Me, I Will Consider Following He's Quite a Bit To Me Oh, How I Like Jesus Fill My Spoon,...

If anybody wants to have an instant smile on their face, you gotta check out this video of this talented two-year-old girl, belting out "The Lord's Prayer." Too cute.

One Toronto church decided that they had enough of divisiveness this Lenten season, and decided to take a stand. No more would incendiary rhetoric be used to inflame the passions of the congregation. No more would the United Church endorse an outdated theology, at least not the West Hill Protestant United Christian Church. Their pastor struck these dreaded words from their Easter hymnal …. Jesus Christ? That triumphal barnburner of an Easter hymn, Jesus Christ Has Risen Today – Hallelujah, this morning will rock the walls of Toronto’s West Hill United Church as it will in most Christian churches across...

In this animated Bullfrog video you can here the sound of a bullfrog and hear the frog sing, I’d Rather Have Jesus, gospel hymn. Revski

Yet another painful experience of modern Evangelical “worship,” once the fury and chagrin has drained away, awakens in my mind this scene from my boyhood: It is a summer Sunday evening service in a little Baptist church in rural Michigan, hard by the fields and woods. Everyone who plays an instrument (all “acoustic” in those days), young or old, skilled or not, has been invited to accompany the congregational singing, for that is what is done on Sunday evenings, when the service is less formal. The minister stops the music near the end of the hymn, taps the pulpit, and...

ROME (CNS) -- Catholics, Anglicans and Methodists filled Rome's Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls with some of the most famous hymns written by Charles Wesley at a service marking the 300th anniversary of the Methodist reformer's birth. The songs, featured in hymnals across denominational lines, were the focal point of the Dec. 3 ecumenical evening prayer service in the Catholic basilica. The Rev. John Barrett, president of the World Methodist Council said, "It was mind-blowing really" to celebrate Wesley and sing his hymns "in Rome with an ecumenical gathering." "I think Charles Wesley would be thrilled. He did...