February 1 has the Principal Feast of “The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Candlemas)” which can be observed on the Monday following. The hymn and song selections largely presume you will use the Candlemas readings, but if instead you are using those for the 4th Sunday after Epiphany there are music suggestions for those lections too.
Jane Williams offers reflections on Sunday readings only, so the Epiphany 4 readings apply in that case.
Ian
Music resources and Jane Williams reflection resources taking us through to and including January 25 have been posted today.
Ian
January 11 commemorates the Baptism of Jesus. Suitable songs and hymns can be found on this page.
Ian
We have made the assumption that most congregations will observe Epiphany (The Visit of the Magi) on January 4, rather than having a separate celebration on January 6. However, there are some suggestions for the Second Sunday after Christmas, if you choose that set of readings instead, where the Gospel reading is from John 1.
Please click here for video, hymn, and song suggestions.
Happy new year! Why not make it a resolution to learn a few new songs and hymns this year?
Ian
A list of hymns, carols and songs for the first Sunday of Christmas is published today. A number of these have links to words and music to help you broaden the range beyond merely recycling carols from Christmas Day. There are a handful of different suggestions from “Carol our Christmas”, too.
If you haven’t time to learn something new, the “Carol our Christmas” CD has some very attractive performances which could serve as meditation material during your service.
There are also quite a few traditional tunes with words appropriate for the day.
Christmas blessings!
Ian
A Christmas discovery this year, thanks to Natalie Sims, is the carol “God’s surprise” from the Iona Community.
“Who would think, despite derision,
That a child should lead the way?
God surprises earth with heaven,
Coming here on Christmas Day.”
What’s nice about this one is that, like “What child is this?” it is sung to a traditional English tune, in this case SCARLET RIBBONS (Link downloads a pdf of melody and guitar chords). I liked it so much I decided to record a sing-along track (as professionally as I could manage, decide for yourself):
It’s for those of you who are pushed for musicians at this busy time of the year. You can download a high-quality mp3 from my Soundcloud page. By the way, you can also use this arrangement to sing “What a friend we have in Jesus” at any time of the year as it’s 3 verses in 8787D!
Advent blessings!
Ian
Advent greetings as you are in the midst of busy preparations!
Click here (or choose the page above) for Songs & hymns, a recording and a video for Advent 4, with the major focus being on the Magnificat. Material is for 21 December 2014.
Ian
Local Shared Ministry Resources 