music

Resourcing February 8

/ Ian

Hymns and songs focusing on the ministry of healing have been listed on this page today. The Jane Williams reflection help concerns our responses to the task of Proclamation and how we feel about that.

Another useful resource if you are stuck for musicians:

http://www.hymnswithoutwords.com/hymns/Hymn_lyrics 

This website has 400 accompaniments for well-known hymns and songs, many of which are free to download (and burn to CD, or whatever works). You can also subscribe for high-quality recordings, although what’s on offer will be adequate for many.

Ian

Music for January 4 (and 6)

/ 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

New Bicentennial song

/ Ian

PCANZ has released a song to commemorate the arrival of the gospel in Aotearoa and the life of God’s church here. In my opinion it is a very fine piece of work, professionally and movingly filmed and performed. A great addition to your bicentennial celebrations!

 

A musical Christmas gift

/ 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

 

 

Music for Advent 4

/ 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