“Comfort Ye My People”

November 30, 2020.Reading time 5 minutes.

Two years ago I read a mystery by George Bellairs that opens on Christmas Eve 1940 as Detective-Inspector Littlejohn is traveling to meet his wife who has evacuated to Yorkshire after their London flat was destroyed in the Blitz. On Christmas night they visit the Methodist church in a small village to hear the choir […]

Mike Braun: In Memorium March 29, 1942 – February 27, 2020

March 5, 2020.Reading time 8 minutes.

You are our letter, written in our hearts,
known and read by all men.

“Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel!”

December 4, 2019.Reading time 3 minutes.

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 (KJV) – Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel! is one of the oldest songs heard during the Advent season. The roots of the music of go back to the 15th century.1 […]

The Witness of Messiah

December 2, 2019.Reading time 7 minutes.

Many people know that Handel wrote the music for Messiah. Much less commonly known is Charles Jennens, the man who chose the Bible passages for its libretto. Messiah was born out of a tragic event in his life. Dr. Al Mohler, President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, described this tragedy as he spoke of […]

Messiah!

December 1, 2019.Reading time 4 minutes.

Last year I read a mystery by George Bellairs that opens on Christmas Eve 1940 as Detective-Inspector Littlejohn is traveling to meet his wife who has evacuated to Yorkshire after their London flat was destroyed in the Blitz. On Christmas night they visit the local Methodist church in a small village to hear the choir […]

“Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel!”

December 5, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 (KJV) – The roots of the music of Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel! go back to the 15th century.1 The Messianic titles in the lyrics, called the O Antiphons, […]

The Witness of Messiah

December 3, 2018.Reading time 8 minutes.

Many people know that Handel wrote the music for Messiah. But what about, Charles Jennens, the man who chose the Bible passages for its libretto? Messiah was born of a personal tragedy. In his 2010 commencement address, For the Mouth of the Lord Hath Spoken It, Dr. Al Mohler, President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, […]

Messiah!

December 2, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

When I was growing up we attended a church with a large music program, and I first sang in a choir as a young child. In December our minister of music would have all the choirs sing the “Hallelujah” chorus from Handel’s Messiah. The adult choir was at the front of the church, while the […]