“And the Glory of the Lord”

The libretto of Messiah is taken from numerous books of the Bible: Job, Psalms, Isaiah, Lamentations, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Matthew, Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians, Colossians, 1 Timothy, Hebrews and Revelation. If you’re not familiar with the passages selected by Jennens, you can read them at the above link. The first five verses of Isaiah […]

Read More

Messiah!

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 had all the choirs sing the “Hallelujah” chorus from Handel’s Messiah. The adult choir was at the front of the church behind the ministers, […]

Read More

Thanksgiving

Several days after Thanksgiving of 2010 I wrote the post, Gratitude. I’ve since slightly edited it and reposted it as Giving Thanks and Grateful Hearts. Here it is again. November 28, 2010 ◊ Gratitude Thursday is the American holiday of Thanksgiving, and for some of you giving thanks to God will be easy because of […]

Read More

Sweete And Gentle Showers

A couple of years ago I came across an article by Dr. John S. Uebersax, National Days of Prayer: A Historical Comparison, in which he makes this significant observation: Since 1952, the President of the United States has, by law, annually issued a proclamation recommending a National Day of Prayer. This seeks to revive a […]

Read More

Happy Mother’s Day!

Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands so that the […]

Read More

Maundy Thursday

As Jesus talked with His disciples the night before He died on the cross (John 13–16), He spoke to them about who He was, their relationship with God, and their work as His disciples. He reassured them of His con- tinuing presence and care in His sending of the Holy Spirit even as He told […]

Read More

Death & The Passover Lamb

Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and take for yourselves lambs according to your families, and slay the Passover lamb. You shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and apply some of the blood that is in […]

Read More

The Kingdoms of Our Lord & of His Christ

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. Revelation 11:15 KJV – The words of the “Hallelujah” chorus in Handel’s Messiah are from Revelation 19:6, 16; […]

Read More

“God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”

God rest ye merry, gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, Remember Christ our Saviour Was born on Christmas day, To save us all from Satan’s power When we were gone astray: O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy. – The angel to Zacharias: And an angel of the […]

Read More