The BEST "Earworm" I have had in a while…

Ever so often a song gets stuck in my head and will not leave.  Often, it is a commercial for something I don't even like.  Usually, it is annoying.

This time, I am thoroughly enjoying myself!

During the night I woke myself up singing and humming…  Something.  It was majestic and beautiful.  It was familiar, but I don't remember it recently.  It's entirely possible that I sang it in church last Sunday, it just didn't register until today.

I had to look it up!

My favorite earworm…

Turns out it is from our hymnal.  LSB 336

The words are by Charles Wesley, the melody is by Thomas Olivers. 

Lo, He comes with Clouds Descending

Lo, he comes with clouds descending,
Once for ev'ry sinner slain;
Thousand thousand saints attending
Swell the triumph of his train:
Alleluia, alleluia!
Christ the Lord returns to reign.

Ev'ry eye shall now behold him
Robed in glorious majesty;
Those who set at naught and sold him,
Pierced and nailed him to the tree,
Deeply wailing, deeply wailing, shall their true Messiah see.

Those dear tokens of his Passion
Still his dazzling body bears,
Cause of endless exultation
To his ransomed worshipers.
With what rapture, with what rapture
Gaze we on those glorious scars!

Yea, amen, let all adore thee,
High on thine eternal throne;
Savior, take the pow'r and glory,
Claim the kingdom for thine own.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Thou shalt reign, and thou alone!

Evangelism Committee appropriate?

Maybe we need to make this prayer a part of the Evangelism Committee.

For the Lost: There are so many who do not know You, Lord, both far and near. Through pastors, missionaries, and faithful Christians, touch the hearts of the lost and the empty. Send the Holy Spirit to work godly faith that accepts You as the only Savior from sin. Fill me with an urgency for these lost ones, sharing the Word and supporting with prayers and offerings the witness work You have given me to do. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
--Concordia Publishing House ( ). Portals of Prayer: January - March (Kindle Locations 1732-1735).  . Kindle Edition.


Along with this hymn:

copyright © 2000 Rev. Richard Jordan, used by permission

"O Christ, Our True and Only Light"  tlh-512
By Johann Heermann, 1585-1647

1. O Christ, our true and only Light,
Enlighten those who sit in night;
Let those afar now hear Thy voice
And in Thy fold with us rejoice.

2. Fill with the radiance of Thy grace
The souls now lost in error's maze
And all whom in their secret minds
Some dark delusion haunts and blinds.

3. Oh, gently call those gone astray
That they may find the saving way!
Let every conscience sore opprest
In Thee find peace and heavenly rest.

4. Oh, make the deaf to hear Thy Word
And teach the dumb to speak, dear Lord,
Who dare not yet the faith avow,
Though secretly they hold it now.

5. Shine on the darkened and the cold,
Recall the wanderers to Thy fold,
Unite all those who walk apart,
Confirm the weak and doubting heart,

6. So they with us may evermore
Such grace with wondering thanks adore
And endless praise to Thee be given
By all Thy Church in earth and heaven.

Hymn #512
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Luke 1:79
Author: Johann Heermann, 1630
Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1858, alt.
Titled: "O Jesu Christe, wahres Licht"
Tune: "O Jesu Christ, mein's"
1st Published in: Nuernbergisches Gesangbuch, 1676

 

Virtual Unity and Harmony

A while back, when I was listening to some TEDTalks, I heard about Eric Whitaker's Virtual Choir.  Now, I don't read music, not really.  My voice carries all of 3 inches.  I like to sing, but I don't really think my voice is particularly good.  Still, the concept of a virtual choir entranced me.

If you are not quite sure what am talking about, here is the first one that I heard:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=D7o7BrlbaDs#!

Here is the second:
http://vimeo.com/22960177#
(I think this video is my favorite.  Something about it's beauty just makes my eyes leak…  But that is a totally different story for another day.)

The third Virtual Choir (and preparations for number four) are here:
http://ericwhitacre.com/the-virtual-choir

I enjoy the music.  It kind of reminds me of a program that came on and during the 80s and 90s on one of our local classical or/and NPR radio channels called "Songs From the Hearts of Space." (WELL, what do you know!  It is still around…   http://www.hos.com/  )

More than that, I think I like the idea BEHIND Virtual Choir.  These are individuals who love to sing, in various parts of the world, sitting at their computers at different times, brought together by a man and a piece of music.  The results are powerful and beautiful.

The results also make for an interesting metaphor or analogy or something.

The first thing that popped into my head was The Church.  Not just the local and time bound gatherings, I'm talking about The Bride of Christ.

It also was thinking of this as a way to approach complicated problems.  No one voice is really enough…

Does any of this makes sense, or am I just being weird again?