AMISH AUCTION FLASH MOB

GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN

Our daughter graduated from Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley, and this is EMU's Advent Video.

ELIJAH ROCK - MOSES HOGAN

Ascending Voice IV was recently held on the Pepperdine University campus in Malibu, at it is a symposium dedicated to sacred a capella music.  For three days, there are a series of workshops, symposia, all-sings and performances.  The Pepperdine Chamber Choir sang Elijah Rock by Moses Hogan - both the song and the composer were new to me, and I felt like sharing my 'discovery' with you all!  You can read about Moses here and here, and listen to the song below.

MARY DID YOU KNOW?

Regardless of one's theology, this is a rather amazing version of the song....

MH 118 NEE 606

This is fairly parochial, but most Mennonites and fellow-travelers will be able to decipher the code of this post's title.  MH = Mennonite Hymnal, 118 = "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow" in the Blue MH, and 606 is the same hymn in the older Red MH.  As noted in this interesting article, "In the 1969 volume The Mennonite Hymnal, number 606 is a four-part choral setting of the doxology ("Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow") that has become wildly popular among North American Mennonites."  It is not the traditional doxology, but rather a juiced-up version that is sometimes know as the Mennonite "Anthem".  I have included two versions below - the first one is sung in a quicker tempo, which I prefer.  The second is not so much for the song, but for the director, our friend Arlin Buller - note how Arlin really gets in to leading the group at the Rocky Mountain Relief Sale in Rock Ford, Colorado.

SUNDAY MEDITATION

 NADA TE TURBE



.

Nada te turbe

Nada te espante

Quien a Dios tiene nada le falta

Solo Dios basta

Todo se pasa

Dios no se muda

La paciencia todo lo alcanza

Let nothing disturb you,

let nothing afright you.

Whoever has God

lacks nothing.

God alone suffices.

All things are passing.

God does not change.

Patience achieves all things.

RANDOM ACT OF CULTURE

More informatin at http://www.knightarts.org/

BE THOU MY VISION

While there are not too many things that I miss about Goshen, one would be the community/congregational singing.  Regardless of your theological bent, there is something special about 1000+ folks singing a cappella in multiple-part harmony.  Here is a clip of a favorite hymn sung at the Sauder Music Hall on the campus of Goshen College - best if played through good speakers or earphones.  Lyrics provided below for sing-along!

Be Thou my vision, oh Lord of my heart
Nought be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light

Be Thou my wisdom, be Thou my true word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me Lord
Thou my great Father, thy child may I be
Thou in me dwelling and I one with Thee

Be Thou my battle shield, sword for the fight;
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight;
Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, oh power of my power

Riches I need not, nor man's empty praise
Thou mine inheritance now and always
Thou and Thou only first in my heart
High king of heaven my treasure Thou art

High king of heaven, when victory is won
May I reach heaven's joys,  oh bright heaven sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, oh ruler of all