We’re going to need tranquility, and you’ll find some in this video: He Who Would Valiant Be, sung against a backdrop of the Goathland Moors on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, steam engine and all.
And we will need to be valiant, too. I haven’t yet steeled myself to look at nooze today. May God give us courage, strengthen our faith, and strengthen our hands: in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Requested by Susan, this is Psalm 121–“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help,” in the old King James Version–set to music by Keith and Kristyn Getty, sung by Kristyn. Background sets by God the Father.
Requested by Joshua, Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne. I couldn’t find the name of the artist performing it, but I went with this version anyhow. It’s nice and soothing, and it found me in the middle of collecting nooze–which was not doing my blood pressure any good.
We have the Good News of the gospel, and we’re still in the Christmas season: cling to Christ’s throne. Cling to His cross.
There aren’t many carols for a fife and a drum anymore; but here’s one from medieval Burgundy, before it was part of France: Pat-a-Pan, performed by Quadriga Consort. We used to sing this in school–imagine that.
Requested by Erlene–Come On, Ring Those Bells, by Carroll Roberson with… is that Mrs. Roberson? I don’t know, but I’m sure some of you out there do. Please advise.
Well, no one has requested any hymns this morning, though we should still be in the mood for Christmas carols; so I thought I’d like to encore one of my favorites–The Sussex Carol, first published in the 17th century for surely older than that, performed the old-fashioned way by Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band.
We’re not really done with carols, are we? Christmas 2021 is a very long way away…
No one got around to entering this carol in the carol contest: a medieval Christmas carol, Gaudete–whose lyrics tell us, in Latin, to rejoice, for Jesus Christ is born of Mary.
Performed by the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, and the London Cello Orchestra.
I can’t think of a better way to start a year than with this hymn, All Glory Be to Christ, by Dustin Kensrueu and King’s Kaleidoscope. Sung to the tune of Auld Lang Syne.
Pray for Christ’s protection in this year. We’ll need it.
This request (not the other one!) comes from our friend Ina, in Scotland–Mistletoe and Wine, by Cliff Richard.
This is the last day of the carol contest, so get your entries in now.
But of course we can keep on playing Christmas hymns after the contest is over.
It’s the last day of the carol contest!
This request comes from Sue, one of my Pogo friennds–A Strange Way to Save the World, by Jason Crabb and Jay DeMarcus.
So far the leading carol was posted on Day One of the contest and has never been overtaken. I didn’t expect that!