Two weeks out, worship planners are eyeing Bethlehem. Here are two selections, both traditional favorites. First, Sarah McLachlin’s version of O Little Town of Bethlehem.
And from the Moody Blues, a moving adaptation of What Child is This.
These video are free for use in worship. A donation maybe be made to St John Lutheran Church, PO box 206 Lithopolis, Ohio 43136. Tell them wolfie sent you.
For the Nativity of Our Lord, Christmas Day or the Christmas season, Kathy Mattea’s cover of Nothing But a Child. The song reminds me of the inscrutable ways of the mystery that we call God. Christmas is a surprise a child like feeling of wonder and amazement. The video features, you guessed it, children who in my eyes are always quite the mystery.
I will try to have another Christmas selection up before long, but wolfie’s getting pretty busy. The videos are free to use but, if in the generous spirit of the time, you would wish to make a donation, you can do so to St. John Lutheran Church PO Box 206, Lithopolis, Ohio 43136. Tell them wolfie sent you.
For Advent Two and Three (each can be used on either Sunday) a traditional favorite and a once-contemporary (if you are a baby boomer) standard.
O Come O Come Emmanuel is performed by Dustin Kensrue, a vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist in the Orange County, California post-hardcore/experimental rock quartet Thrice, as well as a solo artist. I think his voice is edgy and soulful, perfect for Advent. The video begins with a video effect called “star trails”, a time lapse of the path stars take through the night sky. It then features images of Mary and Child from various cultures, culminating in Michelangelo’s Pieta.
If you were alive in the 1970’s Godspell was all the rage among young Christians, except in my Missouri Synod congregation, were it was viewed as suspiciously communist. Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord is sung by David Haskell. Godspell was David Haskell’s big break. He made it into the film cast and then launched a career in television and film. David died August 30th, 2000, of brain cancer. Fellow Godspellians gathered around him for his last days. The video incorporates a film from the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation which asked random folks to tote around random signs encouraging random acts of kindness. “Like… how random is that?”
Sorry.
These videos are free for use. You may make a donation to St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church 99 Commerce St., Lockbourne, Ohio 43137. Tell them wolfie sent you.
Leonard Cohen
Sorry to be so late with this, but heck that’s life. For Advent 1 Leonard Cohen’s Anthem.
“There’s a crack, a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”
The video accents the Advents themes of light and darkness, hope and patience and Leonard Cohen’s poetry is sublime. The song was recorded live in London, and represents, in my opinion, some of his finest work. Hard to believe that Leonard Cohen is now 77 years old.
Video is free for use. If you feel so inclined you may make a donation to St. John Lutheran Church, PO Box 206 Lithopolis, Ohio 43136. Tell them wolfie sent you. Happy Turkey Day!
For Christ the King Sunday (November 20, 2011) two tracks, Bob Dylan’s classic Serve Somebody and Least of These, by folk singer Malcolm McKinney. “You gotta serve somebody…” might as well be the Lord, eh? Find those who are least in the eyes of the world and serve them and you be serving the king.
Videos are free for use. You may donate an appropriate amount to 1st English Lutheran Church 94 Long St., Ashville, Ohio 43103. wolfie’s taking a week or so off for R n R. See you in a few.
Blest are They
For All Saints Sunday, November 6, 2011, a video reflection on the gospel for the day, Matthew 5:1-12. Robert Kochis sings David Haas’ “Blest are They,” one of wolfie’s favorites. David Haas is one of many musicians who compose contemporary Catholic music. Following the movement that began with the St. Louis Jesuits in the 1970s and 1980’s, Haas, together with Marty Haugen (actually a Protestant Christian), became some of the most prolific composers of contemporary Catholic liturgical music during the period of rapid liturgical change following Vatican II. Their hymns, songs, and liturgy make up a good deal of the contents of the GIA Gather hymnals, and are widely published in other hymnals used by the Catholic Church in the United States.
Videos are free for use. A donation may be made to St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 99 Commerce St., Lockbourne, Ohio 43147. Tell them wolfie sent you.
For Reformation Sunday, October 30, 2011, a video reflection on Psalm 46. Luther’s A Mighty Fortress is paraphrase of the Psalm, which was near to the Reformer’s spiritual center. I have no idea at all if Paul McCartney had ever read Psalm 46 when he wrote the Beatle’s classic Let it Be, but the spiritual sentiments are certainly similar.
Video is free for use. If you would like to, you may make a donation to First English Lutheran Church 94 Long St. Ashville, Ohio 43103. Tell them wolfie sent you.
Wolfie went off the reservation this week choosing 1 Samuel 8 over the recommended narrative lectionary reading. It is the story of the people of Israel beseeching Samuel to “Let us have a king, just like the other nations do.” It was a disaster. Paul Kelley’s “Be Careful What You Pray For” is therefore quite apropos.
Still off in his own world, Wasted on the Way (Crosby, Still, Nash) has really little to do specifically with Lectionary 30, Pentecost 19, (Matthew 22:34-46.) Jesus is asked by a lawyer “Which is the greatest commandment?” He said to him, ” ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Everything else I guess, is a waste of time. There, I made it fit.
Videos are free to use. If however you would like to: a donation may be made to St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 99 Commerce St. Lockbourne, Ohio 43137. Tell them wolfie sent you.
The Narrative Lectionary takes us through the land of Moab and into Bethlehem as we hear the Bible’s most poignant story of steadfast love, the story of Ruth. At wolfie’s place we’ve be considering the question, “What does it mean to have a good life?” as we wend our way through the biblical narrative. Companionship seems to be a key ingredient to a meaningful life. A set up piece for those into curating their worship service is from the Beatles “When I’m 64.” The video begins with a clip from the popular TV program Big Bang Theory: The lonely savant Sheldon “laments” his lack of human companionship. We all know better, huh?
The RCL gospel text (Lectionary 29, Pentecost 18 (October 16, 2011) is Matthew’s account of Jesus taking on the Pharisees, Caesar and taxes. In short, Caesar might own the money, but he does not own you. The instrumental version of Pink Floyd’s classic Money sets the musical backdrop for this reflection on the mixed up madness of just who owns whom. The video begins with an old (and funny) BBC production of the life of Jesus.
Since these videos are not for sale per say, you may nevertheless want to make a donation to St. John Lutheran Church, PO Box 206 Lithopolis, Ohio 43136. Won’t our treasurer be surprised!
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