Deep Something » Holidays http://deep.mastersfamily.org Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it. ~~Mark Twain Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:31:31 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc Being Friends with God http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2010-01-17/being-friends-with-god/ http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2010-01-17/being-friends-with-god/#comments Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:29:33 +0000 John http://deep.mastersfamily.org/?p=2899 Today in Sunday School, we are still going through the Rick Warren book. This discussion was about being friends with God. The discussion went off in a number of directions, and I’m not sure how much I got out of this week. Today is also the Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., so I wanted to work in a reference to that in today’s prayer. I heard a great story this morning on NPR about how King had once been asked, in his teenage years, what he was looking at as he stared out the Window. He was watching the gas lamp lighter going along lighting the gas lights. King said he was watching the man, “knock holes in the darkness.”

God, we have been told byy the prophet Micah to walk with you. As we walk with you teach us to talk less and listen more…to you and to our earthly friends.

Thank you God for the processes of your world which bring us the warmth and light of the sunshine, and the cleansing nourishment of the rain. We confess we don’t always understand that natural world, and today we pray especially for our brothers and sisters in Haiti who are experiencing  a desperation we can’t begin to comprehend. Remind us too that while this a tragedy on a scale unprecedented, others experience equally difficult personal tragedies every day. We pray also for them.

As we celebrate the birthday of one of the great leaders of our time, we remember Dr. King’s story of describing the work of the town’s lamp lighter as “knocking holes in the darkness.” As we deepen our friendship with you, show us to knock holes in the darkness of our world.

Amen

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]]> http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2010-01-17/being-friends-with-god/feed/ 0 Come, All Ye Faithful http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-25/come-all-ye-faithful/ http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-25/come-all-ye-faithful/#comments Sat, 26 Dec 2009 04:41:17 +0000 John http://deep.mastersfamily.org/?p=2841 The Choir of Kings College ’nuff said.

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]]> http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-25/come-all-ye-faithful/feed/ 1 A Celebration http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-25/a-celebration/ http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-25/a-celebration/#comments Fri, 25 Dec 2009 13:00:53 +0000 John http://deep.mastersfamily.org/?p=2839 Christmas Concert – December 2007 – The Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music
Choir: the Antonine University Choir, the NDU Choir and the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory Choir
Choir Direction: F. Khalil Rahme
Under the Direction of Dr. Walid Gholmieh

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]]> http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-25/a-celebration/feed/ 0 Ssshh http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-24/ssshh/ http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-24/ssshh/#comments Fri, 25 Dec 2009 01:00:26 +0000 John http://deep.mastersfamily.org/?p=2838 What’s become my favorite Christmas song, Still, Still, Still by the Vienna Boys Choir.

Still, Still, Still is one of the prettiest carols out there and unfortunately not a lot is known about it other than that it is Austrian, set to the “Salsburg Melody” and was written around 1819.

Still, still, still,
One can hear the falling snow.
For all is hushed,The world is sleeping,
Holy Star its vigil keeping.
Still, still, still,
One can hear the falling snow.

Sleep, sleep, sleep,
‘Tis the eve of our Saviour’s birth.
The night is peaceful all around you,
Close your eyes,
Let sleep surround you.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,
‘Tis the eve of our Saviour’s birth.

Dream, dream, dream,
Of the joyous day to come.
While guardian angels without number,
Watch you as you sweetly slumber.
Dream, dream, dream,
Of the joyous day to come.

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]]> http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-24/ssshh/feed/ 0 The Christmas Song http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-24/the-christmas-song/ http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-24/the-christmas-song/#comments Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:59:55 +0000 John http://deep.mastersfamily.org/?p=2832 The classic version of “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole. Sit back, relax, and take a nice deep breath.

“The Christmas Song”, commonly subtitled “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire“, is a classic Christmas song written in 1944 by vocalist Mel Tormé and Bob Wells. According to Tormé, the song was written during a blistering hot summer. In an effort to “stay cool by thinking cool,” the most-performed (according to BMI) Christmas song was born.

The Nat King Cole Trio first recorded the song early in 1946. At Cole’s behest — and over the objections of his label, Capitol Records — a second recording was made the same year utilizing a small string section, this version becoming a massive hit on both the pop and R&B charts. Cole re-recorded the song in 1953, using the same arrangement with a full orchestra arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle, and once more in 1961, in a stereophonic version with orchestra conducted by Ralph Carmichael. The latter recording is generally regarded as definitive and continues to receive considerable radio airplay each holiday season, while Cole’s original 1946 recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1974.

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]]> http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-24/the-christmas-song/feed/ 0 Once in Royal David’s City http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-23/once-in-royal-davids-city/ http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-23/once-in-royal-davids-city/#comments Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:47:47 +0000 John http://deep.mastersfamily.org/?p=2842 A celebration of Christmas from the Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge. The simple story of the Nativity is told in the familiar words of the King James Bible, and in poetry by Henry Vaughan, John Milton and TS Eliot.

The famous chapel choir sings carols old and new, including the Sussex Carol, God Rest You Merry Gentlemen, In the Bleak Midwinter, the Three Kings, Lux Aurumque – by the modern American composer Eric Whitacre – and O Come All Ye Faithful.

This first piece is traditionally rendered by a chorister chosen at random!

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]]> http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-23/once-in-royal-davids-city/feed/ 0 The First Noel – Elvis http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-22/the-first-noel-elvis/ http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-22/the-first-noel-elvis/#comments Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:14:22 +0000 John http://deep.mastersfamily.org/?p=2836 With a bow to my old high school friend, Mike, here’s the King doing The First Noel.

“The First Nowell” is a traditional English Christmas carol, most likely from the 18th century. In its current form it is of Cornish origin, and it was first published in Some Ancient Christmas Carols (1823) and Gilbert and Sandys Christmas Carols (1833), edited by William B. Sandys and arranged, edited and with extra lyrics written by Davies Gilbert.

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]]> http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-22/the-first-noel-elvis/feed/ 0 Jingle Bell Rock – Hall and Oates http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-21/jingle-bell-rock-hall-and-oates/ http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-21/jingle-bell-rock-hall-and-oates/#comments Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:09:36 +0000 John http://deep.mastersfamily.org/?p=2835 Another 80′s classic Christmas song. This time it’s Hall and Oates performing Jingle Bell Rock.

It was first released by Bobby Helms in 1957 and has received frequent airplay during every Christmas time since then. “Jingle Bell Rock” was written by Joe Beal, a Massachusetts-born public relations man, and Jim Boothe, a Texas writer in the advertising business. It was also recorded by Bill Haley and the Comets.

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]]> http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-21/jingle-bell-rock-hall-and-oates/feed/ 0 A Wham Christmas http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-20/a-wham-christmas/ http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-20/a-wham-christmas/#comments Sun, 20 Dec 2009 14:06:39 +0000 John http://deep.mastersfamily.org/?p=2834 Here’s a golden oldie from 1984. Wham performs “Last Christmas.”

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]]> http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-20/a-wham-christmas/feed/ 0 Santa Claus is Coming to Town-The Boss http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-19/santa-claus-is-coming-to-town-the-boss/ http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2009-12-19/santa-claus-is-coming-to-town-the-boss/#comments Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:45:55 +0000 John http://deep.mastersfamily.org/?p=2831 The Boss, Bruce Springsteen singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town. The song is by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, and was first sung on Eddie Cantor‘s radio show in November 1934. It became an instant hit with orders for 100,000 copies of sheet music the next day and over 400,000 copies sold by Christmas. The earliest known recorded version of the song was performed by George Hall and the Hotel Taft Orchestra, and  was also recorded on September 26, 1935, by Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra.

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