"The gospel is social as well as personal." – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I've read blog posts where writers tend to get super personal and vulnerable, and I'm usually reading them like, "Wow. So brave. 4 for you, Glen Coco. You go, Glen Coco!" in the most unironic, genuine way, of course. Yet today, I must join the ranks and transparently admit that I do not have the … Continue reading Blogmas Day 13: “Alpha and Omega” – Worship Pt. 2
What's up, readers? I kind of want to slow things down a bit and dwell with the shepherds and the wise men who came to worship Jesus at His birth. We'll probably stick with the theme of Worship over the next few days. These are the lyrics to "Agnus Dei," made popular by Michael W. … Continue reading Blogmas Day 12: “Agnus Dei”: Worship Pt. 1
Tonight's hymn is "O Holy Night." Another classic Christmas carol, it was written by John S. Dwight. The music was composed by Adolphe Adam, who lived between 1803 and 1856. Lyrics: 1 O holy night! the stars are brightly shining; It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth. Long lay the world in sin … Continue reading Blogmas Day 11: “O Holy Night”
Oh yeah, eschatology! Day 10's hymn is "Soon and Very Soon" by Andrae Crouch, which is a little modern to be considered a hymn hymn, but it has been around for so long and for so many generations that it's kind of a pseudo-hymn. It was copyrighted by ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) … Continue reading Blogmas Day 10: “Soon and Very Soon”
Good news! I'm posting song #9 on day #9! No catch-up! Today's song is "While We Are Waiting, Come." For the time being, we have transitioned out of the Glory to God Presbyterian Hymnal and into the African-American Heritage Hymnal, hymn #190. "While We Are Waiting, Come" is a song that has been adopted by the African-American … Continue reading Blogmas Day 9: “While We Are Waiting, Come”
I titled this post "Peace" because today is the second Sunday in Advent and as some churches lit the second candle on their advent wreaths, they meditated on the theme of peace. Today we will be looking at songs #7 and #8. First, "Jesus, Jesus, O What A Wonderful Child," #126 in the Glory to God … Continue reading Blogmas Day 8: PEACE
Oh yeah, we're going back to a classic! Hymn #119 in Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal: "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing." This hymn was written by the one and only Charles Wesley in 1739. Felix Mendelssohn composed the music in 1840, and the version we know now was arranged by William Hayman Cummings in 1855. … Continue reading Blogmas Day 6, Part 2: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
Despite the title, I promise this is still about Advent. I missed posting yesterday, because I had to prepare for a presentation that I have tomorrow. So, today, I will try to succinctly discuss not one, but TWO (2) hymns. The first is #90, "Wait for the Lord," a Taizé piece. Taizé is a type … Continue reading Blogmas Day 6: Caught up in the Mustard, Trying to Catch Up, Pt. 1: “Wait for the Lord”
Today we will study "Of the Father's Love Begotten", hymn #108 in the Glory to God hymnal. This is another hymn that I absolutely LOVE musically. I first sang this my first semester of seminary. It has a beautiful melody that reminds me of early church chants. This hymn was written in the fifth century … Continue reading Blogmas Day 4: “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”
Hi everyone! The next song I would like to introduce to you is hymn #100: "My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout" or, "Canticle of the Turning."This is one of those songs you really have to hear for yourself in order to appreciate. It has a beautiful Celtic melody and is so fun and … Continue reading Blogmas Day 3: “My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout (Canticle of the Turning)”
Salvation = Soul + Person 