I Cannot Do This Alone

A prayer by Deitrich Bonhoeffer.

 O God, early in the morning I cry to you.
Help me to pray
And to concentrate my thoughts on you;
I cannot do this alone.

In me there is darkness.
But with you there is light;
I am lonely,
but you do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart,
but with you there is help;
I am restless,
but with you there is peace.
In me there is bitterness,
but with you there is patience;
I do not understand your ways,
But you know the way for me….

Restore me to liberty,
And enable me to live now
That I may answer before you and before men.
Lord whatever this day may bring,
Your name be praised.

Amen

Regeneration

A prayer from The Valley of Vision.

O God of the highest heaven,
Occupy the throne of my heart,
take full possession and reign supreme,
lay low every rebel lust,
let no vile passion resist thy holy war;
manifest thy mighty power,
and make me thine for ever.

Thou art worthy to be
praised with my every breath,
loved with my every faculty of soul,
served with my every act of life.

Thou hast loved me, espoused me, received me,
purchased, washed, favoured, clothed, adorned me,
when I was worthless, vile, soiled, polluted.

I was dead in iniquities,
having no eyes to see thee,
no ears to hear thee,
no taste to relish thy joys,
no intelligence to know thee;

But thy Spirit has quickened me,
has brought me into a new world as a new creature,
has given me spiritual perception,
has opened to me thy Word as light, guide, solace, joy.

Thy presence is to me a treasure of unending peace;
No provocation can part me from thy sympathy,
for thou hast drawn me with cords of love,
and dost forgive me daily, hourly.

O help me then to walk worthy of thy love,
of my hopes, and my vocation.
Keep me, for I cannot keep myself;
Protect me that no evil befall me;
Let me lay aside every sin admired of many;
Help me to walk by thy side, lean on thy arm,
hold converse with thee,
That henceforth I may be salt of the earth
and a blessing to all.

Scott Myers: Photographer

Scott Myers, a photographer at The Crossing, recently took some time to share his story of faith and reflect on how his journey from atheism to Christianity has revealed itself in his photography. He and I produced the following video together.

Please note there are short passages of the video that do not have visuals.

You can also discover more about his art here.

Scott Myers: Photographer from The Crossing on Vimeo.

Yeah!

101 Yeahs - directed and animated by Ryan Junell and Phillip Niemeyer using traditional stop-motion camera techniques.

Upular

Video remix artist Nick Bertke (aka Pogo) created this piece of music using chords, bass notes and vocal samples from the animated film Up (directed by Pete Docter). The result is inventive, winsomely listenable and definitively post-modern. What boggles my mind is how Pogo is able to conceptualize and actualize a piece of music from so many disparate musical and (traditionally) non-musical elements. However he does it, I can't get enough of it.



Pogo's take on Mary Poppins titles "Expialidocious."



and Alice and Wonderland.

Saint Patrick's Lorica

Last Sunday The Crossing used an excerpted version of Saint Patrick's Lorica as a corporate prayer. The Lorica is powerful reminder of our dependance God for all things and allows us to humble express a desire to submit ourselves more and more to his care. I thought it would be good to post the Lorica in the blog for use as an ongoing prayer throughout the month.

St Patrick’s Lorica
(St Patrick, ca. 377)

I arise today through a mighty strength,
    the invocation of the Trinity,
through a belief in the Threeness,
through confession of the Oneness
    of the Creator of creation.

I arise today through
    God’s strength to pilot me;
    God’s might to uphold me,
    God’s wisdom to guide me,
    God’s eye to look before me,
    God’s ear to hear me,
    God’s word to speak for me,
    God’s hand to guard me,
    God’s way to lie before me,
    God’s shield to protect me,
    God’s hosts to save me
    from snares of the devil,
    from temptations of vices,
    from every one who desires me ill,
    afar or anear,
    alone or in a multitude.

Christ with me,
    Christ before me,
        Christ behind me
Christ in me,
    Christ beneath me,
        Christ above me

Christ on my right,
    Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
    Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise

Christ in the heart
    of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth
    of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye
    that sees me,
Christ in the ear
    that hears me.

I arise today through a mighty strength,
    the invocation of the Trinity,
through a belief in the Threeness,
through confession of the Oneness
    of the Creator of creation.

Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs: 09.12.30 (Advent 3)

This week we celebrated week three of Advent at The Crossing and the morning had several highlights for me, personally. We had a string trio as a part of the band which added a rich, warm texture to many of the songs while hinting at the of longing and need we're called to wait in during this season. 

We participated in communion together and also introduced a new/old hymn called "Savior of the Nations, Come" arranged by Bruce Benedict (a great musician and an acquaintance of mine). Bruce himself shares some thoughts on the hymn in his blog, Cardiphonia, that give some insight into its history and meaning.

Savior of the Nations, Come is a fairly obscure but ancient hymn that beautifully reflects the themes of advent as well as reinforcing the tenants of the Apostles Creed, the humility of Christ (Phil 2), His Intercession, and the gloried anticipation of his expected return.

Savior of the Nations, Come is an ancient hymn written by Ambrose (4th cent.)  Ambrose is a well known Latin Father, preacher and mentor of Augustine.   As early as 372ad Augustine attributes this hymn to the hand of Ambrose, originally composed in Latin as “Veni, Redemptor gentium.”  Martin Luther picks up this text in 1523 and as part of his reformation translates it into German for his congregations.  It is today probably one of the most beloved german advent hymns. It was first translated into English by William Reynolds in 1851.  This translation comes from Calvin Seerveld who prepared it for the Psalter Hymnal (1984).

You can also find more information on the hymn at Bruce's blog also contains some wonderful readings and hymns that he has adapted that serve as helpful guides for our journey through Advent. You can also find more information on "Savior of the Nations, Come" at The Hymnary. Be sure to check both out. 

Call to Worship 

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
Words: Charles Wesley
Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord
(London: William Strahan, 1745), number 10.
Music: Hyfrydol, Rowland H. Prichard (1830)
Alternate tune: Traditional Welsh Melody
Recording by Red Mountain Church
From the album “Silent Night”

Coming Glory: Candle Lighting
Isaiah 46:2 

Joyous Light
Words by unknown author (late 3rd -early century 4th century)
Translated by John Keble (1834)
Alt. arrangement and additional chorus by Chris Tomlin,
David Crowder and Louie Giglio (2004)
Recording by Chris Tomlin 

O Come, Let Us Adore Him
Words: St. 1 attr. J.F. Wade, 1751; tr. F. Oakeley (1841)
sts. 2-4 anonymous,
Music: John F. Wades' Cantus Diversi (1751) 

Coming Glory: Prayer Litany
Psalm 96:1-3, Luke 24:25-27, 30-32, II Corinthians 4:6, 
Daniel 7:13-14, Revelation 7:11-12

Come, Lord Jesus (An Advent Song)
By Diane Thiel
Recording by Diane Thiel (Vineyard Music)
From the album “Is God Listening?” 

Coming Glory: The Advent of Jesus Christ, Part 3 
Luke 1:57-2:7 

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Words: Liturgy of St. James (5th century),
Adapted by Gerard Moultrie (1864)
Music: PICARDY 8.7.8.7.8.7. French melody (17th century).
Arr. by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1906).
Recording by Red Mountain Church
From the album “Silent Night” 

Message:The Courage of Joseph
Shay Roush | Matthew 1:18-25

O Come, O Come Emmanuel
LM 88 88 (Veni Emmanuel), Words: Latin, 12th Cent; tr. composite
Tune: "Processionale:, 15th cent. ; adpt. Thomas Helmore, 1854
Recording by Red Mountain Church
From the album “Silent Night”

Savior of the Nations, Come
Words: Ambrose (4th Century), Martin Luther (1523),
Traditional: Calvin Seerveld (1984)
Music: Enchiridia, Erfurt (1524),
Arrangement: Bruce Benedict (2009)
Recording by Bruce Benedict 

Joy to the World
Words: Isaac Watts (1719) (based on Psalm 98)
Music: ANTIOCH C.M.rep. George Frederick Handel (1742)
Arr. Lowell Mason (1836)
Recording by Red Mountain Church
From the album “Silent Night” 

Musicians for 13 December 2009:
Vocals: Mark Collum
Bass: Nick Havens
Acoustic Guitar, Piano and Vocals: Scott Johnson
Percussion: Andrew Luley
Organ and Piano: Kerry Maggard
Reader: Claire Novak 
Cello: Josie Patton
Vocals: Kristen Pierce
Violin: Alison Tatum
Viola: Jake Wandel