My researches for Sunday Cantata keep throwing up wonderful Lutheran chorales that never made it into English, or have been forgotten entirely. More distressing still is to find that hymns that have survived have been sadly mistreated by translators and/or hymnal editors. The latest exhibit for this latter category, from BWV 166, Bach's cantata for…
Jesus, Thy Boundless Love
Jesus, Thy boundless love to me No thought can reach, no tongue declare; Unite my thankful heart to Thee, And reign without a rival there! Thine wholly, Thine alone I am; Be Thou alone my constant flame. O grant that nothing in my soul May dwell, but Thy pure love alone! Oh, may Thy love…
Give her something to eat
Standing over the lifeless body of the daughter—the only-begotten child—of Jairus, Jesus brought her life back by his life-giving words. Wonder of sonders and miracle of miracles. Now what? How do you follow that up? “He told them to give her something to eat.” Death to life to being fed. That's resurrection life in a…
A churchly copyright notice
The Augsburg Confession, first presented on 25 June1530, is the common property of the Lutheran Church throughout the world, and as an expression of the Christian faith belongs to all Christians. From 'The Augsburg Confession', the edition produced and distributed (free of charge) by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England.
A good rule of thumb
for the orthodoxy of a Christian song: if Mormons have to change the words, it's good. [A thought inspired by this rather good post.]
How to grieve without words
Coming up on Sunday Cantata next week: BWV 12, Weinen, klagen, sorgen, zagen. I have often said—and in this I am far from alone—that no one does joy quite as well as Bach does. When it comes to melancholy, Mozart gives J.S. a run for his money. But then there is music like the opening…
Sanctification—joining the fray
Since the world and its dog is writing about this just now… Recently, I have been heartened to read several blog posts each on sanctification, by Pr. Mark Surburg and Pr. Jordan Cooper, respectively. You can read them here and here. That means, amongst other things, that Pr. Paul McCain is no longer alone beating…
SimonPotamos 