Here’s a song in our hymnal that grew out of the Carlsbad Decrees in Germany, around the 1840s. It made it’s way into our hymnal, published close to 30 years ago in 1993 under the section ‘The Life Of Integrity’ as #291 Die Gedanken … read more.
Have you ever been gifted or have you ever gifted to someone a playlist? Was it to give to a new love? Was it to share with an old friend? Was it to help you mark a season of life?
Whether it was through 8-track, tape, … read more.
If you’re having a hard time tapping into your wonder place this month, try singing to yourself this tune, turning to something ordinary nearby and ask a question about it.
The melody is a Transylvanian folk tune, the lyrics are by Carl Seaburg, long … read more.
Last week, I attended the Association for Unitarian Universalist Music Ministries Conference and Songleaders Convergence. It was restorative, regenerative, and reinvigorating. There will be many ways I’ll be sharing what I learned and relearned over the course of those six days with you … read more.
Think of the first instrument you were ever taught in school. Was it the recorder for you as well? Or maybe it was the ukulele. Remember how slow it was to change between one note or chord to the next. Remember how awkward you first felt to do something new? But you kept at it…
This month our collective focus at UUBerks is exploring ways in which our times call us to “Open to Joy.”
Certainly the music of this month often resounds with Joy. A lot of songs tell us to be joyful “Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice Greatly!” Handel wrote. He … read more.
In this summer of possibility, in this summer where we’re, maybe surprisingly, still in uncharted territory, I encourage you to “follow the good notes.” What resonates with you? What feels right in this moment? What are you holding onto that’s creating a suspension? What are you playing ahead and offering an anticipation of chords and moments to come? What sounds right at this time? Follow the good notes.
So I’m hoping that we can play together, that we can dance for a long time. I’d like to ask you to play with me as our hymn #311, written by Ric Masten asks “Let it be a dance we do, may I have this dance with you…”