March Focus: Lutherans in India, Part II

I am looking into the history of Lutheranism in India. It is going to take some more digging.  So far, I have only found the history of American Lutheran missionary work there.  One would think that earlier Lutherans also did work in India.

For now, here are the Youth Boys of Adaikalanathar Lutheran Church with a medley Tamil carols.

A Lesson in Latin: Ubi and Ibi

Over at Mercy Journeys, you will find this post with some Latin in it.

The clues are "ubi" means "where" and "ibi" means "there."

I am going to do my best to translate over here, because the teaching is that good!

III. De fructu verae et seriae poenitentiae,
Johann Gerhard, Meditationes Sacrae

Fundamentum et principum sanctae vitae est salutaris poenitentia.
Ubi enim vera poenitentia, ibi remissio peccatorum;
ubi peccatorum remission, ibi gratia Dei;
ubi gratia Dei, ibi Christus;
ubi Christus, ibi ipsius meritum;
ubi Christus meritum, ibi satisfactio pro peccatis;
ubi satisfactio pro peccatis, ibi justitia;
ubi justitia, ibi laeta et tranquilla conscientia;
ubi tranquillitas conscientiae, ibi spiritus sanctus;
ubi spiritus sanctus, ibi tota sacrosancta trinitas;
ubi sancta trinitas, ibi vita aetern

Part 3: The Fruits of True and Sincere Repentence.
Johann Gerhard, Sacred Meditations

The fundamental principle of the holy life is healthy repentance.
Where there is true repentance, there is forgiveness of sins.
Where there is forgiveness of sins, there is the grace of God.
Where there is the grace of God, there is Christ.
Where there is Christ, there is His merit.
Where there is His merit, there is satisfaction for sin.
Where there is satisfaction for sin, there is justification.
Where there is justification, there is a joyful and tranquil conscience.
Where there is tranquility of conscience, there is the Holy Spirit.
Where there is the Holy Spirit, there is the entire divine Holy Trinity.
Where there is the Holy Trinity, there is eternal life.



When in the hour of deepest need
We know not where to look for aid;
When days and nights of anxious thought
No help or counsel yet have brought,

Then is our comfort this alone
That we may meet before Your throne;
To You, O faithful God, we cry
For rescue in our misery.

For You have promised, Lord, to heed
Your children's cries in time of need
Through Him whose name alone is great,
Our Savior and our advocate.

And so we come, O God, today
And all our woes before You lay;
For sorely tried, cast down, we stand,
Perplexed by fears on ev'ry hand.

O from our sins, Lord, turn Your face;
Absolve us through Your boundless grace.
Be with us in our anguish still;
Free us at last from ev'ry ill.

So we with all our hearts each day
To You our glad thanksgiving pay,
Then walk obedient to Your Word,
And now and ever praise You, Lord.

LSB 615
Text: Paul Eber
Translation: Catherine Winkworth, alt.


Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein
JS Bach, BWV 641

March Focus: Lutherans in India

Here's the Adaikalanathar Lutheran Church Choir of India. Pardon me, as I take a temporary from Lent and feature "Glory to God in the Highest."

Capping off Black History Month with Peaceful Authority

Here's Peaceful Authority an a capella quartet comprised of police officers from Flint, MI.

America the Beautiful



~~~~~

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot



~~~~~

Gimme that Ol' Time Religion



~~~~~

The Star-Spangled Banner
please rise

Black History Month: Take My Hand, Precious Lord; Lead Me Home

Chicagoan Thomas A. Dorsey is often considered the father of modern gospel music.

To be sure, there are two Tommy Dorseys living and working around the same time. One left his mark on the church, and the other left is mark on the music industry as a Big Band conductor. The latter could be seen filling in for Doc Severinsen as leader of the Tonight Show band. The former made it big in his own way, both in the secular realm early in his life and in the sacred realm later in his life.

As a parish musician, I can relate to Thomas A Dorsey's reflection, "I've been thrown out of some of the finest churches around!" For Dorsey, it was his progressive music that got him in trouble. For me, it was mostly budget cuts. At least that's what they all told me...

Where the black church had been using the spirituals up through this time, Dorsey introduced a new style of music. The spirituals had their roots in the rural south, while Dorsey's songs had their roots in the urban north.

Dorsey was music director at Pilgrim Baptist Church in Chicago from 1932 to 1983, so apparently at least one church decided to keep him around!

Pilgrim Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois

Pilgrim Baptist Church, Easter Sunday, 1940

I don't know if Thomas A. Dorsey ever went on the Tonight Show like his contemporary Tommy Dorsey did, but you might have found his song, "Precious Lord, Take My Hand," sung by long-time collaborator Mahalia Jackson. This recording artist helped Dorsey's music burst onto the scene. She appeared on many variety shows including The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

And if you aren't familiar with Mahalia's rendition, you might be familiar with the one by Elvis Presley.

Getting back to Mahalia, she has a definite style for solo voice. This doesn't always translate into congregational song (anymore than an aria from Handel's Messiah would). Trust me on this, though, Mahalia's style has been used successfully in corporate worship! You need the right congregation, though. Here is a better pace for congregational singing.

Like "Lead Me, Guide Me," Precious Lord is an good choice to supplement your hymnody in the early Lenten season.

For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize
with our weaknesses,
but one who in every respect
has been tempted as we are,
yet without sin.
Let us then with confidence draw near
to the throne of grace,
that we may receive mercy
and find grace to help
in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:15, 16

You can find the complete text for Precious Lord, Take My Hand in Lutheran Service Book, #739.

Richard Hillert: Update on Visitation and Funeral

Last Monday I reported the funeral for Richard Hillert was that evening.

It seems I was confused about that (and a lot of other things that day).

Anyways, here are the details from lcms.org:

The funeral service was set for 7 p.m. March 1 at Grace Lutheran Church, River Forest, an independent Lutheran congregation. Visitation will be at the church 6-9 p.m. on Feb. 28 and 4-7 p.m. on March 1.

What Sweeter Musick
setting by Richard Hillert

Just for Fun: The Butterfly Song!

If I were a butterfly,
I'd thank you, Lord, that I could fly;
And if I were a robin in a tree,
I'd thank you, Lord, that I could sing,
And if I were a fish in the sea,
I'd wiggle my tail and I'd giggle with glee,
But I just thank You, Father, for making me me.

UH-HUH!

OH!

You gave me a heart and you gave me a smile,
You gave me Lord Jesus and You made me Your child,
But I just thank you, Father, for makin' me me.

UH- HUH!



OH!

If I were an elephant,
I'd thank You, Lord, for raising my trunk,
And if I were a kangaroo,
you know I'd hop right up to you,
and if I were an octopus,
I'd thank You, Lord, for my fine looks,
But I just thank You, Father, for makin' me me.

UH-HUH!

OH!

You gave me a heart and you gave me a smile,
You gave me Lord Jesus and You made me Your child,
But I just thank you, Father, for makin' me me.

UH- HUH!



OH!

If I were a squiggly worm,
I'd thank You, Lord, that I could squirm,
And if I were a fuzzy-wuzzy bear,
I'd thank You, Lord,
for my fuzzy-wuzzy hair,
And if I were a crocodile,
I'd thank You, Lord, for my big smile,
But I just thank You, Father, for makin' me me.

UH-HUH!

OH!

You gave me a heart and you gave me a smile,
You gave me Lord Jesus and You made me Your child,
But I just thank you, Father, for makin' me me.

UH- HUH!



OH!

But I just thank you, Father, for makin' me me.

UH- HUH!

OH!