Christmas Day at South Woden is a joyful and sometimes fairly noisy event. True, some of our membership are travelling away from Canberra: we shall miss you but wish you safe and happy visits. On the other hand, relatives, friends and particularly children and children's children (bearing new gifts) appear from far away places. Some of … Continue reading Psalm 96, 25Dec13
Month: December 2013
Psalm 80, 22Dec13
Psalm 80 is a cry for restoration by the 'Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock'. As strife continues all around, the singer seeks a more peaceable zone, perhaps by the still waters and safe pastures of other familiar psalms. The psalmist invokes the Creator's strength and justice to intervene and bring safety to the … Continue reading Psalm 80, 22Dec13
Mystery mediaeval music
Quiz of the Season. Thank you ladies and girls for the rendition of the Magnificat today. So, over half-way through Advent and just when you thought it was safe to open the mail, here's a twister. What is this early chant all about? (I won't ask if you can sing it) Of course, after our … Continue reading Mystery mediaeval music
Magnificat, 15 Dec 13
The third Sunday in Advent (we are around to Year A again, by the way) brings us to the song of Mary, generally known by its Latin name (from the first line Magnificat anima mea Dominum) as the Magnificat. The text is in Luke 1: 46-55. Understandably, settings for this song abound. In our own song book alone, Together in song, … Continue reading Magnificat, 15 Dec 13
Psalm 72, 8 Dec 13
Nelson Mandela, 1918-2013. Image: Wikimedia commons Give the leader your justice O God. (v. 1) This psalm asks for the ruler to show justice, compassion and goodness to his people. Surely a common enough theme, but more poignant since we see how often rulers around the world are more interested in grasping power and its … Continue reading Psalm 72, 8 Dec 13
Psalms – a summary <140
The title reference to less than 140 is nothing to do with psalm numbering: it's short tweets. Thanks to Rachel for this fantastic RT from Ben Myers, who is summarising the books of the bible in a few words on Twitter. His take on the psalms: The invention of antiphony: when my heart broke in two, … Continue reading Psalms – a summary <140
Psalms in the South 