Tag Archives: music

Singing Faith, Sharing Hope

I’ve just returned from a week in Taizé, the community of brothers in France who welcome thousands of young people and pilgrims each year. This was my second visit – different from the first, and yet somehow the same. Different people, same God. Different theme, same rhythm. Different worries, same peace. As I journey home,Continue reading “Singing Faith, Sharing Hope”

Lent 2025: My Faith Soundtrack

I’ve written about it before on this blog: music has always been part of my life. Long before my faith was fully formed, songs were shaping my soul, carrying messages of truth even when I didn’t recognize them. Today, singing in my car on my way back from choir, I thought again of the impactContinue reading “Lent 2025: My Faith Soundtrack”

Music soothes the savage breast – lent 2023

I once asked a friend what they did when everything got too much, on those days where basic functioning was difficult. There are times I’m sure when most people will experience that. Stress can trigger it or grief or disappointment or… well, let’s just go with the knocks of life. My friend told me thatContinue reading “Music soothes the savage breast – lent 2023”

40 day challenge Sunday bonus: Holy Week play list

As we enter the final week before Easter, the church packs a lot in. But it also comes with some great music. So I’ve put together a list of some of my favourite hymns/songs just right for this week. First: Love is His Word. Simple melody, good words, covers the whole week Second: Brother, SisterContinue reading “40 day challenge Sunday bonus: Holy Week play list”

40 day challenge day 26: Reunion of the heart

During the 2020 lockdown, the place where I worked had a Zoom social with the theme of wearing something from our favourite band/artist. I didn’t have a lot of those. Strike that, I had one I could wear. And so it became a bit of a running joke that I, the youngest in the office,Continue reading “40 day challenge day 26: Reunion of the heart”

40 day challenge Sunday bonus

As I found out last week, the 40 days of lent don’t include Sundays so I don’t have a long post today. What I do have are 2 songs which I really connected with when I first heard them. The songwriter, Matthew West, uses real people and real experiences to influence his songs, and theContinue reading “40 day challenge Sunday bonus”

40 day challenge day 13: Hands wide open

Yesterday I shared a seasonal piece of music that I love and which I find helps point me to God (which is the point of these 40 posts…). It was a long work, and quite intense. Today, I heard another piece of music that is important to me. It’s much shorter and much simpler, butContinue reading “40 day challenge day 13: Hands wide open”

40 day challenge day 12: the power of music

I am musically trained. I’ve been singing since I was 6, playing the piano since I was 7 and the clarinet since I was 10 (ish), and along the way I have dabbled with the organ, the accordian, the recorder (as in, more than just school level) and I own a violin and a guitar.Continue reading “40 day challenge day 12: the power of music”