Many of us here in the USA, and many people around the world, were shocked and dismayed last week to see rioters breaking into the US Capitol building. People have been asking me for advice: what can we do to help move our country toward health and wholeness? The general answer hasn’t changed, I believe: live lovingly. Seek justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. But as for more specific actions? I’m not really sure. I’m thinking and reading and praying a lot these days, just trying to understand what the heck is going on here.

In the middle of all this thinking and praying, I’ve written a song. It’s political, it’s harshly ironic, and it’s not suitable for children. I’ll understand, Merry Mystics, if you want to skip this one. But if you want to know what I’m writing these days, here it is:

P.S. My son Fox and I are working on a video to go with the song. Stay tuned.

I wrote some music this week, something to lead into a time of prayer during my church service on Sunday morning. I used an ancient melody: some plainsong that I remember from my childhood in the Episcopal church. Here’s my wife Kelly Autrey-Webber singing it; the organist is Charlie Gebeck.

As always, the score is available in our Free Stuff area.

(If you’re a Merry Mystic in the USA, you may have expected me to be posting something about the election, now just four days away. Believe me, I’ve preached and sung about it, and voted early! But at this point, I just need some prayer. I hope this helps you too.)

This song is also available as a hymn for group singing, with a piano accompaniment, over in our Free Stuff section.

Hello friends!

Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and Advent starts next week. Here’s something I wrote and arranged for my church choir. We’re using this at the start of the service throughout Advent. (The shhh! at the end is meant to be followed by the lighting of the Advent candle.)

I’ve posted it in two pieces:

• the full score
• a reduction for the piano

This is the text:

Searching and seeking, we hear the Spirit speaking.
The signs are appearing: the Holy One is nearing.

Finding and feeling, the Hidden One revealing,
Invoking, inviting, with every candle lighting.

Mary is bearing, and Joseph is preparing,
The Spirit entwining, and all the stars aligning.

All are expecting our God with us connecting,
Creation awaiting its holy recreating.

Longing and yearning, 
We keep the fire burning.

The time is near, the time is near, 
The time is near, the time is near.

Bells are ringing! Angels singing! 
Drums are drumming! Christ is coming!

The music is simple and dramatic, with three vocal parts (plus cantor) and a repetitive structure in four-bar phrases. I hope this will be useful to someone out there, and I hope it will help you feel the wild hope of Advent.

Happy Thanksgiving!