Song for Sunday: The Day of Resurrection!

Written by St. John of Damascus, a Greek church father, this ancient hymn joyfully describes the meaning of Easter. Enjoy it!

1 The day of resurrection!
Earth, tell it out abroad;
the passover of gladness,
the passover of God.
From death to life eternal,
from earth unto the sky,
our Christ hath brought us over,
with hymns of victory. 

2 Our hearts be pure from evil,
that we may see aright
the Lord in rays eternal
of resurrection light;
and listening to his accents,
may hear, so calm and plain,
his own "All hail!" and, hearing,
may raise the victor strain. 

3 Now let the heavens be joyful!
Let earth the song begin!
Let the round world keep triumph,
and all that is therein!
Let all things seen and unseen
their notes in gladness blend,
for Christ the Lord hath risen,
our joy that hath no end. 

            St, John of Damascus, Public Domain

A Blessed Resurrection Festival to all!!

(Belated) Song for Sunday: Come Holy Spirit, Dove Divine

Sunday was my son's baptism, a joyous spiritual event for our family. We read this baptismal hymn in unison after the ceremony. In our Baptist tradition, baptism is for professed believers in Jesus Christ who request the ceremony as a way to demonstrate their faith. We are proud and happy.

In addition, this hymn was written by Adoniram Judson, the first missionary sent by an organization from America to anywhere. He served in Burma. Adoniram and his wife Anne Hasseltine  are the vocational models and inspiration for our men's and women's camps at CYC (the Christian Youth Conference at Ocean Park.) I re-enact Anne Hasseltine, so this hymn is special to me because of its author.

Now I have the additional connection with it because of Jordan's baptism. So, even though I've used it for this before, it becomes this week's "Song for Sunday."

Come, Holy Spirit, Dove divine,
On these baptismal waters shine,
And teach our hearts, in highest strain,
To praise the Lamb for sinners slain.

We love Your Name, we love Your laws,
And joyfully embrace Your cause;
We love Your cross, the shame, the pain,
O Lamb of God, for sinners slain.

We sink beneath the water’s face,
And thank You for Your saving grace;
We die to sin and seek a grave
With You, beneath the yielding wave.

And as we rise with You to live,
O let the Holy Spirit give
The sealing unction from above,
The joy of life, the fire of love.

                           Adoniram Judson

                           Public Domain

Meme-ic Monday: Choose Happiness

We can't choose what we have to face, we can choose how to react to it. That's the piece of advice that this meme reminds me of.

My sister, Pam, passed away on February 25 and her memorial service was yesterday, March 12. A "Celebration of Life and Legacy" we called it, and it was. The men wore Hawaiian ties supplied by her husband because she had wanted Hawaiian shirts at her funeral but that might have been misunderstood by some. I wore a muted Hawaiian print shirt with my black skirt and gray shrug.

Pam had used the phrase "Life is Good" throughout her battle with cancer. Shortly before she died, she switched to telling people to "Choose Happiness." Today's meme was posted on her Facebook wall by a friend after she died.

I choose this meme in memory of my sister, and I have no desire to critique or even react to it. It just stands in remembrance of her.

How do you react to this meme?

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On Mondays, I will be posting and responding to memes, one each week. They will be ones that grab my attention, perhaps either resonate with me or annoy me. If you see a meme you would like me to react to, let me know.

Song for Sunday: Wind Beneath My Wings

I remember really enjoying the song Wind Beneath My Wings when it was out in the late '80's.

My sister and brother-in-law had it as their wedding song in 1989. Yesterday, it was played at her memorial service. A way to recall a happy occasion and the start of a wonderful life together. It was also a fitting tribute to her.

I hope you enjoy this link:

What song do you use to honor someone? Who does it honor?