Hymn Story: They’ll Know We Are Christians

“They’ll Know We Are Christians” is a hymn written by Father Peter Scholtes in the 1960s for an Ecumenical event. By the 1980s, Scholtes left the priesthood. He’d go on to become a business management consultant and author. He died in 2009. The title of the song originates in a phrase that non-believers used to describe Christians believers of early […]

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Christmas Song Story: We Three Kings

Peter Cornelius, a German composer, wrote “The Three Kings” under the oritinal title “Die Könige” for a vocal soloist. The carol describes the visit of the Biblical Magi to the Infant Jesus during the Nativity and is also used as an Epiphany anthem.  It is also known by the title “Three Kings From Persian Lands Afar”. Cornelius wrote his first […]

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Song Story: It took a Miracle

John W. Peterson wrote the hymn “It Took a Miracle” in 1948. Peterson was born on November 1, 1921 and died on September 20, 2006.  He wrote over 1,000 songs and thirty-five cantatas throughout the course of his career. Some of this best-known hymns include “Heaven Came Down,” “Jesus is Coming Again,” and “Over the Sunset Mountains.” Performers such as […]

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Patriotic song: This Land Is Your Land

I thought we’d look at a popular Patriotic song, This Land is Your Land. The American folk song was written in 1940 by Woody Guthrie.  During this time he hitchhiked from Los Angeles to New York City and continuously heard God Bless America played on the radio and jukeboxes.  He is said to have written the song in a “flophouse […]

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Hymn Story: Lord Take My Hand and Lead Me

Lord Take My Hand and Lead Me was written by Julie Katharina von Hausmann. She was born in 1826 in Riga {now in Latvia}. Her father was a teacher and after he went blind, she cared for him until his death. She then went to live with her sisters in Ger­ma­ny, Southern France and St. Petersburg, Russia.  Julie never married […]

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Christmas Song Story: The Friendly Beasts

The Friendly Beasts is another strong contender as one of the oldest Christmas songs. It was written in French about the animals surrounded Christ at the nativity. The song is about the gifts that five animals {a donkey, cow, sheep, camel and dove} brought to baby Jesus.  The song dates back to the 12th Century. The French lyrics were set to […]

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The Apostles: John Mark

John Mark is mentioned in Acts as accompanying Paul and Barnabas on their missionary journey’s. We are often told that John whose other name is Mark. One of these names is his Hebrew name and the other would be his Roman name.  We see time and again where they have two names such as Simon Peter. The name John means […]

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The Apostles: Silas

Silas served as a leading member of the Early Christian church. He accompanied Paul on his first and second missionary journeys and preached alongside Paul and Timothy. {2 Corinthians 1:19} The name Silas means man of the forest and many historians believe his name originates from the Roman name Silvanus. We first meet Silas when he’s chosen to travel with […]

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Hymn Story: O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing

O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing was one of the more than six thousand hymns that was written by Charles Wesley. In May 1738, Charles Wesley was suffering from pleurisy, while studying with his brother, John, in London. During this time he was plagued with extreme doubts regarding his faith. After taking to his bed, he attended a Bible […]

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The Apostles: Paul

We’ve studied the 12 Disciples of Jesus, the women who followed Jesus, and the Seven Deacons. We are going to wrap up the series with the apostles. Luke 10 tells us “And after these things, the Lord did appoint also other seventy, and sent them by twos before his face, to every city and place whither he himself was about […]

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Book Reviews: The Runaway Bride

Arabella Lawrence flees to British Columbia on a bride ship in The Runaway Bride.  She is determined not to make a bad choice, as two very different men via for her hand.  Lt. Richard Drummond is a Naval officer while Peter Kelly is the town’s baker, both interested in the wealthy young woman. While Arabella struggles with her own fears, […]

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Eyewitness to Easter: Doubting Thomas

Upon the arrest of Jesus, the disciples disperse and only John mentioned at the cross and crucifixion.  We don’t know where the other disciples were or if they were watching from afar, which seems likely. We do know they feel lost and unsure of what’s next, believing Jesus is the Messiah.  After Jesus resurrection, we are told “That evening, the […]

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The Seven Deacons: Nicholas

Nicholas is the last of the deacons selected as mentioned in Acts 6. The name Nicholas is Greek and means victorious over people. He came from Antioch and the book of Acts states he converted to Judaism. He is described as being ordained by Peter. There are writings, although considered murky if this relates to the disciple, stating “He abandoned […]

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