Since so many of you enjoyed the music last week. Here is another treat for you all to enjoy from Tom, our beloved music director.
During Bach's time, the choir in Leipzig, Germany did not sing during the entire season of Lent. This was to be a period of both denial and preparation; denial of the choir's gifts to the congregation, and preparation for the choir's massive musical Passion performances given on Good Friday at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig.
MUSIC: This week, we have two musical "treats" for feed your need for Southminster musical fellowship. Paul Laubengayer's delightful organ composition is a joyful celebration and recalls a triumphal Palm Sunday procession.
Patty Hassenmuller sings a beautiful, heartfelt arrangement of "His Eye Is On the Sparrow" for this year's Palm Sunday's service. Written in 1905 by Charles Gabriel and Civilla Martin, it references Psalm 32, "Look at the birds of the air, neither do they sew nor reap . . . yet your heavenly Father feeds them." Martin writes of her inspiration for the work:
"We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle—true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle's reply was simple: "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me." The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me."
May these offerings by two of Southminster's musical treasures bring inspiration and comfort to you all.
Tom Hart
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