Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Jesus is alive! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

This episode is a special Easter-centric episode, focusing solely on Jesus’ victory over the grave.

It is also the 20th anniversary of my own conversion to the Catholic faith, which took place during the Easter Vigil.

I share my story as to the personal milestones that led me to decide to be a Roman Catholic, from my introduction to that personal encounter with Jesus Christ, to my years of anti-Catholic tendencies, to my embrace of charismatic prayer, to my serious questioning of Catholic doctrines, to ultimately my surmounting these roadblocks.

As I share this story, I note my gratitude for all the different people placed in my path, even those who did not share that of the Catholic faith, because all have helped me in my own walk with Jesus.

A songsheet is available for this episode. Right Click Here and select “Save As” to retrieve it.

Episode Log Times
3:36 – Worship Session (Music and Prayer)
3:47 – Christians, To The Paschal Victim
5:55 – He Is Risen! He Is Risen!
8:50 – Welcome, Happy Morning
11:07 – Hail Thee, Festival Day
13:29 – Vive Jesus, El Señor
15:40 – We Worship And Adore Thee
19:06 – Alleluia! Alleluia!
23:40 – Haec Dies (Chant)
25:45 – Spoken, Spontaneous Prayer
33:33 – Song of the Week (“Alive Forever Amen” by Travis Cottrell, David Moffitt, and Sue C. Smith)
41:23 – Reflections – Why I’m a Catholic
60:18 – Final Comments and Doxology

SONG OF THE WEEK
“Alive Forever Amen” by Travis Cottrell, David Moffitt, and Sue C. Smith.
Copyright (c) 2003 New Spring / CCTB Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Cool Springs Blvd., Franklin TN 37067) / First Hand Revelation Music / Integrity’s Hosanna! Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing);
iTunes songlink.

********************SONGS***********************

CHRISTIANS, TO THE PASCHAL VICTIM
VICTIMAE PASCHALI
ascribed to WIPO c. 1030
Tr. from The English Hymnal (c) 1906

Christians, to the Paschal victim
Offer your thankful praises!
A lamb the sheep redeemeth;
Christ, who only is sinless,
Reconcileth sinners to the Father
Death and life have contended
In that combat stupendous:
The Prince of life who died, reigns immortal.

Speak, Mary, declaring
What thou sawest wayfaring
“The tomb of Christ who is living,
The glory of Jesus’ resurrection;
Bright angels attesting
The shroud and napkin resting.
Yea Christ my hope is arisen:
To Galilee He goes before you.”
Christ indeed from death is risen;
Our new life obtaining.
Have mercy, Victor King,
Ever reigning! Amen.

Public Domain;

HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN!
Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexander, Joachim Neander

He is risen! He is risen!
Tell it out with joyful voice
He has burst His three days’ prison
Let the whole wide earth rejoice
Death is conquered we are free
Christ has won the victory

Come you sad and fearful-hearted
With glad smile and radiant face
Death’s long shadows have departed
Gloom with Easter joy replace
Sin’s dread sting for us He bore
Died He once to die no more

He is risen! He is risen!
He has opened heaven’s gate
We are free from sin’s dark prison
Risen to a holier state
And a brighter Easter beam
On our longing eyes shall stream

Public Domain

WELCOME HAPPY MORNING
Frances Ridley Havergal, John Ellerton
Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus

“Welcome happy morning!” age to age shall say
Hell today is vanquished, heav’n is won today
Christ once dead is living, God forevermore
Him their true Creator, all His works adore

“Welcome happy morning!” age to age shall say.

Maker and redeemer, life and health of all
God from heav’n beholding, human nature’s fall
You the true and only, Son of God above
Died as mortal man to save us by your love

Source of all things living, You came down to die
Plumbed the depths of hell, to raise us up on high
Come then true and faithful, come fulfill Your word
This is Your third morning, rise, O buried Lord

Free the souls long prison’d bound with Satan’s chain
All that once had fallen, raise to life again
Show your face in brightness, shine in ev’ry land
As in Eden’s garden, when the world began

Public Domain

HAIL THEE, FESTIVAL DAY
Ralph Vaughan Williams, Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus

Hail thee festival day
Blest day to be hallowed forever
Day when our Lord was raised
Breaking the kingdom of death

All the fair beauty of earth
From the death of the winter arising
Every good gift of the year
Now with its Master returns

Rise from the grave now O Lord
The author of life and creation
Treading the pathway of death
New life You give to us all
Public Domain

VIVE JESUS, EL SEÑOR
Author Unknown

Vive, Jesus, el Señor. Vive, Jesus, el Señor
Vive, Jesus, el Señor. Vive, Jesus, el Señor

El vive! El Vive! Vive! Vive!
Vive, Jesus, el Señor

Jesus, the Lord, is alive! Jesus, the Lord, is alive!
Jesus, the Lord, is alive! Jesus, the Lord, is alive!

He lives! He lives! Lives! Lives!
Jesus, the Lord, is alive!

Author Unknown

WE WORSHIP AND ADORE THEE
Author unknown

We worship and adore Thee
Bowing down before Thee
Songs of praises singing
Hallelujahs ringing

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen!

Copyright Unknown

ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA!
Christopher Wordsworth, Ludwig van Beethoven

Alleluia! Alleluia!
Hearts to heaven and voices raise
Sing to God a hymn of gladness
Sing to God a hymn of praise
He who on the cross a victim
For the world’s salvation bled
Jesus Christ the King of glory
Now is risen from the dead

Alleluia! Christ is risen
Death at last has met defeat
See the ancient powers of evil
In confusion and retreat
Once He died and once was buried
Now He lives forevermore
Jesus Christ the world’s Redeemer
Whom we worship and adore

Christ is risen Christ the firstfruits
Of the holy harvest field
Which will all its full abundance
At His second coming yield
Then the golden ears of harvest
Will their heads before Him wave
Ripened by His glorious sunshine
From the furrows of the grave

Alleluia! Alleluia!
Glory be to God on high
Alleluia to the Savior
Who has won the victory
Alleluia to the Spirit
Fount of love and sanctity
Alleluia! Alleluia!
To the triune Majesty
Public Domain

HAEC DIES
Roman Gradual

Haec díes, quam fécit Dóminus:
Excsultémus, et laetémur in éa.

This is the day that was made by the Lord;
Let us rejoice and be delighted in this day.

Public Domain

All songs are in the public domain, unless otherwise noted.
Any songs written or adapted by Nick Alexander are available on music notation, for those who wish to introduce these songs in their own communities.

*****************************************************
Feel free to leave comments, questions, and/or prayer requests, at
http://www.prayermeetingpodcast/
or leave a message at 203/701-7771

Do you have original worship songs that you’d like to share? Do you want to do the worship set? Call me at the same number.

Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY at www.facebook.com/prayermeetingpodcast

Learn about what Nick Alexander can bring to your community, youth rally, keynote or event:
http://www.nickalexander.com

If you like this podcast, please feel free to leave a comment on the iTunes page.
Thank you for listening!

Next week: Taking a few weeks off, be sure to subscribe so you’ll get the latest!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This episode I share about “The Gospel According to St. Matthew”, the sixth and last selection of the Lenten Movie Club, which, at the time of this writing, is available for free at Hulu.com, through streaming (although there will be commercial interruptions).

Pasolini who helmed this effort, was not a Christian when he made this film, and may or

may not have converted later in life. He was an artist, and was very much struck by the Gospel, which he had read when he was traveling to meet with Pope John XXIII upon his invitation.

Pasolini pulls off a very interesting approach to the material; he treats the material reverently, where every line of dialogue from the film is taken verbatim from the Scriptures… but there is no narrator. That means that for stretches of the film, he has the actors work as if in a silent film, trying to convey in pictures what a proper narration would provide.

The film is populated with non-actors. Therefore they bring to this film a natural approach to acting as if the material was happening before them was really happening.

The end result is a movie that has moments where the viewer is, at first, feels a little lost. But as each individual scene progresses, the viewer begins to recognize the material that is being portrayed. It has the affect of introducing you to the Gospel as if you were seeing it for the first time.
When Jesus tells his parables, these parables are not reenacted. Instead, you get facial reactions.There are scenes in this film that are not in many other Jesus films: the slaughter of the innocents, the dance of Salome, the withering of the bad fig tree.

I share my thoughts as to how this film compares with the other notable Jesus films, including “Jesus of Nazareth”, the animated “The Miracle Maker”, “The Passion of the Christ”, “The Gospel of John.”

While I am grateful to have watched this movie for free, the commercial interruptions were a terrible intrusion on the

Next week: The Mega-Easter celebration episode!

Lent 1: The Diary of a Country Priest (available on Hulu+)
Lent 2: A Man For All Seasons (available on Amazon Prime)
Lent 3: Into Great Silence (available on Netflix)
Lent 4: Ordet (available on Hulu+)
Lent 5: The Passion of Joan of Arc (available on Hulu+)
HolyWeek: The Gospel According to St. Matthew (avail on Hulu)

A songsheet is available for this episode.  Right Click Here and select “Save As” to retrieve it.

Episode Log Times
3:36 – Worship Session (Music and Prayer)
5:12 – O Sacred Head / Saviour, When In Dust, To Thee
10:10 – Were You There / O The Blood of Jesus
15:02 – When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
17:49 – O Come And Mourn With Me Awhile
20:45 – When I Survey (Reprise)
22:04 – Glory Be To Jesus
26:30 – Christus Factus Est (Chant)
28:18 – Spoken, Spontaneous Prayer
36:53 – Song of the Week (“O the Blood” by Thomas Miller and Mary Elizabeth Miller)
41:12 – Reflections (Lent Movie:”The Gospel According to St. Matthew”)
58:32 – Final Comments and Doxology

SONG OF THE WEEK
“O The Blood” by Thomas Miller and Mary Elizabeth Miller Copyright (c) 2010 Gateway Create Publishing;

********************SONGS***********************
O SACRED HEAD ONCE WOUNDED
attr to Bernard of Clairvoux (c1150);
tr Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676); tr James W Alexander (1804-1859);
Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612); arr J S Bach (1685-1750)

1. O sacred Head, once wounded
With grief and shame bow’d down.
Now scornfully surrounded
With thorns, Thine only crown.
O sacred Head, what glory,
What bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory,
I joy to call Thee mine.

2. What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered,
Was all for sinner’s gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression,
But Thine the deadly pain:
Lo, here I fall, my Saviour!
‘Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor,
Vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

3. What language shall I borrow
To thank Thee dearest Friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow,
Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever;
And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
Outlive my love for Thee.

4. Be near me when I’m dying,
O show Thy cross to me;
And to my succour flying
Come, Lord and set me free.
These eyes new faith receiving,
From Jesus shall not move;
For he, who dies believing,
Dies safely through Thy love.

Public Domain;

SAVIOUR, WHEN IN DUST, TO THEE
Sir Robert Grant, 1815; Spanish Melody

Saviour when, in dust to Thee
Low we bend th’adoring knee;
When, repentant to the skies,
Scarce we lift our streaming eyes;
O by all Thy pains and woe,
Suffer’d once for man below,
Bending from Thy throne on high,
Hear Thy people when they cry.

By Thine hour of dark despair,
By Thine agony of pray’r,
By Thy purple robe of scorn,
By Thy wounds–Thy crown of thorn,
By Thy cross–Thy pangs and cries,
By Thy perfect sacrfice;
Jesus look with pitying eye,
Hear Thy people while they cry.

Public Domain

WERE YOU THERE?
African Spiritual

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble,
tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?…

Were you there when they pierced Him in the side?…

Were you there when the sun refused to shine?…

Public Domain

O, THE BLOOD OF JESUS
Author unknown

O the blood of Jesus
O the blood of Jesus
O the blood of Jesus
It washes white as snow.

Copyright unknown

WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS
Isaac Watts; Isaac Baker Woodbury

1. When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride.

2. See from His head, His hands, His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet?
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

3. Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Public Domain

O COME AND MOURN WITH ME AWHILE
J.B. Dykes 1823-76; F.W.Faber, 1814-63

O come and mourn with me awhile;
See, Mary calls us to her side;
O come let us mourn with her
Jesus our Love, is crucified. …

Have we no tears to shed for Him,
While soldiers scoff and men deride?
Ah! look how patiently He hangs:
Jesus our Love, is crucified.

How fast His feet and hands are nailed:
His blessed tongue with thirst is tied;
His failing eyes are blind with blood;
Jesus our Love, is crucified.

Sev’n words He spoke, sev’n words of love.
And all three hours, His silence cried
For mercy on the souls of men;
Jesus our Love, is crucified.

O love of God! O sin of man!
In this dread act, Your strength is tried;
And victory remains with love;
Jesus our Love, is crucified.

Public Domain

GLORY BE TO JESUS
Edward Caswall, Friedrich Filitz

1. Glory be to Jesus, who in bitter pains
Poured for me the lifeblood, from His sacred veins

2. Grace and life eternal, in that blood I find
Blest be His compassion, infinitely kind!

3. Blest thru endless ages, be the precious stream
Which from endless torment, did the world redeem

4. There the fainting spirit, drinks of life her fill
There as in a fountain, laves herself at will.

5. Abel’s blood for vengeance, pleaded to the skies
But the blood of Jesus for our pardon cries.

6. Oft as it is sprinkled on our guilty hearts
Satan in confusion, terror-struck, departs.

7. Oft as earth exulting, wafts its praise on high
Angel hosts, rejoicing, make their glad reply

8. Lift then all your voices, swell the mighty flood
Louder still and louder, praise the precious blood

Public Domain

CHRISTUS FACTUS EST
Roman Gradual

Christus factus est pro nobis obédiens
usque ad mortem, mortem autem crucis.

The Christ became for all of us, obedient
even unto death, that death upon the cross! Amen

Public Domain

All songs are in the public domain, unless otherwise noted.
Any songs written or adapted by Nick Alexander are available on music notation, for those who wish to introduce these songs in their own communities.

*****************************************************
Feel free to leave comments, questions, and/or prayer requests, at
http://www.prayermeetingpodcast/
or leave a message at 203/701-7771

Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY at www.facebook.com/prayermeetingpodcast

Learn about what Nick Alexander can bring to your community, youth rally, keynote or event:
http://www.nickalexander.com

If you like this podcast, please feel free to leave a comment on the iTunes page.
Thank you for listening!

Next week: The Mega-Easter Celebration!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

If you like this podcast, please subscribe: the link is: http://feeds.feedburner.com/PrayerMeetingPodcast .  Thank you!

This episode I share about “The Passion of Joan of Arc”, the fifth selection of the Lenten Movie Club, which, at the time of this writing, is available to all members of Hulu+ streaming (which may have a trial subscription).

This is considered to be, by many critics, to be one of the greatest movies ever made.

This is a different type of silent film than what we are used to. It is a powerful re-enactment and tragedy.

The film was created at the time where Joan of Arc was greatly celebrated, shortly after the Catholic Church had declared her a saint.

They tried to be accurate with the film, with the one stipulation that they took all the events in the last months of Joan of Arc’s life, and shortened it to just one day.

This was Leah Falconnetti’s only film performance, and is considered to be one of the greatest performances in the history of cinema.

This film had about triple the amount of edits than a normal silent film had in that day. This made the film somewhat disorienting, as if you are off-balance the whole movie.

I share my thoughts as to how this movie had influenced both the film adaptation of Les Misérables (2012), and The Passion of the Christ (2004).

The bigger question is why a movie like this needed to be made at all. Isn’t life hard enough? Why not have some light comedies instead?

This film demonstrates–in vivid detail–the sacrifices one must make if you were to bear the cross.

This world is temporary, and is not our home. The soul that clings to God will last forever.
“In your struggle against sin, you have yet to shed your blood.” -Hebrews 12:4

The trials we endure in this life will be “glory scars” in the next.

The schedule is as follows:

Lent 1: The Diary of a Country Priest (available on Hulu+)
Lent 2: A Man For All Seasons (available on Amazon Prime)
Lent 3: Into Great Silence (available on Netflix)
Lent 4: Ordet (available on Hulu+)
Lent 5: The Passion of Joan of Arc (available on Hulu+)
HolyWeek: The Gospel According to St. Matthew (avail on Hulu)

A songsheet is available for this episode.  Right Click Here and select “Save As” to retrieve it.

SONG(s) OF THE WEEK
“Hosanna” by Carl Tuttle Copyright (c) 1982 Mercy Pubg;
“Hosanna” by Paul Baloche and Brenton Brown Copyright (c) 2006 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
“Hosanna” by Brooke Fraser Copyright (c) 2006 by Hillsongs.

Episode Log Times
3:50 – Worship Session (Music and Prayer)
4:22 – Hosanna To The Living Lord / Power In the Blood
7:40 – Ride On, King Jesus
11:33 – All Glory, Laud and Honor
15:24 – What Wondrous Love Is This
17:55 – Take Up Thy Cross
21:06 – Hosanna Filio David
22:23 – Spoken, Spontaneous Prayer
30:28 – Song of the Week (“Hosanna” by Carl Tuttle, Paul Baloche, Brenton Brown and Brooke Frasier)
40:47 – Reflections (Lent Movie:”Ordet”)
55:33 – Final Comments and Doxology

********************SONGS***********************

HOSANNA TO THE LIVING LORD!
John B Dykes, 1865, Reginald Heber, 1827

1. Hosanna to the living Lord!
Hosanna to th’incarnate Word!
To Christ, Redeemer, Saviour King
Let earth let heav’n Hosanna sing!

Hosanna, Lord! Hosanna in the highest!

2. Hosanna Lord! Thine angels cry;
Hosanna, Lord! Thy saints reply;
Above, beneath us, and around
The dead and living swell the sound;

3. O Saviour with protecting care
Abide in this Thy house of pray’r,
Where we Thy parting promise claim
Assembled in Thy sacred Name.

Public Domain;

THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD
Author unknown

There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder working power
In the Blood of the Lamb.
There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder working power
In the precious Blood of the Lamb.

Public Domain

RIDE ON, KING JESUS!
African Spiritual

Ride on, King Jesus!
No man can a-hinder me.
Ride on, King Jesus, ride on!
No man can a-hinder me.
No man can a-hinder me.

In that great gettin’ up morning…
Fare thee well, fare thee well. [repeat]

When I get to heaven gonna wear my robes.
No man can a-hinder me.
Gonna see King Jesus sittin’ on the Throne.
No man can a-hinder me.
Gonna walk the streets that are paved with gold.
No man can a-hinder me.
Going to a land where I’ll never grow old.
No man can a-hinder me.

Public Domain

ALL GLORY LAUD AND HONOR
Theodulph of Orleans, ca. 760-821, tr. by John M Neale 181-66
ST. THEODULPH, Melchior Teschner, 1584-1635

All glory, laud and honor,
To Thee, Redeemer King!
To Whom the lips of children,
Made sweet hosannas ring!

1. Thou art the King of Israel
and David’s royal Son
Now in the Lord’s name coming
The King and Blessed One.

2. The company of angels
Are praising You on high
And mortals joined with all things
Created make reply

3. To You before Thy passion
They sang their hymns of praise
To You now high exalted
Our melody we raise

4. The people of the Hebrews
With palms before You went
Our praise and prayer and anthems
Before You we present

5. Their praises You accepted.
Accept the prayers we bring
Great source of love and goodness
Our Saviour and our King.

Public Domain

WHAT WONDROUS LOVE IS THIS
Author Unknown

1. What wondrous love is this,
O my soul, O my soul.
What wondrous love is this, O my soul.
What wondrous love is this,
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse For my soul
To bear the dreadful curse For my soul

2. When I was sinking down,
Sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down
When I was sinking down,
beneath God’s righteous frown
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul

3. To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing
To God and to the Lamb I will sing
To God and to the Lamb, Who is the Great I AM
While millions join the theme I will sing, I will sing
While millions join the theme I will sing

4. And when from death I’m free I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on
And when from death I’m free I’ll sing on
And when from death I’m free
I’ll sing and joyful be
Throughout eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on.
Throughout eternity I’ll sing on.

Copyright Unknown

TAKE UP THY CROSS
Charles William Everest

Take up thy cross the Savior said
If thou wouldst my disciple be
Deny thyself the world forsake
And humbly follow after me

Take up Thy cross let not its weight
Fill Thy weak spirit with alarm
His strength shall bear Thy spirit up
and brace Thy heart And nerve thine arm

Take up thy cross nor heed the shame
Nor let thy foolish pride rebel
Thy Lord for thee the cross endured
To save thy soul from death and hell

Take up thy cross and follow Christ
Nor think till death to lay it down
For only those who bear the cross
May hope to wear the glorious crown

Public Domain

HOSANNA FILIO DAVID
Roman Gradual

Hosanna fílio Dávid:
Benedíctus qui vénit in nómine Dómini.
Rex Israel: Hosánna in excélsis.

Hosanna O son of David! Blessed be Him who now comes in the name of the Lord God.
King of Israel, Hosanna in the highest!

Public Domain

All songs are in the public domain, unless otherwise noted.
Any songs written or adapted by Nick Alexander are available on music notation, for those who wish to introduce these songs in their own communities.

Feel free to leave comments, questions, and/or prayer requests, at
http://www.prayermeetingpodcast/
or leave a message at 203/701-7771

Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY at www.facebook.com/prayermeetingpodcast

Learn about what Nick Alexander can bring to your community, youth rally, keynote or event: http://www.nickalexander.com

If you like this podcast, please feel free to leave a comment on the iTunes page.
Thank you for listening!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This episode I share about “Ordet”, the fourth selection of the Lenten Movie Club, which, at the time of this writing, is available to all members of Hulu+ streaming (which may have a trial subscription).

The movie is an allegory about the then current state of Christian belief, but also works as a comedy.

There is a father of three sons, one has retained his mainline denominational upbringing, one has become an agnostic, and one who has gone mad, thinking that he is “Jesus.”

The director and screenwriter seem to have two concerns about Christianity today: first, that people of faith seem to have lost a sense of the miraculous. Secondly, that we are far more interested in petty doctrinal differences than we need be.

The scenes where the two fathers are arguing over their doctrinal differences are both humorous, but they are grounded in reality that exists far too often today.

This is not to say that there isn’t a need for apologetics, nor does it excuse those who disagree with central historic Christian teaching, such as the Deity of Christ or the doctrine of the Trinity. But when it comes to lesser issues, it is more important to convey charity.

The acting in this film is not realistic; it’s more of an over-dramatization, something akin to what you’d find in a silent movie or an opera. That is your cue that this film is to be taken allegorically.

The brilliance of the film’s having a mad character–the one who thinks he is Jesus–is that it is a way to actually introduce Jesus in the movie, what He would actually say to these other characters (in the screenwriter’s opinion), today.

The story also introduces the parson, a religious authority figure, who plainly denies that he prays for miracles. The director seems to be challenging this position: why not pray for miracles?

The schedule is as follows:

Lent 1: The Diary of a Country Priest (available on Hulu+)
Lent 2: A Man For All Seasons (available on Amazon Prime)
Lent 3: Into Great Silence (available on Netflix)
Lent 4: Ordet (available on Hulu+)
Lent 5: The Passion of Joan of Arc (available on Hulu+)
HolyWeek: The Gospel According to St. Matthew (avail on Hulu)

A songsheet is available for this episode.  Right-click here and select “Save As” to retrieve it.

SONG OF THE WEEK
“Kyrie Eleison” by Jodi Page Clark
From the album “Amazing Grace” by The Community of Celebration (c) 1992 Copyright (c) 1976 Celebration, P.O. Box 309, Aliquippa, PA 15001

There is a powerful CBS News Special from its time that has been posted on YouTube, detailing the rise of the renewal from this mainline denominational parish.

Episode Log Times
3:59 – Worship Session (Music and Prayer)
5:16 – O God, The Lot, Reward and Prize
8:02 – I Bind Unto Myself Today
13:46 – The Fast, As Taught By Holy Lore/Jesus, Jesus
17:24 – Make Me More Like Thee / Be Thou My Vision
20:26 – Opórtet Te Fíli
21:57 – Spoken, Spontaneous Prayer
29:05 – Song of the Week (“Kyrie Eleison” by Jodi Page Clark)
40:05 – Reflections (Lent Movie:”Ordet”)
51:57 – Final Comments and Doxology

********************SONGS***********************

O GOD, THE LOT, REWARD AND PRIZE
M.L.Herold’s Gesangbuch, 1808 (AGM)

1. O God, the lot, reward and prize;
He crowns Thy martyr’s victories,
Grant, while we sing this martyr’s prais,
We may renounce our evil ways.

2. The world with specious cheats disguised,
He soon discovered and despised,
And labor’d for a nobler gain,
Than palling pleasures mixed with pain.

3. No force could make his mind relent,
No racks his resolution bent;
Fearless of death he sheds his blood,
And wades to heaven through the flood.

4. O vocal blood, now pierce the skies,
And deal with heav’n to hear our cries,
That on his glorious triumph we
May find indulgence, Lord with Thee.

5. May age to age for ever sing
The Virgin’s Son and angels’ King;
And praise with the celestial host
The Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Public Domain;

I BIND UNTO MYSELF TODAY
Bridge Arrangement by Nick Alexander
Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexander, St. Patrick

1. I bind unto myself today
The strong name of the Trinity
By invocation of the same
The Three in One and One in Three

2. I bind this day to me forever
By power of faith Christ’s incarnation
His baptism in the Jordan River
His death on cross for my salvation

3. I bind unto myself the power
Of great love of cherubim
The sweet “well done!” in judgment hour
The service of the seraphim
Confessors’ faith apostles’ word
The patriarchs’ prayers the prophets’ scrolls
All good deeds done unto the Lord
And purity of virgin souls

4. I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead
His eye to watch His might to stay
His ear to hearken to my need
The wisdom of my God to teach
His hand to guide His shield to ward
The word of God to give me speech
His heavenly host to be my guard

Christ be with me Christ within me
Christ behind me Christ before me
Christ beside me Christ to win me
Christ to comfort and restore me
Christ beneath me Christ above me
Christ in quiet Christ in danger
Christ in hearts of all that love me
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger

5. I bind unto myself the name
The strong name of the Trinity
By invocation of the same
The Three in One and One in Three

Public Domain

THE FAST, AS TAUGHT BY HOLY LORE
St. Gregory the Great, 540-604;
Tr. by J. M. Nealer (1818-1866)
‘Christliches Gesangbuchlein,’ 1568

The fast, as taught by holy lore,
We keep in solemn course once more:
The fast to all men known, and bound
In Forty days of yearly round.

Thy grace have we offended sore,
By sins O God, which we deplore;
But pour upon us from on high
O pard’ning One, Thy clemency.

Remember Thou, though frail we be
That yet Thine handiwork are we;
Nor let the honor of Thy Name
Be by another put to shame.

Forgive the sin that we have wrought
Increase the good that we have sought;
That we at length our wand’rings o’er,
May please Thee here and evermore.

Blest Three in One, and One in Three
Almighty God , we pray to Thee
That this our fast of forty days,
May work our profit and Thy praise.

Public Domain

JESUS, JESUS
Unknown, new arr by Nick Alexander

Jesus, Jesus, can I tell You what we know.
You have granted us forgiveness; we love You so.

Jesus, Jesus, can we tell You how we feel.
You have given us Your Spirit, that You might heal.

Public Domain

MAKE ME MORE LIKE THEE
Author Unknown

Make me more like Thee, Jesus
Make me more like Thee.
Give me a heart that’s filled with love
And make me more like Thee.

Copyright Unknown

BE THOU MY VISION
Traditional Irish Melody

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that for art
Thou my best thought by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me Lord
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son
Thou in my dwelling, and I in Thee one.

Public Domain

OPORTET TE FILI
Roman Gradual

Opórtet te fíli gaudére, quia fráter túus mórtuus fúerat,
Et revíxit; períerat, et invéntus est.

It’s time for thee, O son, to rejoice!
Since that brother of yours, he had died and passed on.
And now he lives! He once was lost, but he’s alive now.

Public Domain

All songs are in the public domain, unless otherwise noted.
Any songs written or adapted by Nick Alexander are available on music notation, for those who wish to introduce these songs in their own communities.

*****************************************************
Feel free to leave comments, questions, and/or prayer requests below.
or leave a message at 203/701-7771

Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY at www.facebook.com/prayermeetingpodcast

Learn about what Nick Alexander can bring to your community, youth rally, keynote or event:
http://www.nickalexander.com

If you like this podcast, please feel free to leave a comment on the iTunes page.
Thank you for listening!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This episode I share about “Into Great Silence”, the third selection of the Lenten Movie Club, which, at the time of this writing, is available to all members of Netflix streaming (which may have a trial subscription).

The movie is a documentary chronicling the lives of the monks of Grand Chartreuse, of the Carthusian Order, founded by Bruno of Cologne, founded in 1084.

These monks are silent throughout most of the film, save for when they are chanting the entire Psalms, or other rare times. For the rest of the time there, they live a simple life, living off of the land.

There is a powerful interview near the end of the film with a person sharing God’s love for us.

The movie was a hit in New York City when it was released in 2006, because people wanted to escape from the craziness of everyday life and live the life of a monk for two and a half hours.

This is a hard film to sit through for the entirety of the film, but it works very well to watch in twenty-minute segments.

There is great power in praying with this film, and listening for God in the silence.

I share my experiences staying at a monastery for a time many years ago.

Psalms are very powerful to be used in personal prayer.

If you’re used to praying a very particular (modern American) way, you may want to have your prayer life shaken up a little, and participate in a very different style of praying.

Next week: Ordet

The schedule is as follows:

Lent 1: The Diary of a Country Priest (available on Hulu+)
Lent 2: A Man For All Seasons (available on Amazon Prime)
Lent 3: Into Great Silence (available on Netflix)
Lent 4: Ordet (available on Hulu+)
Lent 5: The Passion of Joan of Arc (available on Hulu+)
HolyWeek: The Gospel According to St. Matthew (avail on Hulu)

A songsheet is available for this episode.  Right-click here and select “Save As” to retrieve it.

 SONG OF THE WEEK

“We Will Run” by Lisa Gungor
From the album “Beautiful Things” by Gungor (2010)
Copyright (c) 2010 worshiptogether.com songs

Episode Log Times

2:18 – Worship Session (Music and Prayer)
3:28 – O God Be Merciful To Me / Psalm 130
8:20 – Jesus Breaks Every Fetter/Good It Is to Keep the Fast
12:27 – Within Your House
15:44 – Worthy Is the Lamb
21:44 – Passer Invénit Síbi Dómum
23:34 – Spoken, Spontaneous Prayer
30:59 – Song of the Week (“We Will Run” by Lisa Gungor)
39:13 – Reflections (Lent Movie:”Into Great Silence”)
51:22 – Final Comments and Doxology

********************SONGS***********************

O GOD, BE MERCIFUL TO ME
Thomas Campian, 1613, Cornelius Elven, 1852

1. With broken heart and contrite sight
A trembling sinner, Lord I cry:
Thy pard’ning grace is rich and free:
O God be merciful to me.

2. I smite upon my troubl’d breast,
With deep and conscious guilt oppress’d
Christ and His cross my only plea:
O God be merciful to me.

3. Far off I stand with tearful eyes
Nor dare uplift them to the skies
But Thou dost all my anguish see;
O God be merciful to me.

4. Nor alms nor deeds that I have done
Can for a single sin atone
To Calvary alone I flee
O God be merciful to me.

Public Domain;

PSALM 130
Nick Alexander, based on the Scottish Psalter (Psalm 130) circa 1635

Lord, from the depths I cry
My voice, Lord, do hear
Let supplication’s voice give attentive ear.

Lord, who shall stand if You mark iniquity?
Yet, Your forgiveness is available through Thee.

Copyright (c) 2013 Nick Alexander Music

JESUS BREAKS EVERY FETTER
v.1 unknown
v.2-5, Nick Alexander

Jesus breaks every fetter
Jesus breaks every fetter
Jesus breaks every fetter
And He sets me free!

He’s the rock of my salvation…
And He sets me free!

Jesus offers us redemption…
And He sets us free!

How He hears us when we call Him
And He sets us free!

Lord, we thank You for Your mercy…
And You set us free!

Public Domain

GOOD IT IS TO KEEP THE FAST
Gregory the Great, 6th Century

Good it is to keep the fast
Shadow’d forth in ages past
Which our own almighty Lord
Hallowed by His deed

Moses, while He fasted saw
God Who gave by Him the law
To Elijah, angels came
Steeds of fire and car of flame

So was Daniel meet to gaze
On the sight of latter days
And the Baptist to proclaim
Blessings through the Bridegroom’s Name.

Grant us Lord, like them to be
Oft in pray’r and fast with Thee
Fill us with Thy heav’nly might
Be our joy and true delight.

Father hear us through Thy Son
And the Spirit with Thee, One
Whom our thankful hearts adore
Ever and forevermore!

Public Domain

WITHIN YOUR HOUSE
Nick Alexander

The sparrow finds a home
The swallow, finds a nest
Where to place her young
Near to Your altars, Lord of hosts, my King.

My God, how happy are they
Who dwell within Your house
They will be praising You forever.

When we eat this bread and drink this cup
We will live in You and You in us
It’s a foretaste when we will be as one.

Copyright (c) 2013 Nick Alexander Music

WORTHY IS THE LAMB
Author Unknown

1. Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

2. Jesus is the Lamb

3. Glory to the Lamb

Public Domain

PASSER INVENIT SIBI DOMUM (Ps 84:3-4)
Roman Gradual

Passer invénit síbi dómum,et túrtur nídum
ubi repónat púllos suos: altária tua Dómine virtútum,
Rex méus, et Déus méus: beáti qui hábitant in dómo túa,
in saéculum saéculi laudábunt te.

The sparrow hath found herself a home, the swallow a nest
Where she would leave there that young of hers
Near to the altars of Thine, Dearest Lord of Hosts.
Sovereign King and Great God of mine,
How happy are those who dwell in that home You live,
Where all those there, for all time, will worship You.

Public Domain

All songs are in the public domain, unless otherwise noted.
Any songs written or adapted by Nick Alexander are available on music notation, for those who wish to introduce these songs in their own communities.

*****************************************************
Feel free to leave comments, questions, and/or prayer requests below.
or leave a message at 203/701-7771

Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY at www.facebook.com/prayermeetingpodcast

Learn about what Nick Alexander can bring to your community, youth rally, keynote or event:
http://www.nickalexander.com

If you like this podcast, please feel free to leave a comment on the iTunes page.
Thank you for listening!