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Nick, giving a presentation

Hear ye! Hear ye! The latest installment of the Prayer Meeting Podcast is now live.

In this podcast I share my experiences over the past weekend, where I had given a presentation and performed a comedy concert at a one-day church-affiliated conference.  Being fresh in my mind, I thought it would be good to share my process as to how I craft a parody song, and what I do to prepare for delivering an effective presentation for any type of crowd.

In fact, I happened to have crafted three new parody songs just for this conference.  At the end of this podcast (after the Doxology), I replay one of them, a parody of “Blurred Lines” (“Don’t Believe Lies”).  I hope you enjoy this.

There are two reasons as to why I am sharing this.  The first reason is to encourage my listeners, that if they have a desire to bring me in to keynote or deliver a talk, I can demonstrate what it is I would do for them.  The second reason is, if they wish to know how I create talks, so as to build upon their own skills, they could use some of my tips as well.

This podcast begins with a worship set, and the theme is about All Saints’ Day.  I had chosen a combination of hymns, praise choruses and chant that best befits this day that is celebrated across denominational lines.  I hope to have the music notation for these songs up soon, so you can play along.  (Update: they’re now up and live.  Right click the titles and select “Save As” to save on your local drive).

FOR ALL THE SAINTS
Text: William W. How, 1823-1897
Music: Ralph Vaughan Williams, Sine Nomine (1906).  P.D.
Alt. melodies: Nick Alexander (c) 2013

1. For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Your Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

2. Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

3. For the Apostles’ glorious company,
Who bearing forth the Cross o’er land and sea,
Shook all the mighty world, we sing to Thee: Alleluia!

4. For the Evangelists, by whose blest word,
Like fourfold streams, the garden of the Lord,
Is fair and fruitful, be Thy Name adored.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

5. The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise, be blessed: Alleluia!

6. O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.
Allelu – ia!

7. And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
Allelu – ia!

8. O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
All are one in Thee, for all are Thine: Alleluia!

9. From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!

New arrangement copyright (c) 2013 by Nick Alexander

LET SAINTS ON EARTH IN CONCERT SING
Text by Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Music by Scottish Psalter (1615)
“Jesus is Real”  Author Unknown
“As We Await” by Nick Alexander

Let saints on earth in concert sing
With those whose work is done;
For all the servants of our King
In Heav’n and earth are one.

Jesus is real, He’ll never fail.
Let’s serve Him now
and throughout all eternity.

One family, we dwell in Him,
One Church, above, beneath;
Though now divided by the stream,
The narrow stream of death.

Jesus is real, He’ll never fail.
Let’s serve Him now
and throughout all eternity.

As we await Your mercy from afar
We watch and pray,
You’ll meet us where we are
We need Your grace
To bring us to Your throne
So to worship You alone.

Jesu, be Thou our constant Guide;
Then, when the word is given,
Bid Jordan’s narrow stream divide,
And bring us safe to Heav’n.

New arrangement copyright (c) 2013 by Nick Alexander

BEATI MUNDO CORDE
Roman Gradual; Translation by Nick Alexander

Beáti múndo córde, quoniam ípsi Déum vidébunt:
Beáti pacífici, quóniam fílii Déi vocabúntur
Beáti qui persecutiónem patiúntur propter justítiam,
quóniam ipsórum est régnum caelórum.

Blessed are the pure of heart
for it is indeed God that they shall see.
Blessed are the peacemakers
for it is “the children of God” that they shall be called.
Blessed are those who are persecuted
and who suffer for the sake of justice
for it is to be theirs, the kingdom of heaven.

Public Domain

What are your thoughts about parody songs, or presentations?  Leave them in the combox below.