Monday Musical Moment: MMM: Still, Still, Still

Advent is here! … when did that happen?

The sudden crash landing back to earth after the thanksgiving holiday seems to be an annual event, especially for those of us who work or are active in the church!

This time of year is usually filled to the brim with stuff – doing stuff, eating stuff, attending stuff, filling your calendar with stuff, ordering lots of stuff on Amazon – but it’s often hard to find a moment to just be still. One wonderful thing about music is that it provides an opportunity to do just that. With any music, there is always a beginning and an end, but in between there can be whatever you want it to be. I know many of us put music on in the background while we do chores, go shopping, workout, or do other things, but have you tried listening? I mean uninterrupted, focused, deep listening. If you’re not in the habit of doing that, I highly recommend trying it out!

One of my favorite pieces of music during this time of year we now suddenly find ourselves in is called “Still, Still, Still,” which is sung most often in English, but was originally written as an Austrian Christmas carol from the mid-19^th century. The tune and words combine to create a beautiful, calming scene of the infant Jesus and his mother as the baby is sung to sleep. The music I’ll share with you today is a beautiful version of “Still, Still, Still” sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

If you would like a chance to hear beautiful choral music like “Still, Still, Still,” and others, allow me to add “stuff” to your calendar. This Friday at 7pm in the Chapel of the Resurrection at First UMC, the Missouri City Chamber Singers will be presenting their winter program, “GLORY!,” featuring a variety of seasonal music, tied together by selections from Vivaldi’s popular work, “Gloria.” I hope to see you there!

Have a great week!