I am not a music maker just a music lover. I do love making a joyful noise and I so miss singing in church. I miss the vibrations in the wooden floor as Ryan powers up the organ. I miss the harmonies sung by the choir, the ringing of bells and the cantor’s clear soprano voice soaring above the congregation.

I bet you miss them too.

On May 24th and June 21st Ryan orchestrated awesome online hymn sings via Zoom and streamed it live on Facebook. So much fun and so good for the spirit! I hope you got to sing along!

Even at home, somewhat or somewhat not, alone — singing at the top of our lungs or humming along with a tune — is good for the soul. Our Emmanuel at Home Morning Prayer relies on Youtube’s musical catalogue. It’s free you know. Each week we strive to provide a variety of beautiful music — with the lyrics so that you can raise your voice in song — no matter where you are.

(And because singing propels your breath which potentially spreads the virus, the safest place to sing right now is at home.)

Finding the Sunday hymns is not an easy task. Lots of great music on Youtube has no words. And often the performances that do have lyrics are just terrible! (But I do love hunting for them each week.:)

In the purple and penitential season, I put together a musical meditation: Fortify, a 40-Day Mixtape for Lent — a playlist on Spotify. Parishioners have told me it continues to lift their spirits even after Lent has past.

Having discovered lots of new musicians and music in my searches, I thought I would put together a new mixtape for Ordinary Time. Ordinary Time is another name for the season of Pentecost. That long green season in which we dwell in the ordinary and the everyday. It begins after The Feast of Pentecost (not including Trinity Sunday) and continues through the summer and the fall. It comes to a close as Advent and a new liturgical year begin. It’s long!

Glorify: A Mixtape for Ordinary Time intentionally mixes genres. You’ll hear early American shape-note singing, renaissance motets, instrumental pieces, acapella voices, acoustic guitars, traditional hymns, choral anthems, bluegrass bands, as well as, contemporary Christian artists, folk tunes, spirituals and just a touch of jazz. Spiritually, it has an eclectic anglican, catholic & evangelical vibe. Discover familiar voices singing new songs — and familiar songs sung by new voices.

(The discovering is more than half the fun!)

Click on the link to download the Spotify playlist onto your computer or smartphone: Glorify: A Mixtape for Ordinary Time. It includes 50+ songs.

Via Youtube here is an alphabetic sampling of the artists featured on the playlist:

Anonymous 4, Shall We Gather at the River?

Audrey Assad, Immanuel’s Land

Boston Camerata, Pretty Home

Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Hope

Brother Isaiah, Sweet Simplicity

Cantus, What Wondrous Love is This?

Chanticleer, Shenandoah

Jon Foreman, House of God Forever

Josh Garrels, Farther Along

JJ Heller, Your Hands

Kari Jobe, I Am Not Alone

Alison Krauss, I’ll Fly Away

L’Angelus, Sing of Mary

Matt Maher, Because He Lives

John Mark & Sarah McMillan, King of My Heart

Fernando Ortega, Kyrie I

Andrew Petersen, Is He Worthy?

Chris Rice, (Untitled Hymn) Come to Jesus

Matt Rollings (with the Blind Boys of Alabama,) Wade in the Water

Shane & Shane, Psalm 23: Surely Goodness, Surely Mercy

The Hillbilly Thomists, Poor Wayfaring Stranger

The King’s Singers, MLK

The Oh Hellos, Memoriam

Matthew West, Truth Be Told

Young Oceans, Until These Tears are Gone

So while you are walking, cleaning your house, mowing your lawn or falling asleep in a chair, take a listen, shuffle and enjoy!

— Joani Peacock, May 2020

Spirituality The Episcopal Church Audio Clergy Music Ordinary Time Seasonal Devotional The Rev. Joan L. Peacock