Ruach Breath Of Life

O Sons and Daughters of the glorious King (O filii et filiae) If you are not familiar with this exquisite Easter hymn, written according to an ancient Gregorian tradition, you will love getting to know it! Many hymns were written in a ’macaronic’ style – that is that is, sung in two languages, Latin and English for example, but this version contains a compilation not in two different languages but rather a blend between the original words and fresh ones that I have added. Many thanks to Anthony Thompson (trumpet), Peter Richards (organ) Francis Cummings and Shirley Richards (violins) Christiane Mueller (viola) and Corinne Frost (cello), who join Megan, who sings it beautifully for us.

Religious life in England suffered great upheavals during the 17th century, during which many Puritans and Quakers were persecuted and banished. Amongst the many who were affected was Samuel Crossman who, uniquely, had been ministering to both an Anglican congregation in Sudbury and a Puritan one at the same time, until he, along with some 2,000 other Puritan-leaning ministers in the Church of England, was expelled by the draconian Act of Uniformity of 1662. Crossman wrote this moving hymn during this period of forced separation from the Church of England. It speaks of how Jesus, too, was excluded and chased away from living amongst His own people – permanently as the leaders hoped, but only temporarily as God intended - for nothing could prevent Him from living in the hearts of those who loved Him by the power of His Spirit. In this lovely new version that Carol has recorded for us, Carol Sampson is accompanied by Francis Cummings and Philippa Barton (violins), Corinne Frost (cello), Nicola Gerrard (flu

Patricia Corry is the soloist in this rendering of Vivaldi's beautiful Domine Deus from his Gloria . How relevant the words are for us to proclaim and to hold onto to these days: 'Lord God, the Almighty Father.'

‘What are you doing Lord? A heart for Seeking God.’ Based loosely around the Hebrew word for seeking – baqash – the emphasis in this section is on how God uses low tides to further the work of His kingdom, in ourselves and in the world.

Baqash Part 2 - Seeking God in dry and arid times Much of this nine-minute segment revolves around a powerful image drawn from one of CS Lewis’ poems, and focuses on our need to keep seeking God through dry and arid times. The music begins, accordingly, on a sombre note in a piece that Corinne improvised for us back in 2011, and which we called ‘Suffering Prophet’. The music then moves into Jane Horsfall’s beautiful piece, By the waters of Babylon.

One of the pieces our school choir used to sing in various churches around Leicestershire was Vivaldi’s beautiful and hugely popular Gloria, (RV 589). It is an altogether glorious piece, and in this short extract, as Patricia Corry and Harmony Greenwood sing their praises to God, how can we not join them in spirit in praising our ever faithful God? We praise You We bless and thank You We adore You We glorify You

Welcome to the first in a series on seeking the Lord, loosely based around baqash - the Hebrew word for seeking. The music you will hear on this track is a beautiful piece by Gareth Sampson called called Black Hills, which we recorded some years ago.

Seeking with Anselm and Quoist by Ruach Breath of Life

Hildegard Echoes by Ruach Breath of Life

With all my heart - Linda Entwistle by Ruach Breath of Life

With all my heart - French version - Linda Entwistle by Ruach Breath of Life

This beautiful piece by Vivaldi the title of which may be translated as "In this world there is no honest peace." It is normally a sung piece for solo soprano, but we have recorded it here for instruments so that we can pray over it. Wikipedia notes that, 'The text dwells on the imperfections of a world full of evil and sin, and praises Jesus for the salvation He offers from it.' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nulla_in_mundo_pax_sincera) There can certainly be no final peace in the world without Jesus, the Prince of Peace, for He alone is our peace, and the means of moving beyond all illusory quests for peace - but let's be sure to be praying for all initiatives that bring the prospect of peace and the hope of avoiding violent conflict for those at odds with each other - whether at a personal, church or diplomatic level between nations. A big thank you to Shirley Richards, Nick Evans Pughe and Natalie, Halliday, (strings), Anthony Thompson (trumpet), Christiane Von Albrecht (keyboard).

May the Lord use this lovely song by Anne Laure Jackson to soothe and still our soul, and to strengthen our resolve to make Him the focus of our hearts, this and every day. Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods.’ Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. (Is. 55:1-3)

With all that is going on in the world - quite apart from whatever we may be going through in our own lives - there are plenty of reasons for heads to hang low. I wrote this piece of music for just such times, to encourage us to lift our eyes toward the coming King. I was inspired by John’s vision of ‘a door standing open in Heaven’ at the beginning of Revelation 4, which is when he heard a voice calling to him to ‘Come up here,’ and was privileged to see and experience the glories of the Heavenly Kingdom, as well as to glimpse the far-reaching events that were soon to take place on Earth. For us too, there is a call to come up higher to see and know such things as the Lord desires to show and lead us into – things that are sure to transform our understanding and our prayers. So much changes when we share God’s perspective! A big thank you to Nicola Gerrard (flute), Cathie Muncie (viola) Thomas and Julia Herzog, (Oboe and recorder) Heather Bradley (violin) and Sally Prittie (piano) for their beautiful play

Back in 1979 Ros and I were part of a lovely small community in Oxford set up by the Anglican church I was working for. We will always remember Martin Charlesworth writing this song and singing it to us for the first time. Megan kindly sang it for us at one of our recording events; it is as lovely as ever more than forty years later.

Since so many of have received rejections in one form or another, and been wounded by them, it can be really helpful to ask a friend, pastor or counsellor to minister lovingly into the depths of these hurts hurt. Perhaps you can send this tender prayer to someone you know who is in need of a deeper touch from the Lord. Or why not pray it for each other, and then continue on where these words leave off.

If you have been in any kind of ministry, then you will almost certainly know what it is to have felt rejected and gossiped about. Some churches ought to have a notice posted on the door: ‘Here be dragons!’ How we need to guard our heart and be careful what we say and think, Lord! You know that our thoughts control our life, and that they lead to many consequences. (Prov. 4:23) Align our hearts with Yours so that we run in the freedom of Your leading, rather than toiling and labouring under the crushing impact of stinging words and actions reinforcing our sense of rejection. Lead us to friends and counsellors with whom we are able share honestly about the pain that these stinging criticisms have caused, people who are able to lovingly tend our wounds and draw out darts and arrows that have pierced our soul. Help them to help us readjust burdens and deep concerns that we have allowed to slip from spirit to soul – for that is what it means to carry each other’s burdens and so walk in the way of the Lord. (Ga

Pantete Chairete - Rejoice always (1 Thess. 5:16) I had long wanted to record this gloriously dynamic movement from Bach’s magnificent 4th Brandenburg concerto, and was so grateful when the chance came along to do so. Massive thanks to the heroic musicians who played this challenging piece so beautifully for us - Julia and Thomas Herzog, (recorders), Susanne Herzog, Shirley Richards and Helen Rees (violins), Julian Chan (viola), Jo Garcia (cello) and Christiane von Albrecht (continuo). We hope the accompanying words will prove an inspiration too. People are concerned to go to great lengths to use PC (Politically Correct) language these days – but here’s a radically different suggestion from the Greek New Testament. for how we might prefer to look on the abbreviation ‘PC’: Pantete Chairete - Rejoice always. When Jesus first showed Himself alive from the dead to His disciples in Matthew 28:9, He used the word chairete ‘rejoice’ as His greeting to them. Paul likewise closed his second letter to the Corinthi

We are here because the Father asked You to press on with Your mercy mission, no matter what came against You. We are here because multitudes upon multitudes of Your spokesmen and women refused to give up in the face of the repeated threats and losses that each and every one of them faced. Jesus, help us to press on through the darkness and indifference and opposition to bring You, Jesus Christ, to people’s hearts. No matter how bruised, battered and empty our hearts feel, nor how much in need of an uplift, we want to push on through, because You honour those who persevere. My child, do you remember the question CS Lewis asked? “Does there have to be so much pain in loving?” I have heard you ask that too. Come and look at it from My view of things: If you were to refuse to love, would that make things easier or better? If I had decided that the Pharisees were not for turning, that the Romans were too fierce, and that I wanted to return home to My Father – would that have been nobler? Would the world – and

It is a great delight to release this extract from Moneteverdi’s glorious Vespers. I discovered from research that the whole piece was used for intercession for special needs facing the nation during the 16th and 17th centuries: especially wars, famines, plagues and such like threats. These prayers were written (and in many cases have been preserved) separately from the sung portions of the Vespers themselves. At this time when the world is facing so many challenges, let’s write our own prayers and send them heaven-wards to accompany this glorious music! With grateful thanks to Anthony Thompson and Kevin Ashman, who took the lead parts on the trumpet, and all the other anointed musicians.