Hymns & Why We Need Them - Marc's Music Notables

A hymn is not just an “old song” we used to sing.  Yes, many of the great hymns have been sung literally for centuries, but we do not sing hymns because they are old; we sing them because they are so true that they have survived all the fads of language, rhythm feels, and musical trends.  If new hymns live, it will be for the same reason.  In fact, there are many new hymns being written and whole hymn movements of new writers rising up, not only in the U.S. but in the U.K. and Scandinavia.  Then what is a hymn, and why do we need them?

First of all, a hymn is meant to be sung corporately.  When we gather with other Believers, we sing together praise to God or remind each other just who this God is that we serve. In general, we could think of hymns as those songs of praise and worship we send up to God identifying for all to hear His attributes and thanking Him for His amazing intervention in our world and in our lives. 

We sing of the incarnation: God who was before anything existed, the Cause and Source of all things, God of grandeur, power and infinite glory chose to become one of us and to walk with us – Immanuel!  Hymns are God-centered and call our attention upward.  They are lofty in message and lift us above the earth.  They remind us of our original glory that preceded any “original sin” and remind us of God’s intention to see that glory restored in us.  The exchange in hymns, then, is vertical – connecting us to God and seeking to hear His voice speaking to our hearts in return.

Hymns are firmly rooted in God’s Word and, since they are intended to be sung corporately by the fellowship of believers, pull us above our petty differences by reminding us of God’s dream for us – that we would be one.  

No wonder, then, that when times are confusing or the world is in upheaval, we find ourselves needing songs that nail to the wall the deep cardinal truths of our faith and the always available and ever dependable qualities of God.  When we cannot sing them as a congregation, we sing them to ourselves to help us remember that the Body of Christ is always at the table and the great cloud of witnesses are always present to encourage, love  and support.  When we sing hymns alone, we refocus on the ways this great God has delivered us before; this focus turns our anxieties to praise and our questions to certainties.  Therefore, let us continue to proudly sing our hymns, together or alone, not only to praise God but as a daily reminder of his goodness and mercy.

Caesar Salad w/ Homemade Dressing - Jenna's Favorites

It’s amazing how easy it is to make your own salad dressings at home with just a few simple        ingredients! This vegan Caesar dressing is one of my favorites. A lot of recipes will call for egg yolk or anchovies, which many people do not tolerate well. This recipe uses hummus as a base,  and is generally safe for most people with food allergies. You can take it to the next level by also    making your own croutons with whatever bread you prefer, including gluten-free or paleo options.  I make this regularly for dinners with friends, and consistently get positive reviews!

 Ingredients:

For Dressing

· 1 cup plain organic hummus

· 2 Tbsp olive oil

· 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

· 2 Tbsp lemon juice

· 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar

· 2 Tbsp capers (plus the brine)

· 2 tsp garlic powder

· Salt, to taste

For Salad

· Romaine lettuce or mixed greens

· Shaved parmesan cheese

· Croutons (bonus points for homemade!)

 Directions:

1. In a blender, combine all ingredients for dressing and blend until smooth. You can also use a tall jar and an immersion blender.

2. Taste a small amount of the dressing. If the flavor of the hummus is too strong, add a little more of the lemon juice, vinegar, or capers & brine, depending on your preference. Blend and taste again. Continue adding small amounts of whatever seems to be lacking until the taste is satisfactory. Keep in mind that the flavor will not be quite as strong once the dressing is   tossed into the salad, so it should taste pretty strong on its own.

3. Prepare the salad greens and toss them with dressing.

4. Top with croutons and parmesan. Serve immediately.

 Notes:

· You can prepare the dressing a day or two ahead of time and store in the fridge. It will be thicker when it’s cold, so you’ll want to pull it out of the fridge a couple hours before serving and let it warm until it gets back to the right consistency.

· It’s pretty easy to make your own croutons! Just take a few slices of whatever bread you like (I use a gluten-free bread made with paleo ingredients). Cut each slice into small cubes, then toss the cubes with olive oil, garlic powder, and Italian seasonings. Bake on a cookie sheet at 350 for 15-20 min. Flip them halfway through baking, and check them every few minutes to prevent burning.

Happiness In Christ - Reece's Peace's

The US Declaration of Independence defines one of our inalienable rights as the “Pursuit of Happiness.” But for many of us, that pursuit feels like a constant chase, a fleeting feeling that disappears with the next deadline or unexpected bill.

Here at Hurstbourne Christian Church, we're starting a new sermon series called "Happiness in Christ." Over the next few weeks, we'll delve into the idea of Christian happiness, a happiness that goes far beyond fleeting moments of joy.

Overcoming Challenges

In the boxing world, there’s a famous quote from Mike Tyson: “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” Now, I hope that none of you are regularly experiencing a literal punch in the mouth, but there’s a parallel in life. We can all find happiness when things are smooth sailing, but when life throws its unexpected punches, it can be challenging to sustain that happiness. Perseverance in the face of adversity can be as crucial to our happiness as almost anything else. Christ promises to stand with us in every moment of our lives, but nowhere does He promise an easy journey.

Gratitude & Thanksgiving

The practice of thanksgiving helps us recognize that whatever we have is sufficient. There will always be individuals with more or less, people who go hungry, and others who discard food we would gladly consume. Offering thanks to God only when we feel like we have enough isn’t truly being thankful. Instead, it’s essential to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. This way, regardless of what you have or the circumstances you face, you are thankful to God for the breath in your lungs and the life you have at this very moment. Life itself is a precious gift that we are meant to carry with us.

Serving Others & Happiness

As we learn more about God, we often realize that material possessions do not equate to happiness. We understand the significance of serving others and spreading love, as exemplified by Christ. This presents an opportunity to redirect our focus from the worldly desires imposed upon us to a deeper, more spiritual passion that aligns with Christ’s teachings

Battle Hymn Of The Republic - Marc Music Notables

Julia Ward Howe was born into a wealthy family in New York City in 1819. Descended from Roger Williams and two governors of Rhode Island, she mixed socially with such luminaries as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Charles Dickens. Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) counted himself as her friend.

In 1843 she married Samuel Gridley Howe, eighteen years her senior. An autocratic husband, he sharply limited her activities and took charge of her money, which he managed ruinously. When he died in 1876, she wrote in her diary, “Start my new life today.”

Howe used her writing and speaking skills to promote a number of causes, including women’s rights, education reform, and the abolition of slavery.

In 1861, she traveled to Washington D.C., where she met with Abraham Lincoln at the White House. She also visited a Union army camp, where she heard soldiers singing, “John Brown’s body lies a’molderin’ in the grave” - a song honoring John Brown, a prominent abolitionist who had been hanged for treason against the state of Virginia in 1859.

Howe’s pastor, the Reverend James Freeman Clarke, asked her to consider writing new words to that tune. That night, in her hotel room, the words came to mind as she tried to sleep. She got up and wrote them hastily on an old piece of paper. She then offered her poem to The Atlantic Monthly magazine, which published it in February 1862, sending her a check for five dollars.

Chaplain C.C. McCabe of the Union army heard the song, and began to teach it to the soldiers in his command. It soon spread to soldiers in other units, and finally to ordinary citizens of the Union States. It became incredibly popular, making Howe famous.

The song is couched in the language of Christ’s Second Coming - a time when Christ will “sift out the hearts of men before His judgment seat.” Howe’s “grapes of wrath” in the first verse alludes to the passage in Revelation 14:19, which speaks of “the great winepress of the wrath of God.”

Howe’s mention of “the trumpet that shall never sound retreat” might allude to the trumpets of Revelation 8, where seven angels sound seven trumpets. However, that phrase spoke loudly to soldiers who, in the confusion of battle, received their commands from trumpet sounds. A “trumpet that shall never sound retreat” was an inspiring image for those soldiers.

Howe’s song continues to enjoy great popularity. Lyndon Johnson had it sung at his inauguration in 1965. Andy Williams sang it at Robert Kennedy’s funeral in 1968.

But the loveliest story comes from James Humes, a presidential speechwriter. Humes interviewed General Eisenhower a few weeks after Winston Churchill’s funeral in 1965. He asked Eisenhower to talk about the most moving moment of that funeral - and Eisenhower mentioned this song. He noted that Churchill had learned this song at his American mother’s knee. It was one of his favorites.

Battle Hymn Of The Republic Eisenhower said, “We all know the first verse, ‘Mine eyes have seen the glory’ - but do you know the third verse? Because there I was seated with heads of state - Charles de Gaulle of France, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. King Olav of Norway, King Baudoin of Belgium, heads of nations whose freedom had been redeemed by the warrior who lay in state only yards before us:

“And I could see feelings of gratitude and reverence mist their eyes as they did my own as we all sang:

‘He sounded forth the trumpet that never called retreat. His will goes marching on.’ ”

(From Humes’ book, Confessions of a White House Ghostwriter)

Red, White & Blue Berry Pizza - Jenna's Favorites

4th of July celebrations are the perfect occasion for this patriotic dessert! A simple crust, creamy topping, and some mixed berries are all you need to have a festive and tasty treat for your holiday gatherings. Slice and serve just like pizza!

Ingredients:

For Crust

• 1/2 cup pecans or walnuts, finely chopped

• 1 & 1/4 cup almond flour

• 2 Tbsp coconut flour

• 1 egg

• 1-2 Tbsp pure maple syrup

• 1 Tbsp melted butter or coconut oil

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1/4 tsp salt For Topping

• 1/3 cup plain Greek or non-diary yogurt

• 8 oz cream cheese or coconut cream (the thick stuff)

• 1 Tbsp pure maple syrup

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1-2 cups blueberries/raspberries/blackberries/ sliced strawberries

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine all ingredients for the crust and mix thoroughly.

3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and transfer crust mix to the sheet. Press the dough into a round or rectangular shape with hands. When roughly formed, cover with another sheet of parchment and roll out with a rolling pin until it’s 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.

4. Bake for approximately 16 minutes, until the edges are golden. Remove from oven and let cool.

5. While crust is cooling, combine all ingredients for topping in another bowl, except the berries. Mix until smooth and thoroughly combined.

6. Once crust is completely cooled, spread the topping mixture over it, then top with the berries. You can be as artistic and creative with the design as you want, or simply scatter them around. It all tastes delicious, no matter what you do!

7. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Slice into small pieces and enjoy!

*You can make the crust and topping mixture ahead of time, but it’s best to wait to assemble the whole thing until shortly before serving. If it’s assembled too far in advance, the crust may get soggy.

**Banana slices make an excellent addition & fit in with the red, white & blue theme. If you aren’t going for a patriotic theme, you can add any kind of fruit that you enjoy