Ruach Breath of Life

May the Lord draw close to you at the end of this day, as you join with Ros, Grace and myself in praying for His presents to and be with you through the night. It would be hard to imagine a more glorious piece of music than this chant from Taizé, which our friends from Wellspring sang, and which we are grateful to have permission to use here.

Join Ros, Grace, Sally and myself as we pray the Lord's covering over the span of our nation, and Shirley Richards, Helen Rees, Cathie Muncey, Chian Lewis Lim, Corinne Frost (strings) and Fontane Liang (keyboard) as they lead us in the beautiful music of the second movement of Vivaldi’s Concerto in D minor Op. 8:7 RV 242. This is followed by a well-known piece that we are offering as an Interlude...

Seeking First The Kingdom by Ruach Breath of Life

Celebrating Truth In A Post Truth Era by Ruach Breath of Life

Music: A beautiful piece that Richard Williamson originally improvised, followed by further improvisations Musicians: Julian Chang (viola soloist) Julia Herzog, Shirley Richards, Suzanne Herzog, (strings), James Horsfall (keyboard) Forgive us, Lord, that we are the generation that believes in our disbelief. There is no limit to the depravity that we have fallen into, Lord, or to the cynicism we ha...

Music: Minor Muse by Colin Owen Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and put upon us the armour of light. Lord, You alone know our inmost thoughts and the true condition of our heart. Overcome our reluctance to seek You and deepen our trust in Your dealings with us, Lord. For where we are tempted to see only difficulties You see a whole range of possibilities. Strengthen...

When I hesitate, I give ground to the enemy. Help me not to falter or to hesitate with what You have given me to do. Free me from trying to carry responsibilities that are not mine to carry, and from avoiding those which are. Lord, free us from judgmental thoughts and assumptions, that trap us and others in unhelpful patterns of behaviour. Keep us from the pitfalls of pride and peer-group pressure...

Music: The Second movement of Torelli’s trumpet Concerto in D (Etienne), plus an improvisation on the theme. Musicians: Philippa Barton, Helen Rees, Julian Chan, Jo Garcia, (strings) James Horsfall (keyboard) Solzhenitsyn wrote, ‘The line dividing good and evil cuts through the hearts of every human being, and which of us is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?’ Make us willing to face the...

As we turn to You now, Lord, we praise You that Your presence is close at hand and the way to Your heaven wide open for us. We throw open the doors of our hearts and celebrate the love that has called us to Your service. May the grace of Christ light our paths; our journeys and encounters, our hopes and our plans. We offer them, Lord, to You; direct them for Your glory. The Music: Lauda 1, written...

Lord, You have much for us to hear and do but our hearts must be very still and quiet to listen, like Mary, who chose the better part. Draw our souls to silence, that we may sit at Your feet and gain strength and direction. The Music: Largo from Vivaldi’s Concerto for piccolo and strings When I was a student, I watched a moving French film called L’Enfant Sauvage, about the real-life story of a bo...

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what You have prepared for those who love You, Lord, but You have revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Music: Gabrielli’s Canzone primi toni The end of the 16th century found Giovanni Gabrieli combining the roles of organist and principal composer at St Mark’s Cathedral, where he was able to take full advantage of the superb acoustics in tha...

The Music: Vitality – an improvisation, and an Extract from Brahms’s St Anthony Chorale (which itself was based on a theme by Haydn) Musicians: Vitality: Nicola Gerard, Megan Topley, Shirley Richards, Jane Horsfall, Nick Evans Pugh, Christiane von Albrecht St. Anthony Chorale: Amy Roberts (oboe), Nicola Gerard (flute), Beth Davies (bassoon) On all my many travels, Lord, be my travelling companion....

Back in the 1960s, Dad produced a beautiful Son et Lumière for a church in Nottinghamshire. As part of that presentation, the choir of Southwell Minister kindly agreed to sing some anthems which he recorded, including this exquisite one.

“Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away.” (George Eliot) The Music: A Theme for Oboe by Corelli, arranged...

Why not make this alternating prayer for a special friend your own response? This is a prayer to pray for a special friend: Lord, protect and instruct her heart. Let Your Spirit minister to the depths of her spirit, Keep her from all beguilements and distractions. Watch over every detail of her life and relationships. Lead her, use her, guide her, protect her – at home, at work, at night, in praye...

For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised. The Lord made the heavens; splendour and majesty are before Him; strength and joy fill His dwelling! (Adapted from 1 Chronicles 1: 25-27) The Music: The first movement of Torelli’s beautiful Trumpet Concerto in D (Etienne) Musicians: Anthony Thompson, (trumpet) Shirley Richards, Helen Rees, Julian Chang, Jo Garcia (strings), James Horsfall (keyboar...

Music: Schubert Impromptu This is a wonderful word of reassurance by Suzie Hunt; a love song from the Lord to us. With so many of us inclined to struggle with negative thoughts of one kind or another, this powerful poem by Suzie Hunt is a poignant and poetic reminder of Paul’s oft quoted statement that, ‘There is no condemnation now for those who live in union with Christ Jesus.’ (Rom. 8:1 GNT) Yo...

Continuing the theme of coming to the waters, Fontaine Liang continues to play Smetana’s striking piece The Moldau, reflecting the beauties of the Czech countryside that the river flows through. If you missed the first in this series of reflections, I think you will appreciate it. Manuel de Falla's dramatic harp music is again played for us by Fontane Liang. May the river of the water of life flow...

It is a joy to send you Part 2 in our series on ‘Come to the Waters.’ Britannica tells us that the sparkling music that accompanies both these pieces ‘evokes the flow of the Vltava River, from its source in the mountains of the Bohemian Forest, through the Czech countryside, and right into the capital city of Prague.’ You may well know this piece as ‘The Moldau’ – which is the German name for the...

All creation here below Connections Track 21 All creation here below sings the glories of the heavens above and the One who hymns creation into being. By day, Your leading is clear by night it assumes more subtle shades, but both alike are open to Your Spirit, and so we can trust You, for just as we are wonderfully and fearfully made so You are fitting together the full span of Your purposes for o...

I am going to My Father Connections Track 20 My children, I am going to my Father, and to your Father, to prepare the way for you. A little while and you will see me yet, and then another little while and you will not. Will you let me go? Do not be afraid; your love will survive the parting, for though you will not see Me often you will find it best that I return whence I came, to My Father and to...

Connections Track 19 Prayer for Israel. You yearn for the land you set your heart upon as for a first-born child. Lord we declare your glory among the nations Your marvellous deeds among all peoples, for You take especial care all Your hand has formed. We give you now the land You first set Your heart upon, whose soul Jesus quite reshaped, and for whom You yearn as for a first born son. We pray fo...

Connections track 18 Kyrie Eleison Lord have mercy Christe Eleison Christ have mercy Kyrie Eleison At the turning of the season; In the victory of your heart Over commonsense and reason. In the raking up of leaves; And the turning of life’s pages; In a whispered humble prayer Or our broken hearted rages. Kyrie Eleison Lord have mercy Christe Eleison Christ have mercy Kyrie Eleison In the way we ma...

Connections tracks 17 Music by Linda Louisa This is a prayer for prodigals who have walked away from the Lord and drifted from the faith they once had, and those who were leaders of the work of God but who now, for whatever reason, no longer are. Pour out your love on those we are concerned for, Father. Forgive us all we have done, and all that they have experienced elsewhere that has caused them...

Track 16 Adagio by Alessandro Marcello 1669 - 1747 from a Concerto in D minor, second movement From daybreak till midnight the tide will turn four times, even as the clock continues its chimes. Let nothing hinder the incoming tide, as You prepare Your Heavenly Bride. Draw close when the tide feels out, and we are tempted to begin to doubt. May we trust Your purposes in each low tide, when You appe...