A message from Nick Alexander:

We are now in the Easter Season.  Pentecost is coming soon. Pentecost is the traditional celebration as to the birth of the Church, when the Holy Spirit (which Jesus had promised to His followers) descended upon those in the upper room, giving them power to evangelize and to heal.

I am preparing a music resource that will employ the use of many traditional hymns and current worship songs to celebrate the events that occurred in Acts 2. My question is: What are your favorite traditional hymns and praise choruses for Pentecost?

The first section of songs are all in the public domain. The second section of songs are not.  They are culled from every resource I have at my disposal – ccli.com, hymnary.org, and the many songbooks, hymnals and various missallette company resources.  They cut across all denominations.

I need your help, so to ascertain which songs people are hungry for, and which songs are blind spots.  I am discovering there's so many riches in our Christian faith, we can truly benefit from making these songs our own.  Your assistance will ensure that we can help discover anew our heritage and grow from these songs.

Thank you for participating!

Nick

FAVORITE PENTECOST HYMNS

Image by The Meek Warrior; Creative Commons Non-Commercial Use

An email blast from GIA Publications:

Looking for ways renew the spirit of your Pentecost worship?
Try these highly recommended resources from GIA Publications, Inc.

Go to this page and search for item numbers listed below:
https://giamusic.com/search?elSearchTerm=pentecost

For Organ...
G-6005 Veni Creator Spritus
G-8362 Gregorian Preludes for the Liturgical Year

For Organ with Instruments...
G-6433 Fantasy on Veni Creator for Alto Saxaphone and Organ

For Voices and Bells
G-8427 Introits and Anthems for Voices and Bells –- Volume 2

For Handbells...
G-5751 Every Time I Feel the Spirit
G-7251 One Great Spirit
G-7492 Catch the Spirit

For Choir...
G-2665 Burn Bright
G-2831 Spirit of God within Me
G-2914 The Day of Pentecost
G-3003 Let Songs of Praises Fill the Sky
G-3606 Lord, Send Out Your Spirit
G-3915 Send Down the Fire
G-4589 Spirit-Friend
G-4766 Spirit of God Unleashed
G-5321 O Spirit, All Embracing
G-5526 Lord Send Out Your Spirit
G-7135 All Who Are Led by the Spirit
G-7167 When the Holy Spirit Comes
G-8415 Our Comforter and Guide 

July 29 - August 3, 2014 / St. Catherine University, St. Paul, Minnesota

There is still time to apply - but the deadline is very soon!

Come be a part of a magical week with young people and adult leaders! Under the leadership of founder and executive director David Haas, the 2014 team includes: Fr. Ray East, Lori True, Fr. Michael Joncas, Marty Haugen, Bonnie Faber, Kate Cuddy, Stephen Petrunak, Fr. Fran O'Brien, Jaime Cortez, Anna Betancourt, Mary Louise Bringle, Tom Franzak, Lynn Trapp, Sr. Kathleen Harmon, Joe Camacho, Tim Westerhaus, and many more!

Come join 150 other high school and early college students, and 50-60 adult leaders for a week of celebration, learning, growth, and the joy of liturgical music!

Visit www.musicministryalive.com for applications and more information

A note from Susan Bailey, speaker, performing songwriter and author. She is a member of the Catholic Association of Music:

Hi to all of you,

God has graced me with a wonderful healing which I am writing about on my blog. Here are links to the first two posts:

My unexpected miracle healing (part one)

My unexpected miracle healing (part two): openness to God's way

My unexpected miracle healing (part three): healing inside and out

More to come! Thanks be to God! Happy Easter to you.

Peace, Susan Bailey

Listen to/purchase Susan's music 

A message from Nick Alexander:

Today is a great day.  Really.

Today I am releasing a new resource for all those who are fans of my parody songs.  Thank you for your support for all these years.

It is with my pleasure to introduce to you my brand new PDF eBook “NICK ALEXANDER PARODY SONGS: Lyrics, Stories, and More!”

Within its contents you will discover everything you need to know about my parody songs; not just my parody song lyrics, but also my thoughts on every song, my story as to how I learned how to write parodies, and many useful helps, including skit ideas, the cheatsheet for “We Want to Stand United,” and the dance moves for R.C.I.A.   It will also have not one, not two, but three–count them!–THREE extensive indexes, so you can discover songs based on your favorite artist, or by the musical decade, or by specific topic or theme.

Why would you want such a resource?

1. If you are a fan of my religious-based comedy/popular music concoctions, you may want to discover all the songs I’ve done, including those which didn’t make the cut, for whatever reason.
2. If you are a teacher, a youth group leader, or a parent, and you are looking for creative ways to drive home a specific lesson or theme, you may find great ideas within these contents.  The indexes in the back will be of great help for you.
3. If you are a budding parody writer yourself, you may want to know my processes as to how I write parody songs, what makes a good parody stick, and other industry thoughts.
4. You have loads of free time and don’t mind reading stuff like this.

In short, this eBook is made available to anybody who wants it.  To get it, go to this page.  You will then be entered into my mailing list.  This mailing list will be secure, and your info will not be sent to anybody else.  I will use this mailing list to keep you informed on every noteworthy thing I am working on to best benefit you.

Have you perused this book’s contents?  What do you think?  What is your favorite Nick Alexander parody song?  Share below.

Read more at Nick Alexander's site.

A message from John Meng-Frecker:

April 29, 2014

Dear Catholic Artists,

The Archdiocese of Omaha has acknowledged our desire to hold a Catholic Arts Conference in Fall 2015 in Omaha, NE for the occasion of the U.S. debut of The Faces of Christ Art Collection shown by Steen Heidemann (also see Vatican letter from Mons. Juan Miguel Ferrer Grenesche).

We hope to bring together artists and those who use Catholic arts in their various forms, inside and outside of church.  The theme of our conference is “Bringing Sacred Art to the Everyday World”.  We think the timing is good for this event because of the New Evangelization, Pope Francis and because we have the opportunity to display and discuss many fine works in one conference.  Please read the attached theme for our Catholic Arts Conference.

We are looking for connections and commitments by artists and promoters of Catholic Arts in these five areas: two-dimensional fine art, sculptors, architects, musicians, and film.  We welcome the interest of artists, vendors, supporters of Catholic Arts, individuals, and organizations who use Catholic Art.  We want to make the debut of Steen’s exhibit a sparkling event showcasing the beauty, goodness, and truth of Sacred Art in our everyday world.

I received this notice from GIA Music. – Richard Schletty

Full notice here: http://www.giamusic.com/email/index-email-oramos-cantando-sessions.html

An email blast from Keith Mohr at IndieHeaven.com. Details about this group ad buy were posted a couple weeks ago. Use search tool to find that story. – Richard Schletty, creative admin

Just a quick note to let you know it's the last call to promote your music and mission to over 560,000+ fans of Christian music through our "Indie Corner" ad in the May 1 issue of CCM Digital Magazine! 

We have 2 remaining slots...  

From John Michael Talbot Ministries:

Notice: original article has been edited. We have just learned that John Michael Talbot's "Praise the Lord" appearance on Thursday, April 24th will NOT be broadcast until SATURDAY, May 3rd at 2:00 PM PT - 5:00 PM ET. We apologize for this late notice. If you planned on attending the taping this evening at TBN's studio - you are still good to go! Thank you for your understanding and continued support of this ministry! – John Michael Talbot Ministries

We are excited to share that you will have these upcoming opportunities to watch John Michael Talbot on television!

On Wednesday, April 23rd, watch John Michael's new weekly TV show "All Things Are Possible" on The Church Channel. This week's topic is Gospel Chastity. It's not about what you CAN'T do but what you CAN do through a personal love relationship with Jesus Christ.

On Saturday, May 3rd, John Michael will be a special guest on TBN's most popular show, "Praise The Lord". He will be interviewed AND singing his most loved hymn "Holy Is His Name".  

If you do not get The Church Channel or TBN you can still watch online live or after the shows are added to the iTBN.org archives!  Follow the links below and again, from all of us at John Michael Talbot Ministries.

Happy Easter! He Is Risen!

John Michael Talbot Ministries

Wednesday - April 23, 2014
All Things are Possible
John Michael's weekly show on The Church Channel
6:00 PM PST~ 8:00 PM CST ~ 9:00 PM EST

CLICK HERE FOR BROADCAST DETAILS:
http://www.johnmichaeltalbot.com/how-to-watch

SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014 (revised broadcast date)
Praise the Lord
(Live Appearance!)
with Special Guest John Michael Talbot
2:00 PM PT - 5:00 PM ET.

CLICK HERE FOR BROADCAST DETAILS:
http://www.tbn.org/

From the Nick Alexander blog

Holy Week, at this writing, is close upon us.

This is the most sacred time of the year. This is the time where we pause and reflect upon the saddest–and shortly afterwards, the most triumphant–moments in all of history. This is the basis of our belief, that the Son of God would willingly allow Himself to be taken, scourged, and crucified for our sins.

Throughout the centuries, composers of various different musical backgrounds have written thousands of musical pieces that carry through to this day. Pieces that reflect upon his entry into Jerusalem, to the Last Supper, to the way of the Cross. Some of these pieces are the most beautiful you will ever hear.

I had asked my readership as to what their favorite Lent hymns were, and you all responded in kind. Now I have asked what their favorite hymns were for Holy Week. These are the results.

1. What Wondrous Love Is This (56.52%)
2. O Sacred Head, Surrounded (O Sacred Head Now Wounded) (52.17%)
3. Pange Lingua (50.00%)
4. All Glory, Laud, And Honour (45.65%)
5. Ubi Caritas (45.65%)
6. When I Survey The Wondrous Cross (41.30%)
7. Were You There When They Crucified My Lord (36.96%)
8. Stabat Mater (32.61%)
9. At The Cross Her Station Keeping (30.43%)
10. The Old Rugged Cross (30.43%) ... 

Here is an excerpt from Facebook today, April 15, 2014. John Michael Talbot Ministries is reaching out to all Christians, reaching out to old, new and future fans. Give JMT a shout and a Like. - R. Schletty (TCS creative admin)

https://www.facebook.com/johnmichaeltalbot

HELP US FIND ALL OF JOHN MICHAEL TALBOT'S FANS ON FACEBOOK! We are looking for all fans of John Michael Talbot - old and new who are on Facebook! Do you know someone on Facebook who has been lead to Christ by JMTs ministry? Are you blessed by the gospel reflections on this page? His writings? New TV ministry? Please take a moment and share this image and a link to his Facebook page on your timelines! God Bless You!

From  http://store.markmallett.com/about-mark/

Singing and playing guitar since the age of nine, Mark Mallett is a Canadian singer/songwriter, Catholic evangelist and author. Since leaving his career as a successful television journalist in 2000, Mark has been touring extensively throughout North America and abroad giving parish missions & concerts, as well as speaking and ministering at retreats, conferences and Catholic schools. He had the privilege of singing at the Vatican and presenting his music to Pope Benedict XVI. Mark has appeared on EWTN's Life on the Rock as well as many other television and radio broadcasts.

While singing a song he had written for the Mass several years ago, Mark felt drawn to go to the church and pray before the Blessed Sacrament. It was there that He heard the Lord calling him in his heart to become a watchman for this generation, as Pope John Paul II asked the youth at World Youth Day in Toronto, Canada.

So under the care of his spiritual director, Mark began to publish a regular Blog Journal to help prepare the Church for the dramatic times we live in. A summary of those writings was also publshed in the Fall of 2009 in a book called  The Final Confrontation. 

Around the same time, Mark also launched the second phase of his ministry in a periodical webcast called  EmbracingHope.tv.

Mark and his wife Lea have eight beautiful children together (3 girls & 5 boys—in that order) and make their home on a small farm in Western Canada.