Tag: Music

Posted in Sunday Evening Song

“There’s a Dawn in Every Darkness”

Posted on by Neal Saye

At our church’s Easter service this morning, we sang one of my very favorite songs/hymns of all time: The Hymn of Promise. Its truth is exactly what I needed to hear, sing, and believe during these trouble times in which we find ourselves.

If you have a moment, I invite you to experience its uplift and encouragement. (The lyrics are below.)

In the bulb, there is a flower
In the seed, an apple tree
In cocoons, a hidden promise
Butterflies will soon be free

In the cold and snow of winter
There’s a spring that waits to be
Unrevealed until its season
Something God alone can see

There’s a song in every silence
Seeking word and melody
There’s a dawn in every darkness
Bringing hope to you and me

From the past will come the future
What it holds, a mystery
Unrevealed until its season
Something God alone can see

In our end is our beginning
In our time, infinity
In our doubt, there is believing
In our life, eternity
In our death, a resurrection
At the last, a victory

Unrevealed until its season
Something God alone can see

I Wish You a Peaceful Easter Evening 2025.

Robert and Neal
Posted in Christmas Countdown 2023

Countdown to Christmas: 12/24/23 — “Sing a Christmas Song”

Posted on by Neal Saye

This year my Countdown to Christmas is a nontraditional Advent Calendar centering (pun intended) on mindfulness.

On the front of each card is neat little picture, and on the back are the instructions for the short meditation.

Today, the 24th and last Day of Advent … SING A CHRISTMAS SONG.

Here are today’s instructions:

Activating your body, mind, breath and voice, there are few activities that involve you more comprehensively in the present than singing. Your task today is to sing a Christmas song.

Don’t worry, this need not be some grand solo performance to an audience – it could be singing carols as part of a group, an a cappella version in the safety of the shower, or simply singing along to a song on the radio – wherever you choose to sing, all that matters is that you give it your full attention and really go for it.

Feel the breath in your chest and the vocal vibrations in your throat; hear the sound of your voice; follow the patter of the melody, consider the meaning of the lyrics. Feel the various emotions involved, both in the tone and message of the song and in the personal feelings you get from the activity of singing. And most of all, enjoy singing for singing’s sake, for the fun and expressive act that it is.

Singing engages you completely in the moment and can be as relaxing as it is exhilarating.

Here’s a short video of grandson Daniel and his girlfriend Amalie singing “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” at a Savannah Ghost Pirates ice hockey game last night …

May your Christmas 2023 be a Song of Joy.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 3/31/23

Posted on by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Finishing with Robert perhaps one of the top three novels we’ve read together in the last ten years …

Oh my goodness, it’s hilarious, heartwarming, heartbreaking, a mystery, a treatise on our economy and banking system, a love story/love stories, an examination of the inevitably difficult dynamics of family. And a book FULL of surprises. I did not want it to end. I miss the characters. I highly recommend it!

What a joy to read a good book.

2. The 2023 Savannah Music Festival.

What a treat! Last night Robert and I went to a bluegrass event with incredible banjoes, fiddles and guitars.

(Just so you know, I played trombone in high school. Okay, I was 3rd chair. And I really never managed to march on the football field and play my instrument at the same time. But still.)

3. Air. Oxygen. Breath.

4. HR finally learning how to photograph me now that I’m 71.

5. This morning walking past my favorite old Savannah mansion which faces Forsyth Park.

May your weekend’s peace and joy be of mansion proportions.

Posted in My Saturday Evening Post

My Saturday Evening Post: 2/26/22 “The Gate of Kiev”

Posted on by Neal Saye

For this week’s Saturday Evening Post, I share with you excerpts from today’s weekly email from Billy Hester, the pastor of our church here in Savannah — Asbury Memorial.

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Dear Asbury & Wesley Oak Family,

I write you with a heavy heart due to the tragedy occurring in Europe. For the first time since World War II, Air Raid Sirens are going off in Kyiv. We are seeing the worst of humanity as Russia invades Ukraine, destroying the lives of countless men, women, and children. More than ever, we need to come together in prayer. I hope you will join me in church this Sunday as I lead us in prayer for the people of these two countries and for the world.

When I was a teenager I was a percussionist in the Savannah Youth Orchestra. But honestly, I wasn’t a very good drummer…as in the snare drum. But I played a pretty mean bass drum. My real speciality was playing the cymbals. I could clash with the best of them! And I got to play the cymbals on my favorite piece of music that we performed, a song called, “The Great Gate of Kiev.” It is one of the most majestic and inspiring songs ever written. Kiev is another way of spelling the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv. The song was written to celebrate the Golden Gate that was built to protect Kiev in 1873.

The Great Gate of Kiev

Here is the song. It’s about 9 minutes long. I invite you to pray for the people of Ukraine as you listen to it.

After you spend this 9 minutes in prayer, go back to the 8:00 minute mark of the song and watch the orchestra play the last part of the song. This was my favorite part. It’s when the cymbals really take over. Watch the cymbal player, and imagine little Billy Hester clashing away on the stage at the Civic Center!

Love & peace, Rev. Billy Hester

May there be Peace on Earth.

Lord in Your Mercy, Hear our Prayer.