Holy Holy Holy

One of the songs we played in Portugal is the beautiful hymn "Holy, Holy, Holy."  This video is a recording of Rezounding Praize from our CD. The pictures are from our visit to Porto.While we were in Porto we were able to play a special 2 choir arrangement of this song. We played with Orqestra da Sinos de Mão do Porto. They were very good and it was a lot of fun playing with them.

"Holy, Holy, Holy" is based on Isaiah 6.

Isaías 6
1 No ano em que morreu o rei Uzias, eu vi também ao Senhor assentado sobre um alto e sublime trono; e o seu séquito enchia o templo.
2 Serafins estavam por cima dele; cada um tinha seis asas; com duas cobriam os seus rostos, e com duas cobriam os seus pés, e com duas voavam.
3 E clamavam uns aos outros, dizendo: Santo, Santo, Santo é o SENHOR dos Exércitos; toda a terra está cheia da sua glória.
4 E os umbrais das portas se moveram à voz do que clamava, e a casa se encheu de fumaça.
5 Então disse eu: Ai de mim! Pois estou perdido; porque sou um homem de lábios impuros, e habito no meio de um povo de impuros lábios; os meus olhos viram o Rei, o SENHOR dos Exércitos.
6 Porém um dos serafins voou para mim, trazendo na sua mão uma brasa viva, que tirara do altar com uma tenaz;
7 E com a brasa tocou a minha boca, e disse: Eis que isto tocou os teus lábios; e a tua iniquidade foi tirada, e expiado o teu pecado.
8 Depois disto ouvi a voz do Senhor, que dizia: A quem enviarei, e quem há de ir por nós? Então disse eu: Eis-me aqui, envia-me a mim.

 

 

1 Pedro 1

15 Mas, como é santo aquele que vos chamou, sede vós também santos em toda a vossa maneira de viver;
16 Porquanto escrito está: Sede santos, porque eu sou santo.

 

1 Peter 1 HCSB

15 But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct;

16 for it is written, Be holy because I am holy.

Rezounding Praize in Porto - Group Shots

We took a few "group shots" while we were in Porto.

Posing at the metro stop - Santo Ovidio.

In Vila Nova de Gaia

Com novos amigos do Colegio Ellen Key

On the church steps with our friends Andy, Michelle, Micah and Ethan Milam. The church is
Igreja Evangélica Baptista de V N Gaia
Rua Soares dos Reis, 41 - Gaia 

Paz Com Deus

Encontre a paz com Deus

 

 Encontre a paz com Deus

 

 

Concerto de Sinos de Mão

Concerto de sinos de mão
Domingo, 16/6 19h

Handbell choir da Igreja Baptista de Hilldale
Clarksville, Tennessee, Estados Unidos
e Orqestra da Sinos de Mão do Porto

no auditório da
Igreja Evangélica Baptista de V N Gaia
Rua Soares dos Reis, 41 - Gaia

(metro: João de Deus STCP: 900, 903, 905, 907)

Entrada Livre)

Amazing Grace

Você pode encontrar muita informação sobre o hino "Amazing Grace" aqui
Amazing Grace-historia de um hino

Você pode ouvir a música em nosso CD.


Maravilhosa graça

Maravilhosa graça, como é doce o som

Que salvou alguém como eu

Estava perdida mas agora me encontrei

Estava cega, mas agora vejo

 

Foi a Graça que ensinou meu coração a temer

E Graça, meus medos foram levados

Como é precioso que a graça tenha aparecido

Na hora em que acreditei

 

Com muitos perigos, sustos e medos

Nós viemos

Foi a Graça que nos levou a salvo para longe

E a Graça nos levou para casa

 

Quando estávamos aqui por muitos anos

Brilho forte como o do sol

Não temos menos dias para cantar para o prazer de Deus

Como quando começamos

A Portuguêsa

I have searched all across the Internet and I think I can say with certainty that this is the only recording of "A Portuguêsa" played on handbells that is on the Internet and perhaps on any CD or anywhere else in the world.
How cool is that? O único lugar em todo o mundo! Muito legal, não é?


Here is "A Portuguêsa" arranged by R. Lyndel Littleton, director, and played by Rezounding Praize, the High School handbell choir from Hilldale Baptist Church, Clarksville, TN, USA.

 

 

America the Beautiful

Since we have "A Portuguêsa" on our CD we thought it would be nice to also have a song from the United States. One of our favorite patriotic songs is "America the Beautiful." The music was written by Samuel A. Ward. The text was written in 1893 by Katherine Lee Bates after she had visited the summit of Pike's Peak.

The view from the top of Pikes Peak inspired the opening lines.

O beautiful for spacious skies
for amber waves of grain
for purple mountain majesties
above the fruited plain.

In each chorus there is a request made to God on behalf of America.
"God shed His grace on thee"
"God mend thine every flaw"
"May God thy gold refine"
"God shed His grace on thee"

(Se o Português é a sua primeira língua, "thee" e "thine" são velhas palavras inglesas para você e sua.)

This is still our prayer for America and for Portugal - that God would make us better countries. He does that as followers of Jesus Christ live for God.

The Bible tells us ways that we should pray for our nations. Here are two passages.

2 Chronicles (Crónicas) 7

14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

14 e se o meu povo, que se chama pelo meu nome, se humilhar, e orar, e buscar a minha face, e se desviar dos seus maus caminhos, então eu ouvirei do céu, e perdoarei os seus pecados, e sararei a sua terra.

Amigos!

2 Timothy (Timóteo) 2

1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,	1 Exorto, pois, antes de tudo que se façam súplicas, orações, intercessões, e ações de graças por todos os homens,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.	2 pelos reis, e por todos os que exercem autoridade, para que tenhamos uma vida tranqüila e sossegada, em toda a piedade e honestidade.
3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,	3 Pois isto é bom e agradável diante de Deus nosso Salvador,
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.	4 o qual deseja que todos os homens sejam salvos e cheguem ao pleno conhecimento da verdade.

Amazing Grace - Graça Maravilhosa

The first song on our CD "Rezounding Praize - A Aventura Portuguêsa" is "Amazing Grace" ou "Graça Maravilhosa" em Português.

What can I say about this song? It is probably one of the most recognized songs around the world. Even people who are not followers of Jesus Christ know the song.

What can I say about God's grace?

Entire books have been written about God's grace. So how can I put into a short blog post how wonderful God's grace is?

I think I'll just let the Bible explain God's grace without commentary from me. Here are some of the hundreds of verses in the Bible that tell us about God's grace.

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

João 1:14 E o Verbo se fez carne, e habitou entre nós, cheio de graça e de verdade; e vimos a sua glória, como a glória do unigênito do Pai.

Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

Efésios 1:7 em quem temos a redenção pelo seu sangue, a redenção dos nossos delitos, segundo as riquezas da sua graça,

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith ; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God ;

Efésios 2:8 Porque pela graça sois salvos, por meio da fé; e isto não vem de vós, é dom de Deus;

Hebrews 4:16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebreus 4:16 Cheguemo-nos, pois, confiadamente ao trono da graça, para que recebamos misericórdia e achemos graça, a fim de sermos socorridos no momento oportuno.

Porque Deus amou o mundo de tal maneira que deu o seu Filho unigênito, para que todo aquele que nele crê não pereça, mas tenha a vida eterna...

Deus Ama Você

Quatro Leis Espirituais

http://www.deusamavoce.com/

Immortal, Invisible

Our song "Immortal, Invisible" is an arrangement of a hymn that first appeared in a hymnal in 1884. The tune is an old Welsh folk song that first appeared as a hymn tune in 1839.

Even though it is an old tune and an old text, it is still beautiful and the text is very majestic in it's description of God.

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,

In light inaccessible hid from our eyes.

Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,

Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise. 

The opening line of the text had its inspiration from 1 Timothy 1:17

1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Timóteo 1:17 Ora ao Rei dos séculos, imortal, invisível, ao único Deus seja honra e glória para todo o sempre. Amen.

 Paul considered himself the worst of sinners. He had persecuted the church. Acts 8:3 says “Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.”

But God in his grace reached out to Saul and made him into a new man. Saul changed his name to Paul to show that Jesus Christ had changed him.

In the verses just before 1 Timothy 1:17 Paul gives his testimony of God’s grace in his life and so verse 17 is a response of praise to God because of His grace.

I Timothy 1:13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

1 Timóteo 1:13 A mim, que dantes fui blasfemo, e perseguidor, e opressor; mas alcancei misericórdia, porque o fiz ignorantemente, na incredulidade. 14 E a graça de nosso Senhor superabundou com a fé e amor que há em Jesus Cristo.

 15 Esta é uma palavra fiel, e digna de toda a aceitação, que Cristo Jesus veio ao mundo, para salvar os pecadores, dos quais eu sou o principal. 16 Mas por isso alcancei misericórdia, para que em mim, que sou o principal, Jesus Cristo mostrasse toda a sua longanimidade, para exemplo dos que haviam de crer nele para a vida eterna.

 Have you experienced God’s grace? You don’t have to make yourself better before you come to God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul was the worst of sinners, and yet, God’s grace was poured out on him abundantly. God reaches out to you in grace no matter what sins you have committed. Deus Ama Voce! On the sidebar of this blog you’ll see some links that will help you see the Good News of Jesus Christ.

♫ ♪ Notes on the music ♪ ♫

"Immortal Invisible" begins with a mysterious sound as the lower bells are played with mallets and the melody of the hymn is played in a minor key. This reflects the mystery of our eternal, immortal, invisible King. The music changes into a bright major key as we remember Paul’s words “the grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly.” The music returns to the minor theme as we realize this mystery - that the great God of the universe reaches out to us in love. Amazing, isn’t it?! And wonderful!



Here is a link to the publisher - not for you to buy a copy, but there is a link on this page where you can hear the song. Listen to Immortal Invisible.

 

 

Deus cuida

A Bíblia diz em 1 Pedro 5:7
Lancem sobre ele toda a sua ansiedade, porque ele tem cuidado de vocês.




Filipenses 4:6-7
Não estejais inquietos por coisa alguma: antes as vossas petições sejam em tudo conhecidas diante de Deus pela oração e súplicas, com acção de graças. E a paz de Deus, que excede todo o entendimento, guardará os vossos corações e os vossos sentimentos em Cristo Jesus.

What's in a Name?

There's an old Chinese proverb that says, "The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right names."

Choosing a name for a new group is important: it tells a story. It tells of hopes and dreams - of aspirations.

Our High School Handbell Choir needed a name. We looked at the names of other handbells choirs to find some inspiration.

Many of them were named after a place or church: The Raleigh Ringers (they are awesome! by the way), Bells of St. Francis, etc.

Some had distinctly handbell names: The Tininnabulators (tintinnabulation is the sound of bells), Totally Bronze, Classical Bells.

Many just picked a word they liked and added "ringers" to it: Joy Ringers, Jubilate Ringers, The King Ringers.

And a few were just silly: The Ringadingdingers, The Dingalings


Our High School Handbell choir has chosen the name "ReZounding PraiZe." I think it is a perfect name.

Here are the definitions of "resounding" and "praise" according to Merriam-Webster online http://www.merriam-webster.com/

re·sound·ing

adjective \-ˈzau̇n-diŋ also -ˈsau̇n-\

Definition of RESOUNDING

1: producing or characterized by resonant sound : resonating

2a: impressively sonorous

 b: emphatic, unequivocal <a resounding success>

¹praise

verb \ˈprāz\

praisedprais·ing

Definition of PRAISE

transitive verb

1: to express a favorable judgment of : commend

2: to glorify (a god or saint) especially by the attribution of perfections

intransitive verb

: to express praise

 

 

²praise

noun

Definition of PRAISE

1a: an expression of approval : commendation

 b: worship

2a: value, merit

 b: archaic: one that is praised

 

So you can see from our name that our purpose is to both create a beautiful resonant sound and to emphatically give praise to our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Why spell them with a "Z"? It just looks cool.