The Blog: Ministry, Music, Media
Advent is Now posted on November 29, 2009
Tis the season - for which Jesus is the reason. A teenage girl had such faith that she agreed to give birth to a baby because an angel came to tell her that was what God wanted from her. She had not yet a husband; she had faith. Her betrothed, Joseph, also heard from the angel and was convinced that Mary did not betray him, but was chosen for this purpose. He was chosen to care for and love her and the child. The child, was Jesus.
Advent is a time of preparation in celebration of the birth of Jesus who was divine incarnate on earth. This is how the Christian story begins. It is celebrated beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, which is the Sunday nearest November 30, and ends on Christmas Eve (Dec 24). 
New music for advent on Common Good Radio includes, Resurrection Singers of Haiti, young men who have various challenges to their physical or emotional well being and sing of peace and love, Irish youth singing of love in the healing of their country from Playing for Change, African children from the Global Praise, United Methodist Church of Global Ministries division, and music of Christmas.
Christmas music to help us celebrate hope, peace, love and joy on Common Good Radio comes from artists like: Vanessa Williams, Whitney Houston, George Benson, Lauren Wood, Rob Barrett, Sting, Amy Grant, more! We even have a story about a princess who lives far away and into the future who gets a present she has always dreamed of! Listen for, yours truly (with songs!).
Please comment if you like to have all Christmas music, 24/7, during this blessed season of hope, peace, joy and love!
For the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Advent posted on November 29, 2009
Tis the season - for which Jesus is the reason.
Advent is a time of preparation in celebration of the birth of Jesus who was divine incarnate on earth. This is how the Christian story begins. It is celebrated beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, which is the Sunday nearest November 30, and ends on Christmas Eve (Dec 24). If Christmas Eve is a Sunday, it is counted as the fourth Sunday of Advent, with Christmas Eve proper beginning at sundown. A teenage girl had such faith that she agreed to give birth to a baby because an angel came to tell her that was what God wanted from her. She had faith.
New music includes Resurrection Singer of Haiti, young men who have various challenges to their physical or emotional well being and sing of peace and love, Irish youth singing of love in the healing of their country, African children from the Global Praise United Methodist Church of Global Ministries division, and music of Christmas.
Christmas music to help us celebrate hope, peace, love and joy on Common God Radio comes from artists like: Vanessa Williams, Whitney Houston, George Benson, Lauren Wood, Rob Barrett, Amy Grant, more! We even have a story about a princess who lives far away and into the future who gets a present she has always dreamed of! Listen for, You Must Have a Name, on Common Good Radio, told by, yours truly (with songs!).
Please comment if you like to have all Christmas music, 24/7 during this blessed season of hope, peace, joy and love!
For the common good,
Pastor Robin
There is 1 comment “Advent” was posted by Pastor Robin
Songs About Loss and Death posted on November 21, 2009
Greetings Friends,
This week while witnessing the bruhahah over the new Twilight, New Moon, vampire movie with excited tween and teen-girls (and their mothers), further news media regarding the murders at Fort Hood and the war in general and the fact that a colleague of mine died last week, I have been thinking about the resources media has to help parents discuss death, dying, loss and mournful grieving. Parents of faith, even with that faith perspective that comes from scriptural resources often still find it difficult when the tough conversation becomes necessary.
On Common Good Radio, we play a few songs that might be of use to you in this sensitive and delicate conversation with your child. Part of your conversation depends on your comfort level and experience with the topic of death and loss, part of it your child’s age and of course all the variables that come with the nuances of your life and the cultural overlay of your family’s world.
All of this is to respectfully say, I am sensitive to how your circumstances are going to be unique to you and your family. I wanted to lift a couple of songs that we play which might be helpful.
I wrote and recorded a song we play called, Grandma God. This song is on my This Heaven, CD and was written because a little boy I knew was struggling with the loss of his grandmother and I heard a song in his voice with the questions he had. 
His parents were having a really hard time with this loss and so was he. The song is written in the form of a letter to grandma, after she is gone.
I recently added a couple of songs by Peter Alsop on 
loss and grief: So Long and New Ground. The first is saying good bye and thanking a loved one for the laughter and experiences of life that were shared, the latter is about how the “spirit breaks new ground when something dies.”
I know this is a difficult topic and hope that these recourses offer you some help. If you have experienced loss, my prayers are with you.
With blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Compassionate Families: Joan Chittister posted on November 12, 2009
Let’s use media to share with one another ideas about compassion, care, hope and kindness. I found this video on Odyssey Networks website and thought it might help you and your family think about extending that caring for one another in ways that are new, outside the home or through a faith community. 
What do you think compassion is?
Music: Listen for songs that speak to caring for one another in family and community like, Put A Little Love In Your Heart by the Sugar Beats, and, Stone Soup, by Tom Chapin.
With blessings for music that nurtures us all to the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Odyssey Network and Faithful Media posted on November 3, 2009
Check out Common Good Radio’s contribution to Odyssey Network’s response to media violence. Let us know what you think about media, violence, faith and kids.
Music: When thinking of alternatives to media violence, turn to music on Common Good Radio and listen for: Taj Mahal, Everybody Is Somebody, Cathy Fink, Love Makes a Family, and Peter and Ellen Allard, Count Your Blessings.
with blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Odyssey Network and Faithful Media posted on November 3, 2009
Check out Common Good Radio’s contribution to Odyssey Network’s response to media violence. Let us know what you think about media, violence, faith and kids.
Music: When thinking of alternatives to media violence, turn to music on Common Good Radio and listen for: Taj Mahal, Everybody Is Somebody, Cathy Fink, Love Makes a Family, and Peter and Ellen Allard, Count Your Blessings.
with blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
