Technically speaking, Easter is the biggest, most important, holiest of the Holy Days for Christians. For good reason– Easter is the celebration of the Resurrection, when Christ conquered death and threw open the gates of Heaven.
And yet. . . by practice, most Christians throw a lot more effort in to Celebrating Christmas. The Calendar was recalculated based on the Birth, not the Resurrection. The Crucifixion and Resurrection are what seals the story for the rest of time– but the order of time altered 33 years before that. The nativity is cherished not because it was the victory, but because against all of our flawed despairings, God kept His promise.
As a people, we’ve forgotten what life was like before the promise was kept. We try– JRR Tolkien one mentioned that he created Middle Earth to show what a world in need of a Christ would be like. Even when our lives are at their worst, they are still illuminated by that Star.
Tonight’s selection also tries to remind us of what things were like, just before Christmas.

Something different today. It would have to be, with readings about St. John the Baptist. This guy, dressed in camel hair, living on a steady diet of locusts and honey, bursts through our sentimental Christmas images like a rampaging bull. It’s all angels and shepherds and Sweet Mama Mary, and then Bam! Cousin Johnny comes barreling onto the scene, wild and hairy (literally), in you face, uncompromising, upsetting everything. And this rough, wild guy–Bear Grylls crossed with Billy Graham and a healthy dose of Ann Barnhardt– this guy is the herald for the King of Kings. He’s His cousin, even! Rough to sublime indeed.
We don’t have much “Advent” or “Christmas” songs that deal with John. I can think of a very few, none of which are especially . . . inspiring. Not to say they aren’t good, just. . .hm. Not very “Seasonal.”
So I’m going with the spirit, here. The introduction of a bit of roughness into our refined expectations. I first heard this live when the Moorehouse College Glee Club visited Xavier University. There’s not a recording in the world that can capture the live experience, where the drums resound in your core as the men’s voices push your spirit ever higher. What you must do is turn the volume up to eleven– so, you may want to wait until you won’t wake anyone up.
Ladies and Gents, I present the Moorehouse College Glee Club, singing their signature piece, “Bethelehemu”

By request of Auntie Lib, today’s selection is a Magnificat, also sometimes known as the Song of Mary. The text of the Magnificat is found in Luke 1:46-55. The context is this: Mary was told by the Archangel Gabriel that her cousin Elizabeth, a woman past child-bearing years, was six months pregnant with the little boy who would grow to become John the Baptist. Mary, in the midst of her own confusion and concerns, up and visited her cousin out in the hill-country. Elizabeth greeted her and proclaimed that when she heard the sound of Mary’s voice, the child in her womb leapt for joy. The Magnificat– Mary’s Song of Praise to God– was Mary’s reply.
This event is called the Visitation– as such, it means much to me, who attended a school run by the Visitation nuns. This story features heavily in the particular spirituality of the order, and in the religious guidance of the many girls they teach throughout the world. Meditating on the story leads to insight into the character of these two suburb women– examples that all women would do well to follow, and all men would do well to respect and encourage. The Magnificat itself gives great insight into Mary’s thoughts regarding her life at that time.
I listened to quite a few recordings– there are many Magnificats out there. Entire Cantatas have been written using solely this text. However, because I’m a sucker for polyphony, you all get to listed to the Magnificat Primi Toni by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (the man credited with saving music in western churches-long story). If you like this, you’ll love the Missa Papae Marcelli (the work legend has it that saved music in the west. . .)
Please, enjoy

I’m posting two versions of the same text, today, because this is one of those times when there are two versions I love equally. I’ve had the delight to sing both. The first is by Tomas Loius de Victoria, written in 1592. I must admit a personal love of this style–I’m a sucker for Polyphony and Baroque music, as you’ll see again tomorrow. I will be mixing it up more, soon, but sometimes, the old stuff just sets the context a little better.
This particular piece is a meditation on the wonder of the Incarnation, that it was not just humans taking part in the story, but the whole of Creation, as represented by all the animals that witnessed the Birth.

The second is more recent, by Morten Lauridsen in 1994. Just, take a listen. Put everything down and let it fill your ears

(there are several recordings of both on YouTube. I actually prefer the recording of the UST Chamber choir, but the recording quality wasn’t as good, and if you don’t already know the music, this one was better for hearing all the parts clearly.]
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So, like many of you, I grew up with advent calendars, two pieces of cheap posterboard glued together, covered in sentimental scenes and glitter, with 25 little “doors” for each day, which opened to a Bible verse that pertained to the season. We would start on December 1st, and open one door a day until all the doors were opened on Christmas.
Well, I thought I’d remember this tradition by starting a Treehouse version thereof, using the one thing that winds me up for Christmas better than anything else: Advent and Christmas music.
I’d like to start off the first couple of days by kickin’ it ol’ school. Real Old School. Like, Ancient. With a lovely twist of Late 20th Century Meddling.
Veni Emmanuel dates back to the 12 Century, possibly back to the 8th, when Gregorian Chant was first compiled by Pope Gregory the Great and Charlemagne. This particular, relatively popular, arrangement dates from the late 1980’s. While some purists would insist on the plainchant being plain. . .I humbly disagree. I think this is a lovely arrangement, and respects the idea that Chant is not everyone’s cup of musical tea, while still respecting the chant itself.
Enjoy ^_^
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq2my9m0xmM

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

Both Sharon and Coyote have recently had some important words for the lot of us. Because I’m a loudmouth who abolutely has to have her opinion included, here’s my thoughts on matters.
I do agree with both of you.

Wait. Before I continue, I think it must stated, even if already understood, that the lot of us here, are here because we’re all trying to figure it out, whatever it is, and we’re throwing ideas back and forth in the search for clarity and understanding. We must do this because for at least the past century, and certainly since the Wilson Administration, growing percentages of Americans have been raised much like mushrooms—kept in the dark and fed sh*t. We’ve realized this, we’re all declaring that “We’re not mushrooms, we’re Americans!”—but we’re still working out what, precisely, that means.
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 WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES !!!

(Reuters) — Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi died of wounds suffered on Thursday as fighters battling to complete an eight-month-old uprising against his rule overran his hometown Sirte, Libya’s interim rulers said.
His killing, which came swiftly after his capture near Sirte, is the most dramatic single development in the Arab Spring revolts that have unseated rulers in Egypt and Tunisia and threatened the grip on power of the leaders of Syria and Yemen. (more…)

[I know I’ve another series of posts to wrap up– but this subject is part of that, so I think I need to sort this out before I can wrap up the other series.] 
Two weeks ago, I took some time to go with my parents to visit my Grandmother up in Cape Cod. It had been over ten years since I’d last seen her—I was unable to attend the funeral of my Grandfather, so much had changed since I’d last seen her. But she’s around 90 years old, and I’ve been haunted by the feeling that as spry and stubborn as she is, I don’t have much time left to interact with her. So, I had to go, before things fall apart so completely that even the Cape is beyond my reach.

After Dad and I cleaned out her gutters in preparation for winter, we all drove to the mainland to visit Grandpa’s grave at the National Memorial Cemetery out in East MA. It’s funny—I don’t think I’ve ever been to a national cemetery before, even though I live so (relatively) close to Arlington. There he was, his plaque set in line with all his brothers in arms—they are buried as they die, so service branch and war are mixed—his WWII Army was next to a Korean War Marine on one side, and a Gulf War Airman on the other. I cannot recall names or ranks, as I felt it really none of my business.
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This is that time of year when government contracts and budget people are alternately running around in a screaming panic, or else sitting back, twiddling their thumbs, waiting for everyone else to send over the crap needed so we can get back to work.
I’m currently in the latter stage, with 2 actions left, each one as far finished as it can be until someone else sends along the next bit. They’ve been nagged and hounded, and all that remains is waiting– until the stuff comes in, at which point the screaming panic commences once more.
So, while I’m waiting, I thought I’d share a series of YouTube videos I’ve been watching for a while. The HyperReport comes out generally every morning, a swift, under 3 minute rush through the headlines. They’ve a perspective I think most Treepers would appreciate, even if sometimes they leave bits of tinfoil scattered around. It happens. Anyway, today’s HyperReport has a neato tip at the end that immediately made me think of you lot. If you like the report, let me know, and I’ll try to remember to post it in the mornings. (Note, I’m on vacation next week, and I have no idea what kind of wireless access Grandma has. . . so, don’t expect me).