Ruach Breath Of Life

In these mellifluous recordings of two very brief piece I wrote for the clarinet, Mike Halliday captures for us something of the sense of the burgeoning spring. Few if any have surpassed Gerard Manley Hopkins’ depiction of the bursting vibrancy and vitality of nature's rejuvenation in spring: Nothing is so beautiful as Spring – When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush; Thrush’s eggs look little low heavens, and thrush Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing; The glassy pear tree leaves and blooms, they brush The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling. What is all this juice and all this joy? A strain of the earth’s sweet being in the beginning In Eden garden. – Have, get, before it cloy, Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour with sinning, Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy, Most, O maid’s child, thy choice and worthy the winning. Hopkins crowds his sonnet wit

As we enter the welcome season of spring in the northern hemisphere, it is precious to pause and notice all the vivid displays and explosions of colour around us, and to pray for a spiritual ‘burgeoning forth’ across the Earth. This is the time of year above all others when we celebrate the natural world emerging all its glory as it was created to do, breaking forth in its soft, downy abundance. Let’s pause and marvel at the quiet gentleness that is abroad in the whole of Nature: an iridescent playfulness that mirrors and accompanies the urgent need to reproduce and multiply. With the spring comes the fulsome joy of the dawn chorus as the birds gather in song. Isn’t it a joy to listen to them about their business? It is full of hope and expectation; a great settling and busyness as one generation prepares the way for the next. And Jesus says to us His followers, ‘Look at the birds as they get on with what My Father has made them to get on with. Don’t be afraid, and don’t worry – you are free to do the same

Father, my Father, I love You by Huw Humphreys Back in the 1980s, when Robert was organising meetings for students and others, our worship was often led by Huw Humphreys, a talented wordsmith and composer. This is one of his exquisitely powerful and devotional songs. May we minister to Him and fill His heart with joy in all that we do.

Eternal Light - May we be light-bearers for You, Lord! (Part Two) by Ruach Breath of Life

Through the grace of God, the power of His Spirit and the hard work of those who have laboured to make Christ known, the gospel has spead from one community to another all around the world. You and I are invited into the Kingdom of the King of Kings, to honour, love and serve the great King who has passed triumphant through the grave, and before whom all Creation will one day bow. This is our deepest joy and our highest destiny. How can we not love and honour Him with all our hearts, and for His sake surrender everything else – even though many all around us choose to bar their hearts against Him. Whether we are privileged to be part of a strong fellowship, or more of a lone voice in a sea of unbelief, here is a beautiful song I first heard in Oxfordshire, and that lifts our heart to seek and worship Him. Having been unable to track the composer down, the piece must remain for the time being ‘Cop con’. I would be grateful to hear from anyone who might have information about it. May this lovely song lift y

In dulci Jubilo by Ruach Breath of Life

Bird song by Ruach Breath of Life

My love is like a red, red rose by Ruach Breath of Life

Megan Topper takes the lead in singing this beautiful and ever popular ancient Irish rendering of the Christmas story. She is accompanied by Shirley Richards, Christiane Mueller, Jo Garcia on strings and by Christiane von Albrecht on keyboard.

Many radio stations and apps offer the chance to ‘relax and unwind’ with peace-inducing music and sounds – and such things definitely have their place, including within the Ruach Breath of Life Ministries. But many situations require us to ‘vent’ and cry out to the Lord for His power to break through. And for that, what we want are not smooth and soothing pieces, but those that are decidedly sharp and ‘spiky’! When we invited our dear musician friends to record the opening movement of Vivaldi’s ‘Winter’ concerto from the Four Seasons, it was because we sensed that this is a piece that will help us respond to circumstances that rouse the godly passion and righteous anger within us. Sometimes, it is necessary to cry out for the ‘storm of the LORD’ to come swirling in, and His anger to ‘fully accomplish the purposes of His heart,’ as the Lord declares through Jeremiah. (Jer. 23:19-20) How would the Lord have you pray for the situations and injustices you are aware of? May this music help you find ways to give

'The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.' (Jn. 1:5) In the opening movement of Vivaldi's powerful Winter concerto* we hear the sharp and strident sounds of a storm, prompting us to cry out to the Lord both for protection and for His justice to prevail in many challenging situations. This second movement offers a different perspective of winter. A lovely and lyrical violin sings over busy pizzicato (plucked) strings. Winter brings more than its share of icy storms and other hazards, but it also brings scenes of astonishingly beautiful crystalline transparency. May the Lord shed the light of His clarity and presence on many who find themselves either in the midst of a storm, or bowed down in unrelenting dreariness. 'As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me em

Never has there been an angel bringing better or more important news to humankind! Celebrate the Christmas story in this lovely rendition of this folk-Basque Carol, which itself was based on an ancient Latin hymn. It is lovely - and thank you so much, dear musicians: Julia and Thomas Herzog (woodwind), Susanne Herzog, Anne Seidel, Shirley Richards, Gabriele Kröhnert, Alex Koderisch (Strings) and Peter Richards (keys) 1 The angel Gabriel from heaven came, his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame; "All hail," said he to meek and lowly Mary, "most highly favored maiden." Gloria! 2 "I come from heav'n to tell the Lord's decree: a blessed virgin mother you shall be. Your Son shall be Immanuel, by seers foretold, most highly favored maiden." Gloria! 3 Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head; "To me be as it pleases God," she said. "My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name." Most highly favored maiden, Gloria! 4 Of her, Immanuel, the Christ, was born In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn, and Christian

In 1752 the Moravian preacher and minister John Cennick wrote a hymn called 'Lo he comes with countless trumpets' based on Revelation 1:7, referring to Jesus coming with the clouds in such a way that every eye will see Him. Six years later in 1758, Charles Wesley, the prolific composer of over 6500 hymns, substantially revised the piece to make it what it remains to this day: one of the best loved and most anointed of all Anglican hymns, cram full of Biblical references. It was first published that same year in John and Charles Wesley's 'Hymns of Intercession for all Mankind', a publication that sought to honour Paul's command in 1 Timothy 2:1: ‘I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men’. Amongst the forty hymns in that volume can be found hymns for monarchs (George II and Frederick the Great), institutions (courts, parliament, the army and navy, universities), childbirth, young children, prisoners and captives, widows, ‘our Ene

A few years ago we released a beautiful sung version of the 9th century hymn by the Frankish Benedictine poet-theologian-abbot, Rabanus Maurus, who became archbishop of Mainz. The tune is a great example of Gregorian chant, and dates from a few decades later about 1000. It is sure to bless you! * Recently, I have found myself reflecting on the saintly life of Giuseppe Sarto, the barefooted country boy who remained a humble and holy man throughout his life, and rose, much to his surprise(!) to become Pope Pius X in 1903. Giuseppe had a particular heart to develop the role of music in the heart of the Catholic church, and has blessed so many by reintroducing the beauties of Gregorian chant. As early as 1911 the Lord warned him that a Great War was going to break out, which caused him immense distress. He did everything he could to plead with the European powers who were at odds with each other to humble themselves and to step back from careering down the path that would ultimately see 37,000,000 soldiers an

Come Holy Spirit, Come fill our hearts Come flood this day with light and love. Healing and releasing, Cleansing and dispelling, Come Holy Spirit, come fill our hearts. Ruach Hadesh, Holy Spirit, Come into the midst of our trials Hold us. Deliver us o Lord Restorer, Empowerer, keep my soul in peace. Lifter of my head Come Holy Spirit. Harmony Greenwood (vocals), Megan Mellamphey (flute) Nick Evans Pughe (viola), Corinne Frost (cello), Christiane von Albrecht (keyboard)

The Last Rose by Ruach Breath of Life

Out of the depths - Psalm 130 by Ruach Breath of Life

I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear: I will help you. After Laurie Klein recited soothing and reassuring words from Psalms 62 and 63 and Isaiah 41:3, the musicians struck up brief but moving improvisations, in this live recording from the Symphony of Worship Conference in Malvern in 2000. As the first of these improvisations unfold, this is an opportunity to let the Spirit of the Lord wash over you with His rest. When the second one draws to a close, however, you may wish to stay in a spirit of prayer for some time afterwards, and see how the Lord leads, and what comes to mind. Lord Jesus, thank You for the deep soothing rest that You give us. How can we ever thank You enough for all the help that You give, and the interventions that You send? We drink in Your presence now Lord, and ask You to be with every single person, place or situation that comes to mind, and that we lift to You now.

Charpentier by Ruach Breath of Life

On the penal colony of Patmos for his faith, John and could easily have allowed himself to feel deeply discouraged, and even resentful at being ‘stuck’ in such a dreadful place. No wonder we find him speaking of himself as being ‘our brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus! (Rev. 1:9) How grateful we and countless millions are that John resolutely overcame the plaguing ‘if onlys,’ and kept his heart open to Jesus, thereby turning his disappointments into God’s appointments. Jesus rewarded him first with a glorious awareness of how He is now in His glorious heavenly state, and then with a long series of visions of Heaven winning through in the battles to come on Earth that culminate in his return to rule on Earth.