Album Notes

A traditional, yet contemporary folk/bluegrass worship service with a simple musical code: joy!

From the composer:

Light into the World: Hope for a New Day is a call to all people of God, that we might go out into the world with hope and joy, bearing the gift of love for all creation. That we should stretch out a hand to the poor and afflicted in other places, and more importantly, in our own cities, villages, schools and churches.

My father is a physician who has devoted his life to healing children, and has told me the stories of hundreds of children he sees every year, starving from neglect and starving in poverty. In this country. As such an affluent and advanced society, why do we undervalue feeding and educating our children? Why are we building nuclear weapons when our children are mal-nourished and starving?

For several years, I carried the yoke of responsibility for the hatred that is in this world. I spent time in Palestine, working with children, until one of them was killed, and until I was forced to come home by a war that still rages there... What it took me years to learn is that I can feel responsibility for the suffering of those people, my friends, and yet live my life with the joy it brings.

The answer for me is Christ. God with us. Christ who suffered and died, Christ who wept at the tomb of Lazarus. I understand the suffering of the world through my faith, and I no longer bear the whole burden of what I've seen alone.

This worship service is about love and life. The music is joyful, and the words are hopeful. Because for me, this world is full of hope, and full of love.

My mother and father taught me about a loving God, who is with us always. My mother is a healer of spirits, a poet and a social worker. And my father is a doctor, healing little babies' bodies when they come into the world too early, and healing babies' bodies that are broken from abuse. My parents love the world, and shared this love and hope with me, that I might share it with other people. I dedicate this service to them, and their continuing work to help and heal people.

"Let us go as light into the darkness, as sunshine into night...
where there is hunger or hatred, where there is no joy.
Let us pray for the children, Let us pray for our enemies.
We praise you Lord for your steadfast love, who was and is and is to be... Amen."