Soon-to-be-Released

In Remembrance of YOU

(A Communion Song)

Written by Earl Michael Thomas ©

VERSE 1:

This bread represents…YOUR flesh that was rent…beyond death’s darkened brink.

Such as flowed to the ground, via nails, spear, and crown…by faith we gladly drink.

Being mindful of why, YOU elected to die…for a world so cruel, so cold…

To show us love….to bring us joy…to save our souls.

CHORUS:

LORD we remember YOU…as we drink from the cup and of the bread do sup.

LORD we think of YOU…because YOU spread YOUR love, when YOU shed YOUR blood.

As communion is kept, we reflect on YOUR death, and the triumph that ensued.

JESUS, we do this in remembrance of YOU.

VERSE 2:

Rejected, alone,… and shunned by YOUR own…how crushed YOU must have been.

From Heaven…to Earth…to Hell, undeserved…no lower could descend.

But a costly mistake, the Tempter did make…apprehending CHRIST the LORD….

Hell loosed its hand…at GOD’s command…and victory came forth.

CHORUS:

And LORD we remember YOU…, as we drink from the cup and of the bread do sup.

LORD we think of YOU… because YOU spread YOUR love, when YOU shed YOUR blood.

As communion is kept, we reflect on YOUR death, and the triumph that ensued.

JESUS, we do this in remembrance of YOU.

HARK THE HERALD LINER NOTES:

Christmas music is timeless; it has amazingly been arranged and rearranged across generations and genre and still warmly permeates the audio senses with melodic beauty and the heart with spiritual relevance. The “Hark the Herald” project is a fair mix of contemporary and traditional yuletide arrangements.

Given the torrid pace of my daily life, there was only a slither of an opportunity to complete this project, and while the desire to commit more time was there, available time… was not….

Notwithstanding, it was in my heart and prayers to accomplish this, and I sensed throughout the process, GOD granting just enough space to get it done.

A few acknowledgements and points of ostensible interest:

• Special appreciation and thanks are extended to my Brother-in-CHRIST, Chris Cortez for taking on the task of playing electric piano on “Hark the Herald.” Chris’ masterful performance caused me to change the title of this project from “Christmas Ambience” to simply, “Hark the Herald.”

• Thanks to my princess and beautiful daughter Shalana Grace, who has been gifted with an extremely clear adult speaking voice, yet has retained…into adulthood… a sweet child-like soprano. She and I supplement the vocal efforts of my grandkids, Titus, Kaleb, and Mercy on “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Also “shout outs” go to my two young champions, Matthew and Michael (Evan) Thomas, who sang with me on “GOD Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “The First Noel.”

• Speaking of the latter (song), I must also thank my Sister Sylvia, to whom I refer to as “Little Sister,” and more fondly…as “Sibbi” (pronounced Sib’-bee)…. She’ll learn for the first time that I call her Sibbi, when she reads these liner notes, and consequently, I am expecting a phone call… sometime between then and now!!!

Sylvia is my greatest fan and encouraged me to add a little harmony to “The First Noel”; I was depending too heavily on the heavy-handed “machismo” of me and my sons singing in unison.

• Speaking of being “macho,” I contracted a cold during this recording and was initially very disappointed that the illness developed…. It was this cold, however, that enabled me to hit those  low notes  that you hear on “Noel” and “GOD Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen!!!” (Hmmmm…. Are you thinking what I’m thinking??)

• Thanks to my Daughter-in Law, Kelly Thomas of Kellythomasdesigns; Kelly is a graphic artist’s graphic artist, as is evident in the work that she performed on the CD jacket and liner.

• Thanks to Rochelle Thomas, the mother of my two handsome and precocious grandsons, for reading the “Christmas Story” on nearly zero-moment’s notice.

There you have it!!!

Brother Earl

Photos of Earl provided by Beloved Design Co.