Format
I have arranged and shared these devotions with choirs throughout my years in music ministry. They have developed organically, out of losses and celebrations in our own parish, as well as my own struggles with theology, philosophy and changing trends in worship. I am an organizer by nature, so each devotion is crafted with a similar format that includes each of the following:
Scripture: I was nurtured on the Bible and encouraged to memorize it as well as apply what I learned to daily life. I do this instinctively, and find that others appreciate those connections as well.
Reflection: Some of the most meaningful devotion times I have experienced are times when I have written down my own thoughts about what I believe God is saying to me. Space has been provided after devotions where possible for you to do likewise if you are so led. There will be prose and musings, occasionally poems, and quite often, hymn texts.
Prayer: The power of prayer is awe-inspiring. God hears us when we pray. We have a deep-seated need to commune with the Holy Otherness. If you search in vain for the words to utter, my sincere prayer is that these short prayers will be a springboard for more personal prayers of your own.
Recommended Ringing: What better way to top off a devotional book for ringers than with a way to buy the music or listen to it being played? A link to the recommended listening can easily be found by clicking on the underlined text (digital edition). If there is an asterisk, the link may not take you to a recording of the piece, but there might be a preview of the printed score available for viewing.
The details of the recommend ringing appear in this order: Title, composer/arranger; bells used, handchimes, additional instruments; difficulty level; publisher; publisher code.