Vol. 8 // Advent - Christmas - Epiphany
The Soil and the Seed Project creates music, art, and “Little Liturgies” that follow the liturgical year to help us welcome the seed of the Good News together as it takes root in our lives. It is a gift to the church, given freely to any individual or community who wants it (not sold).
To download a digital copy of Vol. 8 // Advent - Christmas - Epiphany or request a physical copy, click the button to fill out the form below:
May the peace of Christ be with you!
Welcome to the digital home of The Soil and The Seed Project. This page links to electronic and mobile versions of the Little Liturgies, a "How to Use" section, and original artwork to accompany the third installment of The Soil and The Seed Project. It also contains lyrics, references, liner notes and more information on how the "Seeds" section of the Little Liturgies were created.
May God's Love abound in us as we turn and believe the Good News,
The Soil and The Seed Project Team
LYRICS, MUSICIANS, NOTES, and PERMISSIONS
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Gloria, gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, gloria, alleluia.
Lyrics: Luke 2:14a (Latin)
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman and Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Theresa Peachey Crissman, Eliana Crissman, Seth Crissman, Gina Coulson, Katie Maust, Julia Maust, Kristina Yoder, Ebony Nicole, Nichole Barrows, Sarah Halteman, Zach Halteman, Taylor Bess, Mitchell Yoder, Jackson Maust, Daniel Barrows, Greg Yoder
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Here am I, the servant of the Lord;
let it be with me according to your word.
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name,
and holy is his name.
Lyrics: direct quotation of Luke 1:38b, 46b, 47, 49 (NRSV)
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman, Nicole Barrows, Ebony Nicole, and Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Nichole Barrows, Ebony Nicole, Lauren Yoder, Kristina Yoder
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On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
announces that the Lord is nigh.
Awake and harken, for he brings
glad tidings of the King of Kings!
We hail you as our Savior, Lord,
our refuge and our great reward.
Without your grace we waste away
like flowers that wither and decay.
And let us all our hearts prepare
For Christ to come and enter there
Then cleansed be every life from sin:
Make straight the way for God within
Make straight the way
Make straight the way for God within,
And let us all our hearts prepare
For Christ to come and enter there
Lyrics: Charles Coffin, d. 1749; trans. John Chandler, 1837
Music: Greg Yoder, Ebony Nicole, and Nichole Barrows, 2023
Vocals: Ebony Nicole, Jackson Maust, Kristina Yoder
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Up in the fields, with shepherd and sheep
A withered old tree reaches out from her sleep
To call to the star, the night-watch now keeping
“Are you the one from the stories of old?
Is He the one sent to heal and make whole?”
Out on the plain, between dust and stone
A tender young sapling, hardly half-grown
Whispers to the family walking alone
“Are you the ones from the stories of old?
Is He the one sent to heal and make whole?”
To bind up the brokenhearted
Bring good news for the oppressed
With a garland instead of ashes
Planting oaks of righteousness
Down in the city, with no room for belief
An olive branch rustles, offers a leaf
And cries to the child, who has come like a thief
“Are you the one from the stories of old?
Are you the one sent to heal and make whole?”
Up in the fields, out on the plain,
Down in the city, they’re shouting his name
The mountains and trees sing with joy the refrain
“This is the one from the stories of old
He is the one sent to heal and make whole”
“This is the one from the stories of old
The one who the star and the prophets foretold
The Shepherd who gathers us into the fold
Jesus, the Son, sent to heal and make whole”
Lyrics: Greg Yoder, 2023
Music: Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Lauren Yoder and Mitchell Yoder
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I am goin’ up to Bethlehem town
I am goin’ up hills and back down
Living in womb darkness like all peoples without the sun
King of Light, I Am the Bethlehem One
King of Light, I Am the Bethlehem One
We are goin’ up to Bethlehem town
We are runnin’ up fields and back down
“Glory to God and Good News!” they said, so we seek the new peace begun
Prince of Peace, we need you, Bethlehem One
Prince of Peace, we need you, Bethlehem One
We are goin’ up to Bethlehem town
We are climbin’ up mountains and back down
They call us wise but we are not, we only come weary, broken, undone
Son of the Wise God, we love you, Bethlehem One
Son of the Wise God, we love you, Bethlehem One
So glory to God in the highest!
And may Your favor and peace rest on all
Immanuel, God so big, baby so small
Immanuel, God so big, baby so small
Immanuel, God so big, baby so small
Lyrics: Philip Fisher Rhodes, 2009
Music: Philip Fisher Rhodes, 2009
Vocals: Ben Luna, Ebony Nicole, Jackson Maust
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A voice cries out: "In the wilderness
prepare the way of the LORD,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed
Lyrics: direct quotation of Isaiah 40:3-5a (NRSV)
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman and Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Jessica DiPuma, Ebony Nicole, Nichole Barrows, Mitchell Yoder, Kristina Yoder, Greg Yoder
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For God alone
my soul waits in silence,
for my hope is from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
Lyrics: direct quotation of Psalm 62:5-6 (NRSV)
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman, 2023
Vocals: Kristina Yoder and Mitchell Yoder
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Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus for you.
Do not quench the Spirit.
Do not despise the words of prophets,
but test everything;
hold fast to what is good.
Lyrics: direct quotation of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-21 (NRSV)
Music: Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Ben Luna, Ebony Nicole, Nichole Barrows, Jackson Maust, Mitchell Yoder, Greg Yoder
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We cry peace, peace, peace for the storms surround us
Peace, peace, peace for the fears that haunt us
Peace, peace, peace, God, we are perishing!
We cry peace, peace, peace for there is no peace
Oh hold, hold your arms around this tilting planet
Hold, hold your arms around the wounds of this world
Hold, hold your arms around your people, all of us,
Hold, hold your arms around the world
We cry peace, peace, peace — but there is no justice
Peace, peace, peace —- but some have more than others
Peace, peace, peace —- but there are hungry bellies
We cry peace, peace, peace — but there is no peace
Oh hold, hold Your arms around this tilting planet
Hold, hold Your arms around the wounds of this world
Hold, hold Your arms around Your people, all of us,
Hold, hold Your arms around the world
May we see the wounds within, around us truthfully
May we take the time and care they need to heal
Then bring our hammers and our hearts
A time for ends, a time for starts
Show us what to build and what to tear down to the ground
Peace, peace, peace, may our minds be set on it
Peace, peace, peace, may our fears make way for it
Peace, peace, peace, lay our weapons down for it
Peace, peace, peace, may we join in building it
Oh hold, hold Your arms around this tilting planet
Hold, hold Your arms around the wounds of this world
Hold, hold Your arms around Your people, all of us,
Hold, hold Your arms around the world
Lyrics: Susan Gascho-Cooke, 2021
Music: Susan Gascho-Cooke, 2021
Vocals: Susan Gascho-Cooke, Jackson Maust, Kristina Yoder
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The grass withers, the flower fades;
but the word of our God will stand forever.
The leaf shrivels, so too the shade,
But the word of our God will stand
May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy
May those who sow in fear be neither harmed nor destroyed
May those who sow in sorrow harvest with delight
For all who sow, sow for tomorrow, with hope that falls by night
O that you would tear open the heavens and come down
Lyrics: direct quotations from Isaiah 40:8 (NRSV), Psalm 126:5 (NRSV), and Isaiah 64:1a (NRSV), with additional lines by Greg Yoder, 2023
Music: Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Jackson Maust and Rachel Mast
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Come down, O love divine, seek Thou this soul of mine,
And visit it with Thine own ardor glowing.
O Comforter, draw near, within my heart appear,
And kindle it, Thy holy flame bestowing.
O let it freely burn, til earthly passions turn
To dust and ashes in its heat consuming;
And let Thy glorious light shine ever on my sight,
And clothe me round, the while my path illuming.
Let holy charity mine outward vesture be,
And lowliness become mine inner clothing;
True lowliness of heart, which takes the humbler part,
And o’er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.
Bless’d be the tie that binds our hearts and souls and minds.
And so the yearning strong, with which the soul will long,
Shall far outpass the power of human telling;
For none can guess its grace, till love creates a place
Wherein the Holy Spirit makes a dwelling.
Lyrics: Bianca da Sienna, d. ca. 1434; trans. Richard Frederick Littledale, d. 1890, with chorus by Seth Thomas Crissman, 2013
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman, 2013
Vocals: Mitchell Yoder, Nichole Barrows, Ebony Nicole, Lauren Yoder, Kristina Yoder
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Christ before and Christ beneath
Move our hearts and move our feet
Fill the hungry, bless the meek
And lead us into peace
Lyrics: Seth Thomas Crissman, 2023
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman, 2023
Vocals: Lauren Yoder
From left to right, “Advent,” “Christmas,” and “Epiphany” by Bethany Tobin. Read her artist statement here.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Gloria In Excelsis Deo - Luke 2:14a (Latin)
Magnificat (Mighty One) - Luke 1:38b, 46b, 47, 49 (NRSV)
Every Valley - Isaiah 40:3-5a (NRSV)
Silence - Psalm 62:5-6 (NRSV)
Hold Fast - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-21 (NRSV)
May Those Who Sow - Isaiah 40:8 (NRSV), Psalm 126:5 (NRSV), and Isaiah 64:1a (NRSV)
Part or all of tracks 2, 6, 7, 8, 10 are direct quotations from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
All music copyright The Soil and The Seed Project except:
Track 5 © 2009 Philip Fisher Rhodes (used with permission) // Track 9 © 2021 Susan Gascho-Cooke (used with permission) // Tracks 3, 4, 8, 10, and 12 © 2023 The Walking Roots Band (used with permission) // Track 11 © 2013 The Walking Roots Band (used with permission) // Lyrics for track 3 by Charles Coffin, d. 1749; trans. John Chandler, 1837 // Lyrics for track 11 by Bianca da Sienna, d. ca. 1434; trans. Richard Frederick Littledale, d. 1890 // Part or all of tracks 2, 6, 7, 8, 10 are direct quotations from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Special Thanks to:
Seth Thomas Crissman - Project Director, Editor, Songwriter
Melody Zimmerman - Lead Writer (Little Liturgies)
Harrigan McMahon Bowman - Visual Artistic Director, Contributing Writer
Melissa Weaver, Michael Stalcup, and Mark Cooprider - Contributing Poets
Contributing Musicians: Daniel Barrows (track 1), Nichole Barrows (tracks 2, 6, 8, 11), Taylor Bess (track 1), Perry Blosser (mandolin - track 4, and fiddle - tracks 2, 3, 4), Gina Coulson (track 1), Eliana Crissman (track 1), Theresa Peachey Crissman (track 1 and flute - track 10), Jessica DiPuma (track 6), Susan Gascho-Cooke (track 9), Sarah Halteman (track 1), Zach Halteman (track 1), Ben Luna (tracks 5, 8) Julia Maust (track 1), Katie Maust (track 1), Ebony Nicole (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8), Kyle Remnant (trombone - track 5), and members of The Walking Roots Band // thewalkingrootsband.com
Artwork: “Advent,” “Christmas,” and “Epiphany” by Bethany Tobin
CD Cover Photograph: Harrigan McMahon Bowman
CD Cover Design: Harrigan McMahon Bowman and Greg Yoder
Little Liturgies’ Soil and Seed Images: Jessamyn Bryant
Mixed and Mastered by Taylor Bess // taylorbessmusic.com
Made possible through partnership with VMMissions ( www.vmmissions.org ) and the generosity of many individuals and communities. Thank you. Gloria in Excelsis Deo.
