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Sing-along Café Thursday, October 16th, 2025

We had a good evening of singing, but it would have been nice to have shared it with a couple more people. 

We had the best theme of all: Singing! We did this theme last year, but it was different, and we talked about how every evening has a different vibe depending on who shows up. But, the world was different last year too. 

We loved "How can I keep from singing." It makes me feel like our faith, and the hope that rises from our experience of Love is so awesome that our singing is something spontaneous, instinctual. We were disappointed that Chris Tomlin's response to the song was very self-centred, and about a personal relationship between just God and him. His need to sing praise was too limited, too specific. But we honestly didn't listen to the whole song because it kind of turned us off. Singing and faith should unite us, should make us feel connected to other people. These are powerful lyrics:
 
My life flows on in endless song,
above earth’s lamentation.
I catch the sweet, though far-off hymn
that hails a new creation.

No storm can shake my inmost calm
while to that Rock I’m clinging.
Since Love is lord of heav’n and earth,
how can I keep from singing?
 
Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear that music ringing.
It finds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?
 
When tyrants tremble in their fear
And hear their death knell ringing,
When friends rejoice both far and near
How can I keep from singing?

In prison cell and dungeon vile
Our thoughts to them are winging,
When friends by shame are undefiled
How can I keep from singing?
 
No storm can shake my inmost calm
while to that Rock I’m clinging.
Since Love is lord of heav’n and earth,
how can I keep from singing?
 
We started the evening with a YouTube recording of Prayer for Shalom, which the Trinity Choir and Praise Team are learning. Peace is another very good theme, especially in these times. 
 
Songs about singing and singers is a fun theme with lots of great songs to sing- and they always lead to lots of interesting conversations. 
 
I relate personally to so many of the lyrics. Thank you for the music: yes! 
 
We thought it must be so wonderful and romantic for someone to receive a song like Jim Croce's. 

Soraya and I shared a teabag, a fruity tea. I baked an apple cake for nibbling on. It was a lovely evening in lovely company.
 
We talked about moving to afternoons. If we can have the space on Thursday afternoons, we'll start next week.  

Here is a selection of the songs we sang and listened to:
  • Prayer for Shalom by Beckenhorst Singers, Dan Forrest, Craig Courtney
  • How can I Keep from Singing by Enya and by Libera but not by Chris Tomlin
  • Sing by the Carpenters and by Elmo and Sesame Street
  • Make Your Own Kind of Music by Cass Elliot 
  • She Moves in Her Own Way by the Kooks  
  • Thank You for the Music by Amanda Seyfried from the Mamma Mia soundtrack
  • Super Trouper also from the Mamma Mia soundtrack
  • Your Song by Ellie Goulding
  • I’ll Have to Say I Love You in a Song by Jim Croce
  • I Write the Songs by Captain and Tennille
  • Magic Power by Triumph (I'm young, I'm wild, and I'm free. Got the magic power of the music in me)
  • Riptide by Vance Joy 
  • Harmony Hall by Vampire Weekend
  • And the Coca Cola commercial with I'd like to teach the world to sing: 


 

 

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