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Good morning. One of the things I enjoy in the dark and sometimes empty days after Christmas is to listen to the Christmas Oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach. It鈥檚 in six parts based on various elements of the Nativity story and is to be sing between Christmas day and Epiphany on 6th January.

I first came across Bach鈥檚 music when, many years ago I struggled to master some of his easier chorale preludes; anyone who has the rare opportunity to hear me play the organ now would probably observe I鈥檓 still struggling!聽 But it was the beginning of what could truly be called a love affair with Bach.

His output was truly enormous and he produced three works among the greatest religious music of all time: the St Matthew and St John Passions and the Mass in B minor.

There are those who think of Bach as a very cerebral composer - there are elaborate theories attempting to explain a sort of logical or mathematical basis to some of his music. But if Bach improves my mind he also speaks, to my soul and spirit. He can make me want to dance. His music uplifts me and saddens me for he can describe the poignancy of the human situation with powerful force. And through his music I am able to glimpse something of the grandeur and the grace of God. He was a devout Lutheran, at the end of his great religious works and some of his secular compositions, he wrote SDG, Soli Deo Gloria. 聽To the glory of God alone

There鈥檚 a story of a famous conductor who was asked if he believed in God. His reply 鈥淥nly when I鈥檓 conducting Bach鈥�. It may be far from an orthodox confession of faith, but I know what he meant!

Lord blessed are you for your gift of music. Amen