Pete Ellertsen folksingers, immigration, music, peace, racism, social justice

Sheet music, sound files for protest song that went viral in Minneapolis (perfect for March 28 No Kings events); link here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCEj7Bpu3qk Imagine Worship, St. Bart’s Episcopal Church, New York City, Feb 4, 2026. Back in January when the Trump regime’s Department of Homeland Security agents were terrorizing immigrant communities in Minnesota, I was deeply moved by a song I heard on TV news clips. It was “Hold On” by activist singer-songwriter Heidi Wilson, and it … Continue reading Sheet music, sound files for protest song that went viral in Minneapolis (perfect for March 28 No Kings events); link here

Pete Ellertsen African American spirituals, folksingers, social justice

‘Hold on …’: New protest song revives memories of ’60s, civil rights movement; inspires hope for a dark future

https://www.reddit.com/r/Minneapolis/comments/1qgw9je/on_saturday_afternoon_hundreds_of_us_gathered_on/ Singing vigil on streets of South Minneapolis, Jan. 17, 2025 (zoinkability). Let’s get something straight right off the bat. I don’t claim to be some kind of civil rights hero. I was close enough to be inspired by it, but I was one of those ever-so-cautious white Southern moderates who so exasperated Dr. Martin … Continue reading ‘Hold on …’: New protest song revives memories of ’60s, civil rights movement; inspires hope for a dark future

Pete Ellertsen African American spirituals, church year, folk hymns, folksingers, music, spiritual practice

‘Christ child … singing softly’ like the south wind blows in the treetops — startling image in an African American folk carol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyIfCmGYRi4 Peggy Seeger singing "Child of God," American Folk Songs for Christmas, 1989. For the last few weeks, I've been playing Christmas carols by the fireplace at night. We have the lights up (well, actually, they've been for two years now), and I've got a hunch playing the carols might be a good spiritual exercise. … Continue reading ‘Christ child … singing softly’ like the south wind blows in the treetops — startling image in an African American folk carol

Pete Ellertsen folksingers, immigration, James Martin, lectio divina, spiritual direction, Swedes

Is noodling on the dulcimer a spiritual discipline? English folksingers nudge me to try it after this ‘festering boil of a year’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGThVwKowks "Sweet Bells," Yorkshire pub carol performed by GreenMatthews Instead of New Year's resolutions, I'm dealing with hunches and nudges this year. Besides, I know myself and most of my resolutions don't make it past the first weekend in January. But hunches? Sometimes I act on them, and lately I've had several clamoring for my … Continue reading Is noodling on the dulcimer a spiritual discipline? English folksingers nudge me to try it after this ‘festering boil of a year’