More snow this morning.  And the desire to climb back into bed or curl up with a mystery novel by the fire with a cup of tea.

But when it snows, I can’t help but think of a great and fun hymn from the hymnal, number 412 “Earth and All Stars.”  It has a great line in there about “loud blowing snowstorms” and lots of other things making noise in praise to God.  It’s a gentle reminder of Jesus’ statement that the rocks will cry out in praise  if people don’t, and that even when it seems bleak God is there.

The words are below.  Sometime we’ll need to sing them on a Sunday at St. Mark’s.  My favorite stanza is 5….

1. Earth and all stars, loud rushing planets, sing to the Lord a new song! O victory, loud shouting army, sing to the Lord a new song!

Refrain: He has done marvelous things. I, too, will praise him with a new song!

2. Hail, wind, and rain, loud blowing snowstorms, sing to the Lord a new song! Flowers and trees, loud rustling leaves, sing to the Lord a new song! Refrain

3. Trumpet and pipes, loud clashing cymbals, sing to the Lord a new song! Harp, lute, and lyre, loud humming cellos, sing to the Lord a new song! Refrain

4. Engines and steel, loud pounding hammers, sing to the Lord a new song! Limestone and beams, loud building workers, sing to the Lord a new song! Refrain

5. Classrooms and labs, loud boiling test tubes, sing to the Lord a new song! Athlete and band, loud cheering people, sing to the Lord a new song! Refrain

6. Knowledge and truth, loud sounding wisdom, sing to the Lord a new song! Daughter and son, loud praying members, sing to the Lord a new song! Refrain

Words: Herbert F. Brokering (b. 1926) Music: Earth and All Stars, David N. Johnson (b. 1922)