Rejoice Always

Pantete Chairete - Rejoice always (1 Thess. 5:16) I had long wanted to record this gloriously dynamic movement from Bach’s magnificent 4th Brandenburg concerto, and was so grateful when the chance came along to do so. Massive thanks to the heroic musicians who played this challenging piece so beautifully for us - Julia and Thomas Herzog, (recorders), Susanne Herzog, Shirley Richards and Helen Rees (violins), Julian Chan (viola), Jo Garcia (cello) and Christiane von Albrecht (continuo). We hope the accompanying words will prove an inspiration too. People are concerned to go to great lengths to use PC (Politically Correct) language these days – but here’s a radically different suggestion from the Greek New Testament. for how we might prefer to look on the abbreviation ‘PC’: Pantete Chairete - Rejoice always. When Jesus first showed Himself alive from the dead to His disciples in Matthew 28:9, He used the word chairete ‘rejoice’ as His greeting to them. Paul likewise closed his second letter to the Corinthians by urging them to rejoice. (2 Cor. 13:11). This phrase became a watchword for the Early Church – and it is surely one we can take deeply to heart and make the refrain of our hearts: all the way from greetings to partings: Pantete Chairete Rejoice (be glad) always in the Lord - at all times and 'every when'. Easier to say than to do at times, to be sure, but so worth the taking to heart. How lovely if, when we meet with fellow believers, instead of our usual ‘hellos!’ we can respond with a vigorous cheerful Pantete Chairete – rejoice always!’ no matter what outward circumstances we may be facing.