Catholic Mom Music Spotlight Nancy Krebs Come to the Stable

Catholic Mom Music Spotlight

Nancy Krebs
Come to the Stable

If your family is like mine, the craziness and fun of the holiday season has already set in! This week, I am happy to present our interview with Catholic Music Spotlight artist Nancy Krebs, and to introduce you to her holiday CD, Come to the Stable. The minute I turned on Nancy's CD, I was struck by the very first song, Waiting for the Christ Child, which summoned in me the emotions that frequently run through my heart at this wonderful time of the year. The rest of the CD was simply an enjoyable confirmation of Nancy's great talent as a singer and songwriter! I hope that you will enjoy this interview with Nancy Krebs, and that you will take time to visit her web site at www.NancyKrebs.com and listen for yourself! This year as you are compiling your Christmas lists and enjoying your family Advent devotions, give yourself the gift of listening to some wonderful Catholic music along the journey!

Lisa,
Webmaster, CatholicMom.com

To Order Nancy Krebs' Music
visit her web site at www.NancyKrebs.com

CM: Thank you for your time Nancy, especially during this busy season! Could you please tell us a little bit more about yourself and your family?

Nancy: I was born and raised as a Catholic in Baltimore, Maryland. I still remember the Latin Mass and things "Pre-Vatican Council". I am the oldest of seven children. Our parents were good, solid people who instilled in us that faith is important, and how you live your life is important. They were good role models for us--taking us to Mass every Sunday, sending us to Catholic schools right through High School. It was in High School that I began to sing and play guitar with a folk group that provided music for our Masses at Seton High. Two other members of that little group were also members of my parish--and we went to our Pastor and asked him if he would let us do a Folk Mass at our church. He said "yes" and we were off and running. I began writing songs with spiritual themes back then--in the early 1970's. I have been married for 20 years, and teach, act professionally, serve as a voice/dialect coach and write/sing/record original meditation songs.

Nancy Krebs' Discography

CM: Please describe your faith journey and your relationship with the Catholic Church.

Nancy: Well, as I mentioned; I was raised as a Catholic; but when I was in my early 20's, I began looking elsewhere to see if I liked other denominations better. I honestly don't know what I was looking for--but I found it--back in the Catholic faith. I had a kind of conversion experience or "re-version" if you will--in 1994. I was invited to come back to the church of my childhood--to sing meditation-style songs for Communion or before the Mass. I started writing again--and this time I truly turned the writing process over to God--to the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit--and it became the beginning of a new journey in faith. The more I wrote, the more I wanted to read spiritual books and articles that would inspire me...and that has continued to this day.

CM: What factors entered into your decision to record spiritual music?

Nancy: Very interesting that you ask that. I had been writing and singing at this church in Halethorpe, Maryland--where I grew up--and more and more people kept asking me "where can I get a CD of yours?" or "do you have a cassette of your songs?" So, the thought came to me that it might be a good idea to record an album of these songs. My husband was my angel. In more ways than one, I might add. But in the theatre, an angel puts up the money....and that's what he did. He became my executive producer and my first album, The Journey, was recorded in 1998. Since then, I've been able to record four more! My reason for recording is to share with others the gifts that God has seen fit to give me. My hope is that those who listen to my songs, might be touched in some small way, as I have been touched in their creation.

CM: Your CD "Come to the Stable" has some of my favorite traditional carols, as well as several original compositions. I absolutely loved "Waiting for the Christ Child", which so perfectly describes the emotions that so many of us carry at this time of the year. What is the inspiration for your songs and how do you come up with your lyrics? What motivated you to release a holiday CD?

Nancy: I'm so glad you liked "Waiting for the Christ Child". It was inspired by a sermon that I heard a few years ago--given during the Advent Season. The homilist focused on John the Baptist--how he went into the desert to focus on what God had in mind for him. He challenged us to find our own desert--an interior wilderness, where we might, for just a little while, focus on preparing our hearts for the coming of the Baby Jesus. Each song I'm blessed to write comes from a different source of inspiration--sometimes it's a passage from Scripture, sometimes from some book or article written by a spiritually minded author; sometimes from a conversation with a friend. But always I feel it comes from God. to answer the last question: there are two times of the Church Year that seem to inspire me the most--Advent and Lent. There are so many poignant images in the Nativity story that obviously has inspired a multitude of songwriters to try to capture them in song; and the journey to the Cross is filled with powerful images and emotions that lend themselves to song. So, I wanted to share the many songs that fit into the theme of Advent and Christmas with everyone.

CM: Can you please tell us about some of your other projects?

Nancy: My other CDs are my debut album The Journey, which is a meditational walk through the Liturgical Year; Love Makes Room, which is a journey of the heart; Simple Gifts; a journey to a peaceful place; and One Heart at a Time, which is a journey in the spirituality of St. Vincent Pallotti.

CM: What can families do to support Catholic recording artists?

Nancy: Oh--families can listen to more Catholic music during the day and night. Actually, last year, a woman came up to me and told me that she loved playing my CDs in her home while doing housework or feeding the children (she had several very young children). She said it made the children calmer! Other people have told me they put my CDs on when it's bedtime--it helps put everyone to sleep! Well, great--that's a plus, in my book! We all can make choices to support the growing Catholic recording ministry by seeking out new artists, going to concerts when available as a family. Of course, not all concerts are 'family-oriented' Some are more for adults or youth; but there's got to be something out there for everybody. It's a growing ministry--contemporary Catholic music.

CM: Who are some of your musical influences?

Nancy: John Michael Talbot is certainly the model for many of us. His quiet reflective style is one I greatly admire. Now you may laugh, but I'm a huge fan of Jimmy Buffett and he's a great story-teller. I think many of my songs have that story-telling style because of his influence. I like James Taylor, Ann Murray, Gordon Lightfoot, Carolyn Arends--and of course, the Beatles.

CM: What future projects do you have in the works?

Nancy: Well, I just released One Heart at a Time, so I'm busy writing new songs and doing Advent concerts until December 24th. I'm not sure where I will be led, but it looks like I'll be doing more guided retreats in song--which is wonderful--because this music really lends itself to a retreat setting.

CM: Are there any additional comments you'd like to share with our CatholicMom.com readers? Thanks so much and blessings to you and your family!

Nancy: I'm just thrilled that you asked me to participate in this really neat website! I think it is so wonderful--and much needed. Keep up the good work and may God continue to bless your work! Blessed Advent and Christmas to everyone!

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