Music for the 13th Sunday after Pentecost: August 30, 2020

 

Opening Voluntary Will You Come and Follow Me (Kelvingrove)

setting, David Lasky 

Gathering Hymn Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus (Lasset uns min Jesu ziehen) ELW 802 

Hymn of the Day Would I Have Answered When You Called (Kingsfold)

This hymn is not in Evangelical Lutheran Worship. The text is by Herman G. Stuempfle, Jr. (1923-2007). He wrote some 550 hymns, eight of which are in ELW. 

Sending Hymn Jesus Still Lead On (Seelenbräutigam) ELW 624 

Closing Voluntary Fanfare on “Helmsley”                                               Karl Osterland

I know what you’re thinking – “An Advent Hymn at the end of August?” The last verse of the gospel reading begins with “For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father. . .” Few hymns give us a better vision of this text than Charles Wesley’s “Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending.” I tried to find other pieces to finish the service, but I kept coming back to this.

Music for the 12th Sunday after Pentecost: August 23, 2016

 

OPENING VOLUNTARY Aria       

Paul Manz (1919-2009) 

Paul Manz in a giant among modern Lutheran church musicians. Twice he was named as one of the “Ten Most Influential Lutherans.” In 2000 the American Guild of Organists named his as one of the “Most Notable Organists of the 20^th century.” I was recently surprised to learn that he played a recital at St. Mark’s dedicating the Kreuger Memorial Organ. If anyone has a copy of the program from this recital, I would love to see it! Thanks to Pastor William Trexler for sending this photo to me! 

Pastor William Trexler, Interim Music Director Timothy Buendorf, Paul Manz

GATHERING HYMN Built on a Rock (Kirken den er et gammelt hus) ELW 652

A meaningful song for this time when we cannot always gather in our church buildings, this Danish hymn reminds us the church is built on the rock that is Jesus Christ, and that Christ makes us living stones in which he dwells.

I considered omitting the fourth stanza for its reference to “this house” since we aren’t actually worshipping in one space together; however, I felt its image of Jesus blessing children was too important to leave out – especially in this time when students (along with teachers and all of the support staff) have been returning to schools under the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic. St. Mark’s has been mindful of praying for our schools as the new academic year returns. 

We look forward to the day when bells ring again, calling us to gather to hear the word of God and to participate in the means of grace. 

Psalm Refrain Noel Nouvelet

We have another traditional tune for the psalm refrain this week. Many people will hear it and think of Easter with the words “Now the green blade rises,” but this tune was actually first associated with Christmas and the text “Sing we now of Christmas.” It’s a great tune for any time of year.

 

HYMN OF THE DAY O Savior, Precious Savior (Angel’s Story) ELW 820

SENDING HYMN My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less (The Solid Rock) ELW 596

CLOSING VOLUNTARY Duke Street setting, Wilbur Held (1914-2015)

Music for the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost: August 16, 2020

 

Opening Voluntary A Meditation on “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” (St. Anne)

Setting Mark Albrecht

Gathering Hymn Jesus Shall Reign (Duke Street) ELW 434

Penned by the great hymn writer Isaac Watts (1674-1748), Jesus Shall Reign is one of the first English missionary hymns.

Hymn tunes are often named after places. Duke Street is where the composer, John Hatton (d. 1793), once lived.

Canticle of Praise Come, Let Us Join Our Cheerful Songs (Twenty-fourth)

This is another Isaac Watts text. I’ve paired it with Twenty-fourth, by the American composer Lucius Chapin (1760-1842). Chapin, who was born in Massachusetts, was an active participant in American history, serving in the battles of Ticonderoga and Stillwater. He even served under George Washington at Valley Forge.

 

Psalm 133

In these Sundays after Pentecost I’ve been setting the refrain of the psalms to folk tunes from around the world. (Last Sunday was an exception when I used a contemporary hymn tune.) Today’s tune, Cantad al Señor, comes from Brazil.

 

Hymn of the Day There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy (Lord, Revive Us) ELW 588

 

Closing Voluntary I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say (Kingsfold)

Setting, Jerry Van Der Pol