Opening
Voluntary
O That I Had a Thousand Voices
(O dass ich tausend Zungen hätte)
setting,
Jeffrey Blersch
Evangelical Lutheran Worship 833
Did
Johann Mentzer (1658-1734) have Philippians 4:4 in mind when he wrote the hymn
this prelude is based on? We can’t know for sure, but we can see the influence
of the Lutheran movement known as “pietism” in this hymn*. The singer’s joy is
so great they call on all creation to join in a hymn of praise because, “My
utmost powers can never quite declare the wonders of God’s might.”
Johann
König’s (1691-1751) tune has become one of my favorites since coming to St.
Mark’s. He was an important church music director of his day and a composer of
operas and cantatas.
Jeffrey
Blersch’s arrangement incorporates a happy ritornello between phrases of the
tune.
Gathering
Hymn Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart (Marion)
ELW
873
Hymn
of the Day Beloved, God’s Chosen (Kremser)
ELW
648
It
was difficult to choose a Hymn of the Day this week. In the gospel reading, a
king throws a wedding banquet for this son. Our hymnal is filled with hymns
about feasts – but they usually are also communion hymns. Can we really sing about
communion on a Sunday when we cannot gather around the Lord’s table?
I decided to see what else this parable has to offer.
At the story’s conclusion, an invited guest is thrown out for showing up without
the proper garment. I wondered what he should have been wearing and, by
extension, what we all should be wearing as children of God.
I
was led to a newer hymn by Susan Palo Cherwien, “Beloved, God’s Chosen.” In it,
we are exhorted to put on “compassion, forgiveness, and goodness of heart.” The
text further encourages us, “Above all, before all, let love be your raiment. .
.” The text is a poetic version of Colossians 3:12.
Isn’t
it amazing that after 14 years we still haven’t sung all of the hymns in Evangelical
Lutheran Worship? This happens to be one of them. Teaching new hymns in an
online service is not easy, so I decided to use the familiar tune, Kremser.
Most people will recognize it from Thanksgiving services as “We Gather Together
to Ask the Lord’s Blessing.”
The tune suits the text, in my opinion, but I look forward to a day we can learn
Robert A. Hobby’s tune, Andrew’s Song, as well.
Sending
Hymn O God of Every Nation (Llangloffan)
ELW
873
Closing
Voluntary Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart
(Vineyard
Haven)
ELW
874
prelude
setting, Kevin Hildebrand
chorale,
Richard W. Dirksen
 |
Inside All Saints Chapel
The University of the South |
Earlier
we sang this hymn with the tune Marion, but ELW also offers Vineyard
Haven. It’s a tune I really love, but it’s not well known and it’s
difficult to sing even with practice.
(Let me also say it is well worth the effort! The first time I sang it was in
procession with 150 other church musicians. We were accompanied by the magnificent
organ at All Saints Chapel,The University of the South, in Sewanee, Tennessee.
It was one of the most thrilling moments of my musical memory.)
Kevin Hildebrand’s prelude is used as a fanfare to introduce this majestic, staid,
chorale. A snippet from the prelude comes back at the end to round this
voluntary out.
Sources:
Evangelical Lutheran Worship
Brittanica.com
Wikipedia
*Pietism
began as a Lutheran movement in the 17th century. Adherents stressed
Christian living and personal faith in a church they believed emphasized theology.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pietism
