Music for the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost: November 8, 2020

 

OPENING VOLUNTARY The Trumpet Shall Sound

G. F. Handel from Messiah, arr. Lani Smith

 

GATHERING HYMN Come, We That Love the Lord

(Marching to Zion) Evangelical Lutheran Worship 625

 

HYMN OF THE DAY Wake, Awake for Night Is Flying
(Wachet auf) ELW 436

Many call this hymn the Lutheran King of the Chorales and I have to admit it’s one of my favorites. Before coming to St. Mark’s, the only time I sang this hymn was in choir when I was in middle school.  It’s in most hymnals and musicians of all denominations revere it, but it’s rarely sung by congregations outside of Lutheran churches.

Today’s second stanza is an “organ only” stanza with a setting by Robert Lau. (In this time of Covid, one of the ways we can limit assembly singing is through the use of organ settings. While the organ plays, the assembly to hear another composer’s approach and to meditate on the text.)

Robert Lau’s setting of this tune includes four variations and we’ll hear them all throughout the service this morning. The first variation comes during the Hymn of the Day. Variations 2 and 3 will be heard as the communion elements are distributes. The fourth (and final) variation will be heard as the closing voluntary.

By Hieronymous Francken II - Web Gallery of Art:   Image  Info about artwork, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6860120

SENDING HYMN Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers
(Haf trones lampa färdig) ELW 244

This is another hymn I never sang before coming to St. Mark’s – and this text paired with a Swedish folk song has become one of my favorites!

CLOSING VOLUNTARY Wachet auf

setting, Robert Lau