Music for the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost: August 1, 2021

 OPENING VOLUNTARY All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly (Holy Manna)

setting, Don Hustad

 

GATHERING HYMN O Day of Rest and Gladness (Haf trones lämpa fardig)

This hymn appears in ELW with the tune Ellacombe, but we will sing it with a Swedish folk tune usually associated with Advent and the text Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers.

 

The Episcopalians sing it with a different tune – a tune we’ll hear at the postlude.

 

PSALM Psalm 51:1-12, 18-19  (Gethsemane)

The Prophet Nathan Rebukes King David
Eugene Siberdt, 1866-1931

The Psalter 1912 was used by Presbyterian churches in the U.S. and Canada who desired metrical settings of the psalms for pairing with hymntunes. Good poetry and versification were to be the hallmarks of this collection. 

With the Revised Common Lectionary, the Psalm for the day is chosen to complement the first reading.

In today’s reading from the Hebrew scriptures, we learn of Nathan’s rebuke to King David after David takes Bathsheba and has her husband murdered. Tradition says that King David composed Psalm 51 after these events.

 

HYMN OF THE DAY All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly (Holy Manna) ELW 461

Last week we sang this hymn to a modern tune by Jacksonville composer Bob Moore.

This week we pair it with one of the most recognizable American hymntunes, a tune attributed to William Moore who published it in Columbian Harmony (Cincinatti) in 1825.

 

MUSICAL OFFERING Bread of the World Richard Shephard

 

COMMUNION HYMN Where Charity and Love Are Shown (ACS 931)

Joaquín Madurga, the composer of this song, was a Spanish priest and a prolific poet-musician. In “Where charity and love are shown,” he creates a Maundy Thursday processional with all the dignified pomp of a Holy Thursday procession in the streets of Spain. The rising phrases and the doleful nature of the melody cry out like a “Kyrie eleison.” The English translation is by Martin Seltz, who skillfully captured the tone of the original Spanish.

(From Sundays and Seasons)

 

SENding Hymn The Church's One Foundation (Aurelia) 

ELW 654

CLOSING VOLUNTARY Partita on O Day of Rest and Gladness (Es flog ein kleins Waldvögelein)

setting, David Sims

hymn setting, George Ratcliffe Woodward

David Sims has written an introduction and alternate accompaniment for this hymn. Between the two, we’ll hear the arrangement from the Hymnal 1982 of the Episcopal Church.   

Sources: Wikipedia
Hymnal Companion to Evangelical Lutheran Worship

Painting of Nathan Rebuking David  By Eugène Siberdt - http://mayfairgallery.com/index.php?location=item&item=19480&section=recent, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44786866     

Music for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost: July 25, 2021

 

OPENING VOLUNTARY When Jesus Came to Jordan (King’s Lynn) setting, David Cherwien

I don’t often choose hymn-based voluntaries that aren’t related to the lectionary, but I have today. This hymn is a baptism hymn, in recognition of  the baptism that we will hold after the Hymn of the Day during this morning’s service.

 

GATHERING HYMN Praise and Thanksgiving (Bunessan) ELW 689

Everybody loves singing this Gaelic tune. Here it’s paired with a text by the English hymn writer Alfred F. Bayly (1907-1971).

I t might seem to be a hymn of general thanksgiving, but the last stanza ties it to the gospel reading, reminding us that no one will be hungry when God’s kingdom is established.

 

HYMN OF THE DAY Holy Woman, Graceful Giver (ACS 1002) Alabaster Jar

A depiction of Mary Magdalene with an anointing jar.
Jan van Scorel (1495-1562)

Two versions of this hymn, both written by Susan Palo Cherwien (b. 1953), exist. The first (ACS 1001) was written to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the ordination of women in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Anne Krentz Organ
Director of Music Ministries
St. Luke's Lutheran Church
Park Ridge, IL

The tune is by Anne Krentz Organ (b. 1960) who also composed the handbell pieces we have heard over the last two weeks.

Alabaster Jar is a new hymntune, through-composed (no melodic repetition) that is short and easily followed. If you would like to gain some familiarity before-hand, follow this link to hear a recording by Anne Krentz Organ. This is the first version of the hymn:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrIyWwXNqfc

The story of the woman with the alabaster jar, Mary of Bethany, is included in all four gospel accounts. There have been times when the story was associated with Mary Magdalene, but that seems to be a discounted opinion these days.

 

MUSCIAL OFFERING As this Broken Bread Wayne L. Wold

This text comes from the Didache, a Christian document from the second century that holds much of what we know of the early church’s worship practices.

 

COMMUNION HYMN All Who Hunger

Sylvia Dunstan’s (1955-1993) appears in ELW at 461 with tune Holy Manna. Today we sing it with a tune by Bob Moore – Grace Eternal. Bob Moore is one of the best-known liturgical composers of our day – and he lives in Jacksonville where he serves as the Director of Music Ministry at the Episcopal Church of Our Savior in Mandarin.

Moore’s composition, Opening Remarks is scored for oboe and viola. It was written for the San Marco Chamber Music Society and premiered at St. Mark’s by Eric and Ellen Olson. You can hear their performance, and view a “scrolling score” this link.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2z1vfAt_84&t=3s

 

SENDING HYMN Sent Forth by God’s Blessing (The Ash Grove) ELW 547

 

CLOSING VOLUNTARY Fanfare and Trumpet Voluntary David Lasky

New bulletin artwork by Rachel Mumford!

Sources:
Hymnary.org
Wikipedia
morningstarmusic.com
bobmooremusic.com

 

 

Music for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost: July 18, 2021

 OPENING VOLUNTARY The King of Love My Shepherd Is

(St. Columba)

setting, Charles Callahan

In many churches Psalm 23 is being read today. We are using the semicontinuous lectionary, so we have a different psalm; but, or gospel reading from Mark also has shepherd imagery.

We’ll use Psalm 24 in our liturgy, but The King of Love My Shepherd Is is a metrical setting of Psalm 23 so we get both psalms!

GATHERING HYMN I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say (Kingsfold) ELW 611

 

HYMN OF THE DAY O Holy Spirit, Enter In (Wie schÖn leuchtet) ELW 786

 

MUSICAL OFFERING Shall We Gather at the River (Hanson Place)

arr. Anne Krentz Organ

This piece is one of a set of four commissioned by Our Savior Lutheran in Vero Beach, Florida. They have kindly shared these pieces with us. They are perfect for summer ringing when the full ensemble isn’t available.

COMMUNION HYMN I Come with Joy (Dove of Peace)

SENDING HYMN All People that on Earth Do Dwell (Old Hundredth) ELW 883

CLOSING VOLUNTARY Wie schÖn leuchtet

setting, Johann Christoph Bach (1642-1703)
J. C. was the first cousin once removed of Johann Sebastian Bach. During his lifetime, his reputation as a composer was equal to that of his more famous cousin.

 

The banners made by our Liturgical Arts and Crafts Committee are now on display at the back of the church where they can be enjoyed all year long. Banners particular to a given season will be in the front of the church. Thank you to all who participated in this amazing project.

Music for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost: July 11, 2021

 OPENING VOLUNTARY How Firm a Foundation (Foundation)

setting, Anne Krentz Organ

 As Covid-19’s presence came to be known, church musicians looked for ways to provide music for their assemblies that would allow them to be socially distanced and wear masks. Our Savior Lutheran Church in Vero Beach, FL commissioned four handbell pieces from Anne Krentz Organ for four ringers. Each ringer has two handbells with no changes, eliminating the need for tables and allowing the ringers to be socially distanced. A piano accompaniment complements each piece. They are also ideal for summer ringing when the full choir may not be available.

Thank you to Our Savior Lutheran and their Minister of Music, Deacon Ryan K. Hostler, for making these pieces available for use at St. Mark’s.

GATHERING HYMN Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (Nettleton)

ELW 807

 

HYMN OF THE DAY Give Thanks for Saints (Repton)

ELW 428

When it was time to choose a Hymn of the Day, I admit I was stumped. Today’s gospel reading is mostly about the murder of John the Baptist, and it was hard to find a text that dealt with that. I turned to the description of the reading from Sundays and Seasons and found my direction there.

As Jesus and his disciples begin to attract attention, Mark recalls the story of John the Baptist’s martyrdom. Like John, Jesus and his disciples will also suffer at the hands of those opposed to the gospel of salvation.

Caravaggion (1571-1610)
Salome with the Head of John the Baptist (from Wikipedia)

It was easy to choose Give Thanks for Saints, a hymn that reminds us of those who have lived, worked, and even died to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Truly, their example strengthens our resolve to do the same.

 

MUSICAL OFFERING We Are the Lord’s Roland J. Martin

Karl Johann Philipp Spitta (1801-1859) was a Lutheran pastor with roots in Hannover, Germany. He began writing poetry when he was only 8 years old, long before he began his theological training. Roland Martin has set this translation of the hymn to the Irish tune Londonderry Air, which is named for Londonderry County in Ireland.

The tune’s origin is unknown. It’s first publication is believed to be 1792 – long before 1910 when Frederic Edward Weatherly penned the lyrics Oh Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling . . .

 

COMMUNION HYMN As Your Children Lord, We Are Here

The tune Kum Bah Yah has disputed origins, but most experts credit it to the Gullah culture, descendants of enslaved West Africans who lived on islands off the coast of South Carolina and Georgia. The tune traveled from there to the mainland, to the North American continent, and then around the world.

At some point people in Russia began singing the tune with the words we’ll sing today. With the familiar tune and repetitions in the text, worshiper cans easily join in the singing even as they move forward to receive communion. Give it a try!

 

SENDING HYMN Faith of Our Fathers (St. Catherine)

The first line is written “Faith of our fathers. . .” with a lower case “f”, but the original version had a capital “F” that called to mind Roman Catholic priests who served in England during the reign of Elizabeth I. The priests lived with the real possibility of punishment by “danger, fire, and sword.”

Joseph R. Alfred’s stanzas (2-4) honor the work of women in the church and move into the modern age, reminding us that people still suffer for the sake of the gospel. In the final stanza, we join with saints of old and suffering saints of the modern age, by taking up our own crosses and pledging to be true to our living faith until the day we die.

 

CLOSING VOLUNTARY Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates (Truro)
setting, J. Wayne Kerr

In many hymnals Truro is sung with the text Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates! Behold the king of Glory waits” – an echo of the psalm for the day.

Sources:
Hymnal Companion to Evangelical Lutheran Worship
Wikipedia
Hymnary.org

 

Music for the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost: July 4, 2021

 

Like most liturgical churches, our music for today is chosen to complement the lectionary readings; however, it's also Independence Day. I have included music that has an American flavor and acknowledges our secular Fourth of July celebration.

OPENING VOLUNTARY 'Tis a Gift to Be Simple (Simple Gifts)

setting, Richard Proulx

The Shakers (United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing) came to America in the 1780s from England. Since they had roots in the Quaker faith and experienced ecstatic physical manifestation during worship, they were also known as “Shaking Quakers.” Some marks of their community included a belief in the equality of men and women, the equality of all races, and a belief in receiving “gift songs” from the spirit world.

Some say the Shakers received Simple Gifts as a spirit song, but it is generally attributed to Elder Joseph Bracket who composed the tune in 1848; thus, we can claim the tune as “American.”

Turning has long been a theme in hymnody. My first thought is of Rory Cooney’s Canticle of the Turning where Mary asks, “Could the world be about to turn?”

Simple Gifts is also a theme famously chosen by Aaron Copland for his ballet Appalachian Spring.

GATHERING HYMN Let the Whole Creation Cry (Salzburg) ELW 876

HYMN OF THE DAY We All Are One in Mission (Kuortane) ELW 576

MUSICAL OFFERING Dona Nobis Pacem setting, Emily Lund

Nobody knows where this popular round came from, but it’s been with us since about the 18^th century - being sung around campfires, at community events, and in schools. (I first learned it as a sixth-grade choir student as part of our warmup routine.)

Dona Nobis Pacem (Grant us peace) is also the final bit of the Agnus Dei which we often sing as a communion song. The English text is “Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world. . .grant us peace.

Since we also celebrate Independence Day today, it’s a suitable prayer for our nation, our St. Mark’s community, and the whole world.

COMMUNION HYMN You Satisfy the Hungry Heart (Bicentennial) ELW 484

In 1976, when the United States celebrated its 200^th year of independence, Philadelphia was host to the 41 International Eucharistic Congress – a Roman Catholic event. The tune, Bicentennial, was written by Robert E. Kreutz (1922-1996) for the text by Omer Westendorf (1916-1997). You Satisfy the Hungry Heart was chosen as the official hymn for the congress out of 200 other submissions. 

SENDING HYMN God of the Ages (National Hymn)

Perhaps better known as “God of Our Fathers,” this patriotic hymn was written for the 100-year anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The original “fathers” language was a deliberate reference to our nation’s founding fathers, but most modern hymnals have changed to more inclusive language. Despite the name of the tune, National Hymn, it has never received an official designation as such.

CLOSING VOLUNTARY Prelude and Hymn on "America, the Beautiful" (Materna)
Douglas Franks, Samuel A. Ward

Sources:

Wikipedia

Shaker Woman Photo: By William Paul Childers - This file was donated to Wikimedia Commons as part of a project by the National Gallery of Art. Please see the Gallery's Open Access Policy., CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=82156401

Hymnal Companion, Evangelical Lutheran Worship