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