Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, Year A: February 5, 2023

OPENING VOLUNTARY O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright

Paul Manz (1919-2009)

Last week's opening voluntary had the same title, but the two versions by two different composers couldn't show more contrast. Last's week's version was staid and dignified. Paul Manz' version features dancing, twinkling stars.

GATHERING HYMN Gather Us In (Gather Us In) ELW 532

"The Holy Spirit Calls Us Together As the People of God"

Glass art
Dale Chihuly

PSALM 112:1-10

Light shines in the darkness for the upright is the appointed refrain for today's psalm. I couldn't resist crafting accompanying music from Mark Sedio's capricious tune Lux in tenebris. It even closes with a bit of Delores Dufner's original text. See "Light Shone in Darkness," the source for this refrain, at ELW 307.

HYMN OF THE DAY In Christ Called to Baptize (St. Denio) ELW 575

Our courtyard fountain

MUSICAL OFFERING Our Comforter and Guide Daniel C. Meyer
The work of the Holy Spirit is an important piece of today's second reading. This piece borrows texts from two historic hymn writers, Isaac Watts (1674-1748) and Mary Jane Walker (1816-1878). The texts remind us that we do not walk alone, for we have the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us.

COMMUNION HYMN O Christ, Surround Me (Green Tyler) ACS 1084

COMMUNION HYMN The Lord Is My Light

Our second communion hymn is an ostinato refrain from the Taizé tradition. An ostinato is a short phrase that is repeated throughout a piece of music. We'll sing this several times. Memorize this sung prayer so that you can sing without looking at the music.

SENDING HYMN Lord of Light (Abbot's Leigh) ELW 688

CLOSING VOLUNTARY Fughetta on "To Be Your Presence" (Engelberg)

Richard Proulx (1937-2010)

See the text and tune at ELW 546.