Music for Sunday, March 26, 2017

Lent 4

What is Refreshment Sunday?  

The Refreshment Sundays or Rose Sundays are Sundays within the two major fasts observed in Western Christianity, Lent and Advent. On these days, the fast was allowed to be relaxed, hence the name "Refreshment Sunday". The Refreshment Sundays are:

• Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday in Lent

• Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday in Advent

So, in honor of Refreshment Sunday the music will be in major keys! (Maybe I'll even have some chocolate!)

The Psalm appointed for this Sunday is Psalm 23 - everyone's favorite! Both the CMG and Trinity Choir will sing this comforting text.

The setting at 9:00 is by John-Paul Gentile and William Matthews, former members of Bethel Music in Redding, CA. 

The setting by Charles Collins  at 11:00 is a special request by Mtr. Vivian.  In 1994 Collins was composer-in-residence at the CME (Choral Music Experience) Institute for Choral Teacher Education and has received his Artist-Teacher Certification from the Institute He is currently Director of Music at St.Paul University Children's Chorus in St.Louis. "The Lord is My Shepherd"  is a Gospel arrangement and is very "laid back", and as such has become a huge favorite of the choir.

9:00

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Awaken the Dawn

Your Word, O Lord

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)

Whoever Eats This Bread

Rescue

Flesh and Bone

In Christ Alone

11:00

O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing

Awake, O Sleeper, Rise From Death

Offertory The Lord Is My Shepherd

Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound

O Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts

My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

I'll Praise My Maker While I've Breath

Music for Sunday, March 12, 2017 +Lent 2

This Sunday's Gospel reading is John 3:1-17, which includes probably the most famous verse in the bible: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." 

The Trinity MadriGals will be offering special music on Sunday at both the 9:00 and the 11:00, and the focus will be on eternal life. For the offertory, we will sing the gospel favorite, "I'm Going Up a-Yonder" by Walter Hawkins. For those of you who are not familiar with Gospel, the Hawkins family is one of the biggest names in the biz. Walter’s brother Edwin founded the Edwin Hawkins Singers, who are most famous for the Gospel classic “Oh, Happy Day.” 

If you want to know, where I'm going. Where I'm going soon.

If anybody asks you, where I'm going. Where I'm going soon.

Tell em for me, I'm going up yonder. Goin' up yonder to be with my Lord.

At Communion, the ladies will sing the well known spiritual "Steal Away". Songs such as "Steal Away to Jesus", "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", "Wade in the Water" and the "Gospel Train" are songs with hidden codes, not only about having faith in God, but containing hidden messages for slaves to run away on their own, or with the Underground Railroad.

"Steal Away" was composed by Wallace Willis, Choctaw freedman in the old Indian Territory, sometime before 1862.

Alexander Reid, a minister at a Choctaw boarding school, heard Willis singing the songs and transcribed the words and melodies. He sent the music to the Jubilee Singers of Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. The Jubilee Singers then popularized the songs during a tour of the United States and Europe.

9:00
Congregational songs
I Will Arise and Go to Jesus 
Your Word, O Lord (Taize)
I Lift Up My Eyes 
Rescue 
Lift High the Cross 

CMG at the Prelude
For God So Loved the World

11:00
Congregational hymns (from Hymnal 1982)

401 The God of Abraham Praise

489 The Great Creator of the World

691 My Faith Looks Up To Thee

668 I to the Hills Will Lift Mine Eyes

473 Lift High the Cross

Organ Voluntaries
Audi, benigne conditor (O Maker of the World, Give Ear)    Gerald Near
Wer nur den lieben Gott (If Thou But Trust In God to Guide Thee    J.S. Bach