Music for Sunday, July 15

Proper 10

Music for Sunday, July 15

Many of you have probably already read this Sunday’s Gospel lesson, which Fr. Gerry shared yesterday. This reading needs a warning sticker like the movies receive: parental discretion is advised! This is a story filled with violence and sexual abuse. A young girls dances for an all-male party. A man is murdered and the young girl dances with her head on a platter. How do I select uplifting music to go with that??? Well, because we are Easter people, we know that this is not the final story. Christ also faced a brutal death, and his resurrection gives us new life.

Kenton Ccoe

The offertory anthem this Sunday is “Precious Lord”, by Kenton Coe. An Academy Award nominated composer, Coe studied with Paul Hindemith and Nadia Boulanger. He has written for almost every musical format - opera, choral and chamber music. He is actually the first American to have an opera produced by the Paris Opera. His arrangement of “Precious Lord” is not to the tune you know. His original tune uses beautiful harmonies. The text, by Thomas Dorsey in response to his inconsolable bereavement at the death of his wife and newborn child. It was Rev. Martin Luther King’s favorite hymn and Mahalia Jackson sang it at his funeral. This arrangement is one of our favorites.

When the darkness appears and the night draws near and the day is past and gone, 

At the river I stand, guide my feet, hold my hand; 

Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.

Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand,

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;

Through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light,

Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.

Mac Powell

At Communion the CMG with offer “Since the World Began”. Part of a compilation album, it was written mainly by Mac Powell of Third Day, along with other artists such as Amy Grant and Matt Maher. It is part of a Dove Award winning compilation album, “Glory Revealed”, which paired scripture based lyrics with CCM All Stars.

Oh, that you would burst from the heavens

And how the mountains would quake

But you would make the nations tremble

All your enemies would learn of your fame

How then shall we be saved

How can we be saved

Since the world began

No ear has heard

No eye has seen

A God like you, oh a God like you

Like autumn leaves we all wither

Swept away by the wind

Oh, have mercy on us, Father

And please don’t remember our sin

Oh, Lord you are our father

We are clay you are the potter

We are all formed by your hand,

According to you plan

Processional - All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name 

Sequence - Sing Praise to Our Creator 

Offertory - Precious Lord

Communion - Since the World Began; At Your Table; There's a Wideness In God's Mercy

Recessional - Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones