Music for Sunday, October 7

This Sunday is Day School Sunday, so we have a special treat! Several children from TEDS will be singing a musical offering immediately following the opening Collect (in the place of the Gloria). The children will sing “This Is the Day”, which is their memory verse for September. They will also sing “Child of God”

Tom Fettke

The Psalm appointed for this Sunday is Psalm 8, so the choir will sing “The Majesty and Glory of Your Name” at the offertory. This anthem from 1979 is a classic – sung by choirs around the world. The music is by Tom Fettke, well-known composer, clinician and workshop leader. The text is adapted by Linda Lee Johnson, a member of the choir in a church where Tom Fettke was Minister of Music.  He had observed potential in her because of a Sunday School program she developed earlier and asked her to put the words of Psalm 8 (his favorite) into singable form.  She didn’t share his confidence in her, but took up the challenge and came through with what he considered the mostly finalized lyrics, after a couple of weeks!

Can’t you picture David, the Psalmist, sitting out watching sheep, writing these words?

When I gaze into the night sky,
And see the work of Your fingers.
The moon and stars suspended in space.
But what is man that You are mindful of him?
You have given man a crown of glory and honor.
And have made him a little lower than the angels.
You have put him in charge of all creation;
The beasts of the field, the birds of the air, the fish of the sea.
But what is man, oh, what is man
That You are mindful of him?

O Lord, our God the majesty and glory of Your name
Transcends the earth and fills the heavens.
O Lord, our God little children praise Him perfectly.
And so would we, and so would we.
Alleluia, Alleluia. The majesty and glory of Your name!
Alleluia, Alleluia.

words by Linda Lee Johnson, Psalm 8
music by Tom Fettke

At communion, the Contemporary Music Group will sing “How Beautiful” by Twila Paris, the contemporary artist behind songs such as “He Is Exalted” and “Lamb of God”. “How Beautiful” is perfect not only for communion, but also as a musical companion for Sunday’s lessons honoring marriage.

How Beautiful the hands that served
The Wine and the Bread and the sons of the earth
How beautiful the feet that walked
The long dusty roads and the hill to the cross
How Beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ

How Beautiful the heart that bled
That took all my sin and bore it instead
How beautiful the tender eyes
That choose to forgive and never despise
How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ

And as He lay down His life
We offer this sacrifice
That we will live just as He died
Willing to pay the price
Willing to pay the price

How Beautiful the radiant bride
Who waits for her Groom with His light in her eyes
How Beautiful when humble hearts give
The fruit of pure lives so that others may live
How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ

How beautiful the feet that bring
The sound of good news and the love of the King
How Beautiful the hands that serve
The wine and the bread and the sons of the Earth
How Beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ

You may have noticed that the sequence hymn for September stayed the same each week. For October we will sing the Celtic Alleluia, a favorite of many.

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

Music for Sunday, July 8

In the gospel reading this week (Mark 6:1-13) Jesus preaches his "homecoming" sermon. The people are so astonished at his teachings, that they reject him and take offense at all he tries to do. He is amazed at their unbelief. So that led me to music that leads one to having faith, even when we are unsure. And as it is summer, I am of course including favorites!

Richard Smallwood

At communion the Choir will sing "Total Praise" by Richard Smallwood. Smallwood, a graduate of Howard University, has solidly changed the face of gospel music by blending classical movements with traditional gospel. He has received many honors, including Dove awards and a Grammy. He wrote "Total Praise" in 1995 while his mother was ill. Being in a dark place, he was trying to turn the song into a "pity party" kind of song, but it kept pulling into a praise song. He then says that God deserves praise in whatever season we find ourselves. "Mountaintop praise" when everything is going well, is easy. Yet we still offer God "valley praise" when we are in a dark situation. God is with us through the hard times too. This song is especially meaningful for the choir, as we offered it during one of our dark moments at the memorial service of our sister, Diane Roberts.

To read Richard Smallwood's words, click on the following link:

http://journalofgospelmusic.com/gospel/genesis-of-a-gospel-song-total-praise-by-richard-smallwood/

Lord, I will lift mine eyes to the hills

Knowing my help is coming from You

Your peace you give me in time of the storm

You are the source of my strength

You are the strength of my life

I lift my hands in total praise to you

Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen

Chris Tomlin

Also during communion, the Contemporary Music Group will lead "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)". Texas Chris Tomlin often blends traditional hymns with contemporary music, and this is a favorite example of that blend. He has preserved the words of John Newton's hymn, using the original stanzas one, two, four and six. Then he added an original refrain, declaring that God, through mercy, love, grace and the salvation of Christ, has removed our chains and set us free.

Amazing grace

How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost, but now I'm found

Was blind, but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear

And grace my fears relieved

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed

My chains are gone

I've been set free

My God, my Savior has ransomed me

And like a flood His mercy reigns

Unending love, amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me

His word my hope secures

He will my shield and portion be

As long as life endures

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow

The sun forbear to shine

But God, Who called me here below,

Will be forever mine.

Will be forever mine.

You are forever mine.

Speaking of blending traditional with contemporary, I hope that my blended selections have enhanced your worship on Sunday mornings at 10:00. If you have not experienced our blend yet (for whatever reason) I hope to see you soon. If you have any words of encouragement for me, I certainly hope to hear from you. I also hope that you will continue to have faith in my selections, even when you are unsure!

Music for Proper 9

Prelude - Mit Freuden zart (Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above)

Processional - Lord of All Hopefulness, Lord of All Joy

Sequence - Jesus, Thou Divine Companion

Offertory - My Lighthouse

Communion - Total Praise

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)

Recessional - How Firm a Foundation

Postlude - Foundation (The other tune!)