"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

The readings for the Second Sunday of Easter were:

Acts 4:32-35
Psalm 133
1 John 1:1-2:2
John 20:19-31

This is the Sunday when we remember Thomas and his doubts. The second Sunday of Easter is always kind of sad. Last week we had over 1,600 at church. This week we didn’t even have a thousand. The sermon was short; there was only one anthem and no Communion service. So, we actually got out of church ten minutes early. Some might like that, but not me. We only have worship once a week now, and we should at least have a good hour. That’s one reason I really prefer the Episcopal Church. Communion is served every week, and the service is usually ninety minutes.

Our first hymn was Easter People Raise Your Voices by William M. James. The hymn tune is Regent Square by Henry T. Smart.

Easter people, raise your voices,
Sounds of heaven in earth should ring.
Christ has brought us heaven's choices;
Heavenly music, let it ring.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Easter people, let us sing.

Our second hymn was not one of my favorites -
Up from the Grave He Arose written by Robert Lowry. It can sound pretty awful, but our organist kept a brisk tempo and didn’t hold any of those long fermatas that can ruin a good hymn. So it was pleasant to sing it.

1. Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior,
waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!
Refrain:
Up from the grave he arose;
with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;
he arose a victor from the dark domain,
and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

2. Vainly they watch his bed, Jesus my Savior,
vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!
(Refrain)

3. Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Savior;
he tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!
(Refrain)

Our anthem was O Sons and Daughters of the King written in the late fifteenth century by Jean Tisserand. The tune is the fifteenth century French tune O Filii Et Filiae

O sons and daughters of the King,
Whom heavenly hosts in glory sing,
Today the grave has lost its sting!
Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

That Easter morn, at break of day,
The faithful women went their way
To seek the tomb where Jesus lay.
Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

An angel clad in white they see,
Who sit and speaks unto the three,
"Your Lord will go to Galilee."
Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

That night the apostles met in fear;
Among them came their master dear
And said, "MY peace be with you here."
Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

When Thomas first the tidings heard
That they had seen the risen Lord,
He doubted the disciples’ word.
Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

"My pierced side, O Thomas, see,
And look upon my hands, my feet;
Not faithless but believing be."
Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

No longer Thomas then denied;
He saw the feet, the hands, the side;
"You are my Lord and God!" he cried.
Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

How blest are they who have not seen
And yet whose faith has constant been,
For they eternal life shall win.
Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

On this most holy day of days
Be laud and jubilee and praise:
To God your hearts and voice raise.
Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Our final hymn was Sing with All the Saints in Glory by William J. Irons, set to Beethoven’s Hymn to Joy.

1. Sing with all the saints in glory,
sing the resurrection song!
Death and sorrow, earth's dark story,
to the former days belong.
All around the clouds are breaking,
soon the storms of time shall cease;
in God's likeness we, awaking,
know the everlasting peace.

2. O what glory, far exceeding
all that eye has yet perceived!
Holiest hearts, for ages pleading,
never that full joy conceived.
God has promised, Christ prepares it,
there on high our welcome waits.
Every humble spirit shares it;
Christ has passed th'eternal gates.

3. Life eternal! heaven rejoices;
Jesus lives, who once was dead.
Join we now the deathless voices;
child of God, lift up your head!
Patriarchs from the distant ages,
saints all longing for their heaven,
prophets, psalmists, seers, and sages,
all await the glory given.

4. Life eternal! O what wonders
crowd on faith; what joy unknown,
when, amidst earth's closing thunders,
saints shall stand before the throne!
O to enter that bright portal,
see that glowing firmament;
know, with thee, O God Immortal,
"Jesus Christ whom thou has sent!"

Christ Is Risen. He Is Risen, Indeed!

The readings for Easter Sunday, 2006 were:
Acts 10:34-43
Isaiah 25:6-9
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
John 20:1-18

We had an overflow crowd at all three services, plus a 7 am sunrise service. I think we had about 1,600 total people in church this morning. The overflow crowd had to sit in the courtyard, about 100 people out there for each service. Fortunately the rain didn’t begin until about half an hour after the last service. We had a brass quintet, Marine Corps bandsmen from Quantico, and timpani. People always expect instruments on Easter. It was hard for the choir to sing above the brass. I think a lot of the extra people were twice-a-year types, because most of them weren’t singing the hymns.

Our processional hymn was Christ the Lord Is Risen Today by Charles Wesley. The hymn tune was Lyra Davidica.

1. Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

2. Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

3. Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!

4. Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

5. Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

6. King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!

The second hymn was the ancient hymn The Day of Resurrection by John of Damascus; translated by John Mason Neale. The tune is called Lancashire by Henry T. Smart.

1. The day of resurrection!
Earth, tell it out abroad;
the passover of gladness,
the passover of God.
From death to life eternal,
from earth unto the sky,
our Christ hath brought us over,
with hymns of victory.

2. Our hearts be pure from evil,
that we may see aright
the Lord in rays eternal
of resurrection light;
and listening to his accents,
may hear, so calm and plain,
his own "All hail!" and, hearing,
may raise the victor strain.

3. Now let the heavens be joyful!
Let earth the song begin!
Let the round world keep triumph,
and all that is therein!
Let all things seen and unseen
their notes in gladness blend,
for Christ the Lord hath risen,
our joy that hath no end.

Our first anthem was a setting of Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat. We sang half of the anthem in Latin, half in English. The organ and brass parts were really splendid.

Our second anthem was Easter Anthem by William Billings. It is a great early American composition. It almost feels like a Sacred Harp shape note song to sing.

The Lord is ris'n indeed! Hallelujah!
Now is Christ risen from the dead,
And become the first fruits of them that slept.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.
And did He rise? Did He rise?
Hear it, ye nations! Hear it, O ye dead!
He rose, He rose, He burst the bars of death
And triumphed o'er the grave.
Then I rose,
Then first Humanity triumphantPassed the crystal ports of light,And seized Eternal Youth.
Hail, all immortal hail, hail.
Heaven all lavish of strange gifts to all,
Thine's all the glory, ours' the boundless bliss.

We had three Communion Hymns.

I Am the Bread of Life written by Suzanne Toolan.

1. I am the bread of life; they who come to me shall not hunger;
they who believe in me shall not thrist.
No one can come to me unless the Father draw them.
Refrain: And I will raise them up, and I will raise them up,
and I will raise them up on the last day.

2. The Bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world,
and they who eat of this bread, they shall live for ever, they shall live for ever.
Refrain
3. Unless you eat of the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink of his Blood,
you shall not have life within you, you shall not have life within you.
Refrain
4. I am the resurrection, I am the life.
They who believe in me, even if they die, they shall live for ever.
Refrain
5. Yes, Lord we believe that you are the Christ,
the Son of God who has come into the world.
Refrain

The second Communion hymn was Hymn of Promise by Natalie Sleeth

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity,
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

The final Communion hymn was He Lives

I serve a risen Saviour, He' s in the world today;
I know that He is living, whatever men may say,
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer;
And just the time I need Him, He' s always near.
Refrain:
He lives. He lives. Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life' s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.

In all the world around me I see His loving care,
And tho my heart grows weary I never will despair;
I know that He is leading thro— all the stormy blast.
The day of His appearing will come at last.
Refrain:
Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing.
Eternal hallelujas to Jesus Christ the King!
The hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find.
None other is so loving, so good and kind.
Refrain:

The closing hymn was Thine Be the Glory by Edmond Budry, translated by Richard Hoyle. The hymn tune is Maccabeus adapted from the oratorio by Georg Friedrich Handel.

Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son;
endless is the victory, thou o'er death hast won;
angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave clothes where thy body lay.
Refrain:
Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son,
Endless is the vict'ry, thou o'er death hast won.

Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
Lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
let the Church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing;
for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting. Refrain

No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life;
life is naught without thee; aid us in our strife;
make us more than conquerors, through thy deathless love:
bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above. Refrain

Good Friday, 2006

Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Genesis 22:1-18
Hebrews 10:1-25
John (18:1-40) 19:1-37
Psalm 22:1-21 or 22:1-11

The Youth Choir led the music for the service of Tenebrae. The word tenebrae is Latin for shadows. The purpose of the Tenebrae service is to recreate the emotional aspects of the passion story. It is a very solemn service. The readings are the narrative of Christ’s Passion, divided into seven, eight, or nine parts, each one assigned to a different reader. Our service tonight had seven readings. At the beginning of the service the church is illuminated with candlelight. There are as many candles as there are readings, plus a white Christ candle. The readers go up one at a time, read their assigned selections, and extinguish one of the candles, until only the Christ candle remains. Then someone reads the first part of Psalm 22, which Jesus quoted on the cross. Then the Christ candle is put out, leaving the congregation in near total darkness—and near total devastation. At this point, the service ends. There is no benediction and the people leave in silence. We had a hymn for each of the readings, and the Youth Choir sang an anthem. There was no sermon.

The first hymn was Beneath the Cross of Jesus by Elizabeth Cecelia Douglas Clephane. The tune is St. Christopher by Frederick Charles Maker.

Beneath the cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand,
the shadow of a mighty rock
within a weary land,
A home within a wilderness,
a rest upon the way,
from the burning of the noontide heat
and the burden of the day.

O safe and happy shelter!
O refuge tried and sweet!
O trysting-place where heaven's love
and heaven's justice meet!
As to the exalted patriarch
that wondrous dream was given,
so seems my Savior's cross to me
a ladder up to heaven.

There lies beneath its shadow,
but on the farther side,
the darkness of an open grave
that gapes both deep and wide;
and there between us stands the cross,
two arms outstretched to save,
like a watchman to guard the way
from that eternal grave.

Upon that cross of Jesus
mine eyes at times can see
the very dying form of one
who suffered there for me;
and from my stricken heart, with tears,
two wonders I confess:
the wonders of redeeming love,
and my own worthlessness.

I take, O cross, thy shadow
for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
the sunshine of his face;
content to let the world go by,
to know no gain nor loss,
my sinful self my only shame,
my glory all: the cross.

The first reading was Matthew 26:30-46

The second hymn was Go to Dark Gethsemane by James Montgomery. The tune is Redhead by Richard Redhead.

1. Go to dark Gethsemane,
ye that feel the tempter's power;
your Redeemer's conflict see,
watch with him one bitter hour.
Turn not from his griefs away;
learn of Jesus Christ to pray.

2. See him at the judgment hall,
beaten, bound, reviled, arraigned;
O the wormwood and the gall!
O the pangs his soul sustained!
Shun not suffering, shame, or loss;
learn of Christ to bear the cross.

3. Calvary's mournful mountain climb;
there, adoring at his feet,
mark that miracle of time,
God's own sacrifice complete.
"It is finished!" hear him cry;
learn of Jesus Christ to die.

4. Early hasten to the tomb
where they laid his breathless clay;
all is solitude and gloom.
Who has taken him away?
Christ is risen! He meets our eyes;
Savior, teach us so to rise.

The second reading was Matthew 26:47-56.

The third hymn was What Wondrous Love Is This, an American folk hymn that dates from the early nineteenth century.

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
to lay aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,
to lay aside his crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing,
to God and to the Lamb, I will sing.
To God and to the Lamb who is the great I AM,
while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
while millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I'm free, I'll sing on, I'll sing on,
And when from death I'm free, I'll sing on.
And when from death I'm free I'll sing and joyful be,
and through eternity I'll sing on, I'll sing on,
and through eternity I'll sing on.

The third reading was Matthew 26:57-75.

The fourth hymn was O Love Divine What Hast Thou Done by Charles Wesley. The hymn tune is Selena by Isaac B. Woodbury.

1. O Love divine, what has thou done!
The immortal God hath died for me!
The Father's coeternal Son
bore all my sins upon the tree.
Th' immortal God for me hath died:
My Lord, my Love, is crucified!

2. Is crucified for me and you,
to bring us rebels back to God.
Believe, believe the record true,
ye all are bought with Jesus' blood.
Pardon for all flows from his side:
My Lord, my Love, is crucified!

3. Behold him, all ye that pass by,
the bleeding Prince of life and peace!
Come, sinners, see your Savior die,
and say, "Was ever grief like his?"
Come, feel with me his blood applied:
My Lord, my Love, is crucified!

The fourth reading was Matthew 27:1-14.

The fifth hymn was Ah, Holy Jesus by Johann Heermann, translated by Robert S. Bridges. The hymn tune is Herzliebster Jesu by Johann Cruger.

1. Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended,
that we to judge thee have in hate pretended?
By foes derided, by thine own rejected,
O most afflicted!

2. Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee?
Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee!
'Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee;
I crucified thee.

3. Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;
the slave hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered.
For our atonement, while we nothing heeded,
God interceded.

4. For me, kind Jesus, was thy incarnation,
thy mortal sorrow, and thy life's oblation;
thy death of anguish and thy bitter passion,
for my salvation.

5. Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay thee,
I do adore thee, and will ever pray thee,
think on thy pity and thy love unswerving,
not my deserving.

The fifth reading was Matthew 27:15-32.

The sixth hymn was O Sacred Head Now Wounded. The text was written by Bernard of Clairvaux, translated by by Paul Gerhardt and James W. Alexander. The tune is known as The Passion Chorale by Hans L. Hassler in the sixteenth century and harmonized by J.S. Bach in the seventeenth century. It is main motif of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion

1. O sacred Head, now wounded,
with grief and shame weighed down,
now scornfully surrounded
with thorns, thine only crown:
how pale thou art with anguish,
with sore abuse and scorn!
How does that visage languish
which once was bright as morn!

2. What thou, my Lord, has suffered
was all for sinners' gain;
mine, mine was the transgression,
but thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior!
'Tis I deserve thy place;
look on me with thy favor,
vouchsafe to me thy grace.

3. What language shall I borrow
to thank thee, dearest friend,
for this thy dying sorrow,
thy pity without end?
O make me thine forever;
and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
outlive my love for thee.


The sixth reading was Matthew 27: 33-44.

The seventh and final hymn was the African-American spiritual Were You There?

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh!
Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh!
Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

Were you there when they pierced him in the side?
Were you there when they pierced him in the side?
Oh!
Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they pierced him in the side?

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh!
Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

The seventh reading was Matthew 27:45-54.

Maundy Thursday

Tonight for the Maundy Thursday Comunion Service we sang the Messe Sollennelle by Louis Vierne . It was the first time I had sung this piece. We really liked it. We mixed portions of the mass with the Communion liturgy so it was a real service, not a concert.

Palm Passion Sunday, April 9, 2006

Palm/ Passion Sunday
The readings for April 9, 2006 were:
The Liturgy of the Palms
Mark 11:1-11
John 12:12-16
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
The Liturgy of the Word
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16
Philippians 2:5-11
Mark 14:1-15:47
Mark 15:1-39, (40-47)

We had two processional hymns, which confused everyone. The first was Hosanna, Loud Hosanna by Jeanette Threlfall and set to the tune Ellacombe harmonized by W. H. Monk.

1. Hosanna, loud hosanna, the little children sang,
through pillared court and temple the lovely anthem rang.
To Jesus, who had blessed them close folded to his breast,
the children sang their praises, the simplest and the best.

2. From Olivet they followed mid an exultant crowd,
the victor palm branch waving, and chanting clear and loud.
The Lord of earth and heaven rode on in lowly state,
nor scorned that little children should on his bidding wait.

3. "Hosanna in the highest!" that ancient song we sing,
for Christ is our Redeemer, the Lord of heaven our King.
O may we ever praise him with heart and life and voice,
and in his blissful presence eternally rejoice!

The second Processional hymn was Mantos y Palmas (Filled with Excitement) by Ruben Ruiz Avila, translated by Gertruce C. Suppe. The tune is Hosanna by Ruben Ruiz Avila. Fortunately this year we sang it in English instead of Spanish. When we have to sing in Spanish AND process at the same time I can barely keep from falling over my own feet.

Filled with excitement, all the happy throng
Spread cloaks and branches on the city streets.
There in the distance they begin to see,
Riding on a donkey, comes the Son of God
From every corner a thousand voice sing
Praises to Him who comes in the name of God
With one great shout of acclamation loud
Triumphant song breaks forth:
“Hosanna, hosanna to the King!
Hosanna, hosanna to the King!”
As on that entrance to Jerusalem,
We sing hosannas to the Christ, our King,
To the living Savior who still calls today,
Asking us to follow him with love and faith.
From every corner a thousand voice sing
Praises to Him who comes in the name of God
With one great shout of acclamation loud
Triumphant song breaks forth:
“Hosanna, hosanna to the King!
Hosanna, hosanna to the King!”

Our first anthem was Ride on, King Jesus.

Ride on King Jesus ! No man can hinder me!
Ride on King Jesus !Ride on! No man can hinder me!

King Jesus rides on a milk white horse
No man can hinder him
The river Jordan he did cross
No man can hinder him

For He is King of Kings, Lord of Lords.
Jesus Christ, the first and last.
No man works like Him.

Ride on King Jesus! No man can hinder me.
Ride on, King Jesus, Ride on. No man can hinder me.



The third hymn was Tell Me the Stories of Jesus, written by William H. Parker. The tune is Stories of Jesus by Frederick A. Chalinor.

1. Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear;
things I would ask him to tell me if he were here:
scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,
stories of Jesus, tell them to me.

2. First let me hear how the children stood round his knee,
and I shall fancy his blessing resting on me;
words full of kindness, deeds full of grace,
all in the lovelight of Jesus' face.

3. Into the city I'd follow the children's band,
waving a branch of the palm tree high in my hand;
one of his heralds, yes, I would sing
loudest hosannas, "Jesus is King!"

The sermon was really odd and was hard to connect with the stories of Holy week. Of course, we had to sing at two services, so we had to hear it twice.

Our second anthem was the beautiful and moving My Song Is Love Unknown by Samuel Crossman. Our anthem was a setting that was new to me whic I liked, but my favorite setting is the tune Love Unknown by John Ireland.

My song is love unknown,
My Savior’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
My Lord should take, frail flesh and die?

He came from His blest throne
Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none
The longed for Christ would know:
But O! my Friend, my Friend indeed,
Who at my need His life did spend.

Sometimes they strew His way,
And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King:
Then “Crucify!” is all their breath,
And for His death they thirst and cry.

Why, what hath my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
He gave the blind their sight,
Sweet injuries! Yet they at these
Themselves displease, and ’gainst Him rise.

They rise and needs will have
My dear Lord made away;
A murderer they saved,
The Prince of life they slay,
Yet cheerful He to suffering goes,
That He His foes from thence might free.

In life, no house, no home
My Lord on earth might have;
In death no friendly tomb
But what a stranger gave.
What may I say? Heav’n was His home;
But mine the tomb wherein He lay.

Here might I stay and sing,
No story so divine;
Never was love, dear King!
Never was grief like Thine.
This is my Friend, in Whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend.

Our final hymn seemed an odd choice: Are Ye Able? By Earl B. Marlayy. The hymn tune is Beacon Hill by Harry S. Mason.

“Are ye able,” said the Master,
“To be crucified with Me?”
“Yea,” the sturdy dreamers answered,
“To the death we follow Thee.”

Refrain

Lord, we are able. Our spirits are Thine.
Remold them, make us, like Thee, divine.
Thy guiding radiance above us shall be
A beacon to God, to love and loyalty.

Are you able to relinquish
Purple dreams of power and fame,
To go down into the Garden,
Or to die a death of shame?

Refrain

Are ye able, when the anguish
Racks your mind and heart with pain,
To forgive the souls who wrong you,
Who would make your striving vain?

Refrain

Are ye able to remember,
When a thief lifts up his eyes,
That his pardoned soul is worthy
Of a place in paradise?

Refrain

Are ye able when the shadows
Close around you with the sod,
To believe that spirit triumphs,
To commend your soul to God?

Refrain

Are ye able? Still the Master
Whispers down eternity,
And heroic spirits answer,
Now as then in Galilee.

Refrain

The Fifth Sunday of Lent

The Fifth Sunday of Lent

Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 51:1-13 or Psalm 119:9-16
Hebrews 5:5-10
John 12:20-33

The opening hymn was
Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise written by Walter Chalmers Smith. The tune is called St. Denio, a Welsh melody from John Roberts's Canaidau y Cyssegr.


1. Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

2. Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;
thy justice like mountains high soaring above
thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.

3. To all, life thou givest, to both great and small;
in all life thou livest, the true life of all;
we blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
and wither and perish, but naught changeth thee.

4. Thou reignest in glory; thou dwellest in light;
thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
all laud we would render: O help us to see
'tis only the splendor of light hideth thee.


The second hymn was When I survey the Wondrous Cross, sung to the tune Rockingham instead of the more usual tune Hamburg . The text ws written by Isaac Watts.

1. When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of Glory died;
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

3. See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown.

4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

Katie’s solo was Lord Jesus, Think on Me written by Synesius of Cyrene in the fifth century;translated by Allen William Chatfield.

Lord Jesus, think on me,
and purge away my sin;
from harmful passions set me free,
and make me pure within.

Lord Jesus, think on me,
with care and woe oppressed;
let me thy loving servant be,
and taste thy promised rest.

Lord Jesus, think on me,
nor let me go astray;
through darkness and perplexity
point thou the heavenly way.

Lord Jesus, think on me,
that, when the flood is passed,
I may the eternal brightness see,
and share thy joy at last.

Lord Jesus, think on me,
that I may sing above
to Father, Holy Ghost and thee
the songs of praise and love.


Our anthem was Lord I Call to Thee/em>by Mozart

Our Communion hymns were: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent, Let Us Break Bread Together and Come Sinners to the Gospel Feast by Cgarles Wesley. the hymn tune is Hursley.

1. Come, sinners, to the gospel feast;
let every soul be Jesus' guest.
Ye need not one be left behind,
for God hath bid all humankind.

2. Sent by my Lord, on you I call;
the invitation is to all.
Come, all the world! Come, sinner, thou!
All things in Christ are ready now.

3. Come, all ye souls by sin oppressed,
ye restless wanderers after rest;
ye poor, and maimed, and halt, and blind,
in Christ a hearty welcome find.

4. My message as from God receive;
ye all may come to Christ and live.
O let his love your hearts constrain,
nor suffer him to die in vain.

5. This is the time, no more delay!
This is the Lord's accepted day.
Come thou, this moment, at his call,
and live for him who died for all.


Our final hymn was We Would See Jesus by John E. Park. The hymn tune is called Cushman by Herbert Turner.

We would see Jesus; lo! His star is shining
Above the stable while the angels sing;
There in a manger on the hay reclining;
Haste, let us lay our gifts before the King.

We would see Jesus, Mary’s Son most holy,
Light of the village life from day to day;
Shining revealed through every task most lowly,
The Christ of God, the life, the truth, the way.

We would see Jesus, on the mountain teaching,
With all the listening people gathered round;
While birds and flowers and sky above are preaching
The blessedness which simple trust has found.

We would see Jesus, in His work of healing,
At eventide before the sun was set;
Divine and human, in His deep revealing
Of God made flesh, in loving service met.

We would see Jesus, in the early morning,
Still as of old He calleth, “Follow Me!”
Let us arise, all meaner service scorning;
Lord, we are Thine, we give ourselves to Thee.