Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Put on the Whole Armor of God
1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11), 22-30, 41-43
Psalm 84
Ephesians 6:10-20
John 6:56-69

Our pastor preached from the Epistle reading today – “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness.”

The first hymn was Hope of the World by Georgia Harkness
Born in Harkness, New York, Georgia Harkness (1891-1974), was the first woman to teach theology in an American seminary. She taught at Mount Holyoke, Garrett Biblical Institute, and the Pacific School of Religion. In addition to her twenty books, she wrote the hymn, "Hope of the World," selected by the Hymn Society of America for the Evanston Assembly of the World Council of Churches.

Hope of the world, God’s gift from highest heaven,
Bringing to hungry souls the bread of life,
Still let thy spirit unto us be given,
To heal earth’s wounds and end all bitter strife.

Hope of the world, who by the cross did save us,
From death and dark despair, from sin and guilt,
We render back the love thy mercy gave us;
Take thou our lives, and use them as thou wilt.

Hope of the world, O Christ o’er death victorious,
Who by this sign didst conquer grief and pain,
We would be faithful to thy gospel glorious;
Thou art our Lord! Thou dost forever reign.

Our second hymn was
Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus by George Duffield, Jr. The hymn tune is called Webb by George J. Webb. This is an old chestnut that I don’t really like that much, but it fit the Epistle reading.


1. Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
ye soldiers of the cross;
lift high his royal banner,
it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory
his army shall he lead,
till every foe is vanquished,
and Christ is Lord indeed.

2. Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the trumpet call obey;
forth to the mighty conflict,
in this his glorious day.
Ye that are brave now serve him
against unnumbered foes;
let courage rise with danger,
and strength to strength oppose.

3. Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
stand in his strength alone;
the arm of flesh will fail you,
ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armor,
each piece put on with prayer;
where duty calls or danger,
be never wanting there.

4. Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the strife will not be long;
this day the noise of battle,
the next the victor's song.
To those who vanquish evil
a crown of life shall be;
they with the King of Glory
shall reign eternally.

Ditto on the final hymn – not one of my favorites, but it surely fits the Epistle reading.

Onward Christian Soldiers by the Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould set to the tune St. Gertrude by Sir Arthur Sullivan.
Baring-Gould was a great collector of English folk music and folk tales. His marriage to a 16-year-old mill girl was the inspiration for Shaw’s Pygmalion.
This very popular hymn was sung at Ike’s funeral in 1969.


Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!

Refrain

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

Refrain

Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

Refrain

What the saints established that I hold for true.
What the saints believèd, that I believe too.
Long as earth endureth, men the faith will hold,
Kingdoms, nations, empires, in destruction rolled.

Refrain

Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.

Refrain

Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.

Refrain

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

Hymns and Readings for August 6, 2006

This is a weird one. In the United Methodist Church we celebrate the Transfiguration on the last Sunday of Advent, but the church calendar clearly places the celebration of the Transfiguration of Christ on August 6. Why the strange out-of-sequence date? The Feast of the Transfiguration first arose in the Eastern Church and was generally celebrated in late summer, especially on August 6, possibly to replace a Pagan feast on that date. Another suggestion, that the date was chosen because that is the day of the dedication of the Church of the Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor, where the transfiguration is traditionally said to have occurred, is less likely. It is possible that the Pagan celebration was of the grape harvest, for in some churches ( e.g., Russian Orthodoxy and in Rome) grapes or raisins are blessed on August 6, even now. August 6 is uniformly assigned to the Transfiguration in modern Eastern Orthodoxy.

The Western Church did not celebrate the Transfiguration in its early years, and subsequent celebrations were spotty and on various days. After a victory over the Turks at Belgrade by Jan Hunady on August 6, 1456, Pope Callixtus III set the celebration of the Transfiguration on that date as a commemorative. Anglican churches follow the Roman Catholic calendar in this as in most other feast days. The Transfiguration was not assigned a place in the Lutheran calendar originally; and, when it was, it was set on the last Sunday before Lent, a fitting date, as the Transfiguration is the culmination of Jesus's Galilean ministry.

So, this was one of those Sundays when we don’t all read from the same page. Here’s some of the variety of scripture recommended by different churches for August 6.
2 Samuel 11:26 - 12:13a or Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15
Episcopal reading: Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15
Lutheran reading: Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15
United Methodist reading: 2 Samuel 11:26 - 12:13a
Psalm 51:1-12 or Psalm 78:23-29
Episcopal reading: Psalm 78:1-25 or Psalm 78:14-20, 23-25
Lutheran reading: Psalm 78:23-29
United Methodist reading: Psalm 51:1-12
Ephesians 4:1-16
Episcopal reading: Ephesians 4:17-25

United Methodist reading John 6:24-35
Episcopal Reading Luke 9:28-36

Our first hymn was For the Beauty of the Earth by Folliot S. Perpont. The tune is Dix by Conrad Kocher. John Rutter has set this hymn to another tune in a wonderful anthem.

For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour
of the day and of the night,
hill and vale, and tree and flower,
sun and moon, and stars of light;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of ear and eye,
for the heart and mind's delight,
for the mystic harmony,
linking sense to sound and sight;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of human love,
brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

For thy church, that evermore
lifteth holy hands above,
offering up on every shore
her pure sacrifice of love;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

For thyself, best Gift Divine,
to the world so freely given,
for that great, great love of thine,
peace on earth, and joy in heaven:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.


The second hymn was I Come with Joy by Brian Wren.

I come with joy, a child of God,
forgiven, loved, and free,
the life of Jesus to recall,
in love laid down for me.

I come with Christians far and near
to find, as all are fed,
the new community of love
in Christ's communion bread.

As Christ breaks bread and bids us share,
each proud division ends.
The love that made us makes us one,
and strangers now are friends.

The spirit of the risen Christ,
unseen, but ever near,
is in such friendship better known:
alive and among us here.

Together met, together bound,
by all that God has done,
we'll go with joy, to give the world,
the love that makes us one.

The handbell choir played Broken for You, a wonderful anthem by Kathleen Wissinger.

The first Communion hymn was One Bread, One Body

One bread, one body, one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many, throughout the earth.
We are one body in this one Lord.

1. Gentile or Jew, servant or free, woman or man, no more.
2. Many the gifts, many the works, one in the Lord of all.
3. Grain for the fields, scattered and grown, gathered to one, for all.

The second Communion hymn was This Is the Feast of Victory by John W. Arthur.

This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia.
Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,
Whose blood set us free to be people of God?
Power, riches and wisdom and strength,
And honor and blessing and glory are his.

This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia.
Sing with all the people of God
And join in the hymn of all creation;
Blessing and honor and glory and might
Be to God and the Lamb forever. "Amen.

This is the feast of victory for our God,
For the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign.
Alleluia. Alleluia.”

Our final hymn was This Is a Day of New Beginnings by Brian Wren.

This is the day of new beginnings,
time to remember and move on,
time to believe what love is beginning,
laying to rest the pain of the past.

For by the life and death of Jesus,
God's mighty Spirit, now as then.
can make for us a world of difference,
as faith and hope are born again.

Then let us, with the Spirit's daring,
step from the past and leave behind
our disappointments, guilt, and grieving,
seeking new paths, and sure to find.

Christ is alive, and goes before us,
to show and share what love can do.
This is the day of new beginnings;
our God is making all things new.

Loaves and Fishes

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

The readings for Sunday, July 30 were:
2 Samuel 11:1-15Psalm 14
or
2 Kings 4:42-44

Psalm 145: 10-19
Ephesians 3:14-21
John 6:1-21

We used the first set from the Old Testament. 2 Samuel 11 is the story of David and Bathsheba. I think the second set would have been more appropriate because the story of Elisha and the twenty loaves of barley parallels the Gospel story of the loaves and fishes.

The hymns today were old favorites that the congregation sang well.

Our opening hymn was Come, Christians, Join to Sing by Christian H. Bateman in 1843. The hymn tune is Madrid, a traditional Spanish melody, arranged by David Evans.

Come, Christians, join to sing Alleluia! Amen!
Loud praise to Christ our King; Alleluia! Amen!
Let all, with heart and voice,
Before His throne rejoice;
Praise is His gracious choice.
Alleluia! Amen!

Come, lift your hearts on high, Alleluia! Amen!
Let praises fill the sky; Alleluia! Amen!
He is our Guide and Friend;
To us He’ll condescend;
His love shall never end.
Alleluia! Amen!

Praise yet our Christ again, Alleluia! Amen!
Life shall not end the strain; Alleluia! Amen!
On heaven’s blissful shore,
His goodness we’ll adore,
Singing forevermore,
“Alleluia! Amen!”

The second hymn was Break Thou the Bread of Life by Mary A. Lathbury in 1877. The hymn tune is Bread of Life by William F. Sherwin. Lathbury was also the author of the vesper hymn Day Is Dying in the West.

1. Break thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,
as thou didst break the loaves beside the sea;
beyond the sacred page I seek thee, Lord;
my spirit pants for thee, O Living Word!

2. Bless thou the truth, dear Lord, to me, to me,
as thou didst bless the bread by Galilee;
then shall all bondage cease, all fetters fall;
and I shall find my peace, my all in all.

Our anthem was based on the hymn Jesus Loves Me. The hymn was originally written by Anna B. Warner and appeared as a poem in the best-selling novel Say and Seal by her sister Susan Warner in 1860. This sentimental novel had a scene with a dying child whose was comforted when the novel’s main character recites the poem to him. Anna Warner lived next door to West Point and taught Sunday Schools to the cadets at the Academy How sad to think of her students facing each on the Civil War battle fields within a year of so of graduating from the Academy.

The composer William Bradbury was from Maine. Composer of serious church music and hymn tune he was also a teacher of voice and organ. In 1854 Bradbury had formed a piano company and by 1861 had built a music company to publish and distribute his own works. He was enchanted by the poem and set it to music in 1862, adding the familiar refrain. It was immediately popular in both North and South. In addition to Jesus Loves Me Bradbury composed over forty hymn tunes that remain popular today, including "Sweet Hour of Prayer, He Leadeth Me," and "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand”.

I’m not sure how the Bradbury family ended up in Virginia, but several generations of them have been members of my church in Fredericksburg. His great, great grandchildren (or many another great or two) were baptized her a few years ago. Anyway we especially enjoyed singing this anthem. It had a soprano sax accompaniment.

Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong; they are weak, but He is strong.

Refrain

Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me! This I know, as He loved so long ago,
Taking children on His knee, saying, “Let them come to Me.”


Refrain

Jesus loves me still today, walking with me on my way,
Wanting as a friend to give light and love to all who live.

Refrain

Jesus loves me! He who died Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in.

Refrain

The final hymn was Marching to Zion by Isaac Watts. The music was composed by Robert Lowry who added the refrain.

1. Come, we that love the Lord,
and let our joys be known;
join in a song with sweet accord,
join in a song with sweet accord
and thus surround the throne,
and thus surround the throne.
Refrain:
We're marching to Zion,
beautiful, beautiful Zion;
we're marching upward to Zion,
the beautiful city of God.

2. Let those refuse to sing
who never knew our God;
but children of the heavenly King,
but children of the heavenly King
may speak their joys abroad,
may speak their joys abroad.
(Refrain)

3. The hill of Zion yields
a thousand sacred sweets
before we reach the heavenly fields,
before we reach the heavenly fields,
or walk the golden streets,
or walk the golden streets.
(Refrain)

4. Then let our songs abound,
and every tear be dry;
we're marching through Emmanuel's ground,
we're marching through Emmanuel's ground,
to fairer worlds on high,
to fairer worlds on high.
(Refrain)

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

The readings for July 23 were:
2 Samuel 7:1-14a
Psalm 89:20-37
Ephesians 2:11-22
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

The opening hymn I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord by Timothy Dwight. The tune is St Thomas by Aaron Williams.

1. I love thy kingdom, Lord, the house of thine abode,
the church our blest Redeemer saved with his own precious blood.

2. I love thy church, O God! Her walls before thee stand
dear as the apple of thine eye, and graven on thy hand.

3. For her my tears shall fall, for her my prayers ascend,
to her my cares and toils be given, till toils and cares shall end.

4. Beyond my highest joy I prize her heavenly ways,
her sweet communion, solemn vows, her hymns of love and praise.

5. Sure as thy truth shall last, to Zion shall be given
the brightest glories earth can yield, and brighter bliss of heaven.

The second hymn was Dear Lord and Father of Mankind by John Greenleaf Whittier. The hymn tune is Rest by Frederick C. Maker.

Dear Lord and Father of mankind, forgive our foolish ways!
Re-clothe us in our rightful mind, in purer lives thy service find,
in deeper reverence, praise;

In simple trust like theirs who heard, beside the Syrian sea,
the gracious calling of the Lord, let us, like them, without a word,
rise up and follow thee.

O Sabbath rest by Galilee! O calm of hills above,
where Jesus knelt to share with thee the silence of eternity
interpreted by love!

Drop thy still dews of quietness, till all our strivings cease;
take from our souls the strain and stress, and let our ordered lives confess
the beauty of thy peace.

Breathe through the heats of our desire thy coolness and thy balm;
let sense be dumb, let flesh retire; speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm.

The final hymn was The Church's One Foundation by Samuel J. Stone, set to the tune Aurelia by Samuel Sebastian Wesley. There are two versions of this hymn in our hymnbook - The original and the “PC” version that eliminates any reference to the church as the bride of Christ. We had to sing the “PC” version this Sunday. I’m naughty. Whenever we sing one of these hymns that’s been butchered by some committee I just sing the original words just as loud as I can. Unfortunately, my voice isn’t as loud as it once was, and only a few people know that I’m misbehaving. I don’t know why some clergywomen (and it almost always is women) feel they have to butcher other people’s poetry. Some people just have no poetry in their souls.

Here’s the real hymn:

1. The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is his new creation by water and the Word.
From heaven he came and sought her to be his holy bride;
with his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died.

2. Elect from every nation, yet one o'er all the earth;
her charter of salvation, one Lord, one faith, one birth;
one holy name she blesses, partakes one holy food,
and to one hope she presses, with every grace endued.

3. Though with a scornful wonder we see her sore oppressed,
by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed,
Yet saints their watch are keeping; their cry goes up, "How long?"
And soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song.

4. Mid toil and tribulation, and tumult of her war,
she waits the consummation of peace forevermore;
till, with the vision glorious, her longing eyes are blest,
and the great church victorious shall be the church at rest.

5. Yet she on earth hath union with God the Three in One,
and mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won.
O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we
like them, the meek and lowly, on high may dwell with thee.

We’ve been on vacation. On July 9 we attended St. Paul United Methodist in Louisville. It’s a beautiful church with a wonderful music program. We were on the road July 16 and missed church altogether. We made up for it this weekend.

On Saturday we attended the memorial service for Dr. Purnell Bailey, retired Methodist minister and syndicated columnist who wrote the “Daily Bread” column for over sixty years. Our daughter was the soloist and cantor. The hymns were: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, What a Friend We Have in Jesus, and Be Thou My Vision. The church was filled to overflowing, and the singing was wonderful.

Sunday afternoon we had the investiture for our new district superintendent, who is our former senior pastor. The processional was O, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing by by Charles Wesley. The tune is Azmon by Carl Glazer.

O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise,
the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of his grace!

My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim
and spread through all the earth abroad the honors of thy Name.

Jesus! the Name that charms our fears and bids our sorrows cease;
'tis music in the sinner's ears, 'tis life and health and peace.

He speaks, and listening to his voice, new life the dead receive;
the mournful broken hearts rejoice, the humble poor believe.

Hear him, ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb, your loosened tongues employ;
ye blind, behold, your Savior come; and leap, ye lame, for joy!

Glory to God and praise and love be now and ever given
by saints below and saints above the Church in earth and heaven.

The choir sang an anthem based on the hymn Built on the Rock by the Danish writer Nikolai F. Grundtvig, translated by Carl Doving. The Norwegian hymn tune was composed by Ludvig M. Lindeman. We had trumpets. It was super.

Built on the Rock the church doth stand,
Even when steeples are falling;
Crumbled have spires in every land,
Bells still are chiming and calling;
Calling the young and old to rest,
But above all the soul distressed,
Longing for rest everlasting.

Surely in temples made with hands,
God, the Most High, is not dwelling;
High above earth His temple stands,
All earthly temples excelling;
Yet He whom heavens cannot contain
Chose to abide on earth with men,
Built in our bodies His temple.

We are God’s house of living stones,
Builded for His habitation;
He through baptismal grace us owns,
Heirs of His wondrous salvation;
Were we but two His Name to tell,
Yet He would deign with us to dwell,
With all His grace and His favor.

Now we may gather with our King;
Even in the lowliest dwelling:Praises to Him we there may bring,His wondrous mercy foretelling;Jesus His grace to us accords,Spirit and life are all His words,His truth doth hallow the temple.
Still we our earthly temples rear,
That we may herald His praises;
They are the homes where He draws near
And little children embraces,
Beautiful things in them are said,
God there with us His covenant made,
Making us heirs of His Kingdom.

Here stands the font before our eyes
Telling how God did receive us;
The altar recalls Christ’s sacrifice
And what His table doth give us;
Here sounds the Word that doth proclaim
Christ yesterday, today, the same,
Yea, and for aye our Redeemer.

Grant then, O God, wherever men roam,
That, when the church bells are ringing,
Many in saving faith may come
Where Christ His message is bringing:
“I know Mine own, Mine own know Me;
Ye, not the world, My face shall see.
My peace I leave with you. Amen”

We also sang Bach’s Sheep May Safely Graze. We had flutes and an oboe along with the organ.

The final hymn was God of Grace and God of Glory by Harry Emerson Fosdick set to the tune Cwm Rhondda by John Hughes.

God of grace and God of glory,
On Thy people pour Thy power.
Crown Thine ancient church’s story,
Bring her bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.

Lo! the hosts of evil ’round us,
Scorn Thy Christ, assail His ways.
From the fears that long have bound us,
Free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the living of these days,
For the living of these days.

Cure Thy children’s warring madness,
Bend our pride to Thy control.
Shame our wanton selfish gladness,
Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal.

Set our feet on lofty places,
Gird our lives that they may be,
Armored with all Christ-like graces,
In the fight to set men free.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
That we fail not man nor Thee,
That we fail not man nor Thee.

Save us from weak resignation,
To the evils we deplore.
Let the search for Thy salvation,
Be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Serving Thee Whom we adore,
Serving Thee Whom we adore.


It was quite a full weekend.

The fourth Sunday after Pentecost

The fourth Sunday after Pentecost
The readings for Sunday, July2, 2006 were:
2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27
Psalm 130
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Mark 5:21-43

I was half expecting the pastor to preach on the text of Second Samuel – “How the mighty have fallen”, but he preached from the Gospel – “He touched me.”

Since Tuesday is Independence Day we had some patriotic music. Our first hymn was God of Our Fathers which was written by Daniel C. Roberts for a celebration of the Centennial in 1876. The hymn tune is called National Hymn, written by George W. Warren in 1888 for the centennial celebration of the US Constitution. Warren was the organist at St. Thomas Church in New York, a wonderful church that’s worth a visit the next time you visit New York.
Our organ doesn’t have trumpets on it, but I’ve attended churches that had those and used them to good advantage with the introductory measures of this hymn.

God of our fathers, Whose almighty hand
Leads forth in beauty all the starry band
Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies
Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.

Thy love divine hath led us in the past,
In this free land by Thee our lot is cast,
Be Thou our Ruler, Guardian, Guide and Stay,
Thy Word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.

From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence,
Be Thy strong arm our ever sure defense;
Thy true religion in our hearts increase,
Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.

Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way,
Lead us from night to never ending day;
Fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.

Our second hymn was He Touched Me by William Gaither. I really don’t like anything Bill Gaither has ever written, and I wish we wouldn’t sing his hymns. The music is almost unsingable, but I guess it fit the Gospel reading today.


Shackled by a heavy burden,
'Neath a load of guilt and shame.
Then the Hand of Jesus touched me,
And now I am no longer the same.

Refrain
He touched me,
Oh, He touched me,
And oh the joy that floods my soul.
Something happened and now I know,
He touched me and made me whole.
Since I met the Blessed Saviour,
Since He cleansed and made me whole,
I will never cease to Praise Him!
I'll shout it while eternity rolls.


Refrain
He touched me,
Oh, He touched me,
And oh the joy that floods my soul.
Something happened and now I know,
He touched me and made me whole.
(repeat the refrain 2 times)
He touched me and made me whole.

Our anthem was a very nice setting of
America the Beautiful.

Our closing hymn was The Battle Hymn of the Republic by Julia Ward Howe.I always find it strange to sing this Civil War song written for the Union Army here in Virginia in a church that was almost completely destroyed by Union bombardment during the Battle of Fredericksburg. I guess we know more about “grapes of wrath” and “terrible swift sword” than a lot of folks.

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His day is marching on.

I have read a fiery Gospel writ in burnished rows of steel;
“As ye deal with My contemners, so with you My grace shall deal”;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel,
Since God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Since God is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet;
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free;
While God is marching on.

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
While God is marching on.

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is wisdom to the mighty, He is honor to the brave;
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of wrong His slave,
Our God is marching on.

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.

Peace Be Still!

The Third Sunday after Pentecost
The readings for June 25 were:
1 Samuel 17: (1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49
Psalm 9:9-20
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Mark 4:35-41

Our first hymn was A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.
The text is by Martin Luther, translated by Frederick H. Hedge. The tune is Ein Feste Burg.

1. A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he amid the flood
of mortal ills prevaling.
For still our ancient foe
doth seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

2. Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right man on our side,
the man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabbaoth, his name,
from age to age the same,
and he must win the battle.

3. And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God hath willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo, his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.

4. That word above all earthly powers,
no thanks to them, abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours,
thru him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill;
God's truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever.

We had the liturgical dance ensemble at church this week. They had small groups dancing at all of the downtown churches. The choir sang Amazing Grace while they danced. The men sang verse three in a minor key.

1. Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
was blind, but now I see.

2. 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed.

3. Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.

4. The Lord has promised good to me,
his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be,
as long as life endures.

5. Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
a life of joy and peace.

6. When we've been there ten thousand years,
bright shining as the sun,
we've no less days to sing God's praise
than when we first begun.

Our second hymn was
Stand by Me, written by Charles Albert Tindley. Charles Albert Tindley (1851-1933) was one of the most famous African American Methodist ministers of his era and has been called "one of the founding fathers of African American gospel music.” The hymn is great, but I always find that the congregation has trouble with the rhythm of this hymn.

When the storms of life are raging, stand by me, stand by me.
When the storms of life are raging, stand by me, stand by me.
When the world is tossing me, like a ship upon the sea,
Thou who rulest wind and water, stand by me, stand by me.

In the midst of faults and failures, stand by me, stand by me.
In the midst of faults and failures, stand by me, stand by me.
When I’ve done the best I can, and my friends misunderstand,
Thou who knowest all about me, stand by me, stand by me.

When I’m growing old and feeble, stand by me, stand by me.
When I’m growing old and feeble, stand by me, stand by me.
When my life becomes a burden, and I‘m nearing chilly Jordan,
O thou Lily of the Valley, stand by me, stand by me.

The choir anthem was a setting of
It Is Well with My Soul by Horatio Spafford set to the tune Ville de Havre by Philip Bliss. The name of the tune is the name of the lost ship on which Spafford’s children perished. This is a difficult hymn for me to sing because it brings to mind the funeral of a friend who died in a plane crash this spring.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Refrain

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

Refrain

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

Refrain

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain

Our final hymn was Precious Lord, Take My Hand by Thomas A. Dorsey, set to an adaptation of the tune Maitland by George Alen. Dorsey wrote the hymn after the death of his wife Nettie in childbirth.

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:

Refrain

Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.

When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near,
When my life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call,
Hold my hand lest I fall:

Refrain

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:

Refrain

The Second Sunday after Pentecost

The readings for June 18 were:
Psalm 20
1 Samuel 15:34-16:13
2 Corinthians 5:6-10, (11-13), 14-17
Mark 4:26-34

The service wasn’t well attended today. I think the summer vacations have begun. We had a lay leader give the sermon today. He preached from Psalm 20, connecting it to Father’s Day. He was pretty good for a layman. We had a guest organist also today.

Our first hymn was Love Divine, All Loves Excelling by Charles Wesley, set to the hymn tune Beecher by John Zundel.

1. Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven, to earth come down;
fix in us thy humble dwelling;
all thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation;
enter every trembling heart.

2. Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
into every troubled breast!
Let us all in thee inherit;
let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.

3. Come, Almighty to deliver,
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return and never,
nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.

4. Finish, then, thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee;
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.

The second hymn was More Love to Thee, O Christ by Elizabeth P. Prentiss. The hymn tune is More Love to Thee by William H. Doane.

1. More love to thee, O Christ, more love to thee!
Hear thou the prayer I make on bended knee.
This is my earnest plea: More love, O Christ, to thee;
more love to thee, more love to thee!

2. Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest;
now thee alone I seek, give what is best.
This all my prayer shall be: More love, O Christ, to thee;
more love to thee, more love to thee!

3. Let sorrow do its work, come grief and pain;
sweet are thy messengers, sweet their refrain,
when they can sing with me: More love, O Christ, to thee;
more love to thee, more love to thee!

4. Then shall my latest breath whisper thy praise;
this be the parting cry my heart shall raise;
this still its prayer shall be: More love, O Christ, to thee;
more love to thee, more love to thee!

Our anthem was Song of the Mustard Seed by Hal Hopson. It was very easy, which is important because we’ve stopped having choir practice until September. We’ll practice a few easy anthems every Sunday before the service.

The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed;
For when it is sown in the earth in the spring,
It is the least of all seeds in the earth.
But when it is watered it grows, it grows
And is the greatest of all herbs.

Wherever you go sow a seed along the way.
A seed of joy however small it be
May some day grow into a tree.
(Refrain)

Wherever you go sow a seed along the way.
A seed of faith however small it be
May some day grow into a tree.
(Refrain)

The final hymn was The Church's One Foundation by Samuel J. Stone. The hymn tune is Aurelia by Samuel Sebastian Wesley, the grandson of Charles Wesley.

1. The church's one foundation
is Jesus Christ her Lord;
she is his new creation
by water and the Word.
From heaven he came and sought her
to be his holy bride;
with his own blood he bought her,
and for her life he died.

2. Elect from every nation,
yet one o'er all the earth;
her charter of salvation,
one Lord, one faith, one birth;
one holy name she blesses,
partakes one holy food,
and to one hope she presses,
with every grace endued.

3. Though with a scornful wonder
we see her sore oppressed,
by schisms rent asunder,
by heresies distressed,
yet saints their watch are keeping;
their cry goes up, "How long?"
And soon the night of weeping
shall be the morn of song.

4. Mid toil and tribulation,
and tumult of her war,
she waits the consummation
of peace forevermore;
till, with the vision glorious,
her longing eyes are blest,
and the great church victorious
shall be the church at rest.

5. Yet she on earth hath union
with God the Three in One,
and mystic sweet communion
with those whose rest is won.
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we
like them, the meek and lowly,
on high may dwell with thee.

Trinity Sunday

Trinity Sunday

The readings for the first Sunday after Pentecost, June 11 were:
Isaiah 6:1-8
Psalm 29
Romans 8:12-17
John 3:1-17
Our introit hymn was We Believe in One True God by Tobias Clausnitzer in the mid-seventeenth century and translated by Catherine Winkworth. Good old Catherine Winkworth!
The hymntune is Ratisbon by J.G. Werner.

1. We believe in one true God,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
ever present help in need,
praised by all the heavenly host;
by whose mighty power alone
all is made and wrought and done.

2. We believe in Jesus Christ,
Son of God and Mary's Son,
who descended from his throne
and for us salvation won;
by whose cross and death are we
rescued from sin's misery.

3. We confess the Holy Ghost,
who from both fore'er proceeds;
who upholds and comforts us
in all trials, fears, and needs.
Blest and Holy Trinity,
praise forever be to thee!

Our opening hymn was Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty by Reginald Heber. The hymn tune is Nicaea.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity.

Holy, holy, holy! All saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the sinful human eye thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity.

The second hymn was Holy God, We Praise Thy Name by Ignaz Franz in 1774, translated by Clarence Walworth.
The hymn tune is Grosser Gott.

1. Holy God, we praise thy name;
Lord of all, we bow before thee;
all on earth thy scepter claim;
all in heaven above adore thee.
Infinite thy vast domain;
everlasting is thy reign.

2. Hark the glad celestial hymn
angel choirs above are raising;
cherubim and seraphim,
in unceasing chorus praising,
fill the heavens with sweet accord:
Holy, holy, holy Lord.

3. Lo! the apostolic train
joins thy sacred name to hallow;
prophets swell the glad refrain,
and the white-robed martyrs follow.
And from morn to set of sun,
through the church the song goes on.

4. Holy Father, Holy Son,
Holy Spirit: three we name thee,
though in essence only one;
undivided God we claim thee,
and adoring bend the knee
while we own the mystery.

Our anthem was
Make Me a Channel of Your Peace by Sebastian Temple, arranged by Mark Hayes.

Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me bring your love;
Where there is injury your pardon, Lord;
And where there's doubt true faith in you.

Refrain:
Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love with all my soul.

Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there's despair in life let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness, only light;
And where there's sadness, ever joy.

Refrain

Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
In giving to all men that we receive;
And in dying that we're born to eternal life.

Refrain


© Copyright 1967 OCP Publications
5536 NE Hassalo, Portland, Oregon 97213, USA.


Since the sermon was based on the reading from Isaiah our last hymn was most appropriate - Here I am Lord by Daniel L Schutte. There are many who criticize this hymn, and I know that the tune sounds like the “Brady Bunch” theme, but this hymn really speaks to the congregation.

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin,
My hand will save.
I, who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Chorus
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my words to them.
Whom shall I send?

Chorus
Here I am, Lord.
Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will send the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide,
'Til their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?

Chorus
Here I am, Lord.
Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

Come, Holy Spirit! Pentecost,2006

The readings for today were:
Acts 2:1-21
Psalm 104: 25-35,37
Romans 8:22-27
John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

Pentecost is always a big day. In addition to our celebration of the Pentecost this is the day for Confirmation. The class was big, as usual. There were 31 confirmands this year.

Our introit hymn was Come, Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire. This 8th century hymn is attributed to Rhabanus Maurus. It was translated by John Cosin in 1627. The tune is Veni Creator .

Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire, and lighten with celestial fire.
Thou the anointing Spirit art, who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart.

Thy blessed unction from above is comfort, life, and fire of love.
Enable with perpetual light the dullness of our blinded sight.

Anoint and cheer our soiled face with the abundance of thy grace.
Keep far from foes, give peace at home: where thou art guide, no ill can come.

Teach us to know the Father, Son, and thee, of both, to be but One,
that through the ages all along, this may be our endless song:

Praise to thy eternal merit, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The processional hymn was Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones written by John Athelstan Laurie Riley. The tune is Lasst Uns Erfeuen harmonized by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The procession was long because each of the confirmands and their sponsors brought in candles to place on the altar. It’s always a splendid sight.

1. Ye watchers and ye holy ones, bright seraphs, cherubim, and thrones,
raise the glad strain, Alleluia!
Cry out, dominions, princedoms, powers, virtues, archangels, angels' choirs:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

2. O higher than the cherubim, more glorious than the seraphim,
lead their praises, Alleluia!
Thou bearer of th' eternal Word, most gracious, magnify the Lord:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

3. Respond, ye souls in endless rest, ye patriarchs and prophets blest,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Ye holy twelve, ye martyrs strong, all saints triumphant, raise the song:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

4. O friends, in gladness let us sing, supernal anthems echoing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
To God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit, Three in One:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Our anthem was Veni Sancte Spiritus by Charles Hogan. It was unusual and very difficult. It began as a chant and then changed to a Caribbean rhythm with maracas and tambourine. The text is from a 12th century Latin hymn, translated by Charles P. Price.

Come, thou Holy Spirit bright; come with thy celestial light; pour on us thy love divine.
Come, protector of the poor; come, thou source of blessings sure; come within our hearts to shine.
Thou, of comforters the best, thou, the soul's most welcome guest, of our peace thou art the sign.
In our labor, be our aid; in our summer, cooling shade. Every bitter hear refine.
Brighter than the noonday sun, fill our lives which Christ has won;
fill our hearts and make them thine.
Where thou art not, we have nought:
all our word and deed and thought twisted from thy true design.
Bend the stubborn heart and will; melt the frozen, warm the chill; rule us by thy judgment's line.
Cleanse us with thy healing power; what is barren bring to flower; to thy love our sins consign.
To thy people who adore and confess thee evermore, thy blest sevenfold gift assign.
Grant us thy salvation, Lord, boundless mercy our reward, joys which earth and heaven entwine.

The second hymn was Holy Spirit, Come Confirm Us by Brian Foley. It is set to the tune For the Bread Which Thou Has Broken by V. Earle Copes.

Holy Spirit, come, confirm us in the truth that Christ makes known;
We have faith and understanding through your helping gifts alone.
Holy Spirit, come, console us, come as advocate to plead;
Loving Spirit from the Father, grant in Christ the help we need.
Holy Spirit, come, renew us, come yourself to make us free;
Holy through your loving presence, holy through the gifts you give.
Holy Spirit, come, possess us, you the love of Three in One,
Holy Spirit of the Father, Holy Spirit of the Son.

The Communion hymns were: Spirit Song and Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence.

Spirit Song
O let the Son of God enfold you with His Spirit and His love
Let him fill your heart and satisfy your soul
O let him have the things that hold you and His Spirit like a dove
Will descend up-on your life and make you whole.
Chorus;
Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs, Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs,
O come and sing this song of gladness as your hearts all filled with joy.
Lift your hands in sweet surrender to His name
O give Him all your tears and sadness; give Him all your years of pain,
And you'll enter into life in Jesus' name.

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence.
The text is from the fourth century Liturgy of St. James; translated by Gerard Moultrie. The tune is the French carol Picardy.

Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly minded, for with blessing in his hand
Christ our God to earth descendeth, our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary, as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords in human vesture, in the Body and the Blood
he will give to all the faithful his own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven spreads its vanguard on the way,
as the Light of Light descendeth from the realms of endless day,
that the powers of hell may vanish as the darkness clears away.

At his feet the six-winged seraph; cherubim with sleepless eye,
veil their faces to the Presence, as with ceaseless voice they cry,
Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, Lord Most High!

The closing hymn was We Are the Church by Richard K. Avery and Donald S. Marsh in 1972. It always reminds me of the years my husband and I spent teaching Sunday School and confirmation classes. This song has been popular since it was first written. We sang this song in the Sunday School classes we taught, and at Vacation Bible School classes and with Ecumenical meetings. It’s not great music, but we all love it.

I am the church. You are the church. We are the church together. All who follow Jesus, all around the world, yes, we’re the church together.
The church is not a building, the church is not a steeple, the church is not a resting place, the church is a people.

I am the church. You are the church. We are the church together. All who follow Jesus, all around the world, yes, we’re the church together.
We’re many kinds of people with many kinds of faces, all colors and all ages too, from all times and places.

I am the church. You are the church. We are the church together. All who follow Jesus, all around the world, yes, we’re the church together.
And when the people gather, there’s singing and there’s praying, there’s laughing and there’s crying sometimes, all of it saying:

I am the church. You are the church. We are the church together. All who follow Jesus, all around the world, yes, we’re the church together
At Pentecost some people received the Holy Spirit
And told the Good News through the world to all who would hear it.

I am the church! You are the church! We are the church together!All who follow Jesus, all around the world, Yes, we are the church together!

Ascension Sunday

Ascension Sunday
May 28, 2006

The readings for today were:
Acts 1:1-11
Psalm 47
Ephesians 1:15-23
Luke 24:44-53
Our associate pastor preached today and chose to concentrate on Memorial Day instead on the Ascension of Christ. Not to my liking. The hymns reflected this, but the choir stuck to the liturgy in our introit and anthem.

Our introit was the hymn Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise by Charles Wesley set to the tune Llanfair Robert Williams.

Hail the day that sees him rise, Alleluia!
to his throne above the skies; Alleluia!
Christ, the Lamb for sinners given, Alleluia!
enters now the highest heaven! Alleluia!

There for him high triumph waits; Alleluia!
lift your heads, eternal gates! Alleluia!
he hath conquered death and sin; Alleluia!
take the King of glory in! Alleluia!

Lo! the heaven its Lord receives, Alleluia!
yet he loves the earth he leaves; Alleluia!
though returning to his throne, Alleluia!
still he calls mankind his own. Alleluia!

See! he lifts his hands above; Alleluia!
See! he shows the prints of love: Alleluia!
Hark! his gracious lips bestow, Alleluia!
blessings on his Church below. Alleluia!

Still for us he intercedes, Alleluia!
his prevailing death he pleads, Alleluia!
near himself prepares our place, Alleluia!
he the first fruits of our race. Alleluia!

Lord, though parted from our sight, Alleluia!
far above the starry height, Alleluia!
grant our hearts may thither rise, Alleluia!
seeking thee above the skies. Alleluia!

There we shall with thee remain, Alleluia!
partners of thy eternal reign, Alleluia!
there thy face forever see, Alleluia!
find our heaven of heavens in thee, Alleluia!

The second hymn was the old fashioned favorite He Lives! written by Alfred H. Ackley in 1933.

I serve a risen Savior, 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 thru all the stormy blast,
The day of His appearing will come at last.

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing,
Eternal hallelujahs 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

Our anthem was The Lamb Is Reigning on His Throne by Gerald Coleman, set by Mark Hayes. It’s not great music, but is quite moving when sung well by a large choir. Unfortunately today our choir was small, and we didn’t sing very well.

The Lamb, the Lamb. O Father, where’s the sacrifice?
Faith sees, believes God will provide the Lamb of price!
Worthy is the Lamb whose death makes me his own!
The Lamb is reigning on His Throne!

The Lamb, the Lamb, as wayward sheep their shepherd kill.
So still, his will on our behalf the Law to fill.
Worthy is the Lamb whose death makes me his own!
The Lamb is reigning on His Throne!

He sighs, He dies, He takes my sin and wretchedness.
He lives, forgives, He gives me his own righteousness.
Worthy is the Lamb whose death makes me his own!
The Lamb is reigning on His Throne!

He rose, He rose, my heart with thanks now overflows.
His song prolong ‘Til every heart to him belong.
Worthy is the Lamb whose death makes me his own!
The Lamb is reigning on His Throne!


The third hymn was America by Samuel F. Smith.
1. My country,' tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing;
land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims' pride,
from every mountainside let freedom ring!

2. My native country, thee, land of the noble free, thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills, thy woods and templed hills;
my heart with rapture thrills, like that above.

3. Let music swell the breeze, and ring from all the trees sweet freedom's song;
let mortal tongues awake; let all that breathe partake;
let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.

4. Our fathers' God, to thee, author of liberty, to thee we sing;
long may our land be bright with freedom's holy light;
protect us by thy might, great God, our King.

Our final hymn was also patriotic Katherine Lee Bates’ wonderful America the Beautiful. The hymn tune is Materna by Samuel A. Ward.

1. O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain;
for purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed his grace on thee,
and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.

2. O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife,
who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine,
till all success be nobleness, and every gain divine.

3. O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years
thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God mend thine every flaw,
confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law.

Sixth Sunday after Easter

Sixth Sunday after Easter
May 21, 2006

What were the hymns for May 14? I don’t know. It was Youth Sunday, and this is one service I try to avoid whenever I can. Had my grandson been in town he would have played drums, and I would have gone to church. But since he was in North Carolina for the weekend I just skipped church. Youth Sunday sounds like a good idea, but it’s usually pretty awful. Not the kind of worship experience I really need.

This Sunday was wonderful. The readings for today were:
Acts 10:44-48
Psalm 98
1 John 5:1-6
John 15:9-17

The first hymn was Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, written by Joachim Neander 1680, translated by Catherine Winkworth in 1863. The hymn tune is Lobe den Herren (also known as Praxis pietatis) from the Stralsung Gesangbuch from 1665.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to his temple draw near;
praise him in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who over all things so wondrously reigneth,
shelters thee under his wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires ever have been
granted in what he ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
surely his goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
if with his love he befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before him.
Let the amen
sound from his people again,
gladly for all we adore him.

For the Psalter the choir sang the anthem Sing to the Lord by Lloyd Larson.

The second hymn was Help Us Accept Each Other by Fred Kaan © 1975 Hope Pub. Co. It isn't a particularly wonderful hymn tune, but the text was perfect for the Gospel reading and the sermon today.

Help us accept each other as Christ accepted us;
Teach us as sister, brother, each person to embrace.
Be present, God, among us, and bring us to believe
We are ourselves accepted and meant to love and live.

Teach us, O God, your lessons, as in our daily life
We struggle to be human and search for hope and faith.
Teach us to care for people, for all, not just for some,
To love them as we find them, or as they may become.

Let your acceptance change us, so that we may be moved
In living situations to do the truth in love;
To practice your acceptance, until we know by heart
The table of forgiveness and laughter's healing art.

God, for today's encounters with all who are in need,
Who hunger for acceptance, for righteousness and bread,
Bring us new eyes for seeing, new hands for holding on;
Renew us with your Spirit; God! Free us, make us one!

Our anthem was Gloria in Excelsis from Messe 12, which once was attributed to Mozart. Most scholars now believe someone else composed this in Mozart’s style. It was lovely, and we sang it fairly well.

The final hymn was In Christ There Is No East or West written by John Oxenham. Our current hymnal sets this text to the tune McKee and African-America spiritual, adapted and harmonized by Harry T. Burleigh. It is more commonly sung to the tune St.Peter.

In Christ there is no east or west, in him no south or north;
but one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth.

In Christ shall true hearts everywhere their high communion find;
his service is the golden cord close binding humankind.

In Christ now meet both east and west, in him meet south and north;
all Christly souls are one in him throughout the whole wide earth.

The Good Shepherd

Fourth Sunday of Easter, Good Shepherd Sunday - I found this Chinese painter's interpretation of the Gospel reading for this Sunday.

The readings for May 6 were:
Acts 4:5-12
Psalm 23
1 John 3:16-24
John 10:11-18

Our introit hymn was The King of Love My Shepherd Is set to the tune St. Columba. The hymn was written by Henry Williams Baker.

The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am his,
and he is mine for ever.

Where streams of living water flow,
my ransomed soul he leadeth,
and where the verdant pastures grow,
with food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
but yet in love He sought me,
and on his shoulder gently laid,
and home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death's dark vale I fear no ill
with thee, dear Lord, beside me;
thy rod and staff my comfort still,
thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spread'st a table in my sight;
thy unction grace bestoweth;
and O what transport of delight
from thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days
thy goodness faileth never:
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
within thy house for ever.

The processional hymn was Lift High the Cross. The original 12 stanzas of this missionary hymn were written by George Kitchin as a processional for a festival to be held in June 1887 in Winchester Cathedral. It is based on John 12:32, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” Several alterations have been made in the lyrics to change some of the male-oriented language. Some of words were written by Michael Robert Newbolt, also an English composer and church musician.

Sydney Hugo Nicholson, founder of the School of English Church Music, and organist for nine years at Westminster Abbey composed the aptly titled hymn tune Crucifer.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

Come, Christians, follow where our Captain trod,
Our King victorious, Christ, the Son of God.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

Led on their way by this triumphant sign,
The hosts of God in conquering ranks combine.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

All newborn soldiers of the Crucified
Bear on their brows the seal of Him Who died.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
As Thou hast promised, draw us all to Thee.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

So shall our song of triumph ever be:
Praise to the Crucified for victory!

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.


Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us written by Dorothy A. Thrupp (1779-1847). The hymn tune was composed by William B. Bradbury (1816-1868) and is simply called Bradbury.

1. Savior, like a shepherd lead us,
much we need thy tender care;
in thy pleasant pastures feed us,
for our use thy folds prepare.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast bought us, thine we are.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast bought us, thine we are.

2. We are thine, thou dost befriend us,
be the guardian of our way;
keep thy flock, from sin defend us,
seek us when we go astray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Hear, O hear us when we pray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Hear, O hear us when we pray.

3. Thou hast promised to receive us,
poor and sinful though we be;
thou hast mercy to relieve us,
grace to cleanse and power to free.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
We will early turn to thee.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
We will early turn to thee.

4. Early let us seek thy favor,
early let us do thy will;
blessed Lord and only Savior,
with thy love our bosoms fill.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast loved us, love us still.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast loved us, love us still.

Our anthem was Haydn’s Lo, My Shepherd’s Hand Divine, a two-part women’s anthem. This would have been bad because the sopranos outnumber us altos four to one, but at the last minute I persuaded my daughter Katie to sit in with us, even tough she was tired from leading choirs at the first service and then teaching music to children’s classes for an hour. It sounded pretty good.

Lo, my shepherd’s hand divine,
Want shall nevermore, shall nevermore be mine.
When I faint with summer’s heat,
He shall lead; He shall lead my weary feet.
To the streams that still and slow,
Still and slow, through the verdant meadows flow,
When I faint with summer’s heat, He shall lead my weary feet
To the streams, to the streams, that still and slow,
Through the verdant meadows flow.
To the streams that through the meadows flow,
Through the verdant meadows flow.

Our Communion hymns were:
Come Share the Lord

We gather here, in Jesus' name,
His love is burning in our hearts like living flame,
for through the loving Son, the Father makes us one,
come take the bread come drink the wine come share the Lord.


No one is a stranger here, everyone belongs,
finding our forgiveness here, we in turn forgive all wrongs,


He joins us here, He breaks the bread,
the Lord who pours the cup is risen from the dead,
the One we love the most, is now our gracious host,
come take the bread come drink the wine come share the Lord.


We are now a family, of which the Lord is head,
though unseen He meets us here, in the breaking of the bread.


We'll gather soon, where angels sing,
we'll see the glory of our Lord and coming King,
now we anticipate, the feast for which we wait,
come take the bread come drink the wine come share the Lord.

Sing Alleluia to the Lord

Lift up your hearts unto the Lord. Lift up your hearts unto the Lord.
Sing alleluia, sing alleluia;
Lift up your hearts unto the Lord. Lift up your hearts unto the Lord.
Sing alleluia, Alleluia;
Lift up your hearts unto the Lord.

He is the bread of life. He is the bread of life.
Sing alleluia, sing alleluia;
He is the bread of life. He is the bread of life.
Sing alleluia, Alleluia;
He is the bread of life.

His resurrection sets us free. His resurrection sets us free.
Sing alleluia, sing alleluia;
His resurrection sets us free. His resurrection sets us free.
Sing alleluia, Alleluia;
His resurrection sets us free.

Therefore we celebrate the feast. Therefore we celebrate the feast.
Sing alleluia, sing alleluia;
Therefore we celebrate the feast. Therefore we celebrate the feast.
Sing alleluia, Alleluia;
Therefore we celebrate the feast.

Become to Us the Living Bread by Miriam Drury set to the tune Gelobt Sei Gott.

Become to Us the Living Bread Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Become to use the living bread by which the Christian life is fed, renewed, and greatly comforted.
Become the never-failing wine, the spring of joy that shall incline our hearts to bear the covenant sign,
May Christians all with one accord unite around the sacred board to praise your holy name, O Lord, Alleluia! Alleluia!

The final hymn was Jesus Calls Us by Cecil Frances Alexander, (1818-1895). Mrs. Alexander was the wife of William Alexander, Anglican Bishop of Derry. She wrote over 400 hymns, including All Things Bright and Beautiful and Once in Royal David’s City. The tune was composed by William H. Jude and is titled Galilee

1. Jesus calls us o'er the tumult
of our life's wild, restless sea;
day by day his sweet voice soundeth,
saying, "Christian, follow me!"

2. As of old the apostles heard it
by the Galilean lake,
turned from home and toil and kindred,
leaving all for Jesus' sake.

3. Jesus calls us from the worship
of the vain world's golden store,
from each idol that would keep us,
saying, "Christian, love me more!"

4. In our joys and in our sorrows,
days of toil and hours of ease,
still he calls, in cares and pleasures,
"Christian, love me more than these!"

5. Jesus calls us! By thy mercies,
Savior, may we hear thy call,
give our hearts to thine obedience,
serve and love thee best of all.

Third Sunday of Easter, April 30, 2006

The readings for the day were:
Acts 3:12-19
Psalm 4
1John 3:1-7
Luke 24:36b-48

We had a guest preacher from the Tower of Deliverance Church, and he preached from a different text - Mark 16:15-16 (King James Version)
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
So the hymns and anthems didn't match the sermon, but he was a powerful preacher and quite a change for our 90% white church.

Our first hymn was my favorite Ester hymn, one that is often neglected. We haven't sung it in our church for the past seven Easter seasons - Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain.

The hymn was written by John of Damascus in 750, making this one of our oldest hymns. It was translated by John Mason Neale in 1853. I think it is a wonderful commentary on the significance of Easter and the connection with Passover with Christ as the Paschal Lamb. The hymn tune is St. Kevin by Sir Arthur Sullivan. Sullivan always thought his church music and symphonic pieces were the only important things he did, and now few people remember that he composed anything but comic opera..

Come, ye faithful, raise the strain of triumphant gladness!
God hath brought his Israel into joy from sadness:
Loosed from Pharoah's bitter yoke Jacob's sons and daughters,
Led them with unmoistened foot through the Red Sea waters.

'Tis the spring of souls today: Christ hath burst his prison,
And from three days' sleep in death as a sun hath risen;
All the winter of our sins, long and dark, is flying
From his light, to whom we give laud and praise undying.

Now the queen of seasons, bright with the day of splendor,
With the royal feast of feasts, comes its joy to render;
Comes to glad Jerusalem, who with true affection
Welcomes in unwearied strains Jesus' resurrection.

Neither might the gates of death, nor the tomb's dark portal,
Nor the watchers, nor the seal hold thee as a mortal:
But today amidst the twelve thou didst stand, bestowing
That thy peace which evermore passeth human knowing.

Alleluia now we cry to our King Immortal,
Who triumphant burst the bars of the tomb's dark portal;
Alleluia, with the Son God the Father praising;
Alleluia yet again to the Spirit raising.

Our second hymn was Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee

The hymn was written by Bernard of Clairvaux in the twelfth century and translated by . Edward Caswall in 1849. The hymn tune is St. Agnes by John B. Dykes.

Jesus, the very thought of thee
with sweetness fills the breast;
but sweeter far thy face to see,
and in thy presence rest.

No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
nor can the memory find,
a sweeter sound than Jesus' Name,
the Savior of mankind.

O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
to those who fall, how kind thou art:
how good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? Ah, this
nor tongue nor pen can show;
the love of Jesus, what it is,
none but who love him know.

Jesus, our only joy be thou,
as thou our prize wilt be;
in thee be all our glory now,
and through eternity.

The third hymn was Christ Is Alive. The hymn was written by Brian Wren in 1969. It is usually sung to the tune Truro.

Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.
The cross stands empty to the sky.
Let streets and homes with praises ring.
Love, drowned in death, shall never die.

Christ is alive! No longer bound
to distant years in Palestine,
but saving, healing, here and now,
and touching every place and time.

Not throned above, remotely high,
untouched, unmoved by human pains,
but daily, in the midst of life,
our Savior with the Father reigns.

In every insult, rift, and war
where color, scorn or wealth divide,
Christ suffers still, yet loves the more,
and lives, where even hope has died.

Women and men, in age and youth,
can feel the Spirit, hear the call,
and find the way, the life, the truth,
revealed in Jesus, freed for all.

Christ is alive, and comes to bring
good news to this and every age,
till earth and sky and ocean ring
with joy, with justice, love, and praise.