Notes for Sunday, January 28

It is the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

SCRIPTURE:

Psalm: Psalm 19
Epistle reading/Anthem: I Corinthians 13 Epistle reading: I Corinthians 12:12-30

The sermon title is "Indispensable"

CHOIR ANTHEM:

I Corinthians 13, F. Koeber.
The anthem will be sung after the reading of the Psalm.

Koerber composed this piece as a Christmas gift for his family. It was premiered by the Baltimore Symphony Chamber Singers in 1981.

The piece is written in the style of a reaissance motet - a polyphonic musical setting, usually of a sacred text.

In music, polyphony is a texture consisting of two of more independent melodic voices. In the case of Koerber's piece, each voice is independent, yet the voices combine to produce a lush and rich harmony.

For me, the work is a wonderful musical analogy of love. To love is to give to another, as if that other were oneself; to recognize others as indistinguishable from ourselves, yet to also understand our independence as individuals. In the same way, the polyphonic voices of the piece are independent; yet come together as one in a wonderful harmonic texture.

I thank you all for your very hard work on this difficult and stunning piece of music. We have drilled and practiced and concentrated and listened. Sunday will be the day to relax, and let the piece fly. It will be the day to enjoy the fruits of your efforts and simply sing.


"If I speak in the tongues of men and angels but have not love, I am nothing.

If I have prophetic powers and understnad all mysteries and knowledge but have not love, I am nothing.

Love bears all things; love believes all things; love hopes all things; love endures all things; faith, hope and love abide these three, but love is the greatest, love never ends.

If I have the faith to move the mountains but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give away all I have and my body to be burned but have not love, I am nothing.

When I was a child I spoke like a child, I thought like a child and reasoned so; but I am no longer a child and all childish ways I've now put aside.

If I speak in the tongues of men and angels but have not love, I am nothing, nothing without love."

HYMNS:

#288, I Sing the Mighty Power of God
#322, Spirit of the Living God
#438, Blest Be the Tie that Binds

OTHER ITEMS:

Prelude: Brother James Air, G Martin
Offertory: Reflection, D. Wagner
Postlude: Toccata, D. Wagner

The organ selections were written by contemporary composers, like the anthem. Each is based on a Psalm, and attempts to wed classical organ form with the emotions and thoughts of a Psalm verse.

The prelude is inspired by Psalm 23:1, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." The offertory draws on Psalm 72:3, "The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness." And the postlude is based on Psalm 150:4, "Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: Praise Him with stringed instruments and organs."

Until Sunday, Bonnie

Notes for Sunday, January 21

It is the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The scripture readings follow the lectionary for last Sunday:

The Psalm is Psalm 36:5-10.
The Epistle Reading is 1 Corinthisna 12:1-12.

The sermon title is "What Cards Are You Holding?"

CHOIR ANTHEM:

The anthem falls after the reading of Psalm 36, and before the Epistle Reading.

The anthem text is based on Psalm 19:14 (and Colossians 3:16, 17).

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer."

These are words we've all heard many times. They are simple and familiar, yet their plea is so very important. The things we say and the sentiments of our hearts are the foundation of the actions that follow. If the latter are to be good and true, so must the former.

K. Lee Scott sets the words of the Psalm to music that is sustained, legato, flowing. Much of the piece is quiet and simple, with harmonies that are mostly predictable, familiar, and comfortable - like the Psalm. Our sound should be quiet, yet fill the sanctuary, as it soars out of the loft and envelopes the congregation.

HYMNS:

#435, We All Are One in Mission
#369, I'm Goona Live so God Can Use Me
#429 Lord, You Give the Great Commission

OTHER ITEMS:

Prelude: Adagio, From Third Sonata, A. Guilmant
Offertory: Nun Bitten Wir, D. Buxtehude
Postlude: Psalm 19: The Heavens Declare, B. Marcello

The prelude should complement the anthem. It is also slow and sustained. It's one of those pieces with a tune that's somehow familiar, even at a first hearing. (Could there be music we are born knowing?)

The offertory is one of Buxtehude's preludes on chorale melodies. Nun Bitten Wir Den Heiligen Geist (We Pray Now to the Holy Spirit) is one of Martin Luther's many hymns.

Some of Luther's hymns were derived from the ancient hymnody of the German and Latin churches. Others are thought to have originally been secular airs. Many of them though, were written by Luther himself.

The Liberty Fund has put an 1884 edition of Luther's hymns online. You can peruse and download Luther's hymns to your heart's content:
http://oll.libertyfund.org/Home3/HTML.php?recordID=0225#toc_lf225.head.050

(Liberty Fund also has the complete works of Shakespeare available online - free for the reading and downloading!)

As Luther wrote in a preface to Joseph Klug's 1543 Wittenberg hymn-book,

"Where friends and comrades sing in tune, All evil passions vanish soon; Hate, anger, envy cannot stay, All gloom and heartache melt away; The lust of wealth, the cares that cling, Are all forgotten while we sing."

Until Sunday Morning, Bonnie

Honoring Dr. King

On Sunday afternoon, January 14, at 2PC, we will remember, celebrate, and honor Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. King was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize, at age thirty-five. When notified of his selection, he announed he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.

It has been noted that in the weeks before his death, King was weary and depressed. Depressed in particular about the war in Vietnam and its implications for the country. Depressed about talk of violence within his own movement.

In the midst of his darkness, Dr. King cast aside his doubt and gave a speech that continues to inspire and move. Let us be inspired, at this time in particular, by Dr. King's vision.

Dr. King hoped for the day when "all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestant and Catholic, will be able to join hand and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last! Free at last!"

On Sunday afternoon, we have an opportunity to move towards this dream. To join hands with our neighbors and sing together.

The service is at 3:30 on Sunday, at 2PC.

If you are available for rehearsals, they are:

Saturday, 2:00 and 3:00, in the sanctuary.
Sunday, 2:00.

You can find the text of Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream"
speech here:

http://3quarksdaily.blogs.com/3quarksdaily/2006/01/i_have_a_dream.html

I urge you to read it.


Enjoy Sunday. I have no doubt that both 11:00 and 3:30 worship will be inspired and inspiring.

Bonnie

Notes for Sunday, January 7

We celebrate the Baptism of the Lord.

The Hebrew scripture reading is Isaiah 43:1-7.
The Gospel reading is Luke 3:15-17, 21-22.

The sermon title is "Remember Who You Are."

CHOIR ANTHEM:

After the Gospel Reading, before the Sermon:

Down to the River to Pray. As I went down to the river to pray, studyin' about that god old way and who shall wear the starry crown. Good Lord, show me the way.

We'll make this flow - peaceful, measured, steady, strong - like the river.

HYMNS:

#461, God is Here; #499, Wonders of Wonders, Here Revealed; #495, We Know that Christ is Raised.

OTHER ITEMS:

Prelude: Aria, God Moves in a Mysterious way...,D. Locklair
Offertory: Pange Lingua (Bread of Life), A. Boely
Postlude: Toccata, F. Peeters

The prelude is the first movement of a two movement piece, commissioned by organ builder Casavant Freres. Locklair builds the piece around C (Casavant) and F (chords). Listen for the progression in the opening bars. Then listen for the first statement of the melody - a simple line, on a 4' flute. The piece is one big flowing line (...like a river, maybe...). The tension build is remarkable - so clear, yet it still sneaks up on me every time.

The offertory tune, Pange Lingua, was written by St. Thomas Aquinas. It is known as on of the "great seven hymns of the Church." The hymn was written for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, and is often used on Holy Thursday.

Until Sunday morning, Bonnie