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