July 30, 2023

Both prelude and postlude music this Sunday is based on very familiar hymn tunes, settings by the American composer, Dale Wood (1934-2003), a California man his entire life and a musician whose music is depended on by many organists.  There will be arrangements of two well-loved hymns for the prelude: "Brother James' Air" (517 in our hymnal) and "My Faith Looks Up to Thee" (691).  The postlude will be a setting of "When Morning Gilds the Skies" (427).

Our processional hymn (365) is literally an old favorite, both tune and text originating in the 18th century-- "Come, thou almighty King".  Many of us have been singing this hymn since childhood-- and it was "old" then!  

Our Gospel hymn (290), known as "Come, ye thankful people, come", is of course usually a Thanksgiving hymn, but we will not be singing verse 1; only verses 2-4 relate to the day's reading from the Gospel.  Many people also don't have the opportunity to sing this good hymn if they are unable to attend a Thanksgiving Day service.

Many choristers will be in the nave once again, and so there will be another congregational hymn during the offertory, and that will be 542, "Christ is the world's true light".  Many of you appreciate choristers among you, so much that I wish in September we would have a large enough choir to divide, and have a "contingency" in the nave to support you!  Oh for better acoustics so that the sound from all sources (organ included) would mix better and be more conducive to hearty singing!  

Communion hymns will be 465, "Eternal light, shine in my heart", and 601, "O day of God, draw nigh".  Even if during communion you are unable to sing these hymns, it is well worth contemplating the texts.

Closing, we will sing "Immortal, invisible, God only wise" (423), I think known and loved by almost everyone.  This hymn we sing often enough that no one has a chance to forget it, unlike last week's closing hymn, which we "used" to sing and sing quite heartily!

The postlude is mentioned in the first paragraph!

Enjoy the end of July.... all of August, and do look forward to September with a fuller choir back after Labor Day!  If any of you are thinking of joining us, do give us a try! We are most inclusive, do not judge experience or talent, and are always appreciative of new members!