August 13, 2023

Otho Hoyte will be the organist this Sunday and for the prelude will be playing a Dale Wood (contemporary American of whom I have written before) setting of "Beneath the cross of Jesus", which is hymn 498 in our hymnal.  The familiar tune is called "St. Christopher" and is by Frederick C. Maker (1844-1927).

The opening hymn, 414, "God, my King, Thy might confessing", is another tune we know well from Lent, but the text here is a paraphrase of Psalm 145: 1-12. The Gospel hymn, "My God, Thy table now is spread" (321) has remained a favorite of many people since it's introduction in the 18th century!

The congregational hymn during the offertory will be another very old favorite, "O God of Bethel,  by Whose hand thy people still are fed" (709).

During communion, both Martha and Lynn Bailey will play harp duets, arrangements of the following hymns:  

My Shepherd will supply my need -- arr. by Deborah Govenor

The water is wide -- arr. by Joyce Weaver

Simple Gifts -- arr. by Sylvia Woods

The first hymn is based on Philippians 4;19; the second refers to the wideness of God's mercy and uses the well known tune, "O Waly, Waly", which you will recognize; the 3rd hymn is of course the famous Shaker hymn tune.  

The closing hymn, known as "Old 124th", is hymn 404, "We will extol You, ever-blesssed Lord", a well know Charles Winfred Douglas harmonization of the 16th century melody.

For the postlude, Otho will play the Richard Ellsasser setting of "Joyful, Joyful we adore Thee".  Mr. Ellsasser (1926-1972) was a famous American concert organist, composer, and conductor.