January 28, 2024

The organ prelude Sunday is a very meditative setting of the hymn "Fairest Lord Jesus" (also known as "Beautiful Savior"), by Dale Wood.  The well known and loved hymn is 383 in our hymnal, and is also known by the tune name "St. Elizabeth".  I use a lot of Mr. Wood's settings, as he was incredibly prolific and very talented.  He lived and worked in California (b. 1930), and died there in 2003.  Listening to a quiet meditation on such a hymn is a good time to focus on the text!

Our processional music is the great 19th century hymn "God the Omnipotent".  I love the ending of each verse, "give us peace in our time, O Lord"-- until the final verse, "give us peace in THY time, O Lord".  We must pray!

Our Gospel hymn, which relates both to the day's Gospel reading and the sermon, is the text based on a prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, and is hymn 593-- "Lord, make us servants of your peace".  As you may note, the beautiful musical setting is 20th century, by Lee Hastings Bristol, Jr.

The day's anthem is a hymn we have never sung, "Ye who claim the faith of Jesus", 268; it is by the talented contemporary American, David Hurd (b. 1950).  Though it is written as a "unison" melody, we are adding a separate alto part.  Note that verse 4 is based on the "Magnificat".  You may sing along if you are inspired, or follow the text!

Communion hymns are 339, "Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness", the wonderful 17th century melody by Johann Cruger, words by Johann Franck, and 581, "Where charity and love prevail there God is ever found".  

Closing, we will sing the favorite of many-- "O for a thousand tongues to sing my Redeemer's praise" -- 493, words by the famous Charles Wesley.

The postlude is a Robert Hobby (contemporary American of whom I have written many times) setting of the hymn, "Songs of thankfulness and praise", 135 in our hymnal.