April 14, 2024

The organ prelude is a meditative setting of the familiar hymn, "Morning has broken", and is by Franklin D. Ashdown (1942-2023), Texas born prolific composer -- and physician -- of whom I have written before.  The setting begins in C Major (as does hymn 8 in our hymnal) and then modulates to D Major, then back to C Major, making it a sort of ABA form.

Our processional hymn is 182, "Christ is alive! Let Christians sing", a well loved tune from the 18th century with 20th century text.  I played 2 variations of this hymn as part of the prelude music Easter Sunday.

The Gospel hymn, from the 17th century, is also most familiar, and seems to have the original text, translated, of course; it's "Blessed Jesus, at Thy Word we are gathered all to hear Thee" (440).

The anthem, "Come Ye Faithful", is a bright Easter choral work by the English musician, composer and teacher, R. S. Thatcher (1888-1957), whose full name is Reginald Sparshatt Thatcher -- one can see why he is known only as R. S. Thatcher!

Communion hymns are first, the familiar "Come risen Lord and be our guest" (305), and then the NOT familiar 295, "Sing praise to our creator", which ties in with the reading from John.  It is very easy to sing!

Closing, we will sing the upbeat hymn "That Easter day with joy was bright" (193); note that this tune (Puer nobis) is used also for hymn 124, an Epiphany hymn.

The postlude is a David Lasky (contemporary American) setting of "Christ is made the sure foundation", the hymn tune known as "Westminster Abbey" and 518 in our hymnal.