January 11, 2025

The prelude is a set of variations based on "What star is this, with beams so bright" (hymn 124), a 15th century tune which is also used for an Easter hymn (193). The variations are by the American contemporary, Michael Burkhardt.

Our processional hymn is "Thy strong word did cleave the darkness", 381, the early 20th century hymn by Thomas John Williams.  Ralph Vaughan Williams composed the Gospel hymn (116), "I come, the great Redeemer cries, to do Thy will".

Our anthem is a David Ashley White (contemporary, American, b. 1944) setting of the most popular hymn, "Come, thou fount of every blessing" (686).  The tune originates in "Repository of Sacred Music" of 1813; the text is by Robert Robertson, 1758. although our hymnal spells his last name "Robinson"-- I do not know which is correct!

Our first communion hymn is 131, "When Christ's appearing was made known", as noted in the hymnal. "melody source unknown", with text of verses originating all the way from the 5th century to the 19th!  Our second hymn is "Christ, when for us you were baptized" (121), from the 17th century.

Closing, we will sing "Blessed be the God of Israel, who comes to set us free", hymn 444. The text, as you may note, is a paraphrase of "The Song of Zechariah".

For the postlude, I will first play J.S. Bach's harmonization of the choral, "We Christians All', and then play Bach's cousin's setting of it (the cousin being the famous Johann Gottfried Walther).