May 24, 2026

For Pentecost I will play again Wilbur Held's setting of "Veni, Creator Spiritus" (Come, Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire), which is 504 in our hymnal.  Wilbur Held (1914-2015-- yes he lived 101 years) was professor of organ and church music at Ohio State University from 1946 to 1978, and composed extensively.  I often use his music, as obviously do many other organists!

Our processional hymn is "Praise the Spirit in creation" (506), vs's 1,3,5 & 6, which uses Christopher Dearnley's tune called "Finnian"; we sang this tune a few weeks ago with the text of 492.   The beautiful Gospel hymn, "Spirit of mercy, truth, and love" (229), written by the still retired in Seattle, M Lee Suitor (b. 1942), may be a new hymn for many but is most "singable".

The anthem is familiar to many, "Draw Us In the Spirit's Tether", by Harold Friedell (American, 1905-1958), with text by Percy Dearmer (1867-1936).  The anthem is a most famous collaboration between these two people! Communion hymns are "Breathe on me, breath of God" (508), and "O Spirit of the living God" (531).
 
Closing we will sing Ralph Vaughan Williams "Hail thee festival day!", 225. The postlude is Percy Whitlock's setting of "Darwell's 148th", which is 625, "Ye holy angels bright".  Percy Whitlock was an English composer and organist (1903-1946).  I can't help but  think of the times he lived through-- both World Wars and the Great Depression in between. Percy studied with some of the biggest names of the period-- Stanford, Vaughan Williams, Henry Ley-- but contracted tuberculosis in 1928 and of course eventually died from it, at just 42.  At first his music was somewhat forgotten, but later was rediscovered and respected.

Philip Dettra, Director of Music