Sunday, November 24th - Christ the King

(First time here? Read the Introduction for more information)

Welcome to the last Sunday of November and the last Sunday before Advent!


Opening Hymn: Jesus Shall Reign H-544

As soon as I heard this Sunday was called "Christ the King Sunday," this is the hymn that sprang to mind. The hymn tune ("Duke Street") has been one of my favorites ever since my college handbell choir played an arrangement of it my sophomore year (you can listen to a recording of it here, if you're interested!) It's such a joyful tune - full of praise!

"Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
Doth its successive journeys run
His Kingdom stretch from shore to shore
Till moons shall wax and wane no more"


Sequence Hymn: Jesus, Remember Me G-293

The Gospel reading for this week comes from Luke 23. Jesus is being crucified and the thief hanging next to him says, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom." I had another hymn selected (I don't remember now what it was), but one of my choir members said, "There's a Taize song in Gather that's based on that scripture." This is why I love running my selections by the choir - it's not unusual that they have better suggestions! I'm still getting familiar with two new hymnals.

It's a very simple song (as Taize songs usually are), but it's taken directly from the scripture passage and it's beautiful.

"Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom
Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom"


Offertory Anthem: Thank the Lord - Rene Clausen

This week is the Sunday before Thanksgiving, so the choir is singing a song of gratitude. It's a charming little a capella folk song.

"Thank the Lord and sing his praise, tell everyone what he has done
Let everyone who loves the Lord rejoice and gladly bear his name.
He recalls his promises and leads his people forth in joy
With shouts of Thanksgiving, Alleluia, Alleluia!"


Communion Hymn: Seed, Scattered and Sown G-6-1

This is one of my favorite communion hymns and one that I really like to do in the fall/harvest season. It's a straight-forward communion hymn but it talks about gathering wheat, which is why it makes me think of harvest. It's a beautiful song.

"Seed, scattered and sown
Wheat, gathered and grown
Bread, broken and shared as one
The living bread of God

Vine, fruit of the land
Wine, work of our hands
One cup that is shared by all
The living cup, the living bread of God"


Recessional: Lift High the Cross H-473

This was another suggestion from a choir member. I hadn't heard it before, but it works so well to close this week's service.

"Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
Till all the world adore his sacred name"



I hope this adds to your worship experience and I hope to see you there on Sunday!

Sunday, November 17th - Retreat Weekend

This will be short and to the point because I'm about to head out for the church retreat. Full blog posts return next week!

Opening Hymn: A Mighty Fortress is Our God

I chose this hymn because of the Canticle for Sunday. It's all about God's provision and protection.


Sequence Hymn: Jesus Calls Us O'er the Tumult

In the Gospel reading, Jesus speaks of difficult times to come. I chose Jesus Calls Us O'er the Tumult to serve as a reminder that even through difficult times, Christ is there.


Recessional: Almighty Father, Strong to Save

Continuing the theme of protection and provision.

Sunday, November 10th

(First time here? Read the Introduction for more information)


Opening Hymn: Immortal, Invisible H-423

Sometimes I pick hymns based on the Old Testament readings for the opening hymn. Or hymns that fit the theme, if it's a themed Sunday. When neither of those approaches work, I go with a general hymn of praise to God. "Immortal, Invisible" is essentially a laundry list of the qualities of God - a great way to start any Sunday. It's always important to remember Who we come to worship when we come to church. 


Sequence Hymn: Canticle of Zachary G-561

The Gospel reading this week is another one of those with absolutely no hymns based on it whatsoever. Maybe someday someone will write a rousing hymn called, "The Sadducees asked a stupid question and Christ did call them on their nonsense," but until that happens, I'll have to improvise. I chose "Canticle of Zachary," mainly for the last verse (although the other two go fairly nicely with the Epistle passage). In the Gospel passage, Jesus says, "Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive." I was looking for hymns about death, or life after death, and stumbled across this hymn:

Now bless the God of Israel, Who comes in love and power
Who raises from the royal house delivrrance in this hour
Through holy prophets God has sworn to free us from alarm
To save us from the heavy hand of all who wish us harm

Remembering the covenant, God rescues us from fear
That we might serve in holiness and peace from year to year
And you, my child, shall go before to preach, to prophesy
That all may know the tender love, the grace of God most high

In tender mercy, God will send the dayspring from on high
Our rising sun, the light of life, for those who sit and sigh
God comes to guide our way to peace, that death shall reign no more
Sing praises to the Holy One! O worship and adore.



I think the last verse sings the sentiment of "Not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all of them are alive" quite nicely. The tune is "Forest Green" which you may know to other words. 


Communion Hymn: Table Song G-616

This beautiful song includes the phrase "We are the body of Christ, broken and poured out, promise of life from death." This continues along with the triumph over death theme from the Gospel passage.


Recessional: We Will Extol You H-404

I chose this hymn in connection with "Immortal, Invisible" - the hymns are similar both thematically and musically, and serve as "musical bookends" to the service. 

We will extol you, ever blessed Lord;
Your holy Name for ever be adored;
Each day we live our psalm to you we raise;
You, God and King, are worthy of all praise,
Great and unsearchable in all your ways.



I hope this adds to your worship experience - See you there!

Sunday, November 3rd - All Saints Sunday

(First time here? Read the Introduction for more info)

This week is All Saints' Sunday, which made my job of musical planning an easy one. "For All the Saints" is a given and aside from that, there are plenty others to choose from to fill out the service. I didn't grow up in a tradition that observed All Saints' so I wouldn't be the best person to explain it if you have questions about it, but here is a link to the Wikipedia article for your edification: All Saints.


Opening Hymn: For All the Saints H-287

I'm pretty sure a lot of churches around the world will be singing "For All the Saints" on Sunday. It's nice to feel connected not only to those who have gone before us but to other Christians around the world. That's the power of music - it can create a bridge between past, present, and future, across oceans, and even across cultures.


Sequence Hymn: Blest Are They G-469

The Gospel reading is the Beatitudes. Last week I had the choir sing the beautiful, "Blest are They" by David Haas so that it might be somewhat fresh in the congregations minds for this week. It is a musical setting of the Beatitudes and it's beautiful.


Offertory: Heaven's Choir

I've been wanting my choir to sing this for years now and decided to finally go for it this year. I think this song speaks for itself, so here is a recording and here are the lyrics:

When we lift our voices to heaven
When we sing alleluias to worship the Lord
We prepare for the day when we join all heaven's praise
With an audience of one we will sing to the Son

In heaven's choir, we'll join saints in glory
In heaven's choir, we'll worship the Lord

And when we bow before the throne

We'll sing "Holy, holy, holy, holy"
We'll praise the Lord on high in heaven's choir

In the church are many nations, different races, different songs
There are separate denominations who proclaim Christ as Lord

But there will be no more division when we reach our heavenly home

We will all sing as one in the presence of the Son

In heaven's choir, we'll join saints in glory
In heaven's choir, we'll worship the Lord

And when we bow before the throne

We'll sing "Holy, holy, holy, holy"
We'll praise the Lord on high in heaven's choir

We'll join saints in glory
In heaven's choir, we'll worship the Lord

And when we bow before the throne

We'll sing "Holy, holy, holy, holy"
We'll praise the Lord on high in heaven's choir

We'll join with the angels on high in heaven's choir

Communion Hymn: I am the Bread of Life H-335

When I first heard this hymn earlier in the year, I thought the words seemed a bit funeral-ish. Not in a depressing way (quite the opposite), but the refrain says, "And I will raise you up, and I will raise you up, and I will raise you up on the last day." So I logged it away in the back of my mind for All Saints' because it seemed so fitting. 

Recessional: I Sing a Song of the Saints of God H-293

Several people suggested "I Sing a Song of the Saints of God" for this Sunday and I had never previously heard it. I loved it immediately. It's fairly simple (but some of the best songs are) and has a great message. I think my favorite is the last verse:

They lived not only in ages past, there are hundreds of thousands still

The world is bright with the joyous saints who love to do Jesus' will

You can meet them in school or in lanes or at sea, in church or in trains or in shops or at tea

For the saints of God are just folk like me, and I mean to be one too.

I can't think of a better sentiment to sing as we leave church this Sunday. All the saints of God were just people, and I can be one too. Amen.

I hope this adds to your worship experience. If you are joining us on Sunday, please feel free to bring something to place on the altar to memorialize a loved one who has passed. See you there!