Music for 020115

FirstLight
Gathering Song(s)
Jikelele

Opening Song
I could sing of your love forever

Prayer of Confession Response
Jubilate, everybody

Psalmody
Psalm 111: Our God is an awesome God

Offertory
Hallelujah, your love is amazing

Closing Song
There is a balm in Gilead



            
11AM
Hymns
662, Christ whose glory fills the sky (RATISBON)
180, Silence! Frenzied, unclean spirit (AUTHORITY)
792, There is a balm in Gilead (THERE IS A BALM)

Response to Forgiveness
Jubilate, everybody

Psalmody
Psalm 111: GtG 652, A grateful heart (ROCKINGHAM)

Doxology (FOREST GREEN)
In gratitude and humble trust we bring our best today,
To serve your cause and share your love with all along life’s way.
O God who gave yourself to us in Jesus Christ your Son,
Help us to give ourselves each day until life’s work is done.

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude: singing: Jikelele
Offertory:  Donald Busarow, He comes to us
Postlude:  TBA Organ

How my mind works (when planning music)

Today's (1/18/2015) gospel reading was John's telling of Jesus gathering the first disciples, and it was the Sunday before the MLK, Jr. holiday. So thematically we had the whole call/follow thing and the social justice thing. I wanted to sing a South African prayer song, from the anti-apartheid era (Thuma mina) mostly because it's been a few weeks since we sang at the prayers. The liturgy (compiled by the preacher for the day) included a collection of statements from MLK Jr that were crafted into a brief statement of faith. From the prayer song I took a step back to another South African song, "Come with me for the journey is long." With the gospel lection, I opted for a new (2004) hymn by Mel Bringle ("From the nets of our labors/We will rise up and follow") which also included a social justice theme. From that wonderfully Hispanic-sounding song (music by John Kleinheksel) I leaped to William Farley Smith's exuberant setting of "Cantemos al Senor." I heard Smith play the piece with its downright wicked chromaticism and parallel octaves at a Lake Junaluska conference some years ago before his untimely death. He was ebullient an African-American man whose musicological hand hovers over the current UM hymnal. The appointed psalm was 139, which made an appearance in our spoken call to worship, confession rite, and as the choir anthem at the offering (setting by Allen Pote). So many themes, so much music! Wow!