Music for 10/27/13

FirstLight
Gathering Song(s)
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Your grace is enough

Opening Song
Hallelujah (You’re love is amazing)

Prayer of Confession Response
There’s a wideness

Peace
Leaning on the everlasting arms

Offertory
Jesus, firm foundation

Closing Song
Grace alone (STF 2162)

11AM
Hymns
260, A mighty fortress (EIN FESTE BURG)
276, Great is thy faithfulness (FAITHFULNESS)

Confession Response
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy (CIVILITY)

Psalmody
65, Thou, O God art praised in Zion, Percy Whitlock (Anglican Chant)

Doxology
592, Praise God from whom all blessings flow (OLD HUNDREDTH)

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude:  Arr. Don Marsh, Fairest Lord Jesus
Allen Bell, saxophone
Offertory: Deitrich Buxtehude, Ein Feste Burg 
Postlude: Max Reger, Ein Feste Burg

Music for 102013

Our children's sabbath service, in which children help lead the service liturgically, and lead much of the music. It's also Stewardship Sunday, with a special meal after service, and our Handbells are ringing. Big day!

FirstLight

Gathering Song(s)

We sing of your glory/Tuya es la Gloria

God is here today

Opening Song

All hail the power of Jesus’ name

Prayer of Confession Response

Alabare

Psalmody

145, I will exalt my God, my King

Scripture/Proclamation

Open your ears, O faithful people

Offertory

Keith Hampton, Praise his holy name

Closing Song

You are holy, you are whole

11AM

 Hymns

417, Christ is made the sure foundation (REGENT SQUARE)

Fairest Lord Jesus (CRUSADER HYMN)

142, All hail the power of Jesus’ name (CORONATION)

Introit

Avery & Marsh, We are the church

Carol Choir

Confession Response

Glory be to God the Father (WESTMINSTER ABBEY)

 
Anthem at the Readings 
John Clarke, Praise to the Lord 
 Aerie Singers

Doxology

592, Praise God from whom all blessings flow (OLD HUNDREDTH)

Instrumental/Organ Music

Prelude:  Timothy Waugh, Reperqussio (“Reflection”) 
Adult Handbells 
Offertory:  Arr. Kevin McChesney, Praise to the Lord the Almighty 
Adult Handbells 
Postlude: Arr. David Lasky, Fanfare on REGENT SQUARE

Music for 100613

FirstLight
Gathering Song(s)
I could sing of your love forever
Your grace is enough

Opening Song
Did you feel the mountains tremble

Peace
Salaam/Peace

Offertory
Christ’s glory

Communion
Responses: Kreiwald

Closing Song
Made me glad

11AM
Hymns
465, Here, O Lord, your servants gather (TOKYO)
440, In Christ there is no east or west (MCKEE)

Confession Response
2025, Halle, halle, hallelujah (CARIBBEAN)

Scripture
Open your ears O faithful people

Psalmody
Psalm 1, Setting by Gelineau

Doxology
592, Praise God from whom all blessings flow (OLD HUNDREDTH)

Music during Communion
Responses: Eslinger

Instrumental/Organ Music
Offertory:  Jane Marshall, Blessed is the man
Postlude: Gilbert Martin, Fanfare on MCKEE

Singing the psalms

This fall our congregation has begun to reclaim the ancient practice of singing the psalms. I got fired up about this a year or so ago, and my urge was confirmed at conferences this summer. As we transitioned from summer to fall I wrote a series of articles on the practice, and included discussion of the broad types of psalm-singing "out there" and which we might encounter as we began our practice.

Presbyterians have a long history of psalm-singing, including use of the paradigmatic Genevan Psalter. Though that is the case, I have been attuned to media that comment on the use of psalms in worship, particularly singing the psalms, to be able to articulate my rationale for re-kindling this worship practice in our congregation.

Thus I was delighted to happen upon an interview with NT Wright in Christianity Today, in which he argues for the singing of psalms in worship, including in contemporary services. His basic thrust is that any worship can become lukewarm, and psalm-singing prods the worshiper to ever-new depths of understanding the Trinity and our faith. He particularly notes that some contemporary worship music can leave one spiritually hungry, and a steady diet of singing the psalms can provide needful nourishment.

I was a bit nervous about leading the worshipers at our contemporary/alternative service into a re-discovery of psalm-singing. This article confirmed my sense that it was a good decision to bring psalmody to both congregations, in musical styles appropriate to each. The word is still out on how this practice is being perceived within our worshiping community, but I feel even more committed now to the route we are taking in reclaiming this collection of ancient songs of faith.

Music for 091513

FirstLight
Gathering Song(s)
Bless the Lord, my soul (Taize, STF 2013)
10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord, O my soul)

Opening Song
Shout to the north

Prayer of Confession Response
Halle, halle, hallelujah (STF 2026)

Psalmody
One thing I ask

Offertory
Blessed assurance

Prayers
Wait for the Lord (Taize) (new)

Closing Song
Everlasting God

11AM
Hymns
371, Lift high the cross (CRUCIFER)
423, Jesus shall reign where’er the sun (DUKE STREET)

Confession Response
Glory be to God the Father (WESTMINSTER ABBEY)

Psalmody
179, God is my strong salvation (CHRISTUS DER IST MEIN LEBEN)

Doxology
592, Praise God from whom all blessings flow (OLD HUNDREDTH)

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude: Theodore Dubois, Prière
Offertory: Mark Patterson, The Lord is my strength
Postlude: Cesar Franck, Sortie

Music for 090813

FirstLight
Gathering Song(s)
He knows my name
Better is one day

Opening Song
Blessed be your name (in B)

Prayer of Confession Response
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy (DeMey)

Psalmody
O Lord, my God, you know all my ways (PAS 139E)

Offertory
Christ in me arise

Closing Song
I have decided to follow Jesus (STF 2129)

11AM
Hymns
476, O worship the King, all glorious above (LYONS)
388, O Jesus, I have promised (ANGEL’S STORY)
2129, I Have decided to follow Jesus (ASSAM)

Confession Response
DeMey, There’s a wideness in God’s mercy

Psalmody
139, Hal Hopson, Alice Keith Knowles, cantor

Doxology
592, Praise God from whom all blessings flow (OLD HUNDREDTH)

Prayers
Take, O take me as I am

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude: Alec Rowley, Benedictus
Offertory: Allen Pote, Psalm 139
Postlude: Nicholas Jacques Lemmens, Fanfare

Music for 090113

FirstLight
Gathering Song(s)
No higher calling
Turn my heart

Opening Song
Not to us

Prayer of Confession Response
Your mercy flows

Offertory
Arise, my soul, arise

Prayers
Amazing grace (Alleluia)

Closing Song
Christ be our light

11AM
Hymns
483, Sing praise to God, who reigns above (MIT FREUDEN ZART)
280, Amazing grace, how sweet the sound (NEW BRITAIN)
421, The Church of Christ in every age (WAREHAM)

Confession Response
579, Glory be to the Father (GREATOREX)

Anthem
Glenn Burleigh, Order my steps
A setting of Psalm 119.133:
Keep my steps steady according to your promise,
and never let iniquity have dominion over me.
Jane Hartsfield, Libby Barker, soloists

Doxology
592, Praise God from whom all blessings flow (OLD HUNDREDTH)

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude: Charles Murrill, Voluntary on WAREHAM
Offertory: Hermann Schroeder, Pastorale
Postlude:  Emma Lou Diemer, Mit Freuden Zart