Kuddos for some strong congregational hymn-singing this past Sunday. It lifts my spirits when you sing our hymns and service music with such fervor! The refrain for Sunday's communion anthem may not be as familiar as last week's hymns; but it is one that everyone can learn easily, so give it a try: "Thou didst give thyself for me, now I give myself to thee." This refrain and some other key phrases from Sunday's hymns may point to a theme for the day: "Come, labor on." ... "awake, my soul ... and press with vigor on." ... "So order, too, this life of mine."
Sunday's offertory hymn is a paraphrase of Psalm 19:1-14 written by Timothy Dudley-Smith (b.1926), who also wrote "Tell out, my soul."
The stars declare his glory;
the vault of heaven springs
mute witness of the Master's hand
in all created things,
and through the silences of space
their soundless music sings.
The dawn returns in splendour,
the heavens burn and blaze,
the rising sun renews the race
that measures all our days,
and writes in fire across the skies
God's majesty and praise.
So shine the Lord's commandments
to make the simple wise;
more sweet than honey to the taste,
more rich than any prize,
a law of love within our hearts,
a light before our eyes.
So order too this life of mine,
direct it all my days;
the meditations of my heart
be innocence and praise,
my Rock, and my redeeming Lord,
in all my words and ways.
- Timothy Dudley-Smith
Sunday's Hymns:
Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve, No. 546
Book of books, our people's strength, No. 631
The stars declare his glory, No. 431
Let thy Blood in mercy poured, No. 313
Come, labor on, No. 541
Prelude: Voluntary, Op.5 No.8, John Stanley
Postlude: Fugue IV in F Minor, Georg F. Handel
St Timothy's Choristers and Schola Choir will sing Evensong this Sunday, Oct 8 at 3:30pm
James MacMillan (b.1959) is a Scottish composer and conductor who has written some atmospheric music for worship. He composed the prelude and anthem that we will offer at Evensong on Sunday. Take a listen to the anthem "A new song," which some of the choristers have requested weekly since they learned it.
Prelude: White Note Paraphrase, James MacMillan
Responses: Craig Phillips (The choristers sang this setting last year at Canterbury Cathedral)
Canticles: Orlando Gibbons
Hymns:
Most Holy God, the Lord of heaven, No. 31
O gracious Light, S-27
The day thou gavest, No. 24
Anthem: A new song, James Macmillan
Postlude: Prelude & Fugue in C Minor, BWV 549, JS Bach
See you Sunday (and hope to see you at the parish camping trip this weekend, too!),
Christin
