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Opening Hymn: Come, O Fount of Every Blessing
Converted to Methodism at age twenty, Robert Robinson soon became a Calvinistic Methodist preacher and later gained great popularity. The melody, associated with this text since1813, is an American folk tune. The tune,
NETTLETON, was found in John Wyeth’s Repository of Sacred Music.
Middle Hymn: More Love to You, O Christ
Elizabeth Prentiss, a teacher and author of numerous books, wrote this hymn at a time of grief and physical illness. It was published some fifteen years later, together with William H. Doane’s tune, MORE LOVE TO YOU, 1870.
Gospel Acclamation: Light of the World
The choir will introduce and respond to the words from Matthew 5:1-20 (Beatitudes). With music from “Godspell” by Stephen Schwartz and arranged by D. H. Clark.
Anthem: Blessed Are You
Craig Courtney was commissioned by the Chancel Choir, St. Michael Lutheran Church, Greenville South Carolina, Charlie Jones, Director. Written for the celebration of his fifty years serving Christ in the world, 1948-1998. The text is from our gospel reading Matthew 5:3-12.
Communion Anthem: Let Us Break Bread Together
The earliest version of this spiritual probably began with the current stanza three, and was a song some of the enslaved in Virginia used when gathering for secret meetings. The communion stanzas were added some time after the Civil War. .D.H. arranged the spiritual for Northminster Choir using the original tune, LET US BREAK BREAD TOGETHER.
Closing Hymn: You Are Salt for the Earth, O People
During a residency at Holden Village, a retreat center in the state of Washington, Marty Haugen wrote this hymn to be used as a “processing song” for outdoor worship. The lectionary readings focusing on Jesus’ teaching about the “reign of God” provided the basis for the text. The tune, BRING FORTH, was written in 1986. The text is also from our gospel reading Matthew 5:13-15.
I look forward to sharing worship with you all this Sunday.
Pacem, Debi
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