sunday music: 28 october - reformation

once again blogging my comment from the RevGals Sunday afternoon video...

Thanks, Cathy! really nice juxtapositions of everything. This morning the music included (and I won't comment on the congregation's singing):

O Day Full of Grace
O God Our Help in Ages Past
Borning Cry
Choir anthem: God is Our Refuge and Strength, with 2 trumpets - by Allen Pote
A Mighty Fortress is Our God

more: Laura, thanks for your condolences; it's now more than 24 hours post-borning cry, so obviously I survived. Mary Beth, Laura, I also love Siyahamba! And Teri, I'm convinced there is no such thing as adequate trinitarian language; I've been known to say "Creator, Redeemer Sanctifier God" in my sermon salutation, but that still doesn't quite fly. Everyone, what a wonderful musical feast!

sunday music: 21 october

A Mighty Fortress (to anticipate next Sunday)
Nothing But the Blood
I Need Thee Every Hour
and a new one to me,
Overwhelmed

(commenting on the RevFals Sunday afternoon video comments...)

again: Episcopalians don't observe Reformation Sunday... oh, I know--it was so jarring to me (jarred me so?) the year or so I attended that episcopal church, though I knew ahead of time, and seriously considered going to another church for that Sunday. Luther and devils are such a fun mix; the accompaniment to A Mighty Fortress last Sunday really, really rocked. I wonder what'll top that on Reformation Sunday?

and more again: Cathy, in my experience the PCUSA, UCC, and the various Lutheran denoms all are huge on Reformation Sunday/Day, and (retreating to shorthand that says way too little) mostly consider it a major festival of the Spirit, somewhat akin to Pentecost, but I assume other church bodies within the theological traditions of the Reformation celebrate it, too.

sunday music: 14 october

because i'm playing for an installation this afternoon, this morning i attended early eucharist with mostly prerecorded song accompaniments. we sang

Awesome God
Lord, I Lift Your Name on High
Healer of Our Every Ill
Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying

and concluded with alle, alle, alle--alleluia with miscellaneous percussion--they hand out the instruments and we get to pick the one we want.

sunday music: 07 october

from my comment on the RevGals Sunday afternoon video...

Hyfrydol is one of my favorites, too--thanks! Church this morning:

opening: As Those of Old Their Firstfruits Brought - tune, Forest Green;
Blessed Be Your Name;
Did You Hear the Mountains Tremble? - from Hillsongs

Did you feel the mountains tremble?
Did you hear the oceans roar?
When the people rose to sing of
Jesus Christ the risen one

Did you feel the people tremble?
Did you hear the singers roar?
When the lost began to sing of
Jesus Christ the risen one

And we can see that God you're moving
A mighty river through the nations
When young and old will turn to Jesus
Fling wide your heavenly gates
Prepare the way of the risen Lord

Open up the doors and let the music play
Let the streets resound with singing
Songs that bring your hope
Songs that bring your peace
Dancers who dance upon injustice

Did you feel the darkness tremble
When all the saints join in one song
And all the streams flow as one river
To wash away our brokenness

And we can see that God you're moving
A time of Jubilee is coming
When young and old will turn to Jesus
Fling wide your heavenly gates
Prepare the way of the risen Lord

(chorus)

next: We Are Your People
closing: Just a Closer Walk--with sensational guitar riffs, etc.

more: Cathy, "Forest Green" is far and away my preferred tune for O Little Town. I just looked at this morning's bulletin again and realized I'd left out two: choir sang "Hungry, I Come" and the Offertory song was Kelly Carpenter's marvelous "Send Your Rain."

Leah, apparently Hydrofoiled again!

more again: Amy, "One Bread, One Body" is one of my favorites! Speaking of Beecher the tune, next Sunday afternoon I'm playing for an installation service because their usual organist has a prior commitment, and they're singing "Called as Partners in Christ's Service" to Beecher. I love that text, but I consider Beecher in the same overdone category as the aforementioned St. Louis for "Little Town."