Hymm of the Day: Earth is Full of Wit and Wisdom (ACS 1064)
Text: Adam M. L. Tice, (1979)
Tune: HOLY MANNA, W. Moore, Columbian Harmony, 1825; arr. hymnal version

Can you hear God laugh? This hymn challenges us to try. It might be easier for the young, or the young at heart, than for those of us more set in our ways. By the time we’ve sung through the myriad species in God’s creation, even the crabbiest one among us might at least muffle a chuckle or crack a smile. While this is a recently composed text, it is paired with an early American tune that helps it lilt along through the mouthful of God’s creatures.

Opening Voluntary: Wondrous Love Justin McCarthy

Although various sources have attributed this text to a number of different writers, it remains anonymous. "What Wondrous Love" was first published in both Stith Mead's hymnal for Methodists, A General Selection of the Newest and Most Admired Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1811), and in Starke Dupuy's hymnal for Baptists, Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1811). The text is addressed to the soul.

Today’s Opening Voluntary is another selection from Piano Meditations, a collection of traditional hymn tunes, arranged by Justin McCarthy. Justin McCarthy has worked as a pianist & educator in the greater Boston area for over 20 years. A faculty member at Plymouth State University (NH) since 2009, Justin currently serves as Coordinator of Collaborative Piano in the Department of Music, Theatre, & Dance. He received his Bachelor & Master’s degrees from Rice University, and his Doctorate from Boston University. Justin also serves as pianist for the Nashua Choral Society and maintains an active teaching studio at the Manchester Community Music School. He lives in Southern NH with his wife and 3 children.

Offertory: Rise Heart Arlen Clarke (1954)

With a few modifications Arlen Clarke has set George Herbert’s beautiful poem, Easter, an exploration of how people are made right with God - justified - through Jesus’ death on the cross. George Herbert was a skilled pastor and teacher, as well as an accomplished musician, and this poem is a beautiful illustration of both. Easter was originally two separate poems, each containing 3 verses. But the call in the first verse, 'Rise heart; thy Lord is risen', and the musical images of verses two and three, find their fullest expression in the song of praise of the final three verses.

Conductor, composer, and singer Arlen Clarke currently lives in Greenville, SC and is the Director of Music at St. Mary's Catholic Church. In addition to composing, he maintains an active schedule as a conductor, singer and vocal coach, choral clinician, and adjudicator.

Closing Voluntary: St. John Damascene (Come Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain) Noel Rawsthorne (1929- 2019)

This tune, ST. JOHN DAMASCENE, written by Arthur Henry Brown (1830-1926) may not be familiar to many of us as it is found chiefly in English hymnals. It was named after our venerable Father John of Damascus (676 - 749) who was also known as John Damascene, Chrysorrhoas, "streaming with gold," (i.e., the golden speaker) and is known to have written the text “Come Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain” paired with this tune. John of Damascus was born and raised in Damascus, in all probability at the Monastery of Saint Sabbas (Mar Saba), South East of Jerusalem. His feast day is December 4.

Organist for many years at Liverpool Cathedral, Noel Rawsthorne emerged as one of the finest organists of his generation, and maintained a non-stop global career as a top-flight concert artist. He proved no less adept as a composer: his numerous introits, carols, chants, anthems, hymn tunes, responses, and imaginative descants, often written for special occasions, have long retained their place in the repertoire.