Dear members of God’s family at Resurrection Church,
For the third Sunday in a row we read from Matthew’s collection of Jesus’ parables. Only, this Sunday the images are more surprising yet, full of God’s wisdom, like that given to Solomon, full of the love of Christ from which we can never be separated, as St. Paul says. On Sunday, July 26, if you can, join the congregation in praying together at 10 am.
Worship Service
A pre-recorded worship service, complete with readings, Pastor Linman's sermon, prayers, and music will broadcast at 10am on Sunday, July 26 on our YouTube channel and will be available below:
Worship material for July 26, 2020
Home Worship Bulletin for July 26, 2020- Children's Bulletin for July 26, 2020
- The transcript of Pastor Linman's sermon
The following have been posted to YouTube; here is the YouTube Playlist for July 26, 2020:
- Musical Meditation, “Soul, Adorn Thyself with Gladness”, Aaron David Miller
- Barbara Bulger Verdile: Psalm 119:129-136
- Pastor Linman's recorded sermon
- Hymn #775, “Jesus, Priceless Treasure”
- Hymn #597, “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less”
Music Notes
Hymn of the Day: “Jesus, Priceless Treasure,” #775
Text: Johann Franck (1618-1677)
Tune: JESU, MEINE FREUDE, Johann Crüger (1598-1662)
The original German text “Jesu, meine Freude” by Johann Franck first appeared in Johann Crüger's Praxis Pietatis Melica (1653) in six long stanzas. The text was modeled in part after a love song found in Heinrich Albert's Arein (1641), "Flora, meine Freude, meiner Seele Weide.” Catherine Winkworth translated the text into English and published it in her Chorale Book for England (1863). Our version includes the original stanzas 1, 2, and 6. Much loved by Christians from various traditions, “Jesus, Priceless Treasure” is one of the finest examples of German piety in a devotional hymn. The intensity of emotional expression found here provides a suitable counter-balance to the cerebral character of much Reformed worship.
Inspired by Jesus' parables of the great treasure and fine pearl (Matt. 13:44-46) and other New Testament references to the metaphor "treasure," this text is strongly Christocentric. Stanza 1 confesses with mystical ecstasy that Christ is the source of purest pleasure (a bold affirmation that counters the hedonism of this world). Stanza 2 expands the metaphor: Christ our treasure is also our fortress, our defense and protector from the "sin and hell" that would "assail" us. And stanza 4 affirms that, despite the fears and sorrow we must bear, Jesus remains our greatest treasure and source of profound joy.
Johann Crüger is known as a German composer of well-known hymns. He was also the editor of the most widely used Lutheran hymnal of the 17th century, Praxis pietatis melica, which is considered one of the most important collections of German hymnody in the seventeenth century. It was reprinted forty-four times in the following hundred years. He wrote music instruction manuals and tirelessly promoted congregational singing. With his tunes he often included elaborate accompaniment for various instruments. Crüger's hymn collection, Neues vollkomliches Gesangbuch (1640), was one of the first hymnals to include figured bass accompaniment (musical shorthand) with the chorale melody rather than full harmonization written out. It included eighteen of Crüger's tunes.
Musical Meditation: “Soul, Adorn Thyself with Gladness”, Aaron David Miller (b.1972)
The original of the beautifully ornamented melody of today’s Musical Reflection represents a second collaboration of music and text by Johann Crüger and Johann Franck. Johann Crüger composed SCHMÜCKE DICH (Deck Thyself, My Soul) and first published the tune as a setting for the first stanza of the SCHMÜCKE DICH text by Johann Franck. The tune name is the incipit of the original German text. Johann S. Bach used this tune in his Cantata 180; he and many other composers have written organ preludes on the melody.
Aaron David Miller is noted for his highly imaginative and creative style, found in his performances, improvisations and compositions. He serves as the Director of Music and Organist at House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul, Minnesota and maintains an active recital schedule. He is a forensic musicologist for Donato Music in Scarsdale, NY.