Dear members of God’s family at Resurrection Church,

We finish reading from the second great discourse of Matthew today, the mission instructions given to the disciples and given still to us. We are exhorted to wel- come those who come to our communities, faithfully speaking the word of God, and we are urged to welcome with a cup of cold water the littlest and most vulner- able of people. On this “cup of cold water Sunday,” join together with your con- gregation — at 10 am, if you are able — to hear the word of God and pray in your own home. These materials offer you many ways to do that. Then consider how you may offer that cup of water to others, even when “socially distanced.”

Worship Service Broadcast

A pre-recorded worship service, complete with readings, Pastor Linman's sermon, prayers, and music will broadcast at 10am on Sunday, June 28 on our YouTube channel and will be available below:

Worship material for June 28, 2020

• Home Worship Bulletin for June 28, 2020
• Children's Bulletin for June 28, 2020
• The transcript of Pastor Linman's sermon

The following have been posted to YouTube; here is the YouTube Playlist for June 28, 2020:

• Musical Reflection: Give Me Jesus, Richard Billingham
• Barbara Bulger Verdile: Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18
• Pastor Linman's recorded sermon
• Hymn #707, "Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us"
• Hymn #575, "In Christ, Called to Baptize"

Music Notes

Hymn of the Day: “Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us”, #707
Text: Eliza S. Alderson (1818-1889)
Tune: HYFRYDOL, Rowland H. Pritchard (1811-1887)

Eliza S. Alderson wrote this text about tithing, sent it to the committee working on an addition to Hymns Ancient and Modern (1861) and requested that, if it were chosen, her brother John B. Dykes would be asked to write a tune for it. It was chosen, and he wrote the pleasant and not memorable CHARITAS.

Rowland H. Pritchard was a textile worker and an amateur musician. He had a good singing voice and was appointed precentor in Graienyn. Many of his tunes were published in Welsh periodicals. He composed this most loved Welsh tune when he was only nineteen. It was published with about forty of his other tunes in his children's hymnal Cyfaill y Cantorion (The Singers' Friend) in 1844. HYFRYDOL means delightful, beautiful, sweet, melodious, etc. The “H” in the tune name is pronounced, both the ‘y’s are sounded like the ‘u’ in ‘nut’ and the ‘f’ is voiced like ‘v’. This tune can be found published with at least 91 different texts. This is probably because HYFRYDOL is not only a tune that is quite friendly to congregations but one that accommodates many texts very well.

Musical Reflection: Give Me Jesus, Richard Billingham (1934)

Richard Billington worked for many years as Associate Professor of Music at the University of Illinois and Organist at the First Methodist Church, Chicago. Give Me Jesus is a fairly old hymn, originating as an African-American spiritual written during the time of slavery in the Untied States. It is currently published in 22 hymnals.

Dear members of God’s family at Resurrection Church,

On this Sunday we continue to read from the second great discourse in the Gospel according to Matthew, the Mission Instruction to the Disciples in Matthew 10. Those instructions come to us now, both seriously challenging us and profoundly comforting us. Join with the congregation on this Third Sunday after Pentecost — at 10am, if you are able — to hear this challenge and comfort and to pray together. Then turn to the new week refreshed in your calling as witness to God’s mercy and love..

Worship Service Broadcast

A pre-recorded worship service, complete with readings, Pastor Linman's sermon, prayers, and music will broadcast at 10am on Sunday, June 21 on our YouTube channel and will be available below:

Worship material for June 21, 2020

• Home Worship Bulletin for June 21, 2020
• Children's Bulletin for June 21, 2020
• The transcript of Pastor Linman's sermon

The following have been posted to YouTube; here is the YouTube Playlist for June 21, 2020:

• Musical Reflection: Aire on “Bridegroom”, Mary Beth Bennett
• Barbara Bulger Verdile: Psalm 69:7-10, 16-18
• Pastor Linman's recorded sermon
• Hymn #802, "Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus"
• Hymn #626, "By Gracious Powers"

Music Notes

Hymn of the Day: “Let Us Ever Walk With Jesus”, #802
Text: Sigismund von Birken (1626-1681)
Tune: LASSET UNS MIT JESU ZIEHEN, Georg G. Boltze (fl. 1750-1789)

Sigismund von Birken wrote this hymn for Passiontide, based on Luke 18:31-34, where Jesus turns his attention to Jerusalem. It was published in 1652. In 1910 it was translated into English and appeared in the ELW 1912. Von Birken wrote 52 hymns in all, but he was not able to shake off the artificial influences of the time, and not many of them have retained a place in German common use. Three have been translated into English.

In addition to his writing this hymn tune, we know Georg G. Boltze was a cantor and school teacher at an orphanage in Potsdam in 1750 and was still living in 1789. He wrote LASSET UNS MIT JESU ZIEHEN in 1788 for a different text. However, since the English translation of the “Let Us Ever Walk With Jesus,” tune and text have been paired.

Musical Reflection: Aire on “Bridegroom”, Mary Beth Bennett (1954)

Written in 1968, BRIDEGROOM is Peter Cutts’ best-known tune and appears in almost all major hymnals. Peter Cutts composed over 130 hymn tunes, some 90 of which appear in print throughout the English-speaking world, Bridegroom is most often found set to Carl Daw’s text, “Like the murmur of the dove’s song.”

Mary Beth Bennett is a recognized performer, improviser and composer living in historic Richmond, Virginia. Having held positions in Washington, D.C. at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and as Ceremonial Organ for the U. S. Government, she currently serves on the adjunct music faculty of the University of Richmond, and is Director of Music Ministries at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Gloucester, Virginia.

Dear members of the family of God at Resurrection Church,

With this Sunday we begin again to read through the Gospel according to Matthew, picking up where we left off just before Lent began. We last were reading from the first great discourse of Matthew, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Now we start with the second great discourse: Jesus’ Mission Instructions to the disciples. Even — perhaps especially — in this shutdown time, those instructions come to us, to our church. There are many ways you can join in our church’s common prayer at home: praying these materials yourself or supporting that prayer with some or all of our videos. In whatever way you choose, try to join us at 10am on Sunday, June 14. Then be sent into your week with our common mission.

Worship Service Broadcast

A pre-recorded worship service, complete with readings, Pastor Linman's sermon, prayers, and music will broadcast at 10am on Sunday, June 14 on our YouTube channel and will be available below:

Worship material for June 14, 2020

• Home Worship Bulletin for June 14, 2020
• Children's Bulletin for June 14, 2020
• The transcript of Pastor Linman's sermon

The following have been posted to YouTube; here is the YouTube Playlist for June 7, 2020:

• Barbara Bulger Verdile: Psalm 100
• Pastor Linman's recorded sermon
• Hymn #584, "The Son of God, Our Christ!"
• Hymn #669, "Rise Up, O Saints of God!"
• Musical Reflection, Carlisle by Charles Callahan

Music Notes

Hymn of the Day: “The Son of God, Our Christ”, #584
Text: Edward M. Blumenfeld (1927)
Tune: SURSUM CORDA, Alfred M. Smith, (1879-1971)

The text for this hymn was written in 1957 by Edward M. Blumenfeld in response to a search sponsored by the Hymn Society of America for hymn texts written by people under 30 years of age. He began writing verse when his Grade 3 class was directed to copy from the blackboard a poem for the Mother's Day cards the students were making; having a twin brother in the class, he wrote a verse of his own to spare his mother two identical cards. As a minister, he wrote verses to illustrate his sermons and to comprise a column in the local newspaper. Not being musical, he found the appearance of his lyrics in various hymnbooks mystifying but gratifying.

The tune, Sursum Corda, submitted anonymously for consideration to the committee that prepared The Hymnal 1940, was originally composed for the eucharistic hymn, “Lift up your hearts.” Alfred Morton Smith eventually surfaced as the composer of this tune named for the Latin of the original text, “Sursum Corda.” He is known to have contributed 2 other tunes to the hymn tune literature. “Sursum Corda” is the most popular and is now paired with a wide variety of texts.

Musical Reflection: Carlisle, Charles Callahan

The hymn tune “Carlisle” was written by Charles Lockhart (1745-1815). He was first organist of the Lock Hospital, and was for some years associated with Martin Madan in the musical arrangements there. Though blind from infancy, Lockhart had a distinct musical gift, and was especially known for training children’s choirs. He published a set of hymn tunes about 1810 of which this was one. “Carlisle” was his most popular hymn tune and it can be found in 92 hymnals.

Charles Callahan is a well-known composer, organist, choral conductor, pianist and teacher. He is a graduate of The Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia, Pa., and The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC. The serene and tranquil nature found in the “Carlisle” tune pairs well with the gentle, confident lyricism of Callahan’s compositions.

Dear members of God’s family at Resurrection Church,

This Sunday is one week after Pentecost, thus one week after the end of Easter’s 50 days. We keep this festival day, called Trinity Sunday, as a summary of all the grace, love and communion that was given to us in Lent and Easter, and we do this before we begin again to keep the series of standard Sundays through the year. We have been baptized in the rich name of the Triune God. Although we cannot meet in person now to greet each other in that name, we can greet each other from afar by praying together. If you are able, join your fellow members of the Resurrection family by using these worship materials at 10 am on Sunday, June 7.

Worship material for the Holy Trinity, June 7, 2020

• Home Worship Bulletin for June 7, 2020
• Children's Bulletin for June 7, 2020
• The transcript of Pastor Linman's sermon

And don't forget: 

Spark Family Sunday School has lessons for today about "Creation"

The following have been posted to YouTube; here is the YouTube Playlist for June 7, 2020:

• Barbara Bulger Verdile: Psalm 8
• Pastor Linman's recorded sermon
• Hymn #665, "Rise, Shine, You People!"
• Hymn #413, "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!"
• Organ Piece, "St. Patrick's Breastplate" by Rebecca Groom Te Velde

Music Notes

Hymn of the Day: “Rise, Shine, You People”, #665
Text: Ronald A. Klug (1939)
Tune: WOJTKIEWIECZ, Dale Wood, (1934-2003)

Starting with this text from Isaiah 60:1: “Arise, shine for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you,” Ronald A. Klug wrote this text originally purposed for the Epiphany season. Thankfully it has come to embrace an even wider purpose to “hurl your songs and prayers against the darkness.”

In addition to consulting, conducting and writing articles, Dale Wood composed over 300 musical compositions, from hymn tunes to a music drama with orchestra. When he wrote the tune for Klug’s text he gave it his family name, Wojtkiewiecz, which was simplified when the family came to the United States.

Musical Reflection: St. Patrick’s Breastplate
Rebecca Groom Te Velde (1956)

Saint Patrick's Breastplate, a prayer of protection, also known as The Deer's Cry, The Lorica of Saint Patrick or Saint Patrick's Hymn, is a lorica. In the Christian monastic tradition, a lorica is a prayer recited for protection in which the petitioner invokes all the power of God as a safeguard against evil in its many forms. The Latin word lōrīca originally meant "armor" or "breastplate." Both meanings come together in the practice of placing verbal inscriptions on the shields or armorial trappings of knights, who might recite them before going into battle. The original Old Irish lyrics of this hymn were traditionally attributed to Saint Patrick during his Irish ministry in the 5th century. In 1889 it was adapted into the hymn I Bind Unto Myself Today.

Rebecca Groom Te Velde is a third-generation professional organist, following both parents and her grandfather. In 1991 she assumed her present position as organist of First Presbyterian Church in Stillwater, OK. She is an active performer, composer, clinician, and adjunct instructor of music at Oklahoma State University.

Dear members of God’s family at Resurrection Church,

Easter is 50 days long and the Day of Pentecost is the 50th day. Easter has 8 Sun- days and the Day of Pentecost is the 8th Sunday, the last day of the feast. The Spirit of God, celebrated on this day, takes all the meaning of Easter, all the life and hope God gives us, the very presence of Jesus Christ alive, and pours this love into our hearts. This gift is true, even when we are sheltering at home, away from our usual gathering. The Spirit of God, the Spirit of the risen Christ, unites us. If you are able, join your fellow members of this one Body in prayer at home at 10am on May 31.

Alleluia Christ is risen!

Worship material for the Day of Pentecost, May 31, 2020

• Home Worship Bulletin for May 31, 2020
• Children's Bulletin for May 31, 2020
• The transcript of Pastor Linman's sermon

And don't forget:

Spark Family Sunday School has lessons for today about "The Holy Spirit"

The following have been posted to YouTube; here is the YouTube Playlist for May 31, 2020:

• Musical Reflection, Veni Creator Spiritus, James Biery
• Barbara Verdile: Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
• Pastor Linman's recorded sermon
• Hymn #405, "O Spirit of Life"
• Choir Anthem, The Lone Wild Bird, David N. Johnson
• Hymn #396, "Spirit of Gentleness"

Music Notes

Musical Reflection: Veni Creator Spiritus, James Biery (1956).

"Veni Creator Spiritus" ("Come Creator Spirit") is a hymn believed to have been written by Rabanus Maurus in the 9th century. When the original Latin text is used, it is normally sung in Gregorian chant. It has been translated into several languages, often as a hymn for Pentecost.

James Biery is an American organist, composer and conductor who is Minister of Music at Grosse Pointe Memorial Church (Presbyterian) in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, where he directs the choirs, plays the 66-rank Klais organ and oversees the music program of the church. Prior to this appointment Biery was music director for Cathedrals in St. Paul, Minnesota and Hartford, Connecticut.

Hymn of the Day: “O Spirit of Life”, #405
Text: Johann Niedling (1602-1668)
Tune: O HEILIGER GEIST, Köln (1623), rar. J. S. Bach (1685-1750)

This German text is attributed to Johann Niedling of whom little is known. It was translated by John Mattes (1876-1948) early in the 20th century. A litany-like refrain brackets all th stanzas. They begin by remembering the Spirit’s action and relationship to the Trinity, then ask for increase in faith, love and light.

The composer of the tune known as “O Heiliger Geist” is unknown. It’s first known printing was in 1623. J. S. Bach harmonized it in 1736.

Choir Anthen: The Lone Wild Bird, David N. Johnson, arr. (1922-1987)
Text: Henry Richard McFayden (1877-1964)

A little volume of David N. Johnson’s entitled Twelve Folksongs and Spirituals (1968) seems to have served several purposes in the evolution of this text. First, he rescued this little jewel from relative hymnological oblivion; second, he paired it quite successfully with the haunting tune PROSPECT from the famous American tunebook, The Sacred Harp (1844); and lastly, he made a few alternations to the text including the substitution of “bird” for “fowl” in the incipit or opening line of the poem.

The text was written for a hymn-writing contest sponsored by the Homiletic and Pastoral Review while Henry Richard McFadyen was serving the Nashville Presbytery. The hymn was published in 1927 and included in The [Presbyterian] Hymnal (1933) with the original first line, “The lone, wild fowl.”

McFadyen’s original two stanzas follow with Johnson’s alterations in brackets:

The lone, wild fowl [bird] in lofty flight
is still with thee, nor leaves thy sight.
And I am thine! I rest in thee,
Great Spirit, come and rest in me.

The ends of earth are in thy hand,
the sea's dark deep and no man's [far off] land.
And I am thine! I rest in thee,
Great Spirit, come, and rest in me.