Worship

Ms. Angie has a new message for the children of RELC. Click below to view!

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

And don't forget:

 

Spark Family Sunday SchoolSpark 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:

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.

Ms. Angie has a new message for the children of RELC. Click below to view!

Dear members of God’s family at Resurrection Church,

The Seventh Sunday of Easter always invites us to read from the great prayer of Jesus in John 17, the prayer in which Jesus prays that the people of the church may be one. And this Sunday in this year also invites us to read about the disciples, men and women, being together in the house in prayer. Join the unity of the church again this Sunday as you pray in your house, if it is possible for you, at 10 am on May 24.

Alleluia Christ is risen!

Worship material for May 24, 2020

The following have been posted to YouTube; here is the YouTube Playlist for May 24, 2020:

Music Notes

Musical Reflection: "Gelobt sei Gott"
John Leavitt (1956)

Melchior Vulpius (1570-1615) composed this tune as a setting for Michael Weisse's text Gelobt sei Gott in höchsten Thron. In 1609 tune and text were published together in Vulpius's Ein Schon Geistlich Gesangbuch but because the text dates from the early sixteenth century, some scholars think the tune may have older roots.

In this setting by John Leavitt the excitement generated by tune and text is well portrayed with repetitive motives and ornamental figures, a recognizable element of his compositional style. A composer, performer, and clinician for church and school music literature, Leavitt continues to teach, lecture, and guest conduct numerous workshops, festivals, and symposia.

Hymn of the Day: “Rise, O Son of Righteousness”, #657
Text: Christian David, Christian Gottlob Barth, Johann Christian Nehring
Tune: SONNE DER GERECHTIGKEIT

This is a German hymn text from three authors. Stanza 1 is by Christian David (1892-1751), stanzas 2 and 4 are by Christian Gottlob Barth (1799-1862) and stanzas 3 and 5 are by Johann Christian Nehring (1671-1736). Frank Stolt translated and paraphrased it in 2002 and it was published in 2003. SONNE DER GERECHTIGKEIT is a 15th century folksong from the Bohemian Brethren tradition.

Dear members of the family of God,

On this the 40th day of Easter we read the passages in the Gospel according to Luke and in the Acts of the Apostles about Jesus’ ascension, and so we keep Ascension Day. In this time of lock- down and distance, this day can be of enormous comfort. Jesus has not gone away. He has gone to the right hand of God so that he might fill all things. He has come nearer, present for us in the scriptures he has opened and the Spirit he has poured out. If you are able, pray this prayers at 7:30pm on Thursday, May 21.

It is still Easter. Christ has risen! God is among us!

Worship material for May 21, 2020

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

Music Notes

Musical Reflection: Chorale and One Variation from Sonata #6
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

The Organ Sonata #6 in D minor (1845) demonstrates Mendelssohn’s consummate craftsmanship and mastery of organ texture in a set of variations upon the Lutheran Bach chorale Vater unser im Himmelreich (BWV416). Following a five-part harmonization of the Chorale, which pervades the sonata as a whole, Mendelssohn presents four variations of increasing brilliance before a restatement of the Chorale. Here I am playing the 3rd variation. Mendelssohn’s Organ Sonatas revitalised the then-moribund European organ tradition, spurred English organ-builders to new heights, and, through his particular blend of chorale, counterpoint and domestic spirituality, substantially augmented the organ repertoire for the first time since Bach.

Hymn of the Day: “Thine the Amen”, #826
Text: Herbert F. Brokering (1926) Tune: THINE, Carl F. Schalk (1929)

During a 2 week retreat at Holden Village in Washington State, Herbert Brokering wrote a text daily reflecting on the morning’s Bible study, and Carl Schalk, who was the composer for Brokering’s hymns, set it to music. It was a tough schedule, as both text and music had to be at the print shop by 3PM as the new hymn was sung the following morning, reviewing the previous day’s study. THINE was the 10th hymn in the series.

Ms. Angie has a new message for the children of RELC. Click below to view!

Ms. Angie has a new message for the children of RELC. Click here to view!

Ms. Angie has a new message for the children of RELC. Click here to view!

Ms. Angie has a new message for the children of RELC. Click here to view!

Ms. Angie has posted a message for the children of RELC. Click below to view!

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