March 19, 2023

Peggy White will be playing the prelude this Sunday, comprising of 2 works. The first is the Dietrich Buxtehude "Nun Bitten Wir" (We ask the Holy Spirit). Buxtehude (1637-1707) was Danish., of the "North German School", and was one of the most important composers of the 17th century, influencing later composers such as J.S. Bach. The second piece is a James Pethel setting of the hymn, "Ah, Holy Jesus". Pethel is American, born in 1936, and for 37 years taught at Carson-Newman College; he also won many awards for composition.

Our opening hymn is 339, "Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness", the familiar hymn by Johann Cruger (1598-1662). The text, by Johann Franck is worth meditating on prior to the service; it is quite uplifting.

The Gospel hymn is 465, "Eternal light, shine in my heart". Note in the hymnal that the text is from a prayer; many anthems use this text.

Our anthem is what was intended 2 weeks ago (one could find those notes), and is a "hymn-anthem", "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind", by the fine Anglican composer, Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848-1918). This work is from one of his oratorios, "Judith", written in 1888.

Closing, we will sing hymn 7, "Christ, whose glory fills the skies", a very old but familiar hymn -- another Charles Wesley text.

The postlude is a Robert Hobby (contemporary American) setting of the very well-known hymn tune, "Jerusalem, My Happy Home".