July 28, 2024

This Sunday we will be fortunate to have Benjamin Smith on the cello and also two vocalists -- Becky Lowrey and Audy Walker.  Our congregation is indeed full of talent!

The prelude to the service will be J. S. Bach's "Arioso" with cello solo and organ accompaniment.  Bach himself wrote numerous versions of the piece, for various instruments.  I think everyone knows and loves the melody; it should also be conducive to meditation.

Our processional hymn may remind you of Advent, as the tune ("Stuttgart") is used 3 times in our hymnal; this is hymn 414, "God, my King, Thy might confessing".  The text is a paraphrase of Psalm 145, 1-12.

Our Gospel hymn is the beautiful 20th century melody and text, "We the Lord's people, heart and voice uniting" (51), music by Richard Wayne Dirksen, organist and choirmaster of the Washington National Cathedral 1977-1988.

The anthem, using cello and our 2 vocalists, is a David Ashley White (contemporary, American) arrangement of hymn 664, "My shepherd will supply my need".   This hymn is actually an  American folk melody, but Mr. White wrote many hymns that appear in many hymnals, including ours (327).

During communion we will sing hymn 455, "O Love of God, how strong and true"-- and then hear more Bach played on the cello!

Closing, we will sing "We will extol You, ever blessed Lord", hymn 404, known as "Old 124th".  The text, as you may note, is a paraphrase of Psalm 145.

The postlude will be the Robert Hobby setting of "In our music God is glorified"-- I would think a fitting end to the service!