August 4, 2024

The organ prelude is a "partita" based on the hymn, "A mighty fortress is our God"; a partita is simply a set of variations.  The composer is Andrew Clarke, American contemporary (b.1942), a graduate of Yale University and The New England Conservatory of Music with further organ studies in Holland.  The well known hymn melody, as you may know, was composed by Martin Luther.  The harmonization in our hymnal is by J.S.Bach, but you will hear great differences by Mr. Clarke.

Our processional hymn is "Singing songs of expectation", 527, which I think everyone enjoys.  It relates to our reading from Ephesians.

Our centuries old Gospel hymn, melody by the 17th century Johann Cruger, is "Deck thyself, my soul with gladness", 339, text from the same period.  This past Sunday I played a Brahms setting of this hymn during communion.

We have a vocal duet during the offertory, the vocalists being Kathy Mayhew and Audy Walker.  They will sing "Forth in Thy Name, O Lord, I Go", by Richard Shephard (late 20th and early 21st c.) the popular English composer whose music we use often.  

During communion we will sing "Shepherd of souls, refresh and bless Thy chosen pilgrim flock", 343, another beloved hymn from the 19th century.

Closing is the Welsh hymn, "Immortal, invisible, God only wise" 423, yet another favorite I think.

The postlude is based on a hymn in our hymnal -- 319 -- but one we haven't sung, but should very soon when a choir can lead us.  It is "You, Lord, we praise in songs of celebration for this feast of our salvation".  I invite you to take a look at both the hymn and notes in our hymnal.  The setting is by the young Jacob B. Weber (b.1988) who writes both organ and choral works and is associated with Concordia Press as an editor.