August 18, 2024

Otho Hoyte will be our guest organist this Sunday.  We are very grateful for him and also Peggy White, and I am also grateful for all prayers made on my behalf as I recover from last week's surgery (hernia repair).  I expect to be "back on the bench" 8/25. Having had spinal surgery earlier this summer, I am hoping this is the last "repair"!

The prelude will be "Andante Religioso" by Francis Thome (1850-1909), a French composer who wrote mainly for the piano.  He studied at the famous Paris Conservatory and was very popular in his day.  Many pianists grew up playing some of his music. 

Our processional hymn, "Be Thou my vision" (488), is indeed a most popular Irish melody with an Irish text dating back to ca 700, as you may note in the hymnal.  

The Gospel hymn's roots as you may note are German, old but not quite as old as 488; it is 341, "For the bread which you have broken". This is another hymn I believe the congregation as a whole enjoys singing and is most appropriate for the Gospel reading from John.

During the offertory the congregation will sing verses 1, 4 & 5 of "Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendor", 307, another hymn relating to the Gospel reading.

During communion, 2 hymns will be offered if needed, both "My God, Thy table now is spread" (321), and "O Food to pilgrims given" (309).  I always encourage you to investigate information given in the hymnal; you will find that there is tremendous variety but will also begin to recognize a few names!

Closing will be the hymn based on Psalms 148 & 150, "O praise ye the Lord" (432), the music by the famous English composer, Charles Hubert Hastings Parry.

The postlude will be "Fanfare", by the Welsh composer, William Marhias (1932-1992), who wrote mostly choral music, including "Let the People Praise Thee, O God", sung in 1981 at the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales.  His output includes numerous large scale works, including an opera, 3 symphonies, and 3 piano concertos. An amazing man!