January 12, 2025

The prelude is a set of variations I play almost every year during Epiphany, based on the hymn "Puer Nobis", 124 in our hymnal, "What star is this, with beams so bright". They are by the American contemporary, Michael Burkhardt, artist in residence at East Michigan University and popular composer and choral clinician.

Our processional hymn is the well loved American hymn tune, "Foundation", from the "Sacred Harp", published in 1844, as you may note; it's "How firm a foundation", 636, relating to the reading from Isaiah.  The Gospel hymn is 116, "I come, the great Redeemer cries, to do Thy will, O Lord", an English tune harmonized by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Our anthem, known to all-- "I Wonder As I Wander"-- attributed to John Jacob Niles, as I have told some of the story before, actually has roots that may go back generations. He heard a poor girl whose family was homeless, singing several of the phrases in none other than Murphy, NC, in 1933, and recorded it, later developing it into the full song and anthem we know today.

Communion hymns are 120, "The sinless one to Jordan came", and 121, "Christ, when for us You were baptized", both relating to the Gospel reading from Luke.

Closing and in procession, we will sing "O love, how deep, how broad, how high", 448, an ever popular hymn from the 18th century-- tune, that is-- words you will note are from the 15th century!

The postlude setting of "Let all together praise our God" by the late 20th century and early 21st century American composer and organist, Paul Manz is a hymn not in our hymnal, but an appealing and easy tune -- if only we had the words!