10:30am Eucharist, Sunday, March 10th, 2019, 2019

The First Sunday of Lent

Prelude: “Adagio in D Minor”, By: Charles H. Rinck

Processional Hymn: 675, Take up your cross, the Savior said (Bourbon)

Kyrie S91, Willan

First Reading: Deuteronomy 26:1-4,5-11

Second Reading: Romans 10:4-13

Gospel Hymn: 551, Rise up, ye saints of God! (Festal Song)

Gospel: Luke 9:28-36; 43b-45

Offertory Anthem: Lord, Make Me to Know Thy Ways, By: William Byrd

Choir: Lord, make me to know thy ways.

O Lord, teach me thy paths

For Thou art the God of my salvation. -Psalm 25:4-5

Doxology: Hymn 380, stanza 3

Holy: S125, Proulx

Communion Anthem: Day by Day, By: Arthur Henry Biggs

Choir: Day by day, dear Lord, of thee three things I pray:

to see thee more clearly, love thee more dearly,

follow thee more nearly, day by day.

-Richard of Chichester (1197-1253)

Communion Meditation: “Andante in D Minor” By: J. Blied

Recessional Hymn: 555, Lead on, O King eternal (Festal Song)

Postlude: “Mosso Moderato in F Major”, By: W. Wolckmar

Music Notes By: Ashley Sosis

Happy First Sunday of Lent! Today’s hymns are “Take up Your Cross, the Savior Said,” “Rise Up, Ye Saints of God,” and “Lead on, O King Eternal.” One of today’s choral anthems are the simple hymn, “Day by Day”.

“Take Up Your Cross, the Savior Said,” was written by Charles W. Everest (1814-1877), a minister in the Episcopal Church, as a youth of nineteen. Jesus spoke to his disciples in Mark 8:34 about the necessity for taking up the cross and following, and Everest’s hymn describes the fully committed Christian life as denying self, renouncing the world, baring the shame of the cross, facing all dangers and following Christ to the uttermost. True discipleship is costly!

“Rise Up, Ye Saints of God,” was originally, “Rise up, O Men of God,” and written by William P. Merrill (1867-1954) specifically for men and inspired by the need of a brotherhood hymn for the Presbyterian Brotherhood Movement. The author was a famous Presbyterian pastor in Chicago. The Hymnal 1982’s version calls us all to rise up and live our faith more fully.

“Lead on, O King Eternal,” was written by Ernest W. Shurtleff (1862-1917) at the request of his classmates for their graduation ceremony from Andover Theological Seminary in 1887. May we go out into the world ready to serve this Lent!

You may hear “Day by Day,” and think to yourself, “where do I know those words from?” Well if you are a lover of hymnody and antique poetry, you would know it as the Prayer of Richard of Chichester (1197-1253), but if you’re like most of us, you know it from the musical Godspell. You may find our hymnal version a bit more restrained.