November 8th- Twenty-Forth Sunday after Pentecost
Rite II, 24th Sunday after Pentecost
Themes from the Readings: Cain slays Abel and is cursed by God, Christ was offered as a sacrifice to bear away our sins, the generosity of the poor widow
Sermon on: Genesis 3:14-15, 4:1-12, Sermon Title- “The Battle Begins”
Prelude: Praeludium, by: Johann Krieger (1651-1735)
Processional Hymn: 391 Before the Lord’s eternal throne
Gloria: S280, Powell
First Reading: Genesis 3:14-15, 4:1-12
Psalm: Psalm 127, Setting by John Lemon (1754-1815)
Choir:
1. Except the Lord build the house,*
their labor is but lost that build it.
2. Except the Lord keep the city,*
the watchmen waketh but in vain.
3. It is but lost labor that ye haste to rise up early,
and so late take rest,
and eat the bread of carefulness;*
for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
4. Lo children and the fruit of the womb,*
are an heritage and gift that cometh of the Lord.
5. Like as the arrows in the hand of the giant,*
even so are the young children.
6. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them;*
they shall not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.
Second Reading: Hebrews 9:24-28
Before the Gospel: 477 All praise to thee, for thou, O King divine, stanzas 1-3 Gospel: Mark 12:38-44
After the Gospel: 477 All praise to thee, for thou, O King divine, stanzas 4-5 With descant from hymnal
Offertory Anthem: Lord Jesus, Who Didst Redeem Us, by: Johann Heinrich Rolle, (1716-1785 arranged by: Clarence Dickinson
Choir: Lord Jesus, Thou who didst redeem us,
And blessedness for us didst win,
We pray unto Thee, beseech Thee, Lord Jesus, we pray unto Thee
To let Thy loving kindness o’er shadow us,
That we poor sinners may eternally rejoice in Thee.
We pray unto Thee, beseech Thee, Lord Jesus,
Keep us near Thee,
That we may rejoice in Thee through all eternity.
Doxology: Hymn 380, stanza 3
Holy: S125, Proulx
Communion Anthem: It is a Precious Thing, by: Johann Friedrich Peter, (1746-1813) arranged by: Clarence Dickinson
Choir: It is a precious thing when the heart is fixed and trusteth God;
It is a precious thing when the heart is fixed,
Through the mercy of God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.
My heart is resting, O my Savior, in thy loving care,
My trust is ever stayed on Thee;
O hear my earnest prayer that ever faithful I may be,
And ever do Thy will;
O grant this in Thy mercy still,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Communion Meditation: Father of Eternal Grace, arranged by: Károly Köpe
Communion Hymn: 474 When I survey the wondrous cross
Recessional Hymn: 569 God the Omnipotent! King, who ordainest
Postlude: Fugue from "Little" Prelude and Fugue in g minor by: J. S. Bach
Music Notes
By: Ashley Sosis
A connecting thread between today’s anthems and organ music selections is Moravian Composers and text writers. Today’s organ meditation is based on a hymn with text by poet James Montgomery (1771-1854), son of a Moravian minister. It is reprinted below.
1. Father of eternal grace, 3. Humble, holy, all-resign’d
Glorify Thyself in me: To Thy will, --Thy will be done;
Meekly, beaming in my face, Give me, Lord, the perfect mind
May the world Thine image see. Of thy well-belovèd Son.
2. Happy only in Thy love, 4. Counting gain and glory loss,
Poor, unfriended, or unknown, May I tread the path He trod,
Fix my thoughts on things above, Die with Jesus on the cross,
Stay my heart on Thee alone. Rise with Him to Thee, my God!
Also, it may be helpful for you to read the note by Clarence Dickinson that appears inside the printed choral music for “It is a Precious Thing”,
“To the Moravian musicians in America, Church music was the most profound and genuine expression of their inner lives. Like the early Christians, they had been through terrible persecutions and known great tribulation, and like them their faith had become fixed on God and their Saviour, Jesus Christ. In their music the expression of that nearness to God, that faith and love, is simple, sincere and poignant.”