Sunday, July 5th, 2015
Rite II, 6th Sunday after Pentecost
Themes from the Readings: Faith makes you strong, Weakness and suffering in the name of the Lord is strength, Jesus in his hometown
Sermon on: First Reading- David is officially king, and he was a mighty king and his city was a force to be reckoned with because the Lord was with him.
Prelude: Sinfonia No. 2 in C minor, by: J. S. Bach. Guest Organist: Mattie MacDonald
Processional Hymn: 688 A mighty fortress is our God
Gloria: S280, Powell
First Reading: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10
Psalm: Psalm 48
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10
Before the Gospel: 707 Take my life, and let it be, stanza 1
Gospel: Mark 6:1-13
After the Gospel: 707 Take my life, and let it be, stanza 2
Offertory Anthem: Is there anybody here?, Spiritual Soprano: Anna Grace Jordan
Soloist: Is there anybody here who loves my Jesus,
anybody here who loves my Lord?
I want to know if you love my Jesus.
I want to know if you love my Lord.
When I was blind and could not see
King Jesus brought the light to me
And when every star refused to shine,
I know King Jesus will be mine!
O brethren this world is a wilderness of woe,
So let us all to Glory go,
Yes religion is like a blooming rose
And none but him who feels it knows
That none but the righteous shall see God.
Is there anybody here who loves my Jesus?
Say Amen if you love my Lord!
I want to know if you love my Jesus.
I want to know if you love my Lord.
Doxology: Hymn 380, stanza 3
Holy: S125, Proulx
Communion Anthem: Alleluia, Sing to Jesus, by: Benjamin Harrison
Choir: Alleluia! sing to Jesus! Alleluia! Bread of Heaven,
His the scepter, his the throne; Thou on earth our food, our stay!
Alleluia! his the triumph, Alleluia, Here the sinful
His the victory alone; Flee to thee from day to day:
Hark the songs of peaceful Sion Intercessor, friend of sinners,
Thunder like a mighty flood; Earth’s redeemer, plead for me,
Jesus out of ev’ry nation Where the songs of all the sinless
Hath redeemed us by his blood. Sweep across the crystal sea.
Alleluia! not as orphans
Are we left in sorrow now;
Alleluia! he is near us,
Faith believes, nor questions how;
Though the cloud from sight received him,
When the forty days were o’er,
Shall our hearts forget his promise,
“I am with you evermore!”
Communion Meditation: Nicaea, arranged by: Rebecca te Velde
Communion Hymn: 699 Jesus, Lover of my soul
Recessional Hymn: 680 O God, our help in ages past
Postlude: Rigaudon, by: Andre Campra. Guest Organist: Jerry Black
Jerry Black retired in October 2012 after 60 years in church music first as a volunteer pianist, then staff organist, then organist/choirmaster. He had long tenures at 5 leading Metro Atlanta Churches as well as short tenures in Brooklyn, N. Y., Florida, and Dallas, TX. He has been married for 44 years to Charlise Mallory a former actress and Soprano Soloist. They have one foster son and two granddaughters.
Music Notes
by: Ashley Sosis
Today’s opening hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is our God” has the same author for its tune and text: Martin Luther. The first formal printing of the hymn was subtitled, “A Hymn of Comfort”. This is in contrast to how we usually use this hymn-- as a heavy-handed, loudly sung proclamation of God’s supreme strength. It is also used as an unofficial anthem of the Protestant Reformation, mostly because it is the most familiar of Luther’s hymns that are sung today.
There is something beautiful in the subtitle, “A Hymn of Comfort”. The text of “A Mighty Fortress” is a paraphrase of Psalm 46. Here is what Luther says about psalm 46 in his 1553 Summaries of the Psalms, translated to English by Robin A. Leaver:
“This is a psalm of thanksgiving which the people of Israel sang at that time in response to the miracles of God, who had defended and sustained the city of Jerusalem, where they lived, against the rantings and ravings of all kings and nations, and preserved it in peace against all war and conflict. Then, speaking after the manner of scripture, the essence of the city is portrayed as a little spring, a small rivulet, that will not run dry, in contrast to the great rivers and oceans of the nations (that is, the great kingdoms, principalities and estates) that will dry up and disappear. But we sing in praise to God because he is with us—God who miraculously preserves his Word and Christendom against the gates of hell, against the ravings of all devils, fanatical spirits, the world, the flesh, sin, death, etc., so that our little spring remains a living fountain, while foul and stinking drains, puddles and cisterns will run dry.”