Sunday, June 21st, 2015

Rite II, Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Themes from the Readings: Great things in unassuming packages, perseverance of the lowly, steadfast faith, Jesus calms the waves, “Now is the acceptable time”.

Sermon on: First Reading- David kills Goliath with great faith and a single stone.

Other Themes: Father’s Day

Prelude: Alleluia, by: William Boyce, Soloists: Anna Grace Jordan, Claire Laughlin and Grace Laughlin

A Mighty Fortress is Our God, by: Martin Luther; Arranged by: Raymond Burt. featuring Pianist: Donna Sanders

Processional Hymn: 636 How firm a foundation

Gloria: S280, Powell

First Reading: 1 Samuel 17:1a, 4-11, 19-23, 32-49

Psalm: Psalm 9:9-20

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 6:1-13

Before the Gospel: 608 Eternal Father, strong to save Stanzas 1-2

Gospel: Mark 4:35-41

After the Gospel: 608 Eternal Father, strong to save Stanzas 3-4

Offertory Anthem: God so loved the world, by: John Stainer, Soloists: Susan MacDonald and Ashley Sosis, Pianist: Donna Sanders

Soloists: God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoso believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved. –John 3:16-17

Doxology: Hymn 380, stanza 3

Holy: S125, Proulx

Communion Anthem: Domine Deus, from Gloria by: Antonio Vivaldi Soprano: Anna Grace Jordan

Soloist: Domine Deus, Rex caelestis, Lord God, Heavenly King,

Deus Pater omnipotens. God Almighty Father.

Communion Meditation: Rock of Ages, by: Thomas Hastings, Arr. Raymond Burt, featuring Pianist: Donna Sanders

Communion Hymn: 447 The Christ who died but rose again

Recessional Hymn: 390 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

Postlude: How firm a foundation, by: Craig Courtney Pianist: Donna Sanders

Music Notes

By: Ashley Sosis

Continuing a series of music notes on hymn stories, I could not pass up an opportunity to give background information on today’s Gospel Hymn, 608 “Eternal Father, strong to save”. It frames today’s Gospel (Mark 4:35-41), where Jesus demonstrates to the disciples that he has power over the earth by calming the sea.

The text by Frank Mason North (1850-1935) and the tune by John Bacchus Dykes (1823-1876) together first appeared in print in 1861 and since has been sung throughout the English-speaking world as the go-to hymn for seafarers. It has been used as the United States Navy Hymn since 1879. The Tune MELITA was named after a nickname of the island Malta, the safe haven St. Paul found after being shipwrecked (Acts 28:1-2).

There are additional verses that may be added to the hymn for other branches of the U.S. armed forces. Here are a few:

Every so often, I am approached by congregation members who say that singing this hymn is distressing to them because they can’t shake the association of “Eternal Father” with the sinking of the Titanic (mostly because of the 1997 film Titanic). Despair no more-- when interviewed, Titanic survivors who attended the Sunday service held the morning of the disaster recalled in interviews the singing of “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” (Hymn 680), not “Eternal Father”.

So may you enjoy singing “Eternal Father” this morning, and may God bless our beaches with safety throughout this Summer!