11am Choral Eucharist, Sunday, November 19th, 2017
Rite I, 24th Sunday after Pentecost
Themes from the Readings: Return (your tithes) unto me and I will return unto you, says the Lord of Hosts; God loves a cheerful giver; the parable of the servants with Talents (coins)
Sermon Title: Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven
Sermon on: Mt. 25:14-30
Prelude: “Now Thank We All Our God,” By: Flor Peeters
Processional Hymn: 390 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (Lobe den Herren)
Gloria: S204, Scottish Chant
First Reading: Malachi 3:6-10
Psalm: Psalm 90:1-8; Hallock
All: Teach us to number our days
that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
Choir: 1. Lord, you have been our refuge*
from one generation to another.
2. Before the mountains were brought forth,
or the land and the earth were born,*
from age to age you are God.
All: Teach us to number our days
that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
3. You turn us back to the dust and say,*
“Go back, O child of earth.”
4. For a thousand years in your sight
are like yesterday when it is past*
and like a watch in the night.
All: Teach us to number our days
that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
5. You sweep us away like a dream;*
we fade away suddenly like the grass.
6. In the morning it is green and flourishes;*
in the evening it is dried up and withered.
All: Teach us to number our days
that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
7. For we consume away in your displeasure;*
we are afraid because of your wrathful indignation.
8. Our iniquities you have set before you,*
and our secret sins in the light of your countenance.
All: Teach us to number our days
that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
Gospel Hymn: 701 Jesus, all my gladness (Jesu, meine Freude)
Gospel: Mt. 25:14-30
Sermon Hymn: For the Beauty of the Earth (Dix) -insert
Offertory Anthem: Treasures in Heaven Joseph W. Clokey
Choir: Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heav’n, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you, for ev’ry one that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
-Matthew 6:19-21; 7:7-8
Doxology: Hymn 380, stanza 3
Holy: S114, Willan
Communion Meditation: “Now Thank We All Our God Arr. by: Garth Edmundson
Communion Anthem: “The Best of Rooms”, By: Gerald Near
Choir: Christ, he requires still, whereso e’er he comes to feed or lodge, to have the best of rooms: give him the choice; grant him the nobler part of all the house: the best of all’s the heart. -Text By: Robert Herrick (1591-1674)
Processional Hymn: 376 Joyful, joyful, we adore thee (Hymn to Joy)
Postlude: “Now Thank We All Our God”, By: Sigfried Karg-Elert
Music Notes
By: Ashley Sosis
Why is our communion hymn, “For the Beauty of the Earth,” an insert? The text does appear in the 1982 hymnal as hymn 416. However, it is paired there with LUCERNA LAUDONIAE, a tune written by Welsh composer David Evans (1874-1948), which is lovely but widely unknown to most American churchgoers. I just can’t justify choosing it over pairing it with DIX. The DIX version seems to be written on our hearts! I usually try to get the DIX version into our hymn schedule once every autumn. A few years ago, one of my favorite colleagues tweeted, “what 1982 hymnal text/tune pairing did you learn to love?” The overwhelming answer was Hymn “away in a manger” with the tune CRADLE SONG (Hymnal #101). I must admit that I have come to love this one too. We had the pleasure of singing two years ago at the 10:30 Christmas Eve service as part of that year’s “Kings College Christmas”-theme. Do you want to sing that version again? Do you prefer the “American Version” (MUELLER)? Let me know!