Music for the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost: August 18, 2019

Opening Voluntary I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light (Houston)

setting, John A. Behnke 

See the text at Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW) 815

Today’s second reading reminds us that we should be “looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” The reading from Hebrews names many of our spiritual ancestors who have already run the race and walked as children of the light.

It may be hard not to sing along with this organ voluntary, but don’t worry. We’ll sing the hymn later in the service during communion.

This popular song, written in the 1970s, now appears in most modern hymnals.

Gathering Hymn Lead On, O King Eternal (Lancashire)

ELW 805

This hymn, like many others, could be criticized for its military language. The tune also has a martial quality. But the text also points to grace and peace, reminding us the heavenly kingdom comes with our “deeds of love and mercy.”

Pastor H. Alfred Weltzin

Hymn of the Day How Clear Is Our Vocation, Lord (Weltzin)

Fred Pratt Green (1903-2000), a Methodist minister in England was a prolific hymn writer. He has 12 texts in ELW! This text was written for the tune Repton (see ELW 580), but this Sunday we’ll be using a tune I wrote called Weltzin. I named it for Pastor H. Alfred Weltzin (1915-2001) who confirmed me at Bad Axe Lutheran Church. Read more about Bad Axe here: http://smljax.blogspot.com/2019/06/what-kind-of-lutheran-am-i.html

Musical Offering As This Broken Bread (sung by the Festival Choir)

Wayne L. Wold

The text of this anthem comes from the Didache, an ancient Christian text that may date to the first century CE. It is also known as “The Lord’s Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations.”

Communion Hymns

Here Is Bread (Here Is Bread)

ELW 483

I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light (Houston)

ELW 815

Sending Hymn Let the Whole Creation Cry (Salzburg)

ELW 876

Closing Voluntary Ellacombe

Setting, J. Wayne Kerr

The tune seems to be of German origin and we’re not sure how it came to have a title that is, apparently, English. A snippet of the tune was used to craft the refrain for this morning’s psalm.

In many churches, this tune is paired with the text “I Sing th’ Almighty Power of God.”

The organ console at St. Mark's

Curious about the role of the choir in our worship service and wondering how you can participate? Read more here: http://smljax.blogspot.com/2019/08/four-things-to-know-about-festival-choir.html