Music for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost: June 28, 2020

Opening Voluntary to Jordan Came the Christ, Our Lord

(Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam)

Martin Luther’s baptism hymn was in Lutheran Book of Worship but does not appear in Evangelical Lutheran Worship. The hymn was written as a complement to Luther’s teachings on baptism in his Catechisms.

The voluntary opens with a chorale prelude setting (a fughetta) by Friedrich Wilhelm Zachau (1663-1712) which is followed by a sung stanza in a standard setting. This is followed by a vocal 2-part setting with syncopated counterpoint, and finally a fourth stanza that adds the organ’s oboe stop to the voices for a triumphant finish.

Thank you to Jane Kilby and Cindy Harkrider for singing this morning!

Fountain at Palms Presbyterian Church
Jacksonville Beach, FL

Gathering Hymn Baptized and Set Free (Duke Street)

ELW 453

It would be easy to call this a contemporary hymn and stop there, but it actually has the feel of a folk hymn. We Lutherans love our Bach chorales and hymn fantasias, but we also love to sing with guitars around a campfire – and that’s what this song reminded us of as we gathered to prepare the hymns for our pre-recorded worship service. In fact, after singing it we broke into a rousing rendition of “Pass It On.”

But this hymn is also suitable for Sunday morning worship as it reminds us of the importance of water in both our physical and spiritual lives - naming Jesus as the one who frees us, the Holy Spirit as the one who gives us life, and God as the one who fulfills all of our needs.

Hymn of the Day Be Thou My Vision (Slane)

ELW 793

Sending Hymn God, Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens (Holy Manna)

ELW 771

This tune probably comes from many sources, but William Moore is credited with the version we know today. It first appeared in 1825, published in Cincinnati in a collection titled Columbian Harmony. Holy Manna, with the text Brethren, We Have Met to Worship, has opened the Big Singing in Benton, Kentucky for more than 100 years.

 

My youngest brother, André Cruz, is an amateur astronomer and a photographer. He took this photo last January.

Closing Voluntary Holy Manna

setting, John Carter

John Carter’s piano arrangements run a full range of styles. Here the hymn we just sang is given a distinctly American feel. In fact, the word “hoedown” comes to mind. It’s one of my favorites!

sources: 
Hymnal Companion to the Lutheran Book of Worship, Marilly Kay Stulken
Hymnal Companion: Evangelical Lutheran Worship