Day: May 24, 2020

24May

A Brief Celebration of Holy Communion

For those of you who come from traditions that permit the celebration of communion without a priest, we offer this virtual celebration of the Eucharist, or Holy Communion. All baptized Christians are welcome to share with us in this holy mystery. A companion video will be coming shortly. We recommend coming to the table after a time of preparation, such as by listening to one of our “celebration of the word” files, or otherwise engaging in Bible reading, prayer, and confession.

  1. Hymn: “Jesus Paid it All” featuring Greg Kunde, Dean Peterson vocalists and Diane Bish, organ, from a uprogram entitled “The Name of Jesus”, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  2. Welcome (Presbyterian):  “This is the Lord’s table. Our Savior invites those who trust him to share the feast which he has prepared.”
  3. Sursum Corda: excerpted from a church service at St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Ottawa Canada, 2012, in Community Audio section of Internet Archives.
  4. Sanctus: Mass for 4 voices, by William Byrd, performed by Ensemble Morales, used in accordance with Creative Commons License. Text: “Holy holy holy Lord God of Hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.”
  5. Words of institution: From 1 Corinthians 11
  6. Eucharistic prayer: from Holy Communion Bromley Parish Church 18th March 2020, uploaded to YouTube by James Harratt, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  7. The Lord’s Prayer, from Matthew, King.
  8. Agnus Dei: Mass for 4 voices, by William Byrd, performed by Ensemble Morales, used in accordance with Creative Commons License. Text: “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.  Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us your peace.”
  9. Anthem: Ave verum corpus, by William Byrd. Performed by Ars Mvsica; public domain at Archive.org.  English Translation: “Hail, true Body, born of the Virgin Mary, having truly suffered, sacrificed on the cross for mankind, from whose pierced side water and blood flowed: Be for us a foretaste [of the Heavenly banquet] in the trial of death! O sweet Jesus, O holy Jesus, O Jesus, son of Mary, have mercy on me. Amen”
  10. Post-communion prayer: From a Lenten service Feb 14, 2016 at Saint James Church, Warrenton, VA, on YouTube, used according to Creative Commons License
  11. Musical Postlude: Bach, “I am Standing with One Foot in the Grave” BWV 156; Anonymous performance, public domain.
24May

A Celebration of the Word for the Sunday after Ascension Day, 2020

In celebration of Ascension, I have curated an audio experience of virtual worship, using the surprisingly rich body of materials available in the Public Domain and Creative Commons. Readings correspond to the Revised Common Lectionary.

Ascension Sunday 2020
  1. Prelude: Girolamo Frescobaldi, Canzon quarta, F 8.05c (for Trumpet and Organ), Performed by Michel Rondeau – Aline Letendre, available at MusOpen, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  2. Opening acclamation: Psalm 47:5.
  3. Hymn: “Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise”, Public Domain.
  4. Lesson 1: Acts 1:6-14, World English Bible.
  5. Psalm Psalm 68:1-10 and 32-35, King James Version.
  6. Hymn: “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence.” Uploaded to YouTube by
    Christina Igupen, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  7. Lesson 2: 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11, World English Bible.
  8. Gospel: John 17:1-11, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer: Chanted by unknown congregation, uploaded to YouTube by “LabourerFaith”, and used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
  10. Concluding prayer: Stanza 4 of the hymn “As Of Gladness Men of Old”, written by William C. Dix (1837-1898).
  11. Blessing: The Aaronic Blessing from Numbers 6 (King James Version).
  12. Organ postlude: Guillaume Du Fay: Hymn In Ascensione Domini, performed by David Joseph Stith on the organ at First Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.