Tag: Johann Sebastian Bach

26Oct

Celebration of the Word for the 20th Sunday after Pentecost 2025

  1. Opening Acclamation: Ephesians 1.
  2. Organ Prelude: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) “Organ Prelude in G Major” BWV 568, performed by David Stith at St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, Austin, Texas, uploaded to YouTube by “StripedGazelle”, and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  3. First Reading: Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm: Psalm 84, sung by the Clarion Singers, uploaded to YouTube by Rende Brouwer, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  5. Second Reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18, World English Bible.
  6. Anthem: Giovanni da Palestrina (c. 1525 – 1594) “Alleluia.” Sung at First Congregational Church of LA, available on YouTube, and used in accordance with the Creative Commons License.
  7. Gospel: Luke 18:9-14, World English Bible.
  8. The Lord’s Prayer: Setting by Robert stone (1516-1613). Sung by the choir of St. David’s Church, Exeter, 2018. Uploaded to YouTube by David Walsh, used by permission.
  9. Blessing: From Romans.
  10. Organ postlude: “Improvisation on Cwm Rhonda (Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer),” performed in 2022 by Joshua Sobel on the great 1931/1963 IV/62 Austin organ at Centenary United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem, NC. This is available on YouTube, and used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.

The Bible passages were recorded by Librivox, and are in the public domain. Readings correspond to the Revised Common Lectionary. All audio files are given with attribution where known.

05Oct

Celebration of the Word for the 17th Sunday after Pentecost

  1. Opening Acclamation: From Psalm 81:1.
  2. Hymn: “Love Divine All Loves Excelling” sung at Hyde Park Union Church, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  3. First Reading: Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 37:1-9, King James Version.
  5. Hymn: “Alleluia Sing to Jesus” by Stour Valley Benefice, United Kingdom, August 2021, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  6. Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1:1-14, World English Bible.
  7. Organ Sequence: David Johnson’s “Wondrous Love”, played by Joey Wetzels on the great Klais organ of the Monastery St. Michael in Steyl, uploaded to YouTube by Joey Wetzels, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  8. Gospel: Luke 17:5-10, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer from Matthew.
  10. Blessing: 1 Timothy 1:17., World English Bible.
  11. Organ postlude: J. S. Bach (1685–1750), “Präludium a-Moll”, BWV 543, performed by Lucas Pohle at Nikolaikirche Leipzig, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.

The Bible passages were recorded by Librivox, and are in the public domain. Readings correspond to the Revised Common Lectionary. All audio files are given with attribution where known.

07Sep

Celebration of the Word for the 13th Sunday after Pentecost

  1. Opening Acclamation: from Psalm 27:1.
  2. Organ prelude: Jeremiah Clarke (1674-1707), “Prince of Denmark March”, Performed by Michael Rondeau, available in the public domain, at MusOpen.org.
  3. First Reading: Deuteronomy 30:15-20, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 1, King James Version.
  5. Gloria Patri: From a live service at the First Presbyterian Church of Wolcott. Used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  6. Second Reading: Philemon 1:1-21, World English Bible.
  7. Hymn: “Crown Him with Many Crowns”, public domain.
  8. Gospel: Luke 14:25-33, World English Bible.
  9. Lord’s Prayer: From the Book of Common Prayer 1662.  
  10. Benediction: From the Book of Common Prayer 1662.
  11. Postlude: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) “Fantasia and Fugue”, BWV 562, performed by Gosse Hulzinga, in the public domain at MusOpen.org.

The Bible passages were recorded by Librivox, and are in the public domain. Readings correspond to the Revised Common Lectionary. All audio files are given with attribution where known.

25May

Celebration for the Sixth Sunday of Easter

  1. Opening acclamation: Psalm 51:15
  2. Hymn: “Amazing Grace” for flute, Angela Brown, and organ, Diane Bish, from a program entitled “Hymns and Sacred Songs”, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  3. Lesson 1: Acts 16:9-16, World English Bible.
  4. Psalm 67, from the King James Bible.
  5. Music: J. S. Bach: Cantata No. 207a: “O Praise the Lord Most Holy”, from a program by Diane Bish entitled “The Many Moods of Bach”, used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
  6. Lesson 2: Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5, World English Bible.
  7. Music: John Stainer (1840-1901) “God so Loved the World”, performed by the Immanuel Congregational Church, Hartford CT (with the lovely bonus sound of the siren of an unknown first responder toward the end of the piece), available in the public domain.
  8. Gospel: John 5:1-9, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer, from Matthew.
  10. Benediction and Amen, Public domain.
  11. Organ postlude: J.S. Bach, “In Herr Jesu Christ dich zu uns wend, BWV 632”, performed by Aldo Locatelli, in the public domain.
12Apr

Palm Sunday 2025

  1. Prelude: “All Glory Laud and Honor,” performed by Diane Bish on the organ of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, from the Joy of Music program “Hymns and Spiritual Songs of Easter,” used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
  2. First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a, King James Bible.
  3. Psalm 31:9-16 
  4. Second Reading: Philippians 2:5-11, World English Bible.
  5. Hymn: “O Sacred Head Now Wounded”, Immanuel Congregational Church in 2013, available in the public domain at Archive.org.
  6. A Reading of the Passion Narrative from Luke 23:1–49, World English Bible.
  7. “Lord Have Mercy”: Sung by Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, in 1982, available in public domain at Wikimedia Commons, used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
  8. The Lord’s Prayer: From Luke.
  9. Blessing: The “Aaronic blessing” From Deuteronomy.
  10. Amen: Sung by Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, in 1982, available in public domain at Wikimedia Commons, used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
  11. Organ Postlude: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Chorale Prelude on “Herzlich tut mich verlangen”, BWV 727, performed by Leon Kopecny on Hauptwerk VI, using the Sonus Paradisi Sample Set of the 1695 Schnitger Organ in Noordbroek, Netherlands. This is available on YouTube, and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.

The Bible passages were recorded by Librivox, and are in the public domain. Readings correspond to the Revised Common Lectionary. All audio files are given with attribution where known.

03Mar

Celebration of the Word for the last Sunday of Epiphany 2025: Transfiguration Sunday

  1. Opening acclamation: Psalm 27:1.
  2. Hymn: “O Worship the King”, Uploaded to YouTube by “bhepure isidoro”; Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  3. First Reading: Exodus 34:29-35, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 99, King James Version.
  5. Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2, World English Bible.
  6. Hymn: “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind”, Stanza 5. From a 2012 recording by Immanuel UCC Hartford, available in the public domain at Archive.org.
  7. Gospel: Luke 9:28-36, World English Bible.
  8. The Lord’s Prayer: From Luke.
  9. Blessing:  The Aaronic Blessing from Numbers 6.
  10. Organ Postlude: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern” BWV 739, performed by Thorston Ahlrichs on Christian Vater Orgel (1722) in Bockhorn, St. Cosmas und Damian, uploaded to YouTube by NOMINEeV, and used in accordance with Creative Commons License.

The Bible passages were recorded by Librivox, and are in the public domain. Readings correspond to the Revised Common Lectionary. All audio files are given with attribution where known.

15Feb

Celebration of the Word for the Sixth Sunday of Epiphany

  1. Opening Sentence: from the Book of Common Prayer 1662.
  2. Hymn: “Guide me O Thou Great Redeemer,” in the public domain.
  3. First Reading: Jeremiah 17:5-10 King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 1: From “Sing the KJV”, in public domain. 
  5. Gloria Patri: Excerpted from “Magnificat” by Tomas Luis de Victoria (1548-1611), performed by Ars Mvsica, in the public domain at Archive.org. 
  6. Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, World English Bible.  
  7. Hymn: “Blessed Assurance” verse 1, performed by Sung Sook Lee, Soprano, and Diane Bish, organ; from “Joy of Music” episode 9601: “Hymns from Sweden”. 
  8. Gospel: Luke 6:17-26, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer: From the Book of Common Prayer 1662.
  10. Blessing: From the Book of Common Prayer 1662.
  11. Organ postlude: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) “Fantasia and Fugue in G minor,” BWV 542. From European Archive, in the public domain at MusOpen.org.

The Bible passages were recorded by Librivox, and are in the public domain. Readings correspond to the Revised Common Lectionary. All audio files are given with attribution where known.

08Feb

Celebration of the Word for the Fifth Sunday of Epiphany 2025

  1. Opening acclamation: from Phillippians.
  2. Anthem: William Byrd (1543-1623) “Exultate Deo” sung by Drake University Chamber Choir, available in the public domain on Archive.org. Translation: Rejoice unto God our helper, sing aloud unto the God of Jacob. Take a psalm and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant psaltery with the harp. Blow the trumpet in the new moon, on the noted day of your solemnity. 
  3. First Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 138, King James Version.
  5. Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 World English Bible.
  6. Hymn: “I Will Sing the Wondrous Story” (stanza 1) performed Aug 2020 by Park Cities Baptist Church, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  7. Gospel: Luke 5:1-11, World English Bible.
  8. The Lord’s Prayer: From Matthew 6.
  9. Blessing:  2 Corinthians.
  10. Organ Postlude: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) “Vivace”-from Trio Sonata No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 526, performed in 2018 on the organ of Minoritenkirche Linz/Donau, by Magdalena Hasibeder, used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
19Jan

The Second Sunday after Epiphany 2025

  1. Opening acclamation: Psalm 118.
  2. Hymn: “O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing”, Soloist Roger McMurrin, and Dianne Bish, organ, from “Joy of Music” program entitled “The Life of John Wesley”, uploaded to YouTube by “Joy Of Music” and used in accordance with Creative Commons license. 
  3. First Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 36:5-9 from the Scottish Metrical Psalter of 1650, sung by the members of Trinity Presbyterian Reformed Church, uploaded to Youtube by “charlotteprc”. Used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  5. Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, World English Bible.
  6. Hymn: “Open My Eyes, That I May See” performed by Fountainview Academy; uploaded to YouTube by Terceiro Anjo, and used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  7. Gospel: John 2:1-11, World English Bible.
  8. The Lord’s Prayer: From Matthew.
  9. Blessing: from 2 Corinthians 13.
  10. Organ Postlude: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) “Toccata, Adagio und Fuge in C-Dur: Toccata (BWV 564)” performed by Jin Kyung Lim on the Fisk Organ at Stanford Memorial Church, uploaded to YouTube by “bongsub”, and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.

The Bible passages were recorded by Librivox, and are in the public domain. Readings correspond to the Revised Common Lectionary. All audio files are given with attribution where known.

28Dec

The First Sunday after Christmas 2024

  1. Prelude: “Adeste Fideles” performed by ALTA BELLEZZA, Ann Allen and Hann Geisel on shawms, and Nathaniel Wood on slide trumpet; From Midnight mass on 24th December 2019, at St. Mauritius, Schötz, Switzerland.  Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  2. First Reading: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26, King James Bible.
  3. Carol: “In Dulci Jubilo” performed by Eva Cernanska (soprano), Liubov Melnyk (alto), Xabier Monton (tenor), and Raul del Toro (Organ), at the parish of El Salvador in Pamplona, uploaded to YouTube by “Canentes Domino”, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.  English Lyrics: “In sweet rejoicing, now sing and be glad! Our hearts’ joy lies in the manger; And it shines like the sun in the mother’s lap. You are the Alpha and Omega!” (The most common English version is “Good Christian men rejoice”)
  4. Psalm 148, King James Version.
  5. Carol: “Silent Night”, sung by Malden High School Concert Choir at their 2018 State House Holiday Concert, uploaded to YouTube by Chris Murphy and used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
  6. Second Reading: Colossians 3:12-17, World English Bible.
  7. Carol: “Away in a Manger” from 2014 YouTube Video “A Christmas Offering: Three Christmas Carols Arranged for Baroque Guitar”, performed by Raymond Andrews, used in accordance with Creative Commons license. 
  8. Gospel: Luke 2:41-52, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer: From the Book of Common Prayer 1662.
  10. Blessing: 2nd Corinthians 13.
  11. Carol: “Adeste Fideles” performed by Collegium Vocale, in 2017, available at Wikimedia Commons, and used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  12. Organ postlude: Johann S Bach (1685-1750) “Puer natus in Bethlehem” BWV 603, from Orgelbüchlein, performed by Jens Engel on the Orgel der Christuskirche Lohmar. Available on youtube, and used in accordance with Creative Commons license. 

The Bible passages were recorded by Librivox, and are in the public domain. Readings correspond to the Revised Common Lectionary. All audio files are given with attribution where known.