31Mar

Fourth Sunday of Advent 2025

  1. Opening Sentence: From Isaiah 66:10.
  2. Hymn: “Holy God, Holy Almighty, Holy Immortal One, Have Mercy” (Trisagion), From OrthodoxMusicOnline, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.  
  3. First Reading: Joshua 5:9-12, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 32, King James Version.
  5. Gloria Patri: Palestrina, sung by the choir of Trinity Church, Boston at a service of compline in May 2016, used in accordance with Creative Commons license, and available at Wikimedia Commons. Words in English: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.”
  6. Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, World English Bible.
  7. Anthem: Henry Purcell (1659-1695) “Thou Knowest Lord”, available in the public domain courtesy of “Ferox Aeternum” at Archive.org. 
  8. Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer: From Luke.
  10. Blessing:  From Numbers.
  11. Organ Postlude:  Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707) “Toccata in D, BuxWV 144,” performed by Tigran Buniatyan on the Flentrop opus 1974 organ, 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.

22Mar

Third Sunday of Lent

  1. Call to Worship: From Psalm 25.
  2. Introit: Antonio Lotti (1667-1740) “Kyrie” from Missa (4V C maj), by unkown choir, uploaded to YouTube by “Free Music Tube”, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  3. First Reading: Isaiah 55:1-9, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 63: 1-8, King James Version.
  5. Hymn: “Drop Drop Slow Tears,” in the public domain at archive.org.
  6. Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, World English Bible.
  7. Organ interlude: “Jesus, Lover of My Soul”, played by Diane Bish on the organ of Gloucester Cathedral, excerpted from “The Joy of Music: Hymns and Sacred Songs from Word of God”, used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
  8. Gospel: Luke 13:1-9, World English Bible.
  9. 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.
  10. Blessing:  From Romans 12.
  11. Organ Postlude:  Joseph Rheinberger (1839-1901) “Fughetta in c-minor no.2” op. 123A. Played by Joey Wetzels on the Vermeulen organ (1955) St. Martinuskerk Tegelen, uploaded to YouTube by Joey Wetzels, 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.

16Mar

The Second Sunday of Lent

  1. Introit and organ prelude: André Raison (c.1640-1719) – Messe du 3º Ton – “Kyrie eleison” (Lord, Have Mercy), performed by Jean-Patrice Brosse (orgue) and Ensemble Vox Cantoris; uploaded to YouTube by “Pau NG” and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  2. First Reading: Genesis 15: 1-12, 17-18, King James Bible.
  3. Psalm 27, King James Version.
  4. Hymn: “The God of Abraham Praise”, sung in a live service in 2017 at the shrine of the National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  5. Second Reading: Philippians 3:17-4:1, World English Bible.
  6. Organ interlude: Henry Coleman (1888-1965): Excerpt from “The Word of God”, Posted by “Chordis & Organo, and used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
  7. Gospel: Luke 13: 31-35, World English Bible.
  8. The Lord’s Prayer: From Luke.
  9. Blessing: The “Aaronic blessing” from Numbers 6.
  10. Organ Postlude:  Johann Gottfried Walther (1684-1748) “Herzlich tut mich verlangen / O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden” performed by Jens Engel, uploaded to YouTube by him, 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.

05Mar

An Invitation to a Holy Lent

Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord’s passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared tor Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sıns, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Saviour, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith.

I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance, by prayer, fasting and alms-giving and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word. And, to make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now kneel before the Lord, our maker and redeemer.

(Book of Common Prayer, 1979)

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.
02Feb

Celebration of the Fourth Sunday of Epiphany 2024

  1. Opening acclamation: Psalm 81:1.
  2. Organ Prelude: Thomas Attwood (1765-1838): “Sonatina in G”, played by Joey Wetzels on a klais organ from 1931, uploaded to YouTube by “Joey Wetzels” and used in accordance with Creative Commons license. 
  3. First Reading: Jeremiah 1: 4-10, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 71:1-6, King James Version.
  5. Hymn: “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty the King of Creation”, Public domain.
  6. Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, World English Bible.
  7. Anthem: William Byrd (1543-1623): “”I Have Longed For Thy Saving Health” performed in 2018 by First Congregational Church of LA under Dr. David Harris, Music Director and Dr. Christoph Bull, organist, uploaded to YouTube by FCCLA and used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  8. Gospel: Luke 4:21-31, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer: Excerpted from a public domain archive of a church service at The Chapel of St Andrew Episcopal Church, Boca Raton FL circa 2010.
  10. Blessing: from Romans.
  11. Organ Postlude: William Harris (1883-1973) “Postlude in G” from a live service at Immanuel Congregational Church, Hartford in 2012, Public Domain.

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.

26Jan

Third Sunday of Epiphany 2025

  1. Opening acclamation: Ephesians 1.
  2. Organ Prelude: Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707): “Praeludium and Fuge” BuxWV 147, ernst stolz Hauptwerk Müller organ Oosterwijtwerd, uploaded to YouTube by “My Years With Early Music” and used in accordance with Creative Commons license. 
  3. First Reading: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 19, King James Version.
  5. Hymn: “O God Our Help in Ages Past”, public domain.
  6. Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, World English Bible.
  7. Organ hymn: “The Church’s One Foundation,” in the public domain.
  8. Gospel: Luke 4:14-21, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer: From Luke.
  10. Blessing: Aaronic blessing from Numbers 6.
  11. Organ postlude: Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706): “Allein Gott in der Hoh sei Ehr.” Recorded via Hauptwerk VI, using the Sonus Paradisi Sample Set of the Schnitger Organ in Noordbroek, Netherlands. Uploaded by Leon Kopecny, 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.

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.