- Opening Acclamation: From Psalm 118.
- Organ prelude: J. S. Bach (1685-1750) “ Prelude G Major”, BWV 568, performed by Charlie Brusquini On the Chapel Organ at Hjo Folkhögskola, used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
- First Reading: Isaiah 5:1-7, King James Bible.
- Psalm 80:7-15, King James Version.
- Hymn: “To Thee, O Lord, Be Glory Given”, Public Domain.
- Second Reading: Philippians 3:4b-14, World English Bible.
- Hymn: “God is Love”, sung by Pilgrim Mennonite Choir, Uploaded to YouTube by “bhepure isidoro”, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
- Gospel: Matthew 21:33-46, World English Bible.
- The Lord’s Prayer: From Luke 11.
- Blessing: C. P. Lutkin (1858-1931) “The Lord Bless You and Keep You” sung by the Csehy Summer School, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
- Organ prelude: Max Reger (1873-1916) “Scherzo in D”, Op 65, performed by Raúl Prieto Ramírez, on the restored 1928 Skinner Organ at Hope College, MI, used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
- First Reading: Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32, King James Bible.
- Psalm 25:1-9, King James Version.
- Anthem: Psalm 25 v 6, sung by Northern Presbytery Choir, uploaded to YouTube by Sean McPherson, used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
- Second Reading: Philippians 2:1-13, World English Bible.
- 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.
- Gospel: Matthew 21:23-3, World English Bible.
- The Lord’s Prayer: From Matthew 6.
- Blessing: Tim Knight: “The Lord Bless You and Keep You” used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
- Postlude: Max Reger (1873-1916) “Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier”, op. 135a, performed by Jens Engel on the organ of Christuskirche, Lohmar, Germany. 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.
- Opening Acclamation: from Psalm 29:2.
- Hymn: “Come, Thou Almighty King”, unknown congregation, available in public domain.
- First Reading: Jonah 3:10-4:11, King James Bible.
- Psalm 145:1-8, King James Version.
- Second Reading: Philippians 1:21-30, World English Bible.
- Organ Sequence: Starling Goodwin (1711-1774), “London Old, Interlude 1”, uploaded to YouTube by Chordis and Organo, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
- Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16, World English Bible.
- The Lord’s Prayer: Chanted by unknown congregation, uploaded to YouTube by “LabourerFaith”, and used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
- Blessing: The Aaronic Blessing from Numbers 6 (King James Version).
- Postlude: Nicholaus Bruhns (1665-1697) “Praeludium, e-moll”, performed on Arp Schnitger Orgel at Ganderkesee, by Thorsten Ahlrichs, use in accordance with Creative Commons licence.
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.
A chill creeps into the air. School buses zip through neighborhoods ferrying youngsters to school. The peak of summer is a fading memory, a languid dream sandwiched between academic semesters. For students, homework now begins to pile up. Marching bands drum and play outdoors as football players practice tackling each other in adjacent fields.
In many churches, in a normal year, the summer doldrums would also be over. Attendance picks up dramatically. Sunday school resumes. The senior pastor is back from vacation. The summer musicians have disbanded and the “A Team” choir or praise team is back.
Of course, in 2020, these normal rhythms have been disrupted. Virtuality is the norm in many places, including the church. In my virtual church playlist for this week, I have decided to simulate the end of summer by adding some special musical touches, particularly the thrilling hymn “Crown Him With Many Crowns”, and the opening brass and organ duo performing “The Prince of Denmark March”. I picture the service beginning with a full choir in procession. In the churches that go for “high church” ceremony, the incense is back, and we see the processional cross sticking out above billowing clouds of rose scented smoke.
I pray you will enjoy the virtual service. May you be edified by this week’s Scripture readings.
- Opening Acclamation: from Psalm 27:1.
- Organ prelude: Jeremiah Clarke (1674-1707), “Prince of Denmark March”, Performed by Michael Rondeau, available in the public domain, at MusOpen.org.
- First Reading: Genesis 50:15-21, King James Bible.
- Psalm 103:(1-7), 8-13, King James Version.
- Second Reading: Romans 14:1-1, World English Bible.
- Hymn: “Crown Him with Many Crowns”, public domain.
- Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35, World English Bible.
- Lord’s Prayer: From Luke 11.
- Blessing: 1 Timothy 1:17.
- 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.
- Opening Acclamation: from Psalm 57:5.
- Organ prelude: Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1706), “Praeludium und Fuge” BuxWV 147, performed on ernst stolz Hauptwerk Müller organ Oosterwijtwerd, uploaded to YouTube by “My Years With Early Music”, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
- First Reading: Ezekiel 33:7-11, King James Bible.
- Hymn: “Praise the Lord, The King of Heaven”, Public domain.
- Psalm 119:33-40, King James Version.
- Gloria Patri: Excerpted from a version of the “Magnificat” sung by the choir of Saint James Episcopal Church, Warrenton, VA on April 22, 2015, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
- Second Reading: Romans 13:8-14, World English Bible.
- Anthem: Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757), “Fac ut ardeat cor meum in amando Christum Deum ut sibi complaceam”, from Stabat Mater, performed by the Tudor Consort, used in accordance with Creative Commons License. Translation: “Grant that my heart may burn in the love of Christ my Lord, that I may greatly please Him.”
- Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20, World English Bible.
- The Lord’s Prayer: from Matthew 6.
- Blessing: 2 Corinthians 13.
- Postlude: Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1706), “Toccata en Fa majeur” BuxWV 156, performed by Anne-Gaëlle Chanon on the orgue Schnitger de la Martinikerk de Groningen, 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.
- Opening Acclamation: From Psalm 95:6
- Organ prelude: “Prelude by Orlando Gibbons” performed by David Joseph Stith at the First Presbyterian Church in Austin Texas, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
- First Reading: Jeremiah 15:15-2, King James Bible.
- Psalm 26:1-8, King James Version.
- Gloria Patri: J. S. Bach (1685-1750), from “Magnificat” BWV 243, performed by the Tudor Consort, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
- Second Reading: Romans 12:9-21, World English Bible.
- Organ Sequence: Starling Goodwin (1711-1774), “London New, Interlude 3”, uploaded to YouTube by Chordis and Organo, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
- Gospel: Matthew 16:21-28, World English Bible.
- The Lord’s Prayer: from Matthew 6.
- Blessing: 2 Corinthians 13.
- Amen: J. S. Bach (1685-1750), “Amen” BWV 1083, performed by Ensemble Imero, 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.
The following reading is from a collection of devotions entitled Morning and Evening, Daily Readings, and have been made into a set of public domain audio files by Librivox. The texts are widely available for free; A useful searchable version is online at The Blue Letter Bible. The Revised Common Lectionary, used by many Christian groups, appoints Romans 12:1-8 as a reading for this week.
- Opening Acclamation: From Psalm 118.
- Anthem: Jacob Handl (1550-1591), “In nomine jesu”, performed by Chór Słowiki at the church of St. John the Baptist in Szczecin, Poland. Uploaded to YouTube by “andkuba99” and used in accordance with Creative Commons license. Translation: “In the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth and every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father. Alleluia.”
- First Reading: Isaiah 51:1-6, King James Bible.
- Psalm 138, King James Version.
- Second Reading: Romans Romans 12:1-8, World English Bible.
- Hymn: “Be Still My Soul”, performed by the Thomas Cumberland Choir, from “Sunday Hymn Sing” in the Community Audio section of Archive.org.
- Gospel: Matthew 16:13-20, World English Bible.
- Lord’s Prayer: From Luke 11.
- Blessing: 1 Timothy 1:17.
- Postlude: Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562-1621), “Fantasia Cromatica”. Performed by Jin Kyung Limon the Fisk organ at Stanford University, Nov 2015; Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
The “Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary” or “The Falling Asleep of Mary” is kept on August 15, in some fashion, by many churches. The Roman Catholics celebrate the “Assumption of Mary”, the Orthodox communities honor the “Dormition of Mary”. Much could be said about the various ideas surrounding the departure of Mary from her earthly life. However, when Aug 15 rolls around, the primary thing that leaps to my mind is an old sermon that was delivered by the late Canon John Andrew, in his retirement from the position of rector of St. Thomas Church in New York City. The message instilled in me, a Protestant, a greater appreciation for Marian devotion.
“Today we remember our manners” He intoned. “We pay our dues. We thank God for the gift to the world of the Mother of Christ whose departure for God we celebrate.”
I recall Father Andrew urging Christians to avoid two errors. On the one hand, it is “stingy” to pay her no respect at all: “She gave Christ birth, and bore him into the world of you and me. She taught him to talk. She taught him to say his prayers. I wonder if it was she who first taught him the ‘Our Father’? There was no thought in the early Church that by honoring Mary, spite would be done to her Son and Savior. Christ would lose no iota of worship for having his Mother honored in this way and it a gross begrudging to think otherwise.”
On the other hand, “What can make you uncomfortable, and rightly so, are the sentimental flights of fancy and the sugarcoating of the enthusiasts who took her role out of all proportion to her human state of creatureliness, and tinseled her with quasi-divinity. She must shudder at the attempt.”
“All we celebrate today is Heaven’s welcome of her when her earthly life was over.”
Amen.
(A transcript of this sermon from August 2013 is available at St Thomas’ sermon archive).