Author: BrJames

16Aug

A Celebration of the Word for the 11th Sunday After Pentecost: Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary

11th Sunday after Pentecost 2020
  1. Opening Acclamation: from Psalm 51
  2. Anthem: Pascale Colasse (1649-1709), “Beata Es Maria”, uploaded to YouTube by “L Jeanne”, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  3. First Reading: Isaiah 56:1, 6-8, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 67, King James Version.
  5. Gloria Patri: Excerpted from Puer Natus Est, sung at the Abbey of St. Martin of Ligugé, uploaded to YouTube by “Musique Sacree”, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  6. Second Reading: Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32, World English Bible.
  7. Hymn: Anthem: William Byrd (1540-1623), “Ave Virgo Sanctissima”, sung by Ars Mvsica. In the public domain, at Archive.org.  Translation: “Hail, Holy Virgin, most blessed Mother of God, bright star of the sea. Hail, ever glorious, precious pearl, lovely as the lily, beautiful and perfumed as the rose.”
  8. Gospel: Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28, World English Bible.
  9. Lord’s Prayer (latin): Sung by the Tudor Consort. Public domain.   
  10. Blessing: 2 Corinthians 13.
  11. Postlude: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) “Art of Fugue Contrapunctus 1”. Performed by Benjamin Alard on the organ of l’église d’Arques-la-Bataille; 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.

09Aug

Celebration of the Word for the 10th Sunday after Pentecost 2020

  1. Opening Acclamation: from Psalm 118
  2. Prelude: Amazing Grace, for trombone quartet by Hisashi Arayama, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  3. First Reading: 1 Kings 19:9-18, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 85:8-13, King James Version.
  5. Second Reading: Romans 10:5-15, World English Bible.
  6. Hymn: “Eternal Father Strong To Save” (Navy Hymn), sung by U.S. Navy Band; Public Domain.
  7. Gospel: Matthew 14:22-33, World English Bible.
  8. Lord’s Prayer by Malotte: Sung by Kathleen Battle with harp by Nancy Allen, live for the visit of Pope Benedict to the U.S. 2009, uploated to youtube by “kinddude”, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  9. Praise to God: from 1 Timothy 1:17.
  10. Postlude: “Eternal Father Strong To Save” (Instrumental), by U.S. Navy Band; Public Domain.

The Bible passages were recorded by Librivox, and are in the public domain. Readings correspond to the Revised Common Lectionary. (I decided to revert to the KJV for the reading from 1 Kings, because hearing “Yahweh of Armies” in place of “Lord of Hosts” is just too jarring for me).  The two versions of the Navy Hymn can be found at The Internet Archive.

02Aug

A Celebration for the 9th Sunday After Pentecost

  1. Prelude: Heinrich Scheidemann (ca. 1595-1663): Praeambulum in G, performed on the organ of Reformierten Kirche in Uttum, uploaded to YouTube by Jens Engel, and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  2. Opening Acclamation: from Psalm 95:6
  3. First Reading: Isaiah 55:1-5, World English Bible.
  4. Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21, King James Version.
  5. Second Reading: Romans 9:1-5, World English Bible.
  6. Organ Sequence: Eugene Gigout (1844-1925), excerpt from “Album grègorien: Tranquilo”, uploaded to YouTube by chordis & organo, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  7. Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21, World English Bible.
  8. The Lord’s Prayer: Chanted by unknown congregation, uploaded to YouTube by “LabourerFaith”, and used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
  9. Blessing: The Aaronic Blessing from Numbers 6 (King James Version).
  10. Organ Postlude: Eugene Gigout : Toccata in B major, performed by Joshua Sobel at the Edenton St UMC Church, Raleigh, NC, 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.

01Aug

A. W. Tozer on Unity

“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers met together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become ‘unity’ conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.”
― A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God.

27Jul

Five Meditations by Charles Spurgeon on Romans 8

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) was an influential preacher and orator of the 19th century, whose powerful sermons remain influential to this day among Christians of many denominations. The following readings are 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 8:26-39 as a reading for this week.

Spurgeon on Romans 8:28
Spurgeon on Romans 8:30
Spurgeon on Romans 8:33
Spurgeon on Romans 8:34
Spurgeon on Romans 8:37

26Jul

Celebration of the Word, for the 8th Sunday of Pentecost 2020

8th Sunday after Pentecost 2020
  1. Prelude: Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625): Fantasia on the 3rd Tone (MB10) performed by David Joseph Stith on the organ at First Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas. Uploaded to YouTube by “stripedgazelle” and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  2. Opening Acclamation: from Psalm 95
  3. First Reading: 1 Kings 3:5-12, World English Bible.
  4. Hymn: “O God of Bethel by whose hand” performed at Chatauqua, NY in 1992, uploaded to YouTube by YueckertFred, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  5. Psalm 119:129-136, King James Version.
  6. Second Reading: Romans 8:26-39, World English Bible.
  7. Organ Sequence: Eugene Gigout (1844-1925), “Album grègorien: Tranquilo”, uploaded to YouTube by chordis & organo, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  8. Gospel: Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer: From Matthew 6.
  10. Blessing: From Jude
  11. Postlude: John Stanley (1712-1786), “Trumpet Voluntary” Played and recorded live at St. Jakobus major, Schrobenhausen (DE), on MöchtegernPianists & Woody/mC’s “Organ Funday”, uploaded to YouTube by “WoodyMC” and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.

The Bible passages were recorded by Librivox, and are in the public domain. Readings correspond the Revised Common Lectionary.

19Jul

A Celebration for the 7th Sunday after Pentecost 2020

  1. Opening Acclamation: Psalm 51.
  2. Anthem: Sergei Rachmaninoff – “Priidite, poklonimsya” (“O come, let us worship”) sung by University of Warsaw Choir in a live recording from the “Vivat Academia” competition held by the Warsaw University of Technology on 18th April 2015.  Used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  3. First Reading: Isaiah 44:6-8, World English Bible.
  4. Psalm 86:11-17, King James Version.
  5. Gloria Patri, excerpted from William Byrd (c. 1540-1623), “Nunc Dimimtis, Tone I in Faburdon”, from St. Thomas Church, 5th Avenue webcast circa 2012. (Fair Use).
  6. Second Reading: Romans 8:12-25, World English Bible.
  7. Hymn: “Be Thou My Vision”, 1st verse, sung at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, uploaded to YouTube by “Ad te levavi animam meam”, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  8. Gospel: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer: From Luke 11.
  10. Blessing: 2 Corinthians 13.
  11. Postlude: J. S. Bach (1685-1750) “Fantasia and fugue in C Minor” BWV 537. Performed by David Schaller; Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.  

The Bible passages were recorded by Librivox, and are in the public domain. Readings correspond the Revised Common Lectionary.

12Jul

Celebration of the Word, for the 6th Sunday after Pentecost 2020

6th Sunday after Pentecost 2020
  1. Anthem: Christopher Tye (1505-1572), “O Come, Ye Servants of the Lord.” Performed by the Vespercantorij of the Groningen Student Church during Vespers in the Martini Church of Groningen, Netherlands, May 29, 2011.  Uploaded to YouTube by “niekdd” and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  2. Opening Acclamation: Psalm 51.
  3. First Reading: Isaiah 55:10-13, World English Bible.
  4. Psalm 65:1-13, King James Version.
  5. Gloria Patri, excerpted from Herbert Brewer (1865-1928), “Magnificat in D”, sung by “The Consort”, members of St John the Evangelist, Redhill, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  6. Second Reading: Romans 8:1-11, World English Bible.
  7. Organ Sequence: Starling Goodwin – London New — Interlude 3, uploaded to YouTube by “chordis & organo”, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  8. Gospel: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer: From Luke 11.
  10. Blessing: 2 Corinthians 13.
  11. Amen: Extracted from William Byrd (c. 1540-1623), “Siderum rector, Deus alme, nostris”, from St. Thomas Church, 5th Avenue, webcast circa 2012. (Fair Use)
  12. Postlude: Georg Böhm (1661-1733), Extract from Partita “Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele”, performed by Benjamin Alard on the 1694 organ at St. Sixtus und Sinicius’s church in Hohenkirchen, 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.

05Jul

Spurgeon on Matthew 11:28

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) was an influential preacher of the 19th century, whose powerful oratory remains influential to this day among Christians of many denominations. The following readings are 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.

Spurgeon on Matthew 11:28