Author: BrJames

01Apr

Palm Sunday 2023

  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 Matthew 26:14-27:66, World English Bible.
  7. The Lord’s Prayer: Setting by Phillippe Radcliffe (1905-1986), performed at Kerke de Laurens, Rotterdam, in 2020. Used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  8. Blessing: The “Aaronic blessing” From Deuteronomy.
  9. Postlude: Claude Gaudimel (c.1520 – 1572) “Psalm 2” for organ and cello, uploaded to YouTube in 2021 by Cees en Sander, used here 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.

25Mar

A Ceremony of the Word for the Fifth Sunday of Lent 2023

Lent 5th Sunday 2023
  1. Call to Worship: From Psalm 51.
  2. Kyrie: Josquin des Prez (c. 1450-1521) from “Missa Gaudeamus”, performed by the University of Kansas Collegium Musicum, uploaded to YouTube by user named “Classical Music” and used here in accordance with Creative Commons License.
  3. First Reading: Ezekial 37:1-14, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 130: Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625) “Out of the Deep” performed by the Tudor Consort (Creative Commons license), available at Wikimedia Commons.
  5. Second Reading: Romans 8:6-11, World English Bible.
  6. Hymn: “Ah Holy Jesus”, sung at Immanuel Congregational Church, Hartford, CT in 2013, available in the public domain at Archive.org.
  7. Gospel: John 11:1-45, World English Bible.
  8. The Lord’s Prayer: From The Book of Common Prayer, 1662.
  9. Blessing: From Second Corinthians.
  10. Organ postlude: Domenico Zipoli (1688-1726) “Canzona in re minore”, uploaded to YouTube by “My Years with Early Music”, 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.

18Mar

A Celebration of the Word for the 4th Sunday of Lent 2023

Lent 4th Sunday 2023
  1. Opening Sentence: From Isaiah 66:10.
  2. Introit and organ prelude: Abraham van den Kerckhoven (c.1618–c.1701) “Kyrie eleison” (Lord, Have Mercy), performed by Jozef Sluys, organ, and CapeIIa Sancti MichaeIis; uploaded to YouTube by “Pau NG” and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  3. First Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 23, sung to the hymn tune “Crimond”, Uploaded to YouTube by Christina Iqupen, and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  5. Second Reading: Ephesians 5:8-14, World English Bible.
  6. Anthem: Henry Purcell (1659-1695) “Thou Knowest Lord”, available in the public domain courtesy of “Ferox Aeternum” at Archive.org.
  7. Gospel: John 9:1-41, World English Bible.
  8. The Lord’s Prayer: From Luke.
  9. Blessing:  From Numbers.
  10. 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.

12Mar

A Ceremony of the Word for the Third Sunday of Lent 2023

Lent 3rd Sunday 2023
  1. Call to Worship.
  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: Exodus 17:1-7, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 63: 1-8, King James Version.
  5. Hymn: “O Worship the King,” 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 and benediction: Book of Common Prayer, 1662; in the public domain at Librivox.org.
  10. 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.

04Mar

A Ceremony of the Word for the 2nd Sunday of Lent

Lent Second Sunday 2023
  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 12: 1-4, King James Bible.
  3. Psalm 121: Setting by Herbert Howells (1892-1983) from his Requiem. Performed by Immanuel Congregational Church, Hartford, CT in 2013. This audio file is in the public domain at Archive.org.
  4. Second Reading: Romans 4: 1-5, 13-17, World English Bible.
  5. 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.
  6. Gospel: John 3:1-17, World English Bible.
  7. The Lord’s Prayer: From Matthew.
  8. Blessing: The “Aaronic blessing” from Numbers 6.
  9. 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.

25Feb

Ceremony of Readings and Music for the First Sunday of Lent

Lent 1st Sunday 2023
  1. Hymn: “Holy God, Holy Almighty, Holy Immortal One, Have Mercy” (Trisagion), From OrthodoxMusicOnline, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  2. First Reading: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, King James Bible.
  3. Psalm Psalm 32, King James Version.
  4. Anthem: Henry Purcell (1659-1695) “Remember Not O Lord Our Offenses”, unknown choir, available in public domain at Archive.org.
  5. Second Reading: Romans 5:12-19, World English Bible.
  6. Hymn: “40 Days and 40 Nights”, by Stour Valley Benefice, United Kingdom, 2021, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  7. Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11, 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: From Romans.
  10. Organ Postlude:  Girolamo Alessandro Frescobaldi (1583 – 1643) “Canzona Post Il Comune”, performed by Joshua Sobel, 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.

22Feb

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)

18Feb

Celebration of the Word for Transfiguration Sunday 2023

Transfiguration Sunday 2022
  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 24:12-18, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 2, King James Version.
  5. Music interlude: Claude Goudimel (c. 1520-1572) “Psalm 2” for organ and cello, performed on the Reformed Municipality of Hardinxveld-Giessendam – Bätz-Witte organ (1875), and uploaded to YouTube by “Cees en Sander”, 2021; used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  6. Second Reading: 2 Peter 1:16-21, World English Bible.
  7. 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.
  8. Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer: From Luke.
  10. Blessing:  The Aaronic Blessing from Numbers 6.
  11. 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.

12Feb

Celebration of the Word for the 6th Sunday of Epiphany 2023

Epiphany 6th Sunday 2023
  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: Deuteronomy 30:15-20, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 119:1-8, King James Bible.
  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 3:1-9, 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: Matthew 5:21-37, 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. played on Hauptwerk Marcussen/Rotterdam, uploaded to YouTube by “Shortfinger’s Organ 숏핑거 오르간 연주”, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.

The Bible and Book of Common Prayer 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.

04Feb

Celebration of the Word for the 5th Sunday after Epiphany 2023

Epiphany 5th Sunday 2023
  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 58:1-12, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 112:1-10, King James Version.
  5. Hymn: “O God Beyond All Praising” by Stour Valley Benefice, United Kingdom, 2021, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  6. Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-16 World English Bible.
  7. “Alleluia” from “OrthodoxMusicOnline”, with David Dillock, conductor, uploaded to YouTube in 2012 and used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  8. Gospel: Mathew 5:13-20, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer: From Matthew 6.
  10. Blessing:  2 Corinthians.
  11. 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.