Organ Prelude: Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1911), Prelude from Third Sonata for Organ. Performed at Immanuel Congregational Church, Harford in Nov 2012, in Public domain at Archive.org.
Opening Acclamation: Psalm 51.
First Reading: Jeremiah 28:5-9, World English Bible.
Hymn: “To Thee O Lord be Glory Given”, Public domain.
Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18, King James Version.
Gloria Patri, excerpted from “Venite Sunday Matins”, uploaded to YouTube by Pearce Singers, fair use.
Second Reading: Romans 6:12-23, World English Bible.
Organ sequence: Starling Goodwin – Interlude 2, on the organ of the church of St Mary, Bermondsey, uploaded to YouTube by chordis & organo, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
Gospel: Matthew 10:40-42, World English Bible.
The Lord’s Prayer: Matthew 6.
Blessing: 2 Corinthians 13.
Amen: J.S. Bach (1685-1750), “Amen” BWV 1083 by Ensemble Imero. Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
Bible passages were recorded by Librivox, and are in the public domain.
Hymn: “Nearer My God To Thee”, performed on guitar, by NOH DONGHWAN, Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
First Reading: Jeremiah, World English Bible.
Psalm 69: 7-18, King James Version.
Gloria Patri, from Wednesday Vespers – Sanctified 2018 Tacoma, uploaded to YouTube by Pacific Lutheran University, and used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
Second Reading: Romans 6:1-11, World English Bible.
Organ sequence: Starling Goodwin — Old 100th — Interlude 2, uploaded to Youtube by chordis & organo, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
Gospel: Matthew 10:24-39, World English Bible.
The Lord’s Prayer (sung): From Vespers according to the Brotherhood Prayer Bood, sung at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, IN, and uploaded to YouTube by Benjamin Mayes, and used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
Closing benediction from Romans.
Hymn: “Take my Life and Let it Be”, by Vallejo Drive SDA Church, 2017, used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
Organ Postlude: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) “Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten” (He who allows dear God to rule), BWV 691, played on 1531 organ at the Mariakerk in Kreward, Netherlands, uploaded by Jon Liinason; Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
Bible passages were recorded by Librivox, and are in the public domain.
Opening Acclamation from Psalm 103: “Blessed be the Lord God.”
Prelude: Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707), “Praeludium in G Major” BuxWV 139 performed by organist Ian Dolans, available in the public domain.
First Reading: Exodus 19:2-8, World English Bible.
Psalm: Old 100th. Washington National Cathedral Singers, performed in 2015, used in accordance with Creative Commons license. The organ overpowers the singing at times, so here is the text: “All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice. Serve him with joy, his praises tell, come now before him and rejoice! Know that the Lord is God indeed; he formed us all without our aid. We are the flock he surely feeds, the sheep who by his hand were made. O enter then his gates with joy, within his courts his praise proclaim! Let thankful songs your tongues employ. O bless and magnify his name! Because the Lord our God is good, his mercy is forever sure. His faithfulness at all times stood and shall from age to age endure.”
Second Reading: Romans 5: 1-8, World English Bible.
Organ interlude: “Nearer My God to Thee” performed by Joey Wetzels, available on YouTube and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
Gospel: Matthew 9:35-10:23, World English Bible.
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.
Benediction: Ephesians 3.
Organ Postlude: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), “Praeludium in A Moll” BWV 543, performed in 2021 by organist Leon Kopeckny on Hauptwerk VI, using the Obervellach Sample Set by Piotr Grabowski at Santa Iglesia Cathedral, Murcia, Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
Bible passages were recorded by Librivox, and are in the public domain.
May this brief service of word and music, dedicated to the glory of God, be a blessing to you this day.
Trinity Sunday 2023
Opening Acclamation and Prelude: “Holy Holy Holy” by Diane Bish, organist, used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
Lesson 1: Genesis 1:1-2:4, World English Bible.
Psalm 8. King James Version.
Gloria Patri: From “Adoremus in aeternum and psalm” uploaded to YouTube by UKOrdinariate, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
Lesson 2: 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, World English Bible.
Hymn: “All Creatures of Our God and King”, Verse 1. Sung by Notre Dame Liturgical Choir, 2017, uploaded to YouTube by “ad te levavi”, used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20, World English Bible.
The Lord’s Prayer: From Matthew 6, King James Version.
Closing blessing
Amen: From the Magnificat by Orlando Gibbons, excerpted from a live service sung by the Choir of St. Thomas Fifth Avenue in May 2011. (Fair use).
Brass postlude: Giovanni Cavaccio (1556-1625) “Canzona ‘La Foresta”, performed by Michel Rondeau, from MusOpen
Hymn: “Crown him with many crowns” by unknown singers. Public Domain. From Internet Archive.
First Reading: Acts 7:55-60 (World English Bible).
Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 (King James Version).
Gloria Patri: Excerpted from an audio cassette of a choir festival in Evanston, IL, circa 1993.
Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:2-10 (World English Bible).
Organ sequence: “Christ Ist Erstanden” performed by Jens Engel on the organ of Kreuzkirche Sieglar, used in accordance with Creative Commons license. English Hymn text: “Christ the Lord is risen again; Christ has broken every chain! Hark, the angels shout for joy, Singing evermore on high: Alleluia.”
Gospel: John 14: 1-14.
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).
Musical postlude: Charles-Marie Widor, Organ Symphony no. 5, Op. 42 no. 1, performer Paul Pittman, in the public domain. At MusOpen.
I have put this audio file together from public domain sources, mainly LibriVox (for bible readings), MusOpen (for royalty Free Music) and the Community Audio section of the Internet Archives.
This brief service of music and sacred scripture is offered in praise of God, and for the benefit of any who would like to worship in this manner.
Easter 4th Sunday 2023
Opening acclamation and organ prelude: “I know that My Redeemer lives”, by Diane Bish, performing from St. Jacob’s Church, Prague, on a program entitled “Easter Alleluias”, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
First Reading: Acts 2: 42-47, World English Bible.
Psalm 23 “Brother James Air” by unknown artists, uploaded to YouTube by user “mk671tv”, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
Second Reading: 1 Peter 2: 19-29, World English Bible.
Hymn: “Now the Green Blade Riseth” performed by Stour Valley Benefice, United Kingdom, 2022, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
Gospel Reading: John 10: 1-10, World English Bible.
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.
Closing blessing: From Romans.
Postlude: Heut Triumphiret Gottes Sohn, BWV 630, performed by Aldo Locatelli.
Prelude: Concerto for 2 Trumpets in C major, RV 537, by Antonio Vivaldi, performed by Michael Rondeau. Available at MusOpen.
Reading: Acts 2:14a, 36-41, from the World English Bible, by Librivox.
Hymn: “Thine Be The Glory, Risen Conquering Son (Traditional Easter Hymn)”, From Internet Archives.
Reading: Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19, from the King James Version, by Librivox.
Music: Excerpt from Variations on an American Hymn Tune, by Gordon Young, performed by Paul Pittman. At MusOpen.
Reading: 1 Peter 1:17-23, World English Bible.
Motet: Josef Rheinberger (1839-1901) “Abendlied,” Op 69, no. 3, performed at Trinity Church, Boston. This recording is available on Wikimedia Commons, and used in accordance with Creative Commons license. Translation: Bide with us, for evening shadows darken, and the day will soon be over.
Gospel reading: Luke 24:13-35, World English Bible.
The Lord’s Prayer, King James Version
Choral benediction: C.P. Lutkin. “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.” Sung by the Csehy Summer School, 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.
Gloria Patri by Antionio Vivaldi (1678-1741) Performed by Orquesta del Conservatori Superior de musica Juaquin Rodrigo Valencia (spain) in 2012; Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
Reading: Colossians 3: 1-4, World English Bible.
Hymn: “Jesus Christ is Risen Today,” by Stour Valley Benefice, United Kingdom, 2022, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
Reading: John 20:1-20, from the World English Bible.
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.
Benediction from Romans 16:24.
Music: “Amen”, from Magnificat, by Jan Dismas Zelenka; Performed by the Prague Choral Society, at MusOpen (linked above).
Organ Hymn: “Christ the Lord is Risen Today,” performed by Diane Bish, from “Joy of Music” program 2501, “Hymns and Spiritual Songs of Easter.” Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
Hymn: “O Sacred Head Now Wounded.” From a Good Friday service in 2018 at the First Congregational Church of LA, used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
First Reading: Isaiah 52:13-53:12, King James Bible.
Motet: Thomas Tallis (1505-1588) “Salvator Mundi”, uploaded to YouTube by “mk671tv”, used in accordance with Creative Commons license. Text in English: O Saviour of the world, save us, who by thy cross and blood hast redeemed us, help us, we pray thee, O Lord our God.
Psalm 22 from the King James Bible.
Motet: Antonio Lotti (1667-1740) “Crucifixus”, Performed by Coro Universidad Nacional de Rio Corto, used in accordance with Creative Commons license. Text in English: He was crucified also for us, under Pontius Pilate he suffered and was buried.
Second Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9, World English Bible.
Motet: Tomas Luis de Victoria (1548-1611) “O Vos Omnes”, Performed by the Tudor Consort. Available on YouTube at “Free Music Channel” under Creative Commons license. Text in English: All you who walk by on the road, pay attention and see if there be any sorrow like my sorrow. Pay attention, all people, and look at my sorrow: if there be any sorrow like my sorrow.
A Reading of the Passion Narrative from John 18:1–19:42, World English Bible.
Organ postlude: Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706) “Da Jesus an dem Kreuze stund” performed by Jean-Dominique Pasquet on the grand organ of l’Oratoire du Louvre à Paris, 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.
Today the church remembers the occasion when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. He gave his disciples (and us) a “new commandment”, to love one another in the same way that he loved them. The Gospel lesson according to the Revised Common Lectionary is John 13:1-17 and 31-35. Here is a lovely sung version of the text:
(Audio File: “Mandatum – P. Latona – Choral Meditation” uploaded to YouTube in 2020 by “mk671vlogs”, used in accordance with the Creative Commons license. It appears that this was sung at the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception).
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord–and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
“Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, `Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”