Tag: Feasts and seasons

28Jun

Celebration of the Word for the 4th Sunday after Pentecost 2020

  1. 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.
  2. Opening Acclamation: Psalm 51.
  3. First Reading: Jeremiah 28:5-9, World English Bible.
  4. Hymn: “To Thee O Lord be Glory Given”, Public domain.
  5. Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18, King James Version.
  6. Gloria Patri, excerpted from “Venite Sunday Matins”, uploaded to YouTube by Pearce Singers, fair use.
  7. Second Reading: Romans 6:12-23, World English Bible.
  8. 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.
  9. Gospel: Matthew 10:40-42, World English Bible.
  10. The Lord’s Prayer: Matthew 6.
  11. Blessing: 2 Corinthians 13.
  12. Amen: JS 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.

21Jun

Celebration of the Word for the Third Sunday after Pentecost.

  1. Opening Acclamation from Psalm 118.
  2. Hymn: “Nearer My God To Thee”, performed on guitar, by NOH DONGHWAN, Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  3. First Reading: Jeremiah, World English Bible.
  4. Psalm 69: 7-18, King James Version.
  5. Gloria Patri, from Wednesday Vespers – Sanctified 2018 Tacoma, uploaded to YouTube by Pacific Lutheran University, and used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
  6. Second Reading: Romans 6:1-11, World English Bible.
  7. Organ sequence: Starling Goodwin — Old 100th — Interlude 2, uploaded to Youtube by chordis & organo, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  8. Gospel: Matthew 10:24-39, World English Bible.
  9. 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.
  10. Closing prayer: From the Australian Prayer Book.
  11. Hymn: “Take my Life and Let it Be”, by Vallejo Drive SDA Church, 2017, used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
  12. Blessing: The Aaronic Blessing from Numbers 6 (King James Version).
  13. 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.

14Jun

Celebration of the Word for the Sunday after Corpus Christi, 2020

Corpus Christi 2020
  1. Prelude: Antonio Cabezon (1510-1556), “Pange Lingua” performed by organist Riyehee Hong at Santa Iglesia Cathedral, Murcia, Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  2. Opening Acclamation from John 6: “I am the bread of life.”
  3. First Reading: Exodus 19:2-8, World English Bible.
  4. 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.”
  5. Second Reading: Romans 5: 1-8, World English Bible.
  6. Motet: William Byrd (1539/40-1623), “O quam suavis est”, performed by Ars Musica, available in Public Domain at Archive.org.  Translation: “O how sweet is thy spirit, Lord, thou who, in order to demonstrate thy sweetness to thy children, send down from heaven the sweetest bread unsurpassed, filling the hungry with good things, sending away empty the disdainful rich!”
  7. Gospel: Matthew 9:35-10:23, 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: Matías Aliaga López (1825-1865), “Pange Lingua” performed by organist Riyehee Hong at Santa Iglesia Cathedral, Murcia, Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.

Bible passages were recorded by Librivox, and are in the public domain.

07Jun

Celebration of the Word for Trinity Sunday 2020

May this brief service of word and music, dedicated to the glory of God, be a blessing to you this day.

  1. Opening Acclamation and Prelude: “Holy Holy Holy” by Diane Bish, organist, used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
  2. Lesson 1: Genesis 1:1-2:4, World English Bible.
  3. Psalm 8. King James Version.
  4. Gloria Patri: From “Adoremus in aeternum and psalm” uploaded to YouTube by UKOrdinariate, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  5. Lesson 2: 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, World English Bible.
  6. 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.
  7. Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20, World English Bible.
  8. The Lord’s Prayer: From Matthew 6, King James Version.
  9. Closing blessing
  10. 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).
  11. Organ postlude: Canzona ‘La Foresta”

24May

A Celebration of the Word for the Sunday after Ascension Day, 2020

In celebration of Ascension, I have curated an audio experience of virtual worship, using the surprisingly rich body of materials available in the Public Domain and Creative Commons. Readings correspond to the Revised Common Lectionary.

Ascension Sunday 2020
  1. Prelude: Girolamo Frescobaldi, Canzon quarta, F 8.05c (for Trumpet and Organ), Performed by Michel Rondeau – Aline Letendre, available at MusOpen, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  2. Opening acclamation: Psalm 47:5.
  3. Hymn: “Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise”, Public Domain.
  4. Lesson 1: Acts 1:6-14, World English Bible.
  5. Psalm Psalm 68:1-10 and 32-35, King James Version.
  6. Hymn: “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence.” Uploaded to YouTube by
    Christina Igupen, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  7. Lesson 2: 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11, World English Bible.
  8. Gospel: John 17:1-11, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer: Chanted by unknown congregation, uploaded to YouTube by “LabourerFaith”, and used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
  10. Concluding prayer: Stanza 4 of the hymn “As Of Gladness Men of Old”, written by William C. Dix (1837-1898).
  11. Blessing: The Aaronic Blessing from Numbers 6 (King James Version).
  12. Organ postlude: Guillaume Du Fay: Hymn In Ascensione Domini, performed by David Joseph Stith on the organ at First Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
17May

A Celebration of the Word, for the Sixth Sunday of Easter 2020

This little audio file is offered for your edification, and to the glory of God.

Celebration for Easter 6
  1. Opening acclamation: Psalm 51:15
  2. Hymn: “Amazing Grace” for flute, Angela Brown, and organ, Diane Bish, from program entitled “Hymns and Sacred Songs”, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  3. Lesson 1: Acts 17:22-31, World English Bible.
  4. Psalm 66:8-20, NET Bible, uploaded to YouTube by “dailyvideobible”, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  5. Music: J. S. Bach: Cantata No. 207a: “O Praise the Lord Most Holy”, from a program by Diane Bish entitled “The Many Moods of Bach”, used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
  6. Lesson 2: 1 Peter 3:13-22 , World English Bible.
  7. Gospel: John 14:15-21, World English Bible.
  8. The Lord’s Prayer
  9. Organ postlude: J.S. Bach, “In Herr Jesu Christ dich zu uns wend, BWV 632”, performed by Aldo Locatelli, in the public domain.
26Apr

A Celebration of the Word, for the Third Sunday of Easter

In praise of God, and for the benefit of any who might find in it a blessing on this day of continuing isolation due to the COVID pandemic, I offer another audio file of scripture readings and music. The readings and music are taken from audio files that are in the public domain. Readings correspond to the Revised Common Lectionary.

Easter 2020 Week 3 Readings
  1. Prelude: Concerto for 2 Trumpets in C major, RV 537, by Antonio Vivaldi, performed by Michael Rondeau. Available at MusOpen.
  2. Reading: Acts 2:14a, 36-41, from the World English Bible, by Librivox.
  3. Hymn: “Thine Be The Glory, Risen Conquering Son (Traditional Easter Hymn)”, From Internet Archives.
  4. Reading: Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19, from the King James Version, by Librivox.
  5. Music: Excerpt from Variations on an American Hymn Tune, by Gordon Young, performed by Paul Pittman. At MusOpen.
  6. The Lord’s Prayer, King James Version
  7. Concluding Prayer: From Church of England.
  8. Choral benediction: C.P. Lutkin. “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.” Performed by “The Major Grooves”. Private file donated by a friend, used with permission.
19Apr

A Service of the Word, for the Second Week of Easter 2020

I have put together another audio file of readings and music, offered in praise of God and for the benefit of any who might find in it a blessing on this day of ongoing isolation due to the COVID pandemic. The readings and music are taken from audio files that are in the public domain. Readings correspond to the Revised Common Lectionary.

  1. Prelude: Concerto for 2 Trumpets in D Major, by Johann Molter, MWV 6.30 – III. Allegro. From a European Archive, at MusOpen.
  2. Reading: Acts 2:14a, 22-32, from the World English Bible, by Librivox.
  3. Music: Hymn: Alleluia – A joyous Easter Hymn, by Frieda Hempel, Soprano, 1924. From Internet Archives.
  4. Reading: Psalm 16, from the King James Version, by Librivox.
  5. Reading: John 20:19-31, from the World English Bible.
  6. The Lord’s Prayer, World English Bible
  7. Song: “Exultate Deo”, by William Byrd; Internet Archives Community Audio.
  8. Concluding Prayer: St. Richard of Chichester
  9. Music: “Amen”, from Magnificat, fauxbourdon by William Byrd. Sung by the Choir of St. Thomas Church 5th Avenue.
  10. Postlude, Organ work: JS Bach, “Christ lag in Todesbanden”, performed by Aldo Locatelli, at MusOpen.
02Apr

Lent in a Time of Privation

“I feel like I shouldn’t have given up anything for Lent”, a patient said to me the other day.  In the midst of a global pandemic, Lent seems to have taken on a new life. As state and local bodies take drastic actions to curb the transmission of COVID-19, we all suddenly find ourselves in a state of government enforced deprivation and fasting.

Many of us are all but confined to our homes.  Travel is restricted, and spring vacations canceled. Schools are closed.  Churches are closed.  Restaurants, theaters, bowling alleys, and museums are all closed.  In grocery stores, masked customers flit about nervously looking for supplies that have sold out, such as eggs or toilet paper.  Some people are lucky enough to have work that is deemed “essential”, while others are furloughed and applying for unemployment.  The social fabric seems to be ripping apart. Accustomed to a land of plenty, we Americans now find ourselves struggling with privations that are alien to us.

Meanwhile, by coincidence, a large segment of faithful Christians are observing Lent. Lent was conceived as a season of fasting, discipline, and self-sacrifice leading up to Christianity’s holiest and most joyful commemoration, namely Easter.  The point of the fasting is to get past ourselves and our own desires, and to intensify our realization of our need for God and his work in our lives.

Whether voluntary or involuntary, this time of deprivation can either be a miserable mess, or it can be something we can see through eyes of faith as a kind of blessing.  The meaning of Lent, and of the tribulations brought on by the COVID-19 Pandemic, can best be summarized in a statement passed along to me by a friend: “When we come to the end of ourselves, we see the beginning of God’s faithfulness.”

11Jun

In Honor of Pentecost: Veni Sancte Spiritus

sung by the choir of Notre Dame de Paris. Organ – Pierre Cochereau


Come, Holy Spirit,
send forth the heavenly
radiance of your light.

Come, father of the poor,
come, giver of gifts,
come, light of the heart.

Greatest comforter,
sweet guest of the soul,
sweet consolation.

In labour, rest,
in heat, temperance,
in tears, solace.

O most blessed light,
fill the inmost heart
of your faithful.

Without your spirit,
there is nothing in man,
nothing that is not harmful.

Cleanse that which is unclean,
water that which is dry,
heal that which is wounded.

Bend that which is inflexible,
fire that which is chilled,
correct what goes astray.

Give to your faithful,
those who trust in you,
the sevenfold gifts.

Grant the reward of virtue,
grant the deliverance of salvation,
grant eternal joy.