Tag: Feasts and seasons

26Oct

Celebration of the Word for the 20th Sunday after Pentecost 2025

  1. Opening Acclamation: Ephesians 1.
  2. Organ Prelude: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) “Organ Prelude in G Major” BWV 568, performed by David Stith at St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, Austin, Texas, uploaded to YouTube by “StripedGazelle”, and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  3. First Reading: Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm: Psalm 84, sung by the Clarion Singers, uploaded to YouTube by Rende Brouwer, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  5. Second Reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18, World English Bible.
  6. Anthem: Giovanni da Palestrina (c. 1525 – 1594) “Alleluia.” Sung at First Congregational Church of LA, available on YouTube, and used in accordance with the Creative Commons License.
  7. Gospel: Luke 18:9-14, World English Bible.
  8. 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.
  9. Blessing: From Romans.
  10. Organ postlude: “Improvisation on Cwm Rhonda (Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer),” performed in 2022 by Joshua Sobel on the great 1931/1963 IV/62 Austin organ at Centenary United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem, NC. This is available on YouTube, and used 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.

19Oct

Celebration of the Word for the 19th Sunday after Pentecost 2025

  1. Opening Sentence: From the Book of Common Prayer, 1662
  2. Hymn: “Alleluia, Sing to Jesus”, performed by organist Diane Bish, from “Joy of Music” program “9913 Great Organs and Churches of France”. Used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  3. First Reading: Genesis 32:22-31, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 121, “I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes Unto The Hills” from “Requiem” by Herbert Howells (1892-1983). This was performed in 2013 by Immanuel Congregational Church, available in the public domain at Archive.org.
  5. Second Reading: 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5, World English Bible.
  6. Hymn: “Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer”, unknown congregation, in the public domain at Archive.org.
  7. Gospel: Luke 18:1-8, World English Bible.
  8. The Lord’s Prayer: From the Book of Common Prayer, 1662.
  9. Benediction: From the Book of Common Prayer, 1662.
  10. Organ postlude: Nicolaus Bruhns (1665-1697) “E-moll Preludium,” performed by Bertalan Nagy on the organ of the Lutheran Church in Deák Square. 2021. This recording is used 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.

12Oct

Celebration of the Word for the 18th Sunday after Pentecost 2025

  1. Opening Acclamation: Psalm 19.
  2. Hymn: “Praise to The Lord, The Almighty the King of Creation”, sung by an anonymous congregation, in the public domain.
  3. First Reading: 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 111, King James Bible.
  5. Gloria Patri: From a live service at the First Presbyterian Church of Wolcott. Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  6. Second Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-15, World English Bible.
  7. Hymn: “O God Our Help In Ages Past”, public domain.
  8. Gospel: Luke 17:11-19, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer: From Luke.
  10. Blessing: The Aaronic Blessing from Numbers 6 (King James Version).
  11. Organ postlude: Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707), “Präludium g-Moll”, BuxWV 149, performed by Tobias Götting, Lambertikirche, Oldenburg, 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.

05Oct

Celebration of the Word for the 17th Sunday after Pentecost

  1. Opening Acclamation: From Psalm 81:1.
  2. Hymn: “Love Divine All Loves Excelling” sung at Hyde Park Union Church, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  3. First Reading: Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 37:1-9, King James Version.
  5. Hymn: “Alleluia Sing to Jesus” by Stour Valley Benefice, United Kingdom, August 2021, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  6. Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1:1-14, World English Bible.
  7. 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.
  8. Gospel: Luke 17:5-10, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer from Matthew.
  10. Blessing: 1 Timothy 1:17., World English Bible.
  11. Organ postlude: J. S. Bach (1685–1750), “Präludium a-Moll”, BWV 543, performed by Lucas Pohle at Nikolaikirche Leipzig, 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.

28Sep

Celebration of the Word for the 16th Sunday after Pentecost

  1. Opening Acclamation: From The Book of Common Prayer, 1662.
  2. Organ Prelude: Abraham van den Kerckhoven (c.1618-1702) “Missa Duplex” opening movement, performed by Jozef SIuys (1936-2015, organ) at CapeIIa Sancti MichaeIis, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  3. First Reading: Amos 6:1, 4-7, King James Bible.
  4. Hymn: “When in Our Music God is Glorified”, performed by Immanuel Congregational Church and available in the public domain at Archive.org.
  5. Psalm 146, King James Bible.
  6. Gloria Patri: from George Lay setting of Psalm 42, Performed in 2020 by the choir of the Church of the Good Shepherd, at St. Alban’s Cathedral, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  7. Second Reading: 1 Timothy 6:6-19, World English Bible.
  8. Hymn: “Fairest Lord Jesus”, performed by Immanuel Congrgational Church and available in the public domain at Archive.orge.
  9. Gospel: Luke 16:19-31, World English Bible.
  10. 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.
  11. Blessing: From The Book of Common Prayer, 1662.
  12. Organ postlude: Attributed to Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562–1621), “Toccata”, performed by Ernst Stolz on on Hauptwerk Müller organ Oosterwijtwerd, uploaded to YouTube by “My Years With Early Music”, used in accordance with Creative Commons license..
21Sep

Celebration of the Word for the 15th Sunday after Pentecost

  1. Call to Worship from Ephesians 1.
  2. 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.
  3. First Reading: Amos 8:4-7, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 113, King James Version.
  5. Hymn: “All Creatures of Our God and King” (verse 1), from the Diane Bish “Joy of Music” program “Hymns of Faith”, Performed at Miller Chapel, Princeton Theological Seminary, Creative Commons.
  6. Second Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-7, World English Bible.
  7. Hymn: “If You Will Trust In God to Guide Thee.” Sung by Immanuel Congregational Church, Hartford. In the Public Domain.
  8. Gospel: Luke 16:1-16, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer: From Matthew 6.
  10. Blessing: From Ephesians 3.
  11. Postlude: Max Reger (1873-1916) “Toccata and Fuge a-moll,” opus 80, performed by Kerstin Wolf on the Beckerath-Orgel in St. Petri, Hamburg, around 2015. This recording is used 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.

15Sep

The Holy Cross Will Triumph Over Terror and Death

The feast day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross isn’t really about the events of Good Friday so much as it is about the finding of what was believed to be the true cross by St. Helena in Jerusalem in 326 and its subsequent veneration by the church. The day is about celebrating the triumph of the cross, and Christianity, over the forces of evil and death. We are reminded that Christ said, “I, if I am lifted up, will draw all men unto me.” The cross was the instrument upon which he was tortured and murdered, at the hands of a brutal Roman government and a religious cabal among his own people who had rejected him. But his death was not the end, or that cross would have been forgotten and lost to the dusts of time. 

The events of the past week remind us of those forces of evil and opposition to God’s love. Random acts of hate, and targeted acts of political violence have shocked us recently. In the span of a few short days, I have seen the senseless killing of a young woman on a train in North Carolina, the murder of children attending a Christian mass at a Catholic school in Minnesota, and the commemoration of the death and mayhem of the 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks. As if that isn’t enough, this was followed very shortly by the brutal murder of Charlie Kirk on the same day as another school shooting. 

One of these horrors, the murder of Charlie Kirk, seems to have the makings of a cultural moment, similar to 9/11. This seems at least true for the younger generations in our country, and even those beyond our borders.  He was as bold in sharing his Christian faith as he was in advocating his political ideas. Therefore I also mourn his loss as a brother in Christ.

As we pray for the family of Mr. Kirk, and for all these victims, we draw our eyes back to that cross, representing both death and triumph.  On this side of paradise we see only the death, but we also cling to the promise of triumph. In the end, God’s love will prevail over the evil and hate. The cross reminds us that God promises that all the wickedness that we endure (and also, if we are honest, perpetrate) will be redeemed into triumph. Thanks to that ugly, nail pocked wood, now splintered up into bits and pieces and residing in countless shrines across the world, our pain will be subsumed into a glorious new reality at the end of time, where all tears will be wiped away and only laughter and joy prevail. 

14Sep

Celebration of the Word for the 14th Sunday after Pentecost

  1. Opening Acclamation: from Psalm 107.
  2. Hymn: “Come, Thou Almighty King”, unknown congregation, available in public domain.
  3. First Reading: Exodus 32:7-14, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 51:1-10, King James Version.
  5. Motet: Orlando de Lassus (1532-1594) “Miserere Mei Deus” performed by Vocal Ensemble Lege in 1999; uploaded to YouTube by Вікторія Джоган, and used in accordance with Creative Commons license. 
  6. Second Reading: 1 Timothy 1:12-17, World English Bible.
  7. Organ Sequence: Starling Goodwin (1711-1774), “London Old, Interlude 1”, uploaded to YouTube by Chordis and Organo, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.  
  8. Gospel: Luke 15:1-10, 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. Blessing: The Aaronic Blessing from Numbers 6 (King James Version).
  11. Postlude: Nicholaus Bruhns (1665-1697) “Praeludium, e-moll”, performed on Arp Schnitger Orgel at Ganderkesee, by Thorsten Ahlrichs, use 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.

07Sep

Celebration of the Word for the 13th Sunday after Pentecost

  1. Opening Acclamation: from Psalm 27:1.
  2. Organ prelude: Jeremiah Clarke (1674-1707), “Prince of Denmark March”, Performed by Michael Rondeau, available in the public domain, at MusOpen.org.
  3. First Reading: Deuteronomy 30:15-20, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 1, King James Version.
  5. Gloria Patri: From a live service at the First Presbyterian Church of Wolcott. Used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  6. Second Reading: Philemon 1:1-21, World English Bible.
  7. Hymn: “Crown Him with Many Crowns”, public domain.
  8. Gospel: Luke 14:25-33, World English Bible.
  9. Lord’s Prayer: From the Book of Common Prayer 1662.  
  10. Benediction: From the Book of Common Prayer 1662.
  11. 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.

01Sep

Celebration of the 12th Sunday after Pentecost 2025

  1. Opening Acclamation: from Psalm 57:5.
  2. 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.
  3. First Reading: Proverbs 25:6-7, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 112, King James Version.
  5. Response: G. F. Handel (1685-1759) “Praise the Lord”, performed in 2012 by “Con Anima” – St. Patricks College Choir. Used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
  6. Second Reading: Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, World English Bible.
  7. Organ Sequence: Starling Goodwin (1711-1774), “London New, Interlude 3”, uploaded to YouTube by Chordis and Organo, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  8. Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-14, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer: from Matthew 6.
  10. Blessing: 2 Corinthians 13.
  11. 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.