Tag: Virtual Church Service

27Jul

Celebration of the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost 2025

  1. Opening Acclamation: Ephesians 1.
  2. Organ Hymn: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” performed by Lois Mountz on the organ of Copeland Oaks Chapel in Sebring, Ohio in 2012. Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  3. First Reading: Genesis 18:20-32, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 138, King James Version.
  5. Gloria Patri, excerpted from a compline service, Trinity Church, Boston in May 2016. Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  6. Second Reading: Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19), World English Bible.
  7. Organ Sequence: “O Christ, Our True and Only Light”, uploaded to YouTube by The Lutheran Kantor Projekt, and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  8. Gospel: Luke 11:1-13, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer 1662.
  10. Benediction from the Book of Common Prayer 1662.
  11. Postlude: Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707) “Passcaglia in D-minor, BuxWV 161″ performed by Michael Geest on the Flentrop organ at Sint Niklaas Kerk in Gent. 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. Music is used according to license, and attribution given where known.

20Jul

Celebration of the Word for the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost 2025

  1. Opening Acclamation: Psalm 51.
  2. 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.
  3. First Reading: Genesis 18: 1-10, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 15, 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: Colossians 1:15-28, 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: Luke 10: 38-42, 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.

13Jul

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost 2025

  1. Opening Acclamation: 1662 Book of Common Prayer.
  2. Hymn: “Alleluia Sing to Jesus” by Stour Valley Benefice, United Kingdom, August 2021, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  3. First Lesson: Readings: Deuteronomy 30:9-14.
  4. Psalm 25:1-10, King James Version.
  5. Anthem: Psalm 25 v 6, sung by Northern Presbytery Choir, uploaded to YouTube by Sean McPherson, used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
  6. Second Reading: Colossians 1:1-16, World English Bible.
  7. Alleluia: Giovanni de Palestrina (1525-1594) “Alleluia”, sung by the choir of First Congregational Church of LA, used in accordance with the Creative Commons License.
  8. Gospel: Luke 10:25-37, World English Bible.
  9. 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.
  10. Blessing: Ephesians 3.

Readings correspond the the Revised Common Lectionary.

06Jul

Celebration of the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost 2025

  1. Prelude: “America the beautiful”, by the U.S. Army Band, in the public domain at Archive.org.
  2. Opening Acclamation: Psalm 107
  3. First Lesson: Isaiah 66:10-14
  4. Hymn: Amazing Grace, for Trombone Choir. Public domain at Archive.org.
  5. Psalm 66:1-10, King James Version.
  6. Gloria Patri, instrumental (piano), uploaded to YouTube by Christina Iqupen, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  7. Second Reading: Galatians 6:1-16, World English Bible.
  8. Hymn: “Take, O Take Me As I AM”, sung by Immanuel Congregational Church, 2013. In the public domain at Archive.org.
  9. Gospel: Luke 10:1-11, 16-20, World English Bible.
  10. The Lord’s Prayer: Earl Killian. Used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
  11. Blessing: 2 Corinthians 13.
  12. Choral amen. Public domain at Archive.org.
  13. Postlude: “America the beautiful”, performed on guitar, uploaded to Archive.org by Rick Zerndt; In the public domain.  

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

29Jun

Celebration of the Word for the 3rd Sunday After Pentecost 2025

  1. Opening Acclamation from Psalm 51:15. 
  2. Hymn: “This is My Father’s World.” Public domain
  3. First Reading: 1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21, World English Bible.
  4. Hymn: “How Great Thou Art”, Sung by George Beverly Shea, organ by Diane Bish, from “Joy of Music” program 8303, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  5. Psalm 16, King James Version.
  6. Gloria Patri: From a live service at the First Presbyterian Church of Wolcott. Used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  7. Second Reading: Galatians 5:1, 13-25, World English Bible.
  8. Organ Sequence: “Oh Spirit of The Living God”, Public domain.
  9. Gospel: Luke 9:51-62, World English Bible.
  10. The Lord’s Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer 1662.
  11. Benediction from the Book of Common Prayer 1662.
  12. Choral Amen. 

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

22Jun

Celebration of the Word for the Second Sunday after Pentecost 2022 (Corpus Christi Sunday)

  1. Opening Acclamation from John 6: “I am the bread of life.”
  2. Prelude: “At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing”, for organ, by unknown performer. Public domain.
  3. First Reading: Isaiah 65:1-9, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 22:19-28.
  5. Motet: Sebastian de Vivanco (1551-1622), “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!”
  6. Second Reading: Galatians 3:23-29, World English Bible.
  7. Motet: “Pange Lingua (de Vézelay) – fr Jean-Baptiste de la Sainte Famille”, performed by unknown performers, used in accordance with Creative Commons license. The text is a medieval hymn for the feast of Corpus Christi written by St. Thomas Aquinas. First stanza in English: “Sing, my tongue, the Saviour’s glory, Of His Flesh, the mystery sing; Of the Blood, all price exceeding, Shed by our Immortal King, Destined, for the world’s redemption, From a noble Womb to spring…” (This is a long text; for the full Latin version and two translations into English, check out this page from Wikipedia).
  8. Gospel: Luke 8:26-39, 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. Organ Postlude: Antonio de Cabezón (1510-1566), “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.

08Jun

The Day of Pentecost 2025

  1. Opening acclamation, Psalm 51:15.
  2. Hymn: “O Spirit of the Living God”, sung at Immanuel Congregational Church in 2013, in the public domain at Archive.org.
  3. Lesson 1: Acts 2:1-21 World English Bible.
  4. Music: Thomas Tallis (1505-1585): “Loquebantur, Varii Linguis.”  Performed by the Tudor Consort, available in Public Domain.  Translation: “The Apostles spoke in many languages of the great works of God, as the Holy Spirit gave them the gift of speech, alleluia. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak.”
  5. Psalm 104:24-34, 35b.
  6. Lesson 2: Romans 8:22-27, World English Bible.
  7. Motet: Thomas Tallis (1505-1585): “If Ye Love Me”, sung by Coro Santo Pazienza, in the Cathedral of Pontremoli, Tuscany, in 2017, available on Wikimedia Commons and used in accordance with Creative Commons License
  8. Gospel: John 14:8-17, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer, and Benediction: From the Book of Common Prayer, 1662.
  10. Organ postlude: “Veni Creator Spiritus” by Rien van Binnendijk at Esztergom, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
01Jun

Celebration for the Seventh Sunday of Easter 2025

  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: Ephesians 1.
  3. Lesson 1: Acts 16:16-34 from the World English Bible.
  4. Psalm 97: King James Version. 
  5. Gloria Patri: Palestrina, sung by the choir of Trinity Church, Boston at a service of compline in May 2016, used in accordance with Creative Commons license, and available at Wikimedia Commons. Words in English: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.”
  6. Lesson 2: Revelation 22:21-14, 16-17, 20-21, from the World English Bible.
  7. Hymn: “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence.” Uploaded to YouTube by
    Christina Igupen, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  8. Gospel: John 17:20-26, World English Bible.
  9. Response: “Lord Have Mercy”, from “Wednesday Vespers – Sanctified 2018 Tacoma”, uploaded to YouTube by Pacific Lutheran University, and used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
  10. The Lord’s Prayer: From Luke.
  11. Benediction from Romans 16:24.
  12. Organ postlude: Johann Christian Heinrich Rinck (1770-1846): “Präludium G-Dur”, Performed on the Oberlinger-Orgel der Martin-Luther-Kirche Oberlar by Jens Engel, 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.

30May

Music and Readings for the Ascension

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.

  1. Opening acclamation: Psalm 47:5.
  2. Hymn: “Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise”, Public Domain.
  3. Lesson 1: Acts 1:1-11, World English Bible.
  4. Psalm 47, musical setting by George Lay, sung by the Choir of Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Jon Johnson Director of Music, at St Alban’s Cathedral in England. Used in accordance with the Creative Commons license. 
  5. Psalm 93, King James Version.
  6. Lesson 1: Ephesians 1:15-23, World English Bible.
  7. Hymn: “Rejoice, the Lord is King” by unknown soloist. Uploaded to YouTube by Christina Iqupen, and used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  8. Gospel: Luke 24:44-53, 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. Choral Work: Gerald Finzi (1901-1956) “God is Gone Up” Performed by the Immanuel Congregational Church, 2013, available in the public domain at Archive.org.
25May

Celebration for the Sixth Sunday of Easter

  1. Opening acclamation: Psalm 51:15
  2. Hymn: “Amazing Grace” for flute, Angela Brown, and organ, Diane Bish, from a program entitled “Hymns and Sacred Songs”, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  3. Lesson 1: Acts 16:9-16, World English Bible.
  4. Psalm 67, from the King James Bible.
  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: Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5, World English Bible.
  7. Music: John Stainer (1840-1901) “God so Loved the World”, performed by the Immanuel Congregational Church, Hartford CT (with the lovely bonus sound of the siren of an unknown first responder toward the end of the piece), available in the public domain.
  8. Gospel: John 5:1-9, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer, from Matthew.
  10. Benediction and Amen, Public domain.
  11. Organ postlude: J.S. Bach, “In Herr Jesu Christ dich zu uns wend, BWV 632”, performed by Aldo Locatelli, in the public domain.