Tag: Year C

14Dec

Celebration of the Word for the 3rd Sunday of Advent 2025

  1. Opening Sentence: Phillippians 4.
  2. Anthem: “Rejoice in the Lord Always” by The Choirs of St. Matthew’s, Ottawa, directed by Stephen Candow. Uploaded to YouTube by Leonard Surges, and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  3. First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 146:5-10
  5. Hymn: “Thine Advent Lord We Hail”, public domain.
  6. Second Reading: James 5:7-10, World English Bible.  
  7. Organ sequence: “Lo, He Comes with Clouds of Glory”, Uploaded to YouTube by “Ubertuba”; Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.  
  8. Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer: From the Book of Common Prayer 1660.
  10. Blessing: 2nd Corinthians 13.
  11. Organ postlude: Georg Böhm (1661-1733), “Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele” performed by Rainer Schulz, 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.

27Nov

Thanksgiving Celebration 2025 (Year C)

As you gather with family to remember the blessings of this life, I present this virtual service as an offering of thanks.

  1. Opening Acclamation: Psalm 136:1-3.
  2. Hymn: “Now Thank we All Our God”, performed by St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Guelph, Ontario Canada; used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  3. FIrst reading: Deuteronomy 26:1-11, King James 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: Phillippians 4:4-9, World English Bible.
  6. Anthem: “Rejoice in the Lord Always” by The Choirs of St. Matthew’s, Ottawa, directed by Stephen Candow. Uploaded to YouTube by Leonard Surges, and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  7. Gospel: John 6:25-35, World English Bible.
  8. 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.
  9. Benediction: Ephesians 3.
  10. Hymn: “We Gather Together” sung by Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California, uploaded to YouTube by Martijn de Groot, and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.

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

23Nov

Readings for 24th Sunday of Pentecost 2025: Feast of Christ the King

  1. Opening Acclamation: Revelation 5:12.
  2. Hymn: “Crown Him with Many Crowns”, public domain.
  3. First Reading: Jeremiah 23:1-6, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 46, Anglican Chant, by St. Paul’s Burlingame, used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  5. Second Reading: Colossians 1:11-20, World English Bible.
  6. Alleluia: From “Omnes gentes with Alleluias (Psalm 46)” Posted to YouTube by “verbum gloriae”, used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  7. Gospel: Luke 23:33-43, World English Bible.
  8. The Lord’s Prayer: From the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.
  9. Benediction: From the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.
  10. Organ Postlude: “Praise my soul the King of Heaven.” Performed by Diane Bish, at the Eglise Notre Dame de Caudebec en Caux. Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
15Nov

Celebration for the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost

  1. Opening Acclamation: Psalm 118:1.
  2. Hymn: “Rejoice The Lord Is King” by unknown soloist. Uploaded to YouTube by Christina Iqupen, and used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.  
  3. First Reading: Malachi 4:1-2a, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm: Giovanni Croce (1557-1609) “Cantate Domino” (setting of Psalm 98 in Latin), performed by an anonymous choir, uploaded to YouTube by “Free Music Tube”, used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  5. Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, World English Bible.
  6. Organ Sequence: Georg Böhm (1661-1733): “Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend”, performed by Jens Engle, Used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  7. Gospel: Luke 21:5-19, World English Bible.
  8. The Lord’s Prayer: From Matthew 6.
  9. Blessing: From 2 Corinthians 13.
  10. Choral “Amen”, public domain.
  11. Organ postlude: J. S. Bach (1685–1750), “Fantasie c-Dur”, BWV 573, performed by Axel Fischer at Lüchow, uploaded to YouTube by NOMINEeV, 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.

02Nov

Celebration for the 21st Sunday After Pentecost

  1. Opening Acclamation: Psalm 46:1.
  2. Organ Prelude: “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” performed at Zwingli’s church, Bern Minster, by Diane Bish, from “8719 BERN CATHEDRAL – BERN, SWITZERLAND”, used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
  3. First Reading: Isaiah 1:10-18, King James Bible.
  4. Hymn: “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” sung by an unknown congregation. Public domain.
  5. Psalm 32:1-7, King James Bible.
  6. Response: Psalm 84 (1), sung at Kerke de Laurens, Rotterdam, in 2020. Used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  7. Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12, World English Bible.
  8. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Chorale prelude on “Allein Gott in der Höh´ sei Ehr´” BWV 716, recorded on Hauptwerk VI, using the Sonus Paradisi Sample Set of the Schnitger Organ in Noordbroek, Netherlands. Uploaded to Youtube by Leon Kopecny in 2021, used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  9. Gospel: Luke 19:1-10, World English Bible.
  10. 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.
  11. Blessing: 1 Timothy 1:17.
  12. Organ Postlude: Johan Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): “Toccata and Fugue in D minor.” Played by Fyodor Stroganov (organ). Recorded from a concert on 10/04/2015 at the Evangelical Lutheran Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul. 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.

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..