Category: Music

All Creatures of Our God and King

cathedral windowThe title in the New Century Hymnal is To You, O god, All Creatures Sing, #17. It has 6 verses. The only representative texts I could find only have only have 5, so when/if you sing along, and I hope you do, you’ll have to improvise that final verse!

The descant I use on verse 4 is the one given in the NCH. I don’t mind using my own descants, but I also like to use given ones because they become favorite, personal pleasures of soprano and tenor members of the congregation…so why deprive them of their guilty pleasures–indulge, indulge!

In verse 6 I put the tune in the pedals and inverted the counterpoint in the hands. The harmonization of this magnificent tune, is of course, by Ralph Vaughn Williams.

Wakantanka Taku Nitawa (Many and Great, O God, Are Your Works)

MinnesotaThis morning’s Earth Day hymn is this famous Native American hymn. #3 in the New Century Hymnal, both verses are given in the original Dakota language as well as in an English translation. Hymnary.org gives just the English translation.

The NCH suggests the 4 quarter note drum throughout. I debated using that since I don’t want to err in the direction of tasteless cultural approbation any more than I already have by using this hymn. But…it seemed to work if done very softly and it gives a sense of forward motion.

The footnotes in the NCH give Joseph Renville, 1842, as having adapted the tune and James Murry, 1877, as having provided the harmonization. Renville helped establish the Lac qui Parle mission in Minnesota and Frazier, a Native American, was a Congregational minister.

All Things Bright and Beautiful

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThis week, and the coming Corona Sabbath, is Earth Week at Lakewood UCC. So in celebration there’ll be a daily hymn about the beauties of creation. There can’t be any hymn more arch-typical of the topic than this first one, All Things Bright and Beautiful, the melody of which is ROYAL OAK, a traditional English Melody, adapted by Martin Shaw, 1915. That link gives 5 verses plus the refrain, but I’ve stuck with the 3 versus and refrain of the New Century Hymnal.

Corona Sabbath 5

CoronaSabbath5April 19

These weeks when we cannot gather in person for Sunday worship, Lakewood United Church of Christ is providing brief weekly sabbath programs for you to listen to on your own or with those you live with. They will be posted on Friday so that you can schedule your sabbath time to suit your schedule and your spiritual inclinations. We hope these programs are of spiritual support to you in these difficult times.

Find a quiet place, inside or outside. Light a candle. Breathe. Be present.

You may begin by offering these words:

What we are confronted with, then, is a foreign land, a passage through a desert; testing and discernment. But in this same land, from which God is not in fact absent, the seeds of a new spirituality can germinate. This spirituality gives rise to new songs to the Lord.
–Gustavo Gutierrez

When you are ready, start the video below.

There is a scripture lesson and a brief meditation by Pastor Kim Wells followed by music offered by Music Director Hilton Kean Jones.

(For written text of video click HERE.)

As you listen to the music from Hilton which follows, you are invited to pay attention to the thoughts and feelings and reflections that arise for you.

After viewing the video and listening to the music, you are invited to offer the following closing:

Fill me, joy of Jesus; anxiety shall cease,
and heaven’s serenity be mine, for Jesus brings me peace!

–from the hymn “Heal Me, Hands of Jesus” by Michael Perry

Breathe. Extinguish your candle and engage whatever may come with a sense of peace and a desire to serve.

LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

The mission of Lakewood United Church of Christ, as part of the Church Universal, is to:

  • Celebrate the presence and power of God in our lives and in our world;
  • Offer the hospitality and inclusive love of Christ to all people;
  • Work for God’s peace and justice throughout creation.

Precious Memories

Precious MemoriesThis is another one of those hymns that ought to be in every hymnal but isn’t. It’s in only one, a magnificent hymnal: the African American Heritage Hymnal. I recommend it very, very highly. It should be on every church musician’s bookshelf.

Can’t give the words because of copyright, but I can tell you that the text is built on John 14:18 — I will not leave you orphaned. I am coming to you.

Here it is featuring piano but with some traditional B3 organ and cheezy strings. Absolutely love that “N” in Magnolia. That’s the Magnolia Cemetery in Hurley Mississippi. It used to be the Jones cemetery (our family cemetery and in fact most of the graves–everyone in town???–are relatives).