We welcome the season of Advent with a serene setting of the carol "Veni Emmanuel" (O Come, O Come, Emmanuel) by Charles Callahan. The Chancel Choir ushers in this season of waiting with "Come, Jesus, Come" by Alfred Fedak. Flutist Aaron McGrew joins us for the latter two offerings as well. The organ presents a hopeful rendering of the Advent carol "Helmsley" (Lo! He Comes With Clouds Descending") in a toccata by James Vivian.
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Songs of thankfulness and praise from around the world will be presented at the 9:00 a.m. service. Ukulelist Stuart Yoshida joins us in the chancel.
Songs of gratitude and joy carry over into the 11:00 a.m. service as well on this last Sunday of the liturgical year. At the Prelude, a sprightly selection from the Baroque era by violinist Harmony Tucker is offered in Handel's "Allegro con brio" from Sonata No. 4 in D Major. The Chancel Choir sings a paraphrase of Psalm 98 ("Oh, Sing to the Lord a New Song") in a lilting setting exuding a sense of a 'quiet joy' by John Leavitt. Harmony Tucker and bassist Con Woodall accompany. At the Postlude, Sigfrid Karg-Elert's chorale prelude on "Now Thank We All Our God" closes worship this holiday weekend, a staple of the organ repertoire. At the 9:00 a.m. "eclectic" service, our core trio of worship musicians cantor Lucas Jackson, bassist Peter Strening, and I offer songs rejoicing in the blessings that God's presence brings. Selections from the American spiritual and jazz songbooks and George Harrison will be presented.
At the 11:00 a.m. traditional service, the Chancel Choir sings of the blessings received in simply being what God created us to be in "Child of God," a gospel-influenced anthem by Mark Miller. From the organ comes two settings of Welsh hymn tunes: "Rhosymedre" (translated as "lovely") by Ralph Vaughan Williams and "CWM Rhondda" (the tune of "God of Grace and God of Glory") by Paul Manz. Two African-American tunes greet you upon entering the sanctuary on this Installation Sunday. First, a jazz-influenced rendition of "McKee" based on an arrangement by James Biery, followed by the spiritual "Lord, I Want to Be a Christian" in an intimate setting by Bill Ingram presented by the Plymouth Ringers. The Chancel Choir exclaims "I'm Goin' to Sing" in a lively arrangement of the spiritual by Alice Parker and Robert Shaw. From the organ, a joyous festival setting of the opening hymn tune is offered in "Toccata-Improvisation on Lasst uns erfreuen" by Brenda Portman.
Ovella Huddleston and cantor Lucas Jackson contribute the lush ambience of the low strings to the early morning worship service. Arrangements of works by Gustav Holst and Antonio Vivaldi will be offered on this day of remembrance.
At 11:00, the organ consoles those gathered with an "Elegy" by composer and a former Cincinnati colleague of mine Brenda Portman. During communion, the Chancel Choir offers the traditional Irish blessing in a serene setting by Bob Chilcott. The service concludes with an assured and triumphant meditation on the All Saints Sunday hymn "O What Their Joy and Their Glory Must Be." |
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