7th Sunday after Pentecost (July 8, 2017)

At 10 a.m., we hear two organ works by German composers from two very different eras. J.S. Bach’s chorale prelude on Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier (translated as “Dearest Jesus, we are here”) opens the worship service. Bach wrote several settings of this tune by Johann Ahle (1664). The present setting, categorized as BWV 731, is an early work. The exact date of composition is unknown. Hermann Schroeder (1904-1984) strived to compose music free of any Romantic leanings and instead employed Medieval elements such as Gregorian Chant and modal scales along with quartal/quintal harmonies and aspects of atonality. He was considered a member of the “Neo-Baroque” movement which also included Paul Hindemith and Hugo Distler in its roster. Schroeder’s brief Praeludium will close the service.

The Summer Choir returns this Sunday in the second of three opportunities this season offering “In This Very Room” by Ron and Carol Harris. You too can join us if you wish! Rehearsal begins at 9:15 a.m. in the sanctuary.

At 6 p.m., Bobby will be joined by trumpeter Tony Gezzi and friends for an evening of eclectic musical stylings.

I also wanted to say just a few words about the trip to Texas Hal and I took this past week. In case you didn’t know, we had been selected for a Lilly Scholar grant, courtesy of the Church Music Institute, that enabled us to attend workshops at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas and a week of classes at Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. The information received has been overwhelming and will be processed slowly in the coming weeks. I know our project as part of the Lilly Scholar grant, the refinement and continued intentional evolution of our 6:00 p.m. service, will greatly benefit from this past week, as will all of our service offerings at Plymouth. Being immersed in an environment of shared learning and being among our peers and colleagues from several different denominations was inspiring, motivating, and encouraging to the work we all do here. Hal and I will return next summer for continued study and will meet with our Colorado counterparts in this Lilly Project, representatives from Heart of the Rockies of Fort Collins and First Congregational Church of Boulder. We are excited to see realized a deepening and evolution of our services as we continue forward. More to come.
 
Mark Heiskanen
Director of Music