May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face, and the rain fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again, may God hold you ever in the palm of his hand.
- Traditional Irish blessing

On this Totenfest/All Saints Day Sunday, we remember loved ones who have passed on with an "Elegy" by Australian-born organist/composer George Thalben-Ball. His most well-known composition for organ, this lovely meditative work emerged from an improvisation on a BBC radio show in World War II and was played at the funeral of Princess Diana of Wales in 1997.

The Chancel Choir offers a moment of comfort and assured hope in the ancient words of "Irish Blessing" in a beautiful setting by British composer Bob Chilcott. The anonymous text reminds us that life's road can be long—and challenging—but that in God's presence we are never alone.

A triumphant "Alleluia" closes worship with a reminder that Love can never die. This final movement from Italian organist/composer Marco Bossi's "Six Pieces for Organ, Op. 70" implies a sung "Alleluia" refrain with its four note descending motif heard throughout this celebratory work from 1917.  

"Join me now the road is wide,
all God's children side by side,
where justice will shine and love abide,
we're headed back home by another road,
yes, we're headed back home by another road."
- Mark Miller and Lindy Thompson

The Plymouth Ringers begin worship with a celebratory bell peal based on the Genevan psalter tune "Old 100th" arranged by Linda Lamb. The 16th century tune is one of the most well-known Christian melodies often sung as a Doxology with the text "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow."

The Chancel Choir offers the folky and at times gospel-inflected anthem "Home By Another Road" by prolific American composer Mark Miller. The text, written by Mr. Miller and frequent collaborator Lindy Thompson, shares a vision of a loving community that transforms all those who choose to enter, creating new paths to follow.

The service concludes with the joyous opening movement from "Prelude and Fugue in C Major, BWV 547" by Johann Sebastian Bach. While we celebrate community and Plymouth's giving spirit this Sunday as the Generosity Campaign comes to an end, it is also Reformation Sunday. The great composer of the reformation is undoubtedly Bach and his Spirit-filled works project his devout personal faith. He often began his compositions with the initials "J.J." (Latin abbreviation for "Jesu, Juva" translated as "Jesus, help") and signed off with "SDG" (Latin abbreviation for "Soli Deo Gloria" translated as "to God alone, the glory') expressly communicating his intent to glorify God, and not himself, with his prodigious God-given musical talent.

We begin with an ode to the dawning of a new day in "Here Comes the Sun" by George Harrison. Vocalist/guitarist Bill DeMarco, vocalist Lucas Jackson and bassist Peter Strening offer this classic song of renewal as we enter this morning worship time together.

The Chancel Choir sings a choral arrangement of the John Lennon song "Imagine" by Jay Althouse. Joined by Bill and Peter, we "Imagine Together" a new world of peace and community in this musically "blended" worship space.

A toccata on the early American hymn of faith "How Firm a Foundation" by Craig Phillips closes worship on a jubilant note. The tune from the "Southern Harmony" shape note book (1835) is treated to several creative variations before returning to the joyous opening motif.

"How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in God's excellent Word!
What more can be said than to you God hath said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled? "
- verse one of "How Firm a Foundation" by "K," 1787.

Worshipful expressions of praise —across the board—this Sunday morning.

At the Prelude, excerpts from Dutch composer Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck's chorale partita "Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr" (To God Alone be the Glory) will be offered. Based on a 16th century German hymn intended as a Protestant representation of the Latin mass "Gloria," this early Baroque work brings to fore characteristics of the Renaissance era.  

Kids Will Sing! return to the worship hour with two selections of praise: the Caribbean folk song "Halle, Halle, Halle" and traditional children's song "Hallelujah, Praise ye the Lord!" We look forward to many more offerings by Plymouth's youth in the months to come!

At the Offertory, the Chancel Choir sings "All Who Are Just" in a setting of music and text by Richard Proulx. The text is a paraphrase of Psalm 33:1-4 exclaiming the glory of God ("All who are just, sing praise to God with harp and voice of rejoicing"). The music is adapted from the 1703 work "Quatre Versets" by French composer Francois Couperin. 

At the Postlude, the lively "Toccata in F Major" by German Baroque composer Dietrich Buxtehude closes worship with an affect of unrelenting joy.

On this festive Generosity Campaign kick-off Sunday, eclectic musical offerings from our music ministry and guests bring us together in mission and worship.

Violinist Amy Welsh presents Mozart's "Violin Sonata No. 18, K. 301" during the Prelude and Postlude. Also known as the "Palatine Sonata", referring to its dedication to Countess Palatine Auguste in 1778, this concise lively work consists of only two movements which will be heard in its entirety: I. Allegro con spirito and II. Allegro.

The Plymouth Ringers return to the morning worship services with "Canon of Grace" by Linda Lamb. This lovely and inventive arrangement seamlessly combines themes from the infamous Pachelbel "Canon in D" with the beloved hymn tune "Amazing Grace."

During our time at the table, the Chancel Choir offers Mark Hayes' "Celtic Communion" with flutist Aaron McGrew. Based on the Gaelic hymn tune "Bunessan" (more commonly known as "Morning Has Broken"), the eucharistic text by Reginald Heber is joined with an adaptation of the Irish prayer "St. Patrick's Breastplate" traditionally attributed to St. Patrick.