We celebrate the rich diversity of Plymouth's music ministry on this Annual Celebration Sunday morning. 

At the Prelude, guitarist and vocalist Bill DeMarco presents "Never Alone," a song about unconditional love and the value of faith in trying times recorded by Jim Brickman. Bassist Peter Strening and vocalist Lucas Jackson also join in as well as lead congregational songs of community and resilience throughout morning worship.

The Chancel Choir in collaboration with our "eclectic service" musicians offers the 1960's peace anthem "Get Together" arranged for chorus by John Arteron. Originally written by Chet Powers of the group Quicksilver Messenger Service, the song became a Top 10 hit in 1969 when covered by The Youngbloods. The lyrics speak to the axis of love and fear and the power of choice we each hold to choose between them. The well-known chorus states this message clearly: "Come on people now, smile on your brother. Everybody get together, try to love one another right now."

The organ invites you back into the sanctuary with a joyous fanfare following the brief Fellowship Time preceding the Annual Meeting. The fanfare is based on the G.F. Handel composed hymn tune "Gopsal," often associated with the hymn of praise "Rejoice, the Lord Is King!" The jubilant character of this setting surely reflects the recurring refrain of the original hymn text by Charles Wesley adapted from Philippians 4.4:  "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice."

The grand Martin Luther hymn of faith "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" concludes our time of fellowship and worship in a brilliant toccata setting by eminent American organ composer Emma Lou Diemer.

On this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend, we are reminded once again that the arc of the moral universe is indeed long, and challenging, but does inevitably bend towards justice. Together, united in the Spirit, our individual gifts can come together and reveal glimpses of the Kin-dom of God to the world. Songs of Blessed Community, the Spirit, and a relentless optimism from the African-American spiritual songbook will be shared this Sunday morning.

At the Prelude, the Plymouth Ringers offer a jubilant setting of "Great Day!" by Bill Ingram. The spiritual is a call to action for faithful people the world over. As the Refrain declares, "Great day! Great day, the righteous marching. Great day! God's going to build up Zion's walls!"   

The Chancel Choir sings Mark Hayes' "In the Morning, Joy" as you come forward to the Table. This lovely anthem embodies the essence of a beautiful morning sunrise and the optimism at the start of a new day — literally and figuratively. The text by Susan Boersma is based on the hopeful message of Psalm 30.5b which speaks to God's eternal love through all of life's adversity: "For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning."    

A playful and downright happy setting of the spiritual "Ain't-a That Good News" arranged by Marianne Kim concludes worship this Second Sunday of the Epiphany season. Characterized by the gospel and jazz idioms, this spicy arrangement easily relates the message of the spiritual that, in layman terms, God's love has our back!  

Welcoming you into the sanctuary this First Sunday after the Epiphany is the chorale prelude "Once He Came in Blessing" from J.S. Bach's "Orgelbüchlein" (Little Organ Book). This collection was originally designed to contain 146 selections representing chorales from all across the liturgical year but only 46 were completed in the composer's lifetime. This Sunday morning's gentle offering is taken from the Advent section but beautifully encapsulates the message of Jesus' Light to the world and his ministry.

The Chancel Choir shares the good news of the Epiphany season, the season of Light, in "Arise, Shine, for Your Light Is Come" by Robert Powell. The text by F. Bland Tucker refers to the story of Jesus' baptism in Luke 3: 21-22 and how we, filled with the Spirit and Light of Christ, are called to serve others in peace.

The service concludes with a meditation on the 19th century American folk tune "Land of Rest" which our closing hymn "God, When I Came Into this Life" is based on. During this peaceful setting by Andrew Moore, you will be invited to come forward and renew your baptism and commitment to God's Kin-dom on earth.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
fill me with life anew
that I may love the way you love
and do what you would do.
-Edwin Hatch, 1880

At the Prelude, the Plymouth Ringers offer "New Life" by Matt Johnson, a piece  celebrating the birth of his newborn son. Cellist Lucas Jackson joins the handbells in this joyous work. The Chancel Choir with flutist Aaron McGrew present "Celtic Communion" by Mark Hayes incorporating the well-known Gaelic tune "Bunessan" (commonly sung to the text "Morning Has Broken.") A fanfare on the hymn tune "Gopsal", the melody of which is attributed to composer G.F. Handel, closes worship in an exciting and concise setting by renowned British composer David Willcocks.

At 9:00 a.m., songs by Pete Seeger and Jesse Colin Young are offered by guitarist/vocalist Bill DeMarco. Bassist Peter Strening and cantor Lucas Jackson also contribute their talents to the morning's songs of community, praise and healing.

At 11:00 a.m., a contemporary setting of the hymn "Beautiful Savior" by Gerre Hancock begins the worship hour. The Chancel Choir sings the spiritual "Hold Out Your Light" in an elegant arrangement by Rollo Dilworth. A grand setting of the Welsh hymn tune "Hyfrydol" (the melody of our opening hymn "Alleluia! Gracious Jesus!") by Ralph Vaughan Williams closes the worship hour.

We are invited to heed the call of the divine this Sunday as we continue the  journey through the Epiphany season — the season of Light.

At the 9:00 a.m. service, an eclectic blend of musical genres will be presented including gospel, jazz, rock, a selection from the organ, and a Celtic tune played by violinist Harmony Tucker.

At the 11:00 a.m. service, worship begins with a chorale prelude in the Neo-Baroque style by 20th century composer Helmut Walcha. The Chancel Choir sings "Let in the Light" in an Epiphany anthem by Alfred Fedak. The service concludes with the jaunty and aptly titled "Postlude in G" by Edward Wetherill.  

At 9:00 a.m., a Celtic spirit informs the musical offerings for our early morning worship service. Violinist Harmony Tucker joins us for songs of cheer and haunting beauty.

At 11:00 a.m., the organ speaks in the spirit of the Baroque era with two 16th century hymn tune settings. At the Prelude, 20th century "Neo-Baroque" composer Helmut Walcha offers a delightfully eccentric reading of the Epiphany hymn "How Brightly Shines the Morning Star." At the Postlude, we go to "the source" with Johann Sebastian Bach's energetic and joyful chorale prelude on the new year carol "In Thee Is Gladness." Lastly, at the Offertory, the Chancel Choir sings the celebratory traditional Caribbean tune "Halle, Halle, Halle" arranged by Hal Hopson with unofficial resident djembist Rev. Hal Chorpenning and other aspiring percussionists.     

At 9:00, the sounds of freedom, justice and big dreaming are expressed in the stylings of American folk music and jazz. Vocalist/guitarist Bill DeMarco, cantor Lucas Jackson, and bassist Peter Strening provide these inspired sounds in early morning worship.

At 11:00, the Chancel Choir sings of the sanctity of each and every human life in the gospel-tinged "Child of God" by Mark Miller. Staff Singers Alex Young and Lucas Jackson are featured soloists in this rousing anthem of equality and social justice.

From the organ come contemporary readings of two American gospel tunes. At the Prelude, the highly chromatic and lush setting of "Sweet Hour of Prayer" by William Bolcom from his "Gospel Preludes." At the Postlude, an energetic arrangement of the spiritual "Every Time I Feel the Spirit" by Richard Elliott, Principal Organist for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Accessible and exciting, artful elements of 20th century French organ repertoire make this work a memorable take on this simple gospel tune.