Sunday, August 9, the Tenth Sunday After Pentecost
Our Music Director Mark Nelson's mother Doris died yesterday, August 8. May her soul, and the souls of all faithful departed, rest in peace.
Dear Friends in Christ,
This week’s worship videos are now available:
Morning Prayer, Rite I:
Morning Prayer, Rite II:
Our guest preacher this week is the Rev. Canon Bill Parnell, our diocese's Canon to the Ordinary. Some of you might remember when he visited our church on January 14, 2018 and celebrated, preached, and led our forum. Like most people, I seldom remember sermons — including my own — but I still remember his thoughtful meditation on the idyllic peninsula of Labadee in Haiti to inspire and challenge us. True to form, he has another well-considered sermon for us this morning, another skillful use of measured delivery to deliver an invigorating message. Please join us for our virtual coffee hour at noon: • To join in the Zoom app, use the Meeting ID: 852 8633 0838 (no password). • To join in your browser, click here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85286330838 • To join from a smartphone, tap here: +16465588656,,85286330838# • To join from a conventional phone, call (646) 558-8656 and enter the Meeting ID. We had a great time last week with a couple of new faces; here's hoping for more of the same this week. See you soon!
Music Notes: Our hymns include #11 "Awake, my soul, and with the sun." This hymn made its first appearance in the American Episcopal hymnals in 1808 and was matched with the tune that was written for it when the text was new. Bishop Thomas Ken wrote this hymn for daily use at the Chapel at Winchester School before 1674. The original included 11 more stanzas. My favo(u)rite is #3: In Conversation be sincere, Keep conscience as the Noon-tide clear. Think how All-seeing God thy ways, And all thy Secret Thoughts surveys. We also sing #608 "Eternal Father, strong to save" AKA "The Navy Hymn" which has over time achieved international popularity among English-speaking peoples. The music is by Precentor (clergy in charge of music) of Durham Cathedral, John Bacchus Dykes, for inclusion in Hymns Ancient and Modern (1861). The tune name recalls the safe haven in Malta where St. Paul was saved from the shipwreck there recorded in Acts 28. Also a reflection on today's Gospel of Jesus walking on the water in the midst of a storm. We welcome this week Maggie Marshall sing in our little group. Maggie has recently retired as Minister of Music at All Saints' in Chelmsford where she's served for 35 (yes, 35) years! Singing 608 is all the more poignant for me this week, in addition to the obvious, living by the ocean, that my mother's father was first clarinet in the Navy Band. He died quite young in his 40s from the lingering effects of being gassed during WWI. And also since my own mother died Saturday. Thanks so much for the kind welcome that she has received here over the years. She felt very much at home, despite it not being a Lutheran Church!