Worship

Dear members of God’s family at Resurrection Church,

For the third Sunday in a row we read from Matthew’s collection of Jesus’ parables. Only, this Sunday the images are more surprising yet, full of God’s wisdom, like that given to Solomon, full of the love of Christ from which we can never be separated, as St. Paul says. On Sunday, July 26, if you can, join the congregation in praying together at 10 am.

Worship Service

A pre-recorded worship service, complete with readings, Pastor Linman's sermon, prayers, and music will broadcast at 10am on Sunday, July 26 on our YouTube channel and will be available below:

Worship material for July 26, 2020

The following have been posted to YouTube; here is the YouTube Playlist for July 26, 2020:

Music Notes

Hymn of the Day: “Jesus, Priceless Treasure,” #775
Text: Johann Franck (1618-1677)
Tune: JESU, MEINE FREUDE, Johann Crüger (1598-1662)

The original German text “Jesu, meine Freude” by Johann Franck first appeared in Johann Crüger's Praxis Pietatis Melica (1653) in six long stanzas. The text was modeled in part after a love song found in Heinrich Albert's Arein (1641), "Flora, meine Freude, meiner Seele Weide.” Catherine Winkworth translated the text into English and published it in her Chorale Book for England (1863). Our version includes the original stanzas 1, 2, and 6. Much loved by Christians from various traditions, “Jesus, Priceless Treasure” is one of the finest examples of German piety in a devotional hymn. The intensity of emotional expression found here provides a suitable counter-balance to the cerebral character of much Reformed worship.

Inspired by Jesus' parables of the great treasure and fine pearl (Matt. 13:44-46) and other New Testament references to the metaphor "treasure," this text is strongly Christocentric. Stanza 1 confesses with mystical ecstasy that Christ is the source of purest pleasure (a bold affirmation that counters the hedonism of this world). Stanza 2 expands the metaphor: Christ our treasure is also our fortress, our defense and protector from the "sin and hell" that would "assail" us. And stanza 4 affirms that, despite the fears and sorrow we must bear, Jesus remains our greatest treasure and source of profound joy.

Johann Crüger is known as a German composer of well-known hymns. He was also the editor of the most widely used Lutheran hymnal of the 17th century, Praxis pietatis melica, which is considered one of the most important collections of German hymnody in the seventeenth century. It was reprinted forty-four times in the following hundred years. He wrote music instruction manuals and tirelessly promoted congregational singing. With his tunes he often included elaborate accom­paniment for various instruments. Crüger's hymn collection, Neues vollkomliches Gesangbuch (1640), was one of the first hymnals to include figured bass accompaniment (musical shorthand) with the chorale melody rather than full harmonization written out. It included eighteen of Crüger's tunes.

Musical Meditation: “Soul, Adorn Thyself with Gladness”, Aaron David Miller (b.1972)

The original of the beautifully ornamented melody of today’s Musical Reflection represents a second collaboration of music and text by Johann Crüger and Johann Franck. Johann Crüger composed SCHMÜCKE DICH (Deck Thyself, My Soul) and first published the tune as a setting for the first stanza of the SCHMÜCKE DICH text by Johann Franck. The tune name is the incipit of the original German text. Johann S. Bach used this tune in his Cantata 180; he and many other composers have written organ preludes on the melody.

Aaron David Miller is noted for his highly imaginative and creative style, found in his performances, improvisations and compositions. He serves as the Director of Music and Organist at House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul, Minnesota and maintains an active recital schedule. He is a forensic musicologist for Donato Music in Scarsdale, NY.

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Dear members of God’s family at Resurrection Church,

This Sunday we once again read from the Third Discourse of Matthew, Matthew’s collection of the parables of Jesus. The Gospel for this Sunday is a parable found only in Matthew: the story of the wheat and the weeds. The parable calls for us to leave judgement to God and to instead rely on God’s mercy and patience. If you are able, join the congregation at 10am on Sunday to pray and to hear the word of that mercy.

Worship Service

A pre-recorded worship service, complete with readings, Pastor Linman's sermon, prayers, and music will broadcast at 10am on Sunday, July 19 on our YouTube channel and will be available below:

Worship material for July 19, 2020

The following have been posted to YouTube; here is the YouTube Playlist for July 19, 2020:

Music Notes

Hymn of the Day: “We Plow the Fields and Scatter”, #681
Text: Matthias Claudius (1740-1815)
Tune: Wir Pflugen, Johann A. Schulz, (1747-1800)

This text was not written as a hymn, nor was it stimulated by specific biblical passages. It was first published in a newspaper as an idyllic portrayal of country life and later the refrain and certain stanzas were gathered to form this hymn text. In 1861 Jane M. Campbell translated them into English.

The tune, also known as CLAUDIUS, first appeared with another text in a volume of melodies for public schools.

Musical Reflection: “All Glory Be to God on High”, Craig Phillips (b. 1961)

California based, and an Oklahoma native, Craig Phillips is a distinguished and popular American composer and organist, and Director of Music at All Saints’ Church, Beverly Hills, CA.

The tune is the work of the cantor, pastor and teacher Nikolaus Decius (1485-1546). His source was a 10th century chant setting of the Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Craig Phillips‘ harmonic language is a melting pot of many varied styles and often his rhythmic settings garner attention for their energy, use of rhythm and drive. In this setting he seeks to reflect the rather exuberant text in a manner both introspective and uplifting.

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Dear members of God’s family at Resurrection Church,

We begin now to read for three Sundays in a row the third of the Great Discourses of Matthew: the Parables of Jesus. This Sunday the Gospel is the Parable of the Sower. Together with your congregation, if you are able, join in prayer at 10am on Sunday, using one of the many available ways, to let the seed of the word of God fall into your life again.

Worship Service

A pre-recorded worship service, complete with readings, Pastor Linman's sermon, prayers, and music will broadcast at 10am on Sunday, July 12 on our YouTube channel and will be available below:

Worship material for July 12, 2020

The following have been posted to YouTube; here is the YouTube Playlist for July 12, 2020:

Music Notes

Hymn of the Day: “Almighty God, Your Word is Cast”, #516
Text: John Cawood (1775-1852)
Tune: St. Flavian, English folk tune

Almighty God, Thy word is cast. J. Cawood. [After Sermon.] Written about 1815 in 5 stanzas of 4 lines, and designated for use "After a Sermon". The text is stimulated by Jesus’ parable of the sower. It was reprinted in 1825 and from that date it has grown in importance as a congregational hymn, and its use has become extensive in all English-speaking countries. He published several prose works, but no volume of hymns or poems. His son says, "My father composed about thirteen hymns, which have one by one got into print, though never published by himself, or any one representing him.”

ST. FLAVIAN is an example of an English psalm tune that, like many Genevan Psalter tunes and German chorales, had its original rhythms smoothed out. It is an English tune that has been happily attached to numerous texts.

Choir Anthem: Go Forth Into the World in Peace
Paul Sjolund (b.1935)

Paul Sjolund is a leading composer of American church and choral music. The range of his style includes a wide spectrum of majestic anthems, fanfares and festival hymns, poignant children's music, and exhilarating range of spirituals and folksongs.

Go forth into the world in peace. Be of good courage, hold fast to that which is good, Render to no one evil for evil.

Go forth into the world in love: Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, Help the afflicted, honor all people: love and serve the Lord.

Rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit, go forth into the world in peace.

Musical Reflection: Gift of Finest Wheat
Ron Schmoltze (b. 1936)

Robert E. Kreutz (1922-1996) carefully crafted the tune GIFT OF FINEST WHEAT, or BICENTENNIAL, in 1976 and it is faithfully represented in this organ setting. Though the meter changes frequently, the melody flows very naturally, with the changing meters unified by melodic and rhythmic motifs.

Ron Schmoltze is a church musician working in the San Francisco Bay area.

Ms. Angie has a new Children's Message. Click below to view:

Dear members of God’s family at Resurrection Church,

The Gospel today is a beloved passage, unique to Matthew. Jesus speaks, as the very presence of the ancient Wisdom of God, offering rest to those who “are weary and carrying heavy burdens.” In this hard time, we may come to this deep rest to- gether as we encounter Christ in the scripture and as we pray. If you are able, join the congregation, using one of the many ways available, at 10am on Sunday, July 5.

Worship Service Broadcast

A pre-recorded worship service, complete with readings, Pastor Linman's sermon, prayers, and music will broadcast at 10am on Sunday, July 5 on our YouTube channel and will be available below:

Worship material for July 5, 2020

The following have been posted to YouTube; here is the YouTube Playlist for July 5, 2020:

Music Notes

Hymn of the Day “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say”, #611
Text: Horacius Bonar (1808-1889)
Tune: Kingsfold, English folk tune

Dr. Bonar's family has had representatives among the clergy of the Church of Scotland during two centuries and more. Horatius Bonar was ordained to the ministry and served as pastor at Kelso. In 1843, he joined the Free Church of Scotland. His reputation as a religious writer was first gained on the publication of the "Kelso Tracts," of which he was the author. He has also written many other prose works, some of which have had a very large circulation. Nor is he less favorably known as a religious poet and hymn-writer. The three series of "Hymns of Faith and Hope," have passed through several editions.

Dr. Bonar's poems—-including many beautiful lyrics, several psalm versions, and translations from the Greek and Latin, a large number of hymns, and a long meditative poem—-are very numerous. With Dr. Bonar's poetical writings great difficulty has been encountered by the historian and annotator because of his absolute indifference to dates and details. It was enough for him that he had written, and that the Church of Christ approved and gladly used what, out of the fulness of his heart, he had given her.

In Great Britain and America nearly 100 of Dr. Bonar's hymn texts are in common use. They are found in almost all modern hymnals.

Thought by some scholars to date back to the Middle Ages, the tune KINGSFOLD is a folk tune set to a variety of texts in England and Ireland. It was published in English Country Songs (1893). After having heard the tune in Kingsfold, Sussex, England (thus its name), Ralph Vaughan Williams introduced it as a hymn tune in The English Hymnal (1906) as a setting for Horatius Bonar's "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say".

Musical Reflection: God Himself Is With Us, David Cherwein (1957)

David Cherwien, Artistic Director of the National Lutheran Choir, is a nationally known conductor, composer, and organist. Recognized for his contributions to the field of church music and liturgy, he is in demand as a clinician and hymn festival leader across the country.

In applying his vibrant, musical imagination to this calm and serene hymn setting, David Cherwien has composed an enchanting piece filled with hushed harmonies which fall gently on the ear. Enjoy!

Ms. Angie has a new Children's Message! Click below to view:

Dear members of God’s family at Resurrection Church,

We finish reading from the second great discourse of Matthew today, the mission instructions given to the disciples and given still to us. We are exhorted to wel- come those who come to our communities, faithfully speaking the word of God, and we are urged to welcome with a cup of cold water the littlest and most vulner- able of people. On this “cup of cold water Sunday,” join together with your con- gregation — at 10 am, if you are able — to hear the word of God and pray in your own home. These materials offer you many ways to do that. Then consider how you may offer that cup of water to others, even when “socially distanced.”

Worship Service Broadcast

A pre-recorded worship service, complete with readings, Pastor Linman's sermon, prayers, and music will broadcast at 10am on Sunday, June 28 on our YouTube channel and will be available below:

Worship material for June 28, 2020

The following have been posted to YouTube; here is the YouTube Playlist for June 28, 2020:

Music Notes

Hymn of the Day: “Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us”, #707
Text: Eliza S. Alderson (1818-1889)
Tune: HYFRYDOL, Rowland H. Pritchard (1811-1887)

Eliza S. Alderson wrote this text about tithing, sent it to the committee working on an addition to Hymns Ancient and Modern (1861) and requested that, if it were chosen, her brother John B. Dykes would be asked to write a tune for it. It was chosen, and he wrote the pleasant and not memorable CHARITAS.

Rowland H. Pritchard was a textile worker and an amateur musician. He had a good singing voice and was appointed precentor in Graienyn. Many of his tunes were published in Welsh periodicals. He composed this most loved Welsh tune when he was only nineteen. It was published with about forty of his other tunes in his children's hymnal Cyfaill y Cantorion (The Singers' Friend) in 1844. HYFRYDOL means delightful, beautiful, sweet, melodious, etc. The “H” in the tune name is pronounced, both the ‘y’s are sounded like the ‘u’ in ‘nut’ and the ‘f’ is voiced like ‘v’. This tune can be found published with at least 91 different texts. This is probably because HYFRYDOL is not only a tune that is quite friendly to congregations but one that accommodates many texts very well.

Musical Reflection: Give Me Jesus, Richard Billingham (1934)

Richard Billington worked for many years as Associate Professor of Music at the University of Illinois and Organist at the First Methodist Church, Chicago. Give Me Jesus is a fairly old hymn, originating as an African-American spiritual written during the time of slavery in the Untied States. It is currently published in 22 hymnals.

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