Sunday, October 2, 2022 – 17th Sunday after Pentecost

The music of contemporary English composer John Rutter has become a staple in the choral repertoire and is beloved by many. His Requiem, a musical setting of parts of the Latin Requiem with added psalms and biblical verses in English, is the most well-known and widely performed setting from the late 20th century. At the Offertory we hear the second movement, “Out of the Deep,” a setting of Psalm 130. Featuring solo cello throughout, one can hear the rumblings from the depths of the Psalmist’s soul. We welcome cellist Chris French, the Associate Principal Cellist for the Houston Symphony. 

The text of the widely popular hymn “Be Thou My Vision” comes to us from the Irish monastic tradition c. 700. At the Ministration, the choir sings a simple but elegant arrangement of this hymn, based on an old Irish folk tune, arranged by American composer Alice Parker. 

Sunday, September 25, 2022 – 16th Sunday after Pentecost

Charles Wesley (1707-1788) wrote hundreds of hymns and poems and was one of the most prolific English poets. His hymns bear witness to the power of God in Christ, today and in every age, and twenty-four of them are included in our present hymnal. Wesley’s hymn “Jesu, Lover of My Soul” speaks of the sufficiency of Christ and declares Christ to be the sole desire of the Christian. At the Offertory, we hear a fresh, contemporary setting of this familiar text by English composer and conductor Philip Stopford. The accessible, lyrical style of his writing is memorable, allowing the text to speak with great meaning.

Doris Mae Akers was an African-American gospel music composer, arranger, and singer with more than 500 songs to her credit. Known for her work with the Sky Pilot Choir, she was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2001. At the conclusion of the Ministration, we sing her strong hymn of faith, “Lead me, guide me.”

Sunday, September 18, 2022 – 15th Sunday after Pentecost

Today’s musical offerings feature compositions by American composers. At the Introit, we hear the words of the hymn “Become to us the living bread,” as set to a hymn tune composed by the late Jane Marshall. A native of Dallas, Jane had a significant impact on generations of church music and musicians alike through her many compositions, 100 plus hymns, books authored, and classes taught as instructor of Sacred Music at the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. The text of Marshall’s hymn was authored by California native Miriam Drury. 

The well-known text of Philippians 2:5-11, a passage from Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, was originally thought to have been a later addition to Paul’s letter, but scholarly opinion now agrees that Paul was, in fact, quoting a hymn older than the letter itself, dating from the earliest days of the Christian church. At the Offertory, the chorale sings a setting of this historic hymn, “Let This Mind Be in You,” by renowned 20^th American composer Lee Hoiby. A paraphrase of this same text appears in our hymnal as “At the Name of Jesus,” and is sung to the majestic tune King’s Weston, composed for the text by Ralph Vaughan Williams. 

Contemporary David Hurd has likewise influenced generations of church musicians and the wider church. Dr. Hurd was Professor of Sacred Music and Director of Chapel Music at the General Theological Seminary, New York City, for 39 years. He was also the Music Director at the Church of the Holy Apostles, in Chelsea, until May 2013. Presently, he is the Director of Music at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Times Square, New York City. Hurd was a former member of the Standing Commission on Church Music of the Episcopal Church which had an active role in the development of The Hymnal 1982, and you will see his name listed at the conclusion of the preface of that book. Today, we hear two compositions of his: a Psalm tone to which the Chorale will sing Psalm 79 and, at the Ministration, a recent anthem “Love bade me welcome” with words by George Herbert.