Peace Be Still!

The Third Sunday after Pentecost
The readings for June 25 were:
1 Samuel 17: (1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49
Psalm 9:9-20
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Mark 4:35-41

Our first hymn was A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.
The text is by Martin Luther, translated by Frederick H. Hedge. The tune is Ein Feste Burg.

1. A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he amid the flood
of mortal ills prevaling.
For still our ancient foe
doth seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

2. Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right man on our side,
the man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabbaoth, his name,
from age to age the same,
and he must win the battle.

3. And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God hath willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo, his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.

4. That word above all earthly powers,
no thanks to them, abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours,
thru him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill;
God's truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever.

We had the liturgical dance ensemble at church this week. They had small groups dancing at all of the downtown churches. The choir sang Amazing Grace while they danced. The men sang verse three in a minor key.

1. Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
was blind, but now I see.

2. 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed.

3. Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.

4. The Lord has promised good to me,
his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be,
as long as life endures.

5. Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
a life of joy and peace.

6. When we've been there ten thousand years,
bright shining as the sun,
we've no less days to sing God's praise
than when we first begun.

Our second hymn was
Stand by Me, written by Charles Albert Tindley. Charles Albert Tindley (1851-1933) was one of the most famous African American Methodist ministers of his era and has been called "one of the founding fathers of African American gospel music.” The hymn is great, but I always find that the congregation has trouble with the rhythm of this hymn.

When the storms of life are raging, stand by me, stand by me.
When the storms of life are raging, stand by me, stand by me.
When the world is tossing me, like a ship upon the sea,
Thou who rulest wind and water, stand by me, stand by me.

In the midst of faults and failures, stand by me, stand by me.
In the midst of faults and failures, stand by me, stand by me.
When I’ve done the best I can, and my friends misunderstand,
Thou who knowest all about me, stand by me, stand by me.

When I’m growing old and feeble, stand by me, stand by me.
When I’m growing old and feeble, stand by me, stand by me.
When my life becomes a burden, and I‘m nearing chilly Jordan,
O thou Lily of the Valley, stand by me, stand by me.

The choir anthem was a setting of
It Is Well with My Soul by Horatio Spafford set to the tune Ville de Havre by Philip Bliss. The name of the tune is the name of the lost ship on which Spafford’s children perished. This is a difficult hymn for me to sing because it brings to mind the funeral of a friend who died in a plane crash this spring.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Refrain

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

Refrain

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

Refrain

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain

Our final hymn was Precious Lord, Take My Hand by Thomas A. Dorsey, set to an adaptation of the tune Maitland by George Alen. Dorsey wrote the hymn after the death of his wife Nettie in childbirth.

Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light:

Refrain

Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.

When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near,
When my life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call,
Hold my hand lest I fall:

Refrain

When the darkness appears
And the night draws near,
And the day is past and gone,
At the river I stand,
Guide my feet, hold my hand:

Refrain

The Second Sunday after Pentecost

The readings for June 18 were:
Psalm 20
1 Samuel 15:34-16:13
2 Corinthians 5:6-10, (11-13), 14-17
Mark 4:26-34

The service wasn’t well attended today. I think the summer vacations have begun. We had a lay leader give the sermon today. He preached from Psalm 20, connecting it to Father’s Day. He was pretty good for a layman. We had a guest organist also today.

Our first hymn was Love Divine, All Loves Excelling by Charles Wesley, set to the hymn tune Beecher by John Zundel.

1. Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven, to earth come down;
fix in us thy humble dwelling;
all thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation;
enter every trembling heart.

2. Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
into every troubled breast!
Let us all in thee inherit;
let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.

3. Come, Almighty to deliver,
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return and never,
nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.

4. Finish, then, thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee;
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.

The second hymn was More Love to Thee, O Christ by Elizabeth P. Prentiss. The hymn tune is More Love to Thee by William H. Doane.

1. More love to thee, O Christ, more love to thee!
Hear thou the prayer I make on bended knee.
This is my earnest plea: More love, O Christ, to thee;
more love to thee, more love to thee!

2. Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest;
now thee alone I seek, give what is best.
This all my prayer shall be: More love, O Christ, to thee;
more love to thee, more love to thee!

3. Let sorrow do its work, come grief and pain;
sweet are thy messengers, sweet their refrain,
when they can sing with me: More love, O Christ, to thee;
more love to thee, more love to thee!

4. Then shall my latest breath whisper thy praise;
this be the parting cry my heart shall raise;
this still its prayer shall be: More love, O Christ, to thee;
more love to thee, more love to thee!

Our anthem was Song of the Mustard Seed by Hal Hopson. It was very easy, which is important because we’ve stopped having choir practice until September. We’ll practice a few easy anthems every Sunday before the service.

The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed;
For when it is sown in the earth in the spring,
It is the least of all seeds in the earth.
But when it is watered it grows, it grows
And is the greatest of all herbs.

Wherever you go sow a seed along the way.
A seed of joy however small it be
May some day grow into a tree.
(Refrain)

Wherever you go sow a seed along the way.
A seed of faith however small it be
May some day grow into a tree.
(Refrain)

The final hymn was The Church's One Foundation by Samuel J. Stone. The hymn tune is Aurelia by Samuel Sebastian Wesley, the grandson of Charles Wesley.

1. The church's one foundation
is Jesus Christ her Lord;
she is his new creation
by water and the Word.
From heaven he came and sought her
to be his holy bride;
with his own blood he bought her,
and for her life he died.

2. Elect from every nation,
yet one o'er all the earth;
her charter of salvation,
one Lord, one faith, one birth;
one holy name she blesses,
partakes one holy food,
and to one hope she presses,
with every grace endued.

3. Though with a scornful wonder
we see her sore oppressed,
by schisms rent asunder,
by heresies distressed,
yet saints their watch are keeping;
their cry goes up, "How long?"
And soon the night of weeping
shall be the morn of song.

4. Mid toil and tribulation,
and tumult of her war,
she waits the consummation
of peace forevermore;
till, with the vision glorious,
her longing eyes are blest,
and the great church victorious
shall be the church at rest.

5. Yet she on earth hath union
with God the Three in One,
and mystic sweet communion
with those whose rest is won.
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we
like them, the meek and lowly,
on high may dwell with thee.

Trinity Sunday

Trinity Sunday

The readings for the first Sunday after Pentecost, June 11 were:
Isaiah 6:1-8
Psalm 29
Romans 8:12-17
John 3:1-17
Our introit hymn was We Believe in One True God by Tobias Clausnitzer in the mid-seventeenth century and translated by Catherine Winkworth. Good old Catherine Winkworth!
The hymntune is Ratisbon by J.G. Werner.

1. We believe in one true God,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
ever present help in need,
praised by all the heavenly host;
by whose mighty power alone
all is made and wrought and done.

2. We believe in Jesus Christ,
Son of God and Mary's Son,
who descended from his throne
and for us salvation won;
by whose cross and death are we
rescued from sin's misery.

3. We confess the Holy Ghost,
who from both fore'er proceeds;
who upholds and comforts us
in all trials, fears, and needs.
Blest and Holy Trinity,
praise forever be to thee!

Our opening hymn was Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty by Reginald Heber. The hymn tune is Nicaea.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity.

Holy, holy, holy! All saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the sinful human eye thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity.

The second hymn was Holy God, We Praise Thy Name by Ignaz Franz in 1774, translated by Clarence Walworth.
The hymn tune is Grosser Gott.

1. Holy God, we praise thy name;
Lord of all, we bow before thee;
all on earth thy scepter claim;
all in heaven above adore thee.
Infinite thy vast domain;
everlasting is thy reign.

2. Hark the glad celestial hymn
angel choirs above are raising;
cherubim and seraphim,
in unceasing chorus praising,
fill the heavens with sweet accord:
Holy, holy, holy Lord.

3. Lo! the apostolic train
joins thy sacred name to hallow;
prophets swell the glad refrain,
and the white-robed martyrs follow.
And from morn to set of sun,
through the church the song goes on.

4. Holy Father, Holy Son,
Holy Spirit: three we name thee,
though in essence only one;
undivided God we claim thee,
and adoring bend the knee
while we own the mystery.

Our anthem was
Make Me a Channel of Your Peace by Sebastian Temple, arranged by Mark Hayes.

Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me bring your love;
Where there is injury your pardon, Lord;
And where there's doubt true faith in you.

Refrain:
Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love with all my soul.

Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there's despair in life let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness, only light;
And where there's sadness, ever joy.

Refrain

Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
In giving to all men that we receive;
And in dying that we're born to eternal life.

Refrain


© Copyright 1967 OCP Publications
5536 NE Hassalo, Portland, Oregon 97213, USA.


Since the sermon was based on the reading from Isaiah our last hymn was most appropriate - Here I am Lord by Daniel L Schutte. There are many who criticize this hymn, and I know that the tune sounds like the “Brady Bunch” theme, but this hymn really speaks to the congregation.

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin,
My hand will save.
I, who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Chorus
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my words to them.
Whom shall I send?

Chorus
Here I am, Lord.
Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will send the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide,
'Til their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?

Chorus
Here I am, Lord.
Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

Come, Holy Spirit! Pentecost,2006

The readings for today were:
Acts 2:1-21
Psalm 104: 25-35,37
Romans 8:22-27
John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

Pentecost is always a big day. In addition to our celebration of the Pentecost this is the day for Confirmation. The class was big, as usual. There were 31 confirmands this year.

Our introit hymn was Come, Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire. This 8th century hymn is attributed to Rhabanus Maurus. It was translated by John Cosin in 1627. The tune is Veni Creator .

Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire, and lighten with celestial fire.
Thou the anointing Spirit art, who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart.

Thy blessed unction from above is comfort, life, and fire of love.
Enable with perpetual light the dullness of our blinded sight.

Anoint and cheer our soiled face with the abundance of thy grace.
Keep far from foes, give peace at home: where thou art guide, no ill can come.

Teach us to know the Father, Son, and thee, of both, to be but One,
that through the ages all along, this may be our endless song:

Praise to thy eternal merit, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The processional hymn was Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones written by John Athelstan Laurie Riley. The tune is Lasst Uns Erfeuen harmonized by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The procession was long because each of the confirmands and their sponsors brought in candles to place on the altar. It’s always a splendid sight.

1. Ye watchers and ye holy ones, bright seraphs, cherubim, and thrones,
raise the glad strain, Alleluia!
Cry out, dominions, princedoms, powers, virtues, archangels, angels' choirs:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

2. O higher than the cherubim, more glorious than the seraphim,
lead their praises, Alleluia!
Thou bearer of th' eternal Word, most gracious, magnify the Lord:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

3. Respond, ye souls in endless rest, ye patriarchs and prophets blest,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Ye holy twelve, ye martyrs strong, all saints triumphant, raise the song:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

4. O friends, in gladness let us sing, supernal anthems echoing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
To God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit, Three in One:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Our anthem was Veni Sancte Spiritus by Charles Hogan. It was unusual and very difficult. It began as a chant and then changed to a Caribbean rhythm with maracas and tambourine. The text is from a 12th century Latin hymn, translated by Charles P. Price.

Come, thou Holy Spirit bright; come with thy celestial light; pour on us thy love divine.
Come, protector of the poor; come, thou source of blessings sure; come within our hearts to shine.
Thou, of comforters the best, thou, the soul's most welcome guest, of our peace thou art the sign.
In our labor, be our aid; in our summer, cooling shade. Every bitter hear refine.
Brighter than the noonday sun, fill our lives which Christ has won;
fill our hearts and make them thine.
Where thou art not, we have nought:
all our word and deed and thought twisted from thy true design.
Bend the stubborn heart and will; melt the frozen, warm the chill; rule us by thy judgment's line.
Cleanse us with thy healing power; what is barren bring to flower; to thy love our sins consign.
To thy people who adore and confess thee evermore, thy blest sevenfold gift assign.
Grant us thy salvation, Lord, boundless mercy our reward, joys which earth and heaven entwine.

The second hymn was Holy Spirit, Come Confirm Us by Brian Foley. It is set to the tune For the Bread Which Thou Has Broken by V. Earle Copes.

Holy Spirit, come, confirm us in the truth that Christ makes known;
We have faith and understanding through your helping gifts alone.
Holy Spirit, come, console us, come as advocate to plead;
Loving Spirit from the Father, grant in Christ the help we need.
Holy Spirit, come, renew us, come yourself to make us free;
Holy through your loving presence, holy through the gifts you give.
Holy Spirit, come, possess us, you the love of Three in One,
Holy Spirit of the Father, Holy Spirit of the Son.

The Communion hymns were: Spirit Song and Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence.

Spirit Song
O let the Son of God enfold you with His Spirit and His love
Let him fill your heart and satisfy your soul
O let him have the things that hold you and His Spirit like a dove
Will descend up-on your life and make you whole.
Chorus;
Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs, Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs,
O come and sing this song of gladness as your hearts all filled with joy.
Lift your hands in sweet surrender to His name
O give Him all your tears and sadness; give Him all your years of pain,
And you'll enter into life in Jesus' name.

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence.
The text is from the fourth century Liturgy of St. James; translated by Gerard Moultrie. The tune is the French carol Picardy.

Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly minded, for with blessing in his hand
Christ our God to earth descendeth, our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary, as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords in human vesture, in the Body and the Blood
he will give to all the faithful his own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven spreads its vanguard on the way,
as the Light of Light descendeth from the realms of endless day,
that the powers of hell may vanish as the darkness clears away.

At his feet the six-winged seraph; cherubim with sleepless eye,
veil their faces to the Presence, as with ceaseless voice they cry,
Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, Lord Most High!

The closing hymn was We Are the Church by Richard K. Avery and Donald S. Marsh in 1972. It always reminds me of the years my husband and I spent teaching Sunday School and confirmation classes. This song has been popular since it was first written. We sang this song in the Sunday School classes we taught, and at Vacation Bible School classes and with Ecumenical meetings. It’s not great music, but we all love it.

I am the church. You are the church. We are the church together. All who follow Jesus, all around the world, yes, we’re the church together.
The church is not a building, the church is not a steeple, the church is not a resting place, the church is a people.

I am the church. You are the church. We are the church together. All who follow Jesus, all around the world, yes, we’re the church together.
We’re many kinds of people with many kinds of faces, all colors and all ages too, from all times and places.

I am the church. You are the church. We are the church together. All who follow Jesus, all around the world, yes, we’re the church together.
And when the people gather, there’s singing and there’s praying, there’s laughing and there’s crying sometimes, all of it saying:

I am the church. You are the church. We are the church together. All who follow Jesus, all around the world, yes, we’re the church together
At Pentecost some people received the Holy Spirit
And told the Good News through the world to all who would hear it.

I am the church! You are the church! We are the church together!All who follow Jesus, all around the world, Yes, we are the church together!