by the Rev. William P. McLemore
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS: In our Old Testament lessons (Leviticus 19:1-2,9-18) Moses lays out some moral implications from the Law of God. Psalm 119:22-40 also emphasizes the Ten Commandments as the Godly path for life. Paul’s letter to Corinth (I Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23) reminds the people that the foundation for the church is always Jesus Christ with God’s spirit dwelling in it. In our Gospel reading, Matthew 5:38-48, Jesus teaches people to “go the extra mile” in their relationships with others.
THE HYMNS:
PROCESSIONAL HYMN: No. 381. “Thy Strong Word.” This hymn was written by Martin H. Franzman (1907-1976), a graduate of Northwestern College and later studied at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. He served on the faculty of Northwestern College; Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri; and finally traveled to England where he served as a tutor at Westfield House, the theological college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England until his death in 1976. The tune, “Ton-y-Botel,” was composed by Thomas John Williams (1869-1944), organist and choirmaster of two parishes in Llanelly, a village in southeast Wales. The melody is moving and stately and perhaps one of the most sung at the heavenly banquet—every Christian should be able to sing this with spirit and joy.
THE SEQUENCE HYMN: No. 656. “Blest are the Pure in Heart.” John Keble wrote this hymn based on the Beatitudes in 1819. William John Hall abbreviated it from 17 to 4 verses in 1834. The tune ‘Franconia’ is taken from a setting by Johann B. Konig and lends itself to the words that call forth the mercy and blessing of God.
PRESENTATION HYMN: No. 518. “Christ Is Made The Sure Foundation.” This hymn is ancient in Christian hymnody probably dating back to the 6th or 7th century A.D. The image of a heavenly Jerusalem is a favorite medieval theme for hymns and this particular version has many lost and left out verses of the Latin original. The current translation is by John Mason Neale (1818-1866). The tune “Westminster Abbey,” was composed by Henry Purcell (1659-1695).
COMMUNION HYMN: No. 602. “Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us With Your Love.” This is a folk song from Ghana which has been adapted for this Hymnal by Thomas Stevenson Colvin, a minister of the Church of Scotland Colvin was a missionary in Africa for 26 years, including the nation of Ghana. Throughout his ministry, he had a deep interest in helping the African Church to fully utilize their own musical heritage in worship and to write hymns appropriate to and arising from the African context. Dr. Colvin died at 75 in 2000. One phrase in the chorus is very important as we receive Holy Communion, “Fill us with your love.”
RECESSIONAL HYMN: No. 535. “Ye Servants of God.” Charles Wesley, the son of Samuel Wesley, was born at Epworth, Dec. 18, 1708. He was educated at Westminster School and afterwards at Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated M.A. In 1735, he took Orders and immediately proceeded with his brother John to Georgia, both being employed as missionaries of the Society of the Propagation of the Gospel of the Church of England. He returned to England in 1736. For many years he engaged with his brother in preaching the Gospel. He died March 29, 1788. This great hymn calls forth our outreach, sharing Christ with others—a prominent aspect of the Epiphany season. The spirited tune is from a 1765 melody in a German Catholic hymnal.
