Lessons and Hymns for Sunday, March 16, 2014

Mar 20, 2014

by the Rev. William P. McLemore

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS: Our Old Testament reading is Genesis 12:1-4a and this brief passage describes the call of Abraham (Abram here) to go forth to create a “great nation.” Psalm 121 proclaims the Lord’s protection of the people of Israel. The Epistle, Romans 4:1-5,13-17, finds St. Paul commending the faith of Abraham as righteousness. Our Gospel reading is John 3:1-17 and records the interesting conversation between the Pharisee Nicodemus and Jesus who explains to him what being “born again” means (in the Spirit and not of the flesh).

THE HYMNS:

PROCESSIONAL HYMN: No. 401. “The God of Abraham Praise.”   This hymn was written by Thomas Olivers and is based on an ancient Jewish creed called the “Yigdal.”   It has thirteen articles that praise God in every way imaginable.   Translated into English, it begins with these words, “Extolled and praised be the living God, who exists unbounded by time.” The tune was written by a Jewish cantor, Meyer Lyon, thus the name, “Leoni.”

THE SEQUENCE HYMN: No. 147. “Now Let Us All With One Accord.” This hymn was written by Gregory the Great (540-604 A.D.) who was popularly known in his day as the “Father of Christian Worship,” for his work with the liturgy to make it Christ-centered. This particular hymn calls for God’s help in our temptation and redemption.  The tune, “Bourbon,” is attributed to Freeman Lewis (1780-1859), a surveyor who played the organ for a Presbyterian Church in Uniontown, Pennsylvania and composed hymns and music.

PRESENTATION HYMN: No. 637. “How Firm a Foundation.” This is a hymn which has been a favorite since the founding of the United States in 1776 but the name of the author is yet to be known.   It first appeared in John Rippon’s “Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors,” 1787. It has been set to many tunes in various hymnals. In our hymnal, it is ‘Lyons,’ attributed to John Michael Haydn (1737-1806)

COMMUNION HYMN: No. 337. “And Now, O Father, Mindful of the Love.” The hymn was written by a famous church historian, William Bright (1824-1901). Born in Dorcester, England, he was educated at Rugby and University College of Oxford and became a professor of ecclesiastical history at Christ Church, Oxford. The words reflect a meditative reflection on the import of the Cross of Christ, forgiveness, and reconciliation. The tune, “Unde et Memores,” was composed by William Henry Monk (1823-1889) for this particular hymn in the revised version of “Hymns Ancient and Modern,” (1875).

RECESSIONAL HYMN: No. 473. “Lift High the Cross.” The author of this hymn was Dr. George William Kitchin (1827-1912) the first Chancellor of the University of Durham, a learned mathematician, and master historian(see photo). He wrote this hymn in 1887 which holds some symbols from the Book of Revelation (9:4 etc.) “Each newborn servant of the Crucified bears on the brow the seal of him who died.”  The tune, “Crucifer,” was composed by Sydney Hugo Nicholson (1875-1947) with the descant by Richard Prouix (1937-2010) organist and composer born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and died in Chicago.

 

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