This Sunday we have several provocative readings. In the Old Testament, we read in Proverbs 1:20: Wisdom cries out in the street; in the squares she raises her voice…How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? In James 3:1: Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you .know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes In our Gospel lesson in Mark 8 we read Jesus’ words: “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.”
To synthesize these readings into a musical theme, we will sing the prayer, Day by day, dear Lord, of thee three things I pray. It is based on the prayer that was attributed to St. Richard in England: Thanks be to you, our Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits which you have given us, for all the pains and insults which you have borne for us. Most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother, may we know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, day by day. St. Richard (1197-1253) was born in Worcestershire, England and raised as an orphan. If legend is to be believed, it is said that his older brother offered him his farming estate, which he declined in favor of a life devoted to study and church service. He served as Bishop of Chichester from 1244 to 1253. These words are said to be his last before his death. (lords-prayer-words.com)
St. Martin’s Choir will sing a beautiful anthem: God’s Peace, which is an arrangement by C. J. Adams of Marva J. Dawn’s hymn Come away from rush and hurry. Sung to the American Sacred Harp tune, Beach Spring, the thoughtful words are:
Come away from rush and hurry to the stillness of God’s peace;
From our vain ambition’s worry, come to Christ and find release.
Come away from noise and clamor, life’s demands and frenzied pace;
Come to join the people gathered here to seek and find God’s grace.
In the pastures of God’s goodness we lie down to rest our soul.
From the waters of God’s mercy we drink deeply, are made whole.
At the table of God’s presence all the saints are richly fed.
With the oil of God’s anointing into service we are led.
Come, then children, with your burdens, life’s confusions, fears, and pain.
Leave them at the cross of Jesus, take instead his kingdom’s reign.
Bring your thirsts, for he will quench them, he alone will satisfy.
All our longings find attainment when to self we gladly die.
(Words 1999 Marva J. Dawn; Music 2015 Hope Publishing Company; used with permission)
Our Communion hymn will be Will You Come and Follow Me. I first encountered this song at a Presbyterian Women convention when the presenter, Carol Bechtel said,”I first heard this song on an album called God Never Sleeps by John Bell of the Iona Community in Scotland. The words are startlingly direct and the music simple and elegant…we feel like God is looking directly into our eyes and asking, “What are you going to say? What are you going to do?” (Horizons Jan/Feb 2001)
Our final hymn, I have decided to follow Jesus has been ascribed to a story about a Welsh missionary who converted a family in the northeast region of India known as Assam. They were made an example by the angry village chief when they were martyred for refusing to deny their belief in Jesus. The story goes that after the father refused, saying “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back” his children were killed. He still refused to deny his faith, saying “Though no one joins me, still I will follow” and his wife was killed. Asked again, and seeing no other supporters, he continued to refuse, saying “The cross before me, the world behind me”, and was also martyred. When the missionary returned, he found that after witnessing the courage and conviction of this family, there were more believers to take their place, and a church was born. We at St. Martin’s are also being called to find our own place in God’s kingdom and to embrace Jesus’s call to love and serve those around us!
You are invited to join St. Martin’s Choir every Sunday to experience uplifting, joyful ministry with our congregation! We rehearse at 7:00 pm every Wednesday downstairs in the Music Wing. If you aren’t able to come then, we also rehearse at 9:45 am every Sunday in the choir loft! All are welcome. Please contact Denise Marsh, Music Director at dmarsh@stmartinschurch.org
We enjoy music every week. The tenor and bass sections are working on deciphering a hymn text!