titles for 2.28.2010

The final prelude was the Tune called Forest Green, found in our blue hymnal at #159. The tune is an English folk tune, found in most hymnals, but not associated with any one particular hymn (the words).

Is the prelude to soothe the ruffled spirit or awaken the heart? I usually do the soothing one minute before 10 a.m. This time I chose a stronger sound right up to 10 a.m.

Before this number, in view of our church calendar being in Lent, I played a complex but easy to follow arrangement of the classic German chorale tune associated with Unser Vater, or the hymn version of the Lord's Prayer.

Did you hear the chimes right after the benediction, before I blasted into the postlude? That was the very final phrase of "God Be With You Till We Meet Again."

a pastor favorite

You probably recognized the preludes last Sunday: Praise to the Lord, and, O Lord How Majestic. So I won't give any more details on them.

I want to say that for the first time I put the title of the offertory in the bulletin: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. Or, let's say "our desiring." If this is all the John Bach had written we would probably still remember him. It happens to be one of the instrumental favorites of Linda, who was installed.

Who is this John Bach? The dictionary tells me that German Johann is English John.

turning 64

How often do you play a Bach prelude, accompany Barb on the recorder, bang out a rousing spiritual on the piano ("Welcome Table"), and lead two hymns totally acappella ("I love to tell the story" and "For Christ and the church") and then have your 64th birthday party at a fancy schmancy eatery in Skippack?

Well, once, if you're lucky.

And I am. Most of all I had my family with me. Here's son Joel. Around the table, too, was his wife Stephanie and daughter Sarah and her husband Ryan and of course Dorcas.