SERMON
This Sunday: The Rev. Dr. Mike Harbert

“Our Needed Response to Easter”

Bible Passages:

Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Psalm 116:1-4; Luke 24:13-36

Lector:
Steph Pratt

Ushers:
Scott Downs and Debbie Downs

Flowers:
Mary Jane Melvin

Fellowship:
Nancy Verska and Stephanie Stevenson

Jubal Joslyn, tenor
Cathryn Wilkinson, piano and organ

Prelude
Music for Eastertide
O Sons and Daughters of the King!……..15th c. French carol, arr. Wilbur Held
I Know That My Redeemer Lives…………………………….Edwards, arr. Rowberry
Great Is Thy Faithfulness…………………………………………………William Runyan
Arranged for piano, Marianne Kim
Arranged for voice, Craig Courtney
Offertory
Risen Today………………………………………………………………..arr. William Cutter
Organ Postlude
Engelberg (We Know That Christ Is Raised)……..C.V. Stanford, arr. Cherwien

Music for Eastertide

The music of the church includes so many wonderful texts and tunes associated with the celebration of Easter that we could never sing or hear them all on Easter Sunday. So, we continue to sing in the weeks of Eastertide about the joy of the resurrection, and the promise of eternal life. ENGELBERG, the basis for the organ postlude, and HYFRYDOL, the opening hymn, were among the nearly 800 traditional and beloved hymns collected in The English Hymnal in 1906. The tune for “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” is by American William Runyan, who wrote that “This particular poem held such an appeal that I prayed most earnestly that my tune might carry over its message in a worthy way, and the subsequent history of its use indicates that God answers prayer.”

The origin of “O Sons and Daughters of the King” is uncertain, but dates at least to the 15th century. The traditional words to this tune tell the story of the early disciples after the resurrection:

When Thomas first the tidings heard
that some had seen the risen Lord,
he doubted the disciples’ word.
Lord, have mercy!

At night the apostles met in fear;
among them came their Master dear
and said, “My peace be with you here.”
Alleluia!