SERMON
This Sunday: The Rev. Dr. Mike Harbert

“The Way to God’s Blessing”

Bible Passages:

Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 15; Matthew 5:1-12

Lector: Sis Connolly

Crucifer: Mick Connolly

Ushers: Peter McKee and Bob Janzen

Fellowship: Carle Mowell and Hilary Landry

Flowers: Bob and Rae Janzen
“In appreciation of the Church in the Forest staff.”

Teruyo Petrocelli and Cathryn Wilkinson, Four-hand Piano
Jubal Joslyn, Tenor

Prelude
Quartet No. 3 in B-Flat, Op. 67……….Johannes Brahms
II. Andante
III. Agitato (Allegretto non troppo) — Trio — Coda
Waltzes, Opus 39……….Brahms
No. 14, A Minor
No. 15, A Major
Offertory
Be Thou My Vision……….Irish tune, arr. Gentri
Communion
Lead Me, Lord……….John D. Becker
Lord, Make Us Servants of Your Peace……….English Folk Tune
Organ Postlude
Ceremonial March……….Herbert Sumsion

Welcome to Teruyo Petrocelli, joining Cathryn Wilkinson at the piano for arrangements of works by Johannes Brahms. Teruyo is a Japan native, and accompanist, piano instructor, and collaborator for choral programming at Stevenson School. She performs in numerous settings throughout the Central Coast.

Born in Hamburg, Germany in 1833, Brahms worked as a conductor and composer there, and eventually in Vienna. He was a meticulous musical craftsman, with a habit of working and re-working manuscripts to perfection, often discarding much of his music as ‘below standard.’ The Third String Quartet was first performed in a test run in Berlin at the home of Clara Schumann, famous pianist, wife of Robert Schumann, and close friend of Brahms. Even though the small but discerning audience approved the quartet, Brahms continued to plan for more trial runs and revised the score right up to the first public performance. While he originally conceived the music for strings, he re-wrote it yet again for two pianists, four hands, tailored with great musical sensitivity to match the register and tone of the piano. He called this quartet “a trifle,” but it has stood the test of time as deeply engaging and satisfying music.