Three of today’s readings continue larger narratives that were begun last week. The Old Testament reading features Elijah again, this time bringing a harsh word of judgement to King Ahab, condemning him for his complicity in the wicked trickery of his wife Jezebel. (1 Kings 21:1-10, (11-14), 15-21a) The psalm pleads with God, one who abhors evildoers and will not tolerate wickedness, and prays to be led into straight paths of righteousness. (Psalm 5:1-8)

In Galatians, Paul’s letter continues to elaborate on our justification, not in conforming our lives to perfect submission to the condemning law of God, but in letting Christ live in us. He provides the image of being crucified with Christ, so that a new life of faith in the Son of God can spring up. (Galatians 2:15-21)

The Gospel of Luke tells the story of a woman, identified only as a sinner, who shows her devotion to Jesus by tending to his feet with her tears and with ointment. Although the disciples see this as scandalous, Jesus receives her, forgives her sins, and highlights the deep gratitude she shows. (Luke 7:36-8:3)

Today’s music connects to these lessons in a couple of ways, most prominently in tying our own lives to Christ. We echo Paul’s words about being crucified with Christ, and raised with him to a new life. And we sing of our own humble thanksgivings, if not at Jesus’ feet, then at the foot of Jesus’ cross, remembering the abundance of grace shown to us.

Choral Music:

Second’s Summer Sunday Songsters once again lead us in some settings of familiar folk songs.

• Introit: “Surely the Presence of the Lord Is in This Place” – Lanny Wolfe.
• Anthem: “Alleluia, Alleluia, Give Thanks” – Donald Fishel — From the 1970s comes this popular folk song, frequently sung during the Easter season, but suitable also for days like today when we remember our own crucifixion with Christ and our own rising with Christ to a new and eternal life.
• Interlude: “Beneath the Cross” – Keith and Kristyn Getty — From this decade comes a new popular folk hymn, singing of the grace each of us receives through Christ. Like the sinful woman in Luke, we too might deserve to be shunned or discarded, but instead we are welcomed, given a new life, and given a new community with the rest of those gathered beneath the cross of Jesus.

Organ Music

• Prelude: “O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee” – Jeanne E. Shafer — Adelle provides this morning’s pre-service music on piano, culminating with this meditation on the familiar hymn, written for piano and organ. Percy Smith’s hymn comes from the age when hymns often prayed for endurance and courage to face the harsh difficulties of a cruel and faithless world, hence, somewhat in the same spirit as today’s psalm.
  
• Offertory: “Take My Life, God, Let It Be” – Thomas Canning — The response to being redeemed by God in Christ is to offer one’s life in service, and to bring what we have to our worship and devotion of the Christ. This simple embellishment on the tune Vienna reflects our hymn today of the same name.
• Postlude: “Rigaudon” – André Campra — Sending us on our way today is this familiar piece. A rigaudon has its origins in a dance form from the French baroque era. Like much of the music we borrow from classical settings, we’re free to attach our own meanings or associations. Sometimes, like today, music like this just makes a nice frame to conclude our worship together.
  

June 11th, 2010 Subscribe to the RSS feed!