Today’s readings are largely continuations of those begun last week. As with last week, they contain some very harsh words from the psalmist and prophet, and then tell us more of reconciliation and discipleship in the epistle and gospel readings.

The psalmist proclaims judgement against the ungodly, speaking a warning to those who love evil and dishonesty, who place their trust in riches instead of in God. (Psalm 52) The reading from Amos delivers a similar message to the distressed people of Israel, accounting for why it is that they are in such dire straits — it is the fallout from their abuse of the poor and needy, and their deceitful pursuit of gains at the expense of others. (Amos 8:1-12) These are harsh words to hear, for them and for us.

But Paul, after recording one of the earliest hymns of the church, then addresses those who had been estranged from God, being hostile in thought and in deed. Paul proclaims God’s reconciliation with them (and us) through Jesus, making peace through the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:15-28)

Finally, the gospel reading is the familiar story of Mary and Martha, who welcome Jesus into their home, doing what seemed important to them. Martha fussed with hospitality; Mary listened devotedly. (Luke 10:38-42) Jesus’ affirmation of Mary’s attention and mild reproof to Martha’s fussing remind us to keep our devotion pure, our attention focused, and our priorities clear in being disciples of this same Jesus Christ.

Choral Music:

This morning, some of the women of our Chancel Choir have offered their voices to enrich our worship of God.

• Introit: “We Are Waiting” – Greg Scheer — Having in mind Jesus’ affirmation of Mary’s willingness to just sit and listen to him, we begin today’s service with this song, inviting the congregation to join in the refrain: “We are waiting to hear your Word. We are waiting; speak — we are listening, Lord.” We too stop with our busy lives and bustling activities, to sit and listen for God’s word to us.
  
• Anthem: “Be Thou My Vision” – arr. Jay Althouse — This familiar Irish hymn is a lovely reflection on several of the themes of today’s readings. It expresses single-minded devotion to the things of God, caring not for riches and worldly things, but having one’s heart set on heavenly things. In today’s setting, I have adapted Althouse’s arrangement a bit to work with two women’s voices.
  

Instrumental and Organ Music

Today we welcome Kaitlin, playing a couple of festive trumpet voluntaries as prelude and postlude. While pieces like these voluntaries generally are not thematic, they provide a suitable frame for our worship.

• Prelude: “Trumpeting” – James Melby — This 20th century voluntary is modeled after many of the more familiar trumpet tunes of Purcell, Clarke, Boyce, and others.
  
• Offertory: “Be Thou My Vision” – Charles Callahan — The tune for this hymn (and today’s anthem) is Slane, an Irish melody that is also used to support the text, “Lord of All Hopefulness,” under which title this piece is published in an album for Memorial Services. I don’t know what Callahan had in mind when composing this piece, but it’s restatement of the theme in different keys and its series of modulations remind me of the wanderings and restlessness of our busy lives. The piece ends in a quiet, peaceful calm, as it settles into its home chord.
• Postlude: “The Prince of Denmark’s March” (Trumpet Voluntary) – Jeremiah Clarke — Many publications ascribed this trumpet voluntary to Henry Purcell, and it wasn’t surprising to hear it performed en suite with one of Purcell’s trumpet tunes at weddings and other festive occasions. It is now generally accepted that the piece is Clarke’s, not Purcell’s. Its popularity for wedding processionals got a hugh boost a generation ago, thanks partly to the wide exposure it received in the broadcast of the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana in 1981.

July 17th, 2010 Subscribe to the RSS feed!