As some of you know, I wear several freelance hats. One of those is my “God gig” — soloist/section leader at Third Presbyterian Church in Rochester, NY. For almost 10 months, we shared space in a neighboring church while major repairs and renovations were in progress in our own building. Most of the work is finished (all that we could afford, for now). The sanctuary of this 19th century building has been restored, removing most of the 20th century remuddlings and adding some much-needed accessibility features.
Today was Dedication Sunday, with some wonderful music and lots of speeches.
Normally, I post the service music list with my commentary on my music blog. Since that blog is also undergoing renovation, I’m posting it here as part of the 30 Day Blogging Challenge.
“Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;
Him serve with mirth, His praise forth tell.
Come ye before Him and rejoice!”
- PRELUDE:
“Prelude in E-flat, BWV 552/1” – Johann Sebastian Bach - CHORAL INTROIT:
“A Song of Thanksgiving” – Mark Patterson
30+ kids, with flute & keyboard, making a joyful noise unto the Lord - DOXOLOGY
While many churches sing this after the offertory collection, Presbyterian tradition places it at the beginning of the service. - OPENING HYMN:
“All people that on earth do dwell” – Tune: Old Hundredth - UNISON PRAYER OF ADORATION & INVOCATION
“[N]o building can contain your glory…”
This opening prayer is a bit different every week. Sometimes it is a responsive reading of the psalm of the day, sometimes a standard prayer from one of the Reform traditions, sometimes — as this week — it is newly written for a specific occasion in the life of the congregation. - PRAYER OF CONFESSION
- SILENT PRAYER
- KYRIE (sung by choir and congregation): Peter Dubois, 2004
- ASSURANCE OF PARDON
- CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE: Peter Dubois, 2007
“Glory be to God: Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: World without end. Amen! Amen!” - CHILDREN’S MESSAGE: Rebecca D’Angelo-Vietch
- WORDS OF WELCOME
- A TIME OF RECOGNITION
Introductions and thanks to the several hundred people who had official positions on the project: architects, engineers, construction staff, vendors, along with the capital campaign committees and church staff: four pages of names in the bulletin, multiple columns per page, teenytiny print. All were invited to attend. From the looks of things, most of them did. - FIRST LESSON Haggai 2:1–9
- ANTHEM:
“I Was Glad When They Said Unto Me” – C. Hubert H. Parry - SECOND LESSON: I Corinthians 3:10–17
- SERMON:
“Faith for the Future”
– John Wilkinson, Sr. Pastor/Head of Staff
Shorter than usual. - HYMN: “My Shepherd will supply my need” – Tune: Resignation
- LITANY OF DEDICATION
- THE LORD’S PRAYER
- ANTHEM:
“Achieved is the Glorious Work” – Franz Joseph Haydn
(from his oratorio, The Creation) - PRESENTATION OF OFFERINGS/CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE
“Faithful Lord of all things living, by whose bounty all are blest; bread to hungry bodies giving, justice to the long-oppressed. For the strength of our salvation, light and life and length of days, praise the God of all creation, set your souls to sing God’s praise!”
Text from the hymn “Praise the God of Our Salvation” by Timothy Dudley-Smith; Tune: Meigs St. by Peter DuBois, 2004 - CLOSING SENTENCES & PRAYER
- HYMN:
“Our God, our help in ages past” – Tune: St. Anne - CHARGE & BENEDICTION
- CHORAL BENEDICTION RESPONSE:
“The Lord Bless You and Keep You” Peter C. Lutkin - POSTLUDE:
“Fugue in E-flat, BWV 552/2” – Johann Sebastian Bach
“Oh, my Your House be my abode;
And all my work be praise.”
