Holy Eucharist Rite II at 10:30 a.m. sung by the St. John’s Adult Choir, sermon by the Rev’d Susan Pinkerton.

Worship at Home:

Click here: Service Bulletin – Sermon Text

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Service Music:

Voluntary    We all believe in one true God    Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Promenade on Nicaea (2015)     June Nixon (b. 1942)

Processional Hymn 362    Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!    Nicaea

Gloria in excelsis S278     William Mathias (1934-1992)

Sequence Hymn 367    Round the Lord in glory seated    Rustington

Offertory Anthem    In the year that King Uzziah died    David McK. Williams (1887-1978)
Words: Isaiah 6:1-8

The prophet Isaiah had a remarkable vision of the heavenly realm, beginning In the year that King Uzziah died. His celestial vision depicts the highest order of angels, Seraphim. The name Seraphim is associated with the Hebrew verb which means “to burn,” suggesting that the Seraphim burn with devotion for God. The Seraphim, from Isaiah’s vision, have six wings. In the choral arrangement heard today, tone painting is used to dramatic effect, depicting the angels flying around the throne of God, using the lowest 32’ tones of the organ for quasi-tympani effects, and presenting the familiar Sanctus text with great emotion – here heard within its original context. The work ends plaintively, with Isaiah answering God’s call.

Sanctus S128    William Mathias

Fraction Anthem S166  Agnus Dei     Gerald Near (b. 1942)

Communion Anthem    Silent, surrendered         Margaret Rizza (b. 1929)
Words: Pamela Hayes and Margaret Rizza

Silent, surrendered, calm and still, open to the word of God.
Heart humbled to his will, offered is the servant of God.
Come, Holy Spirit, bring us light, teach us, heal us, give us life.
Come, Lord, O let our hearts flow with love and all that is true.

Closing Hymn 719    O beautiful for spacious skies    Materna

Voluntary    Alleluyas    Simon Preston (b. 1938)

The closing voluntary by Simon Preston is an unusual acclamation of praise. Preston, for many years music director at Westminster Abbey and well-known as a concert organist, uses a tension-building 4-note theme and jazz harmonies to set the word “Alleluia” with a strong emphasis on the third syllable.