Bicentennial Music Spotlight! (May 22, 2022)

Join us for big music from the choir, organ, and instrumentalists on Bicentennial Sunday, May 22! Below, you will find texts and notes for our morning worship and afternoon program music.


10:00 Special Music: With a Voice of Singing by Martin Shaw

This anthem was written in 1923 for the Annual Festival of the Rochester Diocesan Church Choirs Association. The text is based on Isaiah 48:20: "Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob."

With a voice of singing declare ye this, and let it be heard, Alleluia!
Utter it even unto the ends of the earth.
The Lord hath delivered his people, Alleluia!
O be joyful in God, all ye lands,
O sing praises to the honor of his name,
make his praise to be glorious.
With a voice of singing declare ye this, and let it be heard, Alleluia!

10:00 Offertory Anthem: Christ Calls Us Forth by K. Lee Scott

K. Lee Scott, renowned church music composer, published this piece in 1999. The text is based on Acts 1:8: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Christ calls us forth to Jerusalem, 
among its masses to proclaim
to all in hopeless pain and need, 
the glory of his saving Name.

(Refrain)
"You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you, 
and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea 
and Samaria, to the utmost ends of the earth."

Christ sends us forth to Samaria 
to those of different clan and race,
that they may know his loving care, 
the Gospel of redeeming grace.

Christ sends us forth to the world around: 
"To every creature bear the word."
Tell out the tidings through the earth, 
that all may own him as the Lord.

2:00 Offertory Song: Reflect the Face of God by Leo Adames

Leo Adames, long-time church member and beloved Clarksville song-writer, completed this song in 2018 specifically for our 2022 Bicentennial. He commented, "This piece was directly influenced by our study in Disciples class that helped us reflect our active relationship with God, the Church, and with each other."

Reflect the face of God, Let me Be like Christ within    
Reflect the face of God, refreshed, renewed, redeemed
Tap me like the Rock of Moses, draw from me like Jacob’s Well
Let your gifts in me be Blessings, Let my heart sing out with joy.

Reflect the face of God, Let me be like Christ within
Reflect the face of God, Let me walk in Light with Him.
Your Word in me is written, at the center of my heart   
Your Grace, your love and mercy within me from the start.

Reflect the face of God, in the Spirit from above
Reflect the face of God, in Faith, In Hope, in Love
Help us shape our swords to plowshares, and our spears to pruning hooks,
Plant your Peace among the nations, Let Your Word endure Forever

Reflect the face of God, Let me be like Christ within.
Reflect the face of God, Let me walk in Light with Him
Father, Guide me on this journey, lead my heart to do your Will
Share the Blessings of your spirit; your love, your joy, your peace
                                               
Reflect the face of God, One Communion shared.
Reflect the face of God, Disciples of your Word.
May the Word of the Lord endure forever
May the Word of the Lord endure forever. 
Amen. Amen.      

2:00 Anthem: Windows of the Sky by Jeffrey Wood

In 2021, we approached APSU Prof. Jeffrey Wood about writing a choral anthem for FPC's 2022 Bicentennial Celebration. We reached out to Dr. Wood because of the importance of the many connections our church has with APSU, and especially with the APSU music department, through student choir interns and former directors of music who were on the APSU faculty. Our members wanted to include a commissioned choral piece because FPC's 175th anniversary featured such a work as well. That piece, “The Dwelling Place," was written by Anna Laura Page, wife of thenAPSU President Oscar Page. 

Wood incorporates the Jewish texts Yigdal and the Reading of the Shema and Its Blessings with the familiar Christian hymn Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken in his choral composition. Yigdal (meaning "Exalted" or "Magnified") is a poetic summary of the Thirteen Principles of Faith formulated in the 12th century by Moses ben Mainon (1138-1204), a medieval Sephardic Jewish philosopher. There is, surprisingly, a long history of the use of Yigdal in both Jewish and Christian worship, in synagogues and churches alike. The second text, Reading of the Shema and Its Blessings, serves as the centerpiece of both morning and evening prayer services in Jewish liturgy. It is taken from Deuteronomy Ch. 6 ("Hear O Israel, the Lord of our God, the Lord is One"), which is quoted multiple times in the New Testament.

The sentiments expressed by these ancient hymns of praise provide a good introduction to those expressed in the hymn Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken. This hymn text was written by John Newton (1725-1807), an Anglican cleric and ardent abolitionist. While the hymn can be sung to any number of tunes that fit its metrical structure, it is most frequently associated with composer Joseph Haydn's (1732-1809) anthem Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser/God Save Emperor Francis, itself based upon an old Croatian folk song. 

Reflecting upon the compositional process, Wood said, “I just really loved the images [these texts] portrayed.” One specific image amongst the Jewish texts called out to him: “The God who daily opens the doors of the gates of the east and cleaves the windows of the sky.” “Just every time I look at that," said Wood, "it’s just gorgeous.” That image inspired the composition’s name, Windows of the Sky.

Though the piece journeys through several keys and intriguing harmonic landing points, its overall telos is the resolution from the dominant (B) to tonic (E). The E major conclusion--following a rousing arrangement of the hymn tune complete with congregational singing--feels incredibly poignant after eight minutes of turmoil and suspense. The harmonic language favors open 5ths and 4ths layered above and below each other. The choir often sings in homophony, moving from pitch to pitch in solidarity. Wood's compositional tactics are at once ancient and contemporary--a perfect reflection of FPC's Bicentennial commitment to "Reflect, Rejoice, and Renew."


--Hannah Cruse, Music Director and Organist, FPC

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