We give thee but thine own

The Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost
October 21, 2018

Our stewardship theme continues this month and is reflected in our hymns and anthems. Today's offertory anthem is a setting of an English hymn text, "We give thee but thine own."

The anthem text was written by William Walsham How (1823-1897), a suffragan bishop in London. He became Bishop of Wakefield in the north of England in 1888. An interesting bit of trivia: How appears as a significant character in Bernard Pomerance's Broadway play, The Elephant Man. 



Bishop How wrote a number of hymns, five of which are included in The Hymnal 1982:
52, This day at thy creating word
252, Jesus, name of wondrous love!
254, You are the Christ, O Lord
287, For all the saints
632, O Christ, the Word Incarnate (which we will sing next Sunday)

"For all the saints," paired with a strong tune by Ralph Vaughan Williams, is his best known hymn. We will sing it on All Saints' Day (Nov. 1) and All Saints' Sunday (Nov. 4). For all the saints

The composer of this musical setting, Fred Gramann (b. 1950), earned degrees in organ performance from Syracuse University and the University of Michigan. After studies in Paris with Marie-Claire Alain and Maurice Duruflé, Gramann became the Director of Music for the American Church in Paris in 1976. He directs the vocal and handbell choirs, serves as organist, and oversees a weekly classical concert series.



Click on the link to hear a recording: We give thee but thine own

As you listen, reflect on Bishop How's prayer and its call to Christian stewardship.

We give thee but thine own,
Whate'er the gift may be,
For all we have is thine alone,
A trust, O Lord, from thee.

May we thy bounties thus
As stewards true receive,
And gladly, as thou blessest us,
To thee our firstfruits give.

And we believe thy word,
Though dim our faith may be;
Whate'er we do for thine, O Lord,
We do it unto thee.

Music for the Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost
October 21, 2018

Hymns
405, "All things bright and beautiful," Royal Oak
455, "O love of God, how strong and true," Dunedin
"For the life that you have given," Pleading Savior
379, "God is love, let heaven adore him," Abbot's Leigh
583, "O holy city, seen of John," Morning Song

Service Music
Psalm 104:1-9, 25, 37c, St. Martin's Psalter, Thomas Pavlechko
New Plainsong, David Hurd

Anthems
We give thee but thine own  -Fred Gramann
Ave Verum Corpus  -Stephanie Martin

Organ Music
Prelude on Morning Song  -Wilbur Held
Old Hundredth  -setting by Piet Post






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