No More a Stranger or a Guest
The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
September 15, 2019
This fall, we are celebrating the musical contributions of composer David Ashley White on the occasion of his 75th birthday. White, an Episcopalian, is a composition professor at The University of Houston and composer-in-residence at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas. His sacred compositions are widely published and performed, and two of his hymns are included in The Hymnal 1982 and Wonder, Love, and Praise.
Today's communion anthem, "No More a Stranger or a Guest," is White's arrangement of the early American hymn tune, Resignation. The words are a metrical paraphrase of Psalm 23 ("The Lord is my shepherd") by the great 18th century hymn writer, Issac Watts. This familiar hymn appears in The Hymnal 1982, number 664.
The pastoral imagery of the psalm is adapted into a poetic, rhyming format, allowing for easy memorization in an era when printed hymnals were scarce. Issac Watts is known for concluding his hymns with a memorable phrase or image - one that connects strongly with the individual singer. In this case, after completing his paraphrase of the psalm, Watts penned final words that hymnologist Erik Routley called "perhaps the most inspired such addition every made:"
There would I find a settled rest,
(While others go and come)
No more a stranger or a guest,
But like a child at home.
We commonly refer to hymns using the first line - in this case, "My Shepherd will supply my need." However, for his arrangement, White chooses this final, evocative phrase as the title. The effective use of the flute as an accompanying instrument allows us to envision the green pastures and clear streams of this gentle psalm. Hear a fine recording by the choir of Palmer Memorial Church: No More a Stranger or a Guest
Watch for David Ashley White's name in our worship bulletins and in Praying Twice this fall. The Cathedral Choir will be singing a number of his anthems as we celebrate this gifted and prolific Episcopal composer.
As we have remembered the tragedy of 9/11 this week, both of our anthems have resonated deeply with our singers. "Amazing grace" and "My Shepherd will supply my need" are two of the great hymns of the Church that offer words of hope in times of despair and grief. May the gift of sacred music draw you more deeply into the peace and love of God that passes all understanding.
Anthems
September 15, 2019
This fall, we are celebrating the musical contributions of composer David Ashley White on the occasion of his 75th birthday. White, an Episcopalian, is a composition professor at The University of Houston and composer-in-residence at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas. His sacred compositions are widely published and performed, and two of his hymns are included in The Hymnal 1982 and Wonder, Love, and Praise.
Today's communion anthem, "No More a Stranger or a Guest," is White's arrangement of the early American hymn tune, Resignation. The words are a metrical paraphrase of Psalm 23 ("The Lord is my shepherd") by the great 18th century hymn writer, Issac Watts. This familiar hymn appears in The Hymnal 1982, number 664.
There would I find a settled rest,
(While others go and come)
No more a stranger or a guest,
But like a child at home.
We commonly refer to hymns using the first line - in this case, "My Shepherd will supply my need." However, for his arrangement, White chooses this final, evocative phrase as the title. The effective use of the flute as an accompanying instrument allows us to envision the green pastures and clear streams of this gentle psalm. Hear a fine recording by the choir of Palmer Memorial Church: No More a Stranger or a Guest
Watch for David Ashley White's name in our worship bulletins and in Praying Twice this fall. The Cathedral Choir will be singing a number of his anthems as we celebrate this gifted and prolific Episcopal composer.
As we have remembered the tragedy of 9/11 this week, both of our anthems have resonated deeply with our singers. "Amazing grace" and "My Shepherd will supply my need" are two of the great hymns of the Church that offer words of hope in times of despair and grief. May the gift of sacred music draw you more deeply into the peace and love of God that passes all understanding.
Music for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
September 15, 2019
Hymns
388 O worship the King, all glorious above (Lyons)
645 The King of love my shepherd is (St. Columba)
God of hope and joy and wonder (stanza 5) (Westminster Abbey)
333 Now the silence (Now)
542 Christ is the world's true light (St. Joan)
Service Music
Gloria in excelsis S-277 New Plainsong, David Hurd
Psalm 51:1-11 St. Martin’s Psalter, Thomas Pavlechko
Sanctus S-124 New Plainsong
Amen S-146 McNeil Robinson II
Fraction Anthem S-154 New Plainsong
Anthems
Amazing Grace -New Britain, arr. Richard Proulx
No More a Stranger or a Guest -Resignation, arr. David Ashley White
Organ Voluntaries
Prelude on St. Columba -Peter Pindar Stearns
Processional in G -John Stanley
Processional in G -John Stanley
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