Joyful and Generous

The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
October 6, 2019

In recent years, we have been singing an offertory hymn in October and November related to our annual giving campaign. This year's theme, "Joyful and Generous: The Heart of Trinity," inspired me to search for a hymn celebrating the idea of generosity. 


The Rev. Leith Fisher
I discovered this hymn by a Scottish hymn poet, The Rev. Leith Fisher (1941-2009). Fisher was a minister in the Church of Scotland and a member of the Iona Community. His hymns are often inspired by and paired with traditional Gaelic tunes. 


We're pairing the text with Holy Manna, an early American pentatonic folk tune (found in The Hymnal 1982 at 238 and 580). This vigorous and joyful melody was published in several shape-note tunebooks starting in 1825. Many of these early American folk melodies sprang from Scottish and Irish sources, carried here by immigrants. 

Hear a recording: For your generous providing

For your generous providing
which sustains us all our days,
for your Spirit here residing,

we proclaim our heartfelt praise.
Through the depths of joy and sorrow,
though the road be smooth or rough,
fearless, we can face tomorrow
for your grace will be enough.


Round your table, through your giving,
show us how to live and pray
till your kingdom’s way of living
is the bread we share each day:
bread for us and for our neighbor,
bread for body, mind, and soul,
bread of heav’n and human labor –
broken bread that makes us whole.



We will be singing this offertory hymn each Sunday through November 17, our Stewardship Ingathering. 

Our Cantate Choral Academy Choirs - The Laudate Choir (grades 1-3) and the Cantate Choir (grades 4-8) will be singing at the 10:30 Eucharist this Sunday. Come and let their joyful singing lift your spirits as we worship together!

Scottish landscape, home of hymn poet Leith Fisher
                                                                               

Music for the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
October 6, 2019

Hymns

405   All things bright and beautiful   Royal Oak
593   Lord, make us servants of your peace   Dickinson College
For your generous providing   Holy Manna
312   Strengthen for service, Lord   Malabar
400   All creatures of our God and King   Lasst uns erfreuen

Service Music

Gloria in excelsis S-277     New Plainsong, David Hurd
Psalm 37:1-10     St. Martin’s Psalter, Thomas Pavlechko
Sanctus S-124     New Plainsong
Amen S-146     McNeil Robinson II        
Fraction Anthem S-154     New Plainsong

Anthems
Come, Let Us Sing     -David Smart
Hear My Words     -Stephen Paulus

Organ Voluntaries
Variations on Holy Manna     -Charles Callahan
Prelude on Lasst uns erfreuen     -Wilbur Held

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