I Come With Joy

The Third Sunday after the Epiphany
January 26, 2020
As our Dean's Forum during this season explores the topic of "Keeping the Feast: The Eucharist and Christian Life," this week's edition of Praying Twice focuses on a hymn that reflects on the meaning of Holy Communion. "I come with joy to meet my Lord" (Hymn 304) was written by the Rev. Brian Wren in 1968. 

 As The Hymnal 1982 Companion explains:

 The text begins with the individual worshiper, who comes "with joy to meet my Lord;" moves into the corporate dimension, "the new community of love;" and ends in the spirit of the dismissal in the Eucharist, "together met, together bound, we'll go our different ways, and...in the world we'll live and speak his praise."

 The text has gained widespread acceptance and use throughout many Christian denominations. It was one of the new hymns included in The Hymnal 1982. 

 The hymn is paired with a pentatonic American folk tune, Land of Rest, first published in 1836. The tune was familiar to Episcopalians, having appeared in The Hymnal 1940 with the text, "Jerusalem, my happy home." (Hymn 620) This folk tune reached a wider audience when used prominently in the soundtrack for Ken Burns' documentary, The National Parks: America's Best Idea. Hear a recording from the soundtrack featuring folk instruments: Land of Rest
The musical adaptation and harmonization found in our hymnal is the work of Annabel Morris Buchanan (1888-1983), a pioneering American woman composer, professor, and collector of folk songs. She is one of only eight women composers whose work is included in The Hymnal 1982. Read a fascinating biography here: Annabel Morris Buchanan

 As we gather around God's table, may this hymn speak to us:

 As Christ breaks bread and bids us share, each proud division ends.
That love that made us makes us one, and strangers now are friends.

Music for the Third Sunday after the Epiphany
January 26, 2020

 Hymns
381   Thy strong word did cleave the darkness (Ton-y-Botel)
661   They cast their nets in Galilee (Georgetown)
296   We know that Christ is raised and dies no more (Engelberg)
124   What star is this with beams so bright (stanza 5) (Puer nobis)
304   I come with joy to meet my Lord (Land of Rest)
530   Spread, O spread, thou mighty word (Gott sei Dank)

 Service Music
Psalm 27:1, 5-13     St. Martin’s Psalter, Thomas Pavlechko
Sanctus S-125     Richard Proulx                                                                                              
Memorial Acclamation S-138     McNeil Robinson II
Great Amen S-146     Robinson                                                                       
Fraction Anthem S-154     David Hurd

 Anthems
Vidi Aquam     -Marty Wheeler Burnett
How Lovely Are the Messengers     -Felix Mendelssohn
Ubi Caritas     -Maurice Durufle

 Organ Voluntaries
Prelude in G Major     -William H. Harris
Toccata in C Major     -Johann Pachelbel


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