By Mark Heiskanen
‘Til age and race and gender
no longer separate;
‘til pulpit, press, and politics
are free of greed and hate:
God has work for us to do,
‘til God’s will is done
and all things are made new,
God has work for us to do!
– Carl Daw, Jr. (1996)
Songs of stewardship, service and faith this Commitment Sunday and Reformation Sunday morning.
The service begins with a musical call to worship in “Acclamation of Praise” arranged by Joel Raney for handbells, organ and percussion. This festive work is an amalgam of two well-known hymns of praise: the Genevan psalter tune “Old 100th” (often utilized as a doxology with the text “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” ) and “O God, Our Help in Ages Past.” The First Church Ringers are joined by organist Ken Sosinski and percussionist Trevor Maliborski in setting a celebratory tone on this day of stewardship and community.
The Chancel Choir offers Mark Miller’s “God Has Work for Us to Do” with text by prolific hymn writer Carl Daw, Jr. It is a quintessential choral anthem of stewardship in its call for the church body to faithfully go out into the world, be an example of the Light and serve those in need.
During the Offertory, saxophonist Greg Ball presents “Modéré”, the second movement from “Scaramouche” by notable 20th century composer Darius Milhaud. The work projects a serene and confident tone throughout its brief duration as we present our gifts to the mission of First Church.
The service concludes with a bold statement of faith in J.S. Bach’s setting of the Martin Luther hymn “Wir glauben all an einen Gott” (We All Believe in One True God.) The original hymn, published in 1524, is a paraphrase of the Nicene Creed. Bach’s fugal setting was the longer of two versions of the creed included in his “Clavier-Übung III” collection of organ works in 1739. The pieces in succession imply a German Organ Mass with additional sections representing the Kyrie, Gloria, Lord’s Prayer and Communion portions of the Roman rite.