This Sunday we will be having a dual focus in worship. The readings in the Lectionary focus on Jesus' healing ministry. Not only did Jesus bring the 12 year old daughter of Jairus nearly back from the dead by holding her hand, but an unclean woman was cleansed of her disease by simply touching the robe of Jesus. The doubters were surely taken aback by this. Jesus then ordered them to not reveal the healing of Jairus' daughter to anyone.
The healing ministry of Jesus will be the central focus of the service, but the beginning and end will be recognizing Independence Day, the spirit of workers and students, and pride in both our nation and all others worldwide.
PRELUDE
Earth and all Stars- Wayne Wold (Prelude- 9:00 AM)
This joyous interpretation of the David Johnson tune is in three parts. The first and third parts use syncopation in the hands with fragments of the tune in the pedals. The middle section is quieter, reduced to a single reed, and features a more fleshed out version of the tune in the top voice.
OPENING HYMN
Earth and all Stars (Opening Hymn- 9:00 AM)
This hymn was composed jointly by Herbert Brokering and David Johnson to celebrate the 75th anniversary of St. Olaf College. There's reference to the stormy Minnesota weather ("Hail, wind and rain! Loud blowing snowstorm."), St. Olaf's music program (Trumpet, pipes, cymbals, harp, lute, lyre, cellos (also referencing Psalm 150)), builders and workers (limestone (most St. Olaf buildings were built out of the native limestone), beam, hammers, workers), and the students, teachers, and others that make up the community.
Though the hymn was written for a specific occasion at a specific place, it has a universal joy that can be celebrated anywhere. It is particularly appropriate here in Waverly, where we have a college very similar in many ways to St. Olaf (minus the limestone!).
Stanza three will be interpreted by choir and organ. The whistling choir depicts the "loud, building workers" referenced in stanza three. In honor of Independence Day, you'll also hear a brief excerpt from a certain march commonly associated with this holiday.
HYMN OF THE DAY
We Come To You For Healing, Lord (Hymn of the Day- 9:00 AM)
Much like the woman in the street with leprosy was overwhelmed with the need for healing, as well as Namaan asking for healing from the prophet Elisha in 2 Kings, it is also a need that we have at times. Our bodies, minds, and souls all need some form of healing at some point, and through prayer, we can hope to receive it. Herman Stuempfle, the long time leader of the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, penned this lovely hymn with the need for healing in mind. The image of Christ as the great physician is referenced in stanza three, and gives thanks to all the physicians and nurses around the world that heal our wounds with their God given gifts and willingness to serve.
This text is set to the hymn tune MARTYRDOM, a rather common tune from late 18th century England. It accompanies the Stuempfle text quite nicely, and as the end of stanza four says, we "trust that through our nights and days your grace will heal, sustain."
OFFERING
Lord of the Dance- arr. John Ferguson (Summer Choir- Offering: 9:00 AM)
This charming recollection of Jesus' life is set to a tune that most people associate with the folk song, "Simple Gifts" or with Bernstein's Appalachian Spring. There are five stanzas, each one focusing on a different aspect or period of Jesus' life, all revolving around the metaphor of dance as life.
Stanza one tells the story of Jesus descending down from heaven and being born at Bethlehem. In stanza two he recruits his first disciples. Verse three focuses on his healing ministry and then quickly transitions into his crucifixion.
Stanza four is where the music takes a huge turn. The accompaniment disappears, and in a spooky, solemn tone, the choir tells the story of Good Friday. With the emphatic saying of the word "BUT!" the music returns with the resurrection story.
COMMUNION HYMNS
In The Singing (Communion Hymn- 9:00 AM)
This beautiful song is both Christ centered and focused on the Eucharist. Each verse describes elements or characteristics of both of these things. Singing and silence, open, waiting hands, the blessing and the breaking of the bread, and the sensation of Jesus' presence there with us are all captured in the first stanza. The second stanza focuses more generally on allowing Jesus into our lives as Christians.
Healer Of Our Every Ill (Communion Hymn- 9:00 AM)
This is one of Marty Haugen's many wonderful singable tunes, with a beautiful corresponding text. Each stanza takes a personality trait or descriptor of Jesus to focus on. They are comfort, vision, kindness, and passion. Jesus can feel our fears and sadness and gives us comfort. He gives us direction through his vision. His kindness gives us strength to love each other, and his passion is evident in all of his thoughts, feelings, and teaching.
There Is A Balm In Gilead (Communion Hymn- 9:00 AM)
The origins of this African American spiritual come from the Old Testament. In Jeremiah 8, we see the question being asked, "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing of the wounds for my (God's) people?" This question is answered by the spiritual.
The verses are a compilation of texts from various sources. This idea of the "wandering hymn" was quite common with spirituals, as they frequently related to each other.
CLOSING HYMN
This Is My Song (Closing Hymn- 9:00 AM)
The ELW hymnal has a brief selection of patriotic songs, but this compilation text by two 20th century poets Lloyd Stone (st. 1-2) and Georgia Harkness (st. 3), is probably the best known "national" hymn that doesn't necessarily declare an allegiance to a specific country. Rather, it is an ecumenical (if you will) prayer for unity within and among nations of the world. Stanza two sums up the aura of the hymn perfectly...
My countriy's skies are bluer than the ocean,
and sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine,
(sounds rather pompous so far, yes?)
BUT other lands have sunlight too, and clover,
and skies are ev'rywhere as blue as mine.
So hear my song, O God of all the nations,
a song of peace for their land and for mine.
It is set to the tune FINLANDIA, originally a chorale from the symphonic poem of the same title by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. Though that was where it originated, this tune has become unbelievably attached to this text, and it is nearly impossible now to separate the two.
POSTLUDE
Earth and all Stars- David Johnson (Postlude: 9:00 AM)
Unlike the first arrangement by Wayne Wold, David Johnson actually made this arrangement on his own tune. It is a little more straightforward, starting with a statement of the tune as though it were the hymn being accompanied, and concluding with a slower version using the technique called "augmentation," where the tune is stretched out and made longer.
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