HYMN FESTIVAL

 

The Eastern Orthodox Cross is a fascinating cross that has three bars crossing the main vertical. The lowest bar is slanted because the Russians believed that Christ’s limbs were of unequal length.

 

The Maltese Cross has four arms of equal length, with each arm becoming progressively broader as it leaves the center. Two points at the end of each arm, a total of eight, represent the beatitudes. It is also an emblem of John the Baptist.

 

St. Andrew’s Cross, the national cross of Scotland. This cross first came into use during the Middle Ages.

 

The Celtic Cross. Its distinguishing characteristic is a circle, signifying eternity, around the middle part of the cross. It is also sometimes called the Cross of Iona, the Irish Cross, or the Wheel Cross.

 

Sources: Friedrich Rest, Our Christian Symbols, pp. 19-26.

               The Book of Confessions, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

 

“COME, CHRISTIANS, JOIN TO SING!”

Service of Worship and Praise with God’s Gifts

 of Music and Song

 

PLEASE NOTE:  Where Hymn numbers are printed, the Congregation is invited either to join in singing or in following the words of the Hymn or both. Congregation, choirs and instruments join together to worship God who is the Audience, the One to Whom we sing our “Alleluia.”

 

PRELUDE               “To God Be the Glory”         arr. Cynthia Dobinski

                                    Hand Bells and Organ           William Doane 1875

                                   

INTROIT        “With A Voice of Singing”  (Excerpt)        Martin Shaw

 

*PROCESSIONAL HYMN # 150    “Come, Christians, Join to Sing”

Choir only on “Alleluia,” except on 3rd stanza when all join in.

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP/LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE

          O come, let us sing to the LORD;                                 Psalm 95: 1

               Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

 

          Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.                 Psalm 100

               Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence

                with singing.

          Know that the LORD is God. It is he that made us, and we are his;

                we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

          Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise.

               Give thanks to him, bless his name.

          

For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever,

                and his faithfulness to all generations.

 

INTRODUCTION OF FESTIVAL THEME

Christians have been singing, using music and other art forms to worship God for more than 2000 years. Today in our worship we have not only the beauty of this room but also banners displaying symbols of our faith and hymns to experience in various settings. We will share hymns from our Hymnal that are our heritage from the 4th Century to the present. There will be a brief word about the background or historical context of each hymn or hymn arrangement.

 

I. THE EARLY CHURCH

 

HYMN # 309    “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”   Aurelius Prudentius

                                      Chancel Choir                                 (348-413)

Congregation follow the words.

 

II. CLERGY WRITE THE HYMNS TO BE SUNG IN LATIN

 

HYMN # 88       “All Glory, Laud and Honor”    Theodulph of Orleans

                                                                                                          c. 820

                         Refrain: Carol Choir

                         Stanza 1: All

                         Stanza 2: Men

                         Stanza 3: Women

                         Stanza 4: All

                         Final Refrain: All

 

THE BANNERS

 

As you enter the Sanctuary, you encounter eight banners hanging from the wooden cross beams above your head.

 

The Budded Cross. This cross is often used on top of the Christian flag.

 

The Greek Cross, with four arms of equal length, has been used for years as the symbol of the Red Cross. When five Greek crosses appear together, they represent the five wounds of Christ’s crucifixion.

 

The Jerusalem Cross, is made up of four Tau crosses which meet in the center, and with four small crosses appearing in the four corners. It was originally known as the Five-Fold Cross, representing the five wounds of our Lord’s crucifixion. It was later used by the Crusaders and was said to be symbolic of Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Sometimes the four small crosses indicate the four corners of the earth to which missionaries have gone to preach the gospel.

 

The Tau Cross, shaped like the Greek letter T, was often used by early Christians as a disguised form of the traditional cross in order to avoid persecution by non-sympathetic non-Christians. It is also known as the Old Testament, Advent, or Saint Anthony’s cross.

 

We would like to thank all of the following

who participated in our Hymnfest:

 

Liturgists:

Elder Edith Patton

Rev. William R. Leety

 

Choirs:

Chancel Chimes

Overbrook Belles & Beau

Chancel Choir

Westminster Choir

Carol Choir

Celebration Singers

 

Instrumentalists:

Dan Laciano – Trumpet

John Wyckoff – Timpani

 

Leaders:

Sarah Shaffer – Director/Soprano Soloist

Nancy Deeth - Organist

 

III. REFORMATION: CONGREGATIONAL SINGING

RETURNS WITH PSALMS

 

HYMN # 220                               “All People That on Earth Do Dwell” 

                                                                                William Kethe  

 1560

Stanza 1: Unison

Stanza 2: Read together

Stanza 3: Choir – accapella

Stanza 4: All and in harmony

 

IV. BRITISH HYMNS: ISAAC WATTS & CHARLES WESLEY

 

HYMN # 155          “Rejoice, the Lord Is King”       arr. Larry Shackley

                             Darwall/Charles Wesley   

                                                                                                           1746

Anthem by the Chancel Choir and Trumpet,

Congregation follows the text

 

V. GOSPEL SONGS, AMERICAN REVIVAL MOVEMENTS

 

HYMN # 485                   “Great Is Our God”                 Craig Courtney

                                       “To God Be the Glory”        Fanny Jane Crosby

1875

 Hand Bell Choir, Chancel Choir and Congregation

 

VI.   UNIQUELY NORTH AMERICAN: SPIRITUALS

 

                         “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me”     arr. Edward Boatner

African-American Tradition

                                  Solo -  Sarah Shaffer

 

VII.   20TH CENTURY HYMNS – BRITISH AND AMERICAN

 

HYMN # 469                “Morning Has Broken”            arr. Cat Stevens

                                                                                Eleanor Farjeon, 1931

With old Gaelic melody

                                           Westminster Choir

 

OFFERING OURSELVES TO GOD’S PURPOSES

           Call for Response

           Offertory:                  “Wake Up, Church”            Pepper Choplin

                                               Celebration Singers                             2005

           *Prayer of Dedication

 

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION AND THANKSGIVING

 

VIII. INTERNATIONAL TEXTS AND TUNES

 

HYMN # 589          The Lord’s Prayer”        West Indian Folk Melody

Carol and Westminster Choirs

Stanzas 2-5: Congregation joins the response

 

IX. SUMMARY – WE OFFER OUR SONGS TO GOD

 

HYMN # 264                             “When in Our Music God is Glorified”

                                                                                Fred Pratt Green 1972

Choirs and Congregation

 

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

 

X. CHORAL RESPONSE

 

HYMN # 432                 “Song of Hope”                       Alvin Schutmaat

Argentine folk melody   1984

                                  First Time - Choirs only

Second time - Congregation and Choirs in Spanish or English

 

POSTLUDE           Fantasia on “Madrid” – Allegro         John Weaver

1996

   COME,

 

           CHRISTIANS,

 

                       JOIN

                              

                              TO

 

                                   SING!

 

HYMN FESTIVAL

November 6, 2005

 

Overbrook Presbyterian Church

4131 North High Street

Columbus OH 43214

614-261-1040

www.overbrookchurch.org