Save the date: on Sunday, August 15th, UUCC will host two special guest musicians, who will play during our outdoor service and also will play pre-service music beginning at 10:30 on the lawn. Our guests will be April Sun, piano and Ann Yu, violin. Check out the August edition of The Hawk for more information about Ann and April and this special musical treat!
Music Notes – Sunday, August 1st:
This Sunday’s musicians are Anne and Steve Sanford and UUCC Music Director Mike Carney
Centering Music: Yigdal Elohim Chai – Traditional Hebrew Hymn
“Yigdal Elohim Chai” (The Living God Be Praised) is a hymn that has been used in Jewish worship for over 600 years. It is based on the 13 principles of faith (also known as “the 13 Creeds”), which were formulated by Jewish philosopher and Torah scholar Maimonides during the 12th century C.E.
Opening Hymn: #38 Morning Has Broken – Traditional Scottish Folksong/Farjean
“Morning Has Broken” is a setting of the traditional Scottish Gaelic tune “Bunessan”, with lyrics by English author Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965). For decades, the song has appeared in dozens of hymnals (including as #38 in our own Singing the Living Tradition), but it reached a larger audience in 1972 when a recording by Cat Stevens became a top ten hit on the U.S. Billboard charts.
Meditation Response: #123 Spirit of Life
“Spirit of Life” is #123 in our Singing the Living Tradition hymnal and is a favorite hymn of many UUs. The composer of “Spirit of Life”, Carolyn McDade (b. 1935), describes herself as “a songwriter, spiritual feminist, and social activist” (carolynmcdademusic.com). Originally, McDade was reluctant to see “Spirit of Life” included in our hymnal, as she thinks of her song as a personal and living prayer as opposed to a hymn. Despite her misgivings at the time, “Spirit of Life” has become the most frequently sung hymn within UU congregations around the world – many UUs know the words by heart, and some of our sister churches sing this song together every Sunday.
Offertory: Vaudeville Bounce
“Vaudeville Bounce” is an instrumental trio written in 2008 by Terence J. O’Grady, a musician, educator, and scholar who has published several musicology books on topics ranging from Bach and Beethoven to the Beatles to the historic music of Native American tribes. O’Grady is currently a Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and hosts a podcast called The J.S. Bach Files.
Wisdom from the Global Scripture: “Walking Far from Home”
American singer and songwriter Samuel “Sam” Ervin Beam (b. 1974) is better known by his stage name Iron & Wine. Released as a single in 2011, “Walking Far from Home” is from Iron & Wine’s fourth studio album Kiss Each Other Clean.
Closing Hymn: #1066 O Brother Sun – St. Francis of Assisi/Anway
#1066 in our Singing the Journey hymnbook, “O Brother Sun” is based on a well-known poem by St. Francis of Assisi. Sharon Anway wrote these lyrics for the Feast Day of St. Francis and adapted them to the Scottish tune “Ye Banks and Braes” at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Cedar Falls, IA, where Sharon is director of Music Ministry and Composer-in-Residence. The St. Luke’s Choir debuted “O Brother Sun” in October of 2002 during that congregation’s annual St. Francis Day service. (from uua.org)
Postlude: #1057 Go Lifted Up – Barron
“Go Lifted Up” (#1057 in our Singing the Journey hymnbook) is a parting song by Mortimer Barron (b. 1939), who wrote the song during his time as Music Director at Murray Unitarian Universalist Church in Attleboro, Massachusetts.
-Mike Carney, UUCC Music Director