May 21, 2023

The prelude is 2 settings of probably familiar hymn tunes — "Bread of Life" and "Lead Us O Father" — by Seth Bingham (1882-1972), who was a prolific composer educated at Yale and a fine organist, having served for 35 years at the famous Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in NYC.

Our processional hymn, 460, "Alleluia! Sing to Jesus", is one of the most famous 19th century hymns. The text certainly is appropriate for Ascension, and of course, this is the Sunday after the Ascension.

Our Gospel hymn, 214, "Hail, the day that sees him rise", is another Charles Wesley text and a great hymn for Ascension.

At the offertory we will all sing hymn 292, "O Jesus, crowned with all renown". I think the hymn is familiar to most people. You will note that the tune is called "Kingsfold" and is an English tune adapted by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

During communion we will sing hymn 221, "O Lord Most High, eternal King", an early 20th century and beautiful tune by Percy Carter Buck, the text translated from Medieval Latin. If time, we will sing hymn 536, "The Torah Song", which we intended to include a few weeks ago.

We have another sort of "chestnut" for a closing hymn, "Crown him with many crowns", 494. If you are starting to look at the information included at the end of hymns, you may very well recognize the names you see here, especially Richard Proulx, and try to remember George Elvey.

The postlude is a Wayne Wold (b. 1954) setting of "O worship the King", known to everyone. Mr. Wold is Director of Chapel Music and a professor at Hood College in Maryland.