July 12, 2020 - 6th Sunday After Pentecost

As we settle into worship, we will hear a hymn tune of John Foley, SJ, called "One Bread, One Body." The text echoes the parable of the sower from our reading this week --

                       "Grain for the fields,
                         scattered and grown,
                         gathered to one for all."

Our sequence hymn will be "Surely It Is God Who Saves Me" -- the text comes from Isaiah and is set over the tune Thomas Merton. I reharmonized the tune. This means that the melody remains the same, but the chords underneath are different.

The first two pieces of music in the service were both written in the 20th century. Our postlude, however, was written in 1713 by JS Bach. I will play an arrangement of "Sheep May Safely Graze" and I would like to share the (translated) text with you --

                        "Sheep may safely graze and pasture
                          In a watchful Shepherd's sight.
                          Those who rule with wisdom guiding
                          Bring to hearts a peace abiding
                          Bless a land with joy made bright."