Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Rochester, Pennsylvania
Henry Doktorski, III

October 18, 2015—21st Sunday after Pentecost

Title Page for "The Sacred Harp" (Philadelphia 1844)
Title Page for “The Sacred Harp” (Philadelphia 1844)

In today’s Gospel, the Evangelist Mark quotes Jesus as saying: “Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Our Hymn of the Day, “Lord, Whose Love In Humble Service” with text by Albert F. Bayly, notes, “Your compassion bids us bear, stirring us to ardent service, your abundant life to share.”

Albert Frederick Bayly (1901-1984) was born on the coast of England in Sussex and studied to be a shipwright at the Royal Dockyard School in Portsmouth. After working a few years in the shipyard, he decided that building massive instruments of war was contrary to his pacifist beliefs, so he went back to school and earned a Bachelor Degree from London University. He studied for the ministry at Mansfield College, a Congregationalist theological college in Oxford, and was ordained in 1929. He served from 1929 to 1972 as a minister at three Congregational parishes: Northumberland, Lancashire and East Yorkshire; and in 1962, he became pastor in Thaxted, Essex.

Bayly wrote at least 22 hymns and several pageants on mission themes. He also wrote librettos for cantatas by the English organist and composer William Lloyd Webber. Four of Bayly’s hymns appear in our Lutheran Book of Worship: “Praise and Thanksgiving (409),” “Lord of All Good (411),” Lord, Save Your World (420),” and “Lord, Whose Love In Humble Service (423).”

The tune for Bayly’s hymn, “Beach Spring,” comes from the 1844 shape-note hymnal printed in Philadelphia: The Sacred Harp. To listen to Albert F. Bayly’s “Lord, Whose Love In Humble Service” performed by the Canto Deo Chamber Choir conducted by Jonathan Brown:

 

Scripture

Isaiah 53:4-12
Psalm 91:9-16
Hebrews 5:1-10
Mark 10:35-45

Music & Hymns
2nd Service, 10:45 a.m.

Gathering: ELW 801 Change My Heart, O God
Hymn of the Day: LBW 423 Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service
Offertory: Father, We Thank You (Louis Bourgeois)
Communion: WAP 106 Now We Remain
Sending: LBW 234 Almighty God, Your Word Is Cast

Reources

Holy Bible, New Revised Standard Version (Zonderfan: 1989)
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship (Augsburg Publishing House: 1978)
WOV: With One Voice (Augsburg Fortress: 1995)
W&P: Worship & Praise Songbook (Augsburg Fortress: 1999)
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship (Augsburg Fortress: 2006)
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org
Hymnary.org: http://www.hymnary.org
GIA Publications: http://www.giamusic.com
Hymntime.com: http://hymntime.com
Singers.com: http://singers.com

jesus_washing

Notes from the Music Director (No. 14)