Music for the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity

Yet even though I suffer the world’s unpleasantness,

And though the days grow rougher,

And bring me great distress,

That day of bliss divine forever shall be mine.   The HYMN OF THE DAY, “From God Can Nothing Move Me” (713) is based on Psalm 73.23: “Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.”

   Ludwig Helmbold (1532-1598) wrote this hymn in 1563 at the outbreak of a plague in Erfurt, Germany.  Many residents fled the city, and Helmbold penned this hymn for a friend, as their families were anxious at their parting and, concerned for their future, considered they might never see each other again.

Worthy of note among Helmbold’s writings are his complete metrical version of the Augsburg Confession.  He also wrote “Lord, Help Us Ever to Retain” (865), a summary of the six chief parts of the Christian faith.

Praise with us the God of grace   The ENTRANCE HYMN, “Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven” (793) is a paraphrase of Psalm 103 by Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847), pastor in Devon, England.  It was published in 1834 in The Spirit of the Psalms, or The Psalms of David adapted to Christian Worship.  The tune was written by John Goss (1800-1880) for this text.  Goss was organist at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London and professor at the Royal Academy of Music.

Oh, may this bounteous God Through all our life be near us. The HYMN TO DEPART, “Now Thank We All Our God” (895) by Martin Rinckart (1586-1649) was sung to celebrate the Peace of Westphalia ending the Thirty Years’ War in 1648.  It is based on Sirach 50.22-24.