". . . little shall I grace my cause

In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience,

I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver . . ."

(William Shakespeare's Othello, I.iii.88-90)

Sunday, October 4, 2009

LCFS Hymn Festival Podcast

Two weeks ago my parish hosted a hymn festival to highlight and benefit the work of Lutheran Child and Family Services, specifically their Lutherbrook residential home for children with severe emotional and behavioral difficulties. The podcast for the hymn fest is now available online! It was a glorious afternoon of song and I encourage you to listen. Provided below is an outline of the service.

FAITH SINGS
An LCFS Hymn Festival


HYMN “Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” LSB #528
Brass Arrangements by John Ferguson

WELCOME Rev. Timothy Rossow

PSALM “O Sing to the Lord” Psalm 95:1-7
A Psalm Setting by Phillip Magness

HYMN “Let Children Hear the Mighty Deeds” LSB #867
A Hymn Arrangement by Phillip Magness

HYMN “Praise the Almighty, My Soul Adore Him” LSB #797
A Concertato by Walter Pelz

READING “Faith Is Active in the Love of Christ” Rev. David Balla
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther
Jesus, the Christ
St. John, the Apostle
St. Paul, the Apostle

HYMN “I Am Jesus’ Little Lamb” LSB #740
A Concertato by Ted Beck

HYMN “Church of God, Elect and Glorious” LSB #646
Brass Arrangement by James Biery
Stanza 2 Setting for Children's Choir by Phillip Magness

READING “Faith Is Active in the Compassion of Christ” Rev. Paul Mumme
St. Luke 10:25-37
God’s Mercy (a reading from St. Augustine)
How Kind the Good Samaritan (a hymn by John Newton)

HYMN “The Church’s One Foundation” LSB #644
A Concertato by Paul Manz

HYMN “Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart” LSB #708
A Concertato by Don Busarow

READING “Faith Is Active in the Hope of Christ” Rev. Scott Bruzek
Prodigal Father, Prodigal Son, and Old School by Tobias Wolf

HYMN “God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It” LSB #594
A Concertato by Phillip Magness*

HYMN (please stand) “We Praise You, and Acknowledge You” LSB #941
Brass Arrangement by Robert Hobby

A LUTHERBROOK MINUTE Gene Svebakken

ANTHEM “Let the Children Come to Me”
by Phillip Magness

CLOSING HYMN “Lift High the Cross” LSB #837
A Concertato by Phillip Magness**

POSTLUDE “How Firm a Foundation”
arr. Andrew Clark

FAITH SINGS MUSICIANS

Organist and Choir Director: Cantor Phillip Magness

Festival Choirs:
Immanuel Lutheran Church – Hinckley Adult Choir, Dawn Andermann, director
Proclaim – Bethany Lutheran Church, Cantor Phillip Magness, director
Plus friends from the choirs of St. John Lutheran Church, Wheaton and
Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle

Handbell Choir: Praises Ring! (Bethany Lutheran Church), Susan Keller, director

Children’s Choir: Schola Cantorum - Bethany Lutheran Church & School,
Naperville; Cantor Phillip Magness, director

Christus Choir—Bethany Lutheran School, Naperville;
Mike Vasilie, director

Choral Accompanist: Cheryl Magness

Trumpets: Gretchen Brouch, Erich Keller
French Horn: Linda Komes
Trombone: Julie Bernier
Timpani: Peggy Sue Casey
Tuba: Tyler Heuer
Clarinet: Jessica Luhrs
Flutes: Cindy Curfs, Victoria Sodeman
Keyboard: Trevor Magness
Percussion: Mike Vasilie, Susan Keller, Elaine Gavin, Tom Mueller

Participants: Rev. Timothy Rossow, Bethany Lutheran, Naperville
Rev. David Balla, Trinity Lutheran, West Chicago
Rev. Paul Mumme, Divine Shepherd Lutheran, Bolingbrook
Rev. Scott Bruzek, St. John Lutheran, Wheaton
Gene Svebakken, President & CEO of LCFS

*The church thanks Tom Mueller for commissioning this new work in honor of his maternal grandfather, Prof. Walter A. Lobitz, who was a Lutheran school teacher at the grade school, high school, and college levels and also an organist and choir director.

**The church thanks Nancy Yendrejczek for commissioning this new work, in honor of her sainted husband, Jerry.

Please join us following the hymnfest for a light reception.


6 comments:

Dan @ Necessary Roughness said...

Wow, this looks very cool! And a great idea for a fundraiser!

Cheryl said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Cheryl said...

Dan, the hymn festival was actually donated by the cantor and purchased by a member of Bethany at a fundraising auction by the church and school. Then the purchaser requested that the hymn fest itself (and the free will offering) benefit LCFS. So this hymn festival was a material blessing to both our church and LCFS as well as being a spiritual blessing to all who were present (and to all who may now listen to the podcast)! Not only that, the cantor also donated two new hymn concertatos to the auction--those were purchased by congregation members (and composed on hymns requested by the purchasers) with the funds going to the church and school. Both compositions were then premiered at this hymn fest.

Dakotapam said...

It sounds wonderful, thanks for sharing. Since I am home from church with young, sick, children, it is a blessing to me this morning as well!

Dan @ Necessary Roughness said...

Cheryl, thanks for the details. I can't wait to hear all of this.

IggyAntiochus said...

How about posting the program and links at Fine Tuning?