This week’s Gospel reading in which the Disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray is the perfect excuse for me to pull out all my favorite songs and hymns about prayer. My organ Voluntary will be a blues-inspired arrangement of “Standin’ in the Need of Prayer” by Betty Roe, followed by Eric Markinson singing Maurice Duruflé “Notre Père” sung in French and English. Originally written for SATB Choir, it has been arranged for many different voice combinations, and as a solo with piano accompaniment.
Our opening hymn “I Want Jesus to Walk With Me” reminds us that prayer is not just something we do on our knees or in Church – it is our daily work, our joys and sorrows. Our everyday walking with Christ in the world should be a conversation with our best friend and Savior – it just happens to be called prayer!
Jesse Keller will provide our Anthem, singing Albert Hay Malotte’s “The Lord’s Prayer” which was written 90 years ago and is still a favorite around the world. My brief Offering at Offertory is a piano arrangement of “Take Time to Be Holy”by John Turner. I have always loved the words to this hymn: “Take time to be holy, speak oft with your God. Abide in God always and feed on God’s Word. Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak; forgetting in nothing, God’s blessing to seek.”
A few years ago I was first exposed to the Mormon hymn “Did You Think to Pray”and I was moved to tears. Then I discovered this recording with the BYU Chorus and saw that they TOO were moved to tears on the last verse. I will sing a solo version of the hymn at the piano during Communion. These words have always spoken so powerfully to me and I especially love the invitation to go boldly before the throne of grace: “Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to pray? In the name of Christ our Savior, did you sue for loving favor as a shield today.” I pray the music and words are meaningful to you as well.
Our closing hymn is the perfect closing for Sunday’s Worship: “Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God” with a last verse reharmonization from England that utilizes dancing chords on the organ with no melody included at all. My postlude will be the first portion of Canadian composer Denis Bédard’s arrangement of the “Pater Noster” Gregorian Chant.
It is my prayer that we make every moment of life a prayer to God, and take time each day with our Creator that will always seek us out to be the center of our lives.
