Nerding out on this Sunday’s Worship Music with Peter and Pastor Ninabeth

Peter and I would like to share with you the music and background of 2 of the hymns that we will be singing this Sunday for Pentecost. The links in the Titles of these songs will bring you to a YouTube video performance of the song.

“Hail Thee, Festival Day” written by Venantius Fortunatus is found in The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 324.
Processional hymns have a long tradition in the church, especially during the Middle Ages. Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus (c. 530-609) provides us with a Latin hymn for the Easter season that connects our celebration with those of Christians 1500 years ago. This is an unusual hymn in that it can (and should) be sung throughout the season of Eastertide (Easter Day and Ascension) and on Pentecost Sunday. Two additional stanzas are offered for more general occasions. Each stanza is divided into two parts with two different melodies.
What makes this hymn work is the masterful music by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958). Vaughan Williams, one of England’s best known 20th-century composers.

There’s a Spirit of Love In This Place (Worship & Song #3148) written by Mark A Miller in 2003 came from a space of deep inspiration during a meaningful fellowship with another musician and composer, Ken Medema, after whom the melody (MEDEMA) is named. The sense of inspiration is tangible because of its centering effect on the musicians and congregants who play and sing it, and on those who simply meditate on it. During a heated debate at the 2008 United Methodist Conference Mark Miller and Marcia McFee spontaneously began singing this song, bringing down the tension that had filled the space. This song reminds us to be inspired with the breath of the Holy Spirit that is always present and moves among and through us.
Looking forward to Singing with you on Sunday!
*Peter & Pastor Ninabeth*
United Methodist Church 99 Parish Drive Wayne, NJ 07470 973-694-3260