Wednesday, July 1, 2020

In a few days we will celebrate our nation’s Independence Day. The gospel appointed for July 4 in our lectionary is Matthew 5:43-48. Beginning at verse 44: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The following hymns reflect justice and peace for all people and all nations. 

The tune Jerusalem was written by British composer Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry and is usually sung with the words, “And did those feet in ancient times,” from William Blake’s poem Jerusalem. Carl Daw was asked to create a text on peace to go with this tune for The Hymnal 1982. From Volume Three B of The Hymnal 1982 Companion, “The first stanza approaches peace as pax, an understanding of peace based on the cessation of conflict and the second stanza of shalom, living abundantly in harmony and mutual goodw ill."

“O Day of Peace” 

Sung to the hymn tune Jerusalem

From the Hymnal Companion : “This text reflecting the world we live in, a world divided by race and material wealth and devastated by the destruction and horror of wars, is balanced by the prayer that we never lose sight of the vision of God’s will for his world, a world where love, peace, and justice will reign.” The text is paired with the strong Welsh tune, Llangloffan.

“O God of Every Nation”

Sung to the hymn tune Llangloffan

The tune McKee was adapted from a spiritual “I know the angel’s changed my name” by Harry T. Burleigh to go with this text. He named the tune after the Rev. Elmer M. McKee, rector of St George’s Episcopal in New York City, where Burleigh sang for many years after leaving Erie.

“In Christ There Is No East or West”

Sung by members of our Cathedral Choir

with a portion of the stained glass window from our Cathedral pictured.