This past month I drove to a small Midwest-ern town to attend a funeral service for my 100-year-old sixth-grade teacher; and wow,

was the singing wonderful! She had been a wonderful teacher, so perhaps I should not have been surprised that the singing sounded like we were all trying to do our best for a dear teacher. Still, one has no right to expect such robust singing at services of this kind: often there is too much grief, emotion and quiet re-straint in the presence of the bereaved. For 20 minutes I wondered why it was all so vibrant and alive. Then I decided to stop wondering, just enjoy it, and think about it later. And that’s what I did.

I wanted to attribute it all to an abundance of faith, hope and love. And in part I do. But that clearly isn’t fair if it implies that a lack of great singing means a lack of faith, hope and love. There is no certain or inevitable relationship.

• I’m sure part of the energy was due to the fact that the hymns were familiar and loved by those in attendance. For example, this happened in a very Swedish-centric rural community, and one of the hymns was Children of the Heavenly Father; a soloist even sang one stanza in Swedish.

• And there were competent musicians at organ and piano to lead without being either timid or pushy; there was even a choir — at 11:00 a.m. on a weekday.

• Then it should be admitted that in this case no one was feeling the trauma or pain of an early or sudden death. She was 100 years old, after all. There weren’t even old friends too grief stricken to sing: she had outlived them all.

• And there were no knotty family dynamics — stubborn regrets, grudges, jealousies and the like — there was only thanksgiving for the life of a good mom, good teacher, good neighbor, good friend. Sometimes a congregation needs to rise up and sing in order to help bring a broken-hearted family to peace. It is something mem-bers of a congregation can do for each other in times of grief. In this case, however, it seemed that “the peace that passes all understanding” had already settled over the family, and we just needed to sing our gratitude.

• Whether or not this was also a congregation with a tradition of lively hymn singing I do not know, but that could be part of what I heard that day.

• Finally, it did seem to me that the modest-sized old wooden church, renovated and re-confi gured for modern worship, provided a very friendly acoustic. It was glad to sing along. And so was I.

The other elements of the service were also well done, as we commended my teacher into the arms of God. That we did so with such singing seemed to me on the drive home, just right. May the singing in your life be just right this Lenten and Easter season.

Peace be with you,

“May the singing in your life be just right this

Lenten and Easter season.”

by Pastor Bruce Benson, host

Grand Music

Gracious Word

Sing For Joy® is a production of St. Olaf College. MARCH 2016 / YEAR C

MARCH 6, 2016Fourth Sunday in Lent (Year C)

(1R) Joshua 5:9–12(PS) Psalm 32(2R) 2 Corinthians 5:16–21(G) Luke 15:1–3, 11b–32

Amazing Grace (NEW BRITAIN) – Southern Harmony / John Newton, lyricist / Alice Parker, arranger / Robert Shaw, arranger (G) Robert Shaw Festival Singers / Robert Shaw (CD) Amazing Grace: American Hymns & Spirituals / TELARC / CD-80325 © 1993 Telarc, Concord Music Group telarc.com

I Believe I’ll Go Back Home / Lordy Won’t you Help Me? – African American Spiritual / Charles Lloyd Jr., arranger (G) James Levine (CD) Spirituals in Concert / DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON / 429 790-2 © 1991 Deutsche Grammophon, PolyGram Records, Inc.

My Life Flows on in Endless Song (How Can I Keep from Singing?) (HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING / AZMON / AMAZING GRACE) – Robert Lowry / Robert Lowry, lyricist / Eric Nelson, arranger (2R) St. Olaf Cantorei: Northfi eld, MN / John Ferguson (CD) Songs of Grateful Praise / ST. OLAF RECORDS / E-2880 © 2006 St. Olaf Records stolafrecords.com

Thou Knowest, Lord – Henry Purcell (2R) The Cambridge Singers / John Rutter (CD) Faire is the Heaven: Music of the English Church / COLLEGIUM RECORDS / COLCD 107 © 1988 Collegium Records, Naxos of America, Inc. collegium.co.uk

What Wondrous Love (WONDROUS LOVE) – William Walker / American Folk Hymn, lyricist / Wayland Rogers, arranger (G) Eastern Mennonite High School Touring Choir: Harrisonburg, VA / Jay E. Hartzler (CD) Almighty God / EMHS / EMHS 00097 © 1997 EMHS emhs.net

Amazing Grace (NEW BRITAIN) – Southern Harmony / John Newton, lyricist / Keith McCutchen, arranger (G) The St. Olaf Choir: Northfi eld, MN / Keith McCutchen, accompanist / Anton Armstrong (CD) Great Hymns of Faith: Volume II / ST. OLAF RECORDS / E-2651

© 2004 St. Olaf Records stolafrecords.com

MARCH 13, 2016Fifth Sunday in Lent (Year C)

(1R) Isaiah 43:16–21(PS) Psalm 126(2R) Philippians 3:4b–14(G) John 12:1–8

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing (NETTLETON) – John Wyeth / Robert Robinson, lyricist / Mack Wilberg, arranger (G) Plymouth Choir, First-Plymouth Congregational Church: Lincoln, NE / Plymouth Brass, First-Plymouth Congregational Church: Lincoln, NE, ensemble / Tom Trenney (CD) Hymns from First-Plymouth / PRO ORGANO / CD 7260 © 2013 Pro Organo proorgano.com

A Litany – William Walton / Phineas Fletcher, lyricist (PS, 2R) Polyphony / Stephen Layton (CD) Walton: Coronation Te Deum and Other Choral Music / HYPERION / CDA67330 © 2002 Hyperion, Hyperion Records Limited hyperion-records.co.uk

Psalm 126 – Philip Glass (PS) Coral Carmina: Barcelona, Spain / Theodore Bikel, soloist / Karl Anton Rickenbacher (CD) Psalms of Joy and Sorrow / NAXOS / 8559445 © 2006 Naxos, Naxos of America, Inc. naxos.com

My Hope is Built on Nothing Less (MELITA and THE SOLID ROCK) – William B. Bradbury / John B. Dykes / Edward Mote, lyricist / Robert Berglund, arranger (2R) The Bethel Choir: St. Paul, MN / Dennis W. Port (CD) The Bethel Choir 1998 / BETHEL COLLEGE / BCCD-9801 © 1998 Bethel College bethel.edu

To Hope! A Celebration: Lamb of God – Dave Brubeck (2R, G) Cathedral Choral Society: Washington, DC / The Dave Brubeck Quartet, ensemble / J. Reilly Lewis (CD) To Hope! A Celebration / TELARC / CD-80430 © 1996 Telarc, Concord Music Group telarc.com

Hold On! – African American Spiritual / Hall Johnson, arranger (2R, G) Franz Rupp, accompanist (CD) He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands / RCA VICTOR / 09026-61960-2 © 1994 RCA Victor, New York, NY

“For many people who grew up in a church, ‘Palm Sunday’ stirs up images of children’s choirs, cheerfully holding palm branches and walking up the aisle of the church. Palm Sunday music can

please the memory and stir the soul.” -Pastor Bruce Benson

MARCH 20, 2016Sunday of the Passion — Palm Sunday (Year C)

(1R) Isaiah 50:4–9a(PS) Psalm 31:9–16(2R) Philippians 2:5–11(G) Luke 22:14–23:56 or Luke 23:1–49(PG) Processional Gospel, Luke 19:28–40

All Glory, Laud, and Honor (ST. THEODULPH) – Melchior Teschner / Theodulph of Orleans, lyricist / John Mason Neale, translator (PG) The Choir of Wells Cathedral / Rupert Gough, accompanist / Malcolm Archer (CD) The English Hymn, Vol. 4: All Things Bright and Beautiful / HYPERION / CDP12104 © 2003 Hyperion, Hyperion Records Limited hyperion-records.co.uk

All Glory, Laud, and Honor – Gregorian Chant / Theodulph of Orleans, lyricist / Richard Proulx, arranger (PG) The Cathedral Singers: Chicago, IL / Richard Proulx (CD) More Sublime Chant / GIA PUBLICATIONS / GIA CD-459 © 1999 GIA Publications giamusic.com

Ride On, King Jesus – African American Spiritual / Larry L. Fleming, arranger (PG) The National Lutheran Choir: Minneapolis, MN / Larry L. Fleming (CD) Trinity / NATIONAL LUTHERAN CHOIR RECORDINGS / NLCA-22 © National Lutheran Choir Recordings nlca.com

Psalm 31 Responsory – Lutheran Book of Worship (PS) The Minnesota Compline Choir: Minneapolis, MN / Charles Parsons (CD) Refuge and Strength / WCAL ARCHIVES / WCAL Archives © WCAL Archives

At the Name of Jesus (KING’S WESTON) – Ralph Vaughan Williams / Caroline M. Noel, lyricist (2R) Cardiff Festival Choir / Robert Court, accompanist / Owain Arwel Hughes (CD) Hymns of Vaughan Williams / CARLTON CLASSICS / 30367 01222 © 1997 Carlton Classics

Jesus, Remember Me – Jacques Berthier (G) The Community at Taizé (CD) Laudate Omnes Gentes / GIA PUBLICATIONS / GIA CD-575 © 2003 GIA Publications giamusic.com

“He who gave for us his life,who for us endured the strife,

is our paschal lamb today;we too sing for joy, and say:

alleluia!”-Michael Weisse

MARCH 27, 2016Resurrection of our Lord — Easter Day (Year C)

(1R) Acts 10:34–43 or Isaiah 65:17–25(PS) Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24(2R) 1 Corinthians 15:19–26 or

Acts 10:34–43(G) John 20:1–18 or Luke 24:1–12

Jesus Christ is Risen Today (EASTER HYMN) – Lyra Davidica / John Rutter, arranger (G) St. Thomas Choir of Men and Boys: New York, NY / John Scott (CD) Easter on Fifth Avenue / PRO ORGANO / CD 7209 © 2006 Pro Organo proorgano.com

De Angel Rolled De Stone Away – African American Spiritual / Louis Edward Smart, arranger (G) The Harlem Spriritual Ensemble: New York, NY / François Clemmons (CD) Free at Last / ARCADIA / ARC 1995-2 © 1992 Arcadia

This is the Day the Lord Hath Made – Gerald Near (PS) The Choir of Christ Church Cranbrook: Bloomfi eld Hills, MI / Leslie Wills, accompanist / Charles Raines (CD) My Spirit Sang All Day / CHRIST CHURCH CRANBROOK / 919D9 © Christ Church Cranbrook christchurchcranbrook.org

Alleluia / Haec Dies – William Byrd (PS) The Cambridge Singers / John Rutter (CD) Brother Sun, Sister Moon / AMERICAN GRAMAPHONE / AGCD588 © 1988 American Gramaphone

Christ the Lord is Risen Again – Philip Stopford / Michael Weisse, lyricist / Catherine Winkworth, translator (G) The Ecclesium Choir: Belfast, Northern Ireland / Philip Stopford (CD) Creation / PRIORY RECORDS, LTD. / PRCD 891 © 2007 Priory Records, Ltd. priory.org.uk

Ain’t No Grave Can Hold My Body Down – African American Spiritual / Paul Caldwell, arranger / Sean Ivory, arranger (G) The National Lutheran Choir: Minneapolis, MN / David Cherwien (CD) The Caged Bird Sings / NATIONAL LUTHERAN CHOIR RECORDINGS / E-3576 © 2015 National Lutheran Choir Recordings nlca.com

Thank you for your gifts!In Honor Of:

April

Lorn Kleiboeker

Stephanie Lange

Carolyn Pierson

Ruth Schoeller (my sister)

the Samuel L. Vidal family

(Memorials listed on back)

STATION NEWS

Listeners near Faribault, Minnesota: You can now tune in to Sing For Joy on KDHL 920 AM, Sundays at 6:30 a.m.

Coverage includes south St. Paul to Austin, St. Peter to Red Wing and the outskirts of Rochester.

LISTENERS’ CORNER

Thanks to our generous listeners who fuel us with gifts and praise. Your contributions and kind words are a blessing.

“A listener from snowy Virginia probably not making it to church this morning. Thanks for the music and messages.”

-Roanoke, Virginia

“At 7 a.m. one Sunday morning I found [Sing For Joy] and become a devoted listener … your wonderful half hour

starts my week with thoughts and beauty and I thank you!”-Fork Union, Virginia

“Thank you for thoughtful music and text that consistently enhances our worship experience.”

-Cayman Islands

“Thanks for producing such a consistently wonderful choral music program!”

-Twitter

Join in the Sing For Joy conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@SingForJoyRadio);

email us at singforjoy@stolaf.edu.Stream programs online at singforjoy.org.

MARCH 2016 / YEAR C

Thank you for your gifts!In Memory Of:

Ward and Marceline Booth, my parents — lifetime choral singers and music lovers

Carl Gerbrandt

Dr. Erling Harry

Bernie Imbrock

Ken Jennings

Kenneth Jennings

Helen Kemp

Jennifer Anderson Koenig

Dayton and Margaret Lauthen

James G. Margie Murtaugh

Marilyn Rich, who loved sacred music

Sir David Willcocks

(Honorariums listed inside)

Sing For JoySt. Olaf College1520 St. Olaf AvenueNorthfi eld, mn 55057

Non-profi t Org.U.S. PostagePAIDSt. Olaf College

Website: singforjoy.org Email: singforjoy@stolaf.eduPhone: 507-786-2600

Sing For Joy staff:

W. Bruce Benson Host

John Ferguson Music Adviser

Jeffrey O’Donnell Producer and Music Director

Joshua Wyatt Associate Producer

Carolyn Pierson Communications Coordinator

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