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Music at WPC-
Sunday, June 21, 2026
Proper 8

​Voluntary:  Improvisation on "Resignation"  Stackpole

Offertory: Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service     Mark Thewes (b. 1954)

Voluntary:  Toccata Brevis     Daniel Gawthrop (b. 1949)

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Hymns

Opening Hymn: INSERT- O God, Who Gives Us Life and Breath  NOEL
Sequence Hymn: 334- When Isreal Was In Egypt's Land  GO DOWN MOSES

Closing Hymn: INSERT- Christ, Be Our Light   CHRIST BE OUR LIGHT

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Next Week's Music at WPC:

Sunday, June 28: Bob Carlyon, organ; Stacy Franzmann, Soloist

Prelude- About the Music
The hymn tune RESIGNATION is one of the most beloved melodies in the American sacred music tradition. First published in The Southern Harmony (1835), the influential shape-note tunebook compiled by William Walker, the tune is believed to have earlier folk roots and reflects the simple yet deeply expressive musical language that characterized early nineteenth-century American hymnody. Written in a minor mode, RESIGNATION carries a profound sense of longing, humility, and quiet hope, making it especially effective for texts that explore themes of mortality, trust in God, and the promise of eternal life. It is most famously paired with Charles Wesley's hymn "My Shepherd Will Supply My Need" in some hymnals, though it is perhaps best known today as the tune for Isaac Watts's paraphrase of Psalm 23, "My Shepherd Will Supply My Need," as well as "O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go" in certain traditions. The tune's flowing, pentatonic-inspired melody and gentle, contemplative character continue to resonate with congregations, offering a musical expression of steadfast faith and peaceful surrender that has endured for nearly two centuries.

Offertory- About the Composer

Ohio native Mark Thewes is an acclaimed organist, composer, and arranger whose music has become a staple in churches and concert halls across the country. A graduate of the University of Akron with both bachelor's and master's degrees in organ performance, Thewes has served for decades as Organist and Director of Music at Westbrook Park United Methodist Church in Canton, Ohio. His compositions are known for their lyrical melodies, colorful harmonies, and practical craftsmanship, making them equally appealing to performers and congregations. Published by several leading sacred music publishers, including MorningStar Music, his catalog ranges from hymn-based preludes and postludes to festive trumpet tunes and expressive concert works. Whether writing a quiet meditation or a jubilant toccata, Thewes combines accessibility with artistic depth, creating music that is both rewarding to perform and deeply meaningful in worship.

Postlude- About the Composer
Daniel E. Gawthrop is one of America's most respected contemporary composers of choral and organ music. Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Gawthrop studied at Michigan State University and Brigham Young University before establishing a distinguished career as a composer, organist, conductor, teacher, and writer. His catalog includes hundreds of works for choir, organ, orchestra, and chamber ensembles, and he has received more than one hundred commissions from churches, universities, and professional organizations. Gawthrop's music is celebrated for its lyrical melodies, rich harmonic language, and expressive treatment of text, making it accessible to performers while remaining artistically sophisticated. His organ works range from reflective hymn settings to brilliant concert pieces, while his choral compositions have become staples of church and community choir repertoires throughout the United States. His ability to blend traditional sacred influences with a fresh contemporary voice has established him as one of the leading composers of American sacred music today.

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