This Sunday’s organ voluntaries are by William Byrd (1540-1623), in honor of the Byrd Festival, which closes on Sunday afternoon with a final concert at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church at 4pm. The offertory anthem at Sunday’s 10am service, sung by a small chamber choir, is by an even older English Renaissance composer named John Dunstable (c. 1390-1453). The medieval sounding motet for three voices is set to a text from the Song of Songs, otherwise known as the Song of Solomon. The English translation reads as an erotic love poem but is typically interpreted as a Christian allegory of Christ and his bride, the Church, or as signifying God’s love for his people.

We have an exciting upcoming event for our young people on Sunday, August 28 after the 10am service. Organist Hannah Brewer and choir member (and retired organ builder) Cliff Fairley will offer an up close, hands-on demonstration of our pipe organ in the sanctuary. In addition, kids can work together to build a small-scale working pipe organ through an Orgelkids kit that will be available. It will be wonderful opportunity to learn about the pipe organ and how it works. All are welcome, but the program will be geared toward kids.