Christmas Musicals for Church
Issue link: https://read.jwpepper.com/i/765612
94 PSALM 23 – SATB FROM THE COMPOSER When I was young, each night, just before bed, my family would gather to read the Bible and say a prayer. Often we would say the twenty-third psalm together. What a rich experi- ence for a small boy to hear and speak this beautiful expression of the life of faith! Psalm 23 holds a special place in the lives of believers. We often read or say it from memo- ry at significant services and times of challenge. The few verses are so profound and express so much. Beside the still waters, through the valley of the shadow of death, through all the days of our lives, the psalm helps us describe the journey we travel as the sheep of His pasture. I am so thankful to Barry Green and the adult choir of Bonsack Baptist Church of Roa- noke, VA. After I led his choir in my Lord's Prayer cantata, Our Father, I shared with Barry my vision of creating a work based on Psalm 23. The support of Barry and his choir gave me the courage to create this cantata. Here are a few ref lections as you present this work: We Are Not Alone – This song bookends the larger work. Many have responded power- fully to this reminder of God's presence. The Lord Is My Shepherd – With its sweeping melodies, this piece is both a declaration and a celebration. It is a statement of choice. Above all others, we choose to follow the Lord. With an inner joy, we sing, "Know that the Lord, He is God." How wonderful it is to live as sheep of His pasture. Restore My Soul – So many things in life can drain our souls. I wrote some of this piece beside a quiet lake, remembering how as a child, I would lie on the grass, peering into the sky. I could imagine the Psalmist in a similar scene, playing a harp as he worshipped. Lead Me on the Paths of Righteousness – Written during a time of cultural turmoil, I wrote this as a fervent prayer! The melody pulls us forward as we pray for direction. A thoughtful reading of the anthem text will reveal the soul of this piece. As we hunger for wisdom, we pray the words, "Show the way to justice, show the way to truth…" and later, "When I meet the darkness, fill me with Your light." Though I Walk through the Valley – Everyone will experience the shadow of death. It may be during a time of sickness or when a loved one is lost. This anthem calls out to God: "I know that You are there. Save me from despair. Come and show that I am not alone." You Comfort Me – After the weight of the previous piece, this is meant to be a calming salve, a ref lective time of worship. As you sing, embrace the Lord's presence and care. In the final section, the choir sings much of the psalm as the title phrase soars above. My Cup Overf lows – This is a celebration of all that has come before. It is a chance to "glory" in all the blessings of life with the Shepherd. Surely Goodness and Mercy – The first half of this anthem serves as a doxology, a bold statement of confidence in God's blessings and love. The second section begins, quiet and low, then ascends as it leads us to the vision of God's final providence, our eternal home. For Preview Only