Transition
CTK Administrator
Congregational Meeting

The members of Christ the King Presbyterian Church are called to a Congregational Meeting on Sunday, November 22, 2020 from 7:00 to 8:00 PM, preceded by a prayer meeting that will start at 6:30p. This meeting will be held virtually.

Business to be conducted at the meeting:

  1. Elect a pastoral search committee* for the purpose of recommending a pastoral candidate for Cambridge

  2. Elect church officers – the slate of candidates to be elected will be shared upon approval by the Session

  3. Share information with the church

Instructions for how to participate in the virtual meeting will be forthcoming.

* PCA Book of Church Order chapter 20-2

Transition
CTK Administrator
Congregational Meeting (10/18)

The members of Christ the King Presbyterian Church are called to two upcoming Congregational Meetings.

The first is on Sunday, October 18, 2020 at 7:00 PM and will be held virtually. Business to be conducted at the October meeting:
1. Consider the resignation of Rev. Rick Downs as Pastor of Christ the King Presbyterian Church
2. Approve a process for forming a pastoral search committee*
3. Hear more information and ask questions related to placing an interim pastor in Cambridge and the search for a permanent replacement

The second is on Sunday, November 15, 2020 at 7:00 PM and will be held virtually. Business to be conducted at the November meeting:
1. Elect a pastoral search committee* for the purpose of recommending a pastoral candidate for Cambridge
2. Elect church officers – the slate of candidates to be elected will be shared upon approval by the Session

For updates about these two meetings, please follow https://www.ctkboston.org/news-events. Instructions for how to participate in the virtual meetings will be forthcoming. Other business may be added to either meeting. If so, we will provide advance notice.

* PCA Book of Church Order chapter 20-2

Church Announcements

Angels We Have Heard On High

Angels We Have Heard On High (iTunes)
Words and music from French Carol, Music arr. by Edward Shippen Barnes
From the album The 50 Greatest Songs of Christmas (Ross Records)

In "Angels We Have Heard On High," singers share the story of the shepherds' encounter with the choir of angels as told in Luke 2:8-18.  The text comes from a French carol entitled "Les Anges dans nos campagnes" ("Angels in our countryside").  It was translated into English in 1862 by James Chadwick (1813-1882), a Roman Catholic Bishop in northeast England.

The tune, known as GLORIA, was arranged as we know it today by Edward Shippen Barnes (1887-1958), an American organist and graduate of Yale University.  Probably the most well-known part of the carol, the refrain "Gloria in excelsis deo," is the Latin rendition of the angels' anthem in Luke 2, "Glory to God in the highest!"  The melody line here includes a long melisma, in which one syllable of text is sung to many notes in succession.  The hymn is a joyful proclamation of God's glory and an invitation to worship the newborn King.

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Away In a Manger

Away In a Manger (iTunes)
Words anonymous, Music by William Kirkpatrick
From the album Peace On Earth (Provident Label Group LLC)

Although this week's featured hymn is one of the most beloved Christmas carols in the English language, its origins are unknown.  The first two verses of "Away In a Manger" were first published in May 1884 by a publishing house in Boston, and were titled "Luther's Cradle Song."  However, the attribution to Martin Luther is most likely false.  The third verse was added in 1892, sometimes said to be written by John MacFarland, but again, that attribution is probably not accurate.  The text, which is often considered a children's carol, begins with a description of the newborn Jesus in the manger (from Luke 2:4-7) and ends with a prayer that Jesus would remain close to his children.

There are at least 41 tunes connected with this carol, with melodies written by James Murray (1887) and William Kirkpatrick (1895) being the most commonly sung.  These tunes have the gentle lilt of a lullaby.

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What Child Is This

What Child Is This (iTunes)
Words by William C. Dix, Music from English folk song
From the album In the Town of David (Ordinary Time)

William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898) was born in Bristol, England.  As a young man, he moved to Glasgow, England and worked as a manager of an insurance company.  When he was 29 years old, he became seriously ill and was confined to his bed for months.  He experienced a spiritual crisis during this time, followed by a time of renewal, in which he wrote poems, several of which became hymns we sing today.  One such poem, "The Manger Throne" written in 1865, was the basis for this week's hymn.  The first two verses of "What Child Is This" pose questions that are then answered; the first verse describes Jesus sleeping in the manger, and the second explains his reason for coming - to bear the cross for us sinners.  The final verse invites singers to come to Christ the king and worship.

The tune, known as "Greensleeves" was published as early as 1580 and first associated with the lyrics of a love ballad.

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O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (iTunes)
Words from a Latin hymn, translated by John Mason Neale
Music from 13th century plainsong, arranged by Thomas Helmore

Many Advent hymns are based on ancient texts and tunes that portray the longing and expectation of the season. This week's hymn began as a Latin text "Veni, Veni, Emmanuel" centering around the "O Antiphons" from the final week of Advent vespers (evening prayer services). The "O Antiphons" were sung responses for choir and congregation, named because each one begins with "O" (O Wisdom, O Lord, O Root of Jesse, O Key of David, O Dayspring, O King of the Nations, O Emmanuel). The text originates from sometime between the 8th and 12th centuries and was translated into English by John Mason Neale (1818-1866) around 1850. Neale was an Anglican priest who was best known as a translator of ancient Greek and Latin hymns, including "Of the Father's Love Begotten," "Good Christian Men, Rejoice," and many others.

The tune that accompanies "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" came from a French Franciscan convent of nuns working in Portugal in the 15th century. Thomas Helmore (1811-1890), an Anglican priest and choirmaster, arranged the tune in the version we sing today. During his career, he became interested in medieval plainsong and worked with Neale to publish several collections of ancient Christmas carols. Because of the work of these men, believers today continue to sing the rich hymns of the church from centuries past.

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Our Great God

Our Great God (iTunes)
Words and Music by Fernando Ortega and Mac Powell
From the album Resolved Music, Vol. I (Resolved Music)

Christian singer/songwriter Fernando Ortega, a native of New Mexico, began studying music as a child. His musical style is influenced by his Hispanic heritage, his classical training, traditional hymnody, and the ancient liturgies of the church. Ortega worked together with singer/songwriter Mac Powell to write "Our Great God." Powell is best known as the lead singers of the Christian rock band Third Day. Ortega described the origins of the song in an interview back in 2011:

"I co-wrote 'Our Great God' around 2000 with Mac Powell... He wrote the music and one line of the song, and asked me to supply the rest of the words. We completed it by passing CDs back and forth in the mail." 

The result of their collaboration is a joyful song of praise that acknowledges our human frailty, rejoices in God's grace, love, and sovereignty, and invites all of creation to worship his name.

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What Wondrous Love Is This

What Wondrous Love Is This (iTunes)
American folk hymn
From the album Hymns Project, Vol. 2 (Moonpeople Music)

The text of this simple, but beautiful hymn is of unknown origin. It was first published in 1811 in both a Baptist and a Methodist hymnal. Similarly, the composer of the tune, "WONDROUS LOVE", remains anonymous. The melody's meter comes from an old English ballad. The text and tune first came together in the second edition of William Walker's Southern Harmony in 1840 and appeared again in The Sacred Harp, compiled by Benjamin Franklin White, in 1844. In its four stanzas, the hymn focuses on Christ's wondrous love, which he demonstrated through his death on the cross for our salvation, and which invites us to respond with songs of praise. Romans 5:8 reminds us, "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

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We Rest On Thee

We Rest On Thee (iTunes)
Words by Edith Cherry, Music by Jean Sibelius
From the album Sibelius: Tone Poems & Symphonies 5-7 (ProArte Records)

Edith Cherry (1872-1897) wrote two volumes of hymns during her short life. Living in Plymouth, England, she was known as being physical frail, but gentle, bright, and winsome in spirit. She wrote "We Rest On Thee" around 1895, basing the title and theme on 2 Chronicles 14:11, in which King Asa cries out to God in the midst of battle, saying, "...help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude" (KJV).

The tune comes from an orchestral work by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865-1957), entitled Finlandia. This week's recording is the orchestral piece in its entirety as performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra (the hymn tune comes in at 4:48).

"We Rest On Thee" has become associated with the martyrdom of Jim Elliot and his four fellow missionaries in January 1956. The men sang the hymn together before entering the Ecuadorian jungle to bring the Gospel to the Auca Indians. Jim's wife, Elisabeth, wrote an account of Operation Auca, which she entitled, "Through Gates of Splendor," from the fourth verse of the hymn.

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Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (iTunes)
Words by Joachim Neander, Music from Erneuerten Gesangbuch
From the album Kingdom Come (Jill Phillips)

Considered the prominent hymn writer of the German Reformed Church, Joachim Neander (1650-1680) wrote around 60 hymns in all, composing tunes for many of them. In 1874, he moved to Düsseldorf to serve as a Latin teacher. During this time, he often visited the Düssel river valley to enjoy God's creation and to write. The area was later named in his honor (Neanderthal, "thal" meaning valley in German), and, incidentally, was the location where the remains of Homo neanderthalensis were found in 1856.  Neander is best known for his beloved hymn, "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty." He crafted the text around verses from Psalms 103 and 150. It was first published in 1680, the same year Neander died at the age of 30 of tuberculosis. English translator Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878) published the text in English in 1863. She is well-known for bringing many of the great German hymns to the English-speaking world, as well as promoting women's rights in England.

The tune, known as Lobe den herren ("Praise to the Lord" in German), was first put into print in 1665. It has appeared in numerous different versions, paired with sacred and secular texts, and is probably based on a folk tune.

This week's recording is by Nashville singer-songwriter Jill Phillips. She toured with Christian artists Caedmon's Call and Bebo Norman before starting her independent career. "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty" comes from her fourth album, Kingdom Come, which was first released in 2005.

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Second Saturdays Leadership Team

Help out with Second Saturdays! Our once monthly social event at Cambridge Brewing Co. is a fun and informal environment to get to know other CTKers. We are looking for people who would like to be on the leadership team. This involves attending and being a welcoming point person at two events a year.  If you would like to get involved please email the Church Office. 

10,000 Reasons

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) (iTunes)
Words and Music by Jonas Myrin and Matt Redman
From the album 10,000 Reasons (Live) (sixsteprecords/Sparrow Records)

This week's featured song has become popular in recent years. Written in 2011 by Jonas Myrin and Matt Redman, the song is based on Psalm 103:1-5, calling singers to worship the Lord at all times and remember his holiness, his goodness, and his steadfast love. Jonas Myrin is a Swedish singer/songwriter and worship leader affiliated with Hillsong Church London. He has co-written songs with Christian artists such as Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Chris Tomlin. Matt Redman (b. 1974) is a Christian songwriter and worship leader from England who has been writing and leading worship songs for over 20 years. Together they have created a contemporary worship song that reminds us of the endless reasons we have to bless God's name.

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Sola

Sola (iTunes)
Words and Music by Zac Hicks
From the album Without Our Aid

This week's featured song was written in 2010 by Zac Hicks, the Pastor of Worship at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  Here are some of his words about "Sola," as shared on his website:

I remember several years ago sitting in Christian Ethics class in seminary, hearing the professor ask the group of forty-plus students, "Can anyone name the five solas of the Reformation." Collectively, as a group, we nailed three and squeezed out a fourth at the end... What are the five solas?

Sola fide - faith alone
Sola gratia - grace alone
Solus Christus - Christ alone
Sola scriptura - Scripture alone
Soli Deo Gloria - To God alone be the glory

...I chose to engage in the Christian practice of art-as-education through writing a song that worshiped God through the five solas of the Reformation... In addition to the five solas, I wanted to convey something else at the beginning of worship that I don't see in a lot of worship songs, namely, that Jesus is our worship leader...

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