Northridge Presbyterian Church, Dallas, TX, will open its centennial celebration with a festival service on Sunday, February 6, 2005. The church’s Music Endowment Fund has commissioned for that service. A new hymn-text, “When the Founder of Creation,” written by the Reverend John Thornburg, will be sung to the American tune Beach Spring. A former pastor of a nearby United Methodist congregation, Mr. Thornburg has become known as a leading writer of hymn-texts over the last decade.
Dennis Janzer, senior organist of Coral Gables Congregational Church, Coral Gables, FL, has composed a “Prelude-Toccata on ‘Toulon’” to serve as the organ prelude for the centennial service.
Kenneth Lowenberg, FAGO, Minister of Music at The Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church, Washington, DC, composed “A Prayer of Blessing on the Church” using a text from the Book of Common Worship for the Youth Choir.
Carlyle Sharpe, DMA, Assistant Professor of Music at Drury University, Springfield, MO, and winner of national AGO composition prizes in 1996-97, 1997-98, and 2000, used selected verses from Psalm 146 for his “Praise the Lord, O My Soul!” which was commissioned for Northridge’s Chancel Choir.
Grady E. Coyle, DMA, AAGO, ChM, who recently celebrated his 25th anniversary at the church, will play the organ and direct the choirs. The pastor is Roger T. Quillin, D.Min.
November 9, 2004
Northridge Presbyterian Church
