With a Litany adapted from Psalm 150 and a commissioning prayer, the refurbished Hill, Norman and Beard organ at St Philip's church was recommissioned on St Philip's Day, 1 May 2010, in a service that featured some glorious music.CAMRA launched its 2010 program, joining the St. Philip's singers for the Missa brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo in B-flat major (Little Organ Mass) by Joseph Haydn. (The organ pictured on the left is the one for which Haydn wrote the mass.)
For the gift of music and song
We praise you, O God, in your sanctuary
For notes and rhythm and varieties of expression.
We praise you, O God, in your mighty firmament!
For our ancestors in the faith, who invested in music for future generations
We praise you, O God, for your mighty deeds!
For all those who have offered their musical gifts in this space,
We praise you, O God, with trumpet sounds!
For the inspiration and joy that music brings to our worship
We praise you, O God, with tambourine and dance!
For those who with great artistry and expertise, brought our organ back to life
We praise you, O God, with strings and pipes!
For those who invested in repairs and renovation,
We praise you, O God, with clanging cymbals, with loud clashing cymbals!
For the music that will be produced through these pipes and keyboard for many generations to come,
We praise you, O God, with every breath that we take, with every song that we sing, with all that we are.
We praise you, O God. Amen.
Eternal God, our praises join with the songs of heavenly choirs and the music of the universe.
We thank you for this organ, to enjoy, to make music for your glory and praise. Its refurbishment speaks to us of your faithfulness.
We recommission this organ and rededicate it to you.
May it be yours, not ours, to use as you will.
Through its music and the skill of those who play it, may we, and all who hear it, experience your beauty, and come to love you more and more.
May our music making express a heartfelt commitment to your worship and glory as a testimony of your creative and redeeming love .
As we rededicate this organ to your worship, we pledge ourselves again to your service, here, in our community and in our daily lives.
In the power of your Holy Spirit keep us in this promise through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.