The Bells of Joy handbell choir plays for worship services and special occasions during September through May each year. Sunday, September 22 during the 9 a.m. service, we will begin our season of playing for worship with “O Master Let Me Walk With Thee.” Karen Walter, soloist, will join us that day.

Because the theme of the worship service is Caring and information about Stephen Ministry will be shared that Sunday, we are sharing a hymn with the theme of discipleship, of practicing the love that Jesus taught us, guiding others to follow him.

Washington Gladden, a Congregational pastor, wrote “O Master Let Me Walk With Thee” in 1879, and Christians have sung this hymn as a prayer in a world that still needs the transformation of Christ.

Hear the words of the first two verses with us as we play:

O Master, let me walk with Thee,
In lowly paths of service free;
Tell me Thy secret; help me bear
The strain of toil, the fret of care.

Help me the slow of heart to move
By some clear, winning word of love;
Teach me the wayward feet to stay,
And guide them in the homeward way.

Watch future editions of the newsletter for background about the pieces that director Donna Cartner has chosen for us to play for the congregation. We will also share stories about the twelve of us who play handbells. It is our joy to bring the music of the bells to you in worship.

Four additional chimes will be added to the Bishop’s Chimes with donations given in memory of Nancy Rawles, mother of Nancy Holland. These additional chimes in C#/Db, D#/Eb, F#/Gb, and G#/Ab will complete the octave of the Bishop’s Chimes purchased with memorial donations for Bishop Robert Iobst and will be added to selections played by the Bells of Joy in the season beginning in September. Bells of Joy played “Spirit Song” at the 9 a.m. service on May 26 as the last of this season’s performances.