Special Occasions Music, Hymnal Lectionaries

William L. Hoffman wrote (December 9, 2024):
Bach's Leipzig musical legacy involves three cycles of church-year cantatas as musical sermons for some 60 each of Sunday and feast day services, as well as the transformation of parodied works (BCW, BCW), special mini-series (BCW), cycles of extended Christological works such as oratorios and Latin Church music (BCW, BCW, BCW), and special church music of joy and sorrow for weddings, funerals and special events (BCW, BCW), and praise/thanksgiving special services (BCW). The World of the Bach Chorale Settings is an amazing, unique experience and is discussed at BCW. It involves the instrumental organ works (BCW) of free sonatas, preludes, fugues, and concertos, BWV 525-98, and organ chorale preludes of the Orgelbüchlein, Schubler, Great 18, Clavierübung III, Kirnberger/Miscellaneous, and "Neumeister" collections, BWV 599-771, 1090-1120.

Lutheran Hymnals: Half-Millennium

Further, this year marks the half millennium of Lutheran Hymnals, 1524-2024, observes Robin A. Leaver¹ in A New Song We Now Begin. This is the title of Martin Luther's martyrs ballad, the first hymn of the Reformation and part of the first Lutheran hymnal printed in 1524 in Johann Walther''s Wittenberg hymnal, Achtliederbuch (Wikipedia). The Leipzig cantor and music director took advantage of every opportunity to fashion further original and recycled church music for a great variety of special works. The key to this treasure trove is the liturgical and musical Evangelical Lutheran Worship of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) with its church-year Sunday services and principal festivals, as well as the lesser festivals, commemorations, and occasions, published in 2006, and its special annex publication, Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) Daily Readings,² found in three church years: A (Matthew's gospel, fixed Lukan Marian Feasts and selective services from John's non-synoptic gospel; Lectionary Library), Year B (Mark's gospel plus the Lucan feasts, Johannine services, and special Matthew services such as New Year's Day, Epiphany Feast, Ash Wednesday, Easter Evening [Saturday Vigil of Easter], 3rd Sunday of Easter, Ascension Feast, Marian Visitation Feast [May 31], and Thanksgiving Day [November 28]; Lectionary Library); and C (Luke's gospel plus the Johannine and Matthew services (Lectionary Library).

3-Year Lectionary

Using the RCL special annex, John S. Setterlund's³ current 3-year Bach Through the Year Revised Common Lectionary, following the established church year readings through the end of the year, omnes tempore Trinity Time (pp. 3-115), with most as moveable dates and a few as fixed dates, involving 18 special occasions for Bach church music pieces: Dedication or Anniversary of a Church, Saints, Martyrs, Missionaries, Renewers of the Church, Renewers of Society, Pastors and Bishops, Theologians and Teachers, Artists and Scientists, Marriage, Christian Unity, Harvest, Day of Penitence, Day of Mourning, National Holiday, Peace, Stewardship of Creation, and New Year's Eve. as well as 17 occasions in the Supplement Alternative Lectionary Christian Worship (WELS 1993, Milwaukee: Northwestern Pub.: 174f, Wikipedia: Christian Education, Church Anniversary, Church Dedication, Environment, Evangelism, Family, Installation/Ordination, Nation, Organ Dedication, School Dedication, Social Concern, Stewardship, Synod, Thanksgiving Day, Time of Crisis, Worker Training, and World Missions. The Supplement of Alternative Lectionaries has contemporary, overlapping, often varied date observances found in the Lutheran Service Book (LCMS 2006, St. Louis MO, Concordia Publishing: xxiii; Concordia Publishing House): Anniversary of a Congregation, Mission Observance, Harvest Observance, Day of Thanksgiving, Day of Supplication and Prayer, and Day of National or Local Tragedy.

German Hymnody

Many chorale observances are related to various Christian denominations hymns, most notably the Catholic church chant which Luther adapted using the melody and translating the text into German vernacular, as well as the 1719 translation of the 10 metrical psalms (10, 12, 13, 51, 67, 117, 124 [two versions], 127, 130) "that had an enormous impact on Protestant worship, especially in the Reformed/Calvinist tradition, says Leaver (Ibid.:42). The metrical psalms were the third part of the Lutheran Reformation hymnal, which in its variety and diversity also contained chorale hymns for church year seasons and feasts, teaching Catechism hymns, liturgical psalms, other new song, old church hymns, contemporary evangelical hymns, and prose canticles, as outlined by Leaver in another publication.⁴ Out of this, Bach fashioned vocal and instrumental chorale sacred song collections, notably his vocal works involving unique chorale cantata cycle (Wikipedia, Plain Chorales, BWV 250-438 (c.1730, BCW), and the Schmelli Gesangbuch, BWV 437-509 (1736. BCW; and the Orgelbüchlein Collection, BWV 599-644 (1708-17, Wikipedia); Great 18 (Leipzig) Organ Chorale Collection, BWV 651-668 (1740-50, Wikipedia); Clavierübung III (Mass & Catechism Chorales), BWV 669-689 (1735-39, Wikipedia); and Schubler Chorales, 645-50 (1746, Wikipedia). A notable event was the 1539 publication of the first Lutheran hymnal Wittenburg edition in Leipzig. The development of German Hymns from the Reformation of 1517 to 1900 is described in the article of Carl F. Schalk⁵ "German Hymnody" through the periods of Early Reformation (c.1517-1577); Lutheran Orthodoxy/Scholasticism (1577-1617); Paul Gerhard, 30 Years War, Development of New Literary Concerns (1618-1675), Pietism (16750-1750), Rationalism (1750-1816), Efforts Towards Recovery, and Confessional Revival (1817-1900).

Current Hymnal Lectionaries.

Leaver's new book, A New Song We Now Begin: Celebrating the Half-Millennium of Lutheran Hymnals, is divided into two parts, the first being The German Background from the 1524 earliest hymnals to the established structure and crucial resources of the Wittenburg hymnals published by Klug from 1529. The structure was the church year hymns form the initial group, hymns on the various sections of the Catechism, metrical versions of indipsalms, and so on. The three crucial resources are 1. a revision and expansion of Luther's 1522 prayer book of "the chief doctrines of the faith" (Leaver Ibid.: 64), Ten Commandments, Creed, Lord's Prayer; the Small and Large Catechisms; and "the first (more or less) complete hymnal in Wittenberg" as "all three publications was the product of more than a decade off development." The second part of Leaver's A New Song We Now Begin focuses on the influential American hymnals from the distinct Lutheran denominations.

In the second half of the 19th century various Lutheran hymnal lectionaries were developed in North America to represent four varied confessional Lutheran denominations, still in existence: Lutheran Service Book (LCMS, 2006, Hymnary.org), Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELCA, 2006, Hymnary.org), Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary (ELS, 1996, Hymnary.org), and Christian Worship: Hymnal (WELS, 2021, Hymnary.org).

In addition, several hymnal supplements and special editions, as well as the 3-Year Revised Common Lectionary, are published to provide for special occasions and alternative resources (discussed below). The new, three-year Revised Common Lectionary (Wikipedia) was created in the 1960s for the Catholic and progressive Protestant churches with Year B representing the Gospel of Mark (2023-24); Year C, the Gospel of Luke; and Year A, the Gospel of Matthew. Important selective Johannine readings are found in all three years. Portions of the Gospel of John are read throughout Eastertide, and are also used for other liturgical seasons including Advent, Christmastide, and Lent where appropriate. While the Lutheran Service Book has the Three-Year Lectionary, the Evangelical Lutheran Worship does not. Fortress Press in 2005 published the Revised Common Lectionary: Daily Readings for the church year from the Commission on Common Texts. Appendix A lists Special (feast) Days of the Marian observances, Holy Cross (September 14), All-Saints (November 1) and Thanksgiving Day in November (USA) but does not include The Season of End Times⁶ (Year A, B, C; for details, see BCW: ) of the WELS which covers the four Sundays in November: Reformation Sunday (The First Sunday of End Time, 3 November 2024, Wikipedia, BCW); Last Judgment (The Second Sunday of End Time, 10 November 2024, Wikipedia); Saints Triumph (Third Sunday of End Time, 17 November 2024, Wikipedia); and Christ the King (The Fourth [Last] Sunday of End Times, Reign of Christ, 24 November 2024, Wikipedia).

Influential American Hymnals

In a special interview in the Lutheran Quarterly (Lutheran Quarterly), Leaver details the development of the "Influential American Hymnals" and their denominations, sometimes distinguished by different colors which replaced the confusing, contradictory German hymnals the settlers imported. First was "Walther's Hymnal" "for the Missouri Synod Saxons" (German Evangelical Lutheran Synod) of 1847, the "Black Hymnal" involving Pietism and the unaltered Augsburg Confession. More progressive Lutheran denominations followed the principles of the Enlightenment, known as Rationalism. The first English-language "Black Book" was The Common Service Book (and Hymnal) of the Lutheran Church (Hymnary.org), United Lutheran Church in America (Philadelphia: Board of Publication, 1917/18). Its initial calendar of the church year and special occasions lists the Sundays in Lent and Easter in Latin. In 1941, the "blue book," The Lutheran Hymnal (Hymnary.org) was published by the Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America through Concordia Publishing House in St. Louis MO., also known as the Common Service Book Hymnal. Other doctrinal conflicts existed between German and Scandinavian denominations and Henry Muhlenberg's dream of one North American denomination and hymnal began with The Service Book and Hymnal (Hymnary.org), known as the "Red Hymnal" of eight progressive denominations, published in 1958 by Augsburg Publishing in Minneapolis and the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) Board of Publication in Philadelphia. The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) advocated one denomination and hymnal with the LCA and the American Lutheran Church in 1978 published the Lutheran Book of Worship (Hymnary.org), known as the "Green Book." by Augsburg Publishing and the LCA. The LCMS had sought further changes in the liturgy and hymns and proceeded to publish its own hymnal, Lutheran Worship (Hymnary.org), another "Blue Book," in 1982. The two major American Lutheran denominations both published new hymnals in 2006: the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America produced Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW, Minneapolis, Augsburg Fortress; Hymnary.org), which lists the Three-Year Lectionaries (Series A, B, C: 1121-53), and The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod created the Lutheran Service Book (Concordia Publishing, St. Louis: 2006; Hymnary.org), which list the Three-Year Lectionary (Series A, B, C: xiv-xix), a "Purple hymnal."

Three-Year Lectionaries

Meanwhile, two conservative Lutheran denominations took a separate tact beginning in 1969, withdrawing from the Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America (LCMS) and, while continuing to use The Lutheran Hymnal of 1941, in the 1990s developed two three-year lectionaries of daily readings: Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal (Hymnary.org) of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) in 1993 and the Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary (ELH, Hymnary.org) of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod in 1996. The WELS added more occasional services in its Christian Worship: Supplement (2008, Hymnary.org) and in a new Christian Worship: Hymnal (2021, Hymnary.org). A summary of 3-year lectionaries is found at Wartrburg Project. The 3-Year Lectionaries have the following seasons (Wartrburg Project): Advent (4 Sundays), Christmas (Nativity, 2 Sundays after), Epiphany (feast, 4 Sundays after), Lent (Ash Wednesday, 5 Sundays), Easter (Resurrection [Easter Day], 5 Sundays after), Pentecost (24 Sundays after), End Times (4 Sundays), Occasional Services (16, Wartrburg Project), Minor Festivals (Andrew, Thomas, Stephen, John the Evangelist, Wartrburg Project).

Hymnal Supplements, Special Editions

"Beginning in the 1990s and extending into the new millennium, Lutheran Church bodies in the United States have been active in the planning, compiling, and publishing hymnal supplements," says Leaver (A New Song We Now Begin, Ibid.: 266ff), "books that fill two important functions": to make newer hymns available and "an important means of evaluating potential new hymns for such a projected full hymnal." The supplements show how "church bodies (and publishers) build successively on one another's work by tapping into some of the same emerging streams of hymnody."

1. 1991. Hymnal Supplement 1991 (HS). Chicago: GIA publications, https://hymnary.org/hymnal/HS1991. This Roman Catholic publication is ''response to and an update of, the Lutheran Book of Worship where "several trends" cause the need for new materials: "a virtual explosion of new hymnody"; "language of worship should be sensitive to all people"; and the need "for a wider range of musical styles and expressions" (Ibid.; iv). New materials involve psalm settings and Christmas hymns, as well as new composers David Haas and Marty Haugen, author of "Holden Evening Prayer." Its contents involve hymns for the Church Year with lesser Festivals (Jesus, Martyrs, Mary, Male Saints, Female Saints).
2. 1995. With One Voice: A Lutheran Resource for Worship (WOV). Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, Amazon.com; contents, Digital Songs & Hymns. WOV builds on the HS diverse musical expression of African American spirituals, ethnic hymnody, women and American hymn writers, and contemporary hymns (see contents).
3. 1998. Hymnal Supplement 98 (HS 98), Mary Kay Stulken. St. Louis: Concordia (LCMS). Additional resources from HS 1991 include Bach chorales, expanded hymnody from Africa, china, Latin America; contents, Concordia Publishing House, Hymnary.org.
4. 2008. Christian Worship: Supplement (CWS). Milwaukee: Northwestern (WELS), replaces Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal 1993, with various accompaniments (Concordia Publishing House; contents, Hymnary.org.
5. 2020. All Creation Sings (ACS): Evangelical Lutheran Worship Supplement. Minneapolis; Augsburg Fortress: 2020; Augsburg Fortress. ELW supplement includes "a body of assembly songs" for 'a broad spectrum of worshiping communities (Ibid.: 271), organized by liturgical year, then topic (same as in ELW); caution: the title, "All Creation Sings," is used in various songs and activities.
Also, Lutheran publisher Augsburg Fortress in 1999 created Bach for All Seasons: Choir Book (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1999; contents, WorlCat Libraries; description, Amazon.com. Besides church year and topical hymns, included is a transcription of Lutheran Main Service chorales from Luther's Deutsche Messe (BCW). Bach Mailing Lists has various written resources concerning chorales: Selective bibliography, BCW; chorale-song collections, BCW; and recent chorale studies, BCW. The Lutheran Book of Worship (Ibid.: 120) includes a Chorale service of Holy Communion for Reformation Day in the tradition of Luther's German Mass.

Revised Common Lectionary: 18 Special Occasions

Setterlund's current 3-year Revised Common Lectionary, following the established church year readings through Trinity Time (pp. 3-113), has 18 special occasions for church music (most not fixed dated but for individual churches from varying denominations, many overlapping occasions): Dedication or Anniversary of a Church, Saints, Martyrs, Missionaries, Renewers of the Church, Renewers of Society, Pastors & Bishops, Theologians & Teachers, Artists & Scientists, Marriage, Christian Unity, Harvest, Day of Penitence, Day of Mourning, National Holiday, Peace, Stewardship of Creation, and New Year''s Eve.

1. Dedication or Church Anniversary, Gospel John 10:22-30, Jesus Is Rejected by Jews (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 194.2 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois), alternate Cantata 34.2 (Carus Verlag, IOPN Library Illinois).
2. Saints, Gospel Luke 6:20-33, Blessings & Woes (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 69.2 I (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
3. Martyrs, Gospel Mark 8:34-38, And He called to Him the multitude (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 56 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
4. Missionaries. Gospel, Luke 24:44-53, He said to them: ''These are my words" (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 44 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
5. Renewers of the Church, Gospel Mark 10:35-45, Request of James & John (Bible-Gateway), preferred Cantata 106 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
6. Renewers of Society, Gospel Luke 6:20-36, Blessings & Woes (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 24 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
7. Pastors & Bishops, Gospel John 21:15-17, Jesus to Peter; feed my sheep (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 6 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
8. Theologians & Teachers, Gospel John 17:18-23, Jesus prays for His Disciples (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 71 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
9. Artists & Scientists, Gospel Matthew 13:44-52, Three parables (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 171 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
10. Marriage, i, Gospel Genesis 2:21-24, God gave man a helper (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 120a (BCW: "Wedding Cantata 120a: "Herr Gott, Beherrscher aller Dinge"), alternate Cantata 197.2 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois)
ii. Gospel Romans 12:1-2, New Life in Christ (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 195.3 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois), alternate Cantata 139 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
iii. Sermon, Matthew 19:4-6, Male & Female: One Flesh (Bible Gateway), preferred cantata 197.2 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois), alternate Cantata 120a (see 10 i).
11. Christian Unity, Gospel John 17:15-23, Jesus prays for His Disciples (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 126 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
12. Harvest, Gospel Matthew 13:24-43, Parable of Weeds among Wheat (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 14 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
13. Day of Penitence. Gospel Luke 15:11-32, Parable of Prodigal & his Brother (Bible Gateway), preferred Motet BWV 1083 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
14. Day of Mourning, Gospel Luke 10:25-37, Parable of Good Samaritan (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 12 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois); see also BML Occasional, Non-Liturgical Music of Sorrow (BCW).
15. National Holiday, Gospel Mark 12:13-17, Question about Paying Taxes (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 119 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois), alternate Cantata 163 (Carus-Verlag, IOPN Library Illinois).
16. Peace, Gospel John 15:9-12, Abide in my Love (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 67 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
17. Stewardship of Creation, Gospel Luke 12:13-21, Parable of Rich Fool (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 20 (Carua-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
18. New Year's Eve, Gospel Matthew 25:31-46, Judgment of Nations (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 28 (Carus Media, IOPN Library Illinois).

WELS Christian Worship Hymnal: 17 Special Occasions

There are 17 special occasions in the Christian Worship Hymnal (WELS 1993, Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing, cited in Setterlund's Bach Through the Year (Ibid.: 174f): Christian Education, Church Anniversary, Church Dedication, Environment, Evangelism, Family, Installation/Ordination, Nation, Organ Dedication, School Dedication, Social Concern, Stewardship, Synod, Thanksgiving Day, Time of Crisis, Worker Training, World Missions.

1. Christian Education, Gospel Matthew 7:24-27, Hearer & Doers (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 45 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
2. Church Anniversary, Gospel John 17:1, 13-26, Jesus prays for his disciples (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 100 III (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
3. Church Dedication, Gospel Matthew 16:13-19, Peters declaration about Jesus (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 194.2 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
4. Environment, Gospel Matthew 6:24-35, Serving Two Masters (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 187 (Carus Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
5. Evangelism, Gospel John 1:35-42, First Disciples of Jesus (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 9 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
6. Family, Gospel Mark 3:31-35, True Kindred of Jesus (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 76 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
7. Installation/Ordination, Gospel, Matthew 9:35-10:4, Harvest Great, Laborers Few; 12 Apostles Named (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 104 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
8. Nation, Gospel Matthew 22:15-22, Question about Paying Taxes (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 163 (see above Revised Common Lectionary, 15. National Holiday).
9. Organ Dedication, Gospel Luke 19:37-40, Jesus & Zacchaeus (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 29 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois); Cantata 194.2 was for church/organ dedication at Störmthal, 2 November 1723 (Carus-Verlag, IOPN Library Illinois.
10. School Dedication, Gospel Mark 10:13-16, Jesus Blesses Little Children (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 139 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois); Cantata BWV 1162=Anh 18 (details, https://www.bach-cantatas.com/BWVAnh18.htm).
11. Social Concern, Gospel Luke 6:20-36, Blessings & Woes (see above Revised Common Lectionary 6. Renewers of Society).
12. Stewardship, Gospel Matthew 25:24-30, Parable of Talents (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 14 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
13. Synod, Gospel John 17:13-21, Jesus prays for His Disciples (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 98 I (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
14. Thanksgiving Day, Gospel Luke 17:11-19, Jesus Cleanses 10 Lepers (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 192 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois); Bach composed several cantatas for special services of joy and thanksgiving: BWV 190, 120, 1139.2=Anh. 4, 232.2, 248.2/6, 191, 232.1 (Details, BCW); also the town council cantatas are in a special category of music of joy and thanksgiving: 71, 119, 120, 29, 69, 193, 137, 1140=Anh 3, 1139.2=Anh 4, 1138=Anh 192, 1141=Anh 193. A full accounting of the town council compositions and related cantatas is found in Martin Petzoldt's Bach-Komentar: Vol. 3, Festive- & Casual Cantatas, Passions (Stuttgart: International Bach Academy; Kassel: Bärenreiter: 2018), Proprium (performance calendar): 175f; an early version of Cantata 143 may be one of the two lost Mühlhausen Ratswahl Cantatas: 1709, BWV 1137=Anh. 192; 1710, BWV 1138, the other may be an early version of the choruses of Cantata 21/1,6,9,11.
15. Time of Crisis, Luke 12:22-34, Do Not Worry (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 80.3 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
16. Worker Training, Gospel Matthew 20:1-6, Laborers in Vineyard (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 184 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
17. World Missions. Gospel Matthew 28:18-20, All Authority (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 129 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).

LCMS Supplement: Seven Occasions

The Supplement of Alternative Lectionaries has seven contemporary overlapping, often varied special date observances in the Lutheran Service Book (LCMS 2006, St. Louis MO, Concordia Publishing: 161, cited in Setterlund's Bach Through the Year (Ibid.: 161); Lutheran Service Book: Pew Edition (Concordia): Anniversary of a Congregation, Mission Observance, Christian Education, Harvest Observance, Day of Thanksgiving, Day of Supplication and Prayer, Day of National or Local Tragedy:
1. Anniversary of a Congregation, Gospel Luke 19:1-10, Jesus & Zacchaeus (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 194.2 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
2. Mission Observance, Gospel Luke 24:44-53, These Are My Words (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 44 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
3. Christian Education, Gospel Luke 18:15-17, Jesus Blesses Little Children (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 139 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
4. Harvest Observance, Gospel Luke 12:13-21, Parable of Rich Fool (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 94 (Carus-Media), IOPN Library Illinois).
5. Day of Thanksgiving (see above, WELS 14).
6. Day of Supplication & Prayer, Gospel Matthew 6:16-21, Concerning Fasting (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 115 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
7. Day of National or Local Tragedy, Gospel Luke 13:1-9, Repent or Perish (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 46 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois); alternate Gospel Matthew 24:32-35, Repent or Perish (Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata 70.2 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
Addendum: A complete accounting of music Bach composed for special services is still being researched while some categories overlap or still need to be fully accounted for, such as in the Revised Common Lectionary, 10. Marriage has three new Testament readings, and many weddings for which Bach was responsible are still being determined and a special accounting will follow.

ENDNOTES

¹ Robin A. Leaver, ed., A New Song We Now Begin: Celebrating the Half-Millennium of Lutheran Hymnals, Lutheran Quarterly Books (Minneapolis MN: Fortress Press: 2024), description, Amazon.com, Leaver interview, Lutheran Quarterly; music and 12 verses, YouTube, Lutheran Chorale Book.
² Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) Daily Readings (Nashville TN: Abingdon Press: 2005, Consultation on Common Texts, Minneapolis MN: Fortress Press); Amazon.com; Appendix A Special Days (307-9, Marian feasts of the Presentation, February 2; Annunciation, March 25; Visitation, May 31 [was July 2], Holy Cross (September 14), All-Saints, November 1), and Thanksgiving Day (October Canada, November USA).
³ John S. Setterlund, Bach Through the Year: The Church Music of Johann Sebastian Bach and the Revised Common Lectionary (Minneapolis MN, Lutheran University Press 2013), Kirk House Publishers, Amazon.com.
⁴ Robin A. Leaver publication, The Whole Church Sings: Congregational Singing and Luther's Wittenberg, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship Liturgical Studies Series (Grand Rapids MI: 2017: 167-73), Amazon.com.
⁵ Carl F. Schalk, "German Hymnody," in Marilyn Kay Stulken, Hymnal Companion to the Lutheran Book of Worship (Philadelphia PA: Fortress Press, 1981: 19-33), Musical Resources).
⁶ The Season of End Times, Scripture Selections from the Evangelical Heritage Version (c 2019 The Wartburg Project) following the Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal (c 1993 Northwestern Publishing House) 3-Year Lectionary: Year A Wartburg Project, Year B Wartburg Project, Year C Wartburg Project.

William L. Hoffman wrote (December 19, 2024):
The Wartburg Project (Wartburg Project) has advocated for the use of the 3-Year Revised Common Lectionary and its Evangelical Heritage Version of the Bible as well as special occasional services (Wartburg Project). Among the services and the designated biblical lessons are the following: Lessons and Carols Service (Wartburg Project); Easter Vigil (Wikipedia, Wartburg Project), Bach works cited in John S. Setterlund, Bach Through the Year; Good Friday Tenebrae Service (Wartburg Project); Presentation of the Augsburg Confession (June 25-27, Wartburg Project) for which Bach parodied three cantatas, BWV 190.2(a), 120.3(b), 1139.1=Anh. 4a; Christmas Eve Service of Nine Lessons (Wartburg Project); Good Friday Service of Seven Words (Wartburg-Project).

¹ John S. Setterlund, Bach Through the Year: The Church Music of Johann Sebastian Bach and the Revised Common Lectionary (Minneapolis MN, Lutheran University Press 2013: 50f), Kirk House Publishers, Amazon.com; cited are Year A, BWV 66 and 31, Year B, BWV 1245 and 137; and Year C, BWV 249.4 and 4.

The 2006 Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymof the ELCA in its topical hymns section after the church year has the following: End Time, Holy Baptism, Holy Communion, Word God, Gathering, Sending, Morning, Evening, Vocation/Ministry, Marriage, Grace/Faith, Confession/Forgiveness, Healing, Hope/Assurance, Community in Christ, Witness, Stewardship, Lament, Justice/Peace, Creation, Prayer, Trust/Guidance, Commitment/Discipleship, Praise/Thanksgiving.

Addendum: This concludes the current Bach Mailing List (BML) discussion, from Aug 6, 2024: Trinity Time Lectionary to Nov 5, 2024: Diverse Late Trinity Time Cantatas, 3-Year Lectionary (BCW), with the primary emphasis on the 3-year Revised Common Lectionary which offers various special occasions in the Lutheran hymnals, celebrating their half millennium, as well as materials on the chorale cantata cycle during omes tempore Trinity Time. This posting is part of the last discussion, "Special Occasions Music, Hymnal Lectionaries". These two topics on the 3-year lectionary and the chorale cantata cycle de tempore half of the church year on the ministry of Jesus Christ continue into 2025.