OPENING VOLUNTARY O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (VENI, EMMANUEL)
setting, Robert J. Powell
Know as the "O Antiphons," they are arranged in this manner:
O Wisdom from on high . . .
O Wisdom from on high . . .
O Lord and leader of the house of Israel . . .
O Root of Jesse . . .
O Key of David . . .
O Dayspring . . .
O longed-for King . . .
O Emmanuel . . .
These 8th century petitions have been paired with a 15th century tune. The plaintive melody was first sung by French nuns as part of a funeral procession.
Veni, Emmanuel is a perfect place to begin our time of hope-filled waiting. Oboe, viola, and harpsichord open our worship today. Learn the history of St. Mark's harpsichord at this link:
http://smljax.blogspot.com/search?q=harpsichord
http://smljax.blogspot.com/search?q=harpsichord
You are also welcome to come up for a closer look after the dismissal.
HOLY COMMUNION Setting Five
It's our custom to change musical settings of the liturgy when a new season begins. This Advent we'll be singing parts of Setting Five which has its origins in plainsong - one of the church's earliest forms of song. You'll notice they're notated a little differently than the other settings. Instead of quarter notes and eighth notes, there are stemless neumes that look like the notation of Gregorian chant.
Throughout Advent we'll sing Kyrie (Lord, have mercy), Alleluia (gospel acclamation), and the Sanctus (Holy, holy, holy).
Throughout Advent we'll sing Kyrie (Lord, have mercy), Alleluia (gospel acclamation), and the Sanctus (Holy, holy, holy).
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| A sample of Gregorian chant. |
Other songs, though not formal parts of the liturgy, will feel liturgical as we light the Advent wreath, sing a response to the prayers of intercession, and present wine and bread along with our financial offerings.
GATHERING HYMN Fling Wide the Door (MACHT HOCH DIE TÜR) ELW 259
Psalm 24 and Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of Holy Week might both come to mind as we sing this jubilant hymn. There is no denying its dance quality!
As we gather for worship, a line in the fourth stanza stands out. ". . .and let your Holy Spirit guide our journey in your grace so wide." Lutherans believe "the Holy Spirit call us together as the people of God." This acknowledgement of the Spirit's work in our lives seems appropriate as part of our gathering rite.
ASSEMBLY SONG FOR LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH
Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah ELW 240
ASSEMBLY SONG FOR LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH
Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah ELW 240
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| Advent Candle, Lauren Plummer (2018) |
There are tons of rituals available for lighting the candles of the Advent wreath. Some traditions assign different meanings to each candle (the candle of prophecy, the candle of joy, etc.). The truth is all these rituals are pretty new and there is neither a standard way of lighting the candles nor a uniform way of expressing their meaning.
Advent wreaths mostly serve as a way of marking time, a visual reminder of where we are in our Advent journey and how close we are to Christmas.
This year we light the candles simply, with a prayer and a song, as part of our gathering rite.
PSALM Psalm 122
Adam L. Tice is the author of this metrical setting. He is a Mennonite hymn writer and has served as a church musician and as a Pastor. Today his text is paired with Forest Green, which began as an English folksong before Ralph Vaughn Williams helped it make its way into congregational song. In my opinion, it is one of the most satisfying hymntunes we have. (Like most Christians who live in England, I much prefer it over St. Louis for singing O Little Town of Bethlehem.)
HYMN OF THE DAY Come Now, O God (LOST IN THE NIGHT)
The tune Lost in the Night was David Bjorlin's inspiration for the Advent hymn of lamentation. Referencing Isaiah 7:10-17, Isaiah 64:1-9, and Matthew 1:18-25, this text was published as part of Bjorlin's collected poetry, Protest of Praise, of which he says, "True praise is always a protest against all that curses or denigrates the Creator's world." In "Come, Now, O God," we can name and make ours the messianic expectations of the Old Testament prophets. They remind us that true protest is, at its core, the courage to envision the world not as it is, but as it can be.
(From Sundays and Seasons)
INTERCESSORY PRAYERS Hear Our Prayer, O Lord
(From Sundays and Seasons)
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| Schenk Chapel, Trinity Lutheran Seminary Columbus, Ohio |
INTERCESSORY PRAYERS Hear Our Prayer, O Lord
We don't often sing during the prayers, but for the season of Advent we have this short refrain by Deacon Mark Sedio, who recently retired as Cantor of Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis after 22 years of service. Try not to think of it as a response to the prayer, but as your active assent to the petitions, a sung Amen.
Mark Sedio has served on the faculty of Augsburg University and Luther Seminary. He is an active recitalist and composer who presents numerous hymn festivals and workshops. I'm not especially fond of the newish word influencer, but he's been that for me since about the time I came to St. Mark's. Several of his choral compositions are part of our Festival Choir's repertoire.
Mark Sedio has served on the faculty of Augsburg University and Luther Seminary. He is an active recitalist and composer who presents numerous hymn festivals and workshops. I'm not especially fond of the newish word influencer, but he's been that for me since about the time I came to St. Mark's. Several of his choral compositions are part of our Festival Choir's repertoire.
MUSICAL OFFERING Creator of the Stars of Night
See the text at ELW 245.
The text of this hymn may be earlier than the ninth century where it is first known from a manuscript in Berne, Switzerland. In this hymn two of Advent's major themes are given. There is an acknowledgement of Jesus' lowly birth, then a prayer for his triumphant return.
The music in this setting is all new, composed and arranged by Andrew Bruhn, a choral teacher at Rockford Christian Schools (Rockford, Illinois) and choir director at Westminster Presbyterian Church, also in Rockford.
OFFERING HYMN We Are Awaiting the Coming of Jesus
Text and music by Paul Friesen-Carpenter
When I selected this for our seasonal offering hymn, I struggled with whether or not we needed to sing all three stanzas. After all, isn't this spot in the service mostly just about getting everyone to stand at the same time so we'll be ready for the dialogue that leads us into communion?
But, as I read the text, I was struck by how clearly the first stanza places us in the context of Advent. The second stanza acknowledges that we don't only bring an offering, but we ARE an offering. The third stanza sings of the gifts of bread and wine, but also of our financial gifts. Then it reminds us this isn't our feast that we invite people to. It's Christ's feast intended for all.
Yes, we're singing all three stanzas. It's a well-spent minute and a half!
But, as I read the text, I was struck by how clearly the first stanza places us in the context of Advent. The second stanza acknowledges that we don't only bring an offering, but we ARE an offering. The third stanza sings of the gifts of bread and wine, but also of our financial gifts. Then it reminds us this isn't our feast that we invite people to. It's Christ's feast intended for all.
Yes, we're singing all three stanzas. It's a well-spent minute and a half!
COMMUNION HYMNS
Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning (KEEP YOUR LAMPS)
This African American spiritual calls to mind Jesus' parable of the bridesmaids - some of whom were wise and some of whom were foolish. Jesus told the hearers of that story, "Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." This admonition is similar to the one we hear in today's gospel reading - "Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming."
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| Foolish Virgins, James Tissot (1836-1902) |
My Lord, What a Morning (BURLEIGH) ELW 246
Some hymnals begin this hymn "My Lord, what a MORNING. . ." It works both ways!
SENDING HYMN Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding (MERTON) ELW 246
CLOSING VOLUNTARY Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (HYFRYDOL)
setting, John Carter
NOTE: The blower on our organ was installed in 1984 and is near the end of its life. When turned on, it makes groaning, grinding sounds that are unpleasant and an assault on the ear! Today's service is played on the piano. Hopefully it will be repaired in the coming week. A new blower is on the way!
Sources:
Hymnal Companion to Evangelical Lutheran Worship
Wikipedia
Evangelical Lutheran Worship
Wikipedia
Evangelical Lutheran Worship
Sunday and Seasons
www.giamusic.com (Adam L. Tice)
www.augsburg.edu (Mark Sedio)
www.kjos.com (Andrew Bruhn)
Ermakova, Natalia. Noah's Ark Icon, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.
Ermakova, Natalia. Noah's Ark Icon, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.
Plummer, Lauren. Advent Candle, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57132 [retrieved November 24, 2022]. Original source: Lauren Plummer, https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-plummer-mts-ma-006738129/.
Tissot, James, 1836-1902. Foolish Virgins, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57765 [retrieved November 24, 2022]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_The_Foolish_Virgins_(Les_vierges_folles)_-_James_Tissot_(cropped).jpg.
Door Graphic by St. Mark's member Rachel Mumford
Door Graphic by St. Mark's member Rachel Mumford
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