Year C: Music for All Saints Sunday - November 6, 2022

OPENING VOLUNTARY Shall We Gather at the River (Hanson Place) arr. Margaret Tucker
See the text and tune at ELW 423.
St. Mark's Ringers

Margaret Tucker mirrors the poetry of Robert Lowry's (1826-1899) hymn in her musical setting. At the beginning, a gently rolling stream of notes ushers in the deeper tones of the handchimes on the melody - an expression of our grief for those who wait for us on the river's far side. The middle section, played entirely by the handchimes, is slower. We savor each beat of each chord. The third section, marked "grandly," is louder with lush, strong, chords that express our joy at being reunited with the saints who have gone before us.

GATHERING HYMN For All the Saints (Sine Nomine) ELW 422

An important part of the burial rite for Christians in the Episcopal church contains this line:
All of us go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia."

According to this hymn, "Alleluia" is also the song of the "countless host" that sings its song of praise to the Triune God.

St. Mark's Choir in 1942 at the church's earlier location

MUSIC DURING THE CANDLELIGHTING Wash, O God, Our Sons and Daughters (Beach Spring)

See the text and tune at ELW 445

setting, Aaron David Miller

Once I heard someone remark about a deceased person we both knew, "She has gone on to claim her baptismal promises." I understood right away our mutual friend had died, but in the same breath I was reminded of the hope of the resurrection.

This hymn is probably more suited to a baptism service that to All Saints Sunday, but I was struck by Ruth Duck's line: Weave them garments bright and sparkling; compass them with love and light. What a beautiful image for baptism and for the day we each claim our own baptismal promises.

Leslie Allen lighting a candle on a past All Saints Sunday.
This year we light a candle for her.

HYMN OF THE DAY Give Thanks for Saints (Repton) ELW 428

Martin E. Leckebusch (b. 1962) wrote this hymn with Hebrews 11 in mind - the chapter that famously names the names of our ancestors in faith and recalls their deeds - those who Hebrews 12 refers to as "the great cloud of witnesses."

The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs by Fra Angelico (d. 1455)

MUSICAL OFFERING For All the Saints

John L. Bell / Bob Moore
This text could also be said to complement Hebrews 11, but the intimate style of the poetry will probably call to mind saints who are more personal. The world may not know them, but they are important to us. They taught  us to pray and to sing "Amazing Grace." They took us to church and nourished our faith. They prayed with us in our deepest sorrow. We are as thankful for these saints as we are for the ones who have commemoration dates on the church's calendar.

COMMUNION HYMN Look Who Gathers at Christ's Table (Copeland) ACS 977

This hymn imagines the assembly gathered for worship, bringing their whole lives with them - their joy and their pain. The text was commissioned by the First Presbyterian Church of Tallahassee, Florida, to honor its pastor, Brant S. Copeland, and was first sung there in October 2000. There might be some who feel unworthy because of their sin, but Jesus assures them they are welcome. (Adapted from Sundays and Seasons)

Ruth Copeland (right) with choir buddy and friend Margaret
Walker, another beloved choir saint

When I saw the name of this hymn, I was instantly reminded of two saints from this congregation, Sterling and Ruth Copeland, once active and vital members. Sterling built and painted the wagon that holds food collected for United Community Outreach Ministries (UCOM) and Lutheran Social Services (LSS). Ruth sang in the choir for many years. She didn't have a strong voice, but I could always count on her presence. Ruth gave a large gift that bought special folders for the Festival Choir. Another gift from Ruth allowed us to have Aaron David Miller (composer of the music at the candlelighting) to play the dedicatory hymn festival when St. Mark's organ was refurbished in 2013.

SENDING HYMN 'Tis the Church Triumphant Singing (Ar hyd y nos)

Images from Sundays and Seasons

You won't find this hymn by Englishman and Calvinist John Kent (1766-1843) in ELW. Most of his hymns, though "simple and earnest," are also staunchly Calvinistic - which is possibly why they aren't sung by modern assemblies.

This hymn, however, gives us a glorious glimpse of the assembly in Revelation's fifth chapter.
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads and myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice,
  "Worthy is the lamb that was slaughtered

   to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might

   and honor and glory and blessing!"

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them singing,

   "To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb

   be blessing and honor and glory and might
   forever and ever!"

And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the elders fell down and worshiped. (NRSV)

CLOSING VOLUNTARY Jerusalem, O City Fair and High (Jerusalem, du hochgebaute Stadt)
LBW 348

This hymn is another not found in ELW, but it was in its forerunner Lutheran Book of Worship under a slightly different title than the one above - Jerusalem, Whose Towers Touch the Skies. Its final stanza, by Johann M. Meyfart (1590 - 1642) describes Saints robed in white before the shining throne." The title above is its current form in Lutheran Service Book, the hymnal of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

This postlude begins with an organ flourish and short trumpet blast that might sound like Sine Nomine, but it is just a happy coincidence that the opening notes of both hymns are the same!

This 14th century tapestry shows John of Patmos watching the descent of the New Jerusalem

Sources:

The Hymnal Companion to Evangelical Lutheran Worship
Wikipedia
Hymary.org
Evangelical Lutheran Worship

Wikipedia Images:

By Fra Angelico - Originally from en.wikipedia; description page is/was here. Transfer was stated to be made by User:richardprins, Original uploader was Sampo Torgo at en.wikipedia, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3000363

By Octave 444 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=86993899