Music for the Third Sunday of Easter, Year B: April 14, 2024

OPENING VOLUNTARY This Joyful Eastertide (Vruechten)

setting, Ronald A. Nelson

I often like to choose opening voluntaries that act as a preview of something later in the service. In this case, it's the melody of the Sending Hymn, This Joyful Eastertide.

Here is a reminder that we are in an Easter tide. Easter is not just a day, but a season of 50 days that includes Ascension of Our Lord and finds its culmination in Pentecost. 

This hymn is sometimes called an Easter carol - and why not? It has a danceable tune (courtesy of the Dutch people) and even a melisma at the end - a series of notes sung under a single syllable.  How do you sing it without thinking of Angels We Have Heard on High and its "Glo-o-o-o-o-o-o-ria!"

The refrain is a joyful reminder that Jesus has risen. It's a perfect way to begin, and finish, a worship service in Eastertide.

GATHERING HYMN As We Gather at Your Table (In Babilone) ELW 522

Jesus' disciples share a piece of broiled fish with him, and he eats it in their presence.

This gathering hymn reminds us how we are fed through God's word and the Lord's supper. It ends with the words "repeat the sounding joy." Carl P. Daw, the author, intentionally quoted the famous Christmas hymn on purpose. (It's not really a Christmas hymn - but that's not the focus of today's post.) The people of Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church (Virginia Beach, Virginia) asked him to include these words that echoed the theme of their celebration commemorating the 300th year of their founding.

HYMN OF THE DAY Around You, O Lord Jesus (O Jesu, än de dina) ELW 468

Sweden's national church, Lutheran in its identity, adopted the Augsburg Confession in 1593. Some 50 years later, the Diocese of Härnösand was formed, and that is where this hymn came from. The author is Frans Michael Franzén, who was bishop of the diocese from 1832 - 1847.

Frans Michael Franzén
by Johan Gustaf Sandberg (1823)
via Wikipedia

Franzén's hymn reminds us that Jesus is still present with his people, and in the context of a communion hymn reminds us of the unique way we experience Christ's true presence in the Lord's supper. Indeed, the opening words, "Around YOU, O Lord, Jesus. . ." depict our gathering at the table, and not simply gathering for corporate worship or for a memorial.

MUSICAL OFFERING Ancient Words Lynn DeShazo, arr. Mary McDonald
This arrangement of a contemporary praise song (1999) has become one of our choir's favorites.

I chose it after reading Jesus' words in today's gospel reading. These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you - that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." 

COMMUNION HYMNS
Hallelujah! We Sing Your Praises (Haleluya! Pelo tsa rona) ELW 535

Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia (Mfurahine, haleluya) ELW 364

Both of our communion hymns have their origins in Africa - South Africa and Tanzania, respectively.
The first focuses on communion themes and the second on the Easter message, but both have a strong "sending theme" that sends US to spread the gospel of Jesus' resurrection.

SENDING HYMN This Joyful Eastertide (Vruechten) ELW 391

CLOSING VOLUNTARY At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing (Sonne der Gerechtigkeit) 

setting, Jeffrey Blersch

Sources:

Hymnal Companion to Evangelical Lutheran Worship
Wikipedia
The Resurrection of Christ, an Icon of the Eastern Orthodox Church is believed to be in the public domain.z

Praising the Lamb graphic from SundaysandSeasons.com