Music for the Third Sunday of Advent, Year C: December 15, 2024

ADVENT LESSONS AND CAROLS

The format for Christmas Lessons and Carols dates back to 1880 at Truro Cathedral in Cornwall, England where it was first sung on Christmas Eve. Today's service is Advent-themed, featuring writings from the Prophet Isaiah and two of the four canonic gospel writers.

Truro Cathedral

OPENING MUSIC A Call to Advent J. Jerome Williams

Yes, this is usually the spot for an organ voluntary, but today the Festival Choir presents a quodlibet - a form of musical composition that combines melodies. Here are two of the best-know Advent melodies: Veni, Emmanuel ("O Come, O Come, Emmanuel") and Picardy ("Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence").

We often think of Advent's meaning as two-fold, Jesus' incarnation at the manger in Bethlehem, then his coming in glory at the end times. Using Picardy this early in the service also allows to reflect on another way Jesus comes to us - in the mystery of the Eucharist.

The second stanza (not included in this piece)refers to Jesus as "Lord of Lords in human vesture, in the body and the blood" and tells us "he will give to all the faithful his own self for heavenly food."

GATHERING HYMN SAVIOR OF THE NATIONS, COME (Nun komm der Heiden Heiland) ELW 263

Some version of the hymn has been sung by Christians for more than 1,600 years! Ambrose of Milan (340-397) wrote the Latin hymn that Martin Luther eventually translated into German. 

The first three stanzas speak of the incarnation - a definite theme in Advent. Stanza four speaks of Christ's triumph over death and his being seated at God's right hand. The fifth stanza gives us a little glimpse of Christmas before the final stanza in praise of the Trinity.

FIRST LESSON Isaiah 64:1-9 

God commissions Isaiah to be the Prophet of the Advent.

The Night Will Soon Be Ending (Llangloffan)

Isaiah, by Antonio Balestra (1666-1740)

Night is a common theme in Advent Hymns: "Lost in the Night," "Watchman, Tell Us of the Night," "Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying."
We think of the people who "walked in darkness," as being people from ancient times, but we still experience darkness today, in both or personal and our collective lives.

The author of this text, Jochen Klepper (1903-1942) lived under the power of the Third Reich in Nazi Germany. The experiences he endured with his family brought insomnia and vivid nightmares. This may have been a life-long situation, but Klepper bore it with the assurance that even when nights bring sadness and "rob our hearts of peace," God dwells with us, redeems us from sin, and claims us as children.

Klepper married a woman from a Jewish family and they had two daughters. His wife, Johanna Stein, was baptized just prior to their wedding. When his daughter was denied a visa, the three of them turned on a gas valve in their home and died by suicide. Klepper's last words, recorded in his diary, were, "Tonight we die together. Over us stands in the last moments stands the image of the blessed Christ who surrounds us. With this view we end our lives."

This hymn comes from Lutheran Service Book, the current hymnal in use by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

SECOND LESSON Isaiah 9:2-7

God promises a child who will bring peace.

Lost in the Night (Lost in the Night) ELW 243

lighting candles for and
evening service at St. Mark's

You can feel the mourning and pleading in this Finnish melody. The last line of each stanza is repeated, giving a sense of urgency that is only emphasized by using the word "soon."
Will not day come soon? Will not day come soon?
Will you help us soon? Will you help us soon?
Christ is coming soon! Christ is coming soon!
Come and save us soon! Come and save us soon!

THIRD LESSON Isaiah 65:17-25

God promises a new creation.

Joy to the World (Antioch) ELW 267
"Finally! A Christmas carol!" This may be the first thought of some, but let's examine the text. Where is the manger? Where are Joseph and Mary? Where are the shepherds?
You can look, but I promise you won't find them because this hymn is about Jesus' second coming! So, it's an Advent hymn and not a Christmas one. (But you can still feel happy about singing it!)

FOURTH LESSON Luke 1:26-38

First United Methodist Church
Gainesville, FL

The Angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary.

A Stable Lamp Is Lighted Mark Sedio

Sung by the Festival Choir, this text by Richard Wilbur (1921-2017) ponders the words of Gabriel in a poetic manner, foreshadows the passion and crucifixion, and ends with a reminder that the reason for the incarnation is for creation to be reconciled to God, including us.

FIFTH LESSON Luke 1:39-45

The Blessed Virgin Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth.

My Soul Rejoices (In dir ist Freude)

If I had to choose a favorite gospel, I would choose the gospel of Luke. Why? Because it's where all the songs are, the first one being Mary's "Magnificat anima mea" (My soul magnifies the Lord).

The metrical setting we sing today also comes from Lutheran Service Book. Stephen Starke's text is paired with the dancing Lutheran tune In dir ist Freude, most often sung with the text In Thee Is Gladness.

Other songs from Luke's gospel include the Song of Zechariah (which we sang last Sunday), Glory to God in the Highest, and the Song of Simeon (Lord, Now You Let Your Servant Depart in Peace). 

This hymn also comes from Lutheran Service Book.

SIXTH LESSON Matthew 1:18-23
St. Matthew tells of the coming birth of Jesus.

Love Has Come (Un flambeau) ELW 292

We conclude with another dancing tune, the one used for the French carol Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella. A true Christmas hymn/carol, it serves as a joyful endpoint for our service of Advent Lessons and Carols.

St. Peter's Lutheran Church
Port Jervis, NY

MUSICAL OFFERING O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Gordon Young

We welcome Jane Daugherty to play the musical offering today. Jane has been a member of St. Mark's for many years and often serves as a substitute organist when I am away.
Jane is also one of two musicians who serve as organist/choirmaster at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Arlington.
When she is not at St. Andrew's, or substituting somewhere else, she is a valued member of our Festival Choir.
She's also my good friend.

COMMUNION HYMN In a Deep, Unbounded Darkness (Divinum Mysterium) ACS 1093

This text that originated as a theme song for a Bible study institute in China is a meditation on the eternal nature of God. Like the hymn Of the Father's Love Begotten, with which this tune is often paired, we begin in the time before creation when God claimed us. After praising God's steadfastness in stanza two, our joy overflows at the incarnation in stanza three. Finally, stanza four returns us to the realm of eternity, joining together the beginning and final chapters of the Bible by connecting references to stories from Genesis and Exodus with the wedding feast of the Lamb in Revelation. (Sundays and Seasons)

SENDING HYMN O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Veni, Emmanuel) ELW 257

CLOSING VOLUNTARY Fugue on "Savior of the Nations, Come" Jacob B. Weber

Sources:
Hymnal Companion: Evangelical Lutheran Worship (Augsburg Fortress)
Lutheran Service Book Companion to the Hymns
Wikipedia
Image of Truro Cathedral: By Tim Green - originally posted to Flickr as Truro Cathedral, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6432493
Isaiah painting: By Antonio Balestra - Bridgeman Art Library: Object 569354, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25016733

Music for the Second Sunday of Advent, Year C: December 8, 2024

HOLY COMMUNION SETTING

St. Mark's expresses a change of seasons through color and music. You may have noticed last Sunday that all our hymns were Advent themed - to support the "propers" of the day. (Propers are the texts that change daily. Most notable are the readings and the Prayer of the Day.)

Last Sunday, our musical changes included a change to the sung setting of Holy Communion. This setting comes from "This Far by Faith," an African American worship resource published by Augsburg Fortress. "This Far by Faith is celebrating its 25-year anniversary this year!

We're using Setting One, also called "River of Life." Tilis Butler wrote this musical setting. I have not been able to learn much about him except that he worked for the Detroit Board of Education for 35 years, as well as being a composer.

This setting features lush chords that support the texts, rather than allowing the style to overshadow them.

OPENING VOLUNTARY An Advent Meditation David Lasky

This musical meditation includes three Advent Hymns: "Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus" (Hyfrydol) ELW 254; "Savior of the Nations, Come" (Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland) ELW 263; and "Come Now, O Prince of Peace" (Ososo) ELW 247

Last Sunday I found a package in the choir room with a note that included the words "Perhaps your office could use an Advent wreath." Well, not my office, but it's sitting on the piano in the choir room and we will light it at the end of each rehearsal when we say our closing prayer.
Thanks to Gregg and Linda K. for this thoughtful gift!

GATHERING HYMN Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

ELW pairs this Charles Wesley text with the tune "Jefferson," but today we sing it to the Welsh tune "Hyfrydol." This is one of Wesley's 9,000+ hymns! Ordained in 1735 as an Anglican priest, he and his brother, John, were the founders of the Methodist Church.

The hymn speaks of the Messiah as "Israel's strength and consolation," but reminds us he is also the "dear desire of every nation." This second phrase calls to mind the voice of the prophet Haggai in Haggai 2:7.

I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come. . . (NIV)

PSALM

Occasionally, the psalm isn't from the book of Psalms. Today's psalm comes from Luke's gospel. Often called the "Benedictus" or "Canticle of Zachariah," it's also part of ELW's Morning Prayer service - which is where the setting we sing this morning can be found.

HYMN OF THE DAY On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry (Puer nobis) ELW 249

This hymn echoes much of the gospel reading. In the first two stanzas, we sing of John the Baptist and his proclamation that the one who brings salvation is near. Our response to his call is to be cleansed from sin so that we can better be prepared to receive Christ.

The next two stanzas are addressed to Christ. We hail him as Savior, acknowledge our need for grace. We ask him to bring healing - not just to our bodies, but to our souls. Our response to the favor he shows us is to live lives that fills the world with divine love - the love of God.

The doxological stanza that ends the hymn is one of thanksgiving to Christ, who wins freedom for us by his coming.

MUSICAL OFFERING Lift Up Your Heads, O Gates David von Kampen

The text is from Psalm 24:7. A Christian read of the psalm recalls Jesus' triumphal coming into Jerusalem. This reminds us of a future coming, when "he shall come to judge the living and the dead." Thus, it's well-suited to the season of Advent.

Von Kampen's setting makes use of a fun, baroque-styled interlude that lends a joyful moment to our worship.

O Lord, How Shall I Meet You (Wie soll ich dich empfangen) ELW 241

How do we welcome Christ? The meaning is two-fold when we sing this hymn in the context of communion. First, we have the Advent element of welcoming Jesus, but then at communion we acknowledge his true presence in the elements, another way he comes to us.

Stanzas 2 and 3 take on very personal language. "Love brought you down to ME. . . Your thirst for MY salvation procured MY liberty."

The fourth stanza (Paul Gerhardt originally wrote 10 stanzas) is an invitation to all who are living in a sinful state to join in our rejoicing at our Lord's appearing. Christian hymnody often speaks of heaven as "home," and this stanza ends with a prayer that Jesus would guide us there. 

SENDING HYMN All Earth Is Hopeful (Toda la tierra) ELW 266

CLOSING VOLUNTARY He Came Down setting, David Lasky
How do you take and African folk song and translate into an organ postlude? David Lasky adds rhythmic flourishes that result in a sort of theme and variations where the tune is straightforward in each iteration, but the accompanying flourishes add some playful pizazz.

He has little to do with Advent, but this fella lives 20 steps from St. Mark's.
I thought he deserved a little love!

Sources:

Wikipedia!
Hymnal Companion: Evangelical Lutheran Worship (Augsburg Fortress)
Lutheran Service Book Companion to the Hymns (Concordia Publishing House)