OPENING VOLUNTARY Isaiah in a Vision Did of Old
Martin Luther / setting, John Hirten
See the text and tune at ELW 868.
Martin Luther's German Mass had options. His hymns could be used as replacements for the Latin propers, or as an enhancement for them. Isaiah in a Vision Did of Old, a hymn, by Luther himself, stands for the Sanctus (Holy, holy, holy) sung after the proper preface in the Great Thanksgiving.
The hymn uses imagery from Isaiah 6 (today's first reading), including a verbatim singing of the song of the seraphim. It lacks one phrase from the Roman rite, the one that evokes Palm Sunday imagery: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna!
The hymn uses imagery from Isaiah 6 (today's first reading), including a verbatim singing of the song of the seraphim. It lacks one phrase from the Roman rite, the one that evokes Palm Sunday imagery: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna!
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| From Petites Heures de Jean de Berry 14th century illuminated manuscript |
But Luther didn't exclude it fully - it's present in and under the music! Luther's tune, Jesaia, dem Propheten, was fashioned from a chant the people would have remembered singing for the Sanctus text. Even while singing Luther's new text, they would have remembered the tune that used to include Blessed is he who comes. . ."
The imagery in this hymn, poetic and stately, relates Isaiah's vision of God's throne and the seraphim who approach God with covered faces and feet. If you miss some of the imagery, you'll get to revisit it when the Festival Choir sings another arrangement of this hymn at the musical offering.
GATHERING HYMN Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty! (Nicaea)
ELW 413
This is a set-up, really, for the first reading!
There are some differences from Isaiah's vision.
This version includes us in the line . . .all the saints adore Thee. Heber's version includes cherubim. It also affirms our Trinitarian worship.
This version includes us in the line . . .all the saints adore Thee. Heber's version includes cherubim. It also affirms our Trinitarian worship.
PSALM Psalm 138
With a musical refrain by Daniel Kallman, this setting is in the style we usually sing.
The psalm for the day, as used in the Revised Common Lectionary, is a response or reflection on the first reading. Front and center again is the Lord's dwelling. As a kid, "before the gods" often confused me. Now I know that even though the Hebrews worshiped ONE God, that didn't stop them from believing there were other gods. (How often did they turn to other gods only to find themselves rebuked by their one, true God?)
The image of God's dwelling from the Hebrew scriptures is magnificent indeed! But in that reading, the prophet Isaiah is being called to speak to a people who will not hear him. (As an aside, many assume the inspiration for the hymn Here I Am, Lord, to be the calling of Samuel - but it is actually the calling of Isaiah!) Isaiah is being called to a hard task - to tell the people that their actions are leading to a destruction that has no release. Perhaps that is why the psalm talks about the psalmist being protected from the fury of his enemies.
The psalm for the day, as used in the Revised Common Lectionary, is a response or reflection on the first reading. Front and center again is the Lord's dwelling. As a kid, "before the gods" often confused me. Now I know that even though the Hebrews worshiped ONE God, that didn't stop them from believing there were other gods. (How often did they turn to other gods only to find themselves rebuked by their one, true God?)
The image of God's dwelling from the Hebrew scriptures is magnificent indeed! But in that reading, the prophet Isaiah is being called to speak to a people who will not hear him. (As an aside, many assume the inspiration for the hymn Here I Am, Lord, to be the calling of Samuel - but it is actually the calling of Isaiah!) Isaiah is being called to a hard task - to tell the people that their actions are leading to a destruction that has no release. Perhaps that is why the psalm talks about the psalmist being protected from the fury of his enemies.
The psalm concludes with an assurance not found in the Isaiah reading. God's steadfast love endures forever.
HYMN OF THE DAY In Christ Called to Baptize (St. Denio) ELW 575
Most of my readers will agree that Pastor Daniel Locke is an excellent preacher - and we are blessed to have him at St. Mark's. If we ever played "Pastor Daniel's Sermon Bingo," the most checked box would read "mentions the sacraments of the church" - because he always highlights baptism and holy communion.
That's where this Hymn of the Day, by Ruth Duck starts, with our call to baptize others into the same baptism we already share. The second stanza reminds us we are called to invite others to the communion table. In the third stanza, we are reminded to share the gospel. In the fourth, we are called to serve our neighbors.
Ruth Duck (1947-2024), the author of this hymn text, was an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. Her concern for justice, equality, and the care of creation is evident in the hymns she wrote - more than 200 of them! She has four entries in Evangelical Lutheran Worship.
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| Our baptismal font at St. Mark's |
That's where this Hymn of the Day, by Ruth Duck starts, with our call to baptize others into the same baptism we already share. The second stanza reminds us we are called to invite others to the communion table. In the third stanza, we are reminded to share the gospel. In the fourth, we are called to serve our neighbors.
Ruth Duck (1947-2024), the author of this hymn text, was an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. Her concern for justice, equality, and the care of creation is evident in the hymns she wrote - more than 200 of them! She has four entries in Evangelical Lutheran Worship.
Musical Offering Isaiah in a Vision Did of Old
See the entry under this morning's opening voluntary for more information. Notice how the two settings end very differently!
See the entry under this morning's opening voluntary for more information. Notice how the two settings end very differently!
COMING EVENT: SAVE THIS DATE! YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS THIS!
COMMUNION HYMN You Are Holy (Du är helig) ELW 525
More "holy" language. It just seems unavoidable this week!
The text and music are by a Swedish Lutheran pastor. The music does not sound Swedish, for sure. In fact, I sometimes think it's what you might end up with if Wayne Newton (aka Mr. Las Vegas) became a worship leader - and I mean that in the best possible way. This is one of my favorites!
More "holy" language. It just seems unavoidable this week!
The text and music are by a Swedish Lutheran pastor. The music does not sound Swedish, for sure. In fact, I sometimes think it's what you might end up with if Wayne Newton (aka Mr. Las Vegas) became a worship leader - and I mean that in the best possible way. This is one of my favorites!
COMMUNION HYMN Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy (Cuéllar) ELW 762
More "holies." More joy. This hymn has a Latin feel to it. It's rhythmically exciting because it alternates between dividing measures into three short beats and two long beats. It's one of the most "fun" things in our hymnal.
More "holies." More joy. This hymn has a Latin feel to it. It's rhythmically exciting because it alternates between dividing measures into three short beats and two long beats. It's one of the most "fun" things in our hymnal.
SENDING HYMN Here I Am, Lord ELW 574
CLOSING VOLUNTARY St. Denio Alice Jordan
An organ setting of the tune for the Hymn of the Day.
CLOSING VOLUNTARY St. Denio Alice Jordan
An organ setting of the tune for the Hymn of the Day.
Sources:
Hymnal Companion to Evangelical Lutheran Worship (Augsburg Fortress)
Hymnal Companion to Evangelical Lutheran Worship (Augsburg Fortress)
Lutheran Service Book Companion to the Hymns
Wikipedia
Sundays and Season.com (graphics)
Seraph image credit: By Limbourg brothers/ Jacquemart de Hesdin/ Jean Le Noir/ Pseudo-Jacquemart - originally uploaded on en.wikipedia by Mirv (talk · contribs) at 27 April 2005. Filename was Seraphim - Petites Heures de Jean de Berry.jpg., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3431408
Wikipedia
Sundays and Season.com (graphics)
Seraph image credit: By Limbourg brothers/ Jacquemart de Hesdin/ Jean Le Noir/ Pseudo-Jacquemart - originally uploaded on en.wikipedia by Mirv (talk · contribs) at 27 April 2005. Filename was Seraphim - Petites Heures de Jean de Berry.jpg., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3431408
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