Year C: Advent Lessons and Carols with Birthday for Christ for the Third Sunday of Advent, December 12, 2021

 The tradition of Christmas Lessons and Carols began at Truro Cathedral in England, so it’s only natural that I consult The Book of Occasional Services from the Episcopal church when I begin to plan a service of Advent Lessons and Carols.

There are ominous rules like The lesson from the third chapter of Genesis is never omitted.

My usual starting place is with the Episcopal list of designated readings. I choose the readings I want to use (trying not to repeat them every year) and then choose carols that match the readings.

This year, I tried a different approach.

I began with the Advent hymn Savior of the Nations, Come. It’s a staple of Lutheran Advent hymnody, although the hymn is much older than the Augsburg Confession.

Paul Westermeyer says this about the hymn:

This is one of the longest-running hymns in the church. It has generated a huge repertoire of music. The text scans the whole story by taking us into the manger while assuming the victory of the cross and resurrection. The result is to make ‘Come’ refer to Advent’s paradox: Christ’s first coming, second coming, and coming to us here and now.

By starting with a hymn theme, I suppose this morning’s service has more in common with a Paul Manz hymn festival than it does the ancient Episcopal service. Still, the Anglican influence can be felt by the inclusion of the final reading from Baruch – one of the apocryphal texts.

With the inclusion of Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming and Once in Royal David’s City, you can even see a little Christmas slipping into our Advent worship.

 

The format is easy to follow. We all sing one stanza of Savior of the Nations, Come and it’s followed by a reading. After the reading, we all stand to sing a hymn.

I also have to say a word about carols. The definition of what is a carol has changed over hundreds of years. Early carols were secular in nature and often involved dance rhythms. Even the religious ones were never sung in church.

But today, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, even though it’s based on chant, is generally considered a Christmas carol.  The songs we sing today are rightly called “Christmas hymns,” rather than “Christmas carols.”

Today we use a very loose interpretation of the word “carol.” Whether we call them hymns or carols, let us sing with gusto and full hearts, for Jesus has come, and is coming again.

 

OPENING VOLUNTARY Savior of the Nations, Come (Nun komm der Heiden Heiland) setting, Jacob Weber

 

LESSONS AND CAROLS

Isaiah 40:1-11 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (Picardy) ELW 490

Isaiah 7:10-15 Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming (Es ist ein Ros) ELW 272

Galatians 4:1-7 He Came Down ELW 253

1 Corinthians 15:12-26 Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus (Jefferson) ELW 254

Micah 5:2-4 Once in Royal David’s City (Irby) ELW 269

Baruch 4:36-5:9 O Come, Divine Messiah (Veni, divin messie)

The final hymn is not in ELW. I learned it a few years ago while performing with RareSong. We sang a concert of music that French and Spanish colonists may have sung when Fort Caroline and the city of St. Augustine were founded. In published form, this French carol dates at least to the 1600s. I was determined to add it to our modern repertoire and began looking for sources. I was happy to discover our Roman Catholic siblings in faith have been singing it all along!

I  have the privilege of performing with this group of musicians
called RareSong. We perform Renaissance and Medieval music -
basically anything before the Baroque era.

MUSICAL OFFERING Hail to the Lord’s Anointed Thomas Keesecker

COMMUNION HYMN O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Veni, Emmanuel) ELW 270

SENDING HYMN Prepare the Royal Highway (Bereden vag for Herren) ELW 264

CLOSING VOLUNTARY Prelude and Chorale on “Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding” (Merton) Kevin Hildebrand / William H. Monk

Gifts have already begun to gather
around the tree in Hart Hall for our Birthday 
for Christ celebration.

BIRTHDAY FOR CHRIST

Today’s service also includes our annual “Birthday for Christ” procession. A long-standing tradition at St. Mark’s (nobody knows exactly when it started), gifts from our congregation help to brighten the holidays for children who are homeless or under protective custody. A series of Christmas carols, a verse for each month of the year, is sung while the assembly brings their gifts forward.

sources:
Hymnal Companion to Evangelical Lutheran Worship (Augsburg Fortress)
Hymnary.org
Wikipedia
The Book of Occasional Services (Church Publishing, Inc.)

Year C Music for the Second Sunday of Advent: December 5, 2021

 

OPENING VOLUNTARY Meditation on “Picardy”

arr. Barbara Werner

A handbell arrangement of “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” played by the St. Mark’s Ringers.

GATHERING HYMN On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry (Puer Nobis)

ELW 249

 

HYMN OF THE DAY Comfort, Comfort Now My People (Suo Gan)

The music is a Welsh tune with a text by Mark Sedio.

 

MUSICAL OFFERING Advent Canticle

Lloyd Larson

 

MUSIC DURING COMMUNION Comfort, Comfort Now My People (Suo Gan)

This piano arrangement, also by Mark Sedio, is a nice complement to the Hymn of the Day.

 

SENDING HYMN Hark the Glad Sound (Chesterfield)

ELW 239

 

CLOSING VOLUNTARY On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry (Puer Nobis)

setting, Michael D. Costello

Year C Music for the First Sunday of Advent: 11/28/2021

 

WELCOME TO ADVENT

One of the ways we mark a new liturgical season is by changing our musical setting of Holy Communion. This year I’ve drawn newer music from a variety of sources and styles – except for the sung parts of the Great Thanksgiving which come from setting 5.

MUSIC FOR THE GATHERING

Each week the Holy Spirit gathers God’s people together for worship. After the announcements we follow a gathering rite. This year our Advent gathering rite includes Confession and Forgiveness, a Kyrie, lighting the Advent wreath, and the Prayer of the Day. Here is some information about the musical elements of the rite.

 

Kyrie

This prayer of the church has been with us since ancient times. We typically use a modern English version that includes petitions specific to gathering, but this year we sing a version of its most basic form: Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison. (Lord have mercy. Christ has mercy. Lord have mercy.) The Greek text harkens back to the early days of the Roman mass. 

In former years, the church observed Advent as a penitential season and this Kyrie reflects that. Written by Ghanaian composer Dinah Reindorf (b. 1927), it is to be sung legato (smoothly) in a penitential, bluesy style. 

We Are Waiting

We light the candles of the Advent wreath between two stanzas of a new hymn by John Helgen (b. 1957). In the third phrase of the first stanza, we ask Jesus, “sun of justice,” to shine upon us. Christians see Jesus in the words of Malachi 4:2.

 

But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.

 

The Advent Wreath at St. Mark's lit
for the fourth Sunday of Advent.

This is a foreshadowing of Christmas Eve when we will sing Hail the heav’n born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of righteousness! 

We Are Waiting is included in Augsburg Fortress’ new hymn resource All Creation Sings.

MUSIC FOR THE WORD

After the Gathering rite, we hear and proclaim God’s word.

An important piece of this part of our worship is the gospel acclamation, which we sing while standing. Through joining our voices in song, we welcome the gospel and proclaim it together.

 

Our sung acclamation is by Daniel E. Schwandt and comes from his Mass for Immanuel. This Alleluia is in echo form. A cantor sings the first line and the assembly repeats it. We hear the proper gospel verse, and then repeat both parts of the Alleluia.

 

NEW MUSIC FOR THE MEAL

After the Word, we move into the Meal portion of our service, which includes the offering. After the offering we sing another hymn found in All Creation Sings.

 

When a Star is Shining

Bob Moore (b. 1962) is a composer who lives in Jacksonville. He loves to set texts by Sylvia Dunstan (1955-1993). (We often sing his tune Grace Eternal with her text All who hunger, gather gladly.) Singing about the star in the east may seem more suitable for Epiphany since it recalls the magi and their famous gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh; but it is suitable to remember their gifts as we bring our own.

 

 

 

OPENING VOLUNTARY O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Veni, Emmanuel)

setting, Charles Callahan

If you were holding a contest to name the most popular Advent hymn, this one would be at the top of the list.

The original form, dating from the eighth century, contained antiphons sung at Evening Prayer during the last days of Advent from December 17^th through December 23^rd. The antiphons made up an acrostic that, when read backwards, spelled ero cras – I will be tomorrow.

 

Many hymnals have a condensed version of the text, but ELW features all the antiphons and gives instructions for singing them. (ELW 257)

 

The tune we sing is probably not as old as the text. Mary Berry (also known as Sister Thomas More), traced the melody to a 15^th century procession used by Franciscan nuns during a funeral liturgy. It may have started as funeral music, but the tune is as hopeful as it is mournful and complements this Advent text nicely.

GATHERING HYMN Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers (Haf trones lämpa fardig) ELW 244

 

HYMN OF THE DAY Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying (Wachet auf) ELW 436

 

MUSICAL OFFERING Savior of the Nations, Come (Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland)

setting, Nancy M. Raabe

Nancy Raabe has arranged this classic Advent hymn in the form of a motet. Motets are sacred pieces of vocal music, usually sung a cappella (without instrumental accompaniment).

 

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

 

SENDING HYMN Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding (Merton) ELW 246

 

CLOSING VOLUNTARY Fanfare on “Helmsley” (Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending)

setting, Karl Osterland

See the text and tune at ELW 435.

Sources:
Wikipedia
Hymnal Companion to Evangelical Lutheran Worship
Sundaysandseasons.com

Music for Christ the King / Reign of Christ: November 21, 2021

 A Note from Cantor Tony Cruz
Hello all, I am on vacation again this week and am happy to let you know that Jane Daugherty will be my substitute again.  I'll see you next week for the First Sunday of Advent!

OPENING VOLUNTARY

Adagio in G Minor                                                   Tomaso Albinoni

 

GATHERING HYMN ELW 408

Come, Thou Almighty King                          ITALIAN HYMN

 

HYMN OF THE DAY  ELW 416

At the Name of Jesus                                KING’S WESTON

 

MUSICAL OFFERING

Beautiful Savior                                              Healey Willan

 

COMMUNION HYMNS

Beautiful Savior ELW 838                                                         SCHÖNSTER HERR JESU

What Feast of Love ELW 487                                                                  GREENSLEEVES

 

SENDING HYMN ELW 434

Jesus Shall Reign                                                                                          DUKE STREET

 

CLOSING VOLUNTARY

Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise setting, Michael Burkhardt

Music for the 25th Sunday after Pentecost: November 14, 2021

A Note from Cantor Tony
Hello all! I am on vacation this week but am happy to let you know my substitute will be Jane Daugherty - someone you know and love, and who knows and loves you back! I know you will have a morning filled with noteworthy preaching, exceptional musical leadership, joyful singing, and God's presence.

opening voluntary Prelude in C  J. S. Bach

 

gathering HYMN O God beyond All Praising (Thaxted) ELW 880

 

HYMN OF THE DAY My Lord, What a Morning (Burgleigh) ELW 438

 

MUSICAL OFFERING As This Broken Bread Wayne L. Wold

 

communion hymn Taste and See (Taste and See) ELW 493

 

SENding Hymn My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less (The Solid Rock) ELW 596

 

CLOSING VOLUNTARY Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation

setting, Carl Schalk

Music for All Saints Sunday: November 7, 2021

 

OPENING VOLUNTARY Celebrate with Ringing Michael Mazzatenta

played by the St. Mark’s Ringers

 

GATHERING HYMN Behold the Host Arrayed in White (Den store hvide flok) ELW 425

 

PSALM Psalm 24

setting by Peter Hallock from the Ionian Psalter

 

HYMN OF THE DAY For All the Saints (Sine Nomine) ELW 422

 

MUSICAL OFFERING Bound for the Kingdom arr. Linda L Lamb

This arrangement includes three well-known hymn tunes: “Land of Rest,” “Warrenton,” and “Pisgah.”

 

MUSIC DURING COMMUNION Shall We Gather at the River

arr. John Carter
Sung by the Festival Choir

 

SENDING HYMN ‘Tis the Church Triumphant Singing

This hymn, with a text by John Kent (1766-1843) is not in ELW. It is sung to the tune Ar hyd y nos

 

CLOSING VOLUNTARY Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir Johann Pachelbel

Music for Reformation Day: October 31, 2021

 

OPENING VOLUNTARY Three settings of “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” (Ein feste burg)

Michael D. Costello

Three sections of Costello’s partita around this famous Lutheran hymntune make up the prelude: Chorale, Tricinium, and Ayre. The final movement of this partita will be heard as the closing voluntary.

 

GATHERING HYMN Salvation unto Us Has Come (Es ist das heil) ELW 590

This is one of the oldest Lutheran hymns as it appeared (with 14 stanzas) in our very first hymnal – Etlich christlich Lieder, published in 1523.
I loved the isometric version of this tune that I grew up with (in the red Service Book and Hymnal, 1958), but the rhythmic version moves me in a completely different way. The introduction is a chorale prelude by Gerhard Krapf. Krapf was drafted into the German army in 1942 and captured by the Russians. After the war, he returned to Germany and completed his music degrees. In 1953, he came to the United States to complete additional studies. He stayed in the U. S. and became an organ professor and a noteworthy composer of church music.

 KYRIE AND CANTICLE OF PRAISE

A hallmark of the German reformation was an emphasis on congregational singing. Here we follow the tradition of a chorale service. Said to be an innovation of Martin Luther, these services take traditional liturgical texts and render them as hymns. ELW has a version of this Kyrie with a Slovak tune. I’ve decided to use a German tune that will be more familiar to our community. The opening “bids” are sung to a tone found in Evening Prayer.

The canticle of praise is the very familiar “All Glory Be to God on High.” Nikolaus Decius (1458 – ca. 1561) is credited as the composer, but he based it on a chant tune from the 10^th century.

 

HYMN OF THE DAY A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (Ein feste burg) ELW 503

Today we are singing the rhythmic version of this tune. If you grew up with the isometric version, that transition can be a little difficult. Listen to the introduction for where the notes are long and where they are short. This rhythmic alternation gives the hymn a dance-like quality that is very rewarding!

 

This rhythmic version is much closer to Martin Luther’s original version than the isometric version is. Over time, tunes from the Reformation began to be sung more slowly and the short notes elongated to the same length as the long notes. Today’s Gathering Hymn is another version of a tune that has rhythmic and isometric versions.

 

MUSICAL OFFERING Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word

setting, Jeremy Bankson

 

OFFERING HYMN Now Thank We All Our God ELW 840

Nun danket all Gott is another example of a chorale that has rhythmic and isometric versions. Here we sing the isometric one.

 

COMMUNION HYMN O Lord, We Praise You (Gott sei gelobet und gebenedeiet) ELW 499

The introduction is a bicinium (a two-voice piece) by Kenneth T. Kosche that leads us into the singing of this happy hymn. I’ve only learned this hymn in recent years, but it has become a favorite.

 

SENDING HYMN Rise, O Church, Like Christ Arisen (Surge Ecclesia) ELW 548

This hymn was written for the 50^th anniversary of the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Roseville, Minnesota. The text is by Susan Palo Cherwien. The tune was written by Resurrection’s cantor, Timothy J. Strand.

Why does the church reform? Perhaps it is to “remember well the future God has called us receive” – and then to live into it with a living faith.

 

CLOSING VOLUNTARY Fughetta on “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”
Michael D. Costello