Fifth Sunday of Easter

May 22, 2011

All three of the hymns we will sing on Sunday are related to our second scripture reading of 1^st Peter 2:2-10.

 We will open with the processional hymn Christ is Made the Sure Foundation.  This hymn was first introduced to Americans through the broadcast of the marriage ceremony of Princess Margaret of England and Lord Snowden in 1960.  Perhaps you sang along when watching the recent wedding of Prince William and Katherine Middleton in Westminster Abbey.  It is from an ancient Latin hymn dating to the 6^th century and originally had 9 verses.          

The tune WESTMINSTER ABBEY is derived from an anthem by the great English composer Henry Purcell and was given its name by Sir Sidney Nicholson (organist of the Abbey from 1919-1928).  The name reflects Purcell’s various associations with the great London church.  From 1674-1678 Purcell tuned the organ in Westminster Abbey and later was appointed the organist.  On November 25, 1695 his funeral and burial were held there.

Our recessional hymn will be, The Church’s one Foundation.  This hymn, one of the most loved by people of many denominations, has very specific Anglican origins. 

Bishop John William Colenso (1814-1883) of Natal, South Africa, wrote a book entitled The Pentateuch and the Book of Joshua, Critically Examined.  In it, he revealed his support for the “modern” disbelief in the historicity of these Old Testament accounts and also his liberal views of the Scriptures and some of the Doctrines of the Anglican Church.  His superior, Bishop Gray, of Cape Town, declared Colenso deposed from his bishopric because of his divisive opinions.  Colenso appealed and was reinstated as bishop in Natal; he continued to hold his higher critical views until his death.  A furor was created in the church and bitter debate resulted. 

In the town of Windsor, England a young curate, Samuel Stone, was thrilled by Bishop Gray’s defense of the faith.  He knew that the poorer and uneducated members of his congregation, although reciting the creed faithfully each week, did not fully understand its real meaning.  He decided to strengthen the faith of his own parishioners by writing hymns to explain the creed.  He felt that a poetical form of the articles would be more effectual in keeping them in the memory and influencing the heart and life of those who sang. 

            The gradual hymn bookending our Gospel reading of John 14:1-14 will be very different from our usual hymns.  The ethnic diversity of our hymnal has been greatly enriched through the addition of texts and tunes that come from the Jewish tradition.  This hymn, God has spoken to His People has a text deeply rooted in the imagery of Hebrew scripture and is set to a traditional Hasidic folk melody.  The words challenge God’s people to action in response to the Creator’s word.  When the singers in the loft were practicing it this past week, we considered adding a tambourine at key places.  When you hear the music you will likely think so too!  This is a new one for us at Grace Anglican to sing, with very powerful words.

            The Eucharist anthem, O Taste and See, by Ralph Vaughan Williams was composed for the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey on Tuesday, June 2, 1953. 

 

As you may already know, Vaughan Williams was an agnostic, having evolved from atheism early in his life. Nevertheless, he composed a vast amount of religious music, even in his atheistic years, turning out works for church services, hymns, hymn settings and harmonizations, and various other compositions. This short motet uses text from Psalm 34:8, which is not the Psalm the singers will chant for this day.  But, again, the 2 Peter text refers to Psalm 34:8 when we read, “….if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

            Psalm 31:1-5 15-16 will be chanted by the singers in the loft in SATB Anglican chant form.  “In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge; let me never be put to shame…..”

Sources:

Oxford University Press

Companion to the SDA Hymnal

Hymnal 1982 Companion

www.classicalarchives.com