Second Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 8 Year A
JUNE 26, 2011
Do you remember those rather long readings during Lent? Our gospel reading this Sunday, Matthew 10:40-42, makes up for it. It is only 3 verses long. Despite its brevity Jesus makes some firm pledges that have long-term impact on His disciples’ work. Those who welcome His disciples are welcoming Christ Himself, and hence the One who sent Him. Hence, welcoming a prophet or a righteous person is a deed that does more than just share kindness. So, assisting at the Boise Rescue Mission, answering the telephones at Love INC or even giving a cup of cold water to a child in the name of a disciple is an act of divine worship. In other words, Jesus is identifying Himself with His message, with all who carry it, and with all who receive it.
Such a pledge of solidarity is possible only from one who has both the divine power to bring about what He pledges and the selfless love to share the honor rightfully due Him alone. Are we not amazed at such power of love? Are we not amazed at what this revelation means to our discipleship? Our honor is due wherever God’s presence is celebrated and His word proclaimed. Our mission field is everywhere and anywhere there is a need – with our next door neighbor, the stranger that comes to town and needs a meal or a place to sleep, a hurting coworker, a parishioner that sits in one of our pews or a school for teachers in India. Wherever we are called in this world of woe is where God has need of us.
But Christ’s pledge means much to our individual selves, too. For we are blessed and called in baptism to be givers, receivers, and vessels of Christ. As we witness to the salvation He has won, we carry His redemption to all we encounter, finding it true for us as well.
We can pledge our discipleship to Jesus only because He has first pledged His presence and power to us. As you sing the sequence hymn, O Day of God Draw Nigh, that book ends the gospel reading this Sunday, consider what the gospel and hymn are speaking to you in the words of the 2nd verse:
Bring to our troubled minds,Uncertain and afraid,
The quiet of a steadfast faith,
Calm of a call obeyed.
The Church’s One Foundation will be our processional hymn this week. The same hymn was our recessional hymn in May and I wrote about it then. Someone in attendance at Grace Anglican Church had never heard this hymn before, so I think it calls for a little historical story. This magnificent hymn is as fitting today as at the time it was written. When you read the following story, I think you’ll agree!
This great hymn emerged from a ragged and wearing controversy that threatened to tear asunder the Church of England. In the mid-1800s, the liberal views of German theologians drifted like a poisonous fog over Anglicans worldwide. In South Africa, Bishop John William Colenso, influenced by the German ‘higher critics” questioned whether Moses had really written the first five books of the Bible. He also took liberal views toward Paul’s Book of Romans, denying the doctrine of eternal punishment. Colenso had been a tireless missionary bishop, serving the Zulu people in northeastern S. Africa with laudable passion, but his emerging liberalism sent shock waves among evangelical Anglican leaders.
Colenso was removed from his post in 1853 and fought the order, eventually he was reinstated by a London court of law. The resulting conflict shook the Anglican Church to its FOUNDATION.
One man on the side of evangelical truth was Samuel Stone, the curate of Windsor in the shadow of Windsor Castle. In 1866, he wrote twelve hymns based on the twelve articles of the Apostles’ Creed. “The Church’s One Foundation” was based on the ninth article of the creed, which says: “I believe in the holy catholic (universal) church: the communion of saints.”
The next year, Anglican bishops from around the world assembled for a theological enclave that became known as the first LAMBETH CONFERENCE. The tone of the proceedings was set by Stone’s hymn, “The Church’s One Foundation,” which had been set to music by Samuel Wesley, the grandson of Charles Wesley. It became the processional for that conference, and has been one of the church’s best-loved hymns ever since. Not all the verses, however, are sung today. Here is a stanza you many never have thought of before in light of the above story and in light of the state of our Anglican Church today:
Though with a scornful wonder men see her sore oppressed,
By schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed:
Yet saints their watch are keeping, their cry goes up, “How long?”
And soon the night of weekping shall be the morn of song!
A Gaelic Prayer with words adapted from an ancient Gaelic rune, will be the anthem sung by the Lofty Pew Singers at the Eucharist. It is an imaginative setting of this comforting and peaceful Old Gaelic Blessing. Our guest organist, Dr Glenn Pool will accompany them. Here is a link to the Gloriae Dei Cantores choral group singing this prayer. Sharon Helppie and I were privileged to go to a choral workshop they did in Arizona in 2009.
A Gaelic Prayer
By David Lowry
Deep peace of the rolling wave to you;
Deep peace of the flowing air to you;
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you;
Deep peace of the shining stars to you;
Deep peace of the gently night to you;
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you;
Deep peace of Christ the light of the world to you;
Deep peace of Christ to you.
As we recess into the world onto the streets of Boise, Idaho this Sunday, to the hymn, O God of Every Nation, we will be singing a text that reflects the world we live in. A world divided by race and material wealth and devastated by war, let us never lose sight of the vision of God’s will for His world, a world where love, peace and justice will reign. Let us sing the words of this hymn and make it our prayer. Will you hear that “still small voice?”
Sources:
Companion to the SDA Hymnal
Hymnal 1982 Companion
Tune My Heart to Sing
Oremus.com
Paraclete Press
The Holy Bible
Deacon Ronald Jutzy
Special musical notes to Grace Anglican other readers
Don’t miss out on the Shriner’s Circus final performance of the year at Qwest Arena. I remind you that our own flautist/flutist, Gretchen Ediger is the piccolo player in the incredible Circus Band going on her 10th year. Go see the elephants, tigers and bears and hear the band! Great summer fun!
The American Guild of Organists is hosting the 2011 Region VIII Convention in Boise July 4-7. Augustana Chapel, where we worship will be the site of one of the concerts. Because our organist, Pat O’Neil and I are members of the guild, Grace Anglican Church has been asked to host the morning of June 4 organ concert. If you’re up for some fine organ concerts in the Boise churches, come join us. I’ll attach the announcements here for you.
Convention Worship at St. Michael’s Episcopal Cathedral
All are cordially invited to worship at St. Michael’s Cathedral for a
Pre-Convention Eucharist on July 3 at 10:00 A. M.
Music will include: “Festive Eucharist” – Craig Phillips, “Love bade me welcome” – David Hurd
“Sing we merrily” – Sydney Campbell
OPENING SERVICE OF THE CONVENTION
6:30 P. M. – Festive Prelude
Dr. Thomas Joyce, organist
7:00 P. M. – Choral Evensong with the Cathedral Choir
Michael D. Boney, Canon for Music Dr. Thomas Joyce, organist
Music will include: “Eternal Light” – Leo Sowerby, “Versicles and Responses” – Michael Boney
“Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in C” – C. V. Stanford, “For lo, I raise up” – C. V. Stanford
“The gate of heaven” – Paul Aitken (commissioned by the Les Bois Chapter of the AGO)
St. Michael’s Cathedral
518 N. 8th Street
(Located on the corner of 8th and State Streets; directly behind the Capitol)
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