Third
Sunday in Advent
Year
B
December 11, 2011
Isaiah
61:1-4, 8-11
Psalm
126 BCP
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28
Make straight the way of the Lord is our admonition in this week’s Gospel. We are often reminded to be like Christ, but
we can also be like John the Baptist.
What is our equivalent of John’s shouting? How can we openly, faithfully, unabashedly
proclaim Christ’s coming? This Sunday we
will sing it in our opening hymn, Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding! We will use our voices as the instrument
to proclaim His coming 2000 years ago and His imminent second coming. This early Latin Advent hymn, abounds in
scripture references; indeed, every line in the Latin original can reasonably
be associated with a passage from scripture, if not as a direct reference, at
least as a reflection. It is found in
two tenth-century sources, being assigned to both Lauds (early morning
services) and during Advent.
Here’s
an unabashed plug for the upcoming presentation of Advent Lessons and Carol’s service in Augustana Chapel on Wednesday,
December 14, 7 PM. The text and tune of our processional hymn have
gained greater acceptance and use in Anglican churches through their inclusion
in a recording of Advent lessons and carols by the Men and Boys choir of King’s
College, Cambridge. Join us for Boise’s
only L&C by the Renaissance Classical Chancel Choir for Boys and Men in
this beautiful candle lit service in Augustana Chapel.
Our sequence hymn, If Thou But
Trust In God To Guide Thee, is an example of the intense and personal
hymnody that developed and grew during and following the devastation of the
Thirty Years War. Both the text and
melody were written by Gerg Neumark in the winter of 1640. The tune is named after the composer and was
used by Johann Sebastian Bach in eight cantatas and several organ chorales.
Blest Be the King Whose Coming, the
recessional hymn, was written in 1960 by the Uruguayan Bishop Federico J.
Pagura. You may find the familiar melody
reminding you of Palm Sunday, as we sing the words, All Glory Laud and Honor, processing into the sanctuary waving our
palm branches. It is paired here with
the Isaiah reading for the third Sunday of Advent. The tune VALET
WILL ICH DIR GEBEN was written by Melchior Teschner for the dying following the
devastation of the plague of 1613 in his hometown of Fraustadt, Germany.
The
singers in the Lofty Pews will sing an arrangement of the hymn in our hymnal of
In the Bleak Midwinter. Christina Georgina Rossetti first
published her poem “A Christmas Carol” in January 1872. It was printed as a hymn in the Episcopal
Hymnal 1940, with this familiar tune.
Many have commented that, like certain visual artists, Rossetti has
depicted the Christmas landscape in terms of her own familiar environment: the English winter climate instead of the
warmer Palestinian weather.
Panis Angelicus will be played on the flute by
Gretchen in the loft during Eucharist.
The angelic bread
becomes the bread of men;
The heavenly bread
ends all prefigurations:
What wonder!
The Lord is eaten
by a poor and humble servant.
Triune God,
We beg of you:
visit us,
just as we worship you.
By your ways,
lead us where we are heading,
to the light in which you dwell.
Amen.
Sacris solemniis, written by Thomas Aquinas begins with the words "Panis
angelicus" (bread of angels) has often been set to music separately from
the rest of the hymn. Most famously, in 1872 César Franck set it for
voice, with the words you see printed here in Latin. Here is a video recording of Panis Angelicus
in Latin by the St Philips Boys’ choir, Norbury, UK: http://youtu.be/esrinHesolk
Psalm 126 will be sung in Anglican
Chant by the singers in the loft. May we
remember, as we chant the refrain to this Psalm, that “The Lord has done great
things for us, and we are glad indeed!”
So, in this
bleak wintery time of year, let us proclaim the message that Christ’s coming is
near to our families, neighbors, friends and the world. Invite them to worship with us at church to
hear the Good News and get ready! God
calls us to use our varied voices to join the chorus of proclaimers that is
ancient and ever new. Awesome indeed is
the power of a voice that answers the call to PREPARE THE WAY
OF THE LORD!
Sources:
Wikipedia.com English Hymns and
Hymn Writers
YouTube.com Deacon
Ronald Jutzy
Hymnal ’82 Companion
One Minute Devotions
Tune My Heart To Sing
O Come Emmanuel
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