Sunday, December 22nd, 2013

Prelude: Wachet Auf, Ruft Uns Die Stimme, Chorale Tune by Philipp Niccolai, Cantata setting by J. S. Bach. Arranged for two flutes by: Ashley Sosis

Opening: 436 Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates

Trisagion- S-102

Advent Alleluia before and after the Gospel.

Offertory: Zion, at Thy Shining Gates, by: K. Lee Scott

Zion, at thy shining gates

Lo, the King of Glory waits;

Haste thy monarch now to greet,

Strew thy palms before his feet.

Christ, for Thee their triple light,

Faith and hope and love unite;

This the beacon we display

To proclaim Thine Advent day.

Come and give us peace within,

Loose us from the bands of sin,

Take away the galling weight

Laid on us by greed and hate.

Give us grace Thy yoke to wear

Give us strength Thy cross to bear,

Make us Thine in deed and word,

Thine in heart and life, O Lord.

So when Thou shalt come again,

Judge of angels and of men,

We with all thy Saints shall sing

Alleluias to our King!

Communion Anthem: O Lord, How Shall I Meet You? Hymn tune: Valet Will Ich Dir Geben

O Lord, how shall I meet You,

How welcome You aright?

Your people long to greet You,

My hope, my heart’s delight!

O kindle, Lord most holy, A lamp within my breast,

To do in spirit lowly

All that may please You best.

Love caused Your incarnation,

Love brought You down to me;

Your thirst for my salvation

Procured my liberty.

O love beyond all telling,

That led You to embrace

In love all loves excelling

Our lost and fallen race.

A glorious crown You give me,

A treasure safe on high,

That will not fail nor leave me

As earthly riches fly.

My heart shall bloom forever

For You with praises new,

And from Your name shall never

Withhold the honor due.

Communion Hymn: 365 Come, Thou Almighty King

Recessional Hymn: 66, Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

Organ Postlude: Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying Setting by: Flor Peeters

Music Notes:

by: Ashley Sosis

The flute duet programmed as the prelude this morning is a transcription of the fourth movement of J. S. Bach’s Cantata 140 “Wachet Auf ruft uns die Stimme” (Wake, Awake, the voices call us). Cantata 140 is an Advent masterpiece, using biblical passages Mt. 25: 1-14 and Lk 1:68-79. It is well worth the effort to discover or revisit the piece as part of your Advent preparation. There are many fine recordings of the piece on www.youtube.com under the name “Cantata 140” and you may consult an English translation of the piece here: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Texts.