Sunday, December 21st, 2014

Rite I, Fourth Sunday of Advent

Themes from the Readings: The Annunciation

Prelude: Partita on “People, look east”, by: Joseph Bertolozzi

Processional Hymn: 640 Watchman, tell us of the night

First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

Psalm: Canticle 3 , S188 with the congregation at the half verse (below to cut and paste)

Second Reading: Romans 16:25-27

Before the Gospel: 74 Blest be the King whose coming, stanzas 1 and 2

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

After the Gospel: 74 Blest be the King whose coming, stanzas 3 and 4

Offertory Anthem: Angel’s Carol, by: John Rutter

1. Have you heard the sound of the angel voices

Ringing out so sweetly, ringing out so clear?

Have you seen the star shining out so brightly

As a sign from God that Christ the Lord is here?

Have you heard the news that they bring from heaven

To the humble shepherds who have waited long?

Gloria in excelsis Deo! Hear the angels sing their joyful song.

2. He is come in peace in the winter’s stillness,

Like a gentle snowfall in the gentle night;

He is come in joy like the sun at morning

Filling all the world with radiance and with light.

He is come in love as the child of Mary;

In a simple stable we have seen his birth:

Gloria in excelsis Deo! Hear them sing ‘Peace on earth’.

3. He will bring new light to a world in darkness,

Like a bright star shining in the skies above;

He will bring new hope to the waiting nations

When he comes to reign in purity and love.

Let the earth rejoice at the Saviour’s coming;

Let the heavens answer with the joyful morn:

Gloria in excelsis Deo! Hear the angels singing ‘Christ is born’.

Doxology: Hymn 380, stanza 3

Holy: S117, Hassler/McGregor

Communion Anthem: Prepare the way of the Lord Triple Canon

Prepare the way of the Lord, and all people will see the salvation of our God. Alleluia.

Communion Meditation: Psalm 137: By the Waters of Babylon, (on a melody by Claude Goudimel), by: Marie-Louise Girod (1964)

Communion Hymn: 344 Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing

Recessional Hymn: People Look East, (below to cut and paste)

Postlude: Sortie in D, by: César Franck

Music Notes

by: Ashley Sosis

I’ll admit it, the new Sanctus is as tricky to sing as it is beautiful. There is a reason behind that. It is based on a choral motet for an SSATTB choir by Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612). The motet is in Latin and based on John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” The opening four and a half measures of the Sanctus line up with the words in Hassler’s piece, “Verbum caro factum est” which mean “the word was made flesh”, which have a lovely poetic connection with Advent , Christmas and Epiphany as well as the Eucharistic prayer which happens just after the Sanctus in every service. A great recording of “Verbum caro factum est” is by Schola Cantorum Nürnburg, under the Spektral label. It can be purchased online for a mere ninety-nine cents!