11am Choral Eucharist, Sunday, December 17th, 2017

Rite II, Third Sunday of Advent

Themes from the Readings: Peter proclaims Jesus as the Messiah, not David; the Lord shall dwell in Zion, and the lineage of David shall sit on the throne; John the Baptist says “He must increase, I must decrease”

Sermon Title: The Thrill of Hope

Prelude: “Noel” by: Henri Mulet

Processional Hymn: 61 “Sleepers, wake!” A voice astounds us (Wachet Auf)

Trisagion S102, Archangelsky

First Reading: Acts 2:29-36

Psalm: Psalm 132:10-18, Hallock

All: Arise, O Lord, into your resting place.

You and the ark of your strength.

Choir: 9. Let your priests be clothed with righteousness;*

let your faithful people sing with joy.

10. For your servant David’s sake,*

do not turn away the face of your Anointed.

All: Arise, O Lord, into your resting place.

You and the ark of your strength.

11. The Lord has sworn an oath to David;*

In truth he will not break it:

12. “A son, the fruit of your body*

will I set upon your throne.

All: Arise, O Lord, into your resting place.

You and the ark of your strength.

14. For the Lord has chosen Zion;*

he has desired her for his habitation:

15. “This shall be my resting-place for ever;*

here will I dwell, for I delight in her.”

All: Arise, O Lord, into your resting place.

You and the ark of your strength.

Gospel Hymn: 73 The King shall come when morning dawns (St. Stephen)

Gospel: John 3:22-30

Sermon Hymn: "Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery"

Offertory Anthem: O Savior, Rend the Heavens Wide, by: Hugo Distler

Choir: O Savior, rend the heavens wide!

Come down with mighty stride;

Unlock the gates, the doors break down;

Unbar the way to heaven’s crown.

Doxology: Hymn 380, stanza 3

Holy: S125, Proulx

Communion Anthem: Rise up! Rise Up! By Johann Walther

Choir: Rise up, rise up!” The watchmen cry to eager voices.Wake up from sleep; the Lord is nigh in whom your heart rejoices. Fling wide the door; your hope let soar; your Savior greet. With great joy sing praises sweet.

Communion Meditation: “Verset Temps de Noël”, By: Lucien Guittard

Recessional Hymn: 57 Lo! he comes, with clouds descending (Helmsley)

Postlude: Sortie on a Swiss Noel by: Cesar Franck

Music Notes By: Ashley Sosis

Today’s choral anthems are by German composers Hugo Distler and Johann Walther. Hugo Distler (1908-1942) was a twentieth century composer, organist and choral conductor active in Lubeck, Stuttgart, and Berlin. Because Distler’s compositional style features fluid Rennaissance-style counterpoint you might mislabel him as a composer from a much earlier era!

You may have also noticed the delightful little French Noels for Organ that pepper today’s service. Because French Noels are usually in a minor key and a fast tempo, they suit themselves very well to an Advent service more than a service at Christmas. I have seen a French Noel with an initial expression marking in French that translated to, “fast and sinister”. Needless to say, I’ve never played it in the context of worship.