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.