11am Choral Eucharist, Sunday, April 22nd, 2018

Choral Eucharist for The Fourth Sunday of Easter

Themes from the readings: We are commanded to love one another to the point of laying down one’s life; Be joyful in God, all ye lands; If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments.

Processional Hymn: 495 Hail, thou once despised Jesus! (In Babilone)

Gloria: S280, Powell

First Reading: 1 John 3:11-24

Psalm: Psalm 66:1-8, Tone V.3

Choir: Bless our God, who holds up our souls in life. Hallelujah!

1. Be joyful in God, all you lands;*

sing the glory of his Name;

sing the glory of his praise.

2. Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!*

because of your great strength

your enemies cringe before you.

3. All the earth bows down before you,*

sings to you, sings out your Name.”

4. Come now and see the works of God,*

how wonderful he is in his doing toward all people.

5. He turned the sea into dry land,

so that they went through the water on foot,*

and there we rejoiced in him.

6. In his might he rules for ever;

his eyes keep watch over the nations;*

let no rebel rise up against him.

7. Bless our God, you peoples;*

make the voice of his praise to be heard;

8. Who holds our souls in life,*

and will not allow our feet to slip.

Bless our God, who holds up our souls in life. Hallelujah!

Before the Gospel: Alleluia 7

Choir: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Choir and People: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Choir: “I will not leave you as orphans.” Alleluia!

“I will come to you.” Alleluia! -John 14:18

Choir and People: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Gospel: John 14:15-21

Offertory Anthem: If Ye Love Me, by: Philip Wilby

Choir: If ye love me, keep my commandments,

and I will pray the Father,

and He shall give you another Comforter,

that He may abide with you forever; E’en the Spirit of truth.

And ye know Him, for he dwelleth with you,

and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless.

I will come to you. -John 14: 15-18

Doxology: Hymn 380, stanza 3

Holy: S125, Proulx

Communion Anthem: This Joyful Eastertide, by: Charles Wood

Choir: This joyful Easter-tide, away with sin and sorrow!

My Love, the Crucified, hath sprung to life this morrow.

Had Christ that once was slain, ne’er burst His three-day prison,

Our faith had been in vain: but now hath Christ arisen.

My flesh in hope shall rest, and for a season slumber:

Till trump from east to west shall wake the dead in number.

Death’s flood hath lost his chill, since Jesus cross’d the river:

Lover of souls , from ill my passing soul deliver.

Communion Meditation: “Prelude in E”, By: Richard White

Recessional Hymn: 379 God is Love, let heaven adore him (Abbot’s Leigh)

Postlude: ”An Exultant Alleluia!”, By: Lani Smith

Music Notes

By: Ashley Sosis

Cyril V. Taylor composed ABBOT’S LEIGH during WWII, in May of 1941, when he was working for the Religious Broadcasting Department of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The BBC had received complaints about the use of AUSTRIA (the tune for the Austrian national hymn, and now the German National Anthem) during this time of war. Thus, Taylor originally composed his tune as an alternative to using AUSTRIA. First printed in a leaflet, ABBOT’S LEIGH was published in Hymns Ancient and Modern Revised (1951), and the BBC Hymn Book (1951), of which Taylor was editor. ABBOT’S LEIGH was named for a village near Bristol, England, where Taylor composed the tune (Bristol was wartime headquarters for the BBC). We are glad to have this tune for today’s closing hymn!