Sunday, February 15th, 2015

Rite II, Last Sunday after Epiphany

Themes from the Readings: The transfiguration

Prelude: Fantasy on “Hyfrodol” by: Hal Hopson

Processional Hymn: 401 The God of Abraham Praise

Gloria: S280, Powell

First Reading: 2 Kings 2:1-12

Psalm: Psalm 51:1-6

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:3-6

Before the Gospel: 137 O wondrous type! O vision fair, Stanzas 1 and 2

Gospel: Mark 9:2-9

After the Gospel: 137 O wondrous type! O vision fair, Stanzas 3-5

Offertory Anthem: O Thou the Central Orb, by: Charles Wood

O Thou the central orb of righteous love,

Pure beam of the most High, eternal Light

Of this our wintry world,Thy radiance bright

Awakes new joy in faith, hope soars above.

Come, quickly come, and let Thy glory shine,

Gilding our darksome heaven with rays Divine.

Thy saints with holy lustre round Thee more,

As stars about Thy throne, set in the height

Of God’s ordaining counsel, as Thy sight

Gives measur’d grace to each, Thy power to prove.

Let Thy bright beams disperse the gloom of sin,

Our nature all shall feel eternal day,

In fellowship with Thee, transforming day

To souls ere while unclean, now pure within. Amen.

Doxology: Hymn 380, stanza 3

Holy: S125, Proulx

Communion Anthem: Prayer for Transfiguration Day, by: John Weaver

O God, in the glorious transfiguration of Christ, your Son, you have confirmed the mystery of the faith by the apostles. In the voice that came from the bright cloud you proclaimed him to be your Son, and told us to heed his teachings. O God, make us heirs with Christ, in his glory forevermore, Alleluia. Amen.

Communion Meditation: Fughetta no. 11 by: Josef Rheinberger

Communion Hymn: 383 Fairest Lord Jesus

Recessional Hymn: 400 All creatures of our God and King

Postlude: Pavilioned in Splendour, by: Richard Lloyd

Music Notes by Ashley Sosis:

Few biblical events lend themselves as well to being portrayed by music as the Transfiguration. As you read today’s Gospel passage, can’t you hear a “movie score” underneath the action? Certainly, there would be brilliant chords with supporting dissonances and mountain-shaking pedal-tones as Christ’s garments start to glow and Elijah and Moses appear. (Of course, I think immediately of organ music!)

The two choral pieces included in today’s service are among my favorite, for their striking texts and in for way the music makes us picture of the glimmering brightness of Christ’s Transfiguration. Two lines from those anthems we can carry with us into Lent, “O God, make us heirs with Christ, in his glory forevermore”, and “Let Thy bright beams disperse the gloom of sin, our nature all shall feel eternal day, in fellowship with Thee, transforming day, to souls ere while unclean, now pure within.” AMEN!