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!