3rd Sunday After Epiphany
We have come a long way since the birth of Jesus a couple of weeks ago. Jesus is now a young man, and he is beginning to expand his ministerial efforts. He approaches a group of fishermen and calls to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." The fishermen immediately drop their nets and join Jesus in his ministry.
Mark's account of this story seems rather abrupt in its telling. It seems illogical to think that these men would look at Jesus, look at each other, shrug their shoulders, drop their nets and take off. I would think that it may have taken a little more convincing to persuade these men to leave the jobs and their families. Perhaps it was a slow fishing day and they were bored. Yes, I joke... but if it were true that it was that simple for the future disciples to join Jesus, I don't think the impact of Jesus' charisma and and his commitment can possibly be overstated.
As Jesus' ministry continues to take shape over the next few weeks in our lectionary, we will be singing a lot about discipleship and our own calls to ministry.
HYMNS AND SONGS
Rise, Shine, You People! (Opening hymn: 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM)
I have been wanting to program this wonderful hymn by Ronald Klug several times this entire Epiphany season. While it is appropriate throughout several seasons, beginning at Christmas and extending to Palm Sunday, Easter, and beyond, I felt that it was most appropriate this week at the unofficial start of Jesus' ministry.
In hymnody, we talk a lot about text matching with music. In the very first line of this hymn, we run into a problem. In the first line, the music indicates that the text accompanying it should be, "Rise, shine, you people, Christ the Lord has entered..." The music leaves a space for a lift here. But if the musical element is removed and the text is spoken, we see that the phrase in its entirety is "Rise, shine, you people, Christ the Lord has entered our human story." It's unfortunate that the music does not allow for this text to be completely reflected, but it is still evident and clear if some thought is put toward it.
Stanza three could very well be sung by the disciples to each other after they are recruited. The phrase "To all the world go out and tell the story of Jesus' glory," fits this description, but is also a call to our own discipleship.
Like a large number of other hymns, "Rise, Shine" closes with a Trinitarian statement. The Father sends his Son to save us, the Son brings light and freedom to give us, and the Spirit calls from every nation God's new creation. The one element that is open to interpretation here is what exactly the "new creation" is. Is it referring to Jesus? That may be the most obvious, but I would like to suggest that this "new creation" actually refers to the concept of discipleship. Notice the use of the verb "calls" in the previous line, "Tell how the Spirit calls from every nation..." From every nation, disciples are being called, and I do think without Jesus, the Son, there may not be any calls to discipleship at all, hence the "new creation."
You Have Come Down To The Lakeshore (Hymn of the Day: 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM)
Over the last several weeks, I have gained a renewed interest in Latin American hymnody. Even without my interest, this would still be an ideal hymn of the day for this Sunday in the lectionary. Both its original Spanish version and the translated version are in the first person, being sung by a disciple, as in the line, "On the sand I have abandoned my small boat, now with you I will seek other seas." It brings a sense of identity to the hymn that is very individualistic and powerful. Many hymns are written with a collective worship community in mind, using the words "we," "our," and others that indicate a large group of people or worshipers. By presenting this with an individual focused, it adds a new, personal dimension to a call to discipleship.
Textually, there isn't really that much that is open to interpretation. The translation by Madeleine Marshall, much like the original Spanish, is very straightforward and understandable. Again, this creates a very powerful way for every listener to identify with the words being sung and allowing them to feel a deeper call to discipleship that all of the future disciples faced.
Jesus Calls Us O'er The Tumult (Communion Hymn: 9:00 AM)
This is another hymn which serves as an important call to discipleship. Where the previous hymn puts the focus on the individual, this hymn by Cecil Alexander puts the focus back on to the community. At the conclusion of stanza one we hear the call clearly, "Christian, follow me."
St. Andrew, referred to in stanza two, was one of the fishermen which Jesus approached at the lake. We hear an account of that meeting in stanza two, demonstrating how he and all the disciples turned away from their homes, work, and families, all for Jesus' sake.
The remainder of the stanzas puts the focus back on to us. We are called to ignore vanity and false idols, and join in the love of Jesus through all our joys, sorrows, pain and toil, so that we may serve him to our highest abilities.
Let Us Talents And Tongues Employ (Closing Hymn: 7:45 AM, Communion Hymn: 9:00 AM)
This fun hymn by Fred Kaan, set to a traditional Jamaican folk tune, puts the sharing of our gifts in the context of communion. Stanzas two and three are where the meat of the message is. At the Eucharist table, he teaches us to live, bless, and love in word and deed, to send us out into the world. Even though the world can be full of doubt and worry, Jesus gives us love to tell, read to share, and the power to spread the love and grace of God everywhere.
Though the Eucharist is a focus of this hymn, I feel that it has an equal place at a non-Eucharist service, such as this Sunday at 7:45. At the beginning of stanza three, we hear the message, "Jesus calls us in, sends us out bearing fruit in a world of doubt." Like all of our other hymns today, this is a wonderful way to leave the service and be sent out into the world.
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Linstead Market- Mark Sedio (Prelude- 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM)
The name of this tune, Linstead Market, is named as such because the tune just sounds like something you would hear on the street or in the marketplace of a Jamaican neighborhood. This organ arrangement takes that to the next level, infusing this composition with Latin rhythms surrounding a straight forward statement of the tune.
Toccata on "Rise, Shine"- David Cherwien
The organ compositions by David Cherwien are known for, among other things, their extreme difficulty. His toccatas, in particular, are known for having an amazingly high level of virtuosity. While David wrote many of his toccatas with his own talent in mind, these compositions, if practiced, can be played by a lot of organists. It goes beyond virtuosity though, as this toccata does a wonderful job at expressing and depicting this text with its celebratory, victorious quality.
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