3rd Sunday of Easter
We are celebrating two important occasions in our services this week. First, in the third Sunday after Easter, we continue to recognize the resurrection of Jesus and the reactions of those whom he touches. This week, Jesus shares a meal with his disciples, and he describes his suffering, death, resurrection, and the meaning behind them as shown in the scriptures.
Interestingly enough, these two elements comprise the bulk of our Sunday morning services as seen in the fourfold pattern of worship that we follow: Gathering, Word, Meal, and Sending.
This Sunday, we are also recognizing World Malaria Day. St. Paul's has a strong commitment to the neutralization and elimination of malaria, and we will be taking time to acknowledge St. Paul's contributions.
HYMNS AND SONGS
With High Delight Let Us Unite (Opening Hymn- 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM)
Who is "us?" It could very well be us in the congregation. We are certainly grateful for the risen Christ setting us free forever. It could also be the disciples. Amongst the confusion and doubt that filled Thomas and the other disciples last week, they are beginning to come to the realization that their leader has returned and is there to guide them.
Despite the German sounding name Georg Vetter, the composer of this hymn was actually born in and spent most of his life in Prague, with the birth name Jiri Strejc. Mr. Strejc was a long-time minister at a church in Moravia, and spent the majority of his career advancing and advocating for the singing of vernacular language hymns in the church. While we see no direct descent of his influence in our psalmody today, his contributions to psalmody in Eastern Europe should certainly not be ignored.
In fact, this hymn is a very loose paraphrase of Psalm 138. Translated most of the time as "Sing Praise To God Who Reigns Above," in our ELW it bears a new translation made in the 20th century. The tune is a traditional tune from the Bohemian Brethren's Church Chants. He adapted the tune from his direct paraphrase of Psalm 138 in his psalter.
We All Are In One Mission (Hymn of the Day- 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM)
Near the end of the Gospel reading for this Sunday, Jesus calls his disciples to embark on a mission of spreading the news of repentance and forgiveness. This call to discipleship is passed on to us, and we profess the news of this "single great commission" through the singing of this hymn.
Rusty Edwards is a rather well known minister and hymn writer, still as active today as he has been his entire career. After receiving his M.Div from Luther Seminary in 1985, he went on to earn a doctorate in theology from Notre Dame, and now serves as senior pastor at Christ Lutheran Church is Moline, Illinois.
Not only is this hymn appropriate for the mission that we are called to act on by Christ, but it could also be tied to the malaria mission of St. Paul's. This hymn contains a wonderfully unifying message in the middle of stanza two. Pastor Edwards states, "Our ministries are different, our purpose is the same: to touch the lives of others with God's surprising grace, so every folk and nation may feel God's warm embrace." Whether it is working to eradicate malaria or any other goal the church strives to reach, it is all done in the name of God.
Will You Let Me Be Your Servant (Communion Hymn- 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM)
Much like our Hymn of the Day, this is another late 20th century hymn of servanthood and mission. Unlike "We All Are One In Mission," which is a strong text that proclaims the unity and togetherness of our congregation as Christians, this hymn, while still employing themes of unity, is ultimately a prayer for strength and guidance that we may be able to guide ourselves and each other on the paths of servanthood.
The Church Of Christ In Every Age (Communion Hymn- 9:00 AM)
Continuing on the theme of unity, this hymn brings together the entire world together. Whether it is across the world or merely across the street, there are victims of injustice crying out for food, shelter, and cures for afflictions (such as malaria).
Stanza three contains a partial solution to these problems. The servant church, a caring church that longs to be a partner in Christ's sacrifice, seeks to rise to the occasion and serve their community with all their hearts, minds and souls.
Stanza four in particular brings a lot of close attention to the plight of malaria sufferers. Malaria, of course, is a blood transferred disease; stanza four mentions the blood of Christ, which was shed for our sake, and asks for it to cure the fever in our blood (appropriately, a high fever is a common symptom of malaria).
CHORAL ANTHEM
We Who Once Were Dead (Communion Anthem- 9:00 AM)
For a large portion of the spring, I have been working with the Chancel Choir on the concept of hymnal literacy. I always say that the ELW is the Bible for the church choir (this is true in more than one way, given how many hymns are based on scripture), and we continue to delve deeper into lesser known hymnody, particularly the ones that are new to our now only 7 year old hymnal.
Much like our opening hymn today, this could easily be heard through the voices of the disciples. The "dead" that they are referring to is not at all their physical death, but rather the death of Jesus manifest in their souls. Through the resurrection of Jesus, the disciples found that piece of life inside of all of them that was missing, and they recognize his gifts to them
Of the remaining stanzas, some are sung directly to Jesus (vv. 2, 4, 6) and others are more reflective of the sacrifice he made (vv. 3, 5). The stanzas are divided up amongst the men and the women, as well as varied in their dynamics.
Three South African Freedom Songs (Offering- 9:00 AM)
Friends of The Lord will be joining us for the final time of the year this week in worship. All of these songs grew out of the apartheid tradition of South Africa. When prisoners were contained, all they had to keep themselves united as a people were songs. These songs should not only fill us with peace and joy, but they should also draw attention to the struggles that the continent of Africa still goes through today.
The three songs that Friends of the Lord will be singing are, "Freedom is Coming," a song that has become closely tied with the defeat of apartheid, "Singabahambayo," a song being sung by a group about the embark on an important journey of mission (think disciples), and finally "Haleluya! Pelo tsa rona!," a heart filled thanksgiving to Jesus for the gift of the Eucharist.
Friends of the Lord learned these songs in the traditional style of learning by rote, that is without music. Their eyes have never seen the music for these songs, and they've done a wonderful job at quickly picking up the pronunciation and meaning of the South African language.
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Nos. IV and V from Kleine Praeludien- Hermann Schroeder (Prelude- 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM)
No. VI from Kleine Praeludien- Hermann Schroeder (Postlude- 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM)
Hermann Schroeder (1904-1984) was a German composer and Catholic church musician. Being both German and from the 20th century, his compositional style is born out of the late romantic German style of the great composers such as Gustav Mahler (who was actually Austrian) and Richard Wagner.
His Six Short Preludes are wonderful pieces with a lot of color and variety. Schroeder's compositions are strong in counterpoint, with extended tonalities delving mainly into half step motion. No. IV is in the style of a Polish mazurka, with the three four rhythm and light jaunt. No. V is a three part invention cast in C minor. The work is neo-Baroque, that is, it uses an old style of composition (invention) with a new harmonic style and contrapuntal motion. Finally, No. VI is a three part piece, set in an ABA form. The A sections contain rapidly moving thirds with a lot of the aforementioned half step motions and harmonies. The B section contains a good deal of counterpoint and imitation through a variety of key areas.
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