20th Sunday After Pentecost
Over the last several lectionary weeks, Jesus has been teaching us about what is most valued in the eyes of God. That is, children, marriage, family values, and others. This week, he encounters a rich man who was in search of how to be rewarded with eternal life. Despite claiming to have followed all the commandments his whole life, Jesus tells him that he needs to sell what he owns, give the money to the poor, and he will then have treasure in heaven.
This disappointed the man and confused the disciples who were watching. Jesus then said one of his more famous phrases, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:25) He then assures his disciples that all of them, and anyone who has left their houses and families in his name, will be rewarded with eternal life.
PRELUDE
Be Thou My Vision- Katherine Jordahl Larsen (Bells of Praise)
Bells of Praise joins us again with the prelude this week. In addition, Jennifer Wipperman will join them on flute for this beautiful duet based on the tune SLANE, most notably associated with the hymn Be Thou My Vision.
The percussive, yet lyrical nature of handbells correlate beautifully with the mellow, smooth sound of a flute. While the flute plays primarily an ornamented version of the tune, the bells punctuate with traditional harmonies and interludes. This piece also helps to continue helping the bell choir evolve, playing pieces that ask for more advanced techniques such as bell switching.
OPENING HYMN
Be Thou My Vision
The lineage of this text traces back to Saint Dallan Forgaill, an early Irish poet from the 6th century. This poem was not translated into English until 1905, where 7 years later, it was set into verse form in order to be set to the Irish folk tune SLANE. The versification of the hymn combined two verses into one larger verse. For example, the first two verses of the English translation are...
Be thou my vision O Lord of my heart
None other is aught but the King of the seven heavens.
Be thou my meditation by day and night.
May it be thou that I behold even in my sleep.
The versification of these two verses by Eleanor Hull are as follows (slightly altered in our ELW)...
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
Be all else naught to me, save that thou art;
Thou my best thought in the day and the night,
Both waking and sleeping, thy presence my light.
The Irish folk tune SLANE, like many other hymn tunes, had no religious connection until it was set to this text and placed in the English Hymnal. "Slane" refers to Slane Hill, which is an important historical landmark in Irish history dating back to the 5th century.
HYMN OF THE DAY
God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending
This hymn is a commentary on the gifts God gives us, and our ways of attempting to thank and return these gifts. The second line lists just a small example of these gifts... "nature's wonder, Jesus' wisdom, costly cross, grave's shattered door." Due to these gifts, we then turn back to God, offering ourselves up, raising thankful songs and praise.
In stanza two, we interestingly take up a lot of responsibility, citing our skills and time as ways we are able to pick up and take over the goals of Jesus. We still ask for God's help and guidance as we continue on, asking God to help us realize the potential in the talents that he has given us.
In the concluding stanza, we continue to see a mix of both thankfulness for our treasures and gifts received in order to do God's work, as well as a petition to "heed Christ's ageless call," as we go forth healing, teaching, and reclaiming, serving God by spreading God's love throughout the world.
CHORAL ANTHEM
Agnus Dei- William Byrd
Rather than singing the traditional "Lamb of God" from Setting Four of the ELW, the Chancel Choir will be singing a polyphonic Latin setting of the same text, composed by English composer William Byrd.
Like the traditional Lamb of God, it is a three part text. The first two parts are identical, "Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis." "Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us." The third part keeps the same beginning, replacing the end with "dona nobis pacem" "grant us peace." Additionally, each petition gradually grows in texture, beginning primarily with two voices, and then evolving to include three, and finally four full voices.
COMMUNION HYMNS
Take My Life, That I May Be
This quintessential Offertory hymn by the father/daughter duo of William and Frances Havergal shows us offering ourselves, our hands, our voices, our riches, our will, and our love to God. It is the ultimate hymn of generosity and giving to God as thanks for everything we have.
It is an example of a trust and guidance being placed in God we wouldn't or shouldn't be willing to place in anyone else. Through the language in this hymn, we are doing just as what Jesus instructed us to do, that is, give of our whole selves, our time, our money, and our possessions, to God.
When The Poor Ones
Through all the trouble in the world, there is comfort. After all the war in the world, there can be peace. With all the hatred in the world, there can be love abounding. Through it all, God is constantly watching over us. That is what this song is all about. Set to a Latin American folk tune that is rhythmic and singable, it reminds us that God is certainly omniscient and omnipresent.
CLOSING HYMN
Let Justice Flow Like Streams
In three concise stanzas, Jane Parker Huber captures some very important themes of social justice and righteousness. Huber, who died in 2008, was an important female figure in theology and hymnody throughout the late 20th century. The justice and peace that pervades this hymn is clearly indicative of these inclusive beliefs.
POSTLUDE
Les Cloches (The Bells)- Nicolas Lebegue
Les Cloches is a beautiful example of early program music for the organ. In this piece, the effect of the pealing and ringing of bells have been achieved so skillfully that they cannot be mistaken for anything else.
There is a very good chance that Louis Vierne's "Carillon de Westminster" might have very will been inspired by this piece. While that piece is certainly indicative of the sound of bells, its technical difficulties make it inaccessible to all but the most skilled of performers. On the other hand, this piece, which is constructed from the simplest diatonic material, suggests all the massive power and clashing of overtones of real bells, but is written in such a way that it is accessible to just about anyone.
Agnus Dei- William Byrd
Rather than singing the traditional "Lamb of God" from Setting Four of the ELW, the Chancel Choir will be singing a polyphonic Latin setting of the same text, composed by English composer William Byrd.
Like the traditional Lamb of God, it is a three part text. The first two parts are identical, "Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis." "Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us." The third part keeps the same beginning, replacing the end with "dona nobis pacem" "grant us peace." Additionally, each petition gradually grows in texture, beginning primarily with two voices, and then evolving to include three, and finally four full voices.
COMMUNION HYMNS
Take My Life, That I May Be
This quintessential Offertory hymn by the father/daughter duo of William and Frances Havergal shows us offering ourselves, our hands, our voices, our riches, our will, and our love to God. It is the ultimate hymn of generosity and giving to God as thanks for everything we have.
It is an example of a trust and guidance being placed in God we wouldn't or shouldn't be willing to place in anyone else. Through the language in this hymn, we are doing just as what Jesus instructed us to do, that is, give of our whole selves, our time, our money, and our possessions, to God.
When The Poor Ones
Through all the trouble in the world, there is comfort. After all the war in the world, there can be peace. With all the hatred in the world, there can be love abounding. Through it all, God is constantly watching over us. That is what this song is all about. Set to a Latin American folk tune that is rhythmic and singable, it reminds us that God is certainly omniscient and omnipresent.
CLOSING HYMN
Let Justice Flow Like Streams
In three concise stanzas, Jane Parker Huber captures some very important themes of social justice and righteousness. Huber, who died in 2008, was an important female figure in theology and hymnody throughout the late 20th century. The justice and peace that pervades this hymn is clearly indicative of these inclusive beliefs.
POSTLUDE
Les Cloches (The Bells)- Nicolas Lebegue
Les Cloches is a beautiful example of early program music for the organ. In this piece, the effect of the pealing and ringing of bells have been achieved so skillfully that they cannot be mistaken for anything else.
There is a very good chance that Louis Vierne's "Carillon de Westminster" might have very will been inspired by this piece. While that piece is certainly indicative of the sound of bells, its technical difficulties make it inaccessible to all but the most skilled of performers. On the other hand, this piece, which is constructed from the simplest diatonic material, suggests all the massive power and clashing of overtones of real bells, but is written in such a way that it is accessible to just about anyone.
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