Third Sunday of Lent
This weekend, Pastor Sandberg is discussing the concept of giving as an act of obedience towards God. Obedience is difficult to define in this context, and Pastor Sandberg and I talked about it a lot. We came to the conclusion that in this case, we are invited by God to our obedience. God is not a dictator in this case, ordering us to be obedient, but rather opening himself up to us, inviting us to be obedient. In Martin Luther's Small Catechism, he begins by describing each explanation with the phrase, "We should fear and love God..." Though I'm sure that "fear" meant something different than we may perceive it today, it can still be applicable if we perceive it as having respect for God, his Son, and the sacrifice made for us. Obedience is a small price to pay for that gift.
Our music this week puts an emphasis on discipleship, devotion, and community as we worship and commune together in obedience to God.
PRELUDE
Sheep May Safely Graze- J.S. Bach, arr. Sharon Elery Rogers (Bells of Praise)
The source of this piece is an aria from Bach's Cantata, BWV 208. The English title of the soprano aria is "Sheep May Safely Graze," but the music of this lovely aria has taken on a fame of its own.
Its form is identical to an even more famous aria, "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring." The piece is based around a ritornello with a distinctive rhythmic motive. After those 8 bars, the actual tune enters in the mid to upper bells. This melody continues to interweave through the texture as it goes into the B section. The opening is recapitulated at the end (as usual), and the piece ends with a distinctive Bach cadence.
OPENING HYMN
Lord, You Give The Great Commission
When I explored the idea of obedience, one of the first concepts that came to mind was a commission from God. Each stanza talks about a specific aspect of God's commission... v. 1- compassion, v. 2- Baptism, v. 3- communion, v. 4- love and stewardship, v. 5- assurance.
Each of these verses is ended with a brief refrain: "With the spirit's gifts empower us for the work of ministry." This is all set to the tune ABBOT'S LEIGH, an 8787D triple time tune. The key to the success of this tune is to think of it in one. If it is sung in three, it drags significantly and removes all of the life from it.
HYMN OF THE DAY
Let Us Ever Walk With Jesus
This hymn and its translation does an admirable job of trying to put us in Jesus' footsteps. Each stanza begins with a petition to put us in a position Jesus was in... "Let us ever walk..." "Let us suffer here..." "Let us gladly die..." and "Let us also live..." Following Jesus' example in a literal way is not healthy or even possible.
There are certain lines in this hymn that just exemplify what I think the meaning of obedience is here. "...let us do our Savior's bidding," "...we are your own living members; where you live, there we shall be..." and "Jesus, let me faithful be..." are all statements of obedience and devotion.
OFFERING
Ave Verum Corpus- W.A. Mozart (Chancel Choir)
Awhile back, the website Choralnet had discussion about a "perfect" piece of choral music. Does such a thing exist? Whether it exists or not, Mozart's Ave Verum Corpus was at the top of a lot of lists. In only 46 measures, Mozart has crafted a work of profound beauty, with an attention to this Latin text that is truly Heaven-sent.
The text describes the body of Jesus, born of the virgin Mary, which suffered and was sacrificed on the cross for us. His side was pierced, and blood flowed. This action should be for us a foretaste of our own deaths.
By using certain melodic and harmonic motives, Mozart paints this text beautifully on such words as "sanguine" (blood), and "mortis" (death).
I don't personally believe in the earthly existence of "perfection," but this piece certainly comes close.
COMMUNION HYMN
All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly
I've talked a lot about Sylvia Dunstan on this blog as being one of the finest hymn writers of the 20th century. She died of cancer at the age of 38, which was obviously far too soon, but thankfully we were left with a wonderful legacy.
This hymn is all about our unity as a congregation. We come from far and wide, whether it be from restlessness, wilderness, or loneliness, to celebrate Communion together. We who were all lost and scattered gather around the communion table.
CLOSING HYMN
Jesus, Keep Me Near The Cross
We don't sing enough Fanny Crosby hymns. While some of her hymns are criticized as being overly sentimental or "mushy," she has also produced dozens that are inspirational and uplifting.
Even in this Lenten hymn, we are inspired to experience the glory of God in the shadow of the cross. We've all been in the position that we hear in stanza two. It is a wonderful example of how the light and love of God can shine on us and bring us back to a better place in our lives.
POSTLUDE
Prelude in F Major- Dietrich Buxtehude
After hearing Wartburg student Colleen play the music of Nicolaus Bruhns last week, I was inspired to play one of his contemporaries, Dietrich Buxtehude. Buxtehude's output was much larger than that of Bruhns, and at times, the rhythmic motives and harmonic progressions rival that of Bach in their complexity and intrigue.
This F major Prelude has an intriguing time signature change, moving from duple to triple meter for a brief section in the middle. The texture changes as well, becoming more homophonic, or chordal. It returns to duple meter at its conclusion. The conclusion may seem sudden, but that may be because the fugue which follows this prelude is not being played this morning.
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