Holy Eucharist Rite II at 10:30 a.m. sung by the Adult Choir, sermon by the Rev’d Hope Eakins.
Worship at Home:
Click here: Service Bulletin – Sermon Text
Subscribe to St. John’s podcasts at PodcastPeople or on iTunes
Service Music:
Voluntary Choral-Improvisation on Vom Himmel hoch (From heaven above) Sigfrid Karg-Elert (1877-1933)
Prelude on Comfort, comfort ye my people Paul Manz (1919-2009)
Processional Hymn 59 Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding Merton
Kyrie S-89 James McGregor, after Hans Leo Hassler
Canticle of Zechariah Blessed be the God of Israel Merle’s Tune
Sequence Hymn 65 Prepare the way, O Zion Bereden väg för Herran
Offertory Anthem O radiant dawn James MacMillan (b. 1959)
O Radiant Dawn, Splendour of eternal Light,
Sun of Justice:
come, shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death.
Isaiah had prophesied,
‘The people who walked in darkness have seen the great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.’
Amen.
This piece comes from the Strathclyde Motets, communion motets setting words of the liturgy for various Sundays and feasts. “O Radiant Dawn” is an antiphon for 21st December, the text (in English) is one of the “O Antiphons” which are used in the season of Advent.
Sanctus S130 Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Fraction anthem S164 Jesus, lamb of God Franz Schubert
Communion Motet O magnum mysterium Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611)
O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum jacentem in praesepio. O beata Virgo, cuius viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Jesum Christum. Alleluia.
O great mystery and wonderful sacrament, that beasts should see the new-born Lord lying in a manger. O blessed virgin, whose body was worthy to bear the Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia.
Tomás Luis de Victoria was the most famous composer in 16th-century Spain, and was one of the most important composers of the Counter-Reformation, along with Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina and Orlando di Lasso. Victoria was not only a composer, but also an accomplished organist and singer as well as a Catholic priest. However, he preferred the life of a composer to that of a performer.
Hymn in Procession 67 Comfort, comfort ye my people Psalm 42
Voluntary Toccata in F Dieterich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
