Celebration of Worship

Transcription

1 Celebration of Worship May 1, 2011 The Second Sunday of Easter 9:15 and 11:00 a.m. * If you are able, please stand Arriving worshipers may be seated. WELCOME (Please sign and pass the friendship pad, found in the pew, to the person next to you.) SACRED CONCERTO Ich Bin Die Auferstehung Dietrich Buxtehude Ich bin die Auferstehung und das Leben, I am the resurrection, and the life; wer an mich glaubet, der wird leben, he that believeth in me, ob er gleich stürbe, though he were dead, yet shall he live; und wer da lebet und glaubet an mich, and whosoever liveth and believeth in me der wird nimmermehr sterben. shall never die. Alleluia. Alleluia *CALL TO WORSHIP The Reverend Dr. David J. Smazik Hear the good news of God s love written in scripture, embodied by our Lord Jesus and believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and through faith in him we have life. *HYMN 115 Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain St. Kevin Come, ye faithful, raise the strain of triumphant gladness; God hath brought forth Israel into joy from sadness; Loosed from Pharaoh s bitter yoke Jacob s sons and daughters, Led them with unmoistened foot through the Red Sea waters. Tis the spring of souls today; Christ has burst His prison, And from three days sleep in death as a sun hath risen; Now rejoice Jerusalem, and with true affection Welcome in unwearied strains, Jesus resurrection PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison) Chaplain Linda Gaden (9:15) The Reverend Cynthia J. Alloway (11:00) God of light and truth, in Jesus Christ you give us life with you. Forgive us for lurking in the shadows of our sinfulness; for seeking fellowship apart from your Spirit; for shading the truth, or lying outright; for building our lives on the shakiness of our own strength. Draw us once more into your marvelous light, O God, through your forgiving love.

2 Help us to trust in Christ s victory over sin and death, that we may live righteously and abundantly in the fullness of communion with you and all your people. Amen. ASSURANCE OF PARDON RESPONSE TO ASSURANCE OF PARDON Recitativo and Aria from Cantata 42 Recitative Johann Sebastian Bach Mann kann hiervon ein schön Exempel sehen an dem, was zu Jerusalem geschehen; denn da die Jünger sich versammelt hatten im finstern Schatten, aus Furcht für denen Jüden, so trat mein Heiland mitten ein, zum Zeugnis, dass er seiner Kirche Schutz will sein. Drum lasst die Feinde wüten! One can here observe a fine example In that which happened in Jerusalem; For when the Disciples had gathered themselves together In dark shadows, Out of fear of the crowd, my Savior appeared in the midst of them as testimony that He will be the protector of His Church. Let the enemy rage! Aria Jesus ist ein Schild der Seinen, wenn sie die Verfolgung trifft. Ihnen muss die Sonne scheinen mit der güldnen Überschrift: Jesus ist ein Schild der Seinen, wenn sie die Verfolgung trifft. Jesus is the shield of His people, when their pursuers overtake them. On them, the Sun must shine as with this golden inscription:

3 Jesus is the Sign for His own, when they meet their persecutors. PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION (Unison) Living God, help us so to hear your holy Word that we may truly understand; that, understanding, we may believe, and, believing, we may follow in all faithfulness and obedience, seeking your honor and glory in all that we do; through Christ our Lord. Amen. FIRST SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 16 (Old Testament, page 469) This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. ANTHEM Movement from "An Easter Sequence" Kenneth Leighton Introit Alleluia! Alleluia! Rejoice to God our helper: Sing aloud to the God of Jacob. GOSPEL READING: John 20:19-31 (New Testament, page 108) This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. ANTHEM Movement from "An Easter Sequence" Kenneth Leighton Gradual Alleluia! On the day of my resurrection, saith the Lord I will go before you into Galilee. After eight days, the door being shut, Jesus stood in the midst of his disciples, and said: 'Peace be to you.' Alleluia. SERMON A Surprise Visit Dr. Smazik HYMN 510 Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts Quebec Jesus, Thou Joy of loving hearts, Thou Fount of life, Thou Light of men, From the best bliss that earth imparts, We turn unfilled to Thee again. Thy truth unchanged hath ever stood; Thou savest those that on Thee call;

4 To them that seek Thee Thou art good, To them that find Thee all in all. We taste Thee, O Thou living Bread, And long to feast upon Thee still; We drink of Thee, the Fountainhead, And thirst our souls from Thee to fill. Our restless spirits yearn for Thee, Wherever our changeful lot is cast; Glad when Thy gracious smile we see, Blessed when our faith can hold Thee fast. O Jesus, ever with us stay, Make all our moments calm and bright; Chase the dark night of sin away, Shed over the world Thy holy light. OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS TO GOD OFFERTORY Movement from "An Easter Sequence" Kenneth Leighton Offertory An angel of the Lord descended from heaven and said to the women: 'He whom ye seek is risen, as he said.' Alleluia. *RESPONSE (from Hymn 542, Tallis Canon) Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. DEDICATION OF OFFERING SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION INVITATION TO THE TABLE GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.

5 Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. It is indeed right, our duty and highest joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to you, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God. You created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. You made us in your own image; and in countless ways you show us your mercy. Above all we praise you for the glorious resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. He is the true Passover Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. By his death he destroyed death, and by his rising brought us eternal life. Therefore with angels and archangels and the whole company of heaven, we worship and adore your glorious name, praising you forevermore: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Therefore, remembering his incarnation and holy life, his death and glorious resurrection, his ascension and continual intercession for us, and awaiting his coming again in power and great glory, we claim his eternal sacrifice and celebrate with these your holy gifts the memorial your Son commanded us to make. Great is the mystery of faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Merciful God, by your Holy Spirit bless and make holy both us and these your gifts of bread and wine,

6 that the bread we break may be a communion in the body of Christ, and the cup we bless may be a communion in the blood of Christ. Here we offer ourselves to be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to you. In your mercy, accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, as, in communion with all the faithful in heaven and on earth, we ask you to fulfill, in us and in all creation, the purpose of your redeeming love. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen. WORDS OF INSTITUTION DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS (To signify our oneness in Christ, worshipers are asked to hold the bread until everyone has been served. The cup may be drunk as soon as it is received, indicating our individual relationships with Christ.) COMMUNION ANTHEM Movements from "An Easter Sequence At The Communion The Lord is my Shepherd, therefore can I lack nothing. He shall feed me in a green pasture, and shall lead me forth beside the waters of comfort. He shall convert my soul, and shall bring me forth in the paths of righteousness, for His Name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me. But Thy loving kindness and Thy mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Alleluia I am the good shepherd, I know my sheep, and my sheep know me. Alleluia. Kenneth Leighton COMMUNION PRAYER

7 THE LORD S PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen. *HYMN 108 Christ Is Alive! Truro *BENEDICTION Christ is alive! Let Christians sing. The cross stands empty to the sky. Let streets and homes with praises ring. Love, drowned in death, shall never die. Christ is alive! No longer bound to distant years in Palestine, but saving, healing, here and now, and touching every place and time. Not throned above, remotely high, untouched, unmoved by human pains, but daily, in the midst of life, our Savior in the God-head reigns. In every insult, rift, and war where color, scorn or wealth divide, Christ suffers still, yet loves the more, and lives, where even hope has died. Christ is alive, and comes to bring good news to this and every age, till earth and sky and ocean ring with joy, with justice, love, and praise. BENEDICTION ANTHEM Movement from "An Easter Sequence" Sortie God is ascended, God is ascended in Jubilee and the Lord in the sound of the trumpet, Alleluia! Rejoice to God our helper; Kenneth Leighton

8 Sing aloud to the God of Jacob. The congregation is requested to remain seated during the concluding anthem. If you must leave, please do so respectfully. Leading worship in the services today at 9:15 are the Reverend Dr. David J. Smazik and Chaplain Linda Gaden, and at 11:00 a.m., the Reverends Dr. David J. Smazik and Cynthia J. Alloway. The music is under the direction of James D. Hicks, Director of Music Ministries. The musicians participating in today's services of worship are: Violins Baritone Sopranos Organist Ruo Tao Mao Scott Gothe Elise Figa James D. Hicks Nancie Lederer Rachel Capizzi Julie Ramseyer Deborah Fallon Viola James Burnham Violoncello Marnie Kaller About today's music: Dietrich Buxtehude ( ) was organist at St. Mary's in the north German town of Lubeck and was the most influential composer for the church in the latter part of the seventeenth century. Justly famed for his "Evening Concerts", a series of programs that were so acclaimed that the youthful J.S. Bach walked two hundred miles to experience them, Buxtehude's contribution to the choral, organ and chamber music was unrivaled in his generation. His style is often quite dramatic and consistent with the improvisatory practices of the time. Abrupt pauses are juxtaposed with quick figurations, heightened by a rich and, occasionally, dissonant harmonic language. The sacred concerto performed today is typical of Buxtehude's often extravagant style, particularly in the composer's penchant for colorful text painting and abrupt tempo changes. Johann Sebastian Bach ( ) is thought by many artists to be the unquestionable master of the musical art. Bach enjoyed a multi-faceted career in the venues available to him during this life: composing and performing for the aristocratic courts, churches, universities and in the communal life of the towns and cities in which he lived. Although he is perhaps best known to us as the author of such works as the "Brandenburg Concertos", "St. Matthew Passion" and "The

9 Well-Tempered Clavier", it is, perhaps, in his cycle of cantatas for the church year, that most comprehensively demonstrate on an incredible vast canvas (over three hundred cantatas composed for every imaginable event of the Liturgical Year), the richness of his ideas, the theological nature of his orientation, his talent for writing for differing voices and instruments and his unique mastery of the contrapuntal art. The two sections heard today from Cantata 42 show Bach's expressive use of text in the recitative and the joyful nature of his Christian belief in the aria. The latter is marked by the dueling parts of the violins in tandem with a richly melismatic challenge for the baritone. Kenneth Leighton ( ) ranks as one of the most respected British composers who lived in the second half of the twentieth-century. Despite a relatively brief life, Leighton produced an impressively comprehensive body of works for a variety of media, including three symphonies, many concerti, chamber music (he was famed as a pianist), an opera about the Celtic St. Columba and many compositions for piano, organ and choirs. His music is distinguished by an often stunning sense of intensity, energy and lyricism, influenced by such diverse composers as Bartok, Vaughan Williams and Walton. Leighton spent most of his career teaching at Edinburgh University but was born in the northern English city of Wakefield. As a boy, he sang in the cathedral choir there and it was this experience that inspired him to make a significant contribution to twentieth-century liturgical music. "An Easter Sequence" is a fine example of his art. Composed in 1969 for Berkshire boy choristers, it was premiered that year on Low Sunday (the Sunday after Easter) in St. Serverin, Paris. Scored for two-part high voices, trumpet and organ, the text concerns itself with familiar themes of the Resurrection. Leighton's setting reflects the joyful message of the text in its flourishes of fanfare and syncopated rhythms, often balanced by serenely rocking lyrical sections. The organ is an equal partner to the voices and Leighton writes exuberant solos for it which feature a swirling bell-like oscillation.