From the Rector A warm welcome awaits you at Immanuel Church on the Green in historic New Castle, Delaware, a parish church that has extended a message of Christian hope to our community and beyond for 329 years. As an Episcopal Church, Immanuel on the Green is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. We emphasize God s continuing presence in our lives through the Liturgy and Sacraments, and the spiritual unity of the Church in all times and in all places. We are catholic in our worship, honoring the fullness of Christian tradition as we seek to worship God with care and dignity; but we are reformed in our thinking, always questioning, studying, and wrestling with Scripture, Tradition, and the issues of our day. We believe that the worship of God demands the very best we can offer, intellectually, musically, and artistically. At the same time, we are committed to serving the communities around us, in our own neighborhood and beyond. Together, we work to develop and share the habits, skills, and attitudes that enable us to grow and serve others as disciples of Jesus Christ. Whether your presence with us is regular or occasional, slight or extensive, our prayer for you is that God will be with you to uphold you in love and establish you in peace. Faithfully in Christ, The Rev d Christopher P. Keene Rector
From the Parish Musician "Music is no invention of ours, wrote the great reformer and theologian Martin Luther; it is a gift of God. I place it next to theology. Music has the ability to communicate spiritual realities that cannot be expressed in words; so it s no surprise that we find music at the very center of our encounter with the Divine. At Immanuel on the Green, music is an essential component of our worship, and a constant source of spiritual refreshment and inspiration. This brochure details some of the many opportunities to enjoy and be uplifted by God s gift of music, as it finds expression in the life and worship of Immanuel on the Green; you are always welcome to join us! Jack Warren Burnam Choirmaster and Organist
Immanuel Choirs Immanuel Church is blessed with a rich musical life, and understands the musical offerings of both choir and congregation to be an integral part of worship. Our liturgies incorporate a wealth of musical styles, from the classical Anglican repertory to more recent American and international works, including several commissioned anthems. The twenty-voice Immanuel Choir, made up of skilled volunteer singers supported by a core of professional staff singers, prepares and offers a challenging repertoire of anthems and service music at each Sunday Eucharist, at monthly Choral Evensong, and at special services throughout the year. The Ross Treble Choir, named in honor of Immanuel s first rector, offers boy and girl choristers valuable vocal training and music instruction at no cost, along with important life lessons in commitment, discipline, and teamwork, in weekly rehearsals and through regular participation in services. Membership in the Ross Choir is open to all young people age eight and up; choristers do not need to be members of Immanuel, and no prior experience is required or expected. More information may be had by contacting the choirmaster, Jack Burnam, through the parish office. Immanuel is an affiliate of the Royal School of Church Music in America, and subscribes to that organization s principles and programs to train singers and foster excellence in the Church s music.
The Immanuel Consort Services Immanuel s early music ensemblein-residence offers chamber performances of vocal and instrumental works by J. S. Bach and his contemporaries, played on Baroque instruments, and taking advantage of the warm acoustical ambience and intimacy of our Colonial-era church. All concerts are open to the public, with no charge for admission, and all are followed by a reception. More information on the Immanuel Consort, including further program details as they become available, may be found on the parish website, immanuelonthegreen.org. Sundays 8 am & 10 am Church School at 9:45 am Choral Evensong September through April Second Sunday of the Month at 4 pm May 20, 2017 At A Day in Old New Castle For more information please visit our website immanuelonthegreen.org or call the Parish Office (302) 328-2413 Sunday, January 21, 2018, 4 pm Sunday, April 22, 2018, 4 pm
Coral Evensong Choral Evensong is the sung service of Evening Prayer, based on the Vespers service of the Medieval English Church. This distinctively Anglican service in the majestic traditional language of the Book of Common Prayer has been a principal element in the pattern of Anglican/Episcopal worship since the sixteenth century. In Choral Evensong most of the service is sung by the choir, drawing on a rich centuries-old repertoire of great choral music composed specifically for this service. Different in style and pace from our Sunday morning service, Choral Evensong provides a contemplative setting in which to meditate on Scripture and prayer, through music and in silence. The brief forty-five-minute service frequently is followed by food, drink and friendly conversation at an informal candlelight reception in the Academy, next to the church. Choral Evensong is offered at Immanuel on the Green at 4 pm the second Sunday of each month during the program year, except in the seasons of Advent and Passiontide, when special choral services are featured in place of Evensong. All services begin at 4 pm October 8, 2017 The Immanuel Choir Music of Richard Shephard, Leo Sowerby, William Mundy November 12 The Ross Treble Choir Music of Peter Aston, Malcolm Archer, C.H.H. Parry December 10 The Immanuel Combined Choirs A Service of Lessons and Carols for Advent Music of J.S. Bach, Elizabeth Poston, Richard Lloyd, Franz Biebl & others January 14, 2018 Guest Choir The Choristers of Church of the Holy Comforter; Vienna, Virginia February 11 The Ross Treble Choir Music of T. Tertius Noble, Herbert Sumsion, Jack Warren Burnam March 11 The Immanuel Choir A Meditation on the Passion of Our Lord: Music of Frank Ferko, Alec Wyton, R. R. Terry, Peter Tchaikowsky, Antonio Lotti April 8 Women of the Immanuel Choir Music of Malcolm Archer, Maggie Burk, Sarah MacDonald, Johannes Brahms May 19 (Saturday) The Immanuel Choir A Day in Old New Castle Music of Peter Aston, Philip Radcliffe, William Byrd
Special Services & Musical Events October 2017 1 10 am The Feast of Dedication Choral Eucharist* Palestrina: Missa Aeterna Christi munera 8 4 pm Choral Evensong* Immanuel Choir November 2 7 pm All Faithful Departed (All Souls) Choral Eucharist* Gabriel Fauré: Requiem 5 10 am All Saints Sunday Sung Eucharist* 13 4 pm Choral Evensong* Ross Treble Choir 21 7 pm Ecumenical Community Thanksgiving Service 23 10 am Thanksgiving Day Sung Eucharist December 10 4 pm Advent Lessons & Carols Immanuel Choirs 24 Christmas Eve 5 pm Family Eucharist Ross Treble Choir 11 pm Choral Eucharist* George Malcolm: Missa ad Praesepe 25 10 am Christmas Day Choral Eucharist* Plainsong: Missa Marialis January 2018 6 7 pm The Epiphany Sung Eucharist* 14 4 pm Choral Evensong* Guest: The Choristers of Church of the Holy Comforter; Vienna, Virginia 21 4 pm Concert by The Immanuel Consort *with incense
February 2 7 pm Candlemas* Procession & Choral Eucharist Harold Darke: Communion Service in F 11 4 pm Choral Evensong* Ross Treble Choir 14 7 pm Ash Wednesday Liturgy Imposition of Ashes, Eucharist 18 4 pm Lent I Great Litany in Procession & Choral Eucharist Adrian Batten: Communion Service in A 25 10 am Choral Eucharist Guest: Cathedral Choir School of Delaware March 11 4 pm Meditation on the Passion of Christ Immanuel Choir 25 10 am Palm Sunday Procession of Palms, Dialogue Passion Triduum: 29 7 pm Maundy Thursday Liturgy June July 3 10 am Corpus Christi Choral Eucharist* Harold Darke: Communion Service in E 22 10 am Choral Eucharist Ely Cathedral Pilgrimage Choir Palestrina: Missa Aeterna Christi munera *with incense April 30 7 pm Good Friday: Sung St. John Passion, Adoration of Cross, Communion 31 7 pm Great Paschal Vigil* New Fire, Lessons, Baptisms, Eucharist of the Resurrection 1 10 am Easter Day Festal Eucharist 8 4 pm Choral Evensong* Women of the Immanuel Choir 22 4 pm Concert by The Immanuel Consort May 10 7 pm Ascension Day Choral Eucharist* Herbert Sumsion: Communion Service in F 19 4 pm A Day in Old New Castle Choral Evensong* Immanuel Choir 20 10 am Day of Pentecost Sung Eucharist *with incense
Change-ringing Bells Immanuel s tower is home to a set of six change-ringing bells, one of only forty-one sets of such bells in North America. The bells were custom-cast in an English foundry, and range in size from 175 to 420 pounds. Change-ringing bells are played by a team of ringers, each bell being rung by a single member of the team. Change-ringing bells do not play melodies, but instead are rung in precise but constantly varying mathematical patterns, each bell sounding once before the first bell rings again. The jubilant sound of Immanuel s bells may be heard following nearly every Sunday or Feast Day service, as well as on special occasions such as weddings or national holidays.
The Rev d Christopher P. Keene, Rector Mr. Jack Warren Burnam, Choirmaster & Organist 50 Market Street New Castle, DE 19720 Parish House: 100 Harmony Street Photography courtesy of Bruce Burk and Anthony Cortada