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Worship Notes As we mark the near-centrum of this Lenten season with a special gathering together, we recall Martin Luther’s declaration that “next to the word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world.” Or perhaps Hans Christian Anderson establishes tonight’s mood with “where words fail, music speaks.” In this hour together, we move from the light of day toward the dusk of evening through scripture, Holy Communion, prayer and music. Each and every element of this experience was selected with you in mind. Metaphor abounds - from 66 candles in the front of the sanctuary, to text painting in hymns and provides the watchful participant an opportunity to be fully immersed. Take a moment. Pause. Reflect on what that “still small voice” may be whispering to you this evening, recognizing the role of darkness and light in this day, in this hour, and in this season of Lent. The music of 20th century English composer Herbert Howells begins our Choral Evensong. Listen for the melody unfolding on the reed and flute stops of our recently-restored pipe organ. The string sounds crescendo to a resolute climax before the ultimate return to aural eventide. Written in 1940, one might imagine that Howells penned this prelude while his nation was in the midst of tumult and destruction, seeking solace in the ancient text of the Psalms. The hymn “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” includes text by Isaac Watts and music – the tune name of St. Anne – likely by William Croft who served as organist at St. Anne’s Church in SoHo (London). Watts was a contemporary of Methodism founder John Wesley, and is buried just across the street from Wesley Chapel, where John served as clergy, in London. Charles Villiers Stanford lived from 1852 to 1924 and came from a high-society family, unlike the workingclass family of Howells. Like Howells, Stanford had a long-standing relationship with the Royal College of Music at which his students included Gustav Holst (perhaps best known for composing The Planets for orchestra and chorus) and Ralph Vaughan Williams (whose varied output also includes hymns in the Methodist hymnal). Interestingly, Howells was a musical teacher for Gustav’s daughter Imogen, and recalled one of his most poignant moments as sitting next to Vaughan Williams at a concert as a young man. Stanford’s setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis illustrates the remarkable tradition of sacred writing for chorus and organ in England. Traditionally, this music would be sung by a choir of men and boys, with the unchanged boys voices serving to sing the treble voice parts. 1
The Communion Anthem is a setting of the famous text “If ye love me” by contemporary composer Philip Wilby. Although not one of the most well-known composers of the 20th or 21st centuries, Wilby’s output is most closely associated with repertoire for brass ensembles. As you receive the bread and cup – and pause to light a candle in prayer – allow the music of chorus and pipe organ to spill over you. This congregation’s pipe organ is equally at home in most genres and periods of music, but it especially shines with this setting by Wilby. Our Hymn for Parting features music that first appeared in a collection assembled by Arthur Sullivan – of Gilbert and Sullivan fame. The pastoral tune is charming and sing-able, simple in the best of ways, and was selected by Queen Victoria to be sung at the 60th anniversary celebration of her reign. If you allow yourself a moment, the text is strikingly relevant today, as its message is to each generation since its composition. The “church, unsleeping” and God’s “throne shall never, like earth’s proud empires, pass away” are omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent. Belgian composer and organist Joseph Jongen was a child prodigy, attending musical Conservatory at the age of seven and beginning his music composition just six years later. Perhaps one of the greatest works for organ and orchestra, Symphony Concertante, was written by Jongen in 1926 for the Wanamaker pipe organ – located in the Wanamaker department store, Philadelphia – and orchestra. It took more than eight decades before the work would be heard on the instrument for which it was intended. Today’s postlude by Jongen begins with subdued strings but unfolds to a musical apex both in volume and performing forces from the organist’s color palate. As you depart, consider how Choral Evensong may have touched your mind tonight. How were your emotions stirred through this encounter? What spiritual experience might you have witnessed through the beauty of music? We hope that you appreciate the beauty of Choral Evensong and will return for weekly worship in this space on Sunday mornings.
Michael Pettry Director of Music
Lenten Choral Evensong March 19, 2017 | 6:00 p.m.
Welcome to Plainfield United Methodist Church. In this Inaugural Season of the PUMC Concert Series, we plan to offer varied experiences. As the founder of our Methodist “movement,” John Wesley, was an Anglican Priest, we worship this evening with the most particularly Anglican service in Christian worship, Evensong. It is a carefully planned and prepared form of prayer, praise, and worship, originating from the monastic hours. Prelude
Psalm-Prelude, Set Two, Number Two Herbert Howells
Yea, the darkness is no darkness with Thee, but the night is as clear as the day: the darkness and light to Thee are both alike. ~ Psalm 139:11 Welcome & Greeting
Preces
Sung by Officiant and Choir
O Lord, open Thou our lips. And our mouth shall show forth Thy praise. O God, make speed to save us. O Lord, make haste to help us. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be; world without end. Amen. Praise the Lord. The Lord’s name be praised. * Hymn of Praise 117 O God, Our Help In Ages Past
(*) asterisk indicates time for persons, who areresponse. able, to stand Bold text indicates congregational
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Psalm 95
Old Testament Reading
Exodus 17:1-7
From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried out to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” 3
Magnificat
Charles Villiers Stanford Adult Choir
New Testament Reading
Romans 5:1-11 (NRSV)
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Nunc Dimittis Charles Villiers Stanford
Adult Choir
Silent Prayer
Collect Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Communion Leader: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Leader: Lift up your hearts. People: We lift them up to the Lord. Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People: It is right to give our thanks and praise. Leader: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth. In love you made us for yourself; and when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, your love remained steadfast. You bid your faithful people cleanse their hearts and prepare with joy for the Easter feast, that, renewed by your Word and Sacraments and fervent in prayer and works of justice and mercy, we may come to the fullness of grace that you have prepared for those who love you. And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
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All:
Leader: Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ, whom you sent in the fullness of time to redeem the world.
He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in our likeness.
He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.
He took upon himself our sin and death and offered himself, a perfect sacrifice for the sin of the whole world. By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit. On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:
“Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:
“Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith. 5
All:
Leader: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and cup. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet. Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever. All:
The Lord’s Prayer 895 Leader: So now, with all the confidence of children of God, we pray the prayer which our Lord Jesus taught us to pray together, saying: People: 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Communion Anthem
If Ye Love Me Philip Wilby Adult Choir
Prayer Leader: Let us pray. People: Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
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* Hymn for Parting 690
The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended
* Benediction
* Postlude
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“Choral� from Four Pieces for Organ
(*) asterisk indicates time for persons, who are able, to stand
Joseph Jongen