Worship Music: Advent I 2007

It was the week that was: I missed a day at the beginning of the week with a stomach ailment. I was over it pretty quickly, but I was playing catch up the rest of the week. So instead of a preview of the music from this morning, here's a review!

To help us set a contemplative tone for Advent, FirstLight did away with our usual sung music set at the beginning of worship. We opened worship with a dramatic reading of the genealogy of Jesus from Matthew 1. Clay H. did a super job of naming the names, and was ably assisted by Barbara F. and Annie H. The reading proceeded through the names, but paused at the mention of each of the women in the history: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Mary. These phenomenal women had hard lives (read about in Genesis 24, Joshua 2, Ruth and Matthew 2), and thereby epitomized for the worship planners the “troubling times” we are seeking to plumb during this season. The reading was accompanied by equally mesmerizing drumming by Andy G. We explored the notion that through the troubled lives of these women, God was yet at work, bringing about our salvation in the birth of Jesus the Messiah. (Here's a shout out to Deke in Roanoke, VA and Eric W in A'ville who in various ways helped me create this element of worship.) We used the Korean worship song, “Come Now, O Prince of Peace” as the first song for worship, to set a contemplative tone for the reading. The Gateway youth did a sacred dance as our response to forgiveness following the confession. Caroline P. had done a wonderful job choreographing this piece, and coaching the dancers; it truly stirred the soul in just the right way! For our Advent wreath ceremony this year, we are using characters from the Bible to light the candle. Today Heather P. and Lizzie W. conveyed to us the message and meaning of the prophecy of Isaiah. Following the proclamation, the Prophets introduced us to the song “He is our peace,” which suited the message and season quite well. Instead of one of our more familiar Doxologies, we began using today the Iona song, “Glory and gratitude and praise,” a decidedly upbeat and exuberant song for our worship. During communion we sang the Taize song “Eat this bread,” with the soloists taking the verses. Finally we ended the service with the ever-popular “King of kings and Lord of Lords.” We were counting on high-energy participation from the crowd on that song, and we got it! Cecil J. wanted to shake Perrin T.'s hand after worship, but was worried his might get singed from Perrin, because of the heat he generated playing the last song! We ran late, as we hoped we wouldn’t but knew we would, but no one seemed to care. The spirit in worship today was a beautiful thing. Music, message, youth and adults and a powerful sense of the presence of the Spirit made for a wonderful service.

At 11 AM worship began with a word of appreciation from Sandee H. regarding her ministry in Columbia, SC. BMPCNC gave a sizable chunk of change to that ministry earlier in the fall. Sandy and some of the kids were in town for the weekend, and visited with us to say thanks, and to let us see what that ministry is all about. They brought the house down with the "Jubilee Creed;" you guys ROCK!!! The adult handbells rendered a mighty fine performance of Cynthia Dobrinski’s setting of “Lo how a rose e’er blooming.” Libby B. filled out the arrangement by playing the flute part. It was a sublime beginning to worship. We used the same dramatic reading of the Matthean genealogy at this service, this time with Ken S., Jr., Betsy M. and Annie H. covering the speaking parts, and Andy G. again on drum. We used the Korean song at this service also, and enjoyed Heather and Lizzie as wreath lighters at 11 also. At the readings David S. soared through a great performance of “Comfort Ye” and “Every Valley” from “Messiah.” The vocal flourishes helped us appreciate the good news of the comfort provided in the coming of the Messiah. At the offering the choir blew us away with a gutsy rendition of “And the glory of the Lord” also from Messiah. There was a decided thaw amongst the “frozen chosen” as shouts of “amen!” and applause rang out on the last chord! We used the Iona “Glory and gratitude and praise” at this service also, a rousing statement for the congregation to sing in response to the choir’s offering and in response to a stirring of the Spirit in our midst. Congregational hymns at this service included “O come, O come Emmanuel” (Veni Emmanuel) and Come, thou long-expected Jesus” (Hyfrydol). The choir sent us out the shouts of “King of kings and Lord of Lords” in our heads; it didn’t have quite the gusto as at FirstLight, but I’m betting by next week, the whole congregation will thrill to singing us home with that song! The organ postlude was supposed to have been Ralph Vaughan Williams setting of ‘Hyfrydol.” The music must have gotten lost in the move; we enjoyed a festive improvisation on that tune instead!

What a breadth of music today. We had global worship music (The Korean song); we had music in the modern contemplative tradition (Taize and Iona); we had a contemporary ballad, and a rousing contemporary chorus. You had to attend 11 AM to get the complete picture but we continued with an ancient chant melody (O Come, O Come Emmanuel), classic English hymnody, the best of bell ringing, and the classics ably represented by the venerable Mr. Handel. Add the Jubilee Creed and we had rap no less! It was one of those days that makes it difficult for me to go to sleep: so many, many memorable tunes and images running through my head, and my heart filled in thanksgiving for the musicians and other worship leaders who brought it together for our worshiping congregation. Somebody say "Amen!"