Pentecost 2019

We went with something of a variation on a theme this year. We've used toile hung from the ceiling in the sanctuary before, but it was more abstract, from point to point.

This year I used a central nexus for the fabric, so the long pieces shot off in various directions. It was hard to get the rack centered and level at height, but the end effect was fine.

We also used toile for the lectern and pulpit paraments, and one of our member's large stained glass made a return appearance.

In the fellowship hall I went with a single strip of toile from ceiling to floor, and then laid more fabrics on top of it to continue under the table all the way to the lectern/podium.

Fabric strips on the table puddled on the floor. The idea was to symbolize the flame engulfing all of the liturgical furniture.

Others' Pentecost Visuals

We are deeply appreciative to the Herricks for our beautiful cut-paper Pentecost installation. This year also enjoyed a fabric parament installation created by Martha Jane Peterson. Here are a couple of other Pentecost artistic interpretations.

This piece was at Bon Air Methodist Church in Richmond:


This installation was at Tabernacle Baptist also in Richmond.

Music for Worship

FirstLight
Gathering Song
Veni sancte spiritus (Taize)

Opening Song
Spirit, Spirit of gentleness

Offertory
Jesus Messiah

Doxology
Give thanks

Communion
Responses by Leon Roberts
Distribution: Taste and see

Closing Song
Sweet, sweet spirit

11AM
Hymns
129, Come, O Spirit, dwell among us (EBENEZER)
321, Holy Spirit, truth divine (SONG 13)

Introit
Taize, Veni sancte spiritus

Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow (with Alleluias)
LASST UNS ERFREUEN

Music during Communion
Responses by Leon Roberts
Distribution: Michael Bedford, Now to praise the name of Jesus (Chancel Choir)
Now to come before the table, now the Spirit from above;
Bread and wine in fullest measure, prayers ascending as a dove:
Alleluia, alleluia, gracious Savior, we are sanctified in love.
James Moore, Taste and see

Benediction Response
Akers, There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit (PH 398)

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude: Ahrens, Variations on Veni Creator Spiritus
Offertory: William Dawson, Every time I feel the Spirit
Josh Manuel, bass soloist
Postlude: Titelouze, Veni Creator Spiritus

This week the cut paper banner for Pentecost will be reinstalled. Also the pulpit parament for Pentecost is a woven piece, "Why Not Become All Flame," by Martha Jane Peterson. This work was recently featured in the "On Art" section of The Christian Century with an analysis by Lois Huey-Heck.

Pentecost: The bells, the bells

I am not sure what stirred the idea, but I wanted Pentecost to be characterized musically this year by bells. I used most of the bells sounds I could think of and which were available to me to create an aural metaphor for the presence of the Holy Spirit. We used the Taize "Veni sancte spiritus" as the first song in worship at both services. To begin I employed a mark tree; after several seconds I added several unpitched bells (from India). Kids and choir singers handled those elements. Next came upper handbells, suspended and rung with a mallet; then we added the lower bells in a random ring; these were all rung by our adult handbell ringers. Slowly the bells settled into the rhythm and notes of the Taize piece. Finally, the choir and song leaders joined the refrain, inviting the congregation to do the same. Superimposed over that were the verses, sung by a soloist. All the while, the bells kept up their various patterns. I think it was fairly effective. For the organ prelude, I did several of the variations on "Veni Creator Spiritus" by Joseph Ahrens. For the last variation, you guessed it, I turned on the zimbelstern on the organ. The bell sonority was complete!