Sunday afternoon

And Bach's Saint Matthew Passion on TV. What better could one ask for on a Sunday afternoon?

Earworm inspires question

One of the lyrics we sang last week was:
Oh, Lord of Lords, how majestic is your name o'er all the earth. Oh, Lord, we praise your name. We magnify your name. Prince of Peace, Mighty God, how majestic is your name, oh Lord! King of kings and Lord of Lords for ever and ever Hallelujah. And he shall reign for ever and ever. Oh, Lord, our God!
Over and over and over and over for 5 minutes. Needless to say it has become a persistent earworm.

I'm not a fan of "praise" music. I wonder why we should praise Jesus at all. Or even Godde for that matter. They are who or what they are and seem to not need reinforcement. Thanks, yes, but adulation of the names?

My opinion of the Bible is that it is a go and do manual for living successfully in community. Should we be standing around getting carried away by pounding rhythms and redundant melodies or should we be out taking care of others?

Marian McPartland

There is a lovely interview with the jazz pianist and host of Piano Jazz at The Episcopal Cafe.

You can hear the concert at Trinity Wall Street here.

A Festival of Lessons and Carols

Christ Church
Meadville, PA
Sunday, 14 December 2008

VOLUNTARY
‘Christmas’ Concerto in G - Arcangelo Corelli
Vivace—Grave
Vivace
Allegro
Largo—Pastorale

Greensleeves - Ralph Vaughan Williams

PROCESSIONAL HYMN: Once in Royal David’s City - Irby
v. 1: Soloist, vv. 2-6: Choir & Congregation
(printed in the bulletin)

THE BIDDING PRAYER

INVITATORY HYMN 56 (vv. 1, 3, 5, 7) - Veni Emmanuel

FIRST LESSON: Genesis 3, An Acolyte
CHOIR: Adam Lay Ybounden - William Witherup
HYMN 105 - God Rest You Merry

SECOND LESSON: Isaiah 9, A Lay Reader
CHOIR: Make We Merry - K. Lee Scott
HYMN 100 - Antioch

THIRD LESSON: Isaiah 11, A Lay Eucharistic Minister
CHOIR: Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming - Michael Praetorius
HYMN 89 (vv. 1, 2, 4) - Carol

FOURTH LESSON: Micah 5, A Choir Member
CHOIR: Thou Shalt Know Him - Mark Sirett
HYMN 78 (vv. 1, 3, 5) - Forest Green

FIFTH LESSON: St. Luke 1, A Lay Reader
CHOIR: A Maiden Most Gentle (French Carol tune) - Andrew Carter
HYMN 265 - Gabriel’s Message

SIXTH LESSON: St. Luke 2, The Organist and Choirmaster
CHOIR: Lullay Myn Lyking - Richard R. Terry
HYMN 111 - Stille Nacht

SEVENTH LESSON: St. Luke 2, The Junior Warden
CHOIR: The Shepherds’ Farewell - Hector Berlioz
HYMN 96 (vv. 1-3) - Gloria

EIGHTH LESSON: St. Matthew 2, The Senior Warden
CHOIR: One Gift the Magi Bore - Glenn Rudolph
HYMN 109 (vv. 1, 2, 3, 5) - The First Nowell

NINTH LESSON: St. John 1, The Officiant
CHOIR: A Modern Medieval Carol - Colin Mawby
HYMN 83 (vv. 1, 3, 6) - Adeste fideles

THE COLLECT & THE BLESSING

RECESSIONAL HYMN 87 - Mendelssohn

ORGAN VOLUNTARY
Toccata on Veni Emmanuel - Adolphus Hailstork

We had a string quartet, a flutist and an organist friend who played the harp on the electronic keyboard in addition to our organist/choirmaster, our choir, a rent-a-tenor from the Presbyterians and a deacon who also sang as she was a member of the choir before being assigned to another parish and finally ordained in November.

Musicians will understand that the items in italics are hymntunes, not the title of the hymns. All are from the Hymnal 1982.

And the photo is of one of our lanterns all of which our Junior Warden cleaned yesterday. He installed fluorescent bulbs which are providing significantly more light. Thanks, GK!

The Passion of Joan of Arc

This is a sampler of the "concerts" the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh is doing this afternoon and on the 21st as part of the Three Rivers Film Festival at the Regent Square Theater. Coordinating the orchestra at the front of the small hall with half the choir at the back with the film will be interesting. My half of the choir sings the 2nd concert. The film was made in 1928 or so. Richard Einhorn wrote Voices of Light to accompany the film.