Please join the children in singing
from Lutheran Service Book, Hymn 411
In Him there is no darkness at all.
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Liturgical Variations: Understanding Liturgical Worship, Part III
Micah over at Variations on a Liturgical Theme has posted his latest installment of Understanding the Liturgical Worship Service.
Topics include:
For those who don't quite understand the sacramental nature of Absolution, it is important to remember that the pastor is not the one who absolves, but Christ himself. The pastor stands in the place of Christ as His representative. As the TLH Order of Holy Communion and LSB (Divine Service, Setting Three) state,
Those words, "in the stead," let us know that Jesus is present here in the proclamation. The words "by the command" let us know that these are not the pastor's words but the very Word of Christ Himself.
Though he will shed My precious blood,
Topics include:
- Confession
- Absolution
- Introit (Latin for "Entrance")
Before we enter the presence of God we must be pure. Thus we confess, or acknowledge, to Him who and what we are: sinners. We are honest- knowing He already knows our sinful condition- but confident of His forgiveness and mercy.
This is where the pastor, on behalf of Christ, announces to all that they are absolved, or forgiven of their sins. Many Protestants struggle with this, however Jesus says in Matthew 16:19, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you free on earth shall be freed in heaven," (translated by yours truly) and in John 20:23, "If you forgive the sins of anyone, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." (NIV)
For those who don't quite understand the sacramental nature of Absolution, it is important to remember that the pastor is not the one who absolves, but Christ himself. The pastor stands in the place of Christ as His representative. As the TLH Order of Holy Communion and LSB (Divine Service, Setting Three) state,
...in the stead and by the command
of my Lord Jesus Christ
I forgive you all your sins
in the name of the Father
and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
Those words, "in the stead," let us know that Jesus is present here in the proclamation. The words "by the command" let us know that these are not the pastor's words but the very Word of Christ Himself.
Hymn of Confession
From depths of woe I cry to Thee,
In trial and tribulation;
Bend down Thy gracious ear to me,
Lord, hear my supplication.
If Thou rememberest every subm
Who then could heaven ever win
Or stand before Thy presence?
Hymn of Absolution
Jesus speaks to us in this hymn.
In the first line, "he" refers to Satan.
Though he will shed My precious blood,
Me of My life bereaving,
All this I suffer for your good;
Be steadfast and believing.
Life will from death the vict'ry win;
My innocence shall bear your sin
And you are blest forever.
LSB 556, Stanza 8
The tune from LSB 508
is also associated with this text.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Deacon Dulas on Epiphany
Deacon Jerry Dulas, member of ELDoNA, submits this article on the Epiphany of Our Lord, offering an historic perspective on the day and the season.
In the ancient eastern lands, when a king would come to visit one of his cities, they would be welcomed with all due honor and pomp. There would be much feasting and revelry. Special gifts and privileges would be granted to certain individuals. It was an expensive and lavish event that was entirely paid for by the king himself by his own decree. These festive visitations became to be known as "theophanies" or "epiphanies" -- "an appearance of a god." It was as if a divine being had come to earth himself.
In our dear Lord Jesus, we find the true Epiphany. The One True God appears to us in our flesh. Our King Jesus has come to earth, and laviously bestowed upon us great gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation. And we enjoy those gifts, through our feasting and joyful celebration of our dear Lord's arrival.
This reality is portrayed for us in the Gospel reading for the day, which is the visitation of the Magi from the East. The Magi arrive rejoicing, and bestow gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh upon our dear Lord Jesus, and they bend the knee before Him in worship and adoration. Such is our example, this is why historically, during the Gospel reading, the whole congregation genuflects at the words "and they fell down and worshipped Him."
In this Feast is the zenith of the Christmas cycle. From here on our eyes will slowly be focused toward the cross and Easter. This is portrayed in the historic practice of announcing the dates of the movable feasts on this day after the Gospel reading by the Celebrant. Following is an example:
The Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord begins this journey to Easter by filling us with a theme of light. This is portrayed in the star that led the Magi from the East. The light comes from the East, the place of the dawn, and the seat of God's revelation. This is why the altar is spoken of as residing in the East, even if it isn't oriented that way, the altar is the liturgical East; it is the place where God sheds His light of grace upon us.
The star which rises from the East, leads the Maji to Judea. According to some ancient Fathers, this star was the Holy Ghost appearing as a star, in the same way that He revealed Himself as a dove. Other ancient Fathers, consider this star an angel of the Lord, sent specifically to the Magi to lead them to our Savior. Still others consider it an actual star specifically created to announce the birth of God in the flesh.
Whatever this star was, it was the light that led Gentiles, as by means, to the Savior. This is why Epiphany has always had an evangelical nature. The texts for this season, call all peoples out of darkness, into the Saving Light. Jesus reveals Himself, or manifests, or enlightens Himself, to the whole world, at the Temple as a boy, in the waters of His Baptism, at the wedding at Cana--His first miracle--through the healing of the leper and the Centurion's servant, through the calming of the wind and the waves, and as the eternal judge between wheat and tare on the Last Day, Jesus reveals that He is the God who dwells in man's flesh. And at His Transfiguration, He fully manifests that He is the true Light of the World as His clothes shine like no fuller* on earth could launder.
Then having learned that Jesus is God in the flesh, we are called to work in His vineyard, that is called into the Church. In the Church we hear the Word of God planted into our ears, as the Sower, through the voice of His Minister, sows the seed, and by that seed He heals us of our blindness, and opens our eyes, so that we are no longer blind and living in darkness, but now see clearly the Light of our salvation.
Having gained the sight of salvation, we are led through the valley of temptation, and through the onslaught of the powers of sin, death, and the devil, all the way to the cross, where the Light, becomes for us, Life.
Today our King comes to us, showers His gifts of forgiveness, life and salvation upon us abundantly, and reveals to us and all the world, that He is the one True Lord and Savior of all the world. So rejoice! Bend the knee! Worship and adore your Savior King.
*A "fuller" is a launderer.
Deacon Dulas is ordained into the pastorate and member of the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America (eldona.org). In his own words, "My call is to serve as deacon and missionary-at-large to MN and WI at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Tony, WI. We are starting a mission here in Mayer, MN, and the surrounding area called St. Matthew Ev. Luth. Mission."
~~~~~
In the ancient eastern lands, when a king would come to visit one of his cities, they would be welcomed with all due honor and pomp. There would be much feasting and revelry. Special gifts and privileges would be granted to certain individuals. It was an expensive and lavish event that was entirely paid for by the king himself by his own decree. These festive visitations became to be known as "theophanies" or "epiphanies" -- "an appearance of a god." It was as if a divine being had come to earth himself.
In our dear Lord Jesus, we find the true Epiphany. The One True God appears to us in our flesh. Our King Jesus has come to earth, and laviously bestowed upon us great gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation. And we enjoy those gifts, through our feasting and joyful celebration of our dear Lord's arrival.
This reality is portrayed for us in the Gospel reading for the day, which is the visitation of the Magi from the East. The Magi arrive rejoicing, and bestow gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh upon our dear Lord Jesus, and they bend the knee before Him in worship and adoration. Such is our example, this is why historically, during the Gospel reading, the whole congregation genuflects at the words "and they fell down and worshipped Him."
In this Feast is the zenith of the Christmas cycle. From here on our eyes will slowly be focused toward the cross and Easter. This is portrayed in the historic practice of announcing the dates of the movable feasts on this day after the Gospel reading by the Celebrant. Following is an example:
Celebrant: Dearly beloved brethren, ye shall know that as we have rejoiced in the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, so there is announced to thee by the mercy of God the joyous observance of the Resurrection of same our Lord and Savior: _____ shall be Septuagesima Sunday; _____ shall be Ash Wednesday, the beginning the most holy season of Lent; On _____ we shall celebrate with great rejoicing the holy Easter Festival, the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ; _____: the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ; _____: the Feast of Whitsunday; _____: the Feast of the Holy Trinity; _____ shall be the First Sunday in the Advent of Our Lord Jesus Christ; to Whom be honor and glory, world without end. Amen.
The Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord begins this journey to Easter by filling us with a theme of light. This is portrayed in the star that led the Magi from the East. The light comes from the East, the place of the dawn, and the seat of God's revelation. This is why the altar is spoken of as residing in the East, even if it isn't oriented that way, the altar is the liturgical East; it is the place where God sheds His light of grace upon us.
The star which rises from the East, leads the Maji to Judea. According to some ancient Fathers, this star was the Holy Ghost appearing as a star, in the same way that He revealed Himself as a dove. Other ancient Fathers, consider this star an angel of the Lord, sent specifically to the Magi to lead them to our Savior. Still others consider it an actual star specifically created to announce the birth of God in the flesh.
Whatever this star was, it was the light that led Gentiles, as by means, to the Savior. This is why Epiphany has always had an evangelical nature. The texts for this season, call all peoples out of darkness, into the Saving Light. Jesus reveals Himself, or manifests, or enlightens Himself, to the whole world, at the Temple as a boy, in the waters of His Baptism, at the wedding at Cana--His first miracle--through the healing of the leper and the Centurion's servant, through the calming of the wind and the waves, and as the eternal judge between wheat and tare on the Last Day, Jesus reveals that He is the God who dwells in man's flesh. And at His Transfiguration, He fully manifests that He is the true Light of the World as His clothes shine like no fuller* on earth could launder.
Then having learned that Jesus is God in the flesh, we are called to work in His vineyard, that is called into the Church. In the Church we hear the Word of God planted into our ears, as the Sower, through the voice of His Minister, sows the seed, and by that seed He heals us of our blindness, and opens our eyes, so that we are no longer blind and living in darkness, but now see clearly the Light of our salvation.
Having gained the sight of salvation, we are led through the valley of temptation, and through the onslaught of the powers of sin, death, and the devil, all the way to the cross, where the Light, becomes for us, Life.
Today our King comes to us, showers His gifts of forgiveness, life and salvation upon us abundantly, and reveals to us and all the world, that He is the one True Lord and Savior of all the world. So rejoice! Bend the knee! Worship and adore your Savior King.
~~~~~
The only Son from heaven,
Foretold by ancient seers,
By God the Father given,
In human form appears.
No sphere his light confining,
No star so brightly shining
As he, our Morning Star.
Foretold by ancient seers,
By God the Father given,
In human form appears.
No sphere his light confining,
No star so brightly shining
As he, our Morning Star.
~~~~~
*A "fuller" is a launderer.
Deacon Dulas is ordained into the pastorate and member of the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America (eldona.org). In his own words, "My call is to serve as deacon and missionary-at-large to MN and WI at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Tony, WI. We are starting a mission here in Mayer, MN, and the surrounding area called St. Matthew Ev. Luth. Mission."
The Epiphany of our Lord: A Pledge of Peace from God I See
The "chorales" are the unique hymn contributions of the Lutheran movement to the Church Universal.
These include:
You can check out posts for this hymn here at All for Hymn: Stanza 1, Stanza 2, Stanza 3, Stanza 3, and Stanza 3. There was a lot of material for Stanza 3!
Over at Lutheran Time Out, you can hear the English translation and view the text and tune.
The "Queen of the Chorales" is "How Lovely Shines the Morning Star." It is also known in LSB as "O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright" and by its German title Wie Schön Leuchtet Der Morgenstern.
This week's Lutheran Time Out features a broadcast of the English translation and also a PDF of the text and tune of the TLH version.
Here at All for Hymn, please enjoy these choral and instrumental versions.
These include:
- A Mighty Fortress (Ein Feste Burg)
- Savior of the Nations, Come (Nun Komm Der Heiden Heiland)
- Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice (Nun Freut Euch)
- Lord, Let at Last Thine Angels Come (which is Stanza 3 of "Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart, aka Herzlich lieb hab ich dich, o Herr)
You can check out posts for this hymn here at All for Hymn: Stanza 1, Stanza 2, Stanza 3, Stanza 3, and Stanza 3. There was a lot of material for Stanza 3!
Over at Lutheran Time Out, you can hear the English translation and view the text and tune.
The "Queen of the Chorales" is "How Lovely Shines the Morning Star." It is also known in LSB as "O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright" and by its German title Wie Schön Leuchtet Der Morgenstern.
This week's Lutheran Time Out features a broadcast of the English translation and also a PDF of the text and tune of the TLH version.
Here at All for Hymn, please enjoy these choral and instrumental versions.
Here is JS Bach (BWV 1),
complete with the printed music
so you can follow along.
Improvisation from St. Mark's Church, Hannover, Germany
Johann Pachelbel and the organ at Grosshartmannsdorfe
Straight-up vocal arrangement of JS Bach by a youth choir
Vocal arrangement with organ accompaniment
Organ Improvisation
Organ Setting by Danish Composer Niels W. Gabe
Max Reger: Fugue from the Chorale Fantasy
(The German text comes across the screen
when the melody is introduced)
Finally, a repost of this gem by Max Reger,
which is followed by "Jerusalem, Thou City Fair and Bright"
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
On the Twelfth Day of Christmas: Tidings of a Gospel True!
Infant holy, Infant lowly,
For His bed a cattle stall;
Oxen lowing, little knowing,
Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Swift are winging angels singing,
Noels ringing, tidings bringing:
Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping
Vigil till the morning new
Saw the glory, heard the story,
Tidings of a Gospel true.
Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow,
praises voicing, greet the morrow:
Christ the Babe was born for you.
W zlobie lezy! Któz pobiezy
Koldowac malemu
Jezusowi Chrystusowi
Dzis do nas zeslanemu?
Pastuszkowie przybywajcie
Jemu wdziecznie przygrywajcie,
Jako Panu naszemu.
My zas sami z piosneczkami
Za wami pospieszymy,
A tek Tego Malenkiego
Niech wszyscy zobaczymy;
Jak ubogo narodzony
Placze w stajni polozony,
Wiec go dzis ucieszymy.
Lullaby, Jesu, like stars are Your eyes, --
Lullaby, Jesu, now hush Your low cries. --
'Round You the kind beasts and dear birds are standing;
They, too, do love You; o'er You they are watching.
Lullaby, Jesu, my flower of beauty,
Lullaby, Jesu, Thy Mother shall rock Thee.
Near You the shepherds in rev'rence are kneeling;
They, too, do love You; o'er You they are watching.
Lulajze, Jezuniu, moja perelko,
Lulaj, ulubione me piescidelko.
Lulajze, Jezuniu, lulajze, lulaj!
A ty Go, Matulu, w placzu utulaj.
Zamknijze znuzone placzem powieczki,
Utulze zemdlone lkaniem usteczki.
Lulajze, Jezuniu, lulajze lulaj!
A ty Go, Matulu, w placzu utulaj.
Lulajze, piekniuchny nasz Anioleczku,
Lulajze, wdzieczniuchny swiata Kwiateczku.
Lulajze, Jezuniu, lulajze lulaj!
A ty Go, Matulu, w placzu utulaj.
Lulajze, Rzyczko najozdobniejsza,
Lulajze, Lilijko najprzyjemniejsza.
Lulajze, Jezuniu, lulajze lulaj!
A ty Go, Matulu, w placzu utulaj.
Lulajze, przyjemna oczom Gwiazdeczko,
Lulaj, najsliczniejsze swiata Sloneczko.
Lulajze, Jezuniu, lulajze lulaj!
A ty Go, Matulu, w placzu utulaj.
Monday, January 4, 2010
On the Eleventh Day of Christmas: God and Sinners Reconciled!
And speaking of David Willcocks, here is his arrangement of "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" at St. Paul's Cathedral.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
On the Tenth Day of Christmas: Come and Behold Him!
Here's the classic arrangement of O Come, All Ye Faithful, arranged by David Willcocks.
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