I had a big occasion at church last night. The combined choirs and
I participated in a "Lenten Lessons & Carols" service, which
featured readings of the Passion according to St. Luke & some
wonderful Lenten carols.
Among the carols we sung were "Go To Dark Gethsemane," which showed
Jesus suffering his agony in the Garden of Olives. We are asked to
go to Gethsemane and stand with Jesus as he faces the Tempter's
power and bleeds sweat and tears. Another song was "A View From The
Upper Room," in which the songwriter sees Jesus and his apostles
dining on the Paschal feast, then suffering in Gethsemani & dying on
the Cross. And it also foreshadows the feast we hope to share in
Heaven.
We sang "O My Jesus," in which the singer mourns his participation
in Jesus's trial and death. And of course, we sang "O Sacred Head
Surrounded" and "Were You There," among other hymns. It's amazing
that the depth of sacred music for Lent and Passiontide is larger
than life itself.
Back in 2003 & 2004, on Good Friday itself, we heard a chanted
version of John's Passion gospel, sung by Fr. Joe Kiel(one of our
former vicars at the parish), Kumi Donahue(a soprano who's had
neurological prolems over the past year) and Brian Joyce(one of our
Folk Choir members). I found their singing very moving and
emotional. This year(like last year), it will be performed by Rev.
Bob Poitras(one of our assistant pastors), Mary Lou Rhemm(one of our
Traditional Choir members) and a girl from the Folk Choir whose name
I can't remember at this time.
After Lent's over, I'd like to start telling stories of the hymns of
our church. In fact, I'd like to share a snippet with you. Did you
know that "O Sacred Head Surrounded" uses music by Johann Sebastian
Bach? Yes, it's his music in the song, and it was adapted from his
St. Matthew Passion. It makes a superb accompanient for Holy Week
services.
See you soon...