Several audio samples of this week’s music are included for you to enjoy as you read.

Endings and Beginnings

Hymn: This Is a Day of New Beginnings; Text – Brian Wren (b. 1936), Music – Kenneth Dake    Wren's original text began as a question, “Is this a day of new beginnings?” He explains: “In itself, the new year is an arbitrary convention... The recurrent awakening of life in nature is not a strong enough foundation for hope of real change. Yet by faith in the really new events of the Christian story, a day, or a month, or an hour can become charged with promise, and be a springboard to a changed life.”  Wren’s inspired words, which were written for a New Year’s Day service at Holy Family church in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, England, challenge us to seize and act upon the real hope found in Christ.

Several audio samples of this week’s music are included for you to enjoy as you read.

A Cavalcade of Carols

Even though it’s still only the fourth Sunday of Advent, musically we will already be in full Christmas dress this week.  Be sure to arrive in the sanctuary by 10:45 for a special Prelude by a terrific string quartet featuring Mina Smith, cellist, and her friends Pamela Frank and Andy Simionescu on violin, and Danielle Farina on viola.  Their dazzling array of carols, played with customary verve in the extreme, is always a highlight of our season!  They will also provide instrumental accompaniment to the Festival of Voices choir throughout what promises to be a poignant worship experience.

Several audio samples of this week’s music are included for you to enjoy as you read.

Sacred Traditions

As we travel further down the Advent road, this week’s music will focus on the themes of Preparation and Peace.  Be sure to arrive in the sanctuary by 10:45 for a special Prelude of Arias from Handel’s Messiah sung by Sanctuary Choir soloists: tenor Isai Jess Muñoz will embrace us with Comfort Ye and Every Valley, alto Emily Eyre will proclaim the coming King with O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion, and soprano Justine Aronson will sparkle joyfully with Rejoice Greatly O Daughter of Zion.  Handel’s Messiah is as much a part of the world’s preparation for Christmas as any other holiday tradition.  When I hear that opening simple three-note descending motive on the text, “Comfort ye”, which constitute the first words sung in the entire Messiah, for me it means Advent has arrived, and that Hope is on His way.

Homage to Bach

Prelude: Fugue in E minor by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)  This week’s service is bookended by works Mendelssohn, whom I might call “my soul brother by another mother,” to borrow a line from a recent Herman Cain speech.  I resonate to Mendelssohn’s total craftsmanship and reverence for Bach, as well as his romantic passion and dramatic intensity.  For me he’s just the right combination of head and heart, convention and intuition.