Lamb of God

The Twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost
November 18, 2018



During my sabbatical last summer, I spent time working on several musical composition projects. One of those was a mass setting for unison voices and handbells. Our Cantate and Laudate Choirs are premiering one movement of the mass setting - "Lamb of God" - at today's 10:30 Eucharist. Members of the Cantate Choir have also learned and memorized the handbell accompaniment. 

I started composing in elementary school, and it is one of my passions. I believe that it is important for children and adults to understand that our church's musical tradition continues to bloom and flourish as contemporary composers create new settings of both ancient and modern texts. In addition to singing the classics of the sacred repertoire, we seek to offer the best music of our own time to the glory of God. As a teacher and choral conductor, I encourage all of our children to develop their creative gifts. It's especially important for them to experience music by women composers. I want our girls to understand that they can create sacred music for the church's worship.

Creating new music is a collaborative process, and our choristers have been co-creators of this new work. In rehearsals, we have experimented with different ways of singing in canon, discovering together how this music works best for our ensemble. All of the Cantate Choir members have had the opportunity to experience playing handbells this fall, further developing their musical skills.

At the announcements this morning, we will award choir crosses to our three newest choristers who are completing their first semester in Cantate Choral Academy. These choristers are members of the Laudate Choir, our preparatory choir for students in grades 1-3. They wear colorful crosses from El Salvador, hand-painted with animals, plants, and birds, set against a starry night sky. 
 
The crosses remind us of the joy and beauty of God's creation, including the gift of music through which we offer prayer and praise.



Music for the Twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost
November 18, 2018

Hymns
51       We the Lord's People (Decatur Place)
633     Word of God, come down on earth (Liebster Jesu)
822*    Through north and south (Lasst uns erfreuen)
628     Help us, O Lord, to learn (St. Ethelwald)
598     Lord Christ, when first thou came to earth (Mit freuden zart)

Canticle
Song of Hannah, A HymnTune Psalter (Carl P. Daw and Kevin R. Hackett)

Service Music
Gloria in excelsis, S-278          William Mathias
Sanctus, S-128                        Mathias
Fraction Anthem, S-155           Gerald Near

Anthems
I Received the Living God        Richard Proulx
Lamb of God                            Marty Wheeler Burnett

Music for Handbells
Simple Gifts                                            arr. Patricia Sanders Cota
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessins     arr. Cota

Organ Music
Toccata                                     Johann Krieger

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