Risen, Ascended, Glorified

The Seventh Sunday of Easter
June 2, 2019
Today's hymns recall the Feast of the Ascension, celebrated this past Thursday on the 40th Day of Easter. Our hymnal places Ascension hymns at the end of the "Easter" section, but references to the Ascension are also found throughout The Hymnal 1982. For example, "Alleluia! sing to Jesus" (Hymn 460) specifically refers to the Ascension in the second stanza.

 Our entrance hymn is "Hail the day that sees him rise" (Hymn 214), a joyful Easter hymn celebrating Christ's Ascension. Hear a recording: Hail the day that sees him rise

 Exuberant joy is expressed through an "alleluia" at the end of every line. The text by Charles Wesley was first published in 1739 in England. The "alleluias" were added in the mid-19th century. Over the centuries, editors have abbreviated the hymn (which originally had 10 stanzas) and changed significant portions of the original language. 

The tune, Llanfair, is quintessentially Welsh - a strong melody with a repetitive structure (AABA), making it easy to learn. The Welsh people have a grand tradition of hymn singing; read more here: Why Wales Is Known As the Land of Song

 "Llan" is commonly used in Welsh place names, indicating a Christian settlement. In The Hymnal 1982 Companion, the authors postulate that the tune name is short for Llanfairynghornwy. If you have every traveled in Wales and attempted to read road signs, you will appreciate this!

 Our sequence hymn, "Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendor" (Hymn 307) is also paired with a Welsh tune, Bryn Calfaria. It is a hymn of praise to Christ who is "risen, ascended, [and] glorified."

 As we begin this final week of our Easter feast, sing out, and let your alleluias rise!

 Music for the Seventh Sunday of Easter
June 2, 2019

 Hymns
214, Hail the day that sees him rise (Llanfair)
307, Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendor (Bryn Calfaria)
193, stanza 5, That Easter day with joy was bright (Puer nobis)
192, This joyful Eastertide (Vreuchten)
460, Alleluia, sing to Jesus (Hyfrydol)

 Service Music
S-278, Gloria in excelsis     William Mathias
Psalm 97:1-6, 11-12     A Hymntune Psalter, Carl P. Daw and Kevin R. Hackett
S-128, Sanctus     Mathias
S-138, Memorial Acclamation     McNeil Robinson II
S-146, Great Amen     Robinson
S-167, Fraction Anthem     Plainsong, adapt. Mason Martens

 Anthem
A Song to the Lamb   -John Abdenour

 Organ Music
Fanfare on Llanfair   -Raymond H. Haan
This Joyful Eastertide   -Theodore Beck
Alleluia! Sing to Jesus   -David Cherwein





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