With My Face to the Rising Sun
The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
July 14, 2019
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.
Which way is east? If you're in a traditional church building like Trinity Cathedral, it's easy to tell. It is an ancient tradition for Christian churches to be aligned on an east-west axis, so that the people face an altar at the east end - the direction of the sunrise, a reminder of the resurrection. This architectural practice was common in Anglican churches until around 1800.
The spiritual "Let us break bread together on our knees" (Hymn 325) is unique in that it speaks to the experiences of slaves who attended liturgical worship. It is thought that this song may have its roots in South Carolina where many slaves attended Episcopal services. The Anglican practice of kneeling to receive communion while facing east is described in this hymn. The closing phrase, "Lord, have mercy on me," is the text of the Kyrie eleison. It is also the cry of people in the gospels who called out to Jesus. These gospel accounts resonated with those suffering in the bondage of slavery, providing inspiration and hope. The cry to God for mercy figures prominently in spirituals.
Like "Were you there when they crucified my Lord," this spiritual is sung at a slower tempo. The wide melodic range and long, sustained pitches allow voices to soar, rising higher - like the sun - in the final stanza.
The arrangement in our hymnal was composed by Dr. David Hurd, Director of Music at St. Mary the Virgin Church in New York City. Hurd is one of the most significant composers of liturgical music in the present era. The Hymnal 1982 contains many of his hymn tunes and settings of service music. We were honored to host Dr. Hurd for a workshop at Trinity Cathedral in 2010.
As we sing this hymn, we hear the echoes of voices of the faithful who worshiped God in the midst of the oppression and terror. Understanding the context of this hymn allows us to better understand its significance and challenges us to confront the evil of racism in our own day.
Service Music
Anthem
Organ Voluntaries
July 14, 2019
O Lord, have mercy on me.
Which way is east? If you're in a traditional church building like Trinity Cathedral, it's easy to tell. It is an ancient tradition for Christian churches to be aligned on an east-west axis, so that the people face an altar at the east end - the direction of the sunrise, a reminder of the resurrection. This architectural practice was common in Anglican churches until around 1800.
The spiritual "Let us break bread together on our knees" (Hymn 325) is unique in that it speaks to the experiences of slaves who attended liturgical worship. It is thought that this song may have its roots in South Carolina where many slaves attended Episcopal services. The Anglican practice of kneeling to receive communion while facing east is described in this hymn. The closing phrase, "Lord, have mercy on me," is the text of the Kyrie eleison. It is also the cry of people in the gospels who called out to Jesus. These gospel accounts resonated with those suffering in the bondage of slavery, providing inspiration and hope. The cry to God for mercy figures prominently in spirituals.
Like "Were you there when they crucified my Lord," this spiritual is sung at a slower tempo. The wide melodic range and long, sustained pitches allow voices to soar, rising higher - like the sun - in the final stanza.
As we sing this hymn, we hear the echoes of voices of the faithful who worshiped God in the midst of the oppression and terror. Understanding the context of this hymn allows us to better understand its significance and challenges us to confront the evil of racism in our own day.
Music for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
July 14, 2019
Hymns
372 Praise to the living God! (Leoni)
304 I come with joy to meet my Lord (Land of Rest)
533 How wondrous and great thy works, God of praise! (Lyons)
325 Let us break bread together on our knees (Let Us Break Bread)
529 In Christ there is no East or West (McKee)
344 Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing (Sicilian Mariners)
Service Music
Gloria in excelsis S-280 (Robert Powell)
Psalm 25:1-9, S-411 (Simplified Anglican Chant), Robert Knox Kennedy
Sanctus S-129 (Powell)
Fraction Anthem S-152, Ambrosian chant, adapt. Martens
Anthem
For the Bread Which Thou Hast Broken -William Bradley Roberts
Organ Voluntaries
Jesus, Lead Thou On -Paul Manz
Toccata in G Major -William Hieronymous Pachelbel
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