The great Three Days (Triduum) in the liturgical calendar are here, with the opportunity they bring to hear again the story of Christ’s unfathomable sacrifice for our salvation. It can be challenging as a busy Church Musician to still internalize and truly experience these great liturgies, but that hectic pace can inhibit all of us from really being immersed in the Christ-filled moments we spend worshipping at our beloved Grace Church.
At 7pm Maundy Thursday, we will celebrate the institution of the Lord’s Supper and Christ’s great Mandatum of love with a meditative Taizé prayer service in the Sanctuary. Our music will include familiar chants like Ubi Caritas, Eat This Bread, and Jesus, Remember Me, and the blessing of our gifts of bread and wine will take place as the Gospel account of Christ’s Last Supper is being proclaimed.
The EDCC Community and Musicians will join us on Good Friday at 7pm for a Tenebrae Service of readings, lamentations and music that I pray will be comforting, healing, and strengthening for all gathered. The service will open with an organ prelude on “Were You There” to “bookend” this solemn service with Diane Dillard’s prayerful singing of this quintessential Spiritual from the back of our darkened Sanctuary. Our gathering music will continue with Julie Bowdren from EDCC singing Samuel Barber’s evocative “The Crucifixion” setting a powerful poem by Howard Mumford Jones. Each set of readings will be followed by a carefully selected musical selection which illuminates the spoken word preceding or following it. Our own Cassie Evans will sing Mark Hayes’ setting of three Spirituals of sorrow and comfort in memory of her Grandfather whom she lost 2 weeks ago. The choral music will include familiar and new music sung by the Congregation and Choir, including Stainer “God So Loved the World”, Mozart “Ave Verum Corpus”, and Persichetti’s “Now in the Tomb is Laid” with its feeling of emptiness and resignation.
On Easter Sunday we gather at 10:50am to celebrate the hope given us by Christ’s Resurrection. The Choir’s Call to Worship will be Gordon Young’s “Christus Resurrexit” – the words of greeting uttered by Christians throughout Eastertide for centuries to express their belief in their risen Savior. This rousing setting and everything we sing will be filled with as many Alleluias as we can muster – finally expressing the joy given to us through Christ’s loving sacrifice. The Dutch Carol “This Joyful Eastertide”is a lively tune arranged by many composers over the years, and I especially love Charles Wood’s arrangement for it’s beautiful simplicity. As we are sent forth to share our Resurrection Hope and Joy, the Chancel Choir invites you to join them in singing “Hallelujah” from Handel’s Messiah. We will have choral scores available with Sunday’s Bulletins for anyone who wishes to join in singing with us, and the video linked here will allow you to practice your preferred vocal part in advance!! 😊
At this challenging time for our Grace Community, may we find hope and strength to fortify us for the coming days of change. I give thanks every day that I am here to journey with this beautiful Freakishly Friendly Family of Faith! ❦
