Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly minded,
For with blessing in His hand,
Christ our God to earth descending
Comes our homage to demand.
King of kings, yet born of Mary,
As of old on earth He stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture,
In the body and the blood;
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heavenly food.
Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the Light of light descendeth
From the realms of endless day,
Comes the powers of hell to vanquish
As the darkness clears away.
At His feet the six winged seraph,
Cherubim with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the presence,
As with ceaseless voice they cry:
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Lord Most High!
This is one of my favorite Advent hymns, much beloved at St. Margaret's. We just sang it this week, and once again this year I have a copy in my room for prayer. It speaks to so much in this season, particularly in times where we are in need of hope.
"Surely he cometh..."
"He shall suffice me, for he hath sufficed."
This is the promise of Advent.
Hark what a sound, and too divine for hearing,
stirs on the earth and trembles in the air!
Is it the thunder of the Lord's appearing?
Is it the music of his people's prayer?
Surely he cometh, and a thousand voices
shout to the saints, and to the deaf are dumb;
surely he cometh, and the earth rejoices,
glad in his coming who hath sworn: I come!
This hath he done, and shall we not adore him?
This shall he do, and can we still despair?
Come, let us quickly fling ourselves before him,
cast at his feet the burden of our care.
Through life and death, through sorrow and through sinning,
he shall suffice me, for he hath sufficed:
Christ is the end, for Christ was the beginning,
Christ the beginning, for the end is Christ.*
If you'd like to listen to an arrangement for brass of this hymn tune while meditating on the words, here you are:
Here's the original link to the service livestream: https://rachelheldevans.com/funeral
(I've also included the YouTube version made of it below.)
The link also includes the bulletin pdf with the participants, hymns, etc. Liturgical participants included Nadia Bolz-Weber preaching, Sarah Bessey and Austin Channing Brown reading, Audrey Assad singing, and Winnie Varghese celebrating (I recognized her soothing voice from General Convention before I knew she was there). There were others, but those are the ones with whom I was familiar and whose presence was somehow comforting - how much more to her family and friends. I had also become familiar with Jeff Chu through that time of prayer while Rachel was sick, and his leading of the Prayers of the People was moving.
But hearing from her little sister Amanda Held Opelt both made me laugh and moved me to tears. Plenty to think about, too. One thing she said that I don't think will necessarily get quoted seems important to me: "What was most special about her was her love. She's one of the least branded people I know. We all know, she was horrible at Instagram. She was the worst. And I think while other writers were working on their image and working on their brand, Rachel was working on her relationships. She was listening, she was leaning into people's pain, she was hearing their stories, she was being changed by their stories." She wrote a song about her sister after she'd read Rachel's Searching for Sunday - that she never sang to her - I think it's called "Bloodlines and Intercessions." Hope someone publishes the words. Maybe she'll record it... Meanwhile, you should watch the service and listen - it's somewhere around the half hour mark. Wish I could be such a good sister to mine...
O God of grace and glory, we remember Rachel before you
and thank you for giving her to us to know and to love as a
companion in our pilgrimage on earth. In your compassion, console
those who mourn. Give us faith to see that death has been
swallowed up in the victory of Christ so that we may live in
confidence and hope until, by your call, we are gathered into the
company of all your saints; by the power of your Holy Spirit we pray. Amen.
COMMENDATION Leader: You only are immortal, the creator and maker of humankind;
and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and to earth shall we return. For so did you ordain when you created me, saying, "You are dust, and to dust you shall return." All of us go down to the dust; yet even at
the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. People: Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints, where
sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting. Leader: Merciful Savior, we commend Rachel to you. Receive her as a
sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own
redeeming. Accept her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed
rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of your
saints.
And here's something from the BCP (p.507) that wasn't in the bulletin but that is really important. And it lines up well with what Nadia Bolz-Weber's sermon, which you simply must hear for yourself. It starts right about minute 50 on the video.
The liturgy for the dead is an Easter liturgy. It finds all meaning in the resurrection. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we too, shall be raised.
The liturgy, therefore, is characterized by joy, in the certainty that "neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
This joy, however, does not make human grief unchristian. The very love we have for each other in Christ brings deep sorrow when we are parted by death. Jesus himself wept at the grave of his friend. So, while we rejoice that one we love has entered into the nearer presence of our Lord, we sorrow in sympathy with those who mourn.
So hold them all in your prayers, especially Dan, her husband, and her little ones. And hold yourself gently if you, too, are grieving right now, as so many are. Peace be with you all.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” ’) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
Of the Father’s love begotten ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega;
He the source, the ending He,
of the things that are, that have been,
and that future years shall see
evermore and evermore!
O that birth forever blessed,
when a virgin, full of grace,
by the Holy Ghost conceiving,
bore the Savior of our race;
and the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
first revealed his sacred face,
evermore and evermore!
O ye heights of heaven adore Him,
angel hosts, His praises sing,
powers, dominions, bow before Him,
and extol our God and King;
let no tongue on earth be silent,
every voice in concert ring
evermore and evermore!
Christ, to Thee with God the Father
and, O Holy Ghost, to Thee,
hymn and chant and high thanksgiving
and unwearied praises be:
honor, glory, and dominion,
and eternal victory
evermore and evermore!
Great Paschal Vespers is an
ancient evening service of processions, prayers, chants, and hymns offering
praise to God for the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Tomorrow I go on my annual 8-day retreat - silence to spend time in prayer and resting in the Lord and his beauty. Someone played this song reflecting on Peter's stepping out of the boat. Now I'm bringing it with me: on this retreat, I seek to grow deeper in trust of God so as to say YES more fully, more promptly, and in Christ's peace. I am so grateful.
Early in the morning Jesus came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
-- Matthew 14:25-31
You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand
And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
Songwriters: Joel Houston / Matt Crocker / Salomon Lighthelm
1 Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide! when other helpers fail, and comforts flee, help of the helpless, O abide with me.
2 Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away; change and decay in all around I see; O thou who changest not, abide with me.
3 I need thy presence every passing hour; what but thy grace can foil the tempter's power? who like thyself my guide and stay can be? through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.
4 I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless; ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness. Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still, if thou abide with me.
5 Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes; shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies: Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee; in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!
The Holy Saturday Liturgy will be at noon in the convent oratory next door. We also have several daily office services on a special schedule - call or email if you're interested in the times.
For Maundy Thursday this year, we will be going out to various parish liturgies in the area.
1 My song is love unknown, my Savior’s love to me, love to the loveless shown that they might lovely be. O who am I, that for my sake my Lord should take frail flesh, and die? 2 He came from his blest throne salvation to bestow, but men made strange, and none the longed-for Christ would know. But O my friend, my friend indeed, who at my need his life did spend. 3 Sometimes they strew his way, and his strong praises sing, resounding all the day hosannas to their King. Then “Crucify!” is all their breath, and for his death they thirst and cry. 4 Why, what hath my Lord done? What makes this rage and splite? He made the lame to run, he gave the blind their sight. Sweet injuries! Ye they at these themselves displease, and 'gainst him rise. 5 They rise, and needs will have my dear Lord made away; a murderer they save, the Prince of Life they slay. Yet steadfast he to suffering goes, that he his foes from thence might free. 6 In life no house, no home my Lord on earth might have; in death no friendly tomb but what a stranger gave. What may I say? Heaven was his home; but mine the tomb wherein he lay. 7 Here might I stay and sing, no story so divine; never was love, dear King! never was grief like thine. This is my friend, in whose sweet praise I all my days could gladly spend. Hymn #458 Hymnal 1982
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation, a day in which we hear about Mary and Joseph bringing the baby Jesus to the Temple as required for first-born sons by the law. They came with two pigeons to sacrifice - not much, but what was required for those without means. What a surprise it must have been to have the elderly Simeon and prophet Anna praise God and speak of the child to the people around as well as to them! I would love to meet Anna, especially, and hear the story from her perspective.
On this feast day at the convent, we celebrate the profession anniversary of one of our sisters, which adds another special note.
And, lucky me, I got to celebrate - which also means I got to wear my favorite chasuble with the amazing embroidery.
I found a blessing and dismissal for this feast on the Church of England at http://www.oremus.org/ (marvellous site worth your support). They are not from their Book of Common Prayer (1662 version, still in use!) or from Common Worship (their modern language version). I think The Promise of His Glory must be a sort of Enriching Our Worship, English style, though far more traditional. Fortunately, this blessings and dismissal lend themselves well to being sung, as we prefer to do on feast days.
THE DISMISSAL
9
The president may say THIS BLESSING.
Christ the Son of God, born of Mary, fill you with his grace to trust his promises and obey his will; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.[8]
10
Minister
Go in the light and peace of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
You can find this and the rest of their liturgy here as well, including a couple of post-communion prayer options.
I also found a nice solemn blessing from Common Worship on the C of E website, but it might have required my passing out a copy to everyone so they could come in properly with the Amens. (Yes, the sung tone really does cue you, but early in the morning, extra help is always nice.)
one last view of the baby Jesus for this liturgical year
Where's the baby Jesus? I swear he was here just a moment ago...
With or without liturgy, we rejoice with Simeon and Anna and Jesus' parents today as we remember that moment and seek to incorporate it into our own lives.
May the One who was presented in the Temple be so welcomed into the heart of each one of us.
This is the hymn with which I am praying this Advent.
1
Hark what a sound, and too divine for hearing, Stirs on the earth and trembles in the air; Is it the thunder of the Lord’s appearing? Is it the music of His people’s prayer?
2
Surely He cometh, and a thousand voices Shout to the saints, and to the deaf and dumb; Surely He cometh, and the earth rejoices, Glad in His coming who hath sworn: I come!
3
This hath He done, and shall we not adore Him? This shall He do, and can we still despair? Come, let us quickly fling ourselves before Him, . Cast at His feet the burden of our care.
4
Thru life and death, thru sorrow and thru sinning He shall suffice me, for He hath sufficed: Christ is the end, for Christ was the beginning, Christ the beginning, for the end is Christ.
Along with another sister and an associate, I attended a beautiful service of Advent Lessons and Carols at St. Stephen's, Providence Sunday, November 27, Advent I. Sr. Kristina Frances sings in the choir there, which is, of course, added incentive for us to make the trip to Rhode Island. Some of the music was new to me, so I looked it up on my return; others were old favorites. Such beauty is to be shared, so I'm offering a few recordings for your Advent reflection.
Lessons and Carols opened with the Matin Responsory from Palestrina (Willcocks' adaptation) which I've sung, but never so beautifully.
It was followed immediately by the Advent hymn, "Lo! he comes, with clouds descending" (Helmsley), which was written by Charles Wesley. Other than the "deeply wailing" bit, I do love it. And it's hardly Advent if you don't sing it, after all. The recording below has an unusual (to me) descant at the end to add to the experience.
Following the bidding prayer, the choir sang the Advent Prose. Now, I know and love the plainchant version, and Sr KF sings it beautifully. This Lessons and Carols service offered a choral version by Richard Lloyd that I'd not heard before.
After a reading of Genesis 3:1-23 (Adam & Eve's rebellion), they sang one I recall learning back in the previous millennium in my other life as a boarding school teacher and faculty infiltrator of the girls' choir (it helped that I was young and short; I didn't stick out quite so badly as I might have otherwise). I still enjoy it and was, of course, singing along in my head.
Next up, Haggai 2:6-9, and a piece that was just wild. I'd heard that this Pizzetti motet was quite challenging. That was a bit of an understatement. It was certainly out of my range of singing ability - just too unpredictable and crunchy - but they sang it well. The translation of the text begins with "Howl ye Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty." Yikes. Have I mentioned that Advent begins with much apocalyptic scripture? For both reasons, better them than me! It is, however, worth listening to.
Next up, Isaiah 7:10-15, one of the passages traditionally read in Advent.
Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. Then Isaiah said: ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.
The anthem responding to the reading is a variation of a beloved hymn; you'll recognize it. This setting of Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland is by Johann Hermann Schein.*
Finally, time for the rest of us to sing again, this time "How bright appears the morning star."
Fourth Lesson: Isaiah 35:1-10, one of my favorites. The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.’ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveller, not even fools, shall go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
If that isn't enough to make you sing, I don't know what would be.
Following Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, an anthem by Orlando Gibbons, O Thou, the central orb.
Then Luke 1:5-25, and Hymn 272, "The great forerunner of the morn."
...followed by my second favorite of the evening, Ut queant laxis, by Orlande de Lassus - "So that with unrestrained hearts they servants might sing the wonders of thy acts, remove the sin..."
This next piece, by Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo (b. 1978!) was my favorite of the evening, though the text isn't one I normally pray with. Along with "The angel Gabriel from heaven came" (Hymn 265 in the Episcopal Hymnal 1982), it accompanied the Gospel account of the Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38).
After the Rector's greetings and an organ voluntary, there was the Vesper Responsory, a prayer, and an Advent blessing before the final hymn, Veni, veni, Emmanuel.
Shout out, do not hold back!
Lift up your voice like a trumpet!
Announce to my people their rebellion,
to the house of Jacob their sins.
Yet day after day they seek me
and delight to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that practised righteousness
and did not forsake the ordinance of their God;
they ask of me righteous judgements,
they delight to draw near to God.
‘Why do we fast, but you do not see?
Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?’
Look, you serve your own interest on your fast-day,
and oppress all your workers.
Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight
and to strike with a wicked fist.
Such fasting as you do today
will not make your voice heard on high.
Is such the fast that I choose,
a day to humble oneself?
Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush,
and to lie in sackcloth and ashes?
Will you call this a fast,
a day acceptable to the Lord?
Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them,
and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up quickly;
your vindicator shall go before you,
the glory of the Lord shall
be your rearguard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord will
answer;
you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.
If you remove the yoke from among you,
the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,
if
you offer your food to the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
then your light shall rise in the darkness
and your gloom be like the noonday.
TheLordwill guide you continually,
and satisfy your needs in parched places,
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters never fail.
Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of streets to live in.
If you refrain from trampling the sabbath,
from pursuing your own interests on my holy day;
if you call the sabbath a delight
and the holy day of theLordhonourable;
if you honour it, not going your own ways,
serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs;
then you shall take delight in the Lord,
and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth;
I will feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob,
for the mouth of theLordhas spoken.
I began this blog as I prepared to leave for a seminary field education placement in a parish in Haiti, creating it as a way of sharing my experiences and reflections over the summer with people at home and continuing it upon my return.
I finally returned to Haiti in 2011. So much in a short time. I returned to the US in 2013, but something tells me I'll be back. Meanwhile, there is still so much I intended to share while I was there. I hope some of it will make it onto this blog. A piece of my heart is always in Haiti, and I hope some of yours will be, too. Pray for Haiti, please. So much is needed; with God, so much is possible.
Meanwhile, there are ample opportunities for ministry here, and plenty of discoveries to make. There are beautiful things to consider, birds to watch, and concerns to share. And I am never short of curiosity to lead me into all sorts of odd corners. In all of it, God is present. Welcome to the adventure.
* * *
This is a personal blog. Nothing in it is an official statement from the Sisters of St. Margaret, the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, or any other organization.
