Lo, the day is coming      or         The Big Reveal

On October 23^rd I began writing a series of articles focused on the coming last Sundays in ordinary time.  This first article spoke of the apocalypse as more than just an end but as a revealing.  Today’s readings offer two images to make this point.

In the first reading the Prophet Malachi speaks of a fire that will leave neither root nor branch from which will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.

In the gospel Jesus uses an image that will resonate with the Jewish people to whom he was preaching.  He speaks of the destruction of the temple so complete that each ornamental stone will be separated from the next.

So……    If the apocalypse is a (sort of) ending; what does it reveal?

The answer can be found in next week’s gospel.  Luke 23:35-43

Take a look by clicking the link.  Go ahead, you’re allowed.  (I’ll wait.)

The sort of ending is the story of Jesus’ crucifixion.  The big reveal is that Jesus’ death, the death of the repentant thief and you and me is not the end. 

***

Todays music attempt to capture the multiple threads of the readings and the time of the liturgical year.  Several songs have been repeated throughout these last Sunday to help build our parish repertoire.

One new song; Refiner’s Fire Purify My Heart  relates directly to the words of the prophet Malachi and Jesus.   May we all strive for holiness and readiness to do the will of God.

In gratitude,

Bruce

p.s.

On Monday November 21 at 7:30 St. Mary’s hosts the Nutley/Belleville Ecumenical Service.  Leave the turkey to defrost and start Thanksgiving Week off on a great note. (pun, somewhat intended)

We Give (You) Thanks

Let's begin with a quick recap: 

Today is the second of three “Last Sundays of Ordinary Time.” These Sundays are connected by the Solemnity of Christ the King to the new liturgical year which begins on the first Sunday of Advent. 

During this time we are pointed in a particular way to Christ’s promised return and the fulfillment of the kingdom. 

Two recent days highlight this focus. 

On All Saints day we celebrated those who the church has officially named as saints. 

On All Souls Day we remembered and prayed for our faithful departed. 

So how does Thanksgiving fit in? 

For starters what we do in worship is an act of Thanksgiving. Let me explain. Our liturgy (what we often refer to as the mass) is made up of the Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist. The word Eucharist means “thanksgiving.” 

During this month of November I’ve chosen Marty Haugen’s “We Give You Thanks” as a gathering song. The text lifts up many things for which we can and should be thankful. The last two phrases of the first verse for the faith of those around us, for the dead and all those here captures the focus of All Saints and All Souls: 

My hope is that our praying these words as we gather will transition us from the cares, needs and anxiety of our daily lives to a spirit of gratitude. 

Grateful to be making music here at St. Mary’s, 

Bruce

The Last Sundays of Ordinary Time

Today begins the first of the three Sundays known as the last Sundays in ordinary time.  These Sundays are used “as needed” based on how many Sundays fall between Easter and Advent.  This year we will use all three (31, 32 and 33) leading up to the Solemnity of Christ the King; the last Sunday of the church year.

In last week’s article I wrote about the theme of these weeks and their connection to the upcoming season of Advent. You can find this and previous bulletin articles at  http://brucemauro1.blogspot.com

Two upcoming liturgical feasts provide additional insight into the connection between these last Sundays and Christ’s second coming.

On Tuesday November 1 the church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints.  On this day we remember and celebrate those who have been named by the church as saints.

While many of our beloved deceased may already be saints, we remember them in a particular way on in The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed on Wednesday November 2.  This day is commonly called All Souls Day. 

One way of connecting these Last Sundays with all Saints and All Souls day will be through the use of John Becker’s “Litany of the Saints” (#727) at communion.

My hope is that you will get “caught up” in the prayer by responding “pray for us” as the cantor invokes God’s blessings through the intercessions of the Saints.

In loving memory of my Dad, Grandparents and mentors,

Bruce

p.s. Be sure to put the Nutley/Belleville ecumenical service on your calandar.  November 21st at 7:30
at St. Mary's

https://stmarysnutley.org/Music/OT%20cycle%20C/Litany-of-the-Saints-87929.mp3

The End Is Near

What is the first word that comes to mind when you hear or read the word apocalypse?  

I had assumed that everyone would say for "end" until my Catholic School educated teenager proved me wrong (once again) by responding; Zombies."   I added the picture to lead you to me desired response. (and because Homer makes me smile.)

Apocalypse comes from the Greek meaning “an uncovering.”  A more useful translation might be “to reveal” as this shows the connection between the apocalypse and the end times described in the Book of Revelation.

Next week begins the part of the liturgical year known as the last Sundays in ordinary time.  The reading for these Sundays focus on themes that relate to Christ's return at the end of time.

I think of these three Sundays as the left side of a hinge which are connected to the right side of the hinge i. e. Advent (the first Sundays of the new church year.)  The hinge itself is the Sunday in between the two:  The Solemnity of Christ the King.  (The hinge itself.) 

While the entire 8 week period may be spread across two different liturgical years each are located in the period of time in which we await Christ's second time.

The themes of judgement and salvation over these next weeks are highlighted by the Solemnity of All Saints and the Commemoration of All Souls, both of which occur during within last Sundays of ordinary time.

More on both of these next week.

Blessed to be serving at St.  Mary's,

   Bruce 

Beautiful Savior

I'd like to continue a thought from last week and say more about hymnody. 

Let's begin by taking a look at the fine print below our recessional hymn #200

(If you didn't read last week's article explaining the fine print, you can find it at www.stmarys.org. or on this blog.)

Beautiful Savior is a translation of the of the hymn Schonster Herr Jesu which was first found in a German hymnal in 1677.  The  name of the hymnal provides a few more clues as to it's origin.  Gesangbuch is the German word for hymnal and Munster is an area in north Germany.  (From which the cheese is named.)

The writer of the original German text is unknown and noted as anonymous.  The translation is attributed to a Lutheran pastor, theologian and author named Joseph A Seiss.  The text is derived from the third verse of psalm 45.  (Frankly, it took me a while to see this connection).

 Gird your sword on your side, you mighty one 

clothe yourself with splendor and Majesty.

 St. Elizabeth, the hymn tune to which Seiss' translation is set is a folk-tune from the same general area.  Schlesische Volkslieder is a book of Silesian folk-tunes published  in Leipzig; the city where Bach lived and worked about 100 years previously.

You will notice a strong German influence in many of the hymns we sing.  One main reason is that in the years after the reformation the German church developed hymnody (four part singing congregational singing in the vernacular) as a  primary form of liturgical music.  On the other hand, the Roman church emphasized plainsong chant sung by the choir in Latin.  

Beautiful Savior and Now Thank We All Our God (the hymn I wrote about last week) are examples of German hymns translated into English.

Blest to be serving and singing at St. Mary's,

Bruce

P.S.

Beautiful Savior holds a special place for me as it was a staple at Wagner College where I sang in the choir and received my undergraduate degree.  While it's affiliation with the Lutheran Church was severed well before I arrived, Wagner retained many ties to it's beginnings as a Lutheran Seminary.  

Talking About Hymns

    

Pop Quiz:

1.  What is a hymn?

2.  Is every song we sing at church a hymn?

3.  What do you think of when you hear the word    

     "hymn?"

A google search will teach you more than I know (or care to know) about hymns.  Instead, let me explain it by:

    1.  Looking at the “fine print” found at the bottom of each song 

         printed in hymnals

    2.  Comparing a hymn with something that isn’t a hymn

*****

1.  The fine print

Take a look at the bottom of Now Thank We All Our God hymn #198 where it gives information about the “Text.”

67, 67, 66, 66:          This speaks to the meter of the stressed        

                                 syllables.  

                                 Count the syllables;

                                 Now thank we all our God (6)  

                                 With heart, and hands, and voic-es (7.)

Sirach 50:22-24      The songs’ scriptural reference

                                

           Now bless the God of all who everywere does great things, 

           who raises us up from our birth and deals mercifully with us.  

                                                                (Sirach 5:22) 

Martin Rinkart      

A scholar, chorister and future pastor who wrote the words.

Catherine Winkworth      

A British native who translated this and many hymns from German to English.

Here is what we learn about the music:

                                                                 

John Cruger         

A musical composer and hymnal editor who composed the hymn tune Nun Danket.

The name of the hymn tune is noted to the right of the title.  In this case, the tune derives its’ name from a literal translation of the first words of the original text, “Nun Danket Alle Gott.”

****

2.  Comparing a hymn to a song

The second way to learn about hymns is by comparing it to something that isn’t a hymn.  

Our communion song Miracle of Grace provides an excellent contrast.  In the interest of space I will let you compare the fine print on your own.

A quick glance at the music and a little attention paid when singing reveal several distinct distinctions that separate hymns from songs.   Hymns employ simple rhythmic patterns and notes that move stepwise up and down the scale.  Songs allow for greater intervals between pitches and more complex rhythms.  Miracle of Grace (#363) is very typical of contemporary church musical composition.

Now for the challenge question:    

4.  What is better? Hymns or songs?

Once again, a google search will tell you more than I care to know, read or think about.  Let me answer by saying; “I have been and continue to be intentional in picking and singing all verses of a hymn as our recessional song.”

Blessed to be serving at St. Mary’s,

Bruce