December 8, 2024: The Second Sunday of Advent

Well, here it is. December 8. Fr. Gerry’s last Sunday with us before his retirement. We wish him well on this next stage of his life!

 

The Trinity Ringers will offer the Prelude this Sunday. We will be playing a piece by Judy Phillips – Advent Fantasy. Advent Fantasy combines the tunes GENEVAN 42 (Comfort, Comfort Now My People), PICARDY (Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence), NUN KOMM, DER HEIDEN HEILAND (Savior of the Nations, Come) and PUER NOBIS (On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry). Fr. Gerry loves the Advent hymns, so it is particularly nice to offer a medley on his last Sunday. Following the service, the Trinity Ringers will be playing in Butler Hall as part of the Angel Gift Market.

 

The choir will sing  an anthem by John Ness Beck that directly quotes Sunday’s Gospel reading. It is my guess that a multitude of churches around the world will be singing Every Valley on this, the Second Sunday of Advent. It is one of his best known anthems. John Ness Beck was born in Warren, Ohio in 1930. After high school he enrolled at Ohio State University, graduating in 1952 with a BA in English. After a stint in the Army, he returned to OSU, graduating with a BA in Music with composition as his major. He spent 7 years teaching at OSU, then opened his own Music store in Columbus. As his compositions found their way into print and popularity, he joined forces in 1972 with John Tatgenhorst in the creation of Beckenhorst Press, my personal favorite music publisher. He remained active as a clinician and guest conductor until his death  in 1987.

The Postlude, Eternal Source of Light Divine forms the majestic opening statement of G.F. Handel’s cantata, Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne, HWV 74. The aria is a kind of ceremonial call to order. The angelic vocal line is echoed by the trumpet, which seems to emerge from timeless, celestial expanses. Occasionally, the two voices weave together in near canonic counterpoint. Handel composed this music in January of 1713. It was intended to celebrate the Queen’s February 6 birthday, but Queen Anne took little interest in music, and her illness prevented the work from being performed. However, in gratitude, she awarded Handel an annual pension.

 

Eternal source of light divine
With double warmth thy beams display
And with distinguish’d glory shine
To add a lustre to this day.

Hymns:

65 – Prepare the Way, O Zion

75 – There’s a Voice In the Wilderness Crying

54 – Savior of the Nations, come

60 – Creator Of the Stars Of Night

67 – Comfort, Comfort Ye My People

657 – Love Divine, All Loves Excelling