9 March - Lent V

As usual ... my music lists for Sunday services. As the folks at Duke University are on Spring Break, there was no service at the Episcopal Centre at Duke University. Instead, I played the 5.15 pm service at Chapel of the Cross.

St. Joseph's Episcopal Church. Numbers are out of The Hymnal 1982.

March 9: Lent V:

Prelude: O Mensch, bewein' dein' Sünde groß (BWV 622; J.S. Bach)
Pro: 495 Hail, thou once despised Jesus (IN BABILONE)
Kyrie: Willan (S-91 in Hymnal 1982)
Psalm: Ps 130 (Barrett)
Seq: 516 Come down, O Love divine (DOWN AMPNEY)
Off: 665 All my hope on God is founded (MICHAEL)
Sanctus: S-124 New Plainsong (D. Hurd)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Fraction Anthem: S 161 New Plainsong (D. Hurd)
Comm: Jesus, remember me (Taizé)
Re: 457 Thou art the Way, to thee alone (ST. JAMES)

Chapel of the Cross

March 9: Lent V, 5.15 pm:

Prelude: O Mensch, bewein' dein' Sünde groß (BWV 622; J.S. Bach)
Pro: 489 The great Creator of the worlds (TALLIS' ORDINAL)
Seq: 457 Thou art the Way, to thee alone (ST. JAMES)
Off: 140 Wilt thou forgive that sin (DONNE)
Sanctus: S-124 New Plainsong (D. Hurd)
Comm: 339 Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness (SCHMÜCKE DICH; transposed up to E major so that it doesn't clash with ...); Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele (Op. 122, No. 5; J. Brahms) No singing on this one; I just played a verse of #339, and then went straight into the Brahms setting. It took up just the right amount of time during Communion.
Re: 455 O Love of God, how strong and true (DUNEDIN)
Postlude: Finale: Andante from Organ Sonata No. 6 in d minor (Op. 65; F. Mendelssohn)

D-Fraz, as the youth like to call him (Rev. David Frazelle) delivered a wonderful sermon based on the Lazarus story, but also managed to weave in a lovely tribute to Eve Carson in addition. I was not aware she was a regular at the Compline services ... that made it all the more sad for me personally. Eve wasn't just a name in the news ... nor just a symbol of innocence lost on the UNC campus ... nor just another victim of a violent crime in normally quiet and safe Chapel Hill ... and all of this made me feel even more sad, sad for Eve, that her life was needlessly cut short by a greedy thug (or thugs) ... sad for her family, that they lost a bright rising star ... sad for the Carolina family, for losing someone so near and dear ... and as a member of the Carolina family, I feel sadness and grief along with my fellow Tar Heels.

Speaking of Compline ...

Compline at Chapel of the Cross.

We've been using the Order for Compline, as set by David Hurd. Our little additions:

Lord, for Thy tender mercy's sake (Farrant; sung as Introit)
In manus tuas (Sheppard; sung in addition to "Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit ...)
Ave Regina Cælorum (Marian antiphon right after the Dismissal)
Ave Maria ... virgo serena (des Prez)

Van let the choir know that Eve was a regular at the Compline services. He would know; he had made it a habit to personally greet each and every student who goes to these services, and he's very good about remembering faces. He said that Chapel of the Cross was one of the first to be notified that the body of the shooting victim found a mile away from campus was identified to be Eve. Chapel of the Cross will be printing up prayer cards for Eve, and will be distributing them at Compline on Easter Sunday.

In the meantime, at the point of the Compline service where the Officiant (in this case, Van) chants one or more Collects (BCP p. 133, if you're following along) ... he chanted this one, especially for Eve:

Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to you our sister Eve, who was reborn by water and the Spirit in Holy Baptism. Grant that her death may recall to us your victory over death, and be an occasion for us to renew our trust in your Father's love. Give us, we pray, the faith to follow where you have led the way; and where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, to the ages of ages. Amen.

There were not many dry eyes left at the end of that. You can feel the emotion amongst members of the choir (who, by the way, are made up of UNC and Duke students, as well as other members of the Triangle community), as well as that of those who attended.

It really shows just how much the senseless violence of Eve's passing has affected this community, I think. At this point, the Chapel Hill police are doing a wonderful job of investigating this crime, and have since released a couple of surveillance photos of a possible suspect, who was photographed attempting to use Eve's debit card. I'm sure that eventually, they will catch whomever did this, and that justice will be served.