28 December - Variety of Services for the First Sunday After Christmas

This week, I have a variety of goodies in the Service Musical bag. Here are three lists, all detailing different services.

First of all, the music from the 7.45 am Mass at Immaculate Conception Church. I came in just as the Opening Hymn was finishing, so I didn't catch the prelude. As usual, the numbers come out of GIA's Gather Comprehensive 1994 (green cover):

Sunday 7.45 am Mass: The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Opening Hymn: 372, Once in Royal David's City (IRBY)
Gloria: A Christmas Gloria (GLORIA; Paul Gibson)
Psalm: 95, Psalm 98 (Haas/Haugen)
Gospel Acclamation: 216 (Mass for the Life of the World)
Off: 368, Lo, how a rose e'er blooming (ES IST EIN' ROS' ENSTSPRUNGEN)
Sanctus, Mem. Accl., Amen, Agnus Dei: Mass of Creation
Comm: 380, What child is this (GREENSLEEVES)
Closing Hymn: 362, Good Christian Friends, Rejoice (IN DULCI JUBILO)
Postlude: In dulci jubilo (BWV 729; J. S. Bach)

I am not a fan of the Gibson doctoring of both the Christmas carol better known as "Angels we have heard on high" and the Gloria in excelsis deo. But, I'll admit that the people were singing the refrain rather heartily. So IMHO, those who insist that the people should be singing would be happy at the prospect that the people are singing; however, I'm not all that sure this particular setting is effective in pushing through the meaning of the Gloria. And especially with Gibson's arrangement, the entire last part of the Gloria is completely lost ("with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father, Amen").

As for that Closing Hymn - I'm not a fan of the "gender-neutral adaptation" of this piece ... and my preference would be to sing Pearsall's Latin/English version ("In dulci jubilo / Let us our homage shew / Our heart's joy reclineth / in praesepio etc.)


Moving right along ...

St. Joseph's Episcopal Church where I played my usual 10.30 am service. The service was actually a Festive Christmas Lessons and Carols. As usual, numbers are out of The Hymnal 1982 unless otherwise noted.

First Sunday after Christmas: A Festival of Lessons and Carols
Opening Hymn: Once in Royal David's City (IRBY; arr. Willcocks)
Bidding Prayer
Lord's Prayer
The Invitatory: 82, Of the Father's love begotten (DIVINIUM MYSTERIUM)
Lesson 1: Gen 2: 4-9; 15-25
Hymn: Creator of the Stars of Night (CREATOR ALME SIDERUM)
Lesson 2: Gen 3: 1-15
Hymn: 64, O heavenly Word, eternal Light (O HEILAND, REISS)
Lesson 3: Is 40: 1-11
Hymn: 67, Comfort, comfort ye my people (PSALM 42)
Lesson 4: Is 35: 1-10
Hymn: 65, Prepare the way, O Zion (BEREDEN VÄG FÖR HERRAN)
Lesson 5: Lk 1: 26-38
Hymn: 265, The angel Gabriel from heaven came (GABRIEL'S MESSAGE)
Lesson 6: Lk 1: 39-56
Choral Anthem: Carol of the Manger (Knox/Wilson)
Lesson 7: Lk 2: 1-20
Choral Anthem: How Sweet is Love (M. Paget)
Hymn: 115, What child is this (GREENSLEEVES)
Lesson 8: Lk 2: 21-36
Hymn: 499, Lord God, you now have set your servant free (SONG 1)
Lesson 9: John 1: 1-18
Hymn: 83, O come, all ye faithful (ADESTE FIDELES)
Closing Collect
Blessing
Closing Hymn: 87, Hark the herald angels sing (MENDELSSOHN)
Postlude: In dir ist Freude (BWV 615; J.S. Bach)


My turn came up again for the 5.15 pm service at the Chapel of the Cross. There, they did a Holy Eucharist, Rite II.

First Sunday after Christmas: Holy Eucharist: Rite II
Prelude: How Sweet is Love (M. Paget); Or, nous dites Marie (C. Franck)
Pro: 93, Angels, from the realms of glory (REGENT SQUARE)
Gloria: recited
Psalm: 147, recited
Seq: 89, It came upon the midnight clear (CAROL)
Off: 112, In the bleak midwinter (CRANHAM)
Sanctus: S-125, Community Mass (Proulx)
Comm:

• Improvisation on Greensleeves
• Prelude on Greensleeves (H. Gehrke)
• Lobt Gott, ihr Christen (J.G. Walther)
• In dulci jubilo (F.W. Zachau)

Re: 105, God rest you merry, gentlement (GOD REST YOU MERRY)
Postlude: In dir ist Freude (BWV 615; J.S. Bach)



Mood: okay
Music: Episode 90 of the MuppetCast