25 February - Ash Wednesday

Lent is upon us - it is Ash Wednesday.

I participated in two services: first, a Service of Word and Imposition of Ashes at Immaculate Conception, and Holy Eucharist Rite II at St. Joseph's Episcopal Church.

I cantored the 7.00 am service at IC this morning. I was a bit disappointed that it was only a "prayer service" and not a Mass. I asked a few friends on Facebook about this phenomenon, and they said it wasn't unusual because in their areas, there was only one priest to cover anywhere between 5-7 parishes. Daily Masses don't even occur there any more because they don't have a priest around every day to celebrate those Masses. So in those situations, I could understand why such a prayer service would occur. But IC has three friars in residence! Surely, they could have celebrated a Mass at 7.00 am, even if it would be a "silent Mass" just in case people needed to get to work straight away!

Sigh. Here is the list. Any numbers you see come out of GIA's Gather Comprehensive 1994 (green cover).

7.00 am Service of the Word: Ash Wednesday
Opening Hymn: 382, Again, we keep this solemn fast (OLD 100TH)
Psalm: Psalm 51 (Guimont)
Gospel Acclamation: 160-A, Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Hymn During Imposition of Ashes: 383, Parce Domine (Mode I with Tonus Peregrinus)
Postlude: O Mensch, bewein' dein' Sünde groß (BWV 622; J.S. Bach)

I told the organist that I would love her forever if she would play O Mensch, bewein' as postlude. :)


Next: a joint service between St. Joseph's Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Centre at Duke University. As usual, the numbers are out of The Hymnal 1982.

Ash Wednesday: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Psalm: Psalm 103 (recited)
Psalm during Imposition of Ashes: Psalm 51 (recited)
Off: 142 Lord who throughout these forty days (ST. FLAVIAN)
Sanctus: S-114 Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena (Willan)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Agnus Dei: S-158 Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena (Willan)
Communion Hymn: WLP 825, Bless the Lord (Taizé)
Re: 149 Eternal Lord of love, behold your Church (OLD 124TH)

For the first time in a long time, the choir processed and recessed. We may end up doing that for the rest of Lent, and from now on. But we'll have to discuss that with the choir. I received positive feedback on that end.

Have a Blessed Lent, everyone!