It is the Feast of Pentecost, on which day we are told the Spirit of God descended upon the apostles in Jerusalem, with the sound of a violent wind and with tongues that appeared to be like fire. (Acts 2:1-21) Remarkably, everyone heard what the apostles had to say in their own language and with clear understanding, which was not the case in the clamor of Babel. (Genesis 11:1-9) Who can read of these events and not be reminded of Jesus’ words to his disciples, shortly before his suffering and death, promising them an Advocate, Holy Spirit, to teach disciples all they need to know, to remind them of the teachings of Jesus, and to give them peace? (John 14:8-17, (25-27))

We were not in Jerusalem, but the gift of the Spirit is as important to us here as it was to early apostles. Whether our encounter is with a Spirit manifest in gales and blazes, or whether the Spirit comes with a simple spark and gentle breath, it is the Spirit who will open our ears to the one message of the love of God in Christ, and unite us in a common mission of peace. This morning we are reminded of this in several ways: hearing the reading of Scripture in several languages; welcoming Iglesia del Cristo Misionera as they worship with us; and, following the Meal of the Lord’s Supper, sharing a common meal together in Fellowship Hall.

It is also an appropriate day for two other congregational tasks. The Spirit of God will be invoked upon elders and deacons, who are ordained and installed for ministry in this place. And today is also the last Sunday of our ministry year, which is our time to say Thank You to the many individuals who have performed ministries in this place for the past year.

Choral Music:

• Sacred Dance: “Come and Sing” – Jeremy Quillo — The children reprise their Sacred Dance from last week, performed to this popular recorded song.
• Chancel Choir: “Prayer of Hildegard” – Barbara Wallace — One of the most striking women of the Middle Ages is Hildegard of Bingen, who wrote many texts (and music) that expanded the usual chants and recitations of the day by bringing a more personal and experiential character to the music of worship and prayer. Wallace provides fresh music for this text, a prayer invoking the Fire of the Spirit to be with us and hear us. It follows our prayer of confession.
  
• Chancel Choir: “I Will Sing with the Spirit” – John Rutter — The text is from 1 Corinthian 14:15, and is set to a lively and joyful setting, concluding with Alleluias. It is sung in response to the message of Pentecost.
  
• Chancel Choir: “The Lord Bless You and Keep You” – Larry Visser — As the Benediction today, this piece pronounces the same words of blessing that have been heard by generations in the so-called Aaronic Blessing. The music was published in 1999. Visser is an adjunct faculty member at Calvin College, Director of Music at LaGrave CRC in Grand Rapids, and was honored in February by the Grand Rapids Chapter AGO as Michigan Composer of the Year.
  

Organ Music

• Prelude: “Come, Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire” – Wilbur Held — One of the ancient Pentecost hymns of the church is Veni Creator Spiritus, dating from the 9th century. Held’s composition is essentially a partita on this hymn, each verse getting a different musical treatment. It opens boldly, stating the plainsong melody under large sustained chords, then fading to a quieter restatement of the tune over simply built chord clusters. After three more verses, the opening is restated and revisited, fading again to close with simply an echo of the tune, suggested in the same quiet chord clusters we heard earlier. In all, there are seven statements of the hymn, the same number generally given to the gifts of the spirit. The piece captures the whole range of the experience of the Sprit, from the bold and fiery gusts of wind to the quiet stillness of muted breath.
  
• Offertory: “Spirit of Gentleness” – Karl Osterlund — This is a simple trio based on the contemporary song by the same name.
• Postlude: “Come, God Creator, Holy Ghost” – J. S. Bach — The tune Komm, Gott Schöpfer is a 16th century chorale based upon the plainsong Veni Creator Spiritus referenced above. The chorale reminds us that this Spirit is of course the same one who was and is present at creation, the spirit that gives life and breath to all living things. (Psalm 104:24-34, 35b)
  Bach’s chorale prelude consists of two sections, both of which get some of his special treatment for the Spirit. The first section is the same chorale prelude that appears in the Orgelbüchlein, wherein the melody is carried in a compound triple meter, with the pedal landing only on the third note of each triple–an allusion to the third person of the Trinity. In the second part, Bach incorporates interweaving skips and scales of 16th notes in the manuals, while he restates the melody strongly in the pedal. It is another allusion to the third person of the Trinity, since it is the use of the feet that permits an organist to add a third voice, and hence play a trio all by him/herself.
  

May 22nd, 2010 Subscribe to the RSS feed!