Please read Fr. Stuart’s message regarding the continuation and expansion of our online worship offerings beginning Sunday, June 7.
Join us (via Zoom) on Thursday, May 28 from 12:00 – 1:30 PM, for a second virtual workshop featuring Donna Marie Todd! Participants will be invited to take a deep breath, share conversation, and reflect on the harsh realities and new possibilities brought to our door by COVID-19. In this session, we’ll look at our personal reactions to social isolation, and learn tools to help us foster more compassion for ourselves and the people around us. more information
Donna Marie Todd is an author, writer, storyteller, teaching artist and retreat leader. Many of you already know her from our last Gracious Space workshop, or through her work facilitating two of our women’s retreats as well as a Widow’s Tale retreat. You can learn more about her here and here. She will be joined by Dr. Cynthia Park and Cheryl Kelley. There is no cost for this workshop, but advance registration is required. Hope you can make it!
Need a new Podcast to listen to while you’re walking? Need to find the daily readings for Fr. Stuart’s online forum? Need a fun daily “Good Morning, God” video for your family? Check out the Grace@Home page of our website! We’ve updated the links to include new resources to offer encouragement and support these difficult and often confusing times. Enjoy! Also, if you don’t already receive the weekly emails of faith at home resources, and would like to, email Cheryl.
Whether we look at the readings appointed for Ascension Day or the Seventh Sunday of Easter we end up with a lot of the same music. I drew most of my inspiration this week from the readings appointed for the Seventh Sunday of Easter, but Psalm 47 and some other ascension related gems worked their way in too!
The Collect for today has inspired a few composers, Philip Stopford and Henry Purcell offer us two contrasting takes on the text “O God, the King of Glory.” Next a marvelous setting of the hymn “Crown Him with many Crowns,” such a perfect text to summarize the mood of today! The bulk of today’s list comes next, settings of Psalm 47 (appointed for Ascension Day), however Psalm 68 nods at many of the same phrases – “Let God arise,” “Sing praises, ” ect. “Ascendit Deus” or “God is gone up” is one of those texts that has dozens of settings over the course of centuries. It’s hard to pick a favorite, so hopefully you enjoy a four-way tie. My favorite piece on this list comes next…Patrick Gowers “Viri Galilaei” is set for 8 part choir, soloists, 2 organists, and trumpet. Not only is it a fun piece of music, but it weaves together all sorts of texts, we start with a quote from Acts 1, then a bit of Psalm 47, and finally the Christopher Wordsworth “See the Conqueror mounts in triumph” text. Circling back to Psalm 47, “O Clap Your Hands” is another verse that composers gravitate towards, and I just love Vaughan Williams setting. “Lift up your heads,” comes from Psalm 24, but is linked to Ascension Day – William Mathias and G.F. Handel offer us two contrasting takes. To close, a setting of another beloved Ascension hymn…enjoy!
Will Gotmer
Director of Music/Organist
Our staff and clergy’s virtual offices will be closed on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25.
This post highlights some events and news pertinent to the upcoming week.