Music Notes: Wanted Bell ringer volunteers – No Experience Necessary to ring bells during the Gloria and Sanctus, as you have seen by some in the choir; however, since it is impossible to ring & sing at the same time, your help would free up a singer and add to our making of ‘joyful noises!’ in our worship. Our anthem this Sunday is a ‘praise song’ written by Sam Hargreaves. About it he writes: ‘I wrote my LST (London School of Theology), dissertation critiquing "romantic" imagery in worship songs, with the contention that intimacy with God is better expressed in the context of the Trinity. This (song) aims to apply that thinking in a simple worship song. I think it is as we share in Jesus' relationship with the Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit that we can "draw near" to God. The three sections can be sung over one another as a "cumulative round", which is an easy way to get a congregation singing in harmony. It is also something of a musical picture of the Trinity - three distinct lines, singing as one.’ ^1. So, as you might surmise, Mr. Hargreaves has you, the congregation in mind, too, in the singing of his simple song, ‘Jesus, lead us to the Father,’ and I will invite you to sing-a-long as you feel comfortable. He continues, ‘…it is in essence a simple three-part cumulative round…inspired by…repertoire of the Taize Community. I love to hear congregations enable to sing simple, truth-filled lines in vocal harmony, without the need to read music, or even rehearse!’ ^2. My ‘…dissertation was on what was rather flippantly described as ‘Jesus is my girlfriend’ worship music: songs which seemed to take their romantic imagery about the closeness of God from pop lyrics. While the intention of expressing intimacy with God seemed right, the way it was stated seemed to bring God down to our level, rather holding in tension both immediacy and otherness. These songs also failed to note that biblical husband/wife imagery tends to be corporate (God and Israel, Christ and the Church) rather than intending to convey a personal romantic connection. The dissertation concluded that the ultimate intimate relationship can be seen between the Father and Son, by the Spirit, as we see it in Jesus’ life on earth, and as it exists into eternity. The fact that we can come close to God the Father is because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross (Hebrews 10.19) and because he acts as our intercessor at the Father's right hand (Hebrews 7.25). Jesus brings us into the holy presence of God by the Spirit (Ephesians 2.18); we have the same privileges as the Son by the Spirit (Galatians 4.6). This remains an awe-inspiring encounter, yet we need not fear being destroyed by God's holiness because we are cleansed by Christ's blood. The words of the song attempt to capture this amazing truth in three lines!’ ³. The continuous nature of this praise song will also lead us up to the Great Thanksgiving. Normally, the offerings are received during the singing of the Choir Anthem and then, presented at the altar with the gifts of bread and wine during the singing of a Presentation Hymn; however, singing these words, ‘Jesus lead us to the Father,’ (and more), prompts us to a spontaneous receiving of offerings and gifts and then, presentation of them at the altar as we sing,

‘Jesus, lead us to the Father by your spirit, help us draw near.

As we come in awe and gladness, help us draw near.

Alleluia, alleluia, help us draw near.’

^{1. 2. 3.} ‘Sunday by Sunday,’ the RSCM, Guide for all Plan and Lead Worship, SCM – Canterbury press, Norwich, U.K.

More can be read about the music at: http://www.resoundworship.org/song/jesus_lead_us_to_the_father. There is a link to play the song from the web as well, although we will not have the guitars and percussion for our rendition on Sunday. Our Hymns, well-known for sure, will raise our hearts to a new praise as we process to #405, All things bright and beautiful, (including our animals), # 551, Rise up, ye saints of God! Our Communion hymns, #655 and #660, speak of being close to God and promising to serve and our closing him 400 is the famous St. Francis text, ‘All creatures of our God and King,’ set to the rousing tune, Lasst uns erfreuen from the Catholic song book of 1623 with a harmonization by the great Ralph Vaughn Williams. Please continue to keep in your prayers what I wrote about last week regarding our use of Voice for Life of the Royal School of Church Music along with Level 1 of the new pilot program called, Chorister Christian Education – Linking Music and Liturgy (CCE-LML). This exciting life project is on-going every week and it is gratifying to guide a young person toward understanding, growing and maturing as a young Christian as was demonstrated most visibly and audibly at the RSCM summer singing course this past August. If you can help, I cordially invite you to work behind the scenes. Please see more about our choir program posted on Emmanuel’s Music pages and please take a look: http://www.emmanuelnewport.org/church/music/rscm-chorister-parent-letter/.

Peace and see you at worship – AJH

The Chorister Creed & Prayer

‘I will sing with the spirit and with understanding also’

The First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 14:15

Bless, O Lord, us your servants who minister in your temple;

Grant that what we sing with our lips we may believe in our hearts,

And what we believe in our hearts we may show forth in our lives;

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

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Music Notes October 3, 2010