Calendar
Choral Eucharist
Sunday, February 5, 2012
11:00am - Saint Thomas Church
The three Sundays prior to Ash Wednesday are not ten days apart (that would indeed be quite miraculous), but nevertheless tradition gives these three "Gesima Sundays" the prefixes of Septua (70), Sexa (60), and Quinqua (50) as a countdown toward Lent. Quinquagesima is indeed 50 days before Easter, but Sexagesima and Septua aren't quite 60 and 70. Lent itself is that 40 day period (excluding Sundays, which traditionally are not penetential) from Ash Wendnesday to the Great Vigil on Holy Saturday.
In 2012, Septuagesima falls on the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany. In 2011, Septuagesima fell on the Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany. How can this be?
Epiphany is always on January 6, beginning immediately after the Twelve Days of Christmas (December 25 through January 5). We then have a period of "Sundays after Epiphany." However, the number of these Sundays after Epiphany varies because, beginning with Ash Wednesday, the church calendar switches over to its paschal cycle, which is determined not by fixed calendar dates (such as December 25, January 6 and February 2), but rather by the movable date of Easter, which the First Council of Nicaea in AD 325 established as the first Sunday after the full moon (the Paschal Full Moon) following the northern hemisphere's vernal equinox. The date of Easter can fall as early as March 22 or as late as April 25. That's quite a wide range.
Therefore, the "Sundays after the Epiphany" also have a wide range, because they have to fill the gap between the fixed date of Epiphany (January 6) through to the moveable date of Ash Wednesday (always 40 days before Easter, excluding Sundays). Sometimes there are only five Sundays after the Epiphany; sometimes there are nine. However many there are, the last three are always the gesima Sundays.
Collect:
Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins and give us, we beseech thee, the liberty of that abundant life which thou hast manifested to us in thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
From the Saint Thomas Window at Saint Thomas Church (above): the one who created all things heals and renews all things. From the Old Testament Lesson "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint;" And from today's Gospel: "And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him." See also the words, written by Edward Hayes Plumptre, for Hymn 567, which we sing today at the opening procession.
Included in this Choral Eucharist are hymns sung by the congregation and choir, additional music sung exclusively by the choir, lessons, prayers, a sermon, and a Rite I Mass. All baptized Christians are welcome to receive Holy Communion. Details of the service may be seen in the leaflet, which is posted at the bottom of this page, where you will also find links to the webcast during and after the service.
►Today is SEPTUAGESIMA Sunday. If you have no idea what that means, the Rector will talk you through it.
Music notes: The Missa Brevis by Jonathan Dove was commissioned by the Cathedral Organists‟ Association for performance during their conference in Wells on 13 May 2009. Dove‟s musical style is tonal, direct and has often been linked with the expressive minimalism of John Adams. The Gloria features short rhythmically-driven phrases supported by a moto perpetuo organ accompaniment. Minimalist ideas pervade the Sanctus and Benedictus. A bright, brilliant opening of dissonant note clusters leads to minimalist falling phrase (evocative of Steve Reich), which are then both combined. The Agnus Dei draws on more reflective moments, cadencing on a consonant chord.
►We are delighted to welcome the distinguished British viol consort Fretwork to accompany the choir at 4pm Choral Evensong today.
| Celebrant: | Fr Mead |
| Preacher: | Fr Spurlock |
| Deacon: | Fr Austin |
| Subdeacon: | Fr Daniels |
| Sung by: | The Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys |
| Prelude: | Three Pieces for Organ, Aaron Travers (b. 1975) |
| Service: | Missa Brevis, Jonathan Dove (b. 1959) |
| Psalm: | 145:1-12, 20, Anglican Chant (Hanforth) |
| Anthem: | They that wait upon the Lord, John Stainer (1840-1901) |
| Anthem 2: | Venite comedite, William Byrd (c. 1540-1623) |
| Voluntary: | Prelude and Fugue in C, BWV 545, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) |
| Hymn: |
567 Thine arm, O Lord, in days of old ST. MATTHEW |
| Hymn 2: |
375 Give praise and glory unto God DU LEBENSBROT, HERR JESU CHRIST |
| Hymn 3: |
423 Immortal, invisible, God only wise ST. DENIO |
Sermon:
Sermon Text |
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