We have all been given a special and profound gift in our Holy Week & Easter liturgies and its music. It is a gift that will change us. It is a gift that will help us to know God’s love more fully and spread that love throughout the world. I hope you and your loved ones will take advantage of this gift – all of it – so that we might give thanks to our God and allow ourselves to truly experience the profound love that is made present in our time of worship together during this incredible, beautiful, and most holy week.
In this Lent, we seek to reconnect with God and deepen our faith through self-examination and intentional reading of scripture and prayer. At Saint George’s, our music of Lent also allows us to reconnect with the ancient music of the church through plainsong, or plainchant.
During penitential times, such as the season of Lent, we often pray the Kyrie in place of a hymn of praise (Gloria). The Kyrie is a prayer not just for ourselves, but for the church and the whole world. It is more than just a plea for God’s mercy, it is a call for God’s favor and an expression of praise to a merciful God who loves and cares for all things.
Music consoles. Music heals. Music alters, and it transforms.
In western culture, music is often thought of as “one” of the arts. We often relegate it to areas of life regarded as decorative or enhancing instead of foundational. In some eastern communities, however, there is no word for music. It is inseparable from life. It is an essential, foundational part of being human.
“Dear, Ben. The time has come.” These were the first few words of the latest email I received from our organ builder, Martin Pasi. Indeed, the time has come! Construction has begun on our new organ, Opus 28, or “The Arlington Organ” as it is referred to in Martin’s shop. Over the next 16 months, Martin’s team of five artisans will fashion and shape raw materials into the thousands of individual parts which make up an organ. Metals
As a child, I remember my father telling stories of his childhood and growing up in northern Minnesota in a devout Catholic family. His family loved to tell the stories of uncle Pope Pius X and how my grandmother’s grandfather ran away from home to save his future family from having to be nuns or priests.
For a wonderful article on Susan and her creative process and bio, please view this article:
Master of the artfully-turned phrase, Susan Cherwien, Poet. Michael L. Sherer. Metro Lutheran.
I love this text!
I love SO many things about this text.
I love:
- that it was created for our parish, based on our ministries and life together
- that it was created for the world-wide church and its ministry to all people.
- that it is based on so many wonderful and beautiful images.
- the idea that our church (nave) be as beautiful as that within us
- that it juxtaposes this idea of the church as God's house, but also our hearts.
- the word - All-embracing - yes - this is what we are called to be and do!
- that it celebrates what we strive to do in this place
- that it challenges us - "prodding us to evolve" & "May we in fair lives God's grace proclaim"
- that it motivates us to action in many ways- to serve as Jesus did
- that it continually reminds us that we are "signed and marked and sealed" in the waters of baptism, claimed as Christ's own.
- that it is a prayer - of praise - of thanksgiving - of hope - of action
- that it reminds us we are created in the image of God.
- that it is Trinitarian - God, Christ, Fire (spirit)
- the last phrase of stanza 5 - "in the now that does not pass away" - referring to God's time, not ours, and that God has, is and always will be with us, loving, serving, and prodding us.
- that it reminds me why I'm a follower of Christ, and why I'm thankful to be a part of this community.
This Sunday we sing our new hymn for the first time together. I hope for you it is a most meaningful experience, and that these words become words on your heart and inspire you to love and serve God.
Dr. Ben Keseley
Minister of Music
*** (11/23/2016) - We have learned this hymn will be published in a collection of new hymns due out in 2017 by Augsburg Fortress. We couldn't be happier that this hymn will no be more easily accessible to the greater church.
All-embracing God,
Builder of all worlds,
In your house your people rise to praise;
By your Holy Name
Signed and marked and sealed,
May our hearts become your dwelling place.
All-embracing Christ,
Servant of all worlds,
Humbly seeking out the last and least,
By your Holy Love
Signed and marked and sealed,
May we strive for justice and for peace.
All-embracing Fire,
Spirit of all worlds,
Prodding all God's people to evolve,
By your Holy Gifts
Signed and marked and sealed,
May we seek and serve all that you love.
All-embracing Church,
Gathered from all worlds,
Temple of the Fire, the Love, the Name,
By the font and meal
Signed and marked and sealed,
May we in fair lives God's grace proclaim.
All-embracing God,
Trinity of Love,
Dwell within us now, do not delay;
Make your church alive
With your very Life
In the Now that does not pass away.
Susan Palo Cherwien
March 3, 2016
5.5.9.5.5.9. trochaic
Copyright©2016 Susan Palo Cherwien
Commissioned by St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington, Virginia
for the rededication of the church sanctuary 2016
Sources/Imagery for the creation of
All-Embracing God
•2 Corinthians 5
•Ezra 3
•The Baptismal Covenant in the Book of Common Prayer
•The 5th century prayer of Balai, Chorepiscopose of Aleppo:
May the temples built within ourselves be as beautiful as the temple built of stone. May your kindness impel you to live in both kinds of temple, for our hearts, no less than these stones, bear the mark of your Name.
•The word katholikos meaning "all-embracing"
•Augustine's unc stans "the Now that does not pass away"
I ran across this little excerpt from a sermon that was preached by Rev. John Andrew, Rector Emeritus at St. Thomas Church in New York at the beginning of August. I think it speaks precisely to the heart of why we do what we do, and why our singing, rehearsing and leading worship together in community is an important, holy, and powerful responsibility not to be taken lightly. I’m so thankful to be a part of this with you all who make music together at St. George's.
