The Altar - A poem by George Herbert

 
This Sunday the choir sings a setting of the beautiful George Herbert poem The Altar, set by contemporary composer Roland Martin.   This poem begins the second or three parts of The Temple, one of the most important volumes of poetry in the seventeenth century.  The text of the poem itself forms a visual representation of an Altar and is about building a metaphorical altar made of one’s heart.  It is Herbert’s way of stating this is where our faith, sacrifice and praise of God truly begin.   The choir is joined by violinist Chris Franke, member of the Marine Band Chamber Orchestra for this piece.  It will be great to have Chris will us, and together he and I will offer selections from the deeply moving Bach Sonatas for Violin and Organ as our voluntaries for the morning.
 
Soli Deo Gloria!
Ben Keseley, Minister of Music
 
Saint George’s Hymn Project
 
Hymn 693 – Just as I am, without one plea
 
Patty Gibson writes:
I’ve loved this one since I was a little girl, probably because it acknowledges human weaknesses.
 
Hymn 460 – Alleluia, Sing to Jesus!
 
Our Rector, the Rev. Shearon Williams, writes:
This hymn makes my heart sing.  It reminds me that Jesus is very close to me all the time and that he is also the glorious, majestic, cosmic Christ. 
 
Hymn 362 – Holy, Holy, Holy
 
Lindsay Stoudt writes:
This song reminds me of childhood summers at Camp Aldersgate:  camping and canoeing on the Delaware River, spending time with old friends and meeting new ones, and singing hymns around the campfire while roasting marshmallows.  I just love the simple words, the catchy tune, and the great memories.
 
Hymn 458 – My song is love unknown
 
Kathy Covert writes:
Because it captures the Easter story in lovely poetry and harmony. And because my breath always catches at, “Love to the loveless shown that they might lovely be”. That captures so much of our ministry. And spoke to me personally, as well, when I felt loveless and un-lovely.
 
St. George’s Favorite Hymn Project:
We are collecting YOUR favorite hymns.  Submit yours today.
Tell us what it is here and why.
 

My Favorite Hymn

Saint George’s Hymn Project
 
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.
 
Many people ask me if I have a favorite hymn.  I used to say that there were too many to pick…and there are.  But as I have grown older, I’ve managed to cobble a top ten (or so) list together, from which different hymns rise to the top at different times.  Consistently for me, however, Christ, Mighty Savior (Hymn 34) has had significant meaning.  I first experienced this hymn at the end of a choir rehearsal in graduate school.  Every rehearsal ended with this hymn, and I was transported by its words and tune the first time I heard it.  I couldn’t get enough this beautiful tune and its equally beautiful text that were so well paired.  I love how the rises and falls gracefully throughout to a half-cadence conclusion, which gave the hymn’s ending a sense of openness and not finality.  For indeed, God’s work is not finished.  The text beautifully traces God’s work in our lives and the world and provides words of comfort and love in all seasons of life.  I love all the words – I can’t pick a favorite phrase. 
 
We sometimes sing this hymn at the end of the Saint George’s Choir rehearsals.  We often sing it at Evensongs.  I sing it to my kids at bedtime. And the most special and sacred memories of this hymn are the times I have sung it with other Saint Georgians at the bedsides of beloved members this community as they have passed into eternal life. 
 
Hymn 376 -  Joyful, Joyful we adore thee
 
Don George, Senior Warden writes:
First of all, not being much of a singer, I enjoy this hymn because it's easy to sing along with - to me anyway....I love the words and sense of how all of creation gives thanks to God.   It was also the hymn we used as we recessed after we got married at St. George's; so this hymn is special and sacred to me.
 
Hymn 287 – For all the saints
 
George SIbert writes: 
It has been my favorite for a long, long time.  The words, the music, everything!
 
Hymn 416 – For the beauty of the earth
 
Denise Cormaney writes:
I've loved this one for as long as I can remember. I think it's because even as a child, I could grasp the simple yet profound sentiment expressed in this hymn. "For the love, which from our birth, over and around us lies." I sing this line in my head every time I'm in nature, or sometimes even in the parish hall when it's filled with people, or often when I'm surrounded by family and friends. God's love is constant, and it is everywhere we look if we're paying attention.
 
Soli Deo Gloria!
Ben Keseley, Minister of Music
 
 
 
St. George’s Favorite Hymn Project:
We are collecting YOUR favorite hymns.  Submit yours today.
Tell us what it is here and why.
 

Chorister Pilgrimage and Favorite Hymns

Choristers to make pilgrimage to Lincoln Cathedral, UK
I’m excited to announce that our Choristers, along with choristers from St. Mary’s, Arlington, and St. Andrew’s, Burke have the opportunity to be the choir in residence for the week in the summer of 2019, July 8-15, at Lincoln Cathedral.  Most Cathedrals have an adjoining cathedral school.  During school holidays, visiting choirs are invited to be the resident choir.  Lincoln Cathedral has had a tradition of daily worship since 1088, one in which our choristers will take part.  It is the third largest cathedral in England, whose most famous director of music was William Byrd.  During our residency we will have the opportunity to sing daily services, experience Anglican music in its original setting, grow musically and spiritually, and develop lasting friendships, among many other things.  I look forward to sharing more information about this exciting pilgrimage as we prepare for our trip in the coming year.
 
 
Saint George’s Hymn Project
 
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.
 
Hymn 693 – Just as I am, without one plea
 
Patty Gibson writes:
I’ve loved this one since I was a little girl, probably because it acknowledges human weaknesses.
 
Hymn 362 – Holy, Holy, Holy
 
Lindsay Stoudt writes:
This song reminds me of childhood summers at Camp Aldersgate:  camping and canoeing on the Delaware River, spending time with old friends and meeting new ones, and singing hymns around the campfire while roasting marshmallows.  I just love the simple words, the catchy tune, and the great memories.
 
Hymn 458 – My song is love unknown
 
Kathy Covert writes:
Because it captures the Easter story in lovely poetry and harmony. And because my breath always catches at, “Love to the loveless shown that they might lovely be”. That captures so much of our ministry. And spoke to me personally, as well, when I felt loveless and un-lovely.
 
Soli Deo Gloria!
Ben Keseley, Minister of Music
 
 
St. George’s Favorite Hymn Project:
We are collecting YOUR favorite hymns.  Submit yours today.
Tell us what it is here and why.

The Power of our Hymnody


 
The power of our hymnody
 
Last week at our 7:30pm Ash Wednesday service, I told the choir we were going try something new, and different.  We were going to lead the entire service a ccapella.  There were few looks of excitement, and many that led me to believe they thought I had finally completely lost it.  The truth is, they did really well and in this manner of leading our hymnody we were able to experience in a different way, the profound harmonic and poetic beauty of our hymnody. 
 
It was a powerful experience and one that was not lost on our Choristers.  At the end of our closing hymn (Eternal Lord of love, behold your church, #149) there is the marvelous phrase that begins “glorious in springtime”.  I made gesture for the choir to emphasize this (…and they were watching), and what happened next was truly transcendent.  This experience caused a few of our choristers to smile, and one of our chorister’s eyes lit up, he looked at me, and in the middle of the hymn said – “Whoa! I saw and heard that…that was really awesome.”  I would be surprised if hymn 149 wasn’t his new favorite hymn.
 
Here are some more of your favorite hymns, and why they have special meaning in your life.
 
Hymn 362 - Holy, Holy, Holy
 
Larry Carnahan writes: In the church I attended as a child, this hymn was the processional every Sunday.  As a result, I learned every part as my voice changed.  Years later, when I learned of my maternal grandfather's death, I decided to attend midweek services at the Church of the Epiphany in downtown DC.  When Holy, Holy, Holy turned out to be the hymn used in that service,  I realized  what an important connection it had to my religious life.  I also like its Trinity theme.
 
Hymn 380, Stanza 3 -  The Doxology
 
Mike Nelson writes: The Doxology is one of the few hymns that I have memorized and one of the few. I'm comfortable singing at full volume (since I'm not a very good singer).  I have memories of singing this hymn in all sorts of locations and in very special circumstances--at Shrine Mont, at Holden Village (the Lutheran Church retreat center in the northern Cascades of Washington state, as well as at countless church dinners).  I always associate it with fellowship.
 
Hymn 688 – A mighty fortress is our God
 
Angie Rollet writes: Growing up, my sister and I were allowed to watch very little television. One show we watched regularly, however, was Davey and Goliath, a claymation cartoon series. It's opening theme uses the music from "A Mighty Fortress..." and when I hear the hymn it immediately takes me back to small town Nebraska, a relaxed and stress-free lifestyle, and grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup.
 
David Grahn writes: I grew up in the Lutheran Church.  It is a powerful hymn that reminds me of my childhood and connects me with my grandfather who was a Lutheran minister serving in a number of churches in the upper Midwest.
 
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.
 
Soli Deo Gloria!
Ben Keseley, Minister of Music
 
St. George’s Favorite Hymn Project:
We are collecting YOUR favorite hymns.  Submit yours today.
Tell us what it is here and why.
 

St. George's Favorite Hymn Project - Lent 1

St. George’s Favorite Hymn Project
 
Throughout the season of Lent, we will hear what some of your favorite hymns are and why they are meaningful.   These stories are shared with the hope that we might come to not only know more about each other and our hymnody, but to deepen our knowledge of God’s expansive love and grace.  I encourage you to use one or more of these hymns for your devotions during Lent.  For information on each hymn below, as well as text and tune, click the hyperlink for each hymn.  And, if you haven’t submitted your favorite hymn, please do so with the link below!
 
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.
 
Hymn 427 - “When Morning Gilds the Sky”
 
Mary Martha Churchman, writes:
 
While I was attending Wittenberg I sometimes attended morning prayer at Christ Episcopal Church in Springfield with my grandmother, a lifetime resident of Springfield and member of Christ Church.  I remember standing beside her (or rather, towering over her!)  and singing this hymn together.  She was in her mid-eighties at the time and still loved singing.   It was also one of my mother's favorite hymns.  She sang with a clear strong voice.  This hymn always evokes a strong memory of shared joy. 
 
 
Hymn 711 – Seek ye first the Kingdom of God
 
Margret Hjalmarson, writes:
 
I love that it can be sung as a round and the melody is beautiful. The lyrics are a reminder to seek and to ask God is a simple statement but also hard to do.
 
Hymn 400 – All creatures of our God and King
 
Jill Nussbaum writes:
 
I love this hymn because it allows me to retrace my faith journey each time it is sung.  It begins with instinctive awe and wonder at the beauty of the natural world, moves to handling human relationships with mercy, and beyond that to comfort for those "who pain and sorrow bear," and the promise that even death will merely lead us home.  That's a powerful message for a single song.
 
 
Soli Deo Gloria!
Ben Keseley, Minister of Music
 
St. George’s Favorite Hymn Project:
We are collecting YOUR favorite hymns.  Submit yours today.
Tell us what it is here and why.