January 2, 2025
Epiphany / New Year 2025
It’s hard to believe we are a quarter of the way into this 21st Century, but 2025 is upon us, with all the challenges we know it will bring. I am thankful to be entering this year as part of our amazing community at Grace Church – we are all strengthened and supported by this Family of Faith.
This Sunday’s Voluntary is a setting of the Ukrainian New Year Carol “Shchedryk” which was made famous in our country when Peter Wilhousky added an English text and called it “Carol of the Bells”. As a descendant of a 100% Ukrainian Mother born on the plains of Saskatchewan, it is meaningful to be playing this nod to my heritage as arranged by the Leipzig-based organist Paul Fey. He chose to arrange it shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and it has a much more dramatic, even darker feel than most settings, but I love the tension created by the descending bass line and rising middle voices which increase the drama throughout.
Our Call to Worship by German Composer Peter Cornelius composed a cycle of six Weihnachtslieder [Christmas Songs] from 1856-1870, and the third titled “The Kings” has been translated into English with the accompaniment transcribed for voices to create a choral anthem out of what started life as a song for voice and piano.
Cornelius ingeniously creates an accompaniment from Phillip Nicolai’s famous German chorale "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" or “How Brightly Shines the Morning Star”, and the choir will sing the chorale accompanied by organ. Cornelius’ text provides a “travelogue” through the Journey of the Magi, and culminates in the poignant final verse:
"Thou child of man, lo to Bethlehem. The kings are traveling – travel with them.
The star of mercy, the star of grace will lead you on to your resting place.
Gold, incense, myrrh, thou canst not bring:
Offer your heart to the Infant King. Offer your heart.”
Christina Rossetti’s famous and quintessential text for Epiphany “In the Bleak Mid-Winter” has been set by many composers, but Holst’s tune “Cranham” is one of the finest, and is found in our hymnal. The tune is named after the Gloucestershire Village Cranham where Holst lived at the time, and it is a gem of a setting made even more perfect by arranger Roger Emerson. His lush arrangement of In the Bleak Mid-Winter has been scored for women’s voices and the mixed SATB chorus version we will sing. This profound text also ends with the poignant words “What I can, I give Him – give Him my heart.”
Both of these texts remind us that our hearts are restless until they find rest in our Creator, and God desires our heart and our best energies in service to God’s Children and all of Creation.
In this world of endless distractions, it might be a good resolution to resolve to be present for each other and in the moment with each person God brings our way each day. Truly the best gift of all is our heart!
Today and every day, I give thanks for every moment of life – from the bottom of my heart!
Kenton