This Sunday we will celebrate the Feast of Epiphany when we read about the three “wise” visitors who come to visit the infant Jesus in Bethlehem. Our Processional hymn is We three kings of orient are, written by John Henry Hopkins in 1857. Our Bible doesn’t describe the visitors as kings, and they aren’t limited to three, but traditionally we represent the three gifts with three visitors. Our choir basses usually take on this portrayal by processing in crowns and singing the three inner stanzas. The opening stanza is about the journey of the Magi to Bethlehem. The middle three stanzas explain a meaning for each of the three gifts. Gold signified royalty, and frankincense, deity. Myrrh foretold that the Christ child was born to die. The last stanza summarizes the song, calling Jesus the “King and God and Sacrifice,” and ending in a peal of alleluias. (hymnary.org)
Our Sequence hymn will be In the bleak midwinter, written in 1872 as a poem by Christina Rossetti. In his book, Deck the Hall, Andrew Gant describes the poem: “It stands as a perfect example of her almost uncanny ability to distil complex thoughts and emotions into language of almost childlike directness, something she shared with, and no doubt partly learnt from, her older contemporary, a poet to whom she is often compared, Elizabeth Barrett Browning…It is a beautiful poem. It reads a thoughtful journey, from describing the weather, to watching the baby, to a vision of angels, and finally to the poet’s own inward thoughts…Ending each verse with a line of just three syllables is a touch of genius: ‘Long ago…With a kiss...Give my heart.’” (2023, Deck the Hall, the Stories of our Favourite Christmas Carols by Andrew Gant, Hodder & Stoughton Limited, publishers)
For the Offertory, we will have a guest soloist, Kiera Anderson-Pittman, singing the traditional spiritual, Jesus, Oh what a Wonderful Child, arranged by Mark Hayes. Kiera is a student at Parkway Central High School and has received Honorable Mention in this year’s Missouri All-State Choir, as well as playing many featured roles in Parkway Central’s theatrical performances. She also sings in our Concert Choir and our Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Standard Time. Jesus, Jesus, Oh, what a wonderful Child; Jesus, Jesus, so lowly, meek and mild: New life, new hope, new joy He brings. Won’t you listen to the angels sing, “Glory, glory, glory to the newborn King”. He was herald by the angels, born in a lowly manger. The virgin Mary was His mother, and Joseph was His earthly father. Oh, three wise men came from afar, they were guided by a shining star, to see King Jesus where he lay in a manger filled with hay. (from 10 Christmas Songs for Solo Voice by Mark Hayes, 1999 Alfred Music Pub. Co.)
Our Recessional Hymn will be another well-known spiritual, Go tell it on the mountain. In his book, Rise Up Shepherd!, Luke A. Powery uses this carol in an Advent reflection and devotional: “The creator of this spiritual does not suggest we keep quiet and keep this news to ourselves. The music is upbeat and bouncing with joy, and this call, this charge, should be good news to us. The ‘go, tell’ is an invitation to experience the joy of Jesus and spread this joy wherever we may find ourselves.” (2017 Rise Up Shepherd! Advent reflections on the spirituals by Luke A. Powery, Westminster John Knox Press)
May this experience of the coming of Jesus meet us in our daily lives in such a way that fills us with joy and gives us the energy to go and tell the good news to a world full of doubt and despair. Go tell it!!!