Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
The Episcopal Tourist, Write III
This morning at the suggestion of Ed Hutchinson, Lee and I attended All Saints Church in Dorchester just outside of Boston. This is an Anglo Catholic Parish founded in 1867. The present building dates from 1897 and is an architecturally significant structure of great beauty.
We arrived about 15 minutes before the service, found a bulletin and made our way to a pew. The magnificent interior featured high ceilings and clerestory windows with some fine stained glass. The altar was of elaborately carved stone with a richly detailed last supper and painted scenes with gold leaf above. The choir stalls were made of intricately carved wood and there was an elaborate cross high above the choir that also appeared to be part of a rood screen. There were also side chapels. The pews were of wood with no cushions.
The relatively new Fisk tracker organ was shown off to great advantage in the prelude, Improvisation in F# Minor by Buxtehude. The conclusion filled the church with mighty and beautifully balanced sonorities.
The congregation was a diverse mixture. There were many African Americans including two elderly church ladies in matching pink skirt, jacket and wide brim hats. All appeared devout and most everyone genuflected entering and leaving the pews.
The service was called a Solemn Mass, which indicates the presence of incense and chanting. Ed had told us that the church was a training ground for acolytes and this was evident in the precision of the service team. The choir, torchbearers, thurifer, Sub Deacon, Deacon, and Priest entered from the rear and executed some precise choreography reverencing the altar.
I should note that in the pews were the 1940 Hymnal and the Anglican Service Book which seemed to be mostly rite I with some additions. Today we had just the trebles from the choir of Men and Boys. There were only 5 of them, but they were very well schooled and confident, needing only occasional direction from the choirmaster. They sang an introit in Anglican Chant. We began with an opening acclamation and then knelt for the Decalogue, confession and absolution.
Lee noted that they were following the Roman Catholic lectionary, not the RCL. No amplification appeared to be used during the service and it was definitely needed. We both had difficulty understanding readers, priests and others.
The congregation was censed 3 times during the gradual. All bowed their heads each time. The gospel procession was executed with exquisite precision, and then chanted superbly right next to us as the incense rose heavenward. The children were joyfully led out by a torchbearer to Sunday school. Lead kindly light!
The sermon was delivered by the rector, Father Michael J. Godderz. He preached on the Epistle, Ephesians 2:4-10. It concerned the gift of God’s grace. We do not have to do good works to be saved. We are already saved, and our good works are the fruits of that gift of salvation. Lee took exception to some other conclusions of Father Michael and had a lively impromptu discussion with him on the way to coffee hour.
After the creed, prayers of the people, and peace, the trebles sang a lovely anthem by William Byrd I have longed for thy saving health.
Portions of the Eucharistic prayer I were chanted. The priests celebrated in the old manner with their backs to the congregation facing the high altar. All movement was done with great reverence and grace. We went up and received at the altar rail to the strains of Bach’s Bist du Bei Mir, Be thou with me, sung in quite decent German by the boys.
After prayers and dismissal we sang the final hymn. This was followed by a recitation of the Angelus. All stayed to listen to the Voluntary, Buxtehude’s O Sacred head sore wounded, as the altar candles were extinguished by another team of acolytes. This must have been the training class as they had a few small missteps along the way.
A member in an adjacent pew invited us to coffee hour and gave us directions. We went as instructed to the back and up some stairs. There was handicap access via a motorized chair lift. Their Great Hall is a large and graceful space with high ceiling and beautiful wood. It is flooded with light from many large windows. There were a number of happy children running around. It took a while, but we were finally approached by a man and later his wife who engaged us in conversation. This gentleman had been at this church since 1935!
Our impression of this church was of a very devout, vital and engaged community. From my childhood and some other experience, I have always pictured the Episcopal Church as an essentially patrician and definitely white community. What was truly heartening about this church for me was the diversity of the congregation and the obvious strength of their devotion. This is not a wealthy community for the most part and it appears that this church provides much needed structure in the lives of its members, especially the children in this working class neighborhood. The music program is of special interest to me. It is obvious from the musical skills the boys displayed that they have been taught with great care and intensity. One announcement concerned prayers for a choirboy whose home had been destroyed by fire. The bonding, sense of purpose, and community this program fosters must be of great value here.
We heard hints that there had been controversy in the church, presumably something to do with the “current unpleasantness” over sexual matters.
Personally, I might have trouble making his my spiritual home because of the conservatism of the theology and liturgy. The priest did depart slightly from the printed liturgy at one point by using more gender inclusive language, but this was the exception. The old liturgy, while very beautiful, poetic, and majestic, seems to me now to be a relic of an earlier era. I also question the use of the fine, but very outdated 1940 hymnal. Nevertheless, the Anglo Catholic tradition is well represented here with beautiful ceremony, liturgy, music, and community.
This morning at the suggestion of Ed Hutchinson, Lee and I attended All Saints Church in Dorchester just outside of Boston. This is an Anglo Catholic Parish founded in 1867. The present building dates from 1897 and is an architecturally significant structure of great beauty.
We arrived about 15 minutes before the service, found a bulletin and made our way to a pew. The magnificent interior featured high ceilings and clerestory windows with some fine stained glass. The altar was of elaborately carved stone with a richly detailed last supper and painted scenes with gold leaf above. The choir stalls were made of intricately carved wood and there was an elaborate cross high above the choir that also appeared to be part of a rood screen. There were also side chapels. The pews were of wood with no cushions.
The relatively new Fisk tracker organ was shown off to great advantage in the prelude, Improvisation in F# Minor by Buxtehude. The conclusion filled the church with mighty and beautifully balanced sonorities.
The congregation was a diverse mixture. There were many African Americans including two elderly church ladies in matching pink skirt, jacket and wide brim hats. All appeared devout and most everyone genuflected entering and leaving the pews.
The service was called a Solemn Mass, which indicates the presence of incense and chanting. Ed had told us that the church was a training ground for acolytes and this was evident in the precision of the service team. The choir, torchbearers, thurifer, Sub Deacon, Deacon, and Priest entered from the rear and executed some precise choreography reverencing the altar.
I should note that in the pews were the 1940 Hymnal and the Anglican Service Book which seemed to be mostly rite I with some additions. Today we had just the trebles from the choir of Men and Boys. There were only 5 of them, but they were very well schooled and confident, needing only occasional direction from the choirmaster. They sang an introit in Anglican Chant. We began with an opening acclamation and then knelt for the Decalogue, confession and absolution.
Lee noted that they were following the Roman Catholic lectionary, not the RCL. No amplification appeared to be used during the service and it was definitely needed. We both had difficulty understanding readers, priests and others.
The congregation was censed 3 times during the gradual. All bowed their heads each time. The gospel procession was executed with exquisite precision, and then chanted superbly right next to us as the incense rose heavenward. The children were joyfully led out by a torchbearer to Sunday school. Lead kindly light!
The sermon was delivered by the rector, Father Michael J. Godderz. He preached on the Epistle, Ephesians 2:4-10. It concerned the gift of God’s grace. We do not have to do good works to be saved. We are already saved, and our good works are the fruits of that gift of salvation. Lee took exception to some other conclusions of Father Michael and had a lively impromptu discussion with him on the way to coffee hour.
After the creed, prayers of the people, and peace, the trebles sang a lovely anthem by William Byrd I have longed for thy saving health.
Portions of the Eucharistic prayer I were chanted. The priests celebrated in the old manner with their backs to the congregation facing the high altar. All movement was done with great reverence and grace. We went up and received at the altar rail to the strains of Bach’s Bist du Bei Mir, Be thou with me, sung in quite decent German by the boys.
After prayers and dismissal we sang the final hymn. This was followed by a recitation of the Angelus. All stayed to listen to the Voluntary, Buxtehude’s O Sacred head sore wounded, as the altar candles were extinguished by another team of acolytes. This must have been the training class as they had a few small missteps along the way.
A member in an adjacent pew invited us to coffee hour and gave us directions. We went as instructed to the back and up some stairs. There was handicap access via a motorized chair lift. Their Great Hall is a large and graceful space with high ceiling and beautiful wood. It is flooded with light from many large windows. There were a number of happy children running around. It took a while, but we were finally approached by a man and later his wife who engaged us in conversation. This gentleman had been at this church since 1935!
Our impression of this church was of a very devout, vital and engaged community. From my childhood and some other experience, I have always pictured the Episcopal Church as an essentially patrician and definitely white community. What was truly heartening about this church for me was the diversity of the congregation and the obvious strength of their devotion. This is not a wealthy community for the most part and it appears that this church provides much needed structure in the lives of its members, especially the children in this working class neighborhood. The music program is of special interest to me. It is obvious from the musical skills the boys displayed that they have been taught with great care and intensity. One announcement concerned prayers for a choirboy whose home had been destroyed by fire. The bonding, sense of purpose, and community this program fosters must be of great value here.
We heard hints that there had been controversy in the church, presumably something to do with the “current unpleasantness” over sexual matters.
Personally, I might have trouble making his my spiritual home because of the conservatism of the theology and liturgy. The priest did depart slightly from the printed liturgy at one point by using more gender inclusive language, but this was the exception. The old liturgy, while very beautiful, poetic, and majestic, seems to me now to be a relic of an earlier era. I also question the use of the fine, but very outdated 1940 hymnal. Nevertheless, the Anglo Catholic tradition is well represented here with beautiful ceremony, liturgy, music, and community.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Episcopal Tourist part II
This Sunday I attended Emmanuel Church. Several things brought me here. First they are unique in that they incorporate a Bach Cantata into their service, second they share space with a Jewish Congregation and their Rabbi preached the sermon today, third, they describe themselves as a Church that welcomes everyone and strives for justice and peace.
Instead of the snows of last week, it was a very bright sunny day. Only a strong wind kept it from feeling really balmy. So it was a long but pleasant walk for me over Beacon Hill and across the Public Garden.
I was greeted warmly at the door and ushered inside. This is a truly grand Gothic space with very high ceilings and beautiful stained glass including what looks like a Tiffany. The altar is huge with very elaborate stone carvings. The choir stalls are of intricately carved wood. I would estimate the congregation at 150 or more. There is room for many many more. The organist played Bach’s Praeludium in G minor
We began with announcements, followed by the opening hymn. In contrast to last week, this was definitely low church, though there was a nice procession with adult choir and guest children’s choir, crucifer, torchbearers and two priests, both women. After the collect for purity, came the lessons and a very nice unattributed plainsong Kyrie. In place of the psalm, the children’s choir sang a moving anthem Make me one with the darkness,with music by James Primosch and words by Wendell Barry
At night, make me one with the darkness
In the morning make me one with the light
When I rise up, let me rise joyful like a bird
When I fall, let me fall without regret like a leaf.
Let me wake in the night and hear it raining and go back to sleep
Rabbi Howard Berman’s sermon was riveting, expertly delivered, and very well constructed. He began by referring to the Genesis reading and reminding us that three faiths have arisen from Abraham. He spoke of the rise of monotheism and its novel concern for how we treat each other. He compared Noah and Abraham noting that Noah was not as righteous as the scriptures have him appear. Noah blindly obeys God. He does not question what will happen to the righteous during the flood. When God will destroy Soddam and Gomorrah, Abraham takes great risk by asking God what will happen to the righteous and the innocent when those cities are destroyed. Rabbi Berman reminded us that in Jewish tradition and increasingly in Christian tradition also, that the sins of Soddam and Gomorrah are not thought of as sexual sins, but those of lack of hospitality and violence to strangers. This was a powerful reminder of our duty to care for and respect the dignity of every person.
After the prayers and the peace, we celebrated Communion. The choir sang a short anthem by the acting Music Director John Harbison, a very distinguished composer and conductor.
It was now time for the Cantata. Many of you may remember hearing recordings from here on the late Robert J. Lurtsema’s Sunday morning NPR program. The musicians quickly set up. There were 2 recorders, 2 violas de gamba, portative organ and strings. This was # 106 Gottes Zeit ist die Allerbeste Zeit. God’s time is the best time. Also known as Actus Tragicus, this is one of Bach’s early masterpieces. Atypically, it is made up of a number of smaller segments rather a few large ones. It is intended for use at funerals. It begins with a Sonatina a gently weeping piece for recorders and gambas. Then follows the first chorus Gottes Zeit. The tenor arioso follows “Ach Herr, Lord teach us to consider that we must die so that we may become wise. The bass solo answers Bereite Dein Haus, Put your house in order for you will die. The soprano arioso answers Komm Herr Jesu Come Lord Jesus, and the chorus accompanies saying It is the ancient law, human, you must die. The instruments also play a chorale against all of this. It is the miracle of Bach that he can present this deeply gloomy text and still uplift the spirit. The alto sings In Deine Hande” Into your hands I commend my spirit. You have redeemed me Lord God. The bass answers with Heute Wirst du mit mir, Today you will be with me in paradise. Against this is juxtaposed the chorale With peace and joy I depart. The final chorus is a miracle of lightness and joy. Glory Praise, honor and majesty be prepared for You, God the Father and Son, for the Holy Spirit by name. The divine power makes us victorious through Jesus Christ, Amen.
We said the final prayers and sang the recessional. I went out to greet the tenor soloist, an old colleague.
There was much to ponder here with great texts and great music to illuminate the meaning. It is a beautiful sacred space with a fantastic music program. But what was missing for me in my experience today was a sense off community. Unfortunately no one spoke to me or welcomed me during or after the service. Now I did not hang around very long, but no one invited me to coffee hour or even shook my hand except during the peace.
This Sunday I attended Emmanuel Church. Several things brought me here. First they are unique in that they incorporate a Bach Cantata into their service, second they share space with a Jewish Congregation and their Rabbi preached the sermon today, third, they describe themselves as a Church that welcomes everyone and strives for justice and peace.
Instead of the snows of last week, it was a very bright sunny day. Only a strong wind kept it from feeling really balmy. So it was a long but pleasant walk for me over Beacon Hill and across the Public Garden.
I was greeted warmly at the door and ushered inside. This is a truly grand Gothic space with very high ceilings and beautiful stained glass including what looks like a Tiffany. The altar is huge with very elaborate stone carvings. The choir stalls are of intricately carved wood. I would estimate the congregation at 150 or more. There is room for many many more. The organist played Bach’s Praeludium in G minor
We began with announcements, followed by the opening hymn. In contrast to last week, this was definitely low church, though there was a nice procession with adult choir and guest children’s choir, crucifer, torchbearers and two priests, both women. After the collect for purity, came the lessons and a very nice unattributed plainsong Kyrie. In place of the psalm, the children’s choir sang a moving anthem Make me one with the darkness,with music by James Primosch and words by Wendell Barry
At night, make me one with the darkness
In the morning make me one with the light
When I rise up, let me rise joyful like a bird
When I fall, let me fall without regret like a leaf.
Let me wake in the night and hear it raining and go back to sleep
Rabbi Howard Berman’s sermon was riveting, expertly delivered, and very well constructed. He began by referring to the Genesis reading and reminding us that three faiths have arisen from Abraham. He spoke of the rise of monotheism and its novel concern for how we treat each other. He compared Noah and Abraham noting that Noah was not as righteous as the scriptures have him appear. Noah blindly obeys God. He does not question what will happen to the righteous during the flood. When God will destroy Soddam and Gomorrah, Abraham takes great risk by asking God what will happen to the righteous and the innocent when those cities are destroyed. Rabbi Berman reminded us that in Jewish tradition and increasingly in Christian tradition also, that the sins of Soddam and Gomorrah are not thought of as sexual sins, but those of lack of hospitality and violence to strangers. This was a powerful reminder of our duty to care for and respect the dignity of every person.
After the prayers and the peace, we celebrated Communion. The choir sang a short anthem by the acting Music Director John Harbison, a very distinguished composer and conductor.
It was now time for the Cantata. Many of you may remember hearing recordings from here on the late Robert J. Lurtsema’s Sunday morning NPR program. The musicians quickly set up. There were 2 recorders, 2 violas de gamba, portative organ and strings. This was # 106 Gottes Zeit ist die Allerbeste Zeit. God’s time is the best time. Also known as Actus Tragicus, this is one of Bach’s early masterpieces. Atypically, it is made up of a number of smaller segments rather a few large ones. It is intended for use at funerals. It begins with a Sonatina a gently weeping piece for recorders and gambas. Then follows the first chorus Gottes Zeit. The tenor arioso follows “Ach Herr, Lord teach us to consider that we must die so that we may become wise. The bass solo answers Bereite Dein Haus, Put your house in order for you will die. The soprano arioso answers Komm Herr Jesu Come Lord Jesus, and the chorus accompanies saying It is the ancient law, human, you must die. The instruments also play a chorale against all of this. It is the miracle of Bach that he can present this deeply gloomy text and still uplift the spirit. The alto sings In Deine Hande” Into your hands I commend my spirit. You have redeemed me Lord God. The bass answers with Heute Wirst du mit mir, Today you will be with me in paradise. Against this is juxtaposed the chorale With peace and joy I depart. The final chorus is a miracle of lightness and joy. Glory Praise, honor and majesty be prepared for You, God the Father and Son, for the Holy Spirit by name. The divine power makes us victorious through Jesus Christ, Amen.
We said the final prayers and sang the recessional. I went out to greet the tenor soloist, an old colleague.
There was much to ponder here with great texts and great music to illuminate the meaning. It is a beautiful sacred space with a fantastic music program. But what was missing for me in my experience today was a sense off community. Unfortunately no one spoke to me or welcomed me during or after the service. Now I did not hang around very long, but no one invited me to coffee hour or even shook my hand except during the peace.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
The Episcopal Tourist, an occasional series
Today in
It was snowing as I made my way up the steep front steps. I found out later that handicap access is not available because of difficulties complying with historic district regulations.
As I entered, a special needs woman gave me a service leaflet. I found a pew, sat and took in the lovely interior of the church, built in the mid 19th century. It had begun as a congregational church, but the Episcopalians have tarted it up quite well. The focal point is a beautiful reredos with wood carving and painting with gold leaf. The altar faces out, above it were seven brass lanterns and above that a large elaborately carved ornamental Cross hanging from the ceiling. There are also wooden choir stalls that are not used as such. The choir, organ and organist are in the rear balcony. Everett Titcomb, the noted organist and composer of church anthems played here for many years. The organ prelude was Bach’s O Mensch Bewein Dein SΓΌnde Gross.
The Crucifer, Priests and Thurifer entered engulfed in clouds of incense. We began immediately with the Great Litany in procession. The congregation followed along as instructed. We processed out to the narthex and up and down both aisles and across the Altar. The lay chanter was expert and his words were crystal clear. Copious clouds of incense wafted throughout the sanctuary.
The psalm was done in simplified Anglican Chant and the gospel was accompanied by much more incense. The thurifer stood beside me and I was engulfed.
The priest in charge was on vacation in the
I had been concerned that the small congregation of about forty seemed rather distant, but all exchanged the peace with warmth and inclusiveness
The choir, actually a quintet of excellent voices, sang an offertory anthem by Alessandro Scarlatti
As we sang the hymn Forty Day and Forty Nights, the thurifer censed the altar and vessels, unfortunately also knocking over the chalice. At this point we had just finished the penultimate verse, and the organist skillfully improvised for about 5 minutes as the mess was cleaned up and a new chalice prepared. We were led into the last verse and then a guest presider, the Rev Kathryn Piccard celebrated the Eucharist. We came up to the Altar and received standing up. The choir sang a short anthem by Richard Farrant. The closing hymn Lead us heavenly Father was played with spirit and I enjoyed singing it.
The postlude was more Bach Ich Ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ.
I spoke with the celebrant and preacher on the way out and they invited me to coffee hour. There was quiche and Irish soda bread. I chatted with several people including the organist Jeffrey Mills and a retired priest whose son is an opera singer in
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