Sunday Worship for November 29, 2020
The First Sunday of Advent
Please view the embedded video of our service below by clicking on the arrow in the middle of the image.
About the Music:
The Prelude for this Sunday is Bach's arrangement for organ of the 4th movement from his Cantata 140, "Wachet auf", or "Wake, Awake". The melody, originally sung by the tenors, is played here on a trumpet stop which enters intermittently against a lyrical melody originally played by the violins of the orchestra. The quartet sang the original version for worship just a few weeks ago.
"E'en So, Lord Jesus Quickly Come" was composed in 1953 by Paul Manz using words from the Book of Revelation adapted by his wife Ruth Manz during a time when their three year old son was critically ill. Their son eventually recovered and the piece was dedicated to him and all those who prayed for him. While renowned as an organist, this exquisitely beautiful Advent motet has become his most successful composition and is widely considered a standard of the repertoire. We sing it at Trinity Church every year on the first Sunday of Advent.
The Postlude is "Rhapsody on Helmsley" by William Lloyd Webber (1918-1982). An English organist and composer, he is known as the father of well-known composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (Phantom of the Opera, Cats) and famed cellist Julian Lloyd Webber. "Helmsley" is the tune of today's hymn, "Lo, he comes with clouds descending".