This week we appreciate the return of our organist, Richard McPherson, as he offers the prelude. See Christian's notes on the music. We thank Brett Bibb for reading the lesson and the psalm. And we join Chandler Van Voorhis in offering the prayers. As always we are grateful to Christian Myers and our choristers for having recorded the anthem, and Gloria just prior to Easter.
Worship for June 7, 2020
Please view the embedded video of our service below by clicking on the grey arrow in the middle of the image.
Our service for Trinity Sunday begins with the "Fugue in E flat" (St. Anne) by J.S. Bach. While it is merely coincidence that the subject sounds very similar to the famous hymn tune whose name it bears, its association with the Trinity is quite intentional. This triple fugue has three subjects, is written in a key with three flats, and has many other numerological threes hidden in its structure.
St. Patrick's Breastplate (Hymn 370) is an ancient text known as a "lorica" or breastplate prayer to be chanted while dressing for battle. Legend has it that Patrick sang this lorica as protection from the pagan Irish king and the Druid fire worshipers who were attempting to prevent Patrick and his followers from reaching Tara where they would proclaim their Christian faith. The power of the lorica caused his company to appear as a herd of deer, sparing them from attack. The music combines two Irish folk tunes arranged by Charles Villiers Stanford.
Our choral anthem for Trinity Sunday is a beautiful setting of the well known hymn text "Holy, Holy, Holy" by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.