On this Transfiguration Sunday, we meditate upon Christ's revelation of the Light that shines within us all. A Light to be shared — with everyone.

A service of celebration and hope will be offered as we transition away from the Epiphany season of Light to the Lenten wilderness journey. The Plymouth Ringers usher in worship with a call to "New Life," a joyful lullaby celebrating the birth of the composer Matt Johnson's son into the world. Cellist Aaron Dunigan-AtLee joins in. Kids Will Sing! share the Argentinian hymn "Santo, Santo, Santo (Holy, Holy, Holy)" with accompanist Lucy Moudy, flutist Desmond Jolly and violinist Nate Jolly assisting director Liz McGrew and the group. The organ elaborates upon the closing Transfiguration Sunday hymn "O Wondrous Sight, O Vision Fair" in a majestic setting of the hymn tune "Deo Gracias" by Healey Willan.   

During our time at the table, the Chancel Choir sings the beautiful "Where the Light Begins" by composer Susan LaBarr. The text by renowned author Jan Richardson was originally intended as a Christmas blessing. Ms. Richardson writes: "though we cannot see or feel or know all the ways that God is radiantly illuminating us, may we open ourselves toward that light. May we open our eyes, our hands, our hearts to meet it. May we lean into the light that begins in the deepest dark, bearing itself into this world for us." 

"Where the Light Begins" by Jan Richardson*

Perhaps it does not begin. Perhaps it is always.

Perhaps it takes a lifetime to open our eyes,
to learn to see what has forever
shimmered in front of us--

the luminous line of the map in the dark
the vigil flame in the house of the heart

the love so searing we cannot keep from singing, 
from crying out in testimony and praise.

Perhaps this day will be the mountain
over which the dawn breaks.

Perhaps we will turn our face toward it,
toward what has been always.

Perhaps our eyes will finally open
in ancient recognition, willingly dazzled,
illuminated at last.

Perhaps this day the light begins in us.

Mark

*Permission to print and podcast/stream music is through
OneLicense #A-709014 and Christian Copyright Solutions #11133

Vocalist/guitarist Bill DeMarco, staff singer Lucas Jackson, and bassist Con Woodall join us in the chancel for songs of service, community and compassion for the other.

"This Is My Song" was written in 1934 by Lloyd Stone and set to the music of the "Finlandia Hymn" by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. The hymn formed the basis of Sibelius's orchestral 1899 tone poem "Finlandia," a work of protest against Russian oppression. The text offers a relative nationalistic worldview where each person's dignity and love of country is informed by respect for others who feel the same pride and love for their own respective land. The author states this compassionate message beautifully in verse 1: 

This is my song, Oh God of all the nations, 
A song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is; 
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my sacred shrine.
But other hearts in other lands are beating,
With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.

Lucas Jackson offers a solo vocal/banjo version of "Colors of the Wind" during our time of gift giving. Originally composed by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz for the 1995 Disney animated film Pocohontas, the lyrics speak to the innate sacredness of nature and how we are to care for its sustenance — together. As stated in the final verses: "You can own the Earth and still all you'll own is Earth until you can paint with all the colors of the wind."

"This Land Is Your Land" was written in 1940 by American folk singer Woody Guthrie with musical inspiration from the Carter Family gospel song "When the World's on Fire." The lyrics speak to a welcoming spirit that all have a right to live in peace and harmony together— compassion for all. The song was written as a response to Irving Berlin's "God Bless America" which he felt did not account for those citizens struggling in society, particularly those experiencing hardship during the Great Depression.

We are invited to worship — and service — through a jazz-inflected setting of the 19th century hymn "Jesus Calls Us; O'er the Tumult" by William Bolcom. Like other selections from the composer's "Gospel Preludes for Organ" collection, this setting carries forward the time-honored tradition of chorale prelude settings for organ but in the contemporary language of gospel, blues, and jazz.
 
"Jesus Calls Us, o'er the tumult of our life's wild, restless sea. Day by day that voice still calls us, saying, "Christian, follow me."

The Chancel Choir sings of healing in Christ in a setting of the African-American spiritual "There Is a Balm in Gilead" by Steven Milloy, a former Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music colleague of mine. The text refers to the spiritual healing compound mentioned in Jeremiah 8.22: "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored?" The spiritual text however views this balm through a New Testament lens as salvation and healing through Christ.

"There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole. There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul...Don't ever feel discouraged, for Jesus is your friend, and if you lack for knowledge he'll ne'er refuse to lend."

Worship concludes with a dynamic setting of the spiritual "Down By the Riverside" by Marianne Kim. The composer has arranged numerous characteristic settings for organ incorporating elements from the gospel, jazz and blues genres. The original text of this spiritual predates the Civil War and refers to becoming a new creation in Christ, leaving anger and all resentments behind.

"Gonna lay down my burden, down by the riverside, down by the riverside, down by the riverside..."

Two musical offerings in honor of Black History Month and calls to joyful discipleship on this Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany. 

The Plymouth Ringers begin worship with an arrangement of the spiritual "Lord, I Want to Be a Christian" by Bill Ingram. The origins of this song could have been inspired by a story recounted by Baptist minister and historian Miles Fisher in his 1953 award-winning publication "Negro Slave Songs in the United States" from Virginia, 1756. The author writes: “A black slave asked Presbyterian preacher William Davies, ‘I come to you, sir, that you may tell me some good things concerning Jesus Christ and my duty to God, for I am resolved not to live any more as I have done…Lord [Sir], I want to be a Christian.’” 

The Chancel Choir expresses the call of the Spirit in Mark Miller's exuberant setting of the spiritual "I'm Gonna Sing!" Soloists Aaron McGrew and Lucas Jackson offer their voices in this joyous call to service and acceptance of mission.

Violinist Harmony Tucker presents G.F. Handel's sprightly second movement from "Violin Sonata No. 3 in F Major." This spirit-filled "Allegro" is a celebration of life. May we go out in service —joyfully—to tend to the needs of the community and each other.