February 19, 2012-Transfiguration Sunday

Feb 19 2012

Hymn: Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies

Charles Wesley, who wrote well over 6,500 hymns, wrote the text for this hymn. It first appeared in three stanzas, under the title “Morning Hymn.” Methodist hymnologist Carlton Young writes, “The first stanza is alive with bright messianic metaphors for Christ, ‘The true light which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world,’ John 1:9; ‘Sun of Righteousness,’ Isaiah 2:6 and Malachi 4:2; and ‘Day-star,’ Isaiah 14:12 and 2 Peter 1:19. Stanza 2 describes the beginning of the day without Christ as dark and cheerless. Stanza 3 invites Christ, ‘Radiancy divine,’ to enter our lives.”

Hymn: Transform Us as You, Transfigured

Sylvia Dunstan wrote this Transfiguration text in 1993. It is full of imagery from Christ’s encounter with “those holy ones” on the mountain, and binds it with our own human experiences. The first two lines of each stanza refer to a part of the Transfiguration story; the next two begin to reveal humanity’s struggle, and the last two lines are requests for God’s direction.

Hymn: God of Grace and God of Glory

This hymn was written by Baptist minister Harry Emerson Fosdick for the opening of Riverside Church, New York City, in 1930. The hymn was sung at the dedication services in February 1931 and was published the following year. Paul Westermeyer writes, “Of this prayer for wisdom and courage in the face of warring madness, pride, selfish gladness, and poverty of soul, Fosdick said, ‘That was more than a hymn to me when we sang it that day—it was a very urgent personal prayer. For with all my hopeful enthusiasm about the new venture there was inevitably much humble and sometimes fearful apprehension.’” Fosdick sought to make the church ecumenical, serving the needs of different social classes and ethnic groups.

Gathering Song: Nimemwona Bwana

Michael Burkhardt juxtaposes a traditional Tanzanian call and response with a beloved hymn based on a seventeenth century German chorale tune. In this piece, we see how two different cultures’ vision of Christ can be brought together in one unified song.

Anthem: Let Everything that Hath Breath

Jeffery Ames writes of his piece: “Let Everything that Hath Breath is an exuberant celebration set within the traditional gospel style. For many decades traditional gospel music has been a vital component of praise and worship for African-Americans. Whether being performed in a neighborhood church or in a concert hall, gospel music fulfills its purpose to uplift the spirit and hearts of all who hear. The text within this piece is taken from several Psalms and seeks to ‘Magnify the Lord and exalt his name’ through the traditional gospel style.”