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Patrick Comerford
Although many people are going to refer to today as Saint Valentine’s Day, this is the First Sunday in Lent (14 February 2016). Tis morning, I am presiding at the Eucharist in the chapel of the Church of Ireland Theological Institute at 11.30 a.m., and the preacher is the Revd Ken Rue, priest in the parishes of Killiskey and Wicklow in the Diocese of Glendalough.
The readings are: Deuteronomy 26: 1-11; Psalm 91: 1-2, 9-16; Romans 10: 8b-13; and Luke 4: 1-13.
The illustrations on the cover of the brochure for this morning’s Eucharist are two paintings by Stanley Spencer, reflecting the theme in the Gospel reading.
The booklet also includes this note on the theme, readings and hymns:
A note on this morning’s service and hymns:
This morning’s readings, collect and post-communion prayer are those for the First Sunday in Lent. Three of our hymns this morning are from the new supplemental hymnal, Thanks & Praise. This is Lent, so we are not singing Gloria this morning. But, as this is also Saint Valentine’s Day, some of our hymns hint at the theme of love.
Processional Hymn: ‘Our Father, we have worshipped’ (Thanks and Praise, 116) by Monsignor Kevin Nichols (1926-2006), is a hymn of lament appropriate at the beginning of Lent. Professor Nichols was a teacher for most of his working life and a member of the International Committee for English in the Liturgy (ICEL). His words are based on the story of the Prodigal Son (see Luke 15) and are a wonderful reminder of our unworthiness and the incredible grace of God. The tune ‘Salley Gardens’ is an Irish folk melody originally known as ‘The Maids of Mourne Shore.’ The arrangement for Thanks and Praise is by the Revd Dr Peter Thompson, Succentor of Armagh Cathedral.
Gradual: ‘Jesus tempted in the desert’ (Thanks and Praise, 78) is by the well-known American Lutheran hymn writer and Professor of Preaching, the Revd Herman G. Stuempfle jr (1923-2007). The tune ‘Ebenezer’ by Thomas John Williams (1869-1944) is best-known as the tune for ‘O the deep, deep love of Jesus’ (Church Hymnal 105). Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958), who harmonised this tune, said it is ‘amongst the world’s one hundred finest tunes.’
Offertory: ‘Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life’ (Church Hymnal, 610) was written as a poem by George Herbert (1593-1632) and published a year after his death in The Temple (1633). It has been described as ‘a trinity of trinities.’ The tune ‘The Call’ by Vaughan Williams is adapted from the fourth of his Five Mystical Songs (1911).
Communion Hymn: As we receive Holy Communion, we sing ‘Jesus, remember me’ (Church Hymnal, 617), by Jacques Berthier (1923-1994) and the Taizé Community. Berthier, working with Father Robert Giscard and Father Joseph Gelineau, developed the ‘songs of Taizé’ genre. He composed 284 songs and accompaniments for Taizé, including Laudate omnes gentes and Ubi Caritas.
Post Communion Hymn: ‘We shall go out with hope of resurrection’ (Thanks and Praise, 158) is by the Revd June Boyce-Tilman, Professor Applied Music at the University of Winchester. It sends us out with ‘tales of a love that will not let us go … including all within the circles of our love.’ The tune Isle of Innisfree is by the Irish composer Dick Farrelly (1916-1990), and was the principal musical theme of the film The Quiet Man (1952). It was arranged for Thanks and Praise by Jacqueline Mullen.
Patrick Comerford,
14 February 2016
The Collect:
Almighty God,
whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness,
and was tempted as we are, yet without sin:
Give us grace to discipline ourselves
in obedience to your Spirit;
and, as you know our weakness,
so may we know your power to save;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Post-Communion Prayer:
Lord God,
you renew us with the living bread from heaven.
Nourish our faith,
increase our hope,
strengthen our love,
and enable us to live by every word
that proceeds from out of your mouth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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