Farewell to Alleluia

Lent is upon us.The last Sunday after Epiphay has come. We celebrate the Transfiguration, say farewell to Alleluia and prepare ourselves for forty days of fasting and penance.

This has been a difficult week for our community. Four prominent businessmen, including three of my friends from Rotary, were killed in a plane crash Wednesday night. The next week there will be four funerals to attend.

2 Kings 2:1-12
Psalm 50:1-6
2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Mark 9:2-9

Our introit hymn was O Wondrous Type! O Vision Fair set to the tune Deo Gracias, the Agincourt Song.

O wondrous type! O vision fair
of glory that the Church may share,
which Christ upon the mountain shows,
where brighter than the sun he glows!

With shining face and bright array,
Christ deigns to manifest today
what glory shall be theirs above
who joy in God with perfect love.

And faithful hearts are raised on high
by this great vision's mystery;
for which in joyful strains we raise
the voice of prayer, the hymns of praise.

Our opening hymn was O Zion, Haste written by Mary A. Thompsonand set to the tune Tidings by James Walch

1. O Zion, haste, thy mission high fulfilling,
to tell to all the world that God is light,
that he who made all nations is not willing
one soul should perish, lost in shades of night.
Refrain:
Publish glad tidings, tidings of peace;
tidings of Jesus, redemption and release.

2. Behold how many thousands still are lying
bound in the darksome prisonhouse of sin,
with none to tell them of the Savior's dying,
or of the life he died for them to win.
(Refrain)

3. Proclaim to every people, tongue, and nation
that God, in whom they live and move, is love;
tell how he stooped to save his lost creation,
and died on earth that we might live above.
(Refrain)

4. Give of thine own to bear the message glorious;
give of thy wealth to speed them on their way;
pour out thy soul for them in prayer victorious;
O Zion, haste to bring the brighter day.
(Refrain)


Our second hymn was some different verses of O Wondrous Type! O Vision Fair set to a different tune, Wareham, Aeterne Rex altissime, O nata Lux de Lumine

O wondrous type! O vision fair
of glory that the Church may share,
which Christ upon the mountain shows,
where brighter than the sun he glows!

The law and prophets there have place,
the chosen witnesses of grace;
the Father's voice from our the cloud
proclaims his only Son aloud.

O Father, with the eternal Son,
and Holy Spirit, ever One,
vouchsafe to bring us by thy grace
to see thy glory face to face.

Our anthem was based on the hymn Alleluia, Song of Gladness, set to the hymn tune Picardy by Donald Busarow. It is a moving anthem, well suited for the ending of the service on this last Sunday before Ash Wednesday. The hymn is 11th century Latin poem, translated by John Mason Neale.

Alleuia, song of gladness, voice of joy that cannot die;
alleluia is the anthem ever raised by choirs on high;
in the house of God abiding thus they sing eternally.

Alleluia thou resoundest, true Jerusalem and free;
alleluia, joyful mother, all thy children sing with thee;
but by Babylon's sad waters mourning exiles now are we.

Alleluia, though we cherish and would chant for evermore
alleluia, in our singing let us for a while give o'er,
as our Saviour in his fasting, pleasures of the world forbore.

Therefore in our hymns we pray thee, grant us blessed Trinity,
at the last to keep thine Easter with thy faithful saints on high;
there to thee for ever singing alleluia joyfully!

God of Grace and God of Glory by Harry Emerson Fosdick. The tune is Cwm Rhondda
by John Hughes.

God of grace and God of glory,
On Thy people pour Thy power.
Crown Thine ancient church’s story,
Bring her bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.

Lo! the hosts of evil ’round us,
Scorn Thy Christ, assail His ways.
From the fears that long have bound us,
Free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the living of these days,
For the living of these days.

Cure Thy children’s warring madness,
Bend our pride to Thy control.
Shame our wanton selfish gladness,
Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal.

Set our feet on lofty places,
Gird our lives that they may be,
Armored with all Christ-like graces,
In the fight to set men free.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
That we fail not man nor Thee,
That we fail not man nor Thee.

Save us from weak resignation,
To the evils we deplore.
Let the search for Thy salvation,
Be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Serving Thee Whom we adore,
Serving Thee Whom we adore.