Staff Sharing

Jacqueline Stilger, Minister of Music

“For a psalm calls forth a tear even from a heart of stone. A psalm is the work of angels, a heavenly institution, the spiritual incense.” (Basil, 4th century)

Throughout the course of Lent, and our Journey to Hope sermon series, the worship planning team is exploring the use of psalm texts to call us to worship and at other points of prayer in the service. On Sunday, February 28, the choral anthem will be a setting of Psalm 130. This setting is by composer John Rutter, and it comes from his very popular and well-loved Requiem. The Requiem Mass comes to us out of the Roman Catholic tradition and is typically sung at funerals. Rutter’s Requiem does not adhere to the conventional Catholic liturgy, because he combines texts from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer and he adds settings of Psalm 130 and Psalm 23. It is this setting of Psalm 130 that we will be singing on the 28th. The movement is entitled, “Out of the Depths” and is traditionally known as one of the 7 penitential psalms out of the 150 psalms in the Bible.

Musically, Rutter begins this lament in c-minor with a solo cello line in what some consider to be a kind of bluesstyle. Whatever the style, Rutter succeeds in placing us far into the depths of the ocean amid a world of anxiety, fear and sometimes even dread. The choral plea of “Out of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice” is softly, yet urgently, sung. The text goes on to offer a confession of sin and a sincere waiting and longing for the Lord. Rutter enhances the moment of redemption by shifting to a more positive C major at the words ‘for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption’. Even in this psalm of lament, Rutter offers an unmistakable optimistic message of hope and comfort, expressed through the beauty of music.

The cellist joining us on the 28th will be Laurel Humiston. She will also be playing one of Bach’s unaccompanied cello suites during the prelude.

Hope to see you in church!

Peace,    

Contact the office | United Methodism