Spring 2013

TRAVERSEBAYCIRCUIT

Salvador Dalis depiction of the crucied Christ. Many observe that the perspective of this painting is that of the Father, seeing His Son crucied.

Lent and Easter 2013

For you are dust, and to dust you shall return

Theres wonderful resources liturgically and musically for this season of repentance and rejoicing. Hymnody is one of the best sources to enrich worship during the Lenten season. Look within the Lenten section of the hymnal; but also look in the Confession and Absolution section as well as the Justication and Redeemer sections. Make sure to participate with us in the Circuit Choir on Holy Saturday at Trinity. Send your best singers to rejoice with us! A blessed Lenten and Eastertide! Kantor Mark Peters
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TRAVERSEBAYCIRCUIT Spring 2013

A Lenten Hymn

Jesus, Grant that Balm and Healing LSB 421

This is a great hymn-especially for its personal voice speaking to the Christian. Johann Heermann (1585-1647) was a Lutheran poet and hymn writer commemorated by our church on the 26th of October with Paul Gerhart and Phillip Nicolai. His hymn writing resembles the personal voice of his contemporaries. As in Gerhardt and Nicolais hymns, the cross takes center focus as the source of life, comfort and healing. In verse 1, Christs wounds provide healing from our sin and woes. He encourages us that Christs wounds will be able to provide us not only the healing from sin we need, but the ability to avoid temptation from its rst beginning. The next three verses go into more detail on this exact topic. This is an excellent hymn for our culture that tries to sell us on the idea that sin 1) is not important and 2) is something outside of us - a disease that does not affect us, that were good people on the inside. This hymn text clearly states that sin is a condition that affects us and is entirely important. It also
O my God, my rock and tower, Grant that in Your death I trust. Knowing death has lost its power Since You crushed it in the dust. Savior, let Your agony Ever help and comfort me; When I die be my protection, Light and life and resurrection LSB 421 v.5

repeats that Christ is the only way for us to obtain release from this deadly curse. The last verse, quoted above, reminds me of the opening lines of A Mighty Fortress. How often do we trust in Jesus death? Its the only thing that keeps us from Satans grasp. In our own death, we can count on Christs death to be our light and life and resurrection. Gods blessings on your use of this hymn during Lent.

Do you know that theres more to Holy Week than Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil? Holy Monday The theme for Holy Monday is the anointing with oil. The congregation comes forward at the beginning of the service while the Pastor anoints them with oil and says Thou doest my head with oil anoint (From Psalm 23). The Gospel is John 12:1-23, Martha anointing Jesus. Holy Tuesday Tuesday focuses on the cross. The Gospel is John 12:20-36, Jesus announcing his death a final time. The visual for this service is a large bare cross in the front of the sanctuary. Holy Wednesday Judas betrayal is the theme for Wednesday, in particular his deal with the Pharisees to deliver Jesus for a fee. I have seen a bag of coins displayed used as an illustration for this day. The Gospel is John 13:16-38. In the past, I have participated in services on these days. Most of the time we would hold services at noon and in the evening. If we only had 10 people show up, it wasnt a total loss. Often we would do the services a cappella. On Holy Wednesday we would at least have our choir at the 7 pm service.

Holy Week

Come be a Part of Our Circuit Choir!

Were having our circuit choir sing again for Easter Vigil. We are having fewer rehearsals in an attempt to have more people at them. The rehearsals will be approximately 2 hours long. Rehearsals: Sunday, March 10, 17 6:30 PM-8:30 PM Saturday, March 30 6 PM-7PM Holy SaturdaySaturday, March 30 at 7 PM Please post these dates in your bulletin. Many hands make light workthats true for singing too!

TRAVERSEBAYCIRCUIT Spring 2013

We want to get as many people involved with the circuit choir and services as possible. Please involve members of your congregation by informing them about rehearsals and encouraging them to attend and be a part of these special events.

Please circulate this to all interested parties in your congregation. Instrumentalists from your congregation are welcome to play at the service as well. Have them contact me at 231-590-9733.

TRAVERSEBAYCIRCUIT Spring 2013

The Easter Hymn Hes Risen, Hes Risen LSB 480

This was one of the rst Easter hymns I learned as a piano student. I loved the melody and it was exciting to learn. Yes, I also understood that I led a boring and dull life. Anyways, lets take a look at this popular Easter hymn. Both the text and the tune were penned by the rst president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, CFW Walther (1811-87). If you have seen the video, Walther, you have some insights into his life, but most importantly he was raised to be a church musician, hence the knowledge to be able to pen a melody as well as a text. Walther guided the LCMS through the formative years of her youth. This hymn appeared in the rst LCMS hymnal produced by Walthers printing press operated by his home church in St. Louis, Trinity Lutheran. The only thing one might take issue to, and some have in the past, is the 2nd verse. Did Christ descend triumphantly into hell, and were the demons shouting in triumph as Christ was crucied? Perhaps, were not quite sure, and it doesnt really matter. As we look at the Passion narrative, I dont think that Satan was triumphing as Christ was crucied. I think he was realizing his defeat. As we understand the crucixion as Lutherans, Christs death means defeat, not for Christ, but for sin. So perhaps verse 2 is poetic narrative to strengthen verse 3, where Walther triumphantly proclaims O, where is your sting, death? We fear you no more; Christ rose, and now open is fair Edens door. For all our transgressions His blood does atone; Redeemed and forgiven, we now are His own. LSB 480 v.4 Christs defeat of sin through the empty tomb. But we as Christians need to remember that the defeat of sin happened 3 days earlier, on the Friday that defeated sin and death forever. Verse 4 is a great paraphrase of Romans 5:9-11. O grave, where is thy victory? This hymn, appropriate for Easter, is much more appropriate for a funeral, as we can laugh death in the face and say, Is this all you have? I am a child of God. Christ has victory over the grave. The last doxological verse takes on the character of a carol, raising our glad hosannas and praising God for the victory earned by Christs triumph of cross and grave. Enjoy presenting this joyful hymn to your congregations this Easter. Sing it with jubilation, loudly proclaiming Christs victory!

For the Organists: Rather than copy samples of organ music for you, I have included lists of organ volumes and their info that would be helpful to have for the Lent and Easter season. Please join us this year for the: Good Friday Tre Ore Service - March 29 from 12-3 PM Easter Vigil With Circuit Choir - March 30 at 7 PM If your choir would like to participate in the Good Friday service in some way, please contact me (231-590-9733) or Bruce Ahlich (231-590-2095). Have a blessed Lent and Eastertide! Please feel free to contact me for anything.

Circuit Kantor Mark Peters 231.590.9733 cantorman26@gmail.com