"Teach me some melodious sonnet..."

This morning’s worship at Second Pres. was one of the most moving worship experiences I have been a part of. It was the result of a Sunday School class that was one of the most popular at Second this past spring: “Music and Religious Identity at Second.” The class was taught by John McClure, a professor of homiletics at Vanderbilt Divinity School, who along with his wife Annie, currently serving as our interim associate pastor, is my mentor for this year in NEP. Incidentally, for those from Terre Haute, he taught and was friends with Lant Davis at Louisville Seminary. He designed a worship service today that would integrate music that expresses the congregation’s identity. Here is a link to an explanation of the service.

The service went like this:

RINGING OF THE BELL Brian Findley called us to worship by ringing a handbell
LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE: “Improvisation on ‘Morning Has Broken’” by Jeff Moles, piano

CALL TO WORSHIP
The first verse of “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” was sung responsively, with John singing a line, and the congregation answering back. Accompaniment was guitar, hammered dulcimer, and tin whistle.

OPENING HYMN: “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”
All three verses were sung, with the instruments listed earlier, with me on piano and Nancy on organ joining in this time. This was the first time the finished new organ was played in worship. Belmont student Alan Fey also joined in on Bodhran (a Celtic drum). This was the absolute highlight of worship for me. I loved looking at people’s faces during this hymn. The singing was outstanding.

CALL TO CONFESSION as water was poured in the baptismal font
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
As people continued in silent confession, “Appassionata” from Secret Garden’s album White Stones was played.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON led from the font

CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE: “Amazing Grace”
This was one of the most moving parts of the service. Burkley Allen sang the first verse solo, being joined by her daughter Mary on the second. The congregation and choir sang a capella on the final three verses. It was a moment of quiet assurance of God’s grace.

A TIME FOR THE CHILDREN
“Little Children Come Unto Me” song by member Steve Siler.
Cathy Hoop led the children in a discussion about hymns and music, ended by their singing “Jesus Loves Me.” As the children exited, I played a short improvisation on “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” in the style of Steve Siler’s “Little Children Come Unto Me.”

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

SCRIPTURE LESSON: Revelation 21: 1-6 (new Heaven and a new Earth…)

ANTHEM: “I Saw a New Heaven” by E.L. Bainton, sung by the choir

SERMON: The sermon was begun and ended by Annie McClure. In the middle, members of the Music and Religious Identity class presented the “liner notes” they had come up with to explain the significance of a favorite piece of music. Betty Orr began with the song “Down to the River to Pray” from O Brother, Where Art Thou, which reminded her of the a capella congregational singing of her past, and her baptism by immersion. Bob Crownover reflected on George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord,” as a connection he had to God when his connection to the church waned during his youth. Jessica Riviere discussed the spiritual “Freedom is Coming,” which was a familiar song she heard in an unfamiliar place while living in Germany for a year, and included themes of justice and struggle for freedom.

MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION

DEDICATION OF LIFE:
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
THE OFFERTORY: “Great Ektania” by Sergei Rachmaninov (recorded music)
DOXOLOGY: “Gloria” from the Taize Community, played by the full worship ensemble (2 guitars, percussion, piano, organ, bass)

INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE
“Come people, come to the table of Christ. We will make a giant loaf…And we will bring many guests, the poor, the battered, the anxious, the weak, the lonely, the sick.”

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING and EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
THE SANCTUS: “Santo, Santo, Santo,” an Argentinean folk tune, put into Waltz time with a distinct touch of Nashville.

“In the fullness of time you sent Jesus, in every respect human as we are, to grow up in a small town in Galilee speaking with a distinct accent, far from the seat of religious and civil power. Beside Jacob’s well he was moved by an encounter with a minority woman to disclose his messianic identity.”

DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS with people coming down the aisles to take communion by intinction.

MUSIC DURING COMMUNION was a very moving experience.
The choir, with soloists sang “Down to the Water to Pray.” It gave me chills when the drum came in as I was standing in line to receive communion. After that, the South African freedom song “Freedom is Coming” was sung by the choir.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

At this point in the 11:00 service, the little glass topper to the Christ candle fell and broke, perhaps signifying that the light of Christ could not be contained. Or, maybe the candle had just melted too much.

SONG OF RESPONSE: “Day by Day” from Godspell with the congregation singing along with the band

BENEDICTION from Annie

THE CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE: refrain from “Here I Am, Lord”

POSTLUDE: “My Sweet Lord” by George Harrison (of Beatles fame) performed by the band