Our Music: Holy Week Preparation

(Posted March 22, 2018)

More information about 2019 Lenten and Easter services are available here.

This Sunday the church school children will practice the handbells under the direction of Pat Moriarty. They will play at the Easter Sunday service. Easter is only a week away so please make every effort to have them in attendance this Sunday.

This Saturday, March 24, the Danbury Music Centre’s Chorus will be in concert at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.

This Sunday is Palm Sunday.  The choir has been rehearsing several new and traditional anthems, one of which is our annual “Palms” composed by Faure. Stephen Dickson will the baritone solo.

The closing hymn, “Lift high the Cross” is one of my favorites! This was first written in 1887 by George William Kitchin, while he was the Church of England Dean of Winchester. Michael Robert Newbolt revised the hymn in 1916 setting the tune to “Crucifer” by Sydney Nicholson. In 1978 it appeared in the Lutheran Book of Worship, and in 1989 it appeared in the The United Methodist Hymnal. It was not included in our Pilgrim Hymnal @1958, but it is in our Chalice. It is sung during Lent or Holy Week as a Processional or Recessional. Scholars have felt that it represents the cross of agony and is best sung on Good Friday. Usage of this hymn on Easter is often interpreted as a sign of resurrection. In either situation it is a powerful tune with a striking melody. - Jim Moriarty

“There is nothing more to be said or to be done tonight, so hand me over by violin and let’s try to forget for half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable ways of our fellowmen.” - Arthur Conan Doyle