As many readers may know, the Gospel and Epistle readings assigned in the Lectionary of our Prayerbook are the same texts that were used in Lutheran churches in the early eighteenth century, when Johann Sebastian Bach was composing hundreds of cantatas for use in worship. Those cantatas often resonate with the theological themes of the liturgy in our own church, which is one reason why I dedicate so many pages on this site to Bach’s cantatas.
There are two cantatas from Bach’s collection that were composed for this Sunday: Es ist das Heil uns kommen her (“Salvation has come to us”) and Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust (“Contented peace”). You can hear each of these and learn about their features on the pages linked above.
This Sunday our choir will sing works by two of our favorite composers. At the Offertory, we’ll sing a motet by William Byrd (c.1540–1623) “How long shall mine enemies triumph over me.” The work is a setting of verses from Psalm 13:
How long shall mine enemies triumph over me?
Consider and hear me, O Lord my God;
Lighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death,
lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him,
for if I be cast down they that trouble me will be glad and and rejoice at it.
But my trust is in Thy mercy, and my heart is joyful in Thy Salvation.
At Communion, we’ll sing the Agnus Dei from the Missa Brevis by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594). You can hear the entire Mass as sung by the Tallis Scholars here.
Here are the hymns our congregation will sing this week:
A mighty fortress is our God (#551)
Majestic sweetness sits enthroned (#353)
Here O my Lord I see thee (#208, PENITENTIA)
Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness (#210)
Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing (#489, SICILIAN MARINERS)