
Lessons and Carols Service Online Christmas Eve 3:00 p.m.

Episcopal Church in Snellville, GA
Hymns At Home — Music For All Saints
Compiled By Kyle Osborne
Listen, singalong,& meditate on music for All Saints’ Day at home, work or with your family. Featuring “For all the Saints”, “I sing a song of the saints of God”, and The Souls of the Righteous.
Click here to go to the YouTube file, and enjoy!.
(sound begins at :38)
Written and compiled by Kyle Osborne, Director of Music at St. Matthew’s
The office of Morning Prayer was created by Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, for the 1549 Book of Common Prayer. Cranmer combined the offices of Matins (the nighttime vigil), Lauds (which took place at Dawn) and Prime (which took place around 6am) from the Liturgy of the Hours (also known as the Divine Office which marked the hours of each day with prayer) to create Morning Prayer.
Invitatory and Psalter
At the Invitatory, the Venite (Psalm 95) or the Jubilate (Psalm 100) are said or sung. The Venite, a carryover from the office of Matins (Vigil), is an invitation to worship. The Jubilate, which was used as an entrance song in The Temple, is a song of thanksgiving and praise. The Jubilate was also the opening Psalm at Lauds (Dawn Prayer). This coming Sunday we will be singing a setting of the Venite (S-35).
Venite Psalm 95:1-7
Come, let us sing to the Lord; *
let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *
and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.
For the Lord is a great God, *
and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *
and the heights of the hills are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it, *
and his hands have molded the dry land.
Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *
and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *
Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!
Jubilate Psalm 100
Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; *
serve the Lord with gladness
and come before his presence with a song.
Know this: The Lord himself is God; *
he himself has made us, and we are his;
we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise; *
give thanks to him and call upon his Name.
For the Lord is good;
his mercy is everlasting; *
and his faithfulness endures from age to age.
Canticles
After the first and second lesson at Morning Prayer a Canticle is said or sung. A Canticle is a song of praise with a biblical or biblically inspired text. Perhaps the most famous Canticles are the Gloria (Glory to God in the highest) and the Magnificat (Song of Mary). See BCP pages 85-96 for a list of Canticles 8-21. Canticles 1-7, which use traditional language, can be found on BCP pages 47-52. Many different musical settings of the Canticles can be found, including chant, choral, organ, and metrical paraphrase.
We will be using metrical paraphrases for both Canticle 12 – A Song of Creation (Benedicite, omnia opera Domini), and Canticle 21 – You are God (Te Deum laudamus) this coming Sunday.
A Song of Creation is from the Greek Septuagint version of the book of Daniel. This Canticle is often referred to as the Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Young Men (Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were the three young men who praised God even after being placed in the fiery furnace during the Babylonia Exile). A Song of Creation was originally used in Christian worship as a canticle at Easter Vigil and Thomas Cranmer suggested its use as an alternative to the Te Deum during Lent.
Our setting for Canticle 12 comes from Wonder, Love, and Praise #885. The metrical paraphrase of the text is by Carl Daw. The music is by Williams Bradley Roberts and was written specifically for the text.
Let all creation bless the Lord,
till heav’n with praise is ringing.
Sun, moon, and stars, peal out a chord,
stir up the angels’ singing.
Sing, wind, and rain! Sing, snow and sleet!
Make music, day, night, cold and heat:
exalt the God who made you.
All living things upon the earth,
green fertile hills and mountains,
sing to the God who gave you birth;
be joyful, springs and fountains.
Lithe waterlife, bright airborne birds,
wild roving beasts, tame flocks and herds:
exalt the God who made you.
O men and women everywhere,
lift up a hymn of glory;
let all who know God’s steadfast care
tell out salvation’s story.
No tongue be silent; sing your part,
you humble souls and meek of heart:
exalt the God who made you.
Carl P. Daw, Jr.
The Te Deum is one of the oldest hymns of praise. Dating from c. 387 the authorship was traditionally ascribed to Saint Ambrose (d. 397) but is now considered to be by an unknown author. Traditionally, the Te Deum was said at the end of Matins on all days that the Gloria was said at Mass.
Our setting for Canticle 21 is #366, verses 1-4, from The Hymnal 1982. The text is attributed to Ignace Franz and translated by Clarence A. Walworth. The music GROSSER GOTT is from Katholisches Gesangbuch, Vienna, c. 1774.
Holy God, we praise your name;
Lord of all, we bow before you;
all on earth your scepter claim,
all in heav’n above adore you.
Infinite your vast domain,
everlasting is your reign.
Hark, the loud celestial hymn
angel choirs above are raising;
cherubim and seraphim
in unceasing chorus praising,
fill the heav’ns with sweet accord:
“Holy, holy, holy Lord.”
Lo! the apostolic train
join your sacred name to hallow;
prophets swell the glad refrain,
and the white robed martyrs follow;
and from morn to set of sun,
through the church the song goes on.
Holy Father, Holy Son,
Holy Spirit, Three we name you;
while in essence only One,
undivided God we claim you,
and adoring bend the knee,
while we sing this mystery.
I encourage you to take time to read, explore, and meditate on the Canticles. Listen to different musical settings and be refreshed.
Blessings,
Kyle Osborne
Director of Music and Organist
Links for listening:
Te Deum in alternatim – The Te Deum sung by the Maîtrise de Notre-Dame-de-Paris led by Cantor Jehan Revert, in alternatim with Pierre Cochereau at the Grand Orgue of Notre-Dame. The choir sings the first half of the verse. The organ, representing the Heavenly Choir of Angels, plays the second half of the verse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohDqL6pjpjY
Te Deum for Solo, Chorus and Orchestra by Marc Antoine Charpentier https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxZQ1ODN1iU
Coronation Te Deum by William Walton
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_lfKdAHgGw
Jubilate Deo by Benjamin Britten
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_lfKdAHgGw
Te Deum by Anton Bruckner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgDBhcF8mus
Magnificat from Collegium Regale by Herbert Howells
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpB9mQHORlg
Nunc Dimittis in C by Charles Villiers Stanford
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e17kukPiXz8
Let all Creation bless the Lord – A song of creation by Alice Parker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB6UxsYRwXQ
Glory to God in the Highest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBWbAmKr5OU
A compilation of recordings from our Music Ministry that includes: Handbell Choir; Sanctuary Choir; Hymns; piano and organ music for meditation. Kyle Osborne, Director of Music
Music for Meditation
It is well with my soul with Moonlight Sonata
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROxxBs5ybkE
Meditation on a Folk Song (O Waly, Waly)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2Dce3KjudM
Meditation on Resignation (My Shepherd will supply my needs)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE7v_Rv2H2Q&t=64s
The peace may be exchanged
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkbSMNXOVD0
Meditation on Veni Creator Spiritus
https://youtu.be/Cla2CDoDkUM
Improvisation on Holy God we praise your Name
https://youtu.be/h43g-a1_9aI
Crucifixion from Symphonie Passion
https://youtu.be/0s_N9e32bcw
Hymns
Morning has broken
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukpZpw6U3zc&t=33s
All Glory, Laud and Honor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QZw2km2z8o&t=2s
My Shepherd will supply my needs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVNPvQT32UA&t=2s
Come my way, my truth, my life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-wTC7-P36s
Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0uCnAQaamw&t=77s
All people that on Earth do dwell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BalJEkf0Kw
I bind unto myself today
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKrH6m27yN8
Jesus shall reign where’er the Sun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mufRV5VCVys&t=3s
He who would valiant be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbj5OOltP1w
We know that Christ is raised and dies no more
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC3_2mgN3Ic
We walk by faith and not by sight
https://youtu.be/MqgguZqIDgA
Alleluia, Alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord
https://youtu.be/ROTlNIYKNP0
He is risen, He is risen
https://youtu.be/fb0siz4wbDA
Now the green blade riseth
https://youtu.be/Shp7uO6sAnQ
We the Lord’s People
https://youtu.be/0zThai_9IHU
Come Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove
https://youtu.be/ta23_zO6Kcg
Come down O Love divine
https://youtu.be/j2e0HuM1v4s
Sanctuary Choir
Ave verum corpus – Mozart
https://youtu.be/xldgxOH6a0Q
The Souls of the Righteous
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMu0JJOFwLE
The Lord’s my Shepherd (Brother James’ Air)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgWBs_9Na-w&t=3s
Through all the World below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kuqSbiHXk8
The Road Home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_XEYYJzMEM
There is a Land of pure delight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sq1WhEX7xMA
O love that will not let me go
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Cj8GByktLI
Handbell Choir
Simple Gifts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQE_XDobwGs
I sing the mighty power of God
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWP9JjciUxk
Trumpet Sinfonia
https://youtu.be/2kY7EMoLEPM
MUSICAL MUSING
During these trying times I, like many of you, turn to music for solace. I am particularly drawn to hymns and instrumental music. Many of our favorite hymns have been around for hundreds of years. This past week I have been listening to and playing a hymn tune by Thomas Tallis that was written over 459 years ago.
For the full article and some lovely music, click here: musical musings – the third tune.
Click here to check out the end-of-year committee reports and the approved 2019 budget, and meet your newly elected vestry members.
http://www.stmatthewssnellville.org/resources/annual-parish-reports/
The community of Snellville and Gwinnett County is invited to attend the Festival of Lessons and Carols presented by the music ministry of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church , Snellville, on December 15th at 5:30 p.m.
The Sanctuary Choir, Junior Choir, and Handbell Choirs will present musical selections of favorite carols, anthems and readings of the season that celebrate the birth of Christ.
The organ prelude, played by Director of Music/Organist Kyle Osborne, will begin at 5:15 p.m.
Please plan to come and celebrate the joyous season with this outstanding musical offering. Invite your friends, family and neighbors! A reception follows the event. Everyone is welcome.
Sanctuary Choir
Join the Sanctuary Choir! Choir rehearsals are Wednesday evening from 7:20 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.. in the choir room, located in the Christian Education wing. Contact Kyle Osborne for more details.
Hand Bells
Hand bells practice Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. in the in the choir room, located in the Christian Education wing. If you are interested in playing hand bells please contact Sharon Ferrell.
Cherub Choir
Cherub Choir has begun practice on Sunday mornings from 10:15 – 10:45 a.m. in the Christian Education wing. All children ages three through second grade are encouraged to join this energetic group. Cherubs sing approximately once per month at the 10:30 service. Contact Laura Starratt for more information.
NEW! Children’s Choir
Children’s Choir is new at St. Matthew’s! They practice on Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. – 7:10 p.m. in the choir room. All children from third through sixth grade are encouraged to take part in this new music ministry at St. Matthew’s. Come make a joyful noise for the Lord! Contact Kyle Osborne or Sharon Ferrell for more information.
Epiphany Choir (Folk/Praise Choir)
The Epiphany Choir practices Monday nights at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. If you sing or play guitar, banjo, fiddle or other instruments, contact Flip Porter for more information. The Epiphany Choir plays every 1-2 months at the 10:30 service.
Instrumental (Any Age)
Calling all instrumentalists! If you play an instrument and would like to share your talents in worship please contact Kyle Osborne . All ages are invited to participate,
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Kyle Osborne as St. Matthew’s Director of Music, effective April 16, 2018.
Kyle comes to us from St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church in McDonough, where he served as Director of Music and organist since 2016. He has over ten years’ experience in Episcopal churches but has also served in Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist and Christian churches. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in organ performance from Stetson University in Florida and has done post-graduate work at the University of Tennessee and the University of Texas.
Kyle received enthusiastic approval from every member of the Music Search Committee. David Chandler, chair of the Search Committee, described Kyle as a virtuoso organist who embraces a diversity of musical styles and cultures; who has experience in working not only with adult choirs, but with children and youth, and who has the capability to build a music program.
Kyle will be on campus the week of April 16, and will play at the 8 a.m. service on April 22. Please join me in welcoming him to St. Matthew’s.
I would like to thank David Chandler and members of the Music Search Committee for a job well done, not only in finding excellent candidates for our next Director of Music, but also for creating a Vision for the music Program.
I would also like to thank Russell Meyer for a wonderful job as our interim organist and choir director over the past several months. Russell came on board in the aftermath of the flood with the music library in storage and no rehearsal hall. Yet he made it work and led the choir capably during this transitional time. Russell, we are grateful for your leadership and talent.
Peace, Liz+
At St. Matthew’s, our MISSION is to continue the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, by serving the greater community through loving its children, caring for the unfortunate and witnessing to the healing power of God’s love.