St. Matthews Episcopal Church

Episcopal Church in Snellville, GA

 “Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
I will enter them; I will offer thanks to the Lord..” Psalm 119:19

Hymn Highlights: Music For Rogation Days

Our opening hymn this coming Sunday (5/8/2021) is hymn #292, “O Jesus, crowned with all renown”, a hymn for Rogation Days by Archbishop of Canterbury Edward White Benson (1829-1896). Archbishop Benson is perhaps best remembered as the creator of Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in 1880 when he was Bishop of Truro. Hymn 292 was written in 1860 whilst he was headmaster of Wellington College. This hymn first appeared in The Hymnal 1916.

Traditionally, the three days before Ascension Day are observed as Rogation Days. The Sunday before the Ascension, the Sixth Sunday of Easter, is traditionally known as Rogation Sunday. These are days of prayer to ask God’s blessing on crops, for an abundant harvest, and protection from natural disasters. Traditionally the parish vicar, wardens, choir boys, and others would process around boundaries of the parish, carrying long sticks, while occasionally stopping to recite or chant Psalms or the Litany of Saints. This procession around the geographical area of the parish was known as “beating the bounds”. Rogation days were also a time for people of the parish to settle disputes and disagreements to come together as a community. See the following link for more information on the history of Rogation Days: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eLmFv-ilXA  

In The Hymnal 1982, hymn #292 is paired with the tune Kingsfold. Kingsfold was originally an English folksong that Ralph Vaughan Williams arranged for The English Hymnal, 1906 where it was paired with the text “I heard the voice of Jesus say”. Vaughan Williams first heard the tune in the village of Kingsfold in northwest Sussex where the text was about “Dives and Lazarus”. The tune was used by Vaughan Williams in Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus for string orchestra and harp which you can listen to here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQoP9iLwoos

O Jesus, crowned with all renown

1. O Jesus, crowned with all renown,
since thou, the earth hast trod,
thou reignest and by thee come down
henceforth the gifts of God.
Thine is the health and thine the wealth
that in our halls abound,
and thine the beauty and the joy
with which the years are crowned.

2.Lord, in their change, let frost and heat,
and winds and dews be given;
all fostering power, all influence sweet,
breathe from the bounteous heaven.
Attemper fair and gentle air
the sunshine and the rain,
that kindly earth with timely birth
may yield her fruits again:

3.That we may feed the poor aright,
and, gathering round thy throne,
here, in the holy angel’s sight,
repay thee of thine own:
That we may praise thee all our days,
and with the Father’s Name,
and with the Holy Spirit’s gifts,
the Savior’s love proclaim.

Edward White Benson (1829-1896)



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Confirmation Service For Three Parishes At St. Matthew’s This Sunday April 18

Congratulations to those being confirmed this Sunday:
Becky Barringer, Jessie Barringer, Caroline Bond, Nadira Desamu-Thorpe, Neema Desamu-Thorpe, Jacob Steven Hurst, and James Chester Piechowiak.
They will be part of a group of 20 individuals from St. Matthew’s, St. Michael & All Angels parish in Stone Mountain and St. Patrick’s, Dunwoody, who will be confirmed by The Right Reverend Robert C. Wright this Sunday at 2:00 p.m. here at St. Matthew’s. Unfortunately, due to Covid restrictions on large gatherings, the service will be open to immediate family members by invitation only. **  Please keep our confirmands in your prayers as they take this step along their faith journey.
**You can watch the service livestreamed at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, April 18 at

 



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Musical Meditation For Holy Week

by Kyle Osborne, St. Matthew’s Director of Music

Music for Holy Week

As we approach Holy Week, I wanted to share some music for meditation that may not be familiar but that I feel should be more well known.

The first piece I would share is “O Mensch, bewein’ dein’ Sünde groß” BWV 622 from the Orgelbuchlein (Little Organ Book) by J.S. Bach (1685-1750). This piece is an organ setting of the Lutheran Chorale by German theologian and hymn writer Sebald Heyden (1499-1561). O Mensch, bewein’ dein’ Sünde groß” is a Passiontide Hymn based on the Four Gospels and was originally 23 stanzas. Bach choose to set the first stanza as an ornamented chorale. Bach vividly depicts the chorale text with appoggiaturas, sighs, and striking chromaticism. The text and listening link are below.

O Mensch, bewein’ dein’ Sünde groß,
darum Christus sein’s Vaters Schoß
äußert und kam auf Erden.
Von einer Jungfrau zart und rein
für uns er hier geboren ward,
er wollt’ der Mittler werden.

O man, thy grievous sin bemoan,
For which Christ left His Father’s throne,
From highest heaven descending.
Of Virgin pure and undefiled
He here was born, our Saviour mild,
For sin to make atonement.

https://soundcloud.com/user80906043/bach-o-mensch-bewein

“Crucifixion” from Symphonie Passion by Marcel Dupre (1886–1971) is a programmatic organ work that was originally improvised during a recital on the Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia. In this work you can hear Jesus walking to Calvary, falling along the way, the hammering, the anguish, and torment of being nailed to the cross, crying out to God before he breathes his last, his body being lowered and laid in his mother’s lap. Dupre ends quietly, in peaceful sorrow with the Stabat Mater chant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s_N9e32bcw&t=43s

Last year we recorded Stations of the Cross with organ interludes French organist and composer Cesar Franck (1822–1890). The results were very moving, and I would like to share them with you again this year. Here is the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIq9KiYmTlc&t=16s

I hope these works will enhance your Holy Week meditations.

Kyle Osborne
Director of Music



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Holy Week and Easter At St. Matthew’s

Palm Sunday – March 28th:
8:00 a.m. Zoom (see your newsletter, The Messenger, for Zoom info.)
Drive-Thru Communion after the 8 am service for 30 minutes.

10:45 a.m. – Outside In-person and live streamed with communion.
Please register on Realm.

4:00 p.m. Garden Eucharist on the lawn to the left of the church. Casual, informal, no technology.
Please Register on Realm.

Maundy Thursday – April 1st: 7:00 p.m. Live-Stream Service from Sanctuary. Hand-washing (no foot-washing due to Covid restrictions), stripping of the altar, no Holy Communion.
Maundy Thursday Watch — In Person or At Home  from 9:00 p.m. Thurs – Friday 10:00 a.m.
Please register here  (via SignUp Genius) for either In-person or At-home prayer time slots so that someone is praying throughout the night.

Good Friday – April 2nd. 
12:00 p.m. Live-Streamed Service from the sanctuary. No Holy Communion.

Easter Sunday – April 4th: Two Services–
6:45 a.m. Sunrise Eucharist No technology or music at this service.
Please Register on Realm.**

10:45 a.m. – Holy Eucharist Livestreamed From the Sanctuary, Easter music, including hand bells and violin.
Flowering of the Cross at the church steps during Drive Thru Holy Eucharist from 12 noon – 1:00 p.m.

 

**Registration on Realm for all services will open approximately 2-3 weeks ahead of time. Attendance limited to 50 individuals for services, including all service participants, due to Covid restrictions. In case of inclement weather, outdoor attendance will be canceled. For questions regarding attending any service, please contact the church office.

REGISTER ON REALM



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Observing Lent At St. Matthew’s — See What’s New This Year

What if we prepared for everyday like we do for Lent? We get so busy with work, kids, home, committee meetings, exercise that we often forget the important things. COVID-19 has made this even easier by allowing us to become really lax about our spiritual life. When we first began this pandemic journey almost a year ago, we all showed up for the online services but as time has gone by and the pandemic deepened, it has been easy to step back into our isolation.

Lent is a time of preparation and personal reflection for Good Friday and Easter that marks the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have put together several ways that you can refocus yourself and your family this Lent:

Stations of the Cross: An outdoor Stations of the Cross has been set up on the left side of the church for you to come and walk at your leisure.

Sacred Space Pilgrimage: Have you missed being in the sanctuary? Here’s a time to pray and meditate there during Lent: Thursday’s – 10 – 11:30 am and Saturday’s – 2 – 3:30 pm
Individuals and/or families are invited to take a Spiritual Pilgrimage of prayer and meditation to St. Matthew’s Sanctuary. Please registister on Realm due to Covid restrictions.  Spaces limited to 10 individuals at a time, inclusive.

Sunday’s Outside Live In-Person Service @ 4 pm. w/ communion (weather permitting)
Beginning Sunday, February 28th
Bring your own chair and join us for a Casual Outside & In-Person Service in the Garden area, located beside the undercroft. **Weather Permitting. Registration on Realm is required due to Covid restrictions.**

Palm Sunday – March 28th:
8 am Zoom (see your newsletter, The Messenger, for Zoom info.)
Drive-Thru Communion after the 8 am service for 30 minutes.

& 10:45 am – Outside In-person – live streamed with communion.
Registration on Realm is required due to Covid restrictions.**

Maundy Thursday – April 1st: 7 pm Live-Stream Service from Sanctuary
Plans are being made for the Maundy Thursday Watch following the service. Stay tuned for information on registering for this Lenten tradition.

Good Friday – April 2nd:
12 pm Outside Live & In-Person Live-Streamed Service
Registration on Realm is required due to Covid restrictions.**

Easter Sunday – April 4th: Two Services– 6:45 a.m. Sunrise Eucharist
Registration on Realm is required due to Covid restrictions.**
No technology or music at this service

10:45 a.m. – Livestreamed From Inside the Church, Easter music
Drive Thru Holy Eucharist offered for 45 minutes after the 10:45 service.

**Registration on Realm for all services will open approximately 2-3 weeks ahead of time. Attendance limited to 50 individuals for services, including all service participants. In case of inclement weather, outdoor attendance will be canceled. For questions regarding attending any service, please contact the church office.

Register on Realm



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Sunday Worship Services Christmas Day 2020 Through January 3, 2021

On Christmas Day (Dec 25) , 10:00 a.m . we will gather via Zoom from the Coil chapel. Drive-by Communion will be available for 45 minutes after the service at the back entrance to the church.
Zoom link https://zoom.us/j/5572242746
Meeting ID: 557 224 2746

Christmas I (Dec 27) : 10:00 a.m. One service, Holy Communion via Zoom . Drive through Holy Communion from the back church entrance for forty five minutes following the service.
Zoom link https://zoom.us/j/5572242746
Meeting ID: 557 224 2746

Christmas II (Jan. 3, 2021): 10:00 a.m. One service livestream from the sanctuary with music (carols). Drive through Holy Communion from the back of the church for forty five minutes following the service.

2 Services Online 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. with SS and CE resumes Jan 10, 2021



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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.