Wednesday, December 30, 2009

THE SIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS AT ST. MARY'S

Below are 16 pictures of some of the sights of St. Mary's during this Christmas Season.


The donkey in this picture is over 100 years old and is made out of paper mache.




























Tuesday, December 29, 2009

WE THREE KINGS

By Tim Claubaugh

TEXT: Matthew 2: 1-11; John H. Hopkins, Jr., 1820-1891
MUSIC: John Hopkins, Jr., 1820-1891
TUNE: KINGS OF ORIENT
METER: 88 44 6 with refrain


Two wonderful writers of stories behind the hymns, Richard Niell Donovan and Austin C. Lovelace, have 2 very different, but good perspectives of this wonderful Epiphany Hymn.

Donovan’s article on the Lectionary.org web site is more intellectual and gives more of a perspective on the actual gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh:

“The giving of gifts is one of the most enduring traditions of Christmas. It has its origins in the story of the Wise Men who followed a star to the place where the baby Jesus lay in his manger. They presented him with gifts –– gold and frankincense and myrrh –– odd gifts for a baby but appropriate for the baby Jesus. Gold was a gift fit for a king, and Jesus was born king of the Jews. Frankincense was used in by the priests in worship, and Jesus would become our priest –– the one who enables us to come to God. Myrrh was used for anointing bodies for burial, and would be used to anoint Jesus' body after his death. So each of these gifts had a symbolic meaning for Jesus' life and death!

But I am convinced that these gifts also had a very practical and urgent purpose –– one that the Wise Men could not have imagined. Because Herod feared the baby born king of the Jews, he would soon send his soldiers to kill all the baby boys in Bethlehem. God warned Joseph to take his little family and flee to Egypt lest Jesus be killed. Joseph got up in the middle of the night, gathered his family and a few possessions, and fled. They stayed in Egypt until the danger had passed. How could Joseph, a simple carpenter, afford to make such a trip? How could he provide for his family in a foreign land? Gold, frankincense, and myrrh were expensive, and could be easily sold. They were also compact and portable, which meant that Joseph could take them along on the journey. I believe that God inspired the giving of these particular gifts as a way of providing for Joseph and his family on their journey.

The hymn specifies that there were three kings. Matthew doesn't specify the number, but we have guessed that there were three because of the three gifts.

Speaking of gifts, Jesus was God's Christmas gift to us –– the greatest gift that God could give. The Wise Men brought the best gifts to Jesus that they could offer. The question is what we can bring to Jesus as a gift. Our time, talent, and money are three candidates, and they are all important. But the gift that Jesus really wants is the gift of our hearts. That is the best gift that we can offer Jesus at Christmas –– or anytime!”



In his book, “Hymn Notes for Church Bulletins,” Lovelace tells more of the author of this hymn, John Henry Hopkins:

“After a career as a reporter and tutor, Hopkins became an Episcopal minister with interests in music. His Epiphany hymn is based on the visit of the Wise Men (Matthew 2: 1-11) and is the first modern American Christmas carol. The hymn with its dialogue style with each of the Wise men singing a stanza has become an American classic in Christmas dramas.”


1. We three kings of Orient are,
Bearing gifts we traverse a far
Field and fountain,
Moor and mountain,
Following yonder star

Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to the perfect Light.


2. Born a babe on Bethlehem’s plain,
Gold we bring to crown him again;
King forever,
Ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.

(Refrain)


3. Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh,
Prayer and praising
Gladly raising,
Worshiping God on high

(Refrain)


4. Myrrh is mine: it’s bitter perfume
Breaths a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing,
Bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.

(Refrain)


5. Glorious now behold him rise,
King and God and sacrifice:
Heaven sings
“Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!” earth replies.

(Refrain)

Monday, December 28, 2009

FUNERAL FOR DONALD P. GOLATKA

Funeral Mass for Donald P. Golatka will be on Thursday, December 31 at 10:00 a.m. Choir members are asked to be in church by 9:30. Ron Blake will be the cantor; Fr. Dave Nuss will preside.

For the Sandusky Register obituary link, click here.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

FUNERAL FOR ROBERT B. & JANE LAY MITCHEL

Funeral Mass for Robert B Mitchel and Jane Lay Mitchel will be on Saturday, January 9 at 11:00 a.m. Choir members are asked to be in church by 10:30. Rosemary Manner will be the cantor; Fr. Dave Nuss will preside.

For the Sandusky Register obituary links, click here and here.

FUNERAL FOR RICHARD T. CECIL

Funeral Mass for Richard T. Cecil will be on Monday, December 28 at 10:00 a.m. Choir members are asked to be in church by 9:30. Carol Icsman will be the cantor; Fr. Dave Nuss will preside.

For the Sandusky Register obituary link, click here.

Monday, December 21, 2009

ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID'S CITY

By Tim Claubaugh
TEXT: Cecil Frances Alexander, 1818-1895
MUSIC: Henry J. Gauntlett, 1805-1876; harm. by Arthur H. Mann, 1850-1929. © 1957, Novello and Co., Ltd.
TUNE: IRBY
METER: 8 7 8 7 77

In his book “Hymn Notes for Church Bulletins,” Austin Lovelace writes:

“Mrs. Alexander, wife of an Irish Anglican bishop, heard some of her godchildren complaining about the dreariness of the Catechism. So she set to writing hymns (poems) which would explain the various phrases in more interesting style. This is based on the clause in the Creed, “who was conceived of the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary.” Its popularity has been enhance by Henry Gauntlett’s tune and the superb recording of the Festival of Lessons and Carols from King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, with a small boy singing stanza one with no accompaniment as the choir begins its processional."

As a very young man, his parents encouraged him to go into law, but his love of music prevailed. It is claimed the Gauntlett wrote ten thousand hymn melodies during his life time with “IRBY” being the most popular. A few years before Gauntlett wrote the tune “IRBY,” Felix Mendelssohn said that Gauntlett was one of the most “masterly” organists of the age. He was a proponent of Gregorian Chant and held several organist posts throughout London.


1. Once in royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for his bed.
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little Child.

2. He came down to earth from heaven
Who is God and Lord of all,
And his shelter was a stable,
And his cradle was a stall.
With the poor and mean and lowly
Lived on earth our Savior holy.

3. And through all his wondrous childhood
He would honor and obey,
Love and watch the lowly maiden
In whose gentle arms he lay.
Christian children all should be Kind,
Obedient good as he.

4. For he is our childhood’s pattern,
Day by day like us he grew;
He was little, weak, and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us he knew:
And he feels for all our sadness,
And he shares in all our gladness.

5. And our eyes at last shall see him,
Through his own redeeming love;
For that child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heav’n above:
And he leads his children on to
the place where he has gone.

O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL

TEXT: Adeste fideles; John F. Wade, C. 1711-1786; tr. By Frederick Oakeley, 1802-1880
MUSIC: John F. Wade, c. 1711-1786
TUNE: ADESTE FIDELES
METER: Irreg. (5 6 10 5 6 7 7 7 3)


Richard Niell Donovan writes the following on the website Lectionary.org:

The hymn, "O Come, All Ye Faithful," was written by John Francis Wade, an 18th century Catholic layman involved in the music business in France. Copies of the hymn migrated to Portugal and then to England. First written in Latin -- the original version begins with the words, Adeste Fideles -- an Anglican clergyman, Frederick Oakeley, translated it into English. Today it is one of the most popular Advent/Christmas hymns, and is sung by Christians around the world.

One of the reasons for its popularity is the joyful character of its words and music. "O Come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant," it says -- and the music has a joyful, triumphant lilt to go with the joyful, triumphant words.

The hymn calls us to come to Bethlehem to behold the baby Jesus. It calls us to come and adore him. It reminds us of the angel choir that accompanied Jesus' birth -- and of the shepherds who gathered around his cradle. It reminds us that God calls us, too, to sing Christ's praises -- and to give him glory in this Christmas season.

Christmas is a busy season, and we have a thousand things on our minds and a thousand things to do. But through it all, let us remember to come and adore the Christ who came into the world in this season to bring us light for our darkness -- and joy -- and life eternal."



1. O Come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O Come ye, O Come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him,
Born the King of angels;

Refrain: O Come, let us adore Him,
O Come let us adore Him,
O Come let us adore Him,
Christ, the Lord

2. Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God,
All glory in the highest:
(to refrain)

3. Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
Born this happy morning,
Jesus, to thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:
(to refrain)

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

THE O ANTIPHONS

In the Roman Church, the O Antiphons are prayed, beginning December 17 one for each day up through December 23 at Vespers (Evening Prayer) (before and after the Magnificat [Mary’s Song]), and at Mass (the Gospel Acclamation Verse). They are not prayed at Vespers on December 24 because that begins the Christmas Vigil. Below are the prayers with the dates they are to be prayed.


December 17 – O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come and show your people the way to salvation.

December 18 – O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: Come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.

December 19 – O Flower of Jesse’s stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.

December 20 – O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of heaven: come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom.

December 21 – O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

December 22 – O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.

December 23 – O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.

Monday, December 14, 2009

THIS COMING SUNDAY'S HYMN

This coming Sunday, we will have "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" sung as the opening hymn for most of the weekend Masses.

To see the story behind this most famous Advent hymn, click here.

Monday, December 7, 2009

COME, THOU LONG EXPECTED JESUS

By Tim Claubaugh

TEXT: Haggai 2: 7; Charles Wesley, 1707-1788, alt.
MUSIC: Christian F. Witt, 1660-1716; adapt. By Henry J. Gauntlett, 1805-1876
TUNE: STUTTGART
METER: 8 7 8 7


Charles Wesley wrote an enormous amount of hymns (over 7,500 – which averages out to a hymn every other day for 50 years). Besides having the gift of writing some of the best hymns that we sing today, he was also a very gifted preacher.

This hymn looks forward to Jesus’ second coming; an event that Wesley himself looked forward to as well. When Wesley was 30 years old, he came to America where he became appalled (to the point of having a nervous breakdown) at what he saw with the slavery in this country. Many of his hymns (including verse 1 of this hymn) contain a verse about slavery and setting God’s people free; free from slavery, sin and fear.

In his book, “Hymn Notes for Church Bulletins,” Austin Lovelace writes of this hymn:

“Although this hymn usually appears in the Advent section, Wesley wrote it for Christmas. Names given to Jesus: strength, consolation, hope, dear desire, and joy. Also note the use of the word “Born” three times to begin lines of poetry in stanza two. The hymn’s ultimate emphasis is on the kingship of Jesus, closing with a prayer that Christ will rule in our hearts alone.”



1. Come, O long expected Jesus,
born to set your people free;
from our fears and sins release us;
free us from captivity.

2. Israel’s strength and consolation,
you, the hope of all the earth,
Dear desire of every nation,
Come, and save us by your birth.

3. Born your people to deliver;
born a child and yet a king!
Born to reign in us for ever,
Now your gracious kingdom bring.

4. By your own eternal spirit
Rule in all our hearts along;
By your all sufficient merit
Raise us to your glorious throne.

FUNERAL FOR BARNEY LAUBY

Funeral Mass for Barney Lauby will be on Thursday, December 10 at 10:00 a.m. Choir members are asked to be in church by 9:30. Ron Blake will be the cantor; Fr. Jason Kahle will preside.

For the Sandusky Register obituary link, click here.

Friday, December 4, 2009

FUNERAL FOR MARILYN J. SNYDER

Funeral Mass for Marilyn J. Snyder will be on Monday, December 7 at 10:00 a.m. Choir members are asked to be in church by 9:45. Carol Icsman will be the cantor; Fr. Jason Kahle will preside.

For the Sandusky Register obituary link, click here.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

MONTHLY UPDATES FOR DECEMBER 2009

Be sure to check out the following monthly updates:

"This Month in Music History" (on the AGO - Sandusky website)

"This Month in St. Mary's History"

"Monthly Video"

Also check out the weekly update "This Sunday's Music" as well as the new article below.