Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
9:00 a.m. (Order of Worship) in Old South Church Chapel
&
11:00 a.m. Service in Santuary
(Order of Worship below)
A Congregation of the United Church of Christ
The Old South Church in Boston
Gathered 1669
THE GATHERING
PRELUDE A Triptych of Fugues Gerald Near
II Slowly, expressively
III Broadly
*HYMN 182 We Have Come at Christ’s Own Bidding Hyfrydol
*CALL TO WORSHIP Quinn G. Caldwell
One: In the presence of God whose word has called the earth and the stars
into being,
Many: We stand in awe.
One: In the presence of God whose arms have held children,
Many: We stand in trust.
One: In the presence of God whose breath has stirred within us and caused
our hearts to thirst for justice,
Many: We stand in need.
One: Before you, Giver of Life, we come in faith, in search of love and
wholeness.
Many: We stand ready to worship you, Creator of the Universe, with our
whole selves.
One: We greet one another: the peace of Christ be with you.
Many: And also with you.
*A SIGN OF OUR UNITY AND RECONCILIATION
We invite you to greet those around you, wishing them
“peace” or “the peace of Christ.”
WORDS OF WELCOME
ANTHEM Gladsome Radiance Alexander
Gretchaninov
Gladsome radiance, the holy glory of God, Creator of eternity, holy,
blessed, heavenly Jesus Christ our Lord: Lo, now that we come to daybreak,
beholding the light of morning, we hymn the Maker, Christ, and Holy Spirit,
one God. Thou art worthy, Christ, evermore to hear voices of praise from
undefiled lips, Child of God, bestower of life, wherefore we all praise
thee, wherefore all the world doth sing thy glory.
–Tr. Charles Winfred Douglas
THE GIFT OF THE WORD
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Exodus 24:12-13, 16-18
The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and
I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment,
which I have written for their instruction.” So Moses set out with his
assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. The glory of
the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six
days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. Now the
appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of
the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud,
and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and
forty nights.
Matthew 17:1-5
Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a
high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his
face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly
there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said
to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make
three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While
he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from
the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well
pleased; listen to him!”
*HYMN 184 O Wondrous Sight, O Vision Fair Deo Gracias
(Children and teachers may leave for their Church School classes.)
SERMON Nancy S. Taylor
“A butcher, a bricklayer, a brewer, a bookseller, a shoemaker,
two ship’s captains, a tailor, two felt-makers, an apothecary,
a mint-master, and a schoolmaster.”
*HYMN 373 They Did Not Build in Vain Leoni
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
*CALL TO PRAYER Abigail G. Henderson
One: God be with you
Many: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
Many: We lift our hearts to God.
One: Let us pray. (The congregation may be seated.)
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy
will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into
temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the
power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
PRAYER RESPONSE Amen Ned Rorem
CALL TO THE OFFERING
OFFERTORY ANTHEM Holy is the True Light
Gerald Near
Holy, holy is the true light, and passing wonderful, lending radiance to
them that endured in the heat of the conflict. From Christ they inherit a
home of unfailing splendor.
Wherein, they rejoice with gladness evermore.
–Salisbury Diurnal
*SONG OF PRAISE
Lasst Uns Erfreuen
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Christ the Word in flesh born low; Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise Holy Spirit evermore; One God, Triune, whom we adore.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen!
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
THE RECEPTION OF MEMBERS
Carolyn Arrington
Melanie Buhr-Lawler
Donna Evans
Rev. Phyllis Evelyn
Matthew Lawler
Katherine Leahy
Caitlin Minnich
Caroline Murray
Stephen Ricca
Erle Webber
INTRODUCTION AND PRESENTATION Quinn G. Caldwell & Nancy S. Taylor
LITANY OF INTENT
One: Friends in Christ, we are all received into the church through the
sacrament of baptism. These people have found nurture and support in the
midst of the family of Christ.
Many: They have been led by the Spirit to affirm their baptism and to
claim in our presence their covenantal relationship with Christ and the
members of the Christian church.
One: They are here, as we are here, to endeavor to love God with all our
hearts, and all our souls and all our minds. God help us.
Many: They are here, as we are here, to endeavor to love our neighbors as
we love ourselves. God help us.
One: Friends who are joining, we rejoice in your pilgrimage of faith
which has brought you to this time and place.
Many: We give thanks for every community of faith which has been your
spiritual home, and we celebrate your presence in this household of faith.
One: Do you promise, by the grace of God, to continue in your pilgrimage
of faith, to be Christ’s disciple, to resist oppression and evil, to show
love and justice, and to witness to the work and word of Jesus Christ as
best you are able?
Those joining: We promise, with the help of God.
Many: Do you promise to walk with us in faithfulness and in Christian
love? And do you promise, that so far as able, you will participate in the
life of this church, by worshipping God with us, and offering your time,
talent and means for the ministry of this church and for the larger church
of which this is a part?
Those joining: We promise, with the help of God.
One: Friends, we then welcome you as partners in the common life of this
church and share our covenant of mission with you:
*All: (Please rise) I do now in the presence of God and before this
assembly give myself to the One whom Jesus called “Abba, Father” as the God
in whose love I am grounded and whose realm I serve; to Jesus Christ, God
incarnate, to whom I surrender and who rules my life; to God the Holy Spirit
as the One who sustains, recreates, and guides me. I will share God’s
everlasting covenant by loving and living responsibly in communion with this
one God. And I do furthermore engage to walk with my brothers and sisters in
the wider Church and the Old South Church secure in God's grace, prepared in
gratitude to live by the promise and serve in the hope of the Gospel.
*THE RIGHT HAND OF CHRISTIAN LOVE Anna Yoder, Deacon
*HYMN 372 God, You Have Set Us National Hymn
*BIDDING TO MISSION AND BENEDICTION Nancy S. Taylor
*CHORAL BENEDICTION A Repeating Alleluia Calvin Hampton
The congregation is invited to join in singing.
POSTLUDE Transports de joieq Olivier Messiaen
Today, immediately following the postlude, all who are interested in a tour
of the Sanctuary are invited to meet Docent Eleanor Jensen at the front of
the Sanctuary.
Membership at Old South is open to any who feel called, and is a vital and
important way to participate in the life of the church. Those interested in
learning more about the process of becoming a member should contact
Associate Minister Quinn Caldwell at 617/536-1970 or <quinn@oldsouth.org>.
TODAY AT OLD SOUTH
Welcome to Old South Church in Boston. Our faith is over 2000 years old, but
our thinking is not! Old South opens its doors to the city, to tourists from
near and far, to the needy, to an array of building users, and to a
congregation (of members, friends, and family—both the curious and the
committed) who call this their church home. Join us for fellowship and
refreshments in Gordon Chapel immediately following worship.
Today’s scripture readers, Jim and Jan Monsma, are long time members of the
church.
The flowers today are given by Larry Bowers in thanksgiving for the
ministries of Nancy S. Taylor, Quinn Caldwell, and the staff of Old South
Church, and in grateful memory of Elsbeth Melville Percy, who for many years
gave flowers in recognition of the ministerial staff on Annual Meeting
Sunday.
Today’s ASL Interpreter is Tracy Villinski.
More than thirty volunteers are extending hospitality to visitors and
parishioners. In addition, over twenty volunteers sing in the choir, while
others teach in the Church School. If you’re interested in volunteering for
hospitality tasks, please call Betty Smith at 781/721-7777; to sing with the
choir, call Harry Huff at 617/425-5146; to learn about the church school,
call Tricia Hazeltine at 617/536-1970.
Wearing name tags is a great way to facilitate community and make newcomers
feel welcomed. If you don’t see a tag with your name on it, let us
know—there will be one waiting for you next Sunday!
CD recordings of today’s service may be obtained by calling Jessica
Goodknight at 617/536-1970 or emailing <reception@oldsouth.org>. Sunday
sermons and worship services are also available on the Web and as podcasts
at <www.oldsouth.org>.
NOTES ON TODAY’S MUSIC
The Last Sunday after Epiphany is the traditional commemoration of the
Transfiguration—the occasion when Christ revealed his glory on the holy
mountain. The Gospel states that his face shone like the sun and his
garments became intensely white as light. The music this morning was chosen
to reflect this dazzling occurrence. The anthem Gladsome Radiance (op. 58,
no. 4) by Alexander Gretchaninov (1864-1956) is a setting from the Russian
liturgy which glorifies the Holy Trinity. It evokes the glittering splendor
of the Orthodox Church, and is reminiscent of the compositional style of
Gretchaninov’s Russian Nationalist predecessors, Mussorgsky and
Rimsky-Korsakov.
The modern American composer Gerald Near (b. 1942) is represented by the
organ works during the prelude, and by the anthem Holy Is the True Light.
Its harmonic vocabulary is evocative of the English composer Herbert Howells
(1892-1983), and it is dedicated to him. The imagery of radiance is once
again prevalent in the text, from the Salisbury Diurnal. The postlude,
Transports de joie, by the Parisian composer Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) is
in the “shimmering” key of F-sharp major, and was chosen today to convey the
supernatural brilliance of the Transfiguration. The translation of the
title, together with its scriptural subtitle (taken from the Epistles to the
Colossians and the Ephesians) is, “Outburst of joy from a soul before the
Glory of Christ which is its own glory”—Giving thanks unto God who has
enabled us to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light…and has
raised us up and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
An ancient tradition precludes the singing of “alleluias” during the
penitential season of Lent. On February 10, the First Sunday of Lent, the
Sunday School children will join in the processional hymn, Halle, Halle,
after which will follow a ritual “Burying of the Alleluia”—the concealing of
alleluia banners in a chest until Easter Sunday. In anticipation of this
event, and in order to bring to a close the Epiphany season, the
congregation is invited to join with the Old South Choir in singing Calvin
Hampton’s A Repeating Alleluia at the conclusion of this morning’s service.
OLD SOUTH CHURCH IN BOSTON
MINISTERS, OFFICERS AND STAFF
Nancy S. Taylor, Senior Minister ~ Quinn G. Caldwell, Associate Minister
James W. Crawford, Senior Minister Emeritus
Harry L. Huff, Minister of Music
Calvin Genzel, Wedding Outreach Minister ~ Janet Butler, Wedding Coordinator
Ken Orth, Healing Prayer Service Minister
Robert W. Brown, Ministerial Intern ~ Abigail G. Henderson, Field Education Intern
Mark S. Burrows, Theologian in Residence
Patricia Hazeltine, Church School Director ~ Rolanda Ward, Youth Worker
Carolyn Davis, Director, Old South Preschool
George Sargent, Assistant Organist
Willie Sordillo, Jazz Service Music Director
Peter Coulombe, Director, Old South Ringers
Amy Budka & Phil Stern, Children’s Music Directors
Jeff Makholm, Moderator ~ David Clark, Clerk ~ James Monsma, Treasurer
Dwight Crane, Chair, Board of Trustees ~ Susan T. Campbell, Historian
Diane Gaucher, Senior Deacon ~ Vicki A. Newman, Pledge Secretary
Helen McCrady, Senior Church Administrator
Amy Perry, Administrative Assistant ~ Rosemary Clarke, Accountant
Elias Perez, Senior Sexton ~ Ozo Nwodo & Robert Blenman, Sextons
Jessica Goodknight, Rubia Reyes & Jim McDonnel, Receptionists
www.oldsouth.org - 617/536-1970