Categories: friends, other-churches, music
Date: 27 August 2007 13:36:03
A very quick trip, as my cousin arrived in Sydney on Sunday morning, but a very enjoyable one.
As always, the choir of All Saints', Ainslie did a marvellous job in leading us in worship, and the parishioners of St George's warmly welcomed all visitors and put on a delicious supper afterwards: several varieties of soup, bread rolls, glühwein, hot chocolate and some wondrous desserts. And, of course, it was wonderful to see a number of people from the Ship again. Festivities continued after the supper at All Saint's Ainslie's Director of Music's place at the interestingly named suburb of Swinger Hill!
The Choral Evensong, according to the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, was simply beautiful. Walmisley in D Minor was the canticle setting; the hymns Sing, all creation, sing to God in gladness, Who would true valour see and The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended [one of my favourites] were sung; and the choir sung, wonderfully, Byrd's anthem Teach me, O Lord.
But more than that, as beautiful as music is, were the words of Evensong. I am one for modern English, that is, replacing thees and hasts and such, but I think much of the poetry, much of the beauty, of liturgy has been lost in many places: we, for instance, have a very odd [to my ears] translation of the Divine Liturgy at our parish. It may be correct, I do not know, in terms of a translation, but I'd hardly say its overly poetic. Hearing such exhortations as:
... the Scripture moveth us in sundry places to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness ... Wherefore I pray and beseech you ... to accompany me with a pure heart, and humble voice, unto the throne of heavenly grace ...responding with words including
... We have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our hearts. ...the simple, yet moving, chanting of:
Priest: Endue the ministers with righteousness.does indeed help me to worship, and to raise my heart, mind and soul, in some small way, to "the throne of heavenly grace".
All: And make thy chosen people joyful.
...
Priest: O God make clean our hearts within us.
All: And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.
The Anglican Church truly does have much treasure to give to the world in liturgy and hymnody: thanks be to God.