3rd Sunday of Advent

16 December 2012

Entrance	Longing, trusting (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Kyrie - Orbis factor
Isaiah 12	Sing and shout for joy (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Song of God among us (Huijbers)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Advent Lamb of God (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Say to the faint of heart (mtgf)
Communion	O radiant dawn (James MacMillan)
Final	Blest be the Lord (Alstott/Farrell)

The liturgical year is strange thing. Conceptually we thing of seasons as historical periods of time - Advent is the time before the birth of the Lord, just as Lent is this time before the death of the Lord, and Easter the fifty days following the resurrection. Perhaps a sign that they are later developments is that the gospels don't give us enough information to sustain such ideas over the relevant weeks and days. So in Advent the gospel is actually about the prelude to Jesus's adult ministry - it is an adult Christ we are preparing the way for. SInging the Benedictus at the end might be said to confuse the issue - John the Baptist of the gospel is no longer a little child. I would prefer to see it as enriching and making a link forward to next week.

It is interesting how Church music can seem to become ubiquitous. I am aware of 3 recordings of James MacMillan's O radiant dawn and it has been anthologised. I think deservedly so - it is satisfying to sing and arresting to listen to. It does confirm my ambivalence about MacMillan - or perhaps better my jury is still out - I am undecided whether his ideas are simply inspired or in other hands might seem just simple - perhaps the inspiration is doing it. As a setting of the 'O antiphon' for 21 Deecember we were a little early but it fitted and it was last Sunday we are a complete choir this term - so we ended with a bang.