…waiting for Cindi to get in (let the married men understand…) to head up to Church, I was just overwhelmed this morning with the realization of how utterly blessed we are. We are getting into a car to drive FIVE MINUTES to the greatest Lutheran Church in the world. Our Kantor was taking a well-earned weekend off, but here that’s no problem because as of right now there are SEVEN organists in the congregation total (yes, seriously). Seven organists in one country parish. So even with Kantor gone, this morning Pr. Daenzer regaled us with Pachelbel and Böhm. Pastor, Vicar, and Seminarian Preston (all traditionally vested) served up a most reverent and faithful Divine Service for Trinity 7. My son, David, served as cantor for both Divine Services today. His singing was (as always) bold, beautiful and most importantly, clear. Every word was easy to understand without reference to the bulletin for either Gradual or Alleluia Verse. Pastor’s sermon was beautiful beyond words, particularly in a parish where we’ve had a tragic and unexpected death and various other hardships and griefs this week. The comfort of the Gospel rang through: God who is near, who sees our every need, who comes into the flesh to provide us with a heavenly food that exceeds all we could dare to hope for or desire, and promises us forgiveness, resurrection, life everlasting. We welcomed the latest organist (our new teacher, Barbara Rattelmueller) after the homily, and then we interceded together for the Church, the world, and those near and dear to us. We lifted up the sorrows and joys to the throne of God in Christ’s name. Shortly thereafter, kneeling between my beloved wife and father-in-law, I received the true body and blood of my Savior. Back in the pew, after a prayer of thanks, to join in two hymns during the Distribution, but then an astonishing gift as the distribution was concluding. Pr. Daenzer played but two pitches from the organ and then sang unaccompanied to us Luther’s “In peace and joy I now depart.” Cindi said she had tears in her eyes. My own heart was just filled to overflowing as those beautiful words and haunting melody came floating down over the congregation. At the close of the communion liturgy, we all belted out a raucous “Guide Me Ever Great [Jehovah, as my wife insisted on singing] Redeemer.” Yes, we at St. Paul’s are blessed way, way beyond words. Thank You, Lord, for Prs. Ball and Gleason, and their clear Gospel preaching; thank You for our Vicar and seminarians; thank You for the wonderful family of God that gathers here; thank You for Your Word and Sacrament offered in such beauty and with both grace and joy, affording us a blessed foretaste of the age to come; thank You for our godly Principal and his hardworking staff, all dedicated to serving up a top-notch classical education for the children of our parish (and community). Thank you for all Your boundless blessings! “Glory to God for all things!”
That does indeed sound like a beautiful service -- I enjoyed reading about it!
ReplyDelete(And, like Cindi, I will sing "Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah" to that hymn also. I won't sing that loud enough to confuse or annoy anyone sitting nearby, but that is how I learned it, it is beautiful, and I see no reason to change!)