About This Sunday's Hymns

This morning’s Anthem "Easter Song" was written by Dean Rishel, a graduate of Westminster Choir College and Musical Director of the Greater South Jersey Regional Chorus. Mr. Rishel is a cousin of John Bate. This is the "premier" or first public performance of this work. The Offertory Anthem was composed by Keith Chapman who was the Organist at the great "Wanamaker" organ in Philadelphia, and the Organist and Music Director at the United Methodist Church in Wayne, Pa.  Assisting Musicians this morning are: Robert Snodgrass, Lavianna Felder, Michelle Lowry, David Rabinowiz, Ryan Vandeman, John Cajio and David Laird.
The standard opening hymn for Easter Sunday is this masterpiece by Charles Wesley. Yet, surprisingly his brother John did not include it in his monumental 1780 "Collection of Hymns for the Use of the People Called Methodists". The florid notes for the Alleluias remind us that sometimes singing moves beyond mere words, adding a larger dimension to our praise.

Our second hymn this morning comes from John of Damascus (the 8th century). All Greek Easter hymns include references to the Song of Moses (Exodus 15). Deliverance through the Red Sea is related to deliverance by Christ from death. In addition, the hymn uses Spring (the Queen of Seasons) as an allegory of the resurrection. After winter the days grow brighter and warmer, and Christ the Sun of Righteousness returns from the grave to bring us new life and light. For this we give "praise undying."
William J. Irons the Anglican rector of St. Paul's Cathedral, London printed the text for this morning’s closing hymn under the title "Now is Christ risen from the dead" (I Corinthians 15:20). It is an exuberant and exhilarating hymn about the meaning of the resurrection, with echoes of the book of Revelation. Written in a very singable and popular hymn text rhythm it can be used with a number of different tunes. Our book weds this text to Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" which matches the texts exuberance and the excitement of this most holy day.

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Also, check out the Terrific Tuesday Program.