Happening This Sunday

Who's Preaching Where on Sunday?

• Traditional Services | 9 am & 11:15 am in the Church – Dr. Kira Moolman Pettit (9 am) & The Rev. Caroline Devitt (11:15 am)
• Awesome Worship Service for Families | 9:15 am in the Hall Life Center – The Rev. Trent Pettit
• Modern Worship | 11:15 am in the Hall Life Center – The Rev. Dr. R. Leigh Spruill
• Traditional Service | 8 am & 5 pm in the Chapel – Dr. Kira Moolman Pettit (8 am) & The Rev. Dr. R. Leigh Spruill (5 pm)
  

Worship Online

• Traditional Service in the Church (9 am - with Order of Service & Announcements)
• Modern Worship in the HLC (11:15 am - with Announcements)
  

All-Ages Education Hour — 
10:15 am Administration Building

Partners in the Gospel: Reading Philippians Together – Hall Life Center
Foundations Class – Parlor
The Lord's Final Days in Jerusalem – Room 203
Muslim/Christian Relations – Room 210
Lectionary Lectio Divina Group – Nau Family Room
Family Matters – L16 & L18

Children's Nursery

• Birth - age 2, Rm 104
• Age 3 - Kinder, Rms L8, L9
• Grades 1 - 3, Scout Rm
• Grades 4 & 5, L19 & L 20

Youth Sunday School – Room 238
Youth Confirmation – Youth Room

The Collect of the Day

Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

15:1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

3 So he told them this parable:

15:11b “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

Musical Offering in the Church

Today, the Fourth Sunday in Lent, we hear two a cappella anthems: one a motet from the late Romantic era by Anglo-Irish composer Charles Stanford, and the second a motet from 20th Century American composer Ned Rorem.

Stanford composed a substantial number of concert works, including seven symphonies, but his best-remembered pieces are his choral works for church performance, chiefly composed in the Anglican tradition. His cherished motet “Beati quorum via,” written for six-part choir, is a setting of the first verse of Psalm 119, “Blessed are those that are undefiled in the way and walk in the law of the Lord.” It is sung today at the Offertory.

Ned Rorem enjoyed a prolific and varied career, having composed a large array of orchestral works, music for numerous combinations of chamber forces, operas, ballets, choral works, and literally hundreds of songs and cycles. Born in 1923, Rorem enjoyed an extensive musical education at institutions such as the American Conservatory, the Curtis Institute, and the Julliard School, with teachers including Leo Sowerby and Aaron Copland. In 1949, he went to Paris to study, where he befriended Francis Poulenc, Georges Auric, Darius Milhaud, and Jean Cocteau. It was here that Rorem penned his musical setting of the text “Sing My Soul, His Wondrous Love,” which the Chorale offers during the Ministration. The text is of unknown authorship, though it first appeared around 1800. It is familiar to many Episcopalians, as it is a favorite hymn which is set to the tune “St. Bees” in both The Hymnal 1982 (#467) and The Hymnal 1940.