THE FOUR LAST THINGS Music & Readings for Advent

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church & School Houston, Texas 12 December 2020 at 7pm

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On The Four Last Things: Death. Judgement. Heaven. Hell

The four last things might sound a note of fear in many, but they need not. For centuries, Chris- tians have used the period of advent—a season set aside for meditation on the first and second comings of Our Lord—to meditate on and prepare for our encounters with these realities. But reflection on these themes is always done with reference to the one who has overcome death, who is the great judge, who reigns with God in heaven, and who descended into the darkest depths of hell: Jesus Christ. Indeed, the opportunity to spend an evening reflecting on these reali- ties is nothing more than an opportunity to reflect on Jesus Christ in whom our future is founded. Jesus Christ—love incarnate, love divine—is more deeply, more richly encountered when we med- itate on the ways in which his life, death, and resurrection have transformed these four realities. Each now becomes the site of testimony, of witness to the power of God made flesh to trans- form not only our lives today, but our future.

May this service draw you into a deeper appreciation of the power of God’s love in Jesus Christ to transform us.

In Christ,

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THE WELCOME

THE INVITATORY & BIDDING PRAYER

Priest Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. People And also with you.

The priest addresses the people in these or similar words: In Advent we look forward. We rekindle the eager hope and fear with which the Old Testament prophets looked forward to the coming of the promised Messiah; we prepare ourselves to cele- brate his birth at Christmas.

When the Lord Christ came to live among us, he taught us to look forward to the hour when we shall each be called from this world through death: the crowning point of every life, when we ap- pear before him for judgement.

He taught us also, and above all, to see our lives in his divine perspective, to long for the day when he will come again, the point beyond which all looking forward will cease, for time will have come to an end. Then all will be united and perfected in heaven, save what has been lost to hell.

Today let us meditate on these four last things: death, judgement, heaven and hell. Let us examine our preparation for death and eternal life, in order that we may be strengthened in hope, moved to thank God for his grace, and inspired to deeper penitence and greater love.

Let us call on God's loving mercy: Turn to us again, O God our Savior, and let your anger cease from us: Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

Show us your mercy, O Lord, and grant us your salvation: Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy.

Your salvation is near for those who fear you, that glory may dwell within our land: Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

The priest prays the Collect for the Third Sunday of Advent. Stir up your power, Lord, with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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DEATH

Image: Danse Macabre, Bernt Notke (1440-1509) “DEATH” by George Herbert (1593-1633) Death, thou wast once an uncouth hideous thing, Nothing but bones, The sad effect of sadder grones: Thy mouth was open but thou couldst not sing.

For we consider’d thee as at some six Or ten years hence, After the loss of life and sense, Flesh being turn’d to dust, and bones to sticks.

We lookt on this side of thee, shooting short; Where we did find The shells of fledge souls left behind, Dry dust, which sheds no tears, but may extort.

But since our Saviours death did put some blood Into thy face; Thou are grown fair and full of grace, Much in request, much sought for, as a good.

For we do now behold thee gay and glad, As at dooms-day: When souls shall wear their new aray, And all thy bones with beautie shall be clad.

Therefore we can go die as sleep, and trust Half that we have Unto an honest faithfull grave; Making our pillows either down, or dust

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Musical Reflection In Memory H.H.L. Dan Locklair (b.1949)

JUDGEMENT

Image: The Last Judgement, John Martin (1789–1854) THE REVELATION to St. John of Patmos (c. 6-100) I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is and who was and who is to come. I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full mon became like blood, and the starts of the sky fell to the earth, as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale; the sky vanished like a scroll that is rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the generals and the rich and the strong, and every one, slave and free, hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks; “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand before it?” The dwelling of God is with his people. And he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the for- mer things have passed away.

Musical Reflection Revelations of Saint John the Divine Larry King for organ and tape (1932–1990)

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HEAVEN

Image: The Empyrean, Gustav Dore (1832-1883)

From A SERMON of John Donne (1572-1637) “Howling is the noise of hell; singing the voice of heaven. Sadness the damp of hell; rejoicing the serenity of heaven. And he that hath not this joy here lacks one of the best pieces of his evidence for the joys of heaven, and hath neglected or refused that earnest by which God uses to bind his bargain, that true joy in this world shall flow into the joy of heaven as a river flows into the sea. This joy shall not be put out in death and a new joy kindled in me in heaven. But as my soul, as soon as it is out of my body, is in heaven, and does not stay for the possession of heaven nor for

6 the fruition of the sight of God till it be ascended through air, and fire, and moon, and sun, and planets, and firmament to that place which we conceive to be heaven, but without the thousandth part of a minute’s stop, as soon as it issues, is in a glorious light, which is heaven…The true joy of a good soul in this world is the very joy of heaven. And we go thither, not that being without joy we might have joy infused into us, but that, as Christ says, ‘our joy might be full’ (John 16:24), per- fected, sealed with an everlastingness. For as he promises that ‘no man shall take our joy from us’ (v. 22), so neither shall Death itself take it away, nor so much as interrupt it or discontinue it. But as in the face of Death, when he lays hold upon me, and in the face of the devil, when he at- tempts me, I shall see the face of God (for everything shall be a [looking] glass, to reflect God up- on me), so in the agonies of death, in the anguish of that dissolution, in the sorrows of that vale- diction, in the irreversibleness of that transmigration, I shall have a joy which shall no more evap- orate than my soul shall evaporate—a joy that shall pass up and put on a more glorious garment above and be joy super-invested in glory. Amen.”

Musical Reflection In Paradisum Calvin Hampton (1938–1984) May the angels lead you into paradise, may the martyrs receive you in your coming, and may they guide you into the holy city, Jerusalem. May the chorus of angels receive you and with Lazarus once poor may you have eternal rest. - In Paradisum, from The Requiem Mass

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HELL

Image: Harrowing of Hell, Nicholas Roerich (1874-1947)

From The LIFE OF ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA (1347-1380) St. Catherine said to the Lord, “How could I ever reconcile myself, Lord, to the prospect that a single one of those whom, like me, you have created in your image and likeness should become lost and slip from your hands? No, in absolutely no case do I want to see a single one of my brethren meet with ruin, not a single one of those who, through their like birth, are one with me by nature and by grace. I want them all to be wrested from the grasp of the ancient enemy, so that they all become yours to the honor ad greater glorification of your name.” The Lord replied to St. Catherine, “Love cannot be contained in hell; it would totally annihilate hell; one could more easily do away with hell than allow love to reside in it.”

FROM THE APOSTLES’ CREED (C. 4TH century AD) “I believe...in Jesus Christ, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell….” Musical Reflection O Gott, du frommer Gott Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)

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Oh God, you righteous god you source of good gifts, without whom nothing exists that does exist, from whom we have everything : give me a healthy body and grant that in such a body there may remain an inviolate soul and a pure conscience.

-Johann Heermann, 1630; tr. Francis Browne 2005

At the conclusion of the fourth reflection, a moment of silence is observed.

The priest, standing, invites those gathered and viewing to prayer: As our Savior taught us, let us pray

The priest and people together recite the Lord’s prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

THE BLESSING & DISMISSAL

The priest offers the following blessing on those gathered and watching May Almighty God, by whose providence our Savior Christ came among us in great humility, sanctify you with the light of his blessing and set your free from all sin. Amen.

May he whose second Coming in power and great glory we await, make you steadfast in faith, joy- ful in hope, and constant in love. Amen.

May you, who rejoice in the first Advent of our Redeemer, at his second Advent be rewarded with unending life. Amen.

And the blessing of god Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and re- main with you for ever. Amen.

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The priest dismisses the people Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God.

To ensure the safest possible environment, please remain seated until your pew is dismissed.

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ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH & SCHOOL 1819 Heights Boulevard Houston, Texas 77008 saecheights.org | 713-861-5596

Clergy & Staff The Right Reverend C. Andrew Doyle, IX Bishop of Texas The Reverend James M.L. Grace, Rector The Reverend Bradley Varnell, Curate The Reverend Jeff Bohanski, Deacon John Kirk, Director of Music & Organist Carrie Conti, Office Manager Lisa Puccio, Coordinator of Family Formation & Special Needs Minis- try Nancy Simpson, Head of School

Lay Leadership Alli Jarrett, Senior Warden Adrienne Allie, Junior Warden Greg Caudell, Treasurer Brianne Richardson, Chancellor