Seven last words 2016 dubois and mendellsohn

The Seven Last Words of Christ Trinity Church, Myrtle Beach March 25th, 2016 + 6:00 p.m.

A note from our Music Director, Ashley Sosis: The bible citations for the libretto of the Dubois Seven Last Words of Christ are by Wheat Williams and are used by permission. You’ll find that most of the citations are for the four Gospels. The actual seven last phrases of Christ are printed in bold.

Going deeper into the content of those citations, many of these last phrases were taken from the Book of Psalms in the Old Testament. From Psalm 22, known as the prayer of an innocent person, Jesus quotes, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ From Psalm 31, a prayer of distress, ‘Into your hands I commend my spirit.’ We know that Jesus’ truly final words are not “it is finished,” but “behold, I am with you until the end of the age.”

A small footnote-- my favorite English language, organ-and-choir recording of the Dubois Seven Last Words of Christ available for purchase features the Choir of First Methodist Church in Lubbock, Texas conducted by Gordon McMillan, with Fredrick Swann, Organist. Dr. Mark Chaney, former music director and organist of Trinity Church is now the Senior Organist and director of Traditional Music Ministries at that same church. I borrowed the idea of pairing Mendelssohn’s “Hear My Prayer” and the Dubois Seven Last Words on the same program from that recording. They work beautifully together, especially since “Hear my Prayer” uses text from Psalm 51 and (as mentioned above) Jesus quotes a few different psalms in His seven last words.

2

THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF CHRIST March 25th, 2015 + 6:00 p.m.

INTRODUCTION Celebrant: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Celebrant: Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

We will glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ: In whom is our salvation, our life and Resurrection.

Let us pray.

Assist us mercifully with thy help, O Lord God of our salvation; that we may enter with joy upon the meditation of those mighty acts, whereby thou hast given unto us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“Hear My Prayer”

by: Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Hear my prayer, O God, incline Thine ear!

Thyself from my petition do not hide!

Take heed to me! Hear how in prayer I mourn to Thee!

Without Thee all is dark, I have no guide.

The enemy shouteth, The godless come fast!

Iniquity, hatred upon me they cast!

The wicked oppress me, Ah, where shall I fly?

Perplexed and bewildered, O God, hear my cry!

3

My heart is sorely pained within my breast, My soul with deathly terror is oppressed, Trembling and fearfulness upon me fall, With horror overhelmed, Lord, hear me call!

O for the wings of a dove!

Far away would I rove!

In the wilderness build me a nest, And remain there for ever at rest.

-Psalm 55:1-7

The Seven Last Words of Christ

by: Théodore Dubois (1837-1924)

O all ye who travel upon the highway, hearken to me, and behold me: was e’er sorrow like unto my sorrow?

-Lamentations 1:12

For the Lord Almighty hath dealt bitterly with me.

Call me now no more Naomi, from today call me Mara.

-Ruth 1:20

THE FIRSTWORD Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

-Luke 23:34

And the people clamor’d: He is death-guilty: -Matthew 26:66

take him, take him, let us crucify him!

-Mark 15:13

Be his blood on us, and on our children!

-Matthew 27:25

Then they did crucify Jesus, and the two thieves, one at His right hand, the other at His left hand.

-Luke 23:33

THE SECOND WORD Verily, thou shalt be in Paradise to-day with me.

Amen, so I tell thee.

-Luke 23:43

Hear me, O Lord, and remember me, when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.

-Luke 23:42 4

THE THIRD WORD See, O woman! here behold thy Son beloved.

-John 19:26-27

See yon mother, bow’d in anguish, Who beside the cross doth languish, Where on high her son is borne; Is there mortal, who not feeleth To behold her where she kneeleth, So woeful, and all forlorn?

-from “Stabat Mater dolorosa”, 13th century hymn

THE FOURTH WORD God, my Father, why hast thou forsaken me?

-Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34

All those who were my friends, all have now forsaken me, and they that hate me do now prevail against me; and by he whom I have cherished, he hath betrayed me.

-Based on Lamentations, Tenebrae for Maundy Thursday

Even the vine that I have chosen, and that I have planted: wherefore art thou now so strangely turned to bitterness, that by thee I am crucified.

-from Tenebrae for Maundy Thursday

THE FIFTH WORD I am athirst!

-John 19:28

And the Jews then passing by him, all did rail upon him, and wagging their heads at him, they said unto him: Ah! Thou wouldst fain destroy the temple; if thou be Jesus, Son of the Father, now from the cross descend thou, that we behold it, and believe on thee when we behold it.

If thou art king over Israel, save thyself, then!

-Mark 15:29-30

5

THE SIXTH WORD Father, into Thy hands I commend my soul.

-Luke 23:46

For Thou art my God and my Father; Thou art my Saviour.

-Psalm 89:26

THE SEVENTH WORD And with a loud voice Jesus cried, exclaiming: It is finished!

And He did bow His head, and rendered up His spirit.

-John 19:30

And it was about the sixth hour; and the sun was darkened, and darkness covered the earth; and the veil of the temple was rent, and all the earth did quake; -Luke 23:44

and the rocks were rent, and all the graves were opened wide.

-from Matthew 27:52

Christ, we do all adore Thee, and praise Thee; for on the holy cross hast thou the world from sin redeemed.

-Prayer from the Stations of the Cross

CLOSING Celebrant:

We thank you, heavenly Father, that you have delivered us from the dominion of sin and death and brought us into the kingdom of your Son; and we pray that, as by his death he has recalled us to life, so by his love he may raise us to eternal joys; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

To Christ our Lord who loves us, and washed us in his own blood, and made us a kingdom of priests to serve his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

+ BENEDICTION Celebrant: Let us bless the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

6

+

GRACE

Celebrant: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

All recess in silence.

7

The mission of Trinity Church is to share the Gospel and to make Christcentered disciples

3000 N. Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29577 Phone: (843) 448-8426, Fax: (843) 946-9637 E-Mail: trinitymb@aol.com Please visit our website at www.trinitymyrtlebeach.org 8