The 40th day after Christmas is officially ‘The Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple’, but has been nicknamed “Candlemas” for generations due to its special tradition of a procession with candles- symbolizing us being a light shining in the darkness as we journey through life. We’ll celebrate this feast day with special music offered by the Christ Church Choir, reflecting the story of Simeon seeing the child Jesus in the temple, and a candlelit procession for the entire congregation. This service concludes with Holy Eucharist.
This is the first in a series of special choral services every first Saturday of the month, at 5 PM, from February 2025 – June 2025. These services will feature beautiful music that will open up the heavens for you, preaching to guide you in the world and the Eucharist to refresh you. The following dates will be: March 1, April 5, May 3, and June 7.
Repertoire is:
Organ Voluntary: Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin, BuxWV 76 – Dietrich Buxtehude
During Candle lighting:
Antiphon: Lumen ad Revelationem – Plainsong, mode 8
Canticle: Nunc Dimittis in B-flat – Charles Wood
Hymns during the Procession of Candles: Hail to the Lord who comes (Old 120th) & Lift up your heads (Truro)
Preces & Responses: Stephen Caracciolo
Psalms: 87 (John Goss) & 24:7-10 (Maxine Thévenot)
Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis: Second Service – Kenneth Leighton
Offertory Hymn: How bright appears the Morning Star (Wie schön leuchtet)
Presentation Hymn: How lovely is thy dwelling place (Brother James’s Air)
Anthem: When to the temple Mary went – Johannes Eccard
Organ Voluntary; Paean on “Divinum mysterium” – John Cook