The world premiere of our latest composition project, “Reformed and Reforming: From Death to New Life – A Requiem Mass for the Church” was last weekend, Sunday, October 29th at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lynnwood. A few recent blogs and future blogs will be explaining the texts, especially the indictments a little further. The first indictment was addressed in my previous post, “Does the Church Know Everything?”
You can find out more about our project at www.reformedandrefomingmusic.com
For now, I present the texts as they are:
1. RECITATIVE
Only partly reformed, the Church has spread fear-filled judgment through the worship of its dogma. But Jesus persistently teaches with expansive courage and open questioning toward perpetual reformation through the glory of rebirth; from death to new life.
May it be on earth as it is in heaven.
Lord have mercy. Hear our prayer.
2. CHORUS REQUIEM
Requiem aeternam dona nobis, Domine.
Et lux perpetua. Luceat nobis.
Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion:
Et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem.
Dear Christian people all, rejoice, each soul with joy upraising.
Pour forth a song with heart and voice, with love and gladness singing.
Give thanks to God, our Lord above, thanks for His miracle of Love!
Dearly He hath redeemed us.
Exaudi orationem meam.
Ad te omnis caro veniet.
Requiem aeternam dona nobis, Domine.
Et lux perpetua aeternum.
3. RECITATIVE
Where the Church struggles with sin and shame, God redeems through forgiveness and love.
May it be on earth as it is in heaven.
Lord have mercy. Hear our prayer.
4. CHORUS KYRIE
Kyrie, eleison. Lord have mercy.
Christe, eleison. Christ have mercy. Kyrie, eleison!
God spoke to His beloved Son With infinite compassion,
"Go hence, my heart’s most precious One, be to the lost Salvation;
Death, his relentless tyrant, stay,
And bear him from his sins away with Thee to live forever!"
Kyrie, eleison. Christe, eleison.
5. RECITATIVE
When the Church has created divisions through exclusion and isolation,
God creates communities through inclusion and compassion.
May it be on earth as it is in heaven.
Lord have mercy. Hear our prayer.
6. RECITATIVE ARIA CREDO
Lyrics have been adapted from the Inclusion Statement from
All Pilgrims Christian Church, Seattle, WA
We are faith-communities valuing and celebrating diversity.
Through God’s love and with Christ’s example,
we set aside all human barriers and divisions
and invest ourselves in the healing of prejudice, exclusion, and hatred.
We are open to, and affirming of, the full participation of all as equal members in this one body;
people of all colors, ages, economic circumstances,
sexual orientations, gender or transgender identities,
physical and mental abilities, education levels,
and conditions of health.
We consider no commandment to be greater than this:
“We shall love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength
and love our neighbors as we love ourselves.”
Through God’s love and Christ’s example.
7. CHORUS SANCTUS
Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth!
Holy, holy, holy, though the darkness hide Thee,
though the eye of sinful man your glory may not see.
Only thou art Holy, there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in pow'r, in love, in purity.
The Son came saying, "Cling to me, Thy sorrows now are ending.
Freely I give myself to thee, Thy life with mine defending;
For I am thine and thou art Mine, and where I am there thou shalt shine,
The foe will never reach us."
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Domine Deus,
All Your works shall praise Your Name in earth, and sky, and sea.
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Merciful and mighty,
Perfect in pow'r, in love and purity.
8. RECITATIVE
Where the Church exalts the cross through Jesus’ payment for our sins, Jesus exalts what God has done gifting life and grace through birth and resurrection.
May it be on earth as it is in heaven.
Lord have mercy. Hear our prayer.
9. CHORUS AGNUS DEI
Agnus Dei, qui tollis pecata mundi, dona nobis requiem.
[Jesus] “To Heaven again I rise from hence, High to my Father soaring,
The Master there to be, and thence my Spirit on thee pouring.
In every grief to comfort thee, and teach thee more and more of Me,
Into all truth still guiding.
Agnus Dei, quitolis pecata mundi, dona nobis requiem. Sempiternam.
10. CHORALE AND GUARD THEE FROM THE WORDS OF MEN
[Jesus] “What I have done and taught on earth, Do Thou, and teach, none dreading;
That so God’s kingdom may go forth, And His high praise be spreading;
And guard thee from the words of men, Lest the great joy be lost again:
This my last charge I leave thee."
11. RECITATIVE
When the Church permits pain, suffering,
and death through suppression, oppression, and fear,
God creates peace, hope, and joy through justice, freedom, and light.
May it be on earth as it is in heaven.
Lord have mercy. Hear our prayer.
12. CHORUS LUX AETERNA
Lux aeterna luceat nobis, Domine.
cum sanctis tuis in aeternum, quia pius es.
Shine light upon all people, God, On souls of ev’ry time and space.
And teach us how to heal your world With holy love, mercy, and grace.
Forgive the weak and feeble mind, and hardened hearts of humankind,
and shine your light through us.
Lux aeterna luceat nobis, Domine.
cum sanctis tuis in aeternum, quia pius es.
Requiem aeternam dona nobis Domine,
et lux perpetua luceat nobis, quia pius es.