By Mark Heiskanen
When the wind of winter blows, bringing times of solitude,
from the hymn “When the Wind of Winter Blows (Warm the Time of Winter)” by Ruth Duck, 1992
fill the silent icy night; be our hearts’ compassion.
Holy Light, warm our night; warm the time of winter.
This Sunday morning, we revisit the season of Advent and reflect upon its message of peace, joy, love and hopeful anticipation. Solace—in waiting.
Worship begins with variations on the 16th century German Advent hymn “Freu Dich Sehr, O Meine Seele” (Rejoice Greatly, O My Soul) by Georg Böhm. The Baroque composer is known for his development of the chorale partita, a collection of creative variations on a hymn tune of which we will hear several this Sunday morning. The melody was included in the Genevan Psalter of 1539 as Psalm 42 and became closely associated with the English Advent hymn text “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People”, a paraphrase of Isaiah 40:1-5.
During the Ministry of Music moment this week, clarinetist Carola Winkle offers Mozart’s “Menuet” from Divertimento in D, K. 334. The work expresses a sprightly and joyful character reminding us of the optimistic spirit in living in God’s Presence.
A winter song will be shared by Staff Singer Sachie Ueshima during the Offertory. “When the Wind of Winter Blows (Warm the Time of Winter)” was written by renowned hymnwriter Ruth Duck with music by Lori True. This beautiful Advent song is an invocation to the Universe for comfort, warmth and light when the days can appear colder and darker like an approaching winter solstice.
This “Fifth Sunday in Advent” concludes with a brilliant toccata on the Besancon Carol, named after the namesake city found in Eastern France. Likely originating in the 17th century, the melody is best known for its use in the 1928 Advent hymn “People, Look East” written by English hymnwriter Eleanor Farjeon. The toccata arrangement is conceived for organ by Rebecca Groom te Velde in a carillon-like manner in that repetitive rhythmic figures sound throughout the piece reminiscent of joyfully ringing church bells.