Episcopal Mass
On Sunday, December 3 I attended the Solemn Mass at the Church of the Advent, in the North End. Now, you have to understand that I am religiously challenged, at best. I've been to my share of weddings and funerals, but growing up I averaged one regular church service every year or two. When I did go, it was either to Hardshell Baptist or Dunkard Bretheren services, with my father or mother's side of the family, respectively. Both these denominations focus heavily on simplicity and egalitarianism. The churches are usually one room, wooden affairs with a simple lectern. The music draws heavily on the English folk tradition, and the service is delivered in a straightforward manner. Imagine my trepidation, then, when I walked into this church, with its high, vaulted ceilings and an enormous, emaciated, and slightly malicious-looking Christ figure suspended thirty feet among my head. As I came through the entrance, the prelude began. It sounded like nothing less than the soundtrack to a horror movie, as the slasher is about to leap out and dice an innocent schoolgirl. The organ wailed in threatening, building minor chords and did nothing to allay my tr
The prayers and hymns alternated fairly regularly between recitative style, choir pieces, and those performed by all, with one call and response section in the middle. After people had eaten their oh-so-holy crackers, another thing my grandmother would have been flabbergasted to see, the choir produced the "Communion Sentence," which also had a very fugal feel. My eyes and throat burned, and I thought some sort of crazy cultists had gassed me. It was definitely musical, but it held one note predominantly and moved almost entirely rhythmically. Then, there was yet another reading, this time from Luke, but again regarding Armageddon. As they passed people started breaking for the door, before the organ had even stopped moaning. It seemed to my untrained ear to go from major to minor and back to major, but the major ending was significantly more solemn than the joyous beginning. Then, the organ played another slasher tune to mark the Postlude, and the cultish figures in robes made some more laps around the sanctuary and vanished out a side door. Following the procession came Hymn 360, which all 100 of the parishioners present sang, while accompanied by the organ. It was very upbeat and more happy-sounding than anything since the Offertory had been. The Kyrie is something I am at least marginally familiar with, having studied it in HT 2. I quickly found a seat in the back of the room. This was followed by another apocalyptic Bible verse. Both the churches I am familiar with believe in literal interpretation of the Bible, and they would have found this dilution of God's supposed Earthly reign absolutely blasphemous. The moment passed, however, and I realized that they were the leaders of the church, and it was nothing but incense.
Common topics in this essay:
Dunkard Bretheren,
Offertory Anthem,
Coming Armageddon,
Collect Day,
Blessing Dismissal,
Cantus Missae,
Armageddon Sermon,
Communion Sentence,
Advent North,
Sconyers December,
accompanied organ,
choir organ,
choir organ performed,
laps sanctuary,
organ performed,
call response,
don't call,
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Acceptance Essays
