On Sunday, we observe the Third Sunday of Advent. This is an interesting and unique day that brings a fresh approach to the season. We light the pink candle on the Advent wreath on Sunday, and as was beautifully illustrated in the Dean's article, the pink candle signifies our rejoicing that Christ's coming is at hand. We also hear the words of one of the greatest songs ever sung in all of history this week, the Magnificat - the Song of Mary. Although we can't say if Mary actually sang these words, we refer to them as a song because of their sublime beauty and poetry, and because they are indeed sung in churches throughout the world. "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord". Soloists from the choir will present a new setting of this text.

Also, the choir will sing a very old version of another Marian oriented text, the Ave Maria, or Hail Mary. "Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee! Blessed art thou among women, and blessed it the fruit of thy womb, Jesus." These phrases are drawn from two distinct scriptural passages. The angel Gabriel greets Mary, "Hail, full of grace", and Elizabeth exclaims upon seeing her, "blessed is the fruit of your womb!" Later, the prayer continues, "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of death." This prayer is very old and is said by Christians around the world, especially by Roman, Orthodox, and Anglican Catholics. The setting we will sing on Sunday is by Jacques Arcadelt (1507-1568), a Netherlandish composer of Renaissance music who spent most of his life in Italy and France. Arcadelt was in residence at the Papal Chapel for a time, and much of his music was performed there. In his setting of Ave Maria, Arcadelt creates a prayerful yet grand mood that seems beautifully wedded to the text.

Why all this emphasis on Mary this Sunday? I suggest that the church lists the Magnificat as an option instead of a psalm on the Third Sunday of Advent because it is one of the most joyful proclamations in history. Perhaps our rejoicing at the coming of the Messiah is more similar to the rejoicing of Mary than we realize. Although Mary rejoiced at the incarnation of God, she surely must have been intimidated and even frightened by the implications and magnitude of her role in that event. It was surely with some trepidation that she embarked on a wondrous journey that gave her joy beyond measure and yet challenged every fiber of her being! This is a great example of the Christian life, to me. So, we sing of Mary this Sunday out of love and solidarity with her as sojourners in the way of faith.

We sing with joy that our journey to Christmas is over halfway completed. There is still time to examine the quieter nature of this time, however. The organ prelude, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, by J. S. Bach (1685-1750) is one of the gems of organ literature. Although suavely done in a way that might go unnoticed by some, this piece is an arrangement of the hymn we now know as Savior of the nations, come. Listen as the accompaniment develops its own theme while the melody is ornamented and transformed like the branches of an Advent wreath. A warmer and more perfect example of quiet Advent joy would be hard to find. I pray it will help us all to rejoice more deeply and with more meaning as Christmas draws nigh.

WE PRAY FOR:  

Members:
Brink Brinkley, John Wade Thurber, Nick Nichols, Butch Trawick, Billie van der Giessen, Peter van der Giessen, Patti Biel, Alice Carwie, Raymond Fields, Lisa Williams

Friends & Family:
Leland Moore, Sr., Deborah Beverley, Peggy Naughton, Gary Davis, Harrison Leff, Michael Cameron, Nancy & Don Cameron, Rob & Amy Archer Ellis, Dottie McCord, Joyce Lee, Davis Nelson, Michael Sumrall, Gwen Cook, Alfred Showers, Michael Daves, Michael Sumrall, Jim Elia, Anne Brown, Mark Brown, Harriett Lillich, Bonnie Orillion, Dave Carlyn Block, Rachel McClanahan, Beverly Schubert, Tom Cunningham, Francis Grace Hirs, Norma Beazley, Curtis Bullock,Valerie Boatman, Ann Jones, Hank Wozniek, Lisa Thompson, Stella Phillips, James Thomas, Ted Fraiche, Mark Miles, Susan Guilian, Tot Swanson, Art Swanson, Hayden Jenkins, Maggie Jenkins, Betty Ruth Patek, Carolyn Pryor, Merle Findley, Louise Douglas, Shirley & Dunlap Peeples, Steve Harris, Sandy Fortner, Johnny McLeod, Marian Macpherson Currie, Jim & Dianne McCall, Mary Lou Peake, Bill Goodloe, Kit & Roger Geil and the Geil family, Angel & Larry Torres, Kathy Boucvalt, Bill Stevens, Mancil Lee, Ginger Simpson, Karen Sentilles, Melody Williams, Lila Fisk, Kendall Stanton, Tracey Johnson, Joe Lowrey, Temple Webber, Celeste Hall, Joel Hopper, Betty Browder, David Lannie, The Rev. Mark Wilson, Allan Tucker, Wyatt Ison, Sallie Jackson, Curt Kennington, Kathy Sanders, Davis Sarrett, Willie Stanton, Clarise Waters, Glenn Hill, Leslie Ellis Sharbel, Cora Lemmon, Dewey Hardeman, Humphrey Godfroy, Marian Hall, Homer Kemp, Jane Behlen, Katie Sippel, Dan Jones, Florence Tucker, Betty Larison, Chuck Norman, Kathy Brook Palefsky, Mike Barnett, Bill Miles, Frankie Garner
 

For Those Serving in the Military:
Darrien Gibson, Kelley Hood, Evan Sizemore, Robert McNeil, The Rev. Bowen Woodruff, Daniel White-Spunner Reed, Jonathan Duralde, Ron Lansong, Sam Garcia, Chris Marslender, Jerry Olin, Abby Hutchins, Tyler Gamble, Jean-Michael Lemieux, Albert Robinson IV, Michael Nassar, Josh Power, Ryan Anthony Thomas, Randy Johnson, Susan Reniewicz, Brian Caselton, Brian Hudson, Keith Moss, Ryan Walker, Tyler Oubre, Brian Pennell, John Snyder, Louis Coggin, Jason Norris, Conner Thigpen, Zack Miller, Parker Hollinghead, Todd & Jordana Mouthaan
 

Repose: Sandy Fortner, daughter of Patti Biel

Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Anglican Church of Northern Uganda

Cathedral Cycle of Prayer: Church of the Nativity, Dothan, Alabama; the ministry of Sara Phillips, Pastoral Leader, St. Mary's, Coden

Ecumenical Cycle of Prayer: The Church in Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, and Togo, and Macedonia Baptist Church, Mobile

Prison Ministry Cycle of Prayer: Calhoun County Jail, Blountstown, Florida

Flowers: The flowers on the altar are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of George Douglas Cunningham, Hetty Lyon Horst Cunningham, and Lyon Cunningham Newell. 

Notes: 

Cathedral Prayers will be updated weekly on our new website here:

http://www.christchurchcathedralmobile.org/cathedral-prayers.html