This Sunday will be the Second Sunday of Easter when we read about Jesus joining the disciples who are hiding in fear in a locked room after the crucifixion. Thomas joins them a week later to see Jesus for himself as proof of Jesus’ resurrection. This is a photo that I took of the façade of St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Italy. It’s one of the byzantine-style mosaics found all over the exterior and interior of the church and reflects the glory of the risen Christ.
Our Processional hymn stirs the heart, reflecting the joy of Easter, Good Christians all, rejoice and sing! It was written by Cyril Alington (1872-1955). Educated at Trinity College, Oxford, England, he was ordained a priest, and was headmaster of Eton College as well as chaplain to the king of England until 1951. The hymn tune is Gelobt sei Gott which is a 1609 German tune written by Melchior Vulpius who served as a Lutheran cantor and composer of over 400 hymn tunes. (Hymnary.org)
St. Martin’s Choir will sing the Carol of St. Thomas as the offertory. Anthony Greening (1940-1996) arranged the anthem from the hymn, O sons and daughters, let us sing! which uses an ancient French melody. It tells the story of the disciple, Thomas, as follows: When Thomas first the tidings heard, how they had seen the risen Lord, He doubted the disciples’ word. Alleluia! “My pierced side, O Thomas, see: My hands, My feet, I show to thee; Not faithless but believing be.” Alleluia! No longer Thomas then denied; he saw the feet, the hands, the side; “Thou art my Lord and God,” he cried. Alleluia! How blest are those who have not seen, and yet whose faith has constant been; for they eternal life shall win. Alleluia! (2010 St. James Music Press License #11394)
Our Communion hymn will again reflect the idea of having faith without first seeing and touching. We walk by faith, and not by sight was written by Henry Alford (1810-1871) with a basic text that we can easily comprehend. He was educated at Oxford and served as Dean of Canterbury.
Our final hymn is another one written by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, O Jesus, You Were Born to Be, sung to the tune Truro that we sang as our final hymn Easter Sunday. It tells about the many descriptions and images of Jesus. In the new Discipleship Study Bible, Brian Blount commented, Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) On Easter, because of Christ’s resurrection, there is a new day dawning for us - God gives us the gift of eternal life. The hymn concludes with the words of joy, “How wondrous is our life in you!” All of these titles for Jesus give us glimpses of the joy that we experience through our relationship with the living Lord. (carolynshymns.com)