Augsburg Fortress

Unfailing Light, An Evening Setting of Holy Communion

Unfailing Light, An Evening Setting of Holy Communion

Written for communities worshipping at the close of the day, this setting draws upon scripture that evokes eventide, especially in the gathering and sending — our transitions from one kind of time to another. The Spirit calls us out of time marked by daylight and darkness, measured by clocks and calendars, and gathers us into time welling up from the past, widening toward the future, and welcoming eternity.

In the opening dialogue we sing from Psalm 113, one of the Hallel or Hallelujah psalms traditionally sung at sundown before the Passover meal. The hymn of praise begins with an image of the dawn of time from Genesis I — God setting lights in the "dome of the sky" to illumine earth by night and day. It ends with a vision from Revelation 22 of the fullness of time — Christ making all things new and the faithful worshiping by the unfailing light of God's glory.

The story of the two disciples walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus as the sun sets on the day of Christ's resurrection flows through this setting (Luke 24:13-55). Verses from this story annotate the movement of our prayer — gathering, word, meal, sending — the pattern of the church's worship since the earliest Christians gathered on the first day of the week to devote themselves "to the apostles" teaching and fellowship, to the breakihng of the bread and the prayers" (Acts 2:42).

As in every time and place, when the Spirit gathers us around the word and sacrament, the means of grace, Christ Jesus, crucified and risen, comes among us as he promised. Our hearts burn as he reveals himself in scripture, our eyes are opened to recognize him in the breaking of the bread, and by faith we receive him. He gives us forgiveness, life and salvation, and sends us, nourished, strengthened and refreshed, to become what we have received: his body, blest, broken and given for the sake of the life of the world.

Ministers Edition


ISBN: 9781579993290
  • In stock
$22.00

Assembly Edition


ISBN: 9781579993276
  • In stock
$2.00

Accompaniment Edition


ISBN: 9781579993283
  • Temporarily out of stock
$14.00
Audio CD
ISBN: 9786000231576
  • In stock
$12.95
  • Publisher GIA Publications
  • Format Audio CD
  • ISBN 9781579993276; 9781579993283; 9781579993290; 9786000231576
  • Version Accompaniment Edition; Assembly Edition; Ministers Edition
  • Season/Occasion Communion; Evening

Excerpts

Unfailing Light: An evening setting of Holy Communion

At the close of the day, the Spirit calls us out of time marked by daylight and darkness, measured by clocks and calendars, and gathers us into time welling up from the past, widening toward the future, and welcoming eternity. This setting draws upon scripture that evokes eventide, especially in the gathering and sending — our transitions from one kind of time to another.

In every time and place, when the Spirit gathers us around the word and sacrament, Christ crucified and risen comes among us. Our hearts burn as Jesus opens the word and we recognize him in the breaking of the bread. By faith we receive forgiveness, life, and salvation as Christ comes to us in his holy supper. After the meal, God blesses us and sends us, nourished, strengthened, and refreshed, back to our clocks and calendars. We go, trusting God to abide with us as darkness deepens and to raise us in the morning as Christ's body — blest, broken, and given for the life of the world.

— from the Introduction

Track Listing

Invitatory / Evening Hymn: Your Canopy of Vigil Lights

Gospel Verse

Canticle: The Eyes of All

Great Thanksgiving

Lamb of God

Canticle: By Your Hand You Feed Your People

Canticle: Now, Lord, You Let Your Servant Go in Peace

Kyrie

Lenten Gospel Verse

Watch, O Lord

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