Singing With All the Saints
During the Divine Service you probably hear your pastor say or chant these words: “Therefore with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising you and saying . . . “ Have the import of those words sunk in? What follows, the Sanctus, is not just a hymn sung by your congregation, whether large or small. It is not limited to the churches spread across the globe. No, it is far more than that.
In They Will See His Face, Richard Eyer discusses the Sanctus as something far more than what we see.
At this point in the Divine Service the curtain separating this life from the next is drawn back and we sing with those who have gone before us the glory of Christ’s victory over sin and death. Here, in the Divine Service, as nowhere else on earth, we are together as one, saints above and saints on earth. Here, more than anywhere else in this life, we are near to those who have died in Christ. No memories or private devotions can rival the reality that all the community of heaven worships with us when we worship together in the Divine Service on a Sunday morning. What better place to find healing and reunion with loved ones than in the gathering of God’s people before the altar? (Eyer quoted in Wieting, The Blessings of Weekly Communion, page 202)
One of the great joys I have as an organist is leading this earthly and heavenly host in song. This is the time in the service when all the stops on our 7-rank pipe organ get pulled out and I would use the zimblestern (if I had one). Today, on All Saints Day, I hauled out the handbells and had several ringers be the zimblestern. It is both a humbling and exhilarating experience to lead this host.
The next time your pastor says the Proper Preface and you sing the Sanctus, remember you are being joined by all the heavenly hosts. I don’t think you’ll ever look at it the same way again.
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In LSB’s Divine Service I, the highest note in the liturgy is sung near the end the Sanctus:
ho-SAN-na in the highest.
It is an audio reminder that the highpoint of the Service of the Sacrament is coming.
The Sanctus is a great reminder that we not only receive Christ’s body and blood, but we are also communing with those who have gone before us and continually celebrate the marriage feast of the Lamb.
BTW, you left a comment about the program Exploring Music on Oct. 26, and have finally responded. My apologies for not catching it earlier. Thanks for your input. Adventures in Music rocked!