I so enjoy Classic99.com's program every Easter!

Good Friday, March 29, 2013 12:00 noon Saint John Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach The complete Passion features the Leipzig Radio Choir and the Dresden State Orchestra, along with some marvelous soloists, including Peter Schreier as the Evangelist, and Robert Holl singing the words of Christ. 2:00 p.m. Seven Last Words of Christ by Franz Josef Haydn Played in its entirety without interruption by the Juilliard String Quartet, and featuring soloists Benita Valente, Jan DeGaetani, Jon Humphrey and Thomas Paul. 4:00 p.m. Golgotha by Frank Martin This rarely heard Oratorio, written by the Swiss composer just after World War II, is based on the Passion models of Bach. 7:00 p.m. The Crucifixion by Sir John Stainer This musical "Meditation on the Sacred Passion of the Holy Redeemer," as the composer referred to it, features the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, England.

Saturday, March 30, 2013 12:00 noon Passion According to Saint Matthew by Johann Sebastian Bach This monumental account of the Passion story from Matthew's gospel is delivered by the Monteverdi Choir, along with the English Baroque Soloists, conducted by John Eliot Gardiner. Singing the words of Jesus is Andreas Schmidt, with Evangelist Anthony Rolfe Johnson headlining an all-star cast.

Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013 8:00 a.m. "JOY!" with Ron Klemm Music for Easter 12:00 noon "This Joyful Eastertide" (click here to see the music listing) On Easter Sunday afternoon, CLASSIC99.com will present This Joyful Eastertide. Ron Klemm will be your host for this two-hour special broadcast that celebrates Christ's resurrection. Classical favorites by Bach, Handel, Vaughan Williams, and John Rutter will be complimented with choral and instrumental selections to provide a festive afternoon of great music for Easter. 3:00 p.m. Mass in B-Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach This music, which some have called a "landmark of Western civilization," is a tour de force for chorus. Our Easter presentation features a fine recording by the Netherlands Chamber Choir and the Orchestra of the 18th Century, conducted by Frans Brüggen. 7:00 p.m. Messiah by George Frederic Handel CLASSIC99.com's second presentation of Handel's beloved oratorio. The Easter Sunday recording features the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Mendelssohn Choir, and soloists Kathleen Battle, Florence Quivar, John Aler, and Samuel Ramey; conducted by Sir Andrew Davis.

Monday, April 1, 2013 8:00 p.m. Symphony # 2 Resurrection by Gustav Mahler The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Chorus bring us this monumental work, with soprano Kathleen Battle and contralto Maureen Forrester; Leonard Slatkin conducts.

Handel's Messiah Texts

My inlaws took us to see our city's orchestra perform Handel's Messiah last night. Although often performed at Christmas, it was written as a Lenten and Easter meditiation.  I loved hearing the whole piece from beginning to end, Old Testament and New Testament all mixed together.  The program for the concert summraized the piece beautifully:

Divided into a symbolic three sections, Messiah tells no story in explicit dramatic terms, but rather provides a series of meditations on the prophesy and realization of God's plan for the redemption of mankind through the coming of the Messiah; the accomplishment of that redemption through the sacrifice of Jesus; and an extended hymn of thanks for the final overthrow of death. 

This would be a great list of verses to memorize!  Do see it performed live, if you get a chance.



Our local theater

1. Sinfonia (Overture)
2. Tenor Recitative. —

Isaiah 40:1-3 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

3. Tenor Air —

Isaiah 40:4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill made low, the crooked straight, and the rough places plain.

4. Chorus —

Isaiah 40:5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

5. Bass Recitative —

Haggai 2:6,7;  Thus saith the Lord of Hosts; Yet once, a little while and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come.

 Malachi 3:1 The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: Behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts.

6. Bass Air —

Malachi 3:2 But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? For He is like a refiner’s fire.

7. Chorus —

Malachi 3:3  And He shall purify the sons of Levi, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

8. Alto Recitative —

Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23  Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call his name Emmanuel, God with us.

9. Alto Air and Chorus —

Isaiah 40:9  O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high mountain; O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, and be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

Isaiah 60:1  Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

10. Bass Recitative —

Isaiah 60:2,3 For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

11. Bass Air —

Isaiah 9:2  The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

12. Chorus —

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

13. Pifa (Pastoral Symphony)

 

14. Soprano Recitative —

Luke 2:8,9  There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And lo! the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

15. Soprano Recitative —

 Luke 2:10,11  And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

16. Soprano Recitative —

 

Luke 2:13  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

17. Chorus —

Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will toward men.

18. Soprano Air —

 

Zechariah 9:9,10 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee. He is the righteous Savior. And he shall speak peace unto the heathen.

19. Alto Recitative —

 

Isaiah 35:5,6 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing.

20. Alto Air —

Isaiah 40:11; He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; and he shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.

Matthew 11:28, 29 Come unto Him, all ye that labour, that are heavy laden, and He shall give you rest. Take his yoke upon you, and learn of Him; for he is meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

21. Chorus —

 

Matthew 11:30 His yoke is easy, and His burthen is light.

Part Two

22. Chorus —

John 1:29  Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world.

23. Alto Air —

 

Isaiah 53:3;   He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.

Isaiah 50:6  He gave His back to the smiters, and His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: He hid not His face from shame and spitting.

24. Chorus —

Isaiah 53:4,5 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him.

25. Chorus —

Isaiah 53:5  And with His stripes we are healed.

26. Chorus —

Isaiah 53:6  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

27. Tenor Recitative —

Psalm 22:7 All they that see Him laugh him to scorn: they shoot out their lips, and shake their heads, saying:

28. Chorus —

Psalm 22:8 He trusted in God that He would deliver Him: let Him deliver Him, if he delight in Him.

29. Soprano Recitative —

Psalm 69:20  Thy rebuke hath broken His heart; He is full of heaviness. He looked for some to have pity on Him but there was no man; neither found He any to comfort Him.
 

30. Soprano Air —

Lamentations 1:12  Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto His sorrow!

31. Tenor Recitative —

Isaiah 53:8  He was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of Thy people was He stricken.

32. Tenor Air —

Psalm 16:10  But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell; nor didst Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption.

33. Chorus —

Psalm 24:7-10 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory.

34. Tenor Recitative —

Hebrews 1:5  For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten hee?

35. Chorus —

Hebrews 1:6  Let all the angels of God worship Him.

36. Bass Air —

Psalm 68:18  Thou art gone up on high, Thou hast led captivity captive, and received gifts for men; yea, even for Thine enemies, that the Lord God might dwell among them.

37. Chorus —

Psalm 68:11  The Lord gave the word: great was the company of the preachers.

38. Duetto for 2 Alto Solos and Chorus —

Isaiah 52:7, 9 How beautiful are the feet of him that bringeth glad tidings of salvation; that saith unto Sion, Thy God reigneth!

Break forth into joy, glad tidings. Thy God reigneth!

39. Chorus —

Romans 10:18Their sound is gone out into all lands, and their words unto the ends of the world.

40. Bass Air —

Psalm 2:1,2  Why do the nations so furiously rage together: why do the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth rise up, and the rulers take counsels together against the Lord and His anointed.

41. Chorus —

Psalm 2:3  Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their yokes from us.

42. Tenor Recitative —

Psalm 2:4  He that dwelleth in the heavens shall laugh them to scorn; the Lord shall have them in derision.

43. Tenor Air —

Psalm 2:9  Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

44. Chorus —

Revelation 19:6, 11:15, 19:16  Hallelujah! for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. The Kingdom of this world is become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ: and He shall reign for ever and ever. King of kings, Lord of lords.

Part Three

45. Soprano Air —

Job 19:25, 26; I know that my redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.

1 Corinthians 15:20 For now is Christ risen from the dead, the firstfruits of them that sleep.

46. Chorus —

1 Corinthians 15:21, 22  Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

47. Bass Recitative —

1 Corinthians 15:51, 52  Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep; but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.

48. Bass Air —

1 Corinthians 15:52, 53  The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

49. Alto Air —

Corinthians 15:54b  Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

50. Duetto for Alto and Tenor —

1 Corinthians 15:55, 56  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.

51. Chorus —

1 Corinthians 15:57  But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

52. Alto Air —

Romans 8:31, 33, 34  If God be for us, who can be against us? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is at the right hand of God, who makes intercession for us.

53. Chorus —

Revelation 5:12, 13 Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by His blood, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Blessing and honour, glory and power to be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever. Amen.
 

Easter Books, Unwrapped

Since Easter is the queen of the feasts, we do a little Easter gift-giving in our house, usually a religious book.  Aubri and I thought we'd review the books we will either be reading during Holy Week or gifting on Easter.   It's much harder to find Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter books for children than Christmas books, so we would love your own reviews, too!   What do you give your children on Easter?

Aubri:  Here are the books I've read to my kiddos during Holy Week and Easter.

Since none of my children are reading yet I'm a bit more forgiving with the text. Unless something is just in bell ringing error, I'm ok with skipping some words. I'm also big on adding to the text more explanation than what is given in most childrens' books.

For the most part these books simply spell out the story of the Resurrection and the events that led up to it. You won't find an application of Christ's Resurrection in most of these.

"And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. We have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins." From I Corinthians 15

Now, a GREAT kids book would probably go into some of this, but I have yet to find one of those childrens' books and I'm ok with that. Explaining this is one of my jobs as the reader and the parent.

The Very First Easter Board Book by Paul Maier

This is a board book, so it's a condensed version of Maier's book The Very First Easter. This one is on the level of a very young child. Straight foward historically accurate events; miracles, Palm Sunday, Last Supper, and ends with the disciples touching the risen Christ. Wonderful, realistic illustrations.

Easter Surprise Lift the Flap Board Book by Vickie Howie

My kids really like flap books, I don't. I'm endlessly tapping the little flaps back into the book, but that never stops me from letting them have some. What I liked about this telling of the story; Last Supper scene Jesus tells them the bread and wine are His body and blood, given for the forgiveness of sins and we see Judas sneaking off to betray. Cons on this one; Mary on her way to put spices on Christ's body is surprised by a butterfly coming out of it's cocoon. I think I understand why it's in there, I could have done without it.

What Is Easter? Board Book by Michelle Medlock Adams

The first half of this book is leading the reader to ask themselves "what Easter means". Is it about the fluffy stuff that Easter brings, candy, eggs, new cloths, toys? Then answers with a No, then briefly tells the Easter story. It is sprinkled with a bit of Calvinist theology, today Jesus sits right next to God in Heaven and wants to live inside you too. This is an example of where I would substitute my own text in a book. Thankfully on this page Jesus holds a little lamb, great for talking about our Good Shepherd. Also, included is an "Easter Bunny" reference. We don't do the Easter Bunny at our house but I'm not going to through a fit over that one. I still like this book because in our home, we do enjoy the candy, the gifts, the new cloths. I want my children to know that those are fine and fun but as the book does make pretty clear, "It's all about God's Son."


The Story of Easter Board Book by Patricia A. Pingry

I have several of Pingry's books. They are very simple and have cute illustrations. Nice for my toddler and my preschoolers like them, but there are some things to watch for in these. As for this book, it's very weak on it's theology so a lot of editing is involved when I read it. On the crucifixion she writes; "But some men didn't like Jesus. They put Him on a cross to die." No mention of sin and unfortunately the picture painted here is that everyone "loved" Jesus except for a few men. Not good. This book ends with the line "He gave His life for us so that we can live too." The illustration here is children playing by a pond. My husband really doesn't like that, "Living doesn't mean playing at the lake".


The Easter Victory Arch Book by Erik Rottman

This is probably the best one on my list. I'm usually pretty impressed by the Arch books I've read. This one is not written at the level my kiddos are currently at but we still read through it. It's better for ages 5-10. This book largely focuses on Jesus' work and what it gives us. It isn't light on His suffering. It mentions the disciples abandoning Jesus, Jesus having being tied up, kicked, hit, spat on and dragged down the street! And ends with "Because of Jesus' death and life you have God's Word of peace. Through every Sunday morning's Word through water, wine and bread God's people are assured that they shall rise up from the dead." I like that.

The Time of Easter by Suzzanne Richterkessing

This book is one in a series on the Church year. Two young mice are led through lessons on the church year by an older church mouse. This one begins with an explanation of Lent, explains what sin is, then it moves on to Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter and Ascension.

I was very pleased that this book does touch on what Christ's Resurrection gives us, "Now Gods' people know they will have eternal life." "It means God's people will live in heaven with Him forever."

It's cute and educational. I'm sure children won't be the only ones to learn something in these books.

Katy: My choices are less Easter-orientated but no less relevant to Easter!  I checked out some of these books from our church library, and was surprised how much my kids liked them, so we had to get them for our own library.   

Like Aubri, I fill in and explain where the books lack or are not clear about Christ's victory over sin, death, and the devil, and how his death and resurrection is for you. 


Easter ABCs by Isabel Anders

A simple book all of my kids (ages 1-5) will enjoy.  It has the letters of the alphabet and it rhymes--what else do you need for very small children?  The poem is mediocre (containing clunkers like "he was gone, all right!" and "EXcited is the way we feel.")  The two lines I have theological qualms with is "Searching for Him will not do--For Jesus lives in me and you," and another line that seems to channel the infamous hymn "I Come to the Garden Alone."  As Aubri mentioned above, children's books on the Easter story usually are just narrative.  I'm happy to say Easter ABCs also has theologically winning lines such as "Joy is now our happiest thought--For our salvation He has bought" and "No one can deny that we from the fear of death are free!"  Unfortunately, the binding doesn't seem too strong, so it may only last one Easter in our house.

Little Folded Hands

This is one of the books I stumbled across in our church library, and the kids love it.  My oldest read all the prayers all the way through to her brothers.  Many are sing-songy rhyming poems, sometimes bordering on moralism without mentioning Christ, however there are beautiful little poems like this

The morning bright
With rosy light
Has waked me from my sleep;
Dear God, Thy own
Great love alone
Thy little one doth keep.

All through the day,
I humbly pray,
Be Thou my Guard and Guide
My sins forgive,
And let me live,
Blest Jesus, near Thy side. Amen.

The evening prayers refreshingly speak of death and dying and going to heaven, often seeking forgiveness for sins of that day.  I find this unusual for a children's book of prayers.  If your kids have Luther's Morning and Evening Prayer down pat, this is good place to start expanding their "prayer treasury"--memorized prayers they can turn to when in need. 

My Very First Holy Bible

We are starting a tradition this year to buy a Bible for our children on Easter the year they learn to read chapter books on their own.  Our 5-year-old is rather precocious, and I thought a real Bible would challenge her.  I used to be against categorizing Bibles and hymnals (see the next review), but this Bible has three things I like 1) it has respectful, realistic illustrations 2) the pages are thicker, so tearing is less likely 3) the print is slightly larger for new readers.  I remember the first Bible my parents gave me (I still have it) and I treasured it for years.  The best gift a parent can give their child is the Word of God.

My Very First Hymnal

I remember when Issues, Etc., had this as book of the month, and I thought, "What?  My kids will grow up with the real hymnal, the family hymnal that everyone uses.  We don't need simplified songs!"  This is yet another book I checked out of our church library and the kids loved it.  My daughter (and beginning pianist) could read the simple music notes, and she likes to carry it around to just read the hymns.  Even though we have most of the evening and morning prayer liturgies memorized, Claire also likes to find where we are and read the text for us. 

It helps me choose what easier hymns to sing for each season in the church year.  I am tone-dead (and tune-dead), so the simpler the better when teaching my kids songs. It has a short list of Psalms I intend the kids to memorize.  It introduces a simple liturgy of Confession and Absolution, encouraging family members to confess sins to one another.  The artwork is bold and colorful.  The only problem I have with it is leaving out verses from hymns. But I have a problem with LSB doing that, too.

No need for this to replace family worship with the "real" hymnal, but it's a wonderful supplement. 

My First Catechism

This book has Luther's Small Catechism along with Bible stories to further explain "what does this mean?"  For example, for commandment 1, you shall have no other gods, they give the story of the three young men who refused to bow to an idol and were thrown in the furnace.  Under the explanation ("We should fear, love, and trust God above all things") they tell the story of Abraham trusting God and preparing Isaac as a sacrifice.  I intend to use this book for school devotions during the Easter season.  The book includes the Table of Duties, a short explanation of our creeds and confessions, and a list of the feasts and festivals of the Church Year.  At the very back are three hymns: "I Am Jesus' Little Lamb", "God's Own Child I Gladly Say It," and "Lord, Help Us Ever to Retain."

Things I See at Easter by Julie Steigemeyer

We love this series of books and this year I bought Things I Hear at Church  and Things I See at Baptism for my 19-month-old.  Things I See at Easter is on sale for $2.50 at CPH!  They are boardbooks that very, very simply explain to the very small child what is happening at church.  The only complaint I have is, if you buy the whole series, you start to notice recycled artwork. 

Please browse Concordia Publishing House's Easter book sale for more ideas!

Ascension Day

Here's a link to last year's Ascension Day post:

http://churchyearinthehome.blogspot.com/2011/06/ascension-of-our-lord-june-2.html

We are not able to attend Thursday services this year.  I'm curious how your church observes Ascension Day, besides Divine Service.  I have heard of parades (carrying banners outside the church as a congregation), an ice cream social after service, and "releasing balloons" (glad our church doesn't do that...just sayin', totally my opinion...).  What does your church do?  What does your family do at home?  I think someone last year mentioned making bird-shaped cookies.  I have also heard of "cloud-themed activities" (See Catholicicing.com)

From the wikipedia entry on Feast of the Ascension:

"[There is an] English custom of carrying at the head of the procession the banner bearing the device of the lion and at the foot the banner of the dragon, to symbolize the triumph of Christ in his ascension over the evil one. 

"In some churches the scene of the Ascension was vividly reproduced by elevating the figure of Christ above the altar through an opening in the roof of the church. In others, whilst the figure of Christ was made to ascend, that of the devil was made to descend.  [I]n Florence the Feast was observed by having a dove slide down a string from the high altar of the cathedral to ignite a large decorative container filled with fireworks in front of the main entrance of the cathedral." [If modern megachurches observed Ascension, they would do this, I'm sure.]

Bach's Ascension Oratorio and translation.  List of Ascension hymns.


From fisheaters.com 

"After the Gospel is sung, the Paschal Candle, lit from the New Fire of the Easter Vigil, is extinguished to symbolize the departure of Christ."

"In some parts of Italy (Tuscany, for ex.) there is the interesting custom of catching crickets on this day."

What We'll Do:


Eat a picnic on a hill, put away our Paschal candle from our family altar, sing Praise my soul, the King of Heaven, listen to Bach's Oratorio, and color this coloring page.  

Easter Music

Classic99.com streaming has the following lineup for Holy Week:

Good Friday, April 6, 2012 12:00 noon Saint John Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach The complete Passion features the Leipzig Radio Choir and the Dresden State Orchestra, along with some marvelous soloists, including Peter Schreier as the Evangelist, and Robert Holl singing the words of Christ.  2:00 p.m. Seven Last Words of Christ by Franz Josef Haydn  Played in its entirety without interruption by the Juilliard String Quartet, and featuring soloists Benita Valente, Jan DeGaetani, Jon Humphrey and Thomas Paul. 4:00 p.m. Golgotha by Frank Martin  This rarely heard Oratorio, written by the Swiss composer just after World War II, is based on the Passion models of Bach. 7:00 p.m. The Crucifixion by Sir John Stainer  This musical "Meditation on the Sacred Passion of the Holy Redeemer," as the composer referred to it, features the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, England.

Saturday, April 7, 2012 12:00 noon Passion According to Saint Matthew by Johann Sebastian Bach  This monumental account of the Passion story from Matthew's gospel is delivered by the Monteverdi Choir, along with the English Baroque Soloists, conducted by John Eliot Gardiner. Singing the words of Jesus is Andreas Schmidt, with Evangelist Anthony Rolfe Johnson headlining an all-star cast.

Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012 8:00 a.m. "JOY!" with Ron Klemm Music for Easter 12:00 noon "This Joyful Eastertide" On Easter Sunday afternoon, CLASSIC99.com will present This Joyful Eastertide. Ron Klemm will be your host for this two-hour special broadcast that celebrates Christ's resurrection. Classical favorites by Bach, Handel, Vaughan Williams, and John Rutter will be complimented with choral and instrumental selections to provide a festive afternoon of great music for Easter. 3:00 p.m. Mass in B-Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach This music, which some have called a "landmark of Western civilization," is a tour de force for chorus. Our Easter presentation features a fine recording by the Netherlands Chamber Choir and the Orchestra of the 18th Century, conducted by Frans Brüggen. 7:00 p.m. Messiah by George Frederic Handel  CLASSIC99.com's second presentation of Handel's beloved oratorio. The Easter Sunday recording features the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Mendelssohn Choir, and soloists Kathleen Battle, Florence Quivar, John Aler, and Samuel Ramey; conducted by Sir Andrew Davis.

Monday, April 9, 2012 8:00 p.m. Symphony # 2 Resurrection by Gustav Mahler  The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Chorus bring us this monumental work, with soprano Kathleen Battle and contralto Maureen Forrester; Leonard Slatkin conducts.

"Easter is Normal"

Love this:

But that is really how it is: Easter is normal. It is not that Easter is like most of the year, with no special ceremonies all its own, but that the rest of the year is like Easter. Those ceremonies we are prone to take for granted – standing for the Gospel, singing Alleluias between the Epistle and the Gospel, etc, are all Easter ceremonies. Easter feels normal because Easter is the standard.

There is something confused in us that prefers the austere novelty of Lent, Passiontide, and Holy Week to Easter. To be sure, this confusion isn’t sinful, but it is confusion, not unlike children preferring boxed macaroni and cheese or McDonald’s hamburgers to the real things.

Easter is the norm because while we engage in some small liturgical re-enactments of Our Lord’s passion for the sake of teaching and remembering what Our Lord has done for us and how He loves us, in fact, it is done, finished, complete, and perfect.

 (Read the rest from Pr. Petersen over at Gottesdienst.)

Lenten Resources

Check out Emmanuel Press!

Last year we sent Easter cards to our extended family, and everyone loved it!

Last Ten Days of Easter

For each day between Ascension and Pentecost (ten days), focus on the Holy Spirit.  This may mean an emphasis on/memorization of:

1. The Sacraments: How God delivers his forgiveness to his children through the Word-accompanying Holy Spirit.

2. The Fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). 

3. The 3rd article of the Creed's explanation in the Small Catechism or Large Catechism.

4. The Explanation of the Small Catechism's section on the Holy Spirit.

The Ascension of our Lord (June 2)

Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.   Romans 8:34

Forty days has Christ been risen, and today He ascends to the Right Hand of God, to forever make intercession for us, as our High Priest.

Hymns:  LSB 491-495
XII Handel: Thou Art Gone Up On High (HT: my daughter's godfather)

Coloring pages: Free Christ Images,  St. Andrew Missal

Traditional Activities: picnicking (preferably on a mountain or hill), play-acting the Ascension, processions.

Food: fowl (since Jesus "flew" up to heaven; some countries serve cornish hens)

Other fun stuff: general grade-school activities

We are still in Easter, and on our way to Pentecost. Since I am new to the joys of the Church Year (only 7-8 years or so), I love discovering the deep, Scriptural theology embedded in each season, and how every season is not true and beautiful in itself, but only in light of all the other seasons and celebrations.  The first time of the church I loved was Advent.  I loved the overlap of looking forward to Christ's first and second comings, the mixture of anticipation and repentance, of welcoming The Year of Our Lord, and The End Times, and also looking forward to our final Resurrection, when He will be Our Judge, and that will be a good, not terrifying thing.  The second was Epiphany....

This year is the year of the Chief of Feasts for me.  I have never loved and appreciated Easter more than this year.  And I think the key to my appreciation is seeing the Easter season in its entirety: Lent, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost.  They follow one after another, and our whole life in Christ is slowly--or swiftly!--acted out: Our perpetual repentance, His gifts given to us at the Last Supper; His Passion for the atonement of the whole world; His Resurrection for our own bodily resurrection; His Ascension to assume the throne as King and plead as Priest; and the sending of the Pareclete, the Advocate, and the birth of the Church.

Taste and see that the Lord is good. 

Praise the Lord and forget not all his benefits.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

He is Risen!

Sorry for my blogging absence!  Here are some pictures of how we observed Holy Week:

Hot Cross Buns on Friday morning

A Resurrection Garden on Friday night (I placed figurines in it on Sunday morning--didn't get a picture of that, either)

Easter baskets we made on Saturday

On Friday we had a Plumbing Incident, and I completely forgot to cover the crosses, etc.  I also did not decorate much at all (beyond some tulle and cut flowers).  Check out your local craft/Hobby Lobby/fabric store for discount remnants and clearance items. I bought a bunch of gauzy black fabric and about 4 yards of white tulle for under $3.  I also found some gold (3") letters I am going to use to make an Alleluia! banner for next year. 

(If you ever have a Plumbing Incident, especially the toilet kind, set up little preschool chairs just outside the bathroom and your toddlers will watch Dad work FOR HOURS.  They just sat there quietly and especially liked 1) the hole under the toilet 2) the toilet cracking 3) getting a new toilet--there were requests for pink, but we settled on white.)

Sunday night

Greek Easter Dinner

Disclaimer: I have never hosted Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter.  Our home, my parents' home, and my husband's parents' home form an equilateral triangle whose sides are ten miles.  I have never made a meal (besides breakfast) for those holidays.  So, no, I have not made the following menu, although I have made the individual dishes separately. (And they are all yummy; my 2-year-old, 3-year-old, and picky husband have not complained.) 

To expand this disclaimer, I probably actually do ( and/or complete) only 20% of the activities I suggest on this blog (if you already haven't figured this out from the lack of photos I post).  So hopefully a poor reader out there isn't feeling guilty because she isn't coloring every single coloring page with her kids.  I'm blogging because I want to start compiling a curricula now, while my kids are very small, and because I want to hear what you all do!  Hopefully, by the time my older children are 6 or 7, I'll have all the Church Year activities anyone could hope for on this blog (or maybe even in organized print!).

This menu is taken from A Return to Sunday Dinner by Russell Cronkhite.  Although some of the author's essays are corny, I highly recommend this cookbook.  It offers 15 or so regional/ethnic Sunday dinner plans and recipes, with tips for how to have it ready to serve by mid-afternoon, with minimum morning prep.  (Key: LOTS of prep on Friday and Saturday).

Salad of Spinach, Cucumber and Radish with Lemon Yogurt Dressing

2 8-ounce bags baby spinach leaves
1 cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
8 radishes, trimmed and thinly sliced
1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced

Thoroughly rinse the spinach leaves in cold water to refresh them and discard any tough stems or wilted leaves.  Shake the spinach dry in a colander covered with a clean tea towel or in a salad spinner.  Toss with the sliced cucumbers, radishes and green onions.  Refrigerate in a salad bowl covered with a damp paper towel or plastic wrap.

2 cloves garlic
1/2 t. coarse salt
1 t. sugar
2 T. lemon juice
1 c. plain yogurt
1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
1/4 t. black pepper
1 T. fresh chopped dill
1 T. fresh chopped parsley

Combine the garlic cloves in a small mixing bowl with the salt and sugar; use a fork to mash them into a paste.  Whisk in the lemon juice and the yogurt; then slowly whisk in the olive oil until blended.

Just before serving, add the fresh chopped dill and parsley to the salad and lightly toss together with the dressing.

Butterflied Leg of Lamb with Roasted Red-Skinned Potatoes

[note: most of my Church Year recipe books note that a variety of Easter bread, NOT potatoes, is traditional.  Everyone was tired of eating potatoes all winter/Lent.]

Have your butcher bone out the leg of lamb keeping the shank attached and trimming away any excess fat, and then butterfly it for easy preparation.

1 lb. leg of lamb, butterflied
6 whole cloves of garlic
Pinch of coarse salt
2 T. fresh chopped rosemary
1/2 c. packed fresh basil leaves
1/4 c. packed fresh mint leaves
2 T. cracked peppercorns
2 lemons, halves, seeds removed
1/4 c. olive oil
Coarse salt to season

1. Place the lamb cut side up on a clean work surface.  Sprinkle the garlic with a pinch of salt in a small mixing bowl and use a fork to mash the garlic to a paste; spread the mashed garlic evenly over the inside of the lamb and sprinkle with half of the chopped rosemary.  Lay the basil and mint leaves over the rosemary, then roll the lamb leg back into its natural shape.

2. Tie the lamb securely with kitchen twine, knotting it every two inches, then tie lengthwise. Rub the remaining rosemary and the cracked peppercorns into the exterior surface of the lamb.  Squeezed the halved lemons over the lamb and drizzle with the olive oil.  Cover with plastic wrap and marinate overnight or for up to 24 hours.

3. Adjust the lower rack near the bottom of the oven, leaving enough room on the top rack for the veggie casserole.  Remove the lamb from the refrigerator.  Sprinkle it with coarse salt and allow it to rest for 45 minutes at room temperature. (Note: now is a good time to grill the vegetables for the casserole.)

4. Place the lamb in a shallow roasting pan and transfer to a 450F oven.  Roast the lamb for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 325F and cook for 1 hour longer.  The roast will be rare at this point.

Potatoes

2 lbs. small red-skinned potatoes
2 T. olive oil
2 cloves garlic
1 T. fresh chopped rosemary
Salt and pepper to taste

.
1. Cut the potatoes in half and toss them with the olive oil, garlic, and rosemary in a mixing bowl.  After the lamb has roasted for 1 hour, scatter the potatoes around the roasting pan, sprinkle with salt and pepper and continue baking with the roast until the meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the lamb reaches 140F (about 20-25 minutes).  Remove the lamb from the pan and place it on a clean cutting board.  Allow it to rest 15 minutes before slicing.

2. Increase the oven temperature to 400F and spread the potatoes evenly in the bottom of the roasting pan.  Return the potatoes to the oven and let them continue baking until they are fully cooked and nicely browned, 15-20 minutes.

Carefully cut away the kitchen twine.  Hold the lamb at the shank end and evenly slice the meat witha sharp carving knife.  Transfer the shank to a warm platter and fan the slices out from the shank across the middle of the platter.  Scatter the potatoes around the meat; if desired, garnish the platter with fresh herbs.  Pour the juices from the pan and the cutting board over the meat and potatoes.

Grilled Zucchini with Eggplant, Feta and Tomatoes

[I've never made this dish in April (or March, for that matter); who in the Midwest has eggplant, zucchini and tomatoes at Easter?! Who in the entire United States?  If I use this menu in the future, I will probably substitute an asparagus dish. But here it is. I have made versions of this many times in August, and it is really yummy.]

4 medium zucchini
2 medium onions
2 medium eggplants
1/4 c. olive oil
Coarse salt

1. Trim the  zucchini ends and cut lengthwise into 1/3" thick slices.  Peel the onions and cut into 1/3" thick slices.  Hold at room temperature while you prepare the eggplant.

2. Use a sharp knife to cut the stem and ends off each eggplant; then peel and cut lengthwise into 1/2" thick slices.  Sprinkle the eggplant slices with coarse salt and place in a colander for 30 minutes to drain the bitter juices; then rinse and pat dry with paper towels.  Brush the slices of zucchini, onion and eggplant with olive oil and season with salt.

3. Grill the vegetables directly over high heat, turning them once: 6-8 minutes for the eggplant, 4-5 minutes for the onion, and 2-3 minutes for the zucchini; or lay the vegetables on lightly oiled baking sheets, turn your oven heat to high and broil.

2 T. extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 T. diced onion
4 c. peeled, seeded and diced tomatoes
2 t. fresh chopped mint leaves
Salt and pepper to taste
2 c. crumbled feta cheese

Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.  Saute the garlic and onion until translucent, 2-3 minutes.  Toss in the tomatoes and simmer until the liquid is reduced, 4-5 minutes. Add in the chopped mint leaves, season to taste with salt and pepper and remove from heat.

Arrange the grilled eggplant on the bottom of a lightly oiled 13x9-inch casserole, followed by the onion and then the zucchini.  Cover with 1 1/3 cups of the crumbled feta and lace the dish with the tomato topping.  Place the casserole in the oven at the same time that you add the potatoes to the lamb roast; bake at 325F for 20-25 minutes.  Increase the temperature to 400F, sprinkle the top of the casserole with the remaining 2/3 c. feta and continue baking 10-15 minutes.

Rustic Village Bread

1 pkg. active dry yeast
1/4 c. warm water
1 T. honey
1 T. olive oil
1/4 c. plain yogurt
1 c. water, room temperature
1 c. whole wheat flour
1 1/2 c. bread flour
1/2 c. wheat germ
1/2 t. coarse salt

Sprinkle the yeast over the water and let stand 1 minute.  Then stir with a wooden spoon until it is dissolved.

Whisk the honey, olive oil and yogurt together in a mixing bowl until blended; whisk in the additional 1 cup of water and the dissolved yeast.  Use a wooden spoon to stir in the whole wheat flour and 1/2 c. of the bread flour; continue stirring until the mixture is smooth and elastic, about 200 strokes.  The dough will now have the consistency of a thick batter.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.  Cover with a clean towel and set until the dough is bubbly and has doubled in volume, about 1 1/2 hours. 

3. Whisk the remaining bread flour together with the wheat germ and salt in a separate bowl.  Use an electric mixture fitted with a dough hook to slowly incorporate the flour mixture into the bubbly dough, adding in extra flour as needed, a tablespoon at a time, until the dough pulls away from the bowl and forms a ball.  Knead on low speed for about 8 minutes--the dough should be densely textured and stiff enough to hold its shape. [I just knead this bread as I do other yeast breads; I don't use a mixture.  This recipe also does well in a bread maker.]

4. Let rise again in an oiled bowl, about an hour.

5. Place the dough on a lightly floured work surface and knead for about 1 minute.  Shape into a smooth ball. Flatten the ball into a 7-inch round loaf and score a 1/4" deep cross on the top.  Brush with a little water.  Cover the loaf with a clean towel and let rise for 45 minutes.

6. Preheat oven to 400F.  Brush lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with coarse salt.  Transfer the loaf to a pizza stone or a baking sheet dusted with cornmeal and bake for 30-35 minutes.  When it is done, the bread will have a dark brown crust and sound hollow when tapped at the bottom.

Orange-Soaked Honey Walnut Cake

2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. fresh white bread crumbs
2 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. salt
4 large egg whites, room temperature
Pinch of cream of tartar
1 c. vegetable oil
1 1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/4 c. honey
4 large egg yolks, room temperature
1 c. fresh orange juice
1 c. finely ground walnuts

Preheat oven to 350F

Combine flour and bread crumbs with the baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a mixing bowl; whisk together thoroughly.

Combine the egg whites with the cream of tartar in a separate bowl.  Beat the whites using an electric mixer and clean, dry beaters until they hold their peaks and are stiff, but not dry.

Combine the oil, sugar and honey in an electric mixer fitted with a balloon whisk; blend on medium speed until the sugar and honey are dissolved.  Then blend in the egg yolks.  Fit the electric mixer with a paddle attachments and slowly add the dry ingredients in 3 batches alternately with the orange juice, mixing just enough after each addition to blend the ingredients.  Then use a rubber spatula to gently fold in the beaten egg whites, followed by the ground walnuts.

Spoon the batter into a lightly greased and floured 10-inch bundt pan.  Bake until a wooden pick comes out clean, about 50 minutes.  When the cake is done, remove it from the oven and place on a cooling rack for 10 minutes.  Turn out on a cooling rack and let it cool 20-30 minutes.

3/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. water
1 cinnamon stick
2 T. honey
3/4 c. fresh orange juice
Zest of one orange

Mix the sugar into the water and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.  Add the cinnamon stick, honey, orange juice and zest.  Turn the heat down and simmer until the liquid reduces to 1 cup, about 20 minutes.  Discard the cinnamon stick. 

Brush the warm cake with the syrup until all is absorbed. 

"Time-saving" schedule
Saturday: bake the cake and soak with syrup.  Marinate the lamb. Bake the bread.  Prepare the salad dressing and refrigerate.  Prepare and grill the vegetables for the casserole (refrigerate in well-sealed containers). Because what else do you have to do on Holy Saturday?
Sunday morning: Prepare the salad vegetables and refrigerate.  Assemble the veggie casserole.
Right when you get home from church: cook the casserole, lamb, and potatoes. Toss the salad.