The Lenten Gloria

Last week, I wrote about the "missing" Gloria during Lent, but anyone who has worshipped at Bethany on Wednesday lately might have noticed that we're singing a modified Gloria during that service.

The music of our Lenten services is more chant-based. For some people, it conjures up images of medieval monks singing Vespers and Compline at the end of the day. With the darkened windows, black vestments, and Lenten music, we gather to hear and contemplate the Passion story. The service is a soothing, meditative bed-time prayer in these early spring weeks. In the midst of those services, it might be easy to overlook this hymn of praise, so I'd like to draw your attention to the joyous nature of this chant text:

Joyous light of glory:
Of the immortal Father;
Heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ.
We ahve come to the setting of the sun,
And we look to the evening light.
We sing to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
You are worthy of being praised
With pure voices forever.
O Son of God, O giver of life;
The universe proclaims your glory.