{"id":16581,"date":"2017-11-12T00:00:38","date_gmt":"2017-11-12T04:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=16581"},"modified":"2017-12-01T09:33:07","modified_gmt":"2017-12-01T13:33:07","slug":"countdown-to-the-messiah-week-2-of-7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=16581","title":{"rendered":"Countdown to “The Messiah”: Week 2 of 7"},"content":{"rendered":"

“And He Shall Purify”…<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

On December 17 2017 our choir will be joined by other local choirs to present Part 1 of Handel’s The Messiah. This will be our annual Christmas Cantata (which will be held at the traditional time of 4:15 PM… in our sanctuary). The Tapestry String Quartet along with our own Sue Crispin will play the accompaniment. Jack Rowland will pull everything together by directing the music.\"\"<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The “Christmas Part” of Handel’s famous oratorio is organized around a series of six Choruses (which are sung by the full choir). A set of solos introduce each chorus. In most cases, there are two solos; one is called a Recitative and the second is called an Air. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The Christmas section of the oratorio actually consists of six choruses, and the Hallelujah Chorus ends the Easter section. But- who could resist- we will end our cantata with the Hallelujah Chorus.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

In the weeks leading up to our December 17 Cantata, we will provide weekly “Countdown to The Messiah” articles highlighting one of the seven Choruses that comprise the cantata.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

This installment highlights the second chorus.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

For a review of the previous chorus, click this button:<\/span><\/em>\u00a0\u00a0 Previous<\/span><\/a> \u00a0<\/span><\/span>
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Chorus 2 of 7: “And He Shall Purify”<\/span><\/h3>\n

Context<\/span><\/h4>\n

After the initial chorus (“And the Glory of the Lord”), two bass solos remind us that God is holy and that His coming doesn’t only provide comfort; it demands us to change.\u00a0 God’s holiness demands obedience and like a refiner’s fire, He will burn away all traces of sin and disobedience.<\/p>\n