Voices Found: From Sheba to Jerusalem, the quest of a Queen, WLWC Lent 5C VF 155,VF 145, 75, 11
Queen of Sheba, biblical archaeology
Wisdom freed a holy people,
blameless from oppressor's sword,
and withstood with signs and wonders,
ruler's dread, to serve the Lord.
Through the Red Sea safely brought them,
led along the waters steep,
but their enemies she swallowed,
overwhelmed them in the deep
Words: Patricia B. Clark, adapt. A Song of Wisdom
Music: Halton Holgate, William Boyce, (1711-1779)
The Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church( by Wilda C. Gafney) appoints 1 Kings 1-10 and Luke 11:27-32 to be read on Lent V year C
In Sheba, a land on the Arabian Peninsula bordering the Red Sea, an adventurous ruler heard of King Solomon's wisdom. She was Queen of Sheba and she wanted to know more about this King of the Israelites and the God who had delivered them out of Pharaoh's Egypt through the Red Sea waters.
Now the Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon ascribed to the Name of the Most High and she came to test him with hard questions. And she came to Jerusalem in force, extremely heavy, with camels carrying spices and a very great quantity of gold and precious stones; then she came to Solomon and she told him all that was on her mind...
"not even half had been told to me: your wisdom, and wealth surpass the report that I heard."
Then the Queen blessed Solomon and gave him a multitude of gifts from her land.
And the King Solomon gave to the Queen of Sheba her every desire that she requested, as well as what he gave her out of his own hand, Solomon's private holding. Then the Queen turned about and went back to her own land with her slaves."
1 Kings 10: 1-3, 7, 13 tr. Gafney
Voices Found # 145
Lo, the winter's past. For the rain is gone;
the flowers appear.
Time of singing has begun--
Lark and turtledove.
Rise then, come away,
as the vines burst into blossom here
rich with fragrance, drenched with sun,
shimmering with God's love.
Words: Mary Louise Bringle
Music:Robinson Chapel,William P. Rowan
Bringle's text is inspired by the Song of Solomon, a poetic evocation of sensual love between a man and a woman. According to extra-Scriptural texts of all three Abrahamic faiths, Solomon and the Queen fell in love. She became pregnant and gave birth to Solomon's son who later ruled her land. According to local tradition, her son introduced the monotheistic faith of the Israelites to Sheba and beyond, bringing the Wisdom of the Ages to Africa, Arabia, and other peoples of the South.
Voices Found # 11
Salamu Maria, ee Mama,
Salamu, salamu Maria
Hail Mary, O Mother
hail, hail, Mary, Mary
Umejaa neema, ee mama.
Salamamu, salamu Maria.
Full of grace, O Mother
Hail, Hail Mary.
Words: African folk hymn
Music: African folk melody
As Jesus was teaching, a woman raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that gave birth to you, the breasts that nursed you!" But Jesus said, "On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it." Luke 11:27-28, tr. Gafney
Later, Jesus was speaking to a crowd who were looking for a sign. He said, "For just as Jonah became a sign to the women, children, and men of Nineveh, so the Son of Woman will be to this generation. The Queen of the South will rise at the judgement with the men of this generation and condemn them because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and See here! Something greater than Solomon is here!
Luke 11:30-31, tr. Gafney
Reflection:
Voices Found #75
Jesus, living word incarnate;
of Mary, virgin mother born.
Lifted on the cross most holy,
for us crucified and scorned.
Cleanse us by thy true obedience
of they holy life out-poured,
feed us with these holy mysteries,
Christ, eternally adored.
Words: Beverly Easterling
Music: Carl Haywood
Prayer: Voices Found #28
Guide us waking, guard us sleeping
that awake we watch with Christ,
and asleep we may rest in peace.
Words: The Book of Common Prayer
Music: Ana Hernandez
For background and performance suggestions please see The Leader's Guide to Voices Found
Comments
Post a Comment