Hail, Day of Days (Erin Jean Warde)
I keep coming back to pray the blessed words from the Offertory on Easter Day at my church, as it felt truly transcendent to me.
Hail, Day of Days
Friends,
Happy Easter to those who observe! I’ve wondered what I might say this week, but I keep coming back to the blessed words from the Offertory on Easter Day, at my church, St. Bartholomew’s-Nashville (affectionately known as St. B’s).
One of my best friends is in the choir, and when we briefly spoke after the service, I said, “I think Jesus came back just to hear the Offertory.”
It felt truly transcendent to me. While words only capture part of its worship, I want to offer to you what I can, at least a part of this transcendent time of prayer I experienced.
“Hail, Day of Days”
Hail, Day of Days! In peals of praise
Throughout all ages owned,
When Christ, our God, hell’s empire trod
And high o’er heav’n was throned.
This glorious morn the world, newborn,
In rising beauty shows
How, with her Lord to life restored,
Her gifts and graces rose.
The spring serene in sparkling sheen,
The flow’r-clad earth arrays;
Heaven’s portal bright, its radiant light
In fuller flood displays. Alleluia!
The fiery sun in loftier noon
O’er heaven’s high orbit shines,
As o’er the tide of waters wide
He rises and declines.
From hell’s deep gloom, from earth’s dark tomb,
The Lord in triumph soars;
The forests raise their verdant praise,
The flowery field adores. Alleluia!
As, star by star, he mounts afar,
As hell imprisoned lies,
Let stars, and light, and depth, and height
In alleluias rise.
Lo! he who died, the Crucified,
The Lord triumphant, reigns;
On him we call, his creatures all,
Who heav’n and earth sustains. Alleluia!
Text: Salve Festa Dies, Venantius Fortunatus (c. 540-600), tr. William J. Copeland (1804-1885), alt. Music by David Madeira, 2024.
I hope that, even just with the words, your heart might be moved by it, as I keep returning to it day by day, while I move further into the Easter season.
As for me, this week I will apparently be weathering thunderstorms and a possible tornado (I love the Deep South, lol). I’ll also be packing to go camp for the Solar Eclipse this weekend! I’ll be hanging out with friends in the path of totality and I can’t wait. I geek out about weather and eclipse/moon business, so it’s a packed week of wormholes for me to go down.
I hope you find some inspiration that reminds you of the hope of resurrection, alongside some fun nerdy wormholes to delight you. <3
Bless y’all,
EJW
EJW COMING TO SEATTLE! (May 4 & 5)
I’m very excited to share that I will be headed to SEATTLE in May for a variety of events at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral! I will be offering a workshop on Saturday, May 4th and preaching + offering a 20’s & 30’s event on Sunday, May 5th! I’ll be preaching at the 9:00AM & 11:00AM Sunday services. If you’re in the Seattle area, I hope I see y’all very soon!