- Prelude: Concerto for 2 Trumpets in C major, RV 537, by Antonio Vivaldi, performed by Michael Rondeau. Available at MusOpen.
- Reading: Acts 9:1-20, from the World English Bible, by Librivox.
- Hymn: “Thine Be The Glory, Risen Conquering Son (Traditional Easter Hymn)”, From Internet Archives.
- Reading: Psalm 30, from the King James Version, by Librivox.
- Music: “Gloria Patri” by Antonio Vivaldi, from Dixit Dominus, RV594, performed by Ghislieri Choir & Consort, uploaded to YouTube by Centro di Musica Antica Fondazione Ghislieri, and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
- Reading: Revelation 5: 11-14, World English Bible.
- Music: Heinrich Schütz (1615–1672) “Ihr Heiligen, lobsinget dem Herren” SWV 288. Singers: Paulina Bielarczyk and Sylwia Ziółkowska; Organ: Wacław Golonka, used in Accordance with Creative Commons License. Translation: “You holy ones, sing praise to the Lord, be grateful and praise his glory, Because his anger lasts but a moment, and he has joy in life. During the night the weeping endures, but in the morning comes joy.”
- Gospel Reading: John 21: 1-9, World English Bible.
- The Lord’s Prayer, King James Version
- Choral benediction: C. P. Lutkin (1858-1931) “The Lord Bless You and Keep You” sung by the Csehy Summer School, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
I offer this in fond memory of Leonard Nimoy, who played one of childhood heroes, Mr. Spock from Star Trek. (So as not to date myself, I’ll hasten to add that it was in syndication).
I have read that when Leonard Nimoy came up with this gesture for Mr. Spock’s famous “live long and prosper” Vulcan salute, he was thinking back to his childhood religion of Judaism. This reflects the gesture of the kohanim (descendents of Aaron, the brother of Moses) when giving what is called the Aaronic blessing. This is recorded in the pages of the Old Testament:
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, “Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,
The LORD bless thee and keep thee:
The LORD make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.
(Numbers 6:22-27)
Leonard Nimoy discussed this in a 2000 interview with the Baltimore Sun (online here):
“It was my addition to the character, and it came from an experience I had as a child with my parents. In the blessing, the Kohanim (a high priest of a Hebrew tribe) makes the gesture with both hands, and it struck me as a very magical and mystical moment. I taught myself how to do it without even knowing what it meant, and later I inserted it into “Star Trek.” There was a scene in one episode that needed something. People were seeing other members of the Vulcan race for the first time, and I thought it called for a special gesture.”
This blessing (without the gesture) has carried into Christianity as well, and is often given at the end of a church service, as a benediction. As you might expect, this blessing has inspired musicians and composers as well. I leave you with lovely setting of the benediction, which I have found. The composer was Christian Peter Lutkin (1858–1931), a respected choir director and organist who became the first dean of the School of Music at Northwestern University in suburban Chicago.