This is an all purpose sung hymn of praise to God, suitable as an entrance. It is also known as “Now to Your Altar, In Answer to Your Call.” It was originally published in 1959 in We Offer the Mass, now very out of print.
This is one of those rare Richard Connolly sings where he sets his own text rather than one by James McAuley. The music is called SANDY BAY.
I made up some very basic chords for the backing as I only have the melody line version. I could have used the organ backing in the New Living Parish Hymn Book (62) to derive the chords, but I had already made the backing by the time I found the better music and decided it would do. It is also in the Australian Hymn Book.
Antiphon
Father, we praise You,
We your trusting people;
Father, we thank You,
Ruler and Creator,
Giver of all our joy.
1 Now to your altar, in answer to your call,
We come to give thanks to you and praise you.
2 Send forth the light of your truth to be our guide
And show us the way to our eternal home.
3 Lord, we are sinners, unworthy of your love,
And You are the Father who can pardon us.
4 Mary, our mother, and all your saints of God,
Remember us, pray for us before his throne.