Church Music

For First Holy Communion, CWB II rightly says it is not a separate rite, it is Eucharist. But they do provide some songs that may be more suitable for children.

This one is another by the prolific Sr Jennifer O’Brien and it has a simple tune and a direct text. It could be used for any Eucharist.

1 Jesus calls us to his table, off’ring us his flesh and blood;

Bread and wine contain the myst’ry of this sacred holy food.

Refrain

Jesus, bread of life, make in us your dwelling place.

Jesus, wine of salvation, fill us with your love and grace.

2 At the table with the Twelve, Jesus blessed and broke the bread.

“Take and eat, this is my body, take and eat,” the Saviour said.

Refrain

3 Giving thanks, he took the cup and passed it to those gathered there.

“Drink of this, my blood poured out, covenant for all to share.”

Refrain

4 We who eat this bread of life and drink this saving cup,

Live in Christ and he is us; one in life and one in love.

© Jennifer R. O’Brien 2014.

This is a John Bell and Graham Maule song suggested for Confirmation in CWB II.

The text is here. The sheet music is available in the collection One is the Body at Wild Goose.

I used a midi file I found on the internet to guess the chords but I don’t think they were accurate. It matters less when the main instrument is the spoons.

CWB II now has two great songs that I have used and found excellent at Confirmation in years past, Michael Mangan’s “Holy Spirit of Fire” and Monica Brown’s “Holy Sacred Spirit”, both of which I have already blogged.

This one by Kathleen T Boschetti is not one I’ve come across, but sounds just as useful. I can’t find the text anywhere on the net, so you’ll have to sing along from CWB II.

When I can’t find chords anywhere I take them from the keyboard arrangement as best I can for my BIAB backing.

CWB II now moves into songs for confirmation. This one is specific for the acclamation after the renewal of baptismal promises, but it has uses outside of confirmation.

It is just the ICEL text: This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The music is by Arthur Hutchings.

For Lent we will use “Be With Me, Lord” (Haugen) as a seasonal psalm and Mason’s Lenten Gospel Acclamation from the Mass of Glory and Praise. Instead of a thanksgiving hymn there will be silent reflection.

Entrance:   A New Heart for a New World   (O’Brien/Watts) AOV 1/158

Gifts: Merciful God (Bringle/Alonso)

Communion: Unless a Grain of Wheat (Farrell) AOV 1/35

Recessional: On Eagles Wings (Joncas) AOV 1/153

I am in the liturgical section of CWB II looking for useful songs, and am in the baptism section. There are useful acclamatory phrases (102-106) for various parts the liturgy that remind me of the value of this collection. The second volume is such a disappointing collection of hymns that I wonder if they should have just published Volume One as a specific guide to music for liturgies and bailed on the second volume.

This song is a somewhat longer piece with more lovely music by Jennifer O’Brien. The text is based on Ephesians 4:4-6 and I am pleased that it is not marked as copyrighted. I get furious when I see one or two lines closely paraphrased from scripture and then claimed as copyrighted text. This simple setting has applications in more usual liturgies that reflect on baptism.

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

There is one God who is Father of all;

There is one body, one Spirit of God,

One is the hope into which you were called.

I’ve already blogged a lot of the songs for baptism in CWB II, but this one I have not.

The text is by Roger Tappert and it is set to LASST UNS ERFREUEN.

The text is here (labelled AGPS #238).

All fired up from the APMN conference last year our music leader has chosen this song for Lent.

The text is by Mary Louise Bringle and the music by Tony Alonso.

There is a refrain for Ash Wednesday, Lent gathering and Lent Communion.

The sheet music can be purchased from GIA, where the text is in their preview.

To their credit the editors picked a John Bell and Graham Maule text for “The Scrutinies” in the RCIA. It goes after the Prayer of Exorcism. The tune is John Bell’s ENFOLDING.

A text as gorgeous as this has much more general application.

Hymnary have details on the hymnals that have this song. Wild Goose sell the sheet music in the collection Love and Anger.

God to enfold you, Christ to uphold you,

Spirit to keep you in heaven’s sight;

So may God grace you, heal and embrace you,

Lead you through darkness into the light.

Text John Bell and Graham Maule. Music John Bell – from Love and Anger

© WGRG c/o Iona community, Glasgow, Scotland. www.wgrg.co.uk

The next RCIA songs in CWB II I have covered elsewhere, up to this Ricky Manalo song (OK – I skipped Psalm 51 by Jennifer O’Brien 92)

This music is not presented correctly as the chord symbols, present for once, randomly appear and disappear throughout the song – one of very few errors in this collection.

I like this, although it hits a high Eb. I suspect that’s OK as I suppose it for the choir to sing during the Rite of Election.

It can be purchased as part of a collection at OCP, or better still buy CWB II for the liturgy section.

The lyrics are nowhere on the internet so sing along if you have CWB II.