Church Music

This is an African American spiritual that is in Gather 3rd ed. and selected by them for Lent.

The verse is call and response. I suspect it’s place is for choirs and assemblies where the spiritual is part of local culture.

The hymn is public domain. I can’t find GIA’s arrangement for sale as a download there (except for handbells).

Chorus

Somebody’s knockin’ at your door.
Somebody’s knockin’ at your door.
O sinner, why don’t you answer?
Somebody’s knockin’ at your door.

1 Knocks like Jesus,
Somebody’s knockin’ at your door.
Knocks like Jesus,
Somebody’s knockin’ at your door.
O sinner, why don’t you answer?
Somebody’s knockin’ at your door.

2 Can’t you hear him?
Somebody’s knockin’ at your door.
Can’t you hear him?
Somebody’s knockin’ at your door.
O sinner, why don’t you answer?
Somebody’s knockin’ at your door.

3 Jesus calls you,
Somebody’s knockin’ at your door.
Jesus calls you,
Somebody’s knockin’ at your door.
O sinner, why don’t you answer?
Somebody’s knockin’ at your door.

4 Can’t you trust him?
Somebody’s knockin’ at your door.
Can’t you trust him?
Somebody’s knockin’ at your door.
O sinner, why don’t you answer?
Somebody’s knockin’ at your door.

Lent is very early this year so Ash Wednesday is only weeks away. Paul A Tate wrote this song for that very celebration. His text is from the ICEL Sacramentary for the refrain and based on Joel 2:12-18 and 2 Cor 5:20-6:2 for the verses. He provide several additional verse tropes for Lent.

The sheet music can be purchased from sheetmusicplus, where the text is in their preview. GIA only seem to have the handbell music available to download, although they do have it in this collection.

The verse is call and response between the cantor and assembly. I would usually say that could be ignored but the repetition here makes no sense without it. There is a counter melody for the refrain if needed.

Entrance: Come to the Water (Andersen) AOV 1/74

Isaiah 12 (McKenna)

You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation

Gifts: Springs of Salvation (Andersen)

Communion: Table of Plenty (Schutte) AOV 2/20

Thanksgiving: Baptised in Water (Saward; tune BUNESSAN) CWB II 99

Recessional: Send Down the Fire (Haugen) AOV 2/164

This is a song for Epiphany from The Dameans. The text is by Mike Balhoff and the music by Darryl Ducote and Gary Daigle.

The text is here on page three. I can’t find the sheet music other than on handbells on GIA so you could look in the collections noted at Hymnary.

Just in time for Epiphany I have got to the songs in Gather 3rd ed. for that feast.

This is one that I haven’t covered before, with a text by Francis Patrick O’Brien a Boston priest who appears to be a house hymn writer for GIA. It is set to the well known tune BEACH SPRING, which is always a good idea for a song that is used only once a year.

The text is here. GIA sell the sheet music.

This is a “Mary” song from Gather 3rd edition. The text is by M.D. Ridge and set to THE FLIGHT OF THE EARLS a traditional Irish tune.

The text is at Cantus Mundi. GIA sell the arrangement by Michael Joncas. The tune is PD however and available at various places on the web, including here.

Since it is the Feast of the Holy Family this excellent John Bell piece is made for today.

The text is here. This is another that GIA only seems to sell for handbells these days, although they do have this very inexpensive collection that contains the song. I also have it in a copy in Heaven Shall Not Wait, although there he has it in the original key of F – GIA bring it down to Eb – thanks be to God. It still has a fair old range to it.

Entrance: We Three Kings

Psalm 71 (McKenna)

Lord, ev’ry nation on earth will adore you, will adore you

Gifts: Star Child (Shirley Erina Murray – Carlton R. Young) AOV 2/43  

Communion: The First Noel

Thanksgiving: Born in the Night (Ainger) AOV 2/101

Recessional: Follow the Christmas Star (Mangan)

Entrance: Joy to the World

Psalm 104 (McKenna)

The Lord remembers his covenant forever.

Gifts: What Child is This?

Communion: Our Supper Invitation (Bates) AOV 1/185

Thanksgiving: Away in Manger

Recessional: Angels We Have Heard on High

This carol from Trinidad might be suitable for a children’s Christmas pageant.

The text is here. Musicnotes will sell you the sheet music – GIA only had a handbell arrangement.