I’d like this as a gathering song, although I gather it is used at weddings. It is by John Bell and has his usual singability and to the point text.
The text is at Hymnary and the sheet music can be purchased at GIA.
My backing slows things down a bit.
This is a nice version too.
GA 484 is “The Church’s One Foundation”, which I have already blogged here, but GA 483 is Timothy T’ingfang Lew’s text, “O Christ the Great Foundation” that is set to the same tune, AURELIA, by Samuel Sebastian Wesley.
The text is at Hymnary.
My basic organ backing is here.
You tube: organ/choir/choir/guitar
Entrance: City of God (Schutte) AOV 1/57
Responsorial Psalm for Lent: Be With Me (Haugen)
Gifts: God of Second Chances (Haas)
Communion: The Lord Is My Shepherd (Boniwell) AOV 1/26
The Spirit Lives To Set Us Free (Lundy) AOV 2/165
Thanksgiving: Without Seeing You (Haas) AOV 2/158
Recessional: Christ be Our Light (Farrell) AOV 2/3
In my survey of the hymns from Gather Australia that I’ve not managed to blog from other sources in the past, I’m up to this lovely surprise of a song.
The text is by Sr Pamela Stotter and set by Margaret Daly.
Read the impressive text here, where there is an organ/vocal version to listen to.
I can’t find anywhere to purchase this online but Hymnary says it is available in some versions of Gather Comprehensive (not mine) and CWBIII. Oddly, ICEL hold the copyright.
It is a song of praise but could also be a lovely gathering or sending vehicle. I’d bring the key down from G to E because I can’t reach the held E in the verse. It can be done as a round in the refrain.
I’ve done it as a stripped back jig.
This song by Jesse Manibusan was used at RS’s parish recently. It certainly suits the Lenten liturgies.
The sheet music is available to purchase for download at OCP where the text is in the preview.
This is an extraordinary piece with an urgent text by Didier Rimand translated and set by Christopher Willcock.
It alternates 7/8 and 6/8 and I can’t do that on BIAB, so no backing from me today.
OCP sells the sheet music here where they have a sample of the recording. The text is in their preview.
5/10/2026
As noted below the text is indeed by Didier Rimaud and I’ll take his word on the time signature.
He did shame me into trying to make a backing so here goes:
Entrance: Come to the Water (Andersen) AOV 1/74
Responsorial Psalm for Lent: Be With Me (Haugen)
Gifts: Springs of Salvation (Andersen)
Communion: I Have Loved You (Joncas) AOV 1/126
Song of the Body of Christ (Haas) AOV 1/27
Thanksgiving: Tree of Life (Thompson) AOV NG 138
Recessional: River of Glory (Schutte)
Michael Joncas takes Matt 11:28-30 as his text for this gentle song. It is another song with variations from verse to verse that might need a cantor.
The text is at Hymnary and the sheet music can be purchased in a very inexpensive collection at GIA.
This is a text by James Quinn based on John 15 that is really rather clunky. You can find the lyrics here.
GA sets it to JESU DULCIS MEMORIA Mode 1 arranged by Richard Proulx, a chant setting.
I can’t do much with that but I noted in Together in Song (641) it is set to a traditional Irish melody SUANTRAI. You can also find it in WORSHIP (590). GIA have John Bell’s arrangement of this setting to purchase here.
That is more my speed so I piked on the chant and made this backing complete with coastal sounds sample:
I’m continuing my survey of hymns from Gather Australia while skipping the songs I’ve already blogged.
This one is another of the gems with a text by Australian poet James P. McAuley set, as usual, by the amazing Richard Connolly with a tune he called SANCTA SOPHIA.
Go read the text in the preview at As One Voice. McAuley writes with a terseness and power that is absent in most hymn writing. The tune is another of Connolly’s outwardly traditional sounding melodies that often surprise and are never conventional.
It is also in the Australian Hymn Book (No 607) where it is suggested that a cantor or small group sing the verses and the congregation the antiphon.
You can buy the sheet music as part of the collection of their hymns, Year of Grace at AOV.
BIAB had to make up chords for this one so I could make a backing.
