The sinless one to Jordan came (Winchester New)
St Thomas Mass
Psalm 29
Celtic Alleluia
Songs of thankfulness and praise (St Edmund)
The Son of man from Jordan rose (Martyrdom)
Hail thou source of every blessing (Laus Deo)
Evensong for Plough Sunday
Praise and thanksgiving (Bunessan)
Psalm 65
For the beauty of the earth (Noricum)
For the fruits of his creation (Ar hyd y nos)
We plough the fields (Wir pflugen)
All rather uneventful today and poor numbers this morning with indifferent singing. This evening was enlivened by country folk who enjoy Plough Sunday and sang well, listening to them launching into Psalm 65 is heartening! Even the Young Farmers make an effort to join in but they do tend to be open to traditional rural observances such as this and Lammastide. Before anyone asks about the tune of "For the beauty" it's the old Methodist book set tune and rather well liked hereabouts.
I have been asked to play Camberwell to "Glory in the highest" by Chris Idle which is in New English Hymnal at 363 but set there to the fine but totally unknown Cuddesdon. A trendy incumbent once asked me to play "At the name" to the music of Puff the magic dragon 😮 he did not get the response he wanted 🤣
Epiphany 2 at Our Place tomorrow, with The Wedding At Cana as the Gospel reading.
Hymns: Immortal, invisible (St Denio) God, in the planning (Slane)* Just as I am (Misericordia or Saffron Walden) Lord Jesus Christ (Living Lord)
*seems a bizarre choice, as it's a hymn to be sung at a wedding, and not (ISTM) at an ordinary Parish Eucharist. Given its implicit teaching that marriage is between husband and wife (no variations allowed), a congregation made up of singletons, divorcees, celibates-by-choice etc. etc. might find it offensive...
I mentioned this to FatherInCharge, who was rather dismissive, and merely remarked that it was one of the suggestions for this Sunday in the hymnbook - the maligned Complete Anglican Hymns Old And New. Perhaps it didn't dawn on him that a suggestion might not always suit the occasion.
Service to mark Christian Unity (although not, sadly, a united service):
“Jesus calls us here to meet him” - Blaenwern.
“As we are gathered, Jesus is here” (Daniels).
“Whether you're one or whether you're two” (Kendrick).
“Head of the Church and Lord of all” - St Polycarp.
“Christ, from whom all blessings flow” - Tichfield.
“Your hand, O God, has guided” - Thornbury.
We, for reasons best known to our minister, have Christ being tempted in the wilderness as our reading tomorrow, and the hymns are:
What a friend we have in Jesus
Blessed assurance
When the storms of life
At the name of Jesus
Make me a channel
Our minister assured me that they are all "very well known", at which I was compelled to point out that When the storms of life had been introduced by him less than a year ago and sung on only that occasion. I've lived here 13 years, and have a list of "known hymns" from a year prior to that and on it this hymn does not appear.
I once conducted a service at a church which, some weeks beforehand, sent me a list of "hymns and songs we know". I chose carefully. On the day, the organist struggled and the singing was poor. I was told why: "We didn't know them".
When it was my job to choose hymns at Our Place, I was told (in most emphatic terms) that I MUST select only the ones we ALL know. I duly asked the person concerned for a list of such hymns, but guess what? It never materialised...
I used to have a similar problem with Scout & Guide Parade services: "Choose songs the children know". What those were remained a mystery (and it wasn't what the adults thought they knew, which was about 20 years out of date!)
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, South Australia.
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C).
The Lord is My Shepherd (and I want to follow)
Spirit of God (in the clear running water)
Alleluia x 4 at the Gospel Acclamation
Eight-fold Amen at the end of the Eucharist Prayer
"Lamb of God", a hymn rather than the words of the usual "Agnus Dei".
This is My Body That (Which?) is Broken For You
Like a Shepherd He Feeds His Flock
---
A very nice, friendly parish. Not a MW report, but converted 70-odd years ago from a shed! Got given a bookmark (which I needed; I was using receipts!)
A blessed Old Calendar Theophany (Christ's Baptism) to any celebrating.
I once conducted a service at a church which, some weeks beforehand, sent me a list of "hymns and songs we know". I chose carefully. On the day, the organist struggled and the singing was poor. I was told why: "We didn't know them".
Of course it was All My Fault ...
The list I have was meticulously compiled, including markings for "sung once or twice but not well known", "sung to a different tune", and "would be nice to learn". It's a testament to the quiet skill of our late organist. I offered to update it and send it to our minister: radio silence.
Before service: La Nativité du Seigneur: Les Mages by Olivier Messiaen
Hymns:
Jesus Come! for we invite you (Unser Herrscher)
Songs of Thankfulness and Praise (St Edmund)
Christ is our light (Ellers) - words by Leith Fisher, prompting a choir discussion ;if you were named after a place what would it be....
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (Was Lebet)
Mass setting: Missa Brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo - Haydn
Communion Anthem: Love of love - Moore
Organ voluntary : In dir ist Freude BWV 615 by Johann S Bach - with lotsa cymbalstern!
Soprano Choral Scholar aced the solo in the benedictus - flexible and expressive.
Good sermon on 'signs' in John and the wedding at Cana.
It looks like I'm not going to be consulted about hymn choices when J leaves after all; I had an email from Rev'd Rosie the other day listing all the hymns up to about Easter. I suspect she doesn't trust me to follow her agenda ...
Our offerings today weren't too bad:
Through all the changing scenes of life - Wiltshire Breathe on me, breath of God - Carlisle (eventually*) Author of life divine - Christchurch* The race that long in darkness pined - St Fulbert Immortal, invisible, God only wise - St Denio
* The Organist Who Doesn't Practise™ (P) had a brainfart at this point, and started playing Christchurch instead of Carlisle. P obviously didn't realise that he was playing the wrong tune, and we gamely tried to follow him, but it soon became apparent (seemingly to everyone except P) that it wasn't going to fit. Someone at the front (not sure if it was Rosie or the server, who happened to be J, one of the other organists) pointed out that we were singing the wrong tune, and suggested we sing it a cappella, so that's what we did. I can't quite believe how P managed to not know he'd goofed, but there we are.
At our early morning communion service:
Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning / MORNING STAR
*There's a Wideness in God's Mercy / CORVEDALE
In Heavenly Love Abiding / WHITFIELD
* This hymn and specific tune had been chosen by a long standing member of the congregation as it was her last service before moving away.
Ambushed this morning by the director of music who blatantly added 3 Kendrick hymns, 4 too many me think. So she broke the verbal/pact agreement to alert me in advance if more than one Kendrick would be on the horizon. Grrr
Marraige at Cana and 1Cor about gifts of the Spirit.
Seek ye first the kingdom.
Many are the light beams.
One bread one body - based on the Didache and references the gifts.
You may cross the barren desert. (Be not afraid.)
Jesus come for we invite you (Regent Square)*
Appleford New English Mass
Psalm 96
Plainsong Alleluia
Let all mortal flesh (Picardy)
One bread one body
Songs of thankfulness and praise (St Edmund)
*I see @Heron also had this today, new words to me but they were extremely good and appropriate for the gospel reading. I assume 'One bread one body' was a casual nod to unity week.
Mattns in rural style did unity week rather too thoroughly!
The church's one foundation (Aurelia)
Psalm 122
O faith of England taught of old (Psalm 68)
The church of God a kingdom is (Capel)
Thy hand O God has guided (Thornbury)
Not played "O faith of England" (544 old EH) for yonks but they hollered it out so must have known it well. I don't dislike Aurelia as much as some here but it has an amazingly stultifying effect at the start of worship 🥱
Marraige at Cana and 1Cor about gifts of the Spirit.
Seek ye first the kingdom.
Many are the light beams.
One bread one body - based on the Didache and references the gifts.
You may cross the barren desert. (Be not afraid.)
A decent selection.
The only one of those I know is Seek ye first (assuming it's the one by Karen Lafferty).
Here are the ones you don't know. I've not had a chance to listen as my wife is dozing on the sofa next to me. So I don't know if they are solid congregational or sentimental singing nun versions. Hopefully the former.
Bless the Lord, O my soul (Ten thousand reasons) All the saints and angels (You are worthy of it all) Holy for ever (A thousand generations falling down in worship) When I survey the wondrous cross I give you my heart (This is my desire) Mighty to save (Everyone needs compassion)
Here are the ones you don't know. I've not had a chance to listen as my wife is dozing on the sofa next to me. So I don't know if they are solid congregational or sentimental singing nun versions. Hopefully the former.
No Singing Nun stuff, but all three were played/sung fairly slowly. Not a bad thing in itself, but I should think that, for a congregation not to *drag*, they might need to be speeded up a bit.
One bread, one body makes a lovely communion motet, perhaps for cantors, rather than everyone.
If I heard this was to be sung somewhere, I would crawl through broken glass to get there. If a descant was on offer, or the version I first heard via a CD from King's College, I'd go even farther.
(You can imagine my surprise when enquiring into Orthodoxy when the hymn it is based on appeared on Holy Saturday! As a person curious as to hymn history (the first hymn CD I bought in my 20s -- the King's College one above -- had a brief history of each text and tune on the insert) I knew it was from an old Liturgy, but one I had thought was long gone...)
Here are the ones you don't know. I've not had a chance to listen as my wife is dozing on the sofa next to me. So I don't know if they are solid congregational or sentimental singing nun versions. Hopefully the former.
No Singing Nun stuff, but all three were played/sung fairly slowly. Not a bad thing in itself, but I should think that, for a congregation not to *drag*, they might need to be speeded up a bit.
One bread, one body makes a lovely communion motet, perhaps for cantors, rather than everyone.
Our lot sing it during communion. The tune of the verses has echoes of Nights in White Satin by the Moody Blues. Or it does when I play it!
Here are the ones you don't know. I've not had a chance to listen as my wife is dozing on the sofa next to me. So I don't know if they are solid congregational or sentimental singing nun versions. Hopefully the former.
No Singing Nun stuff, but all three were played/sung fairly slowly. Not a bad thing in itself, but I should think that, for a congregation not to *drag*, they might need to be speeded up a bit.
Yes, those videos were all slower than I'm used to. They’re all quite singable by a congregation if they don’t drag.
And yes, @Alan29, I hear “Nights in White Satin,” too!
Meanwhile, @RecoveringCynic, I'm going to have to think through how I feel about being associated with SICILIAN MARINERS.
Today, we had:
“Come, All You People”/UYAI MOSE
There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy”/IN BABILONE
“Take, O Take Me as I Am”/TAKE ME AS I AM
“As the Wind Song”/WAIRUA TAPU
“The Right Hand of God”/LA MANO DE DIOS
I suspect the last hymn was a nod to tomorrow being both Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday and Inauguration Day.
I’ve never sung this in church, though we could. But it’s a great one to use in a primary school assembly (not an American thing AIUI, having a Christian minister in to lead an assembly). It’s easy to get children singing two or even three parts very quickly, and they really enjoy singing in parts.
I’ve never sung this in church, though we could. But it’s a great one to use in a primary school assembly (not an American thing AIUI, having a Christian minister in to lead an assembly). It’s easy to get children singing two or even three parts very quickly, and they really enjoy singing in parts.
I learned it at university. It was often used for the brief shared welcome before the RCs went one way and everyone else went the other. "A-hom... a-hom... a-hom..."
Yesterday’s Evensong
Introit: O taste and see ( RVW)*
Immortal, invisible
The God of Abraham praise
I come with joy
Through all the changing scenes of life
Anthem: Teach me, O Lord ( Attwood)
Lord’s Prayer ( Stone )
sevenfold Amen( Stainer)
A simple blessing( unknown)
It was the first Evensong for our new 24 yr old DM. He did well. Less so the organist, a new one to us, who struggled with the limitations of the organ, though some of his rostered colleagues work wonders.
*All 4 Sops sang the opening phrase, and I got the solo phrase in the middle. In rehearsal, the DM stopped after the opening phrase and said he could hear at least three different pitches!
All Saints Catholic, Portland, Victoria
St Francis de Sales, Bishop of Geneva, Doctor of the Church
09:30 Morning Prayer
In the Lord will I ever be thankful (?; from memory)
The Divine Praises
10:00 Mass
Threefold Alleluia before the Gospel
--
The third town associated with St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Australia's first Saint, I have visited on this ad-hoc pilgrimage of sorts while on holidays. Lovely stained glass window depicting her.
Oh, MP was from People's Companion to the Breviary, if that means anything to anyone here.
Before Covid our place used to say Morning Prayer before morning masses. Organised and led by members of the congregation. From a simplified version of the breviary.
It would in my estimation be virtually unheard of on Sundays and Feastdays but in some parish churches the daily Massgoers ( who are often quite devout) would recite together (with or without a member of the clergy) MP.
In the really olden days these same people would have communally recited the Rosary.
It would in my estimation be virtually unheard of on Sundays and Feastdays but in some parish churches the daily Massgoers ( who are often quite devout) would recite together (with or without a member of the clergy) MP.
In the really olden days these same people would have communally recited the Rosary.
Not olden days. Rosary before Mass still happens, or the zAngelus before a midday Mass.
Epiphany 3 at Our Place, with this mixed selection of hymns:
Hail to the Lord's anointed (Crucifer) Will you come and follow me (Kelvingrove) Bind us together, Lord (words and music by Bob Gilman) One more step along the world I go (Southcote)
I'm afraid I could never sing Bind us together without having Norty Thorts...(let the Reader understand)
Comments
The sinless one to Jordan came (Winchester New)
St Thomas Mass
Psalm 29
Celtic Alleluia
Songs of thankfulness and praise (St Edmund)
The Son of man from Jordan rose (Martyrdom)
Hail thou source of every blessing (Laus Deo)
Evensong for Plough Sunday
Praise and thanksgiving (Bunessan)
Psalm 65
For the beauty of the earth (Noricum)
For the fruits of his creation (Ar hyd y nos)
We plough the fields (Wir pflugen)
All rather uneventful today and poor numbers this morning with indifferent singing. This evening was enlivened by country folk who enjoy Plough Sunday and sang well, listening to them launching into Psalm 65 is heartening! Even the Young Farmers make an effort to join in but they do tend to be open to traditional rural observances such as this and Lammastide. Before anyone asks about the tune of "For the beauty" it's the old Methodist book set tune and rather well liked hereabouts.
And I was spared Dix 😊
The Gospel Acclamation was "Christmastime Alleluia" with the last verse for BOTL.
Our usual Mass parts were from "Missa Simplex."
Responsorial Psalm for the day was from "Respond & Acclaim."
The Parish Choir sang a setting of "Of the Father's Love Begotten" by James Engel during Communion.
Hymns:
Immortal, invisible (St Denio)
God, in the planning (Slane)*
Just as I am (Misericordia or Saffron Walden)
Lord Jesus Christ (Living Lord)
*seems a bizarre choice, as it's a hymn to be sung at a wedding, and not (ISTM) at an ordinary Parish Eucharist. Given its implicit teaching that marriage is between husband and wife (no variations allowed), a congregation made up of singletons, divorcees, celibates-by-choice etc. etc. might find it offensive...
I mentioned this to FatherInCharge, who was rather dismissive, and merely remarked that it was one of the suggestions for this Sunday in the hymnbook - the maligned Complete Anglican Hymns Old And New. Perhaps it didn't dawn on him that a suggestion might not always suit the occasion.
“Jesus calls us here to meet him” - Blaenwern.
“As we are gathered, Jesus is here” (Daniels).
“Whether you're one or whether you're two” (Kendrick).
“Head of the Church and Lord of all” - St Polycarp.
“Christ, from whom all blessings flow” - Tichfield.
“Your hand, O God, has guided” - Thornbury.
What a friend we have in Jesus
Blessed assurance
When the storms of life
At the name of Jesus
Make me a channel
Our minister assured me that they are all "very well known", at which I was compelled to point out that When the storms of life had been introduced by him less than a year ago and sung on only that occasion. I've lived here 13 years, and have a list of "known hymns" from a year prior to that and on it this hymn does not appear.
Of course it was All My Fault ...
Well, quite. I simply ignored the directive, but did try to choose *new* hymns which were fairly easy to sing...
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C).
The Lord is My Shepherd (and I want to follow)
Spirit of God (in the clear running water)
Alleluia x 4 at the Gospel Acclamation
Eight-fold Amen at the end of the Eucharist Prayer
"Lamb of God", a hymn rather than the words of the usual "Agnus Dei".
This is My Body That (Which?) is Broken For You
Like a Shepherd He Feeds His Flock
---
A very nice, friendly parish. Not a MW report, but converted 70-odd years ago from a shed! Got given a bookmark (which I needed; I was using receipts!)
A blessed Old Calendar Theophany (Christ's Baptism) to any celebrating.
The list I have was meticulously compiled, including markings for "sung once or twice but not well known", "sung to a different tune", and "would be nice to learn". It's a testament to the quiet skill of our late organist. I offered to update it and send it to our minister: radio silence.
How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds (?)
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind (Repton)
What A Friend We Have In Jesus (Converse)
Hymns:
Jesus Come! for we invite you (Unser Herrscher)
Songs of Thankfulness and Praise (St Edmund)
Christ is our light (Ellers) - words by Leith Fisher, prompting a choir discussion ;if you were named after a place what would it be....
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (Was Lebet)
Mass setting: Missa Brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo - Haydn
Communion Anthem: Love of love - Moore
Organ voluntary : In dir ist Freude BWV 615 by Johann S Bach - with lotsa cymbalstern!
Soprano Choral Scholar aced the solo in the benedictus - flexible and expressive.
Good sermon on 'signs' in John and the wedding at Cana.
Our offerings today weren't too bad:
Through all the changing scenes of life - Wiltshire
Breathe on me, breath of God - Carlisle (eventually*)
Author of life divine - Christchurch*
The race that long in darkness pined - St Fulbert
Immortal, invisible, God only wise - St Denio
* The Organist Who Doesn't Practise™ (P) had a brainfart at this point, and started playing Christchurch instead of Carlisle. P obviously didn't realise that he was playing the wrong tune, and we gamely tried to follow him, but it soon became apparent (seemingly to everyone except P) that it wasn't going to fit. Someone at the front (not sure if it was Rosie or the server, who happened to be J, one of the other organists) pointed out that we were singing the wrong tune, and suggested we sing it a cappella, so that's what we did. I can't quite believe how P managed to not know he'd goofed, but there we are.
Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning / MORNING STAR
*There's a Wideness in God's Mercy / CORVEDALE
In Heavenly Love Abiding / WHITFIELD
* This hymn and specific tune had been chosen by a long standing member of the congregation as it was her last service before moving away.
No, our late organist was far too polite to offer opinions of that nature.
Seek ye first the kingdom.
Many are the light beams.
One bread one body - based on the Didache and references the gifts.
You may cross the barren desert. (Be not afraid.)
A decent selection.
Jesus come for we invite you (Regent Square)*
Appleford New English Mass
Psalm 96
Plainsong Alleluia
Let all mortal flesh (Picardy)
One bread one body
Songs of thankfulness and praise (St Edmund)
*I see @Heron also had this today, new words to me but they were extremely good and appropriate for the gospel reading. I assume 'One bread one body' was a casual nod to unity week.
Mattns in rural style did unity week rather too thoroughly!
The church's one foundation (Aurelia)
Psalm 122
O faith of England taught of old (Psalm 68)
The church of God a kingdom is (Capel)
Thy hand O God has guided (Thornbury)
Not played "O faith of England" (544 old EH) for yonks but they hollered it out so must have known it well. I don't dislike Aurelia as much as some here but it has an amazingly stultifying effect at the start of worship 🥱
No Evensong booked today thankfully!
The only one of those I know is Seek ye first (assuming it's the one by Karen Lafferty).
https://youtu.be/ZmKuDhxYriE?feature=shared
https://youtu.be/WHAu3fLF7NI?feature=shared
https://youtu.be/_H_kgDXcKIw?feature=shared
All the saints and angels (You are worthy of it all)
Holy for ever (A thousand generations falling down in worship)
When I survey the wondrous cross
I give you my heart (This is my desire)
Mighty to save (Everyone needs compassion)
Thanks @Alan29 !
No Singing Nun stuff, but all three were played/sung fairly slowly. Not a bad thing in itself, but I should think that, for a congregation not to *drag*, they might need to be speeded up a bit.
One bread, one body makes a lovely communion motet, perhaps for cantors, rather than everyone.
(You can imagine my surprise when enquiring into Orthodoxy when the hymn it is based on appeared on Holy Saturday! As a person curious as to hymn history (the first hymn CD I bought in my 20s -- the King's College one above -- had a brief history of each text and tune on the insert) I knew it was from an old Liturgy, but one I had thought was long gone...)
All Praise to You, O Lord (CARLISLE)**
Longing for Light (CHRIST BE OUR LIGHT)
Only three hymns as the choir sang for the offertory. Service music was the Auld Sco'ish Gloria + Schubert Gloria and Agnus Dei.
*Thought of you, @Nick Tamen with this one...fortunately the harmonization had a slightly less miserable bass line with some nice moving notes.
**CARLISLE doesn't seem to be sung very much on this side of the pond, but I rather liked it, as did the congregation.
Our lot sing it during communion. The tune of the verses has echoes of Nights in White Satin by the Moody Blues. Or it does when I play it!
And yes, @Alan29, I hear “Nights in White Satin,” too!
Meanwhile, @RecoveringCynic, I'm going to have to think through how I feel about being associated with SICILIAN MARINERS.
Today, we had:
“Come, All You People”/UYAI MOSE
There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy”/IN BABILONE
“Take, O Take Me as I Am”/TAKE ME AS I AM
“As the Wind Song”/WAIRUA TAPU
“The Right Hand of God”/LA MANO DE DIOS
I suspect the last hymn was a nod to tomorrow being both Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday and Inauguration Day.
I learned it at university. It was often used for the brief shared welcome before the RCs went one way and everyone else went the other. "A-hom... a-hom... a-hom..."
Ha, as a fellow bass, I always remember grumbling about boring bass lines!
Introit: O taste and see ( RVW)*
Immortal, invisible
The God of Abraham praise
I come with joy
Through all the changing scenes of life
Anthem: Teach me, O Lord ( Attwood)
Lord’s Prayer ( Stone )
sevenfold Amen( Stainer)
A simple blessing( unknown)
It was the first Evensong for our new 24 yr old DM. He did well. Less so the organist, a new one to us, who struggled with the limitations of the organ, though some of his rostered colleagues work wonders.
*All 4 Sops sang the opening phrase, and I got the solo phrase in the middle. In rehearsal, the DM stopped after the opening phrase and said he could hear at least three different pitches!
St Francis de Sales, Bishop of Geneva, Doctor of the Church
09:30 Morning Prayer
In the Lord will I ever be thankful (?; from memory)
The Divine Praises
10:00 Mass
Threefold Alleluia before the Gospel
--
The third town associated with St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Australia's first Saint, I have visited on this ad-hoc pilgrimage of sorts while on holidays. Lovely stained glass window depicting her.
Before Covid our place used to say Morning Prayer before morning masses. Organised and led by members of the congregation. From a simplified version of the breviary.
Vary rare indeed. Pretty much unheard of.
In the really olden days these same people would have communally recited the Rosary.
Not olden days. Rosary before Mass still happens, or the zAngelus before a midday Mass.
Hail to the Lord's anointed (Crucifer)
Will you come and follow me (Kelvingrove)
Bind us together, Lord (words and music by Bob Gilman)
One more step along the world I go (Southcote)
I'm afraid I could never sing Bind us together without having Norty Thorts...(let the Reader understand)
Yes, you're quite right. My mistake! resulting from a hasty glance at the hymnbook in rather poor light...