Wednesday, July 28, 2010

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

25 July 2010

EntrancePraise to the Lord
Penitential RiteSt Gabriel (mtgf)
GloriaJeanne Jugan Gloria (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 137On the day I called (mtgf)
Gospel AcclamationAlleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts
Eucharistic AcclamationsNo Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Lamb of GodSt Gabriel (mtgf)
CommunionThe cry of the poor (John Foley)
FinalNow thank we all our God

Sunday, July 18, 2010

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

18 July 2010

EntranceAll are welcome (Marty Haugen)
Penitential RiteSt Gabriel (mtgf)
GloriaJeanne Jugan Gloria (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 14The just will live (mtgf)
Gospel AcclamationAlleluia (Murray)
Preparation of GiftsThere is a longing (Anne Quigley)
Eucharistic AcclamationsNo Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Lamb of GodSt Gabriel (mtgf)
CommunionHere I stand (John Bell)
FinalLord of all hopefulness

The welcome guest: known or unknown finds welcome. All are welcome seems to find its way on lists of US bloggers' least favourite hymns. Its main fault is that is vision is primarily horizontal yet a major theme is that this is a place where God is at work. My guess is that if there is genuine musical dislike it stems from overuse rather than the melody itself which is well constructed. It is actually quite a while since we have sung it and though it took some time before it was sung with confidence it seemed to be sung well this morning. I am more intrigued by a list of ten pieces of recent liturgical music that a chant aficionado does not mind.

One of today's Communion antiphon reads:

I stand at the door and knock, says the Lord. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and sit down to supper with him, and he with me.

Not only did connect with the readings it also gave a chance to sing John Bell's chant Here I stand. It's one of those pieces which, to my mind, that John Bell enjoys the construction of pieces and the singability of each part. We sang it with Psalm 22 using a 2-part tone based on the Bell.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

11 July 2010

EntranceYour words are spirit and life (Bernadette Farrell)
Penitential RiteSt Gabriel (mtgf)
GloriaJeanne Jugan Gloria (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 68Seek the Lord, you who are poor (mtgf)
Gospel AcclamationAlleluia (Murray)
Preparation of GiftsUbi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Eucharistic AcclamationsNo Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Lamb of GodSt Gabriel (mtgf)
CommunionIf we are living (Mexican arr. Haugen)
FinalGod is love, his the care (Dearmer/Piae Cantiones)

Law, word, love of neighbour, care for the poor. Four very rich ideas all linked together this Sunday. The richness meant there was much we could have done so that the deciding factor was for the most part practical. To give one example if we had been accompanied we might have sung Lowenthal's 'These Words' as it picks up the first reading and sees the word/law as something which abides in the heart.

I always have a wonder whether singing Ubi Caritas outside of Maundy Thursday weakens or strengthens the piece. If we only sung it once a year would it be more effective or does it grow through the web of connections when sung on Sundays such as this — two different proclamations of the command to love.

I have a soft spot for If we are living; it is a tender piece but it also reminds us 'we live not for ourselves'. I have known others prefer the John Bell translation and arrangement but I think the Haugen has a simplicity and a slight awkwardness which is preferable to too much sophistication here.

This Sundays offer a choice of psalms which happens a number of times in the coming weeks. The second option, Psalm 18, was added with the 2nd edition of the Lectionary. It shifts the focus from care for the poor to love of the law. I went with Psalm 68 partly because of its rarity — and discovered I had setting I seemed not have used before. As is sometimes the case with Lectionary I suspect there might be a better psalm choice which relates the law to care for the poor. We used Psalm 18 for our Entrance Song.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

4 July 2010

EntranceThe kingdom of God
Penitential RiteSt Gabriel (mtgf)
GloriaJeanne Jugan Gloria (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 65(Cry out with joy (mtgf))
Gospel AcclamationAlleluia (Murray)
Preparation of GiftsGod has chosen me (Bernadette Farrell)
Eucharistic AcclamationsNo Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Lamb of GodSt Gabriel (mtgf)
CommunionWe adore you, O Christ (mtgf)
FinalForth in the peace (Quinn)

Over the summer, well and at other times of the year, we have a number of visiting supply priests. For each one it is a case of learning their idiosyncrasies — and their learning ours. The conversation before Mass for the first time goes something like: 'Here is the Mass sheet', 'We sing everything except the Creed and the Our Father', 'Will you sing the doxology?', 'What form of Penitential Rite were you thinking of using?'. Most usually come more than once so that we are mutually aware of the other's 'ways'. My impression is that most appreciate what we are doing musically.

We also over the summer have visiting groups using the college facilities. This can vary in size between a number of Catholic individuals who are part of a larger group and whole conference groups. In previous years I have suggested that it might be good to know in advance but large institutions might not be good at this. I am not sure about inviting individuals from outside groups to minister. It is not just a question of local idiosyncrasies. In part it is theological — I think there is an aspect of (lay) liturgical ministry which is local. It is also practical — can you assume that your normal expectations of good practice are shared? And what skills are needed to communicate them? This is a convoluted way of explaining why the psalm is on brackets. A reader from a visiting group was invited read and was not aware that we normally sang the psalm and so carried on reading after the first reading. Irritating but may be not life-threatening. As the psalm is invariably sung what I noticed is that it does change the texture of the Liturgy of the Word — a succession of read texts is flatter and maybe therefore less engaging.