| Entrance | Longing, trusting (mtgf) |
| Penitential Rite | Kyrie Salve (mtgf) |
| Psalm 79 | God of hosts (mtgf) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Helmsley Alleluia (mtgf) |
| Preparation of Gifts | O holy Mary (Owen Alstott) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Creation (Marty Haugen) |
| Lamb of God | Advent (mtgf) |
| Communion Antiphon | Behold, a Vigin shall conceive (mtgf) |
| Communion | My soul in stillness waits (Marty Haugen) |
| Final | O come, O come Emmanuel |
| Entrance | Longing, trusting (mtgf) |
| Penitential Rite | Kyrie Salve (mtgf) |
| Isaiah 12 | Sing and shout for joy (mtgf) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Helmsley Alleluia (mtgf) |
| Preparation of Gifts | Song of God among us (Huijbers) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Creation (Marty Haugen) |
| Lamb of God | Advent (mtgf) |
| Communion Antiphon | Say to the faint of heart (mtgf) |
| Communion | O come divine Messiah () |
| Final | Awake, awake fling off the night |
| Entrance | Yonder come day (Georgia Sea Islands Spiritual) |
| Opening Responses | |
| Reading | Isaiah 40:1–5 The prophet Isaiah tells the people of Israel to prepare a way for the Lord |
| Choir | Song of God among us (Huijbers) |
| Hymn | O come, O come Emmanuel |
| Reading | Luke 1: 26-38 St Luke tells of the Incarnation of Jesus |
| Choir | O Domina mea (J Ghosh) |
| Carol | The angel Gabriel |
| Reading | Micah 5:1-4 The prophet Micah looks forward to the coming reign of peace |
| Choir | Dona nobis pacem (round) |
| Carol | O little town of Bethlehem |
| Reading | Luke 2:1-14 St Luke tells of the birth of Jesus |
| Choir | Adam lay ybounden (Boris Ord) |
| Carol | Once in royal David's city |
| Reading | 1 John 1:1–4 St John reflects on the Incarnation |
| Choir | I sing a maid (Irish arr. Joncas) |
| Reflection | |
| Intercessions | |
| Lord's Prayer & Blessing | |
| Carol | Joy to the world |
| Entrance | The angel Gabriel |
| Penitential Rite | St Gabriel (mtgf) |
| Gloria | Angels & Saints (Steven Janco) |
| Psalm 97 | Sing a new song (mtgf) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker) |
| Preparation of Gifts | Hymn of the Cherubim (Russian) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Creation (Marty Haugen) |
| Lamb of God | Angels & Saints (Steven Janco) |
| Communion | I sing a maid (Irish arr.. Joncas) |
| Final | Tell out my soul |
| Entrance | Longing, trusting (mtgf) |
| Penitential Rite | Kyrie Salve (mtgf) |
| Psalm 125 | What marvels the Lord (mtgf) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Helmsley Alleluia (mtgf) |
| Preparation of Gifts | O comfort my people (Irish arr. mtgf) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Creation (Marty Haugen) |
| Lamb of God | Advent (mtgf) |
| Communion Antiphon | Jerusalem, arise (mtgf) |
| Communion | Winding ways (Bill Tamblyn) |
| Final | The voice of God |
| Entrance | Longing, trusting (mtgf) |
| Penitential Rite | Kyrie Salve (mtgf) |
| Psalm 24 | To you, O Lord (mtgf) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Helmsley Alleluia (mtgf) |
| Preparation of Gifts | Turn my heart, O God (Marty Haugen) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Creation (Marty Haugen) |
| Lamb of God | Advent (mtgf) |
| Communion Antiphon | The Lord will bestow (mtgf) |
| Communion | There is a longing (Anne Quigley) |
| Final | Hark a herald voice |
| Entrance | Longing, trusting (mtgf) |
| Penitential Rite | Kyrie Salve (mtgf) |
| Magnificat | My soul rejoices (mtgf) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Helmsley Alleluia (mtgf) |
| Preparation of Gifts | Rorate caeli (chant) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Creation (Marty Haugen) |
| Lamb of God | Advent (mtgf) |
| Communion Antiphon | Say to the faint of heart (mtgf) |
| Communion | Song of God among us (Huijbers) |
| Final | Awake, awake fling off the night |
It struck me that the juxtaposition of Isaiah and the Magnificat means that when Jesus repeats the Isaiah text in Luke 4 he has been brought up by his mother to know these things - he is, in some ways, carrying out his mother's business.
| Entrance | Longing, trusting (mtgf) |
| Penitential Rite | Kyrie Salve (mtgf) |
| Psalm 88 | I will sing for ever (mtgf) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Helmsley Alleluia (mtgf) |
| Preparation of Gifts | O child of promise (Andrew Maries) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Comfort and Joy (mtgf) |
| Lamb of God | Advent (mtgf) |
| Communion Antiphon | Behold, a Virgin (mtgf) |
| Communion | O holy Mary (Owen Alstott) |
| Final | O come, O come Emmanuel |
At the back of my mind for a number of years has been how can we further mark Christmas as a season musically, i.e. by having settings specific to it. We usually sing the Mass of Creation Eucharistic Acclamations from September until the beginning of January. As I have noted before this allows it to be 'embedded' as a common setting. However in the middle of December I saw how a carol we rarely sing God rest you merry gentlemen, but remains well known, could provide the basis for a set of Acclamations. I decide to introduce them on the 4th Sunday, given its proximity to Christmas this year, as they could be briefly introduced before Mass which I would be less inclined to do before Midnight - and it meant that those who came to both would have a head start. Though part of the reason for the setting is that people may feel they know them even if they have never sung them before. I do wonder about the tastefulness of such endeavours and I am sure that there are places where it would not work. However the setting is very much based on rather than the liturgical text adapted to the pre-exiting tune. The setting also received more than usual positive comments, it did enable participation and it puts a smile on people's faces
| Entrance | Yonder come day (Georgia Sea Islands Spiritual) |
| Soon and very soon (Crouch) | |
| Opening Responses | |
| Reading | Isaiah 40:1–5 The prophet Isaiah tells the people of Israel to prepare a way for the Lord |
| Choir | Zion hears the watchmen's voices (J S Bach) |
| Hymn | O come, O come Emmanuel |
| Reading | Luke 1: 26-38 St Luke tells of the Incarnation of Jesus |
| Choir | No wind at the window (Irish/Bell) |
| Carol | The angel Gabriel |
| Reading | Micah 5:1-4 The prophet Micah looks forward to the coming reign of peace |
| Choir | Dona nobis pacem (round) |
| Carol | O little town of Bethlehem |
| Reading | Luke 2:1-14 St Luke tells of the birth of Jesus |
| Choir | Gaudete (Piae Cantiones) |
| Carol | Silent Night |
| Reading | 1 John 1:1–4 St John reflects on the Incarnation |
| Choir | Verbum caro (Rihards Dubra) |
| Reflection | |
| Intercessions | |
| Lord's Prayer & Blessing | |
| Carol | Joy to the world |
Feedback from last year's Carol Service was that it could have been longer. So a fifth section was added to the service. Even my singers are aware, as readers of this blog must be, that I believe in recycling. So often pieces are chosen, particularly for the students which can be used used again. Not only does this make sense in terms of rehearsal but also means that thy can have a second go at it. So considering a new section the starting point was 'what have we got' - we had sung the traditional round of Dona nobis pacem on Remembrance Day and looking at the various Advent readings there was a connection between Bethlehem and peace in Micah. The one question was order. Instead of a scriptural order (OT before NT) I went for a musical order in that I think it would have been odd to have sung O little town before the Annunciation.
| Entrance | Longing, trusting (mtgf) |
| Penitential Rite | Kyrie Salve (mtgf) |
| Psalm 84 | Let us see, O Lord (mtgf) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Helmsley Alleluia (mtgf) |
| Preparation of Gifts | There is a longing (Anne Quigley) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Creation (Marty Haugen) |
| Lamb of God | Advent (mtgf) |
| Communion Antiphon | Jerusalem arise (mtgf) |
| Communion | Winding Ways (Bill Tamblyn) |
| Final | Come, thou long expected Jesus |
The new Kyrie is based on the chant Mass for the Sundays of Advent and, for me at least, has a different form. Rather than AA, BB, CC, it is AB, CB, DB which seems to work, though I decided to change the word underlay between finishing the leaflet and finishing the setting - i.e. the congregation had something slightly different to what was sung. I think we understood the instructions on Bill Tamblyn's Winding Ways for the first time - insight taken them at face value.
| Entrance | The Angel Gabriel |
| Penitential Rite | St Gabriel (mtgf) |
| Gloria | Angels & Saints (Steven Janco) |
| Psalm 97 | Sing a new song (mtgf) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker) |
| Preparation of Gifts | No wind at the window (Irish/Bell) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Creation (Marty Haugen) |
| Lamb of God | Angels & Saints (Steven Janco) |
| Communion | Hail Holy Queen (mtgf) |
| Final | 10,000 Reasons |
This year the University Choir was joined by the 6pm Music Group for the first time in a number of years. The group is in a stronger position than it has been for a number of years - but also the membership of both groups overlaps. A general aim for this term is that both Sunday Masses share the same Mass settings so as not only to enable coming together of musicians but also as a worshipping community we have common settings.
| Entrance | Longing, trusting (mtgf) |
| Penitential Rite | Kyrie Salve (mtgf) |
| Psalm 79 | God of hosts (mtgf) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Helmsley Alleluia (mtgf) |
| Preparation of Gifts | There is a longing (Anne Quigley) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Creation (Marty Haugen) |
| Lamb of God | Advent (mtgf) |
| Communion Antiphon | The Lord will bestow (mtgf) |
| Communion | Long is our winter (German) |
| Final | Hark a herald voice |
A new Kyrie.
| Entrance | Longing, trusting (mtgf) |
| Penitential Rite | Kyrie 'Orbis factor' |
| Psalm 23 | Let the Lord enter (mtgf) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Helmsley Alleluia (adp. mtgf) |
| Preparation of Gifts | No wind at the window (John Bell) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Creation (Marty Haugen) |
| Lamb of God | Advent (mtgf) |
| Communion Antiphon | Behold a virgin shall conceive (mtgf) |
| Communion | O holy Mary (Alstott) |
| Final | O come, O come Emmanuel |
| Entrance | Longing, trusting (mtgf) |
| Penitential Rite | Kyrie 'Orbis factor' |
| Psalm 145 | Come, Lord (mtgf) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Helmsley Alleluia (adp. mtgf) |
| Preparation of Gifts | Song of God among us (Huijbers) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Creation (Marty Haugen) |
| Lamb of God | Advent (mtgf) |
| Communion Antiphon | Say to the faint of heart (mtgf) |
| Communion | God has chosen me (Bernadette Farrell) |
| Final | Benedictus (Alstott/Farrell |
Saturday was Winter Graduations - so a number of us had given it our all at 4 ceremonies. So this morning was not too complicated. However as we have a couple of new singers and also a guest this morning - nothing is that simple. Though our musical/liturgical economy is based on repetition that possibly only makes sense in a year's time and however simple there is still just a lot of music to do
| Entrance | The angel Gabriel |
| Penitential Rite | St Gabriel (mtgf) |
| Gloria | Angels and Saints (Steven Janco) |
| Psalm 97 | Sing a new song (mtgf) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker) |
| Preparation of Gifts | Angelus ad virginem (English 13th C. arr. mtgf) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Creation (Marty Haugen) |
| Lamb of God | Angels and Saints (Steven Janco) |
| Communion | Alma redemptoris mater (Palestrina) |
| Final | Tell out my soul |
The College Patronal Feast - Mass followed by Meat Pie. No big changes, the psalm was a new setting and sung by the same student who sang the same psalm on Remembrance Sunday. The usual economies of repetitions are present - but to little avail when you have mostly a different set of sopranos - the vagaries of student life!
| Entrance | Longing, trusting (mtgf) |
| Penitential Rite | Kyrie 'Orbis factor' |
| Psalm 71 | In his days (mtgf) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Helmsley Alleluia (adp. mtgf) |
| Preparation of Gifts | O comfort my people (Irish, arr. mtgf) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Creation (Marty Haugen) |
| Lamb of God | Advent (mtgf) |
| Communion Antiphon | Jerusalem arise (mtgf) |
| Communion | On Jordan's bank (Monteverdi) |
| Final | Come, thou long expected Jesus |
I am always interested in the connection between gospel time and liturgical time. Rather the mismatch, we have these seasons, Advent, Lent & Easter, the latter two even have their length sanctioned by the gospel of 40 and 50 days, but the gospel accounts are sparse when it comes to that time. And so the Lectionary in the Easter season is filled with before and after, the last supper discourse of John and the Acts of the Apostles. It struck me this Sunday that I, at least on one level, have at times heard the gospels of John the Baptist as happening prior to the birth of Jesus rather than his baptism and mission. There is a half conscious memory of wondering why the images of John the Baptist and Jesus are not of a more adult John. It seems to me that the Lectionary is at least not refuting that impression. So, to my original point, the Gospel narratives of what happens prior to Jesus' birth are heard on the 4th Sunday. Now you may think that the prior Sundays are about 2nd coming, but John does not fit into that narrative. To steal a well known title by Raymond Brown John heralds an adult Christ at Christmas.
| Entrance | Yonder come day (Georgia Sea Islands Spiritual) |
| Opening Responses | |
| Reading | Isaiah 40:1–5 The prophet Isaiah tells the people of Israel to prepare a way for the Lord |
| Choir | There is a longing (Anne Quigley) |
| Hymn | O come, O come Emmanuel |
| Reading | Luke 1: 26-38 St Luke tells of the Incarnation of Jesus |
| Choir | Angelus ad Virginem (13th C English arr. mtgf) |
| Carol | O little town of Bethlehem |
| Reading | Luke 2:1-14 St Luke tells of the birth of Jesus |
| Choir | Night of silence (Daniel Kantor) |
| Carol | Silent Night |
| Reading | 1 John 1:1–4 St John reflects on the Incarnation |
| Choir | Alma redemptoris mater (Palestrina) |
| Reflection | |
| Intercessions | |
| Lord's Prayer & Blessing | |
| Carol | Joy to the world |
For the last couple of years the carol service has been on a Saturday and connected with the SU Christmas fair. This year the connection seemed to be broken and so though the numbers were O they were not what it has been for previous years.
We have followed the same format for a number of years with a few tweaks. Angelus ad Virginem is part of an effort to find something Marian which the choir would enjoy and could be used when needed. I am not sure whether it achieved this. One of the stumbling blocks was the density of the Latin and I found myself preparing an English translation on Thursday night. Not ideal but I think it made it far more manageable - we could even consider the change of person within the verses. Our American students were particularly delighted to sing that classic 'Night of Silence'. Though I have touched on 'Christmas in Advent' before it struck me that both 'O little town' and 'Joy to the world' have a not quite yet flavour to them.
| Entrance | Longing, trusting (mtgf) |
| Penitential Rite | Kyrie 'Orbis factor' |
| Psalm 121 | I rejoiced (mtgf) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Helmsley Alleluia (adp. mtgf) |
| Preparation of Gifts | Zion hears the watchmen's voices (J S Bach) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Creation (Marty Haugen) |
| Lamb of God | Advent (mtgf) |
| Communion Antiphon | The Lord will bestow his bounty (mtgf) |
| Communion | How far is the night (Huijbers) |
| Final | Lo, he comes with clouds descending |
And so back to the beginning. No big changes - the congregation now sings most o fteh Lamb of God rather than just repeat 'have mercy on us' etc. I think we have done 'Zion hears…' before but not in immediate memory. It is long enough without the closing chorale.
| Entrance | Longing, trusting (mtgf) |
| Penitential Rite | Kyrie 'Orbis factor' |
| Psalm 79 | God of hosts (mtgf) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Helmsley Alleluia (adp. mtgf) |
| Preparation of Gifts | Ave maris stella (Monteverdi) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Creation (Marty Haugen) |
| Lamb of God | Advent (mtgf) |
| Communion Antiphon | Behold, a virgin (mtgf) |
| Communion | O holy Mary (Owen Alstott) |
| Final | O come, O come Emmanuel |
Though to go through Advent and not sing O come, O come Emmanuel at Sunday Mass would seem odd; it somehow does not seem to fit this Sunday. Perhaps it is a final shout
| Entrance | Yonder come day (Georgia Sea Islands Spiritual) |
| Opening Responses | |
| Reading | Isaiah 40:1–5 The prophet Isaiah tells the people of Israel to prepare a way for the Lord |
| Choir | O comfort my people (Irish arr. mtgf) |
| Hymn | O come, O come Emmanuel |
| Reading | Luke 1: 26-38 St Luke tells of the Incarnation of Jesus |
| Choir | Ave Maria (Arcadelt) |
| Carol | O little town of Bethlehem |
| Reading | Luke 2:1-14 St Luke tells of the birth of Jesus |
| Choir | All this time (Walton) |
| Carol | Silent Night |
| Reading | 1 John 1:1–4 St John reflects on the Incarnation |
| Choir | Peace Child (Bernadette Farrell) |
| Reflection | |
| Intercessions | |
| Lord's Prayer & Blessing | |
| Carol | Joy to the world |
This followed much the same pattern as last year - once again it was the end of a community festival. I hope the music covered a wide range of styles and that there was something for everyone. It was the melody of Bernadette Farrell's Peace Child that I have found myself humming the most times over the last month while we have been preparing.
