Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Christmas - Day

25 December 2013

EntranceOnce in royal David's city
Penitential RiteSt Gabriel (mtgf)
GloriaChristmas (Paul Gibson)
Psalm 97All the ends of the earth (mtgf)
Gospel AcclamationSalisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts ()
Eucharistic AcclamationsCreation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of GodChristmas (mtgf)
Communion AntiphonAll the ends of the earth (mtgf)
CommunionAway in a manger ()
FinalO little town


The lack of comment for some of the last Masses is because I have been away with friends in SE Asia. This was planned over a year ago - it is good to be in a position where you can leave the music in the hands of sensible and competent musicians. So the list represents what was planned but may not been what has been delivered.

The English Mass in the Cathedral this morning was full. Midnight Mass was in Thai with an English language booklet (and the opening hymn was 'O holy night' - perhaps the remains of the French influence). There was a choir, psalmist and keyboard who all did a good job. There was a commentator to tell us where to stand and sit (I quite like standing for the processions of gifts, including candles and flowers, it made a connection between the gifts and ourselves. I was less sure about standing for the Doxology.) The hymn book was Gather Combined 2004 together with a booklet. You can set aside Credo III and Pater Noster in the English-speaking world and replace them with Haugen and Schutte. Some of the compositions were no doubt home grown: the Lord's Prayer - I was reminded about the old argument of not singing the Lord's Prayer where it may exclude rather than include. On the whole I was struck by how well they catered for what must a sizeably different polyglot congregation week-in, week-out.

Christmas - Mass during the Night

25 December 2013

CarolOnce in royal David's city
CarolO child of promise
CarolWhile shepherds watched
CarolNo wind at the window
CarolO little town of Bethlehem
EntranceO Come all ye faithful
Penitential RiteSt Gabriel (mtgf)
GloriaChristmas (Paul Gibson)
Psalm 95Today a Saviour has been born (Bernadette Farrell)
Gospel AcclamationSalisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of GiftsWhat shall we give (arr. Dean)
Eucharistic AcclamationsCreation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of GodChristmas (mtgf)
Communion AntiphonThe word became flesh (mtgf)
CommunionNight of Silence/ Silent Night (Damile Kantor)
FinalHark the herald angels sing


Sunday, December 22, 2013

4th Sunday of Advent

22 December 2013

EntranceLonging, trusting (mtgf)
Penitential RiteKyrie 'Orbis factor'
Psalm 23Let the Lord enter (mtgf)
Gospel AcclamationSalisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of GiftsO child of promise (Andrew Maries)
Eucharistic AcclamationsCreation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of GodAdvent (mtgf)
Communion AntiphonBehold, a virgin shall conceive (mtgf)
CommunionO holy Mary (Owen Alstott)
FinalO come, O come Emmanuel


Monday, December 16, 2013

3rd Sunday of Advent

15 December 2013

EntranceLonging, trusting (mtgf)
Penitential RiteKyrie 'Orbis factor'
Psalm 145Come, Lord, and save us (mtgf)
Gospel AcclamationSalisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of GiftsSong of God among us (Huijbers)
Eucharistic AcclamationsCreation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of GodAdvent (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon Say to the faint of heart (mtgf)
CommunionGod has chosen me (Bernadette Farrell)
FinalBlest be the Lord the God of Israel

Immaculate Conception of BVM

9 December 2013

EntranceThe Angel Gabriel
Penitential RiteSt Gabriel (mtgf)
GloriaMass of Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 97Sing a new song (John Bell)
Gospel AcclamationSalisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of GiftsO radiant dawn (James MacMillan)
Eucharistic AcclamationsCreation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of GodMass of Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon (mtgf)
CommunionI sing a maid (Micahel Joncas)
FinalTell out my soul

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Carol Service

3 December 2013

Part 1 - Prepare a way for the Lord

EntranceYonder 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
Song O radiant dawn (James MacMillan)
HymnO come, O come Emmanuel

Part 2 - Behold the virgin will conceive

ReadingLuke 1: 26-38 St Luke tells of the Incarnation of Jesus
CarolNo wind at the window (Irish/Bell/Haugen)
CarolO little town of Bethlehem

Part 3 - Today is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord

ReadingLuke 2:1-14 St Luke tells of the birth of Jesus
SongI sing a maid (Irish arr. Joncas)
CarolSilent Night

Part 4 - The Word was made flesh and lived among us

Reading1 John 1:1–4 St John reflects on the Incarnation
MotetAdam lay ybounden (Ord)
Intercessions
Lord's Prayer & Blessing
CarolO come all ye faithful

A shorter carol service this year. We sang a few more secular Christmas favourites afterwards. I am still ambivalent about the Carol Service and how much it should balance Advent–Christmas. Over the years it has never attracted great numbers and I note that for many years though the content was Advent it was advertised as a 'Christmas Carol Service' and nobody complained. I see one of the choir members has been asking similar questions: Advent for today.

Our focus in Advent is always the Feast day Mass for the Immaculate Conception and the Carol service is the poor relation. Another factor is that the end of term is marked by exams for students and so it gets pushed to the beginning of December.

I think the main question is 'who is it for? Probably for three groups who may have different needs which may not be all the same. There are those who will journey with the Church's liturgy through Advent and Christmas and would probably like a reflection on where we are now — Advent. I think it offers a celebration for those for whom the Feast Day Mass is not a focus and indeed this year this was articulated by one of the committed Christians on campus who feels less at home at Mass. My other hope would be that it is for those who will otherwise participate in the Advent-Christmas journey so that they will hear the proclamation of the good news.

I think I commented last year that I am interested that members of the College choir who have a range of beliefs are excited by the prospect of singing Christmas carols. I would also note that a number of them had never sung 'O come, O come Emmanuel' before.

2nd Sunday of Advent

8 December 2013

EntranceLonging, trusting (mtgf)
Penitential RiteKyrie 'Orbis factor'
Psalm 71In his days justice will flourish (mtgf)
Gospel AcclamationSalisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of GiftsO comfort my people (Irish arr. mtgf)
Eucharistic AcclamationsCreation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of GodAdvent (mtgf)
Communion AntiphonJerusalem, arise (mtgf)
CommunionOn Jordan's bank (Monteverdi)
FinalLo, he comes on clouds descending

I had meant to do the last hymn last week but I was not sure how well known it was and wanted at lest the choir to be confident. As there was not time last week it got delayed a week - it is such a good tune and Wesley does write good texts - well expressed imagery (though we did omit 'deeply wailing'.

1st Sunday of Advent

1 December 2013

EntranceLonging, trusting (mtgf)
Penitential RiteKyrie 'Orbis factor'
Psalm 121I rejoiced (mtgf)
Gospel AcclamationSalisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of GiftsIn God's good time (Stephen Dean)
Eucharistic AcclamationsCreation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of GodAdvent (mtgf)
Communion AntiphonThe Lord will bestow his bounty (mtgf)
CommunionLong is our winter (German)
FinalHark, a herald voice

And so we begin again. It always charms me that the compilers of the Lectionary repeated the psalm from the end of year to year A. The Jerusalem of the Lectionary is both where Christ is king upon the cross and where he will come again.

We had planned to do In God's good time a couple of weeks ago but were unable - so it fitted well here — it could have been another link across the years.