3rd Sunday in Ordinary time

or should that be Saturday night in ordinary time?

Entrance: All the Ends of the Earth CBW 548
Kyria G&P 34
Gloria CBW 238
Psalm CBW 119
Gospel Accl. G&P 10
Offertory: Listen My People CBW 309
Sanctus CBW 279 A
Mem Accl. CBW 279 C
Amen CBW 279 D
Lamb of God G&P 51
Communion: Bread for the World G&P #528
Recessional: Sent forth by God's Blessing CBW 533

note: CBW refers to Catholic Book of Worship and G&P refers to Glory and Praise both 3rd edition.

Music for this Week

Saturday Jan 3rd : Feast of the Epiphany
Entrance: Awake Awake and Greet the New Morn CBW 303
Kyria: G&P #34
Gloria: G&P #100
Psalm: CBW #37
Gospel Accl: G&P 52 Vs. 1
Offertory: Sing a New Song CBW 563
Sanctus: G&P #53
Mem. Accl: G&P #56
Amen: G&P #141
Lamb of God: G&P #51
Communion: Bread of Life G&P #520
Recessional: Joy to the World G&P #318

This week's music

New year's resolution to at least post the list each week. It has been a busy season - there are so many lovely hymns for Advent I wish we could make it 8 weeks long instead of 4 (evil grin) Today is one of the surviving 'Holy Days of obligation' the feast of Mary the Mother of God. It is one of the few times when it is appropriate to sing a Marian hymn at Mass. We also look after the evening mass and New year's can be a bit daunting. Our choir is very small - really just a handful of people from the big choir at the regular late morning Sunday Mass who are willing to come out Saturday night, or other singers who attend that Mass for some reason or other. New Year's Eve can be a challenge - one year I thought we would be singing accapella when absolutely every accompanist on my list was busy and then we got someone at the last minute. One year the musicians from the Youth Choir showed up with their trumpet, clarinet and sax. That was very cool.

Last night we drove through what the weather people were calling an 'Albertan Clipper' which seemed about as close to a blizzard as made no difference. We had our regular pianist and a guest organist and I feared probably no singers - except the organist has a fine voice and was willing to sing the psalm. We usually arrive at the church an hour before Mass to practice and set up. It was in darkness. James has a key to the side door and as we tramped through the uncleared snow, the knot in my stomach loosened at bit " maybe WE will BE the congregation tonight" I said letting go of any concern for lack of singers. While I set up the two musicians conferred over how to do things, James found a shovel and cleared all the snow in front of the church (I believe the man is a saint - but it's not official with the vatican yet)

Then the most reliable singer showed up and we practiced a few things. No point in my directing one person so we stood together. After announcing the opening hymn she invited the congregation to "please join the choir" As we launched into the first verse "Angels we have heard on High" 4 people appeared and slipped into the choir area around us. It was like getting a surprise gift, or flowers delivered to you at work.

It really is a nice time of year - many of the hymns have become popular as Christmas carols so I sometimes wonder why we give the page numbers to the congregation - they know the words. Everything went rather well for us. We sang:

New Year’s Eve Feast of Mary Mother of God
Entrance: Angels we have heard on high CBW #320
Kyria: G&P #34
Gloria: CBW #238
Psalm: CBW #36
Gospel Accl: G&P 52 Vs. 1
Offertory: The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came CBW 316
Sanctus: G&P #53
Mem. Accl: G&P #56
Amen: G&P #141
Lamb of God: G&P #51
Communion: Bread of Life G&P #522
Recessional: Immaculate Mary G&P #430

The choice for the recessional was based on finding one everyone in that congregation knew... and I was delighted to see they all sang that one. Such a good beginning to the new year. God Bless us everyone.

The workshop last week

World Library Publications was the music source for the Workshop by Jerry Galipeau. It was a delightful whirlwind - we were a mix of choir members from various parishes and we quickly got sorted into our singing sections and worked our way through about 20 pieces of music. It was a taste of each song and on we went.

Jerry Galipeau is a very engaging director who kept us on track and enjoying ourselves. The feature of the publisher which I liked was the ability to buy copies online and print them off yourself and thereby get what you need right away without any shipping or copyright infractions. Having said that I haven't tried logging in and clicking to purchase yet but well may before advent.

This week

Saturday Oct. 25th 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Entrance: Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpets CBW 571
Kyria: Glory & Praise #34
Gloria: G&P 100
Psalm CBW 199
Gospel accl: G&P 10 Verse Alt Wedding 2
Offertory: Love One Another G&P 645
Sanctus: Glory & Praise #53
Memorial Acclamation: Glory & Praise # 56
Amen: Glory & Praise #141
Lamb of God: Glory & Praise #51
Communion: Bread of Life G&P 522
Recessional: Sent Forth by God's Blessing CBW 533

rumours of my death are exaggerated

The cats have pointed out that I have not been putting anything on this blog since I set it up which is unpardonable...and we have been busy. BUT I can change ...well I can try to change. Tonight I will be attending a Liturgical Music workshop put on by the Diocese - so I promise to report on that ... and not wait for 2 months ...really

Thank you Mark Twain for such a useful phrase

Welcoming the stranger who sings off key

Harmony is not necessarily singing in parts. For me it means singing together and making people who want to join in feel welcome. In the long run it sounds fine or at least human.