Dear Partners in Ministry,
I can't begin to tell you how many gratitudes and compliments I've heard about you since your marvelous performance at Gaudete! I am so profoundly proud of you all and grateful for all the hard work you put into this concert on top of everything else we've been up to this fall. I'm coming into this micro-week of Advent and our Christmas celebrations with great joy and a soaring heart.
Of course, we have zero time to rest on our laurels (your day off from rehearsal tomorrow night notwithstanding). The big weekend is here, so let's dive right in!
Advent and Christmas Hymns
As I mentioned to you this weekend, I've compiled eighteen public domain hymns for these seasons into a single score, to spare you the weight of the hymnal at least for the next few weeks. Paper copies will be ready for you in your folders when you arrive this weekend; but for now, please feel free to download the PDF and take a first look.
For the Christmas season, any selections labeled in blue and referencing "ACH" can be found in this resource.
Instrumentalists, please note: you'll need to work from this collection as well when accompanying hymns.
Fourth Sunday of Advent: Sunday at 10:00 am!
A reminder that we've consolidated our 9 am and 11 am Masses into a single Mass at 10 am this Sunday. Call time is 30 minutes ahead as usual.
Christmas Call Times
I'd like to get a head start for all our Masses this Christmas, so please be ready to rehearse 45 minutes ahead of each Mass if at all possible! If all goes smoothly, we should be finished up with at least 10 minutes remaining for pre-Mass instrumentals.
Make sure to have the following resources in hand for the weekend:
- JourneySongs
- 1.001 · Mass of Creation (if you need it for the Glory to God)
- 4.014 · The Angel Gabriel (GABRIEL’S MESSAGE, arr. Ward)
- 5.100 · Advent and Christmas Hymns (available in your folders Saturday)
- 5.015 · O Tidings (GOD REST YE MERRY/Ward)
Christmas Week
Barring anything urgent, I plan to be out of the office (and likely asleep) from Tuesday through Friday.
NO REHEARSAL DECEMBER 21–28
We'll resume our rehearsals on January 4.
THIS WEEK IN LITURGY
ADVENT 2024
RITUAL AND SERVICE MUSIC
Gospel Acclamation: JS 261 · Christmas Season Gospel Acclamation, Barbara Bridge
Prayer of the Faithful: JS 268 · O God, Hear Us, Bob Hurd
Eucharistic Acclamations: JS 248–253 · Mass of Glory, Ken Canedo and Bob Hurd
DECEMBER 24 · Fourth Sunday of Advent · Masses Saturday 5 pm, Sunday 10 am
Gathering: BB 57 · JS 284 · Christ, Circle Round Us (Schutte)
Responsorial Psalm: · JS 66 · Ps 89: Forever I Will Sing (Modlin)
Preparation of the Gifts: BB 52 · 4.014 · The Angel Gabriel (GABRIEL’S MESSAGE, arr. Ward)
Communion: BB 347 · JS 789 · Lamb of God/Taste and See (Kendzia)
Sending Forth: BB 39 · ACH 11/JS 274 · O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (VENI VENI EMMANUEL)
CHRISTMAS SEASON 2024
RITUAL AND SERVICE MUSIC
Glory to God: 1.001 · Mass of Creation, Marty Haugen
Gospel Acclamation: JS 261 · Christmas Season Gospel Acclamation, Barbara Bridge
Prayer of the Faithful: JS 268 · O God, Hear Us, Bob Hurd
Eucharistic Acclamations: JS 248–253 · Mass of Glory, Ken Canedo and Bob Hurd
DECEMBER 24/25 · CHRISTMAS: THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD
Christmas Vigil: Sunday, 4:30 pm and 7:00 pm
Christmas Night: Sunday, 10:00 pm
Christmas Day: Monday, 11:00 am
Music selections are for all Masses unless otherwise indicated.
Prelude: instrumentals, as time permits
Gathering: ACH 10 · O Come, All Ye Faithful (ADESTE FIDELES)
Responsorial Psalm: JS 75 · Ps 96: Today Is Born Our Savior/Alleluia (Inwood)
Preparation of the Gifts:
Christmas Night: ACH 7 · It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (CAROL)
All other Masses: ACH 2 · Angels We Have Heard on High (GLORIA)
Communion: 5.015 · O Tidings (GOD REST YE MERRY/Ward)
Postcommunion (Vigil/Night only): ACH 15 · SIlent Night (STILLE NACHT)
Sending Forth: ACH 8 · Joy to the World (ANTIOCH)
LOOKING AHEAD
DECEMBER 31 · The Holy Family
Gathering: BB 84 · ACH 2 · Angels We Have Heard on High (GLORIA)
Responsorial Psalm: TEMP · Psalm 105: The Lord Remembers (Ward)
Preparation of the Gifts: BB 86 · ACH 13 · Of the Father’s Love Begotten (DIVINUM MYSTERIUM)
Communion: BB 308 · JS 777 · Here At This Table (Whitaker)
Sending Forth: BB 83 · ACH 4 · Good Christian Friends, Rejoice (IN DULCE JUBILO)
NOTE: Because January 1 is on a Monday, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God is not a Holy Day of Obligation this year. Therefore, we will not celebrate Mass that day, and the church campus will be closed.
JANUARY 7· The Epiphany of the Lord
Gathering: BB 111 · ACH 1 · Angels, from the Realms of Glory (REGENT SQUARE)
Responsorial Psalm: BB 789 · JS 59 · Ps 72: Justice Shall Flourish/Lord, Every Nation (Cooney)
Preparation of the Gifts: BB 95 · 5.022 · Child of the Poor/What Child Is This (Soper)
Communion: BB 112 · ACH 17 · The First Nowell (English carol)
Postcommunion: [Choral] · 3.074 · Blest Be the Star (Willcock)
Sending Forth: BB 102 · ACH 18 · Hark! the Herald Angels Sing (Mendelssohn)
RESOURCES
MUSIC SELECTIONS: Advent and Christmas (December 3, 2023–January 7, 2024)
MUSIC SELECTIONS: Ordinary Time I (Winter: January 14–February 11, 2024)