Dear Partners in Ministry,
Happy Saint Francis Day! October is upon us, and we're just 60 days out from Advent. So:
Advent Music: Set! Christmas: Getting There
Music selections for Advent are ready to go and linked at the bottom of this post. Christmas Day is mostly done, and I still need to finish up the Christmas Season, but you're all set until then.
Some highlights for the seasons:
- Gathering Song: We'll begin each Sunday of Advent with Dan Schutte's Christ, Circle Round Us (JS 284). This lovely meditation combines Dan's take on the "O" Antiphons and a melody composed from the chant, Salve, Regina. Each Sunday, we'll sing two verses that resonate with the readings of the day.
- Gospel Acclamation: Our Christmas liturgies will feature the jubilant Christmas Season Gospel Acclamation (JS 261) of Barbara Bridge. We'll cheat a little and introduce this refrain in unison this Advent (saving the SATB harmony for Christmas), with chanted verses to come next month.
- Mass of Glory: This gospel-inspired and joyful setting will provide our Eucharistic Acclamations for both seasons. As with the Gospel Acclamation (see above), we'll hold harmonies until Christmas Eve.
- Holy (JS 248)
- We Proclaim Your Death (JS 249)
- Amen (JS 252), substituting "Amen" for the "Alleluia" as required
- Lamb of God (JS 253)
- December 24: Since Christmas Eve and the Fourth Sunday of Advent fall on the same day, we'll shrink our morning Mass schedule a bit by combining both Masses at 10:00 am. After that, Christmas is a go!
- January 1: This year kicks off on a Monday, which means that the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God is not a Holy Day of Obligation this season. With that in mind, we'll take the holiday off and close the parish campus that day.
REHEARSAL AGENDA: OCTOBER 5
Pick up:
- 6.008 · Bless the Lord (NETTLETON/Ward/St. Noel) if you don't have it already
- Song sheets, October 15-22
Rehearsal Agenda:
- 7:00 pm · WEEKEND REP
- JS 60 · Ps 80: The Vineyard of the Lord/ Lord, Make Us Turn to You (Keil)
- JS 528 · Save Us, O Lord (Dufford)
- 6.008 · Bless the Lord (NETTLETON/Ward/St. Noel)
- 1.004 · Mass of Encounter (Ward): prep Glory to God; harmony: Holy, Amen
- 8:05 pm · GAUDETE REP
- Blest Be the Star: review SATB
- Jubilate Deo: NRW (Notes/Rhythms/Words), m. 39-60
- O Magnum Mysterium: review all (really nice work on this last week!)
- The Angel Gabriel: review verses 1–3
THIS WEEK IN LITURGY
RITUAL AND SERVICE MUSIC · ORDINARY TIME (FALL)
1.004 · Mass of Encounter. We'll transition from the summer acclamations one by one from September 3 to October 15.
Hear melody demos now at stnoel.org/massofencounter.
- Sep 3: Holy
- Sep 10: Save Us, Savior (Mystery of Faith)
- Sep 17: Amen I
- Sep 24: Lamb of God
- Oct 1: Gospel Acclamation
- Oct 8/15: Glory to God
LOOKING AHEAD
OCTOBER 8 · Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gathering: BB 304 · JS 771 · Our God Is Here (Muglia)
Responsorial Psalm: BB 790 · JS 60 · Ps 80: The Vineyard of the Lord/ Lord, Make Us Turn to You (Keil)
Preparation of the Gifts: BB 667 · JS 528 · Save Us, O Lord (Dufford)
Communion: BB 341 · JS 793 · One Bread, One Body (Foley)
Sending Forth: BB 558 · JS 574 · Glory and Praise to Our God (Schutte)
OCTOBER 15 · Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gathering: BB 309 · JS 768 · Gather Your People (Hurd)
Responsorial Psalm: WA · 2.017 · Psalm 23: Complete Setting (Ward)
Preparation of the Gifts: BB 614 · JS 609 · For the Beauty of the Earth (Kocher/Dix)
Communion: BB 347 · JS 789 · Lamb of God/Taste and See (Kendzia)
Sending Forth: WA · 3.069 · In the Lord I'll Be Ever Thankful (Taizé)
OCTOBER 22 · Parish Feast Day: North American Martyrs
Gathering: BB 419 · JS 639 · Earthen Vessels (Foley)
Responsorial Psalm: BB 776 · JS 43 · Ps 40: Here I Am/God, My God, Come to My Aid (Cooney)
Preparation of the Gifts: WA · 6.008 · Bless the Lord (NETTLETON/Ward/St. Noel)
Communion: BB 328 · JS 776 · Ubi Caritas (Hurd)
Sending Forth: WA · 3.071 · Sent Forth as Light (Ward)
RESOURCES
MUSIC SELECTIONS: Ordinary Time III (Fall: September 3–November 26, 2023)
MUSIC SELECTIONS: Advent and Christmas (December 3, 2023–January 7, 2024) in progress