August 29th, 2017
This gentle piece by John Bell of the Iona community in Scotland is a new addition to our prayer song collection. It could also be used as a candle-lighting song (processional).
Feel the pulse of the song, and then notice how the first note of the melody starts just after the first beat – in between pulses – softening the beginning and giving an inviting quality to the start of the song.
Recording here
Don’t be afraid
My love is stronger
My love is stronger than your fear
Don’t be afriad
My love is stronger
And I have promised, promised to be always near
August 29th, 2017
Sheet Music
Audio
May 24th, 2017
Hello songleaders and hello everyone! Here is the music we’ll be singing from Pentecost (June 4) through to the fall. We’ll switch some songs up from time to time, so check the date spans on the list below to make sure you learn the relevant music for the service you’re leading. Click the linked song titles to hear the recording.
Good to remember: no matter the date or season, these are the songs you will need for the service: 1) Gathering Song, 2) Candle Lighting Song, 3) Table Acclamation, 4) Prayer Song, 5) Offering Song, 6) Final Hymn.
1) Gathering Song
June 4 – June 19
Come Holy Spirit
June 25 – Sept 4
Come All You People
-or-
Sing God’s Praises Glory Hallelu
-or-
Jesus, We Are Gathered
2) Candle Lighting Song
June 4 – July 17
Come Light of Lights
July 23 – Sept 4
Christ is Our Guiding Light
3) Table Acclamation
Summer Table Acclamation
4) Prayer Song
Song Leader’s Choice
5) Offering Song
June 4 – July 17
Caribbean Alleluia
July 23 – Sept 4
Know That God Is Good (sheet music)
6) Final Hymn
June 4 – 19
Come Down O Love Divine
June 25 – July 17
Spirit I Have Heard You Calling
July 23 – Aug 14
Day is Done
Aug 20 – Sept 4
All Who Hunger Gather Gladly (sheet music)
April 22nd, 2017
This is a place for our Song Leaders, as well as congregants, to learn the songs we sing at St. Lydia’s.
Song Leaders and singers, here’s the place to find and practice ALL the music we’ll be singing during the season of Easter in 2017! Bookmark this page so that you can check in often to listen to the pieces and practice.
Gathering Song: “Kiev Alleluia”
Candle Lighting Song: “The Lord is My Light,” Lillian Bouknight
Eucharistic Prayer Setting: “Festive Table Acclamation,” Paul Vasile
Prayer Song: Song Leader’s Choice. A selection of songs may be found here.
Gathering Song at the Offering: “Mxadana Alleluia”
Closing Hymn: “Now the Green Blade Rises,” French Carol or “Jesus Christ is Risen Today”
March 3rd, 2017
It is Lent! The time when we wander in the wilderness together, and find still quiet spaces to listen for the voice of God. Everything gets a little more spare, our music included.
Gathering Song
A Kyrie Eleison, which means, “Lord, Have Mercy.” This Kyrie is from the Iona Community in Scotland.
John Bell Kyrie
Procession to the Table Song
This juicy tune, “Here is Bread for the Hungry Soul,” which reminds us we are forgiven and also that we’re going to eat soon! The harmonies are recorded for you, but folks will mostly improvise off the melody!
Note: I usually flip the words to, “here is bread for the hungry heart, here is wine for the thirsty soul, because I think the alliteration sounds better and makes the song easier to remember!
“Here is Bread for the Hungry Soul,” words: Mary Kay Beall; music: John Carter
Sheet Music
Table Acclamation
We’ll use the very simple Lent Table Acclamation
Prayer Song
What We Need Is Here, written by the students of the Episcopal Student Group at MIT. A lovely setting of the first line of the poem by Wendall Berry.
Offering Song
Love and Faithfulness Shall Lead
Closing Hymn
What Wondrous Love is This
*Please note, the harmonies on this recording are not the harmonies from our current sheet music.
January 5th, 2017
Learn the music we’ll be singing in the season of Epiphany, which takes us from just after Christmas to the beginning of Lent on March 1 and is a season about God’s light found in all the ordinary places.
Gathering Song
-or-
Candle Lighting Song
-or-
feel free to lead just the first part of this song, or you can add the second part (“O God give me light” for more challenge)
Table Acclamation
Prayer Song
Final Hymn
Be Thou My Vision, recording here (just wait for the part when the drums come in guys!!), or
here (violin and harp by girls with braids in a field!!) sheet music
here (scroll down)
-or-
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise,
recording here (hey there big organ!) sheet music
here (scroll down!)
January 5th, 2017
This beautiful tune from India may be sung in both Hindi and English.
You can listen to a simple recording by John Bell and Alison Adam. This version is quite slow, and has a higher part in the middle that we will not sing at St. Lydia’s.
Sheet music of the tune with the text may be found here.
Text you can use:
Jyothi Dho, jyothi dho, jyothi dho prabhu. (Be sure to tell people that these words are Hindi and mean “give us light.”
Give us light, give us light, give us light O Lord.
Give us peace, give us peace, give us peace O Lord.
Save us now, save us now, save us now O Lord.
Give us life, give us life, give us life O Lord.
September 30th, 2016
Dear Song Leaders,
Saint Lydia’s celebrates a lengthened Advent season that begins on Sunday, November 6. Here is the music we’ll be singing during that time.
Gathering hymn: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
Lamp Lighting hymn: “Creator of the Stars of Night”
Table Acclamation: “Vasile Advent Table Acclamation”
Prayer Songs: (The usual choices)
Post-Cleanup Gathering song: “Amen Siakudumisa/Amen, We Praise Your Name, O God”
Final Hymn:
“Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” (November 6-21)
“For the Beauty of the Earth” (November 27-28)
“In the Bleak Midwinter” (December 4 – 19)
As always, listening and practicing at home is a great way to feel more at home with the material. Even if you are not currently scheduled to lead song during Advent, familiarizing yourself with the material helps you prepare for the moment when someone has to cancel at the last minute and you volunteer to step in. And, of course, even when you are not song leading, being able to sing these confidently will help the congregation find its way. You’ll get an appreciative smile from the song leader.
Enjoy these. Enjoy Advent. And thank you for taking up this wonderful piece of hospitality — song leading.
September 30th, 2016
Most excellent Song Leaders,
Here’s a gentle final hymn for Advent, “In the Bleak Midwinter.”
The sheet music is here: In-the-bleak-midwinter.
And here’s a lovely online recording that gives you the sense of tempo and mood.
If it’s within your power to make it snow outside as we sing, by all means, do. 🙂
September 30th, 2016
Hello, Song Leaders!
Here’s a lovely hymn of thanks and praise, “For the Beauty of the Earth.”
Here’s the sheet music. For the Beauty of the Earth
And here’s a video of it performed by organ and choir.
Remember that it helps those who are less familiar with the hymn to sing the first verse on melody only before breaking into parts.
Enjoy this beautiful hymn, and thanks for your leadership!
