February 12th, 2016
Lent is here! We’ll be focusing on the theme of Confession during the season, and here are some songs to help us along!
Gathering Song
A Kyrie Eleison, which means, “Lord, Have Mercy.” You may choose either this one, written by our own Rebecca Stevens-Walter:
Stevens-Walter Kyrie
Or this one, 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!
“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
Your Choice!
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.
November 6th, 2015
This is a place for our Song Leaders, as well as congregants, to learn the songs we sing at St. Lydia’s.
Here’s all the music you’ll need for the Advent Season at St. Lydia’s this year. Advent is usually a four week season that leads into Christmas, but we’re reclaiming an earlier tradition of a seven week Advent. This will give us a little more time to settle into the themes of beginning and ending, expectation, hope and waiting.
Gathering Song
Come O Lord And Set Us Free, from the Iona Community in Scotland
or
Come Now, O Prince of Peace, with text and music by Geonyong Lee. Sheet music is here! Please note that if the silver setting is too low for you, you can sing this one on blue as well.
Candle Lighting Song
Each week of Advent, we’ll chant, call and response, a verse of O Come O Come Emmanuel. We’ll start by singing the verse call and response, then sing it again overlapping. Each time the refrain comes around, bring in the whole congregation together, without call and response!
Table Acclamation
The brand new Shelton Table Acclamation, written by our own Meave Shelton!
Prayer Song
Song Leader’s choice. A selection of songs may be found here.
Offering Song (After Clean Up)
Laudate Dominum (or, “Sing Praise and Bless the Lord,), from the Taize Community in France. Sheet music may be found here.
Final Hymn
In November we’ll sing Prepare the Way O Zion (sheet music here), and in December we’ll sing St. Lydia’s favorite, People Look East.
November 5th, 2015
The marvelous Meave Shelton, congregant at St. Lydia’s, has written us a gorgeous, simple-yet-complex Table Acclamation for our use in the season of Advent.
Click here to hear her teach it!
October 29th, 2015
We sing this lovely hymn on All Saints Sunday.
Here is the sheet music!
And here is a sweet congregation singing the tune!
September 10th, 2015
Squeezebox is a place for our Song Leaders, as well as congregants, to learn the songs we sing at St. Lydia’s.
This Fall we’ll be talking about sexuality, gender, identity, and faith, and we’ll be singing songs to support and expand that conversation. More to come, but here’s enough to get you started!
Gathering Song
“Christ is Our Mirror,” Mark Howe
This is a new one, a little tricky. In Paul’s example above, he is teaching the soprano and bass line found in this sheet music. Notice how the tune is in three (count, 1-2-3 1-2-3) but the soprano line has two duplets, which means that they feel those notes in two.
The words, in case you can’t quite catch them in the video, are “Christ is our mirror, open your eyes and gaze. See your face in Christ.”
Candle Lighting Song
“Lead Me, Guide Me,” Doris Akers
or
“Christ is Our Guiding Light,” Eric Law
Acclamation
The Vasile Advent Table Acclamation. This one is all kinds of bluesy, and Paul wrote it just for us!
Prayer Song
Song Leader’s choice, options are here
Offering Song
We’ll keep singing, “Know That God Is Good.” There’s a new song on the way from Paul!
Final Hymn
September: I Come With Joy, music here!
October: For the Fruit of All Creation, to come!
June 23rd, 2015
Last week, a white shooter killed nine members of Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, in a hate-based, racially motivated crime. Here are four ways you can respond with action this week. St. Lydia’s will be engaged in following and supporting the work of Faith In New York as actions are developed, and as we continue to work for racial justice over the long term.
1. Spend time in intentional in prayer this week, praying for each victim by name and their family.
2.Read one, two, or three pieces from the #CharlestonSyllabus created by the African American Intellectual History Society. There is a lot of material, so if you’re looking for a place to start, you might begin with Nell Irvin Painter’s “What Is Whiteness,” Kidada E. Williams’ “Centuries of Violence,” Edward E. Baptist’s “The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the making of American Capitalism,” George Lipsitz’s, “The Possessive Investment in Whiteness : how white people profit from identity politics.”
3. Abstain from a luxury this month (and maybe next month too!) like coffee, movies, or drinks, then give the money you save to an organization dedicated to racial justice. We recommend the NAACP (a national organization) or Families United for Racial and Economic Equality (a local organization.
4. Attend the Leadership Assembly planned by Faith in New York on the evening of Thursday, July 23, where PICO organizers will train congregants to build strong congregational teams that work for racial and economic justice.
June 8th, 2015
Planet Earth Happy Hour
Wednesday, June 17
6:30-8:30
St. Lydia’s — 304 Bond Street, Brooklyn
Climate change is a big problem, but tackling any problem is more fun and less daunting in community. Stop by for a drink, meet other people who care about climate change, and learn about things you can do through action and advocacy.
For more information, email stlydias@stydias.org
May 27th, 2015
Hello Song Leaders!
Below you will find all the songs we’ll be singing this summer at St. Lydia’s. Since the Summer takes us through three whole months, there are a selection of songs for you to choose from in most categories. Listen, and see what you’d like to learn and teach!
Gathering Song
“Come, Holy Spirit”
or
“Sing God’s Praises Glory Hallelu”
or
“Jesus We Are Gathered”
Candle Lighting Song
“Evening Lamps Are Lit”
or
“Come Light of Lights”
Table Acclamation
“Summer Table Acclamation”
Prayer Song
Click here to choose a Prayer Song
Offering Song
“Know That God is Good,” sheet music
Closing Hymn
June: Come Down O Love Divine
July: O Praise to Thee My God This Night
August: Day Is Done
May 27th, 2015
Here is a very basic teaching recording of a song we’ll be singing as the Gathering Song during the season of Pentecost (so, basically, the summer!)
It’s a lovely call and response piece from the Iona Community in Scotland.
Listen to Come Holy Spirit
Take a look at the sheet music
April 21st, 2015
St. Lydia’s is only around because of you. Your voice, leadership, and contributions make it what it is. This Spring, we’re making it easy to help keep the wheels turning at 304 Bond street, through micro tasks!
Here’s how it works:
1. Find this green box:
Take a card, write your name, and record the contributions you’d like to make to St. Lydia’s. There’s a place for the amount of time and the amount of money you’d like to give. On the back, you can write how you’re feeling called to serve this year.
2. When you’re ready to give time to St. Lydia’s, pick up a micro task card from the silver micro task box!
The card gives the task, detailed instructions, and a time estimate. When you’re done with your micro task, record the time on your contribution card, and place the micro task card in the “DONE” section of the silver micro task box.
So easy!
