Mass in Remembrance of the Victims of the Manchester Arena Bombing

Tuesday of the 6th week of Eastertide, 23 May 2017

 
Entrance All my hope on God is founded
Kyrie Missal chant
Psalm Ps 90(91): Be with me, O Lord (Peter Smedley)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts We shall walk through the valley (trad. arr. Moses Hogan)
Sanctus, Acclamation B, Amen Missal chant
Agnus Dei Missal chant
Communion Come to Me (Martin Barry & Diane Murden)
Postcommunion In Paradisum (Gabriel Fauré, 1845-1924)
Recessional Thine be the glory
 

We remembered the dead and their loved ones in a moving celebration with Bishop John and a large number of concelebrating priests. Among the people of Manchester and beyond, the shock and devastation of last night’s cowardly and barbarian attack has been tempered by a tangible sense of proud defiance. We gave voice to that in our final hymn: not Abide with me, but

Thine be the Glory, risen, conquering Son.
Endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won
.

6th Sunday of Easter (Year A, 2017)

Sunday, 21 May 2017

Today – a little earlier in the year than usual – was the celebration of First Holy Communion for children of the parish, with music provided by the choir of St Peter & St John’s Primary School.

5th Sunday of Easter (Year A, 2017)

Sunday, 14 May 2017

 
Entrance Christ is made the sure foundation
Kyrie (Peter Jones)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm May your love be upon us (Daniel Bath)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Gospel Acclamation (Brian Luckner)
Preparation of the Gifts Regina Caeli (Samuel Webbe, 1740-1816)
Sanctus, Acclamation B, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei (Peter Jones)
Communion I am the vine (John Bell) & Ps 80 (Laurence Bévenot)
Postcommunion Exsultate Justi (Lodovico da Viadana, 1560-1627)
Recessional Out of darkness (Christopher Walker)
 

4th Sunday of Easter (Year A, 2017)

Sunday, 7 May 2017

 
Entrance The living God my shepherd is
Kyrie (Peter Jones)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 22 (Murray/Gélineau)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Gospel Acclamation (Brian Luckner)
Preparation of the Gifts Flocks in Pastures Green (J.S. Bach, 1685-1750)
Sanctus, Acclamation B, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei (Peter Jones)
Communion You are the shepherd (Psallite)
Postcommunion Surrexit Pastor Bonus (Michael Haller, 1840-1915)
Recessional Praise we our God with joy
 

The readings and propers for today, Good Shepherd Sunday, invite plenty of musical selections relating to the shepherd and his sheep, so we went the whole, er, hog.

3rd Sunday of Easter (Year A, 2017)

Sunday, 30 April 2017

 
Entrance The day of resurrection
Kyrie (Peter Jones)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Centre of my life (Paul Inwood)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Gospel Acclamation (Brian Luckner)
Preparation of the Gifts Awake, thou wintry earth (J.S. Bach, 1685-1750)
Sanctus, Acclamation B, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei (Peter Jones)
Communion Come and eat this bread (Marty Haugen)
Postcommunion Mane nobiscum Domine (William Byrd, c.1540-1623)
Recessional Stay with us, Lord (mcb)
 

Today’s Gospel account of the encounter on the road to Emmaus prompted the choice of two contrasting settings of the text Stay with us, Lord.

Our Mass setting for the Easter season comprises three items from the Decani Music collection Glory to God. Peter Jones’s setting of the Kyrie and Agnus Dei are in disparate keys (C minor and B minor respectively), but transposing the Kyrie down a semitone makes them both good companions for the D major of my own Spring Sanctus. The Gospel Acclamation is Brian Luckner’s fiery setting of the 15th century French melody O Filii et Filiae. It makes for a rousing and dramatic congregational refrain, though the setting of the verses, it has to be said, is less successful.