Sunday, March 23, 2008

Alleluia, He is risen



Finally we have arrived in the liturgical and the spiritual sense. Renewed with the joy of the resurrection we celebrated on Easter Sunday in a Church so gloriously filled that people were on the altar, in the aisles, the sacristy and the confessional. What an act of witness to the risen Lord !

Our Holy week celebrations began on Holy Thursday with the Mass of The Lord's Supper - to choirboy's mind one of the most beautiful and poignant celebrations in the liturgical calender. In a stark contrast to Easter Sunday, the Church was 3/4 full but we enjoyed the liturgy as we marked the beginning of the most important 3 days in our liturgical year. It marked the use of 'Knocking on Heaven's Door' (modified by choirboy and augmented vocally by Jimmy and Paul to great effect) as part of our continuous musical motif over the Easter period. We sang it during the washing of the feet on Holy Thursday, the veneration of the cross on Good Friday and communion on Easter Sunday. 'Will I see You again' is a choirboy composition based on what he imagines St Peter is thinking having denied Christ - it featured some great guitar work by Paul.

Holy Thursday March 20th 2008

Entry - Song of the body of Christ

Gloria - Glory, glory, glory to God

Gospel Accl - Plymouth Alleluia

Washing of feet – Knocking on Heaven’s door

Offertory – This is my body

Mem Accl - Lord by Your cross and resurrection

Holy Holy – Gathering Mass

Amen – A-men, we lift our hearts


Communion – Let all mortal flesh

Will I see You again (song of St Peter)

Transfer of Eucharist – God to enfold you/Tantum Ergo

In a simple Good Friday liturgy, we invoked Our Lord to answer our pleadings using a simple muscial construction that was also used during the Vigil.

Good Friday

After each prayer the cantor intones: -

C Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer
R Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer
C Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer
R Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer
All Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer

Veneration of the Cross

Knocking on Heaven’s door
When I survey the wondrous cross

Communion: - Soul of my Saviour/Sweet Sacrament Divine

Our Vigil started in the Church Hall and the ceremony went smoothly inspite of events trying to conspire otherwise (a dodgy paschal candle being the chief culprit)

Gloria – Misa de Angelis 467 L498

Alleluia – Plymouth Alleluia

Rite of Blessing of Water
Baptised in water


Sanctus – Gathering Mass

Memorial Acclamation - Lord by Your cross and resurrection

Amen – Amen – A-men, we lift our hearts

Agnus Dei – Burntwood Mass

Communion - Alleluia sing to Jesus
There is a longing in our hearts

Recessional – Jesus Christ is risen today

And so to Easter Sunday and an uplifting and joyous celebration of the resurrection. The Church literally rocked through the Creed and once again we sang 'Knocking on Heaven's Door' as the drudgery of 'Battle is O'er' was soon forgotten. In a reflective piece redolant of perhaps a different worship environment, we sang the moving 'More Love, More Power' with great lead guitar from Paul and synthesiser from Choirboy's only (and much loved) daughter, Caitlin - fantastic !

Entry Jesus Christ is risen today 322 L267

Gloria Glory, glory , glory to God 406 L532

Alleluia Plymouth Alleluia

Credo/I believe

Offertory This is my body 730 L627

Holy Holy Newquay Mass (i)

Mem Accl Lord by Your cross

Amen Amen – We lift our hearts and voices

Lamb of God Newquay mass (i)

Communion Battle is o’er

MORE LOVE, MORE POWER

Recessional Alleluia #1

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