Sunday 7th February, Sung Mass at 10.45am.  Our Celebrant is Fr Roger Shambrook, and the Preacher, Bill Pattinson, our Reader.

Today we sing one of the little gems of the 20th century English Communion Settings, the Mass in F by Herbert Sumsion (1899-1995), long-time Organist of Gloucester Cathedral.  Our Motet is the luminous “O Nata Lux” by Thomas Tallis (1505-85). Music by two of our longest-lived composers.

O Light born of Light, Jesus, redeemer of the world,
with loving-kindness deign to receive suppliant praise and prayer.

Thou who once deigned to be clothed in flesh for the sake of the lost,
grant us to be members of thy blessed body.

INTROIT. Esto mihi. Ps. 31  BE thou my strong rock, and house of defence, that thou mayest save me: for thou art my
strong rock, and my castle: be thou also my guide, and lead me for thy Name’s sake. Ps.ibid. In thee, O Lord, have I put my trust, let me never be put to confusion: but rid me and deliver me in thy righteousness V. Glory be.

COLLECT.  O LORD, who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth; Send thy Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee. Grant this for thine only Son Jesus Christ’s sake. AMEN.

GRADUAL. Psalm 77. Thou art the God, that doeth wonders: and hast declared thy power among the people. V. Thou hast mightily delivered thy people: even the sons of Jacob and Joseph.

TRACT. Psalm 100. O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands: serve the Lord with gladness. V. Come before his presence with a song: be ye sure that the Lord, he is God. V. It is he that had made us and not we ourselves: we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

OFFERTORY. Psalm 119. Blessed art thou, O Lord, O teach me thy statutes: with my lips have
I been telling of all the judgements of thy mouth.

COMMUNION. Psalm 78. They did eat and were well filled, for the Lord gave them their own
desire: they were not disappointed of their lust.

Last year, Sunday 15th February 2015, Quinquagesima or 1 before Lent, the Choir and Organ had big moment before Lent with the Mass in F by Josef Rheinberger, Liechtenstein’s most famous composer whose dates are contemporaneous with the reign of Queen Victoria.

The Communion Motet was the lively, youthful a cappella Cantate Domino by Claudio Monteverdi from about 300 years earlier.