Throughout the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic, members of the Saint Michael’s Choir have kept the music going! Singers record tracks individually (and asynchronously) at home using guide tracks prepared by Dr. Jason Anderson, Associate for Liturgical Arts. At no point in time are these singers in the same room at the same time. Tracks are edited together by Dr. Anderson. Archival audio recordings are extracted from online worship services streamed live via Zoom and Facebook Live. Any words or music under copyright are included with permission under ONE LICENSE No. A-706794.
2022-2023 Program Year
2020-2021 Program Year
In the departure of the Lord — John Bull
Text and copyright attribution forthcoming.
A Lenten Meditation — Douglas Wagner
Jesus, in thy dying woes, even while thy lifeblood flows, craving pardon for thy foes: hear us, holy Jesus.
May our hearts to thee incline, looking from our cross to thine; cheer our souls with hope divine: hear us, holy Jesus.
When we seem in vain to pray, and our hope seems far away, in the darkness be our stay: hear us, holy Jesus.
May we thirst thy love to know; lead us in our sin and woe where the healing waters flow: hear us, holy Jesus.
Brighten all our heavenward way with an ever holier ray ’til we pass to perfect day: hear us, holy Jesus.
May thy life and death supply grace to live and grace to die, grace to reach our home on high: hear us, holy Jesus.
—Thomas Pollock
Music © 1978, 1980 Harold Flammer Inc., a division of Shawnee Press.
Lord, for thy tender mercy’s sake — Richard Farrant
Lord, for thy tender mercy’s sake, lay not our sins to our charge,
but forgive that is past, and give us grace to amend our sinful lives:
to decline from sin and incline to virtue,
that we may walk in a perfect heart before thee, now and evermore. Amen.
—John Ledley, from Godly meditations, c. 1546
Public Domain.
I believe this is Jesus — arr. Victor Johnson
I believe this is Jesus; come and see! The light of God shines in his face; come and see! he offers all his pardoning grace; come and see! Did you ever see such love before? Come and see! Saying, “Go in peace and sin no more.” Come and see!
—African-American Spiritual
Arr. © 2012 Lorenz Publishing Co. Inc.
There is a balm in Gilead — arr. Robert Lau
There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole, there is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.
Sometimes I feel discouraged and think my work’s in vain, but then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again.
If you cannot preach like Peter, if you cannot pray like Paul, you can tell the love of Jesus, and say, “He died for all.”
—African-American Spiritual
Arr. © 2002 Hinshaw Music, Inc.
The angel Gabriel — arr. Malcolm Archer
The Angel Gabriel from heaven came, his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame; ‘All hail!’ said he, ‘thou lowly maiden Mary, most highly favored lady.’ Gloria!
‘For known a blessed Mother thou shalt be, all generations laud and honor thee, Thy son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold; most highly favored lady.’ Gloria!
Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head, ‘To me be as it pleaseth God,’ she said, ‘my soul shall laud and magnify his holy Name.’ Most highly favored lady, Gloria!
Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born in Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn, and Christian folk throughout the world will ever say—‘Most highly favored lady,’ Gloria!
—Basque carol, para. Sabine Baring-Gould
Music © 2000 Oxford University Press.
My Lord, what a morning — arr. Howard Helvey
My Lord, what a morning when the stars begin to fall. I’m done with all my worldly ways, joined that heavenly band.
My Lord, what a morning when the stars begin to fall.
Music © 1995 Beckenhorst Press.
All things bright and beautiful — John Rutter
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings,
he made their glowing colors, he made their tiny wings.
The purple-headed mountain, the river running by,
the sunset, and the morning that brightens up the sky.
The cold wind in the winter, the pleasant summer sun,
the ripe fruits in the garden, he made them, every one.
He gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tell
how great is God Almighty, who has made all things well.
—Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895)
Music © Hinshaw Music Inc.
Blessed is the man — Jane Manton Marshall
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water. —Psalm 1:1-3a
Music © 1960 Hinshaw Music, Inc.
Jesu, joy of man’s desiring — J. S. Bach
Jesu, joy of man’s desiring, holy Wisdom, Love most bright,
Drawn by thee, our souls aspiring, sour to uncreated light.
Word of God our flesh that fashioned with the fire of life impassioned.
Striving still to truth unknown, soaring, dying round thy throne.
—Robert Bridges (1844-1930)
A Beautiful Thing — Dent Davidson
Make your service of love a beautiful thing: Want nothing else, and be not afraid; make your service of love a beautiful thing.
And let your love be free; free to become what love truly is. Strive every moment to live without sparing. Make your service a beautiful thing.
Walk without sadness; let willfulness go. Take the sweet spirit of peace and joy with you; lay your heart open, be free form all fear: Make your service a beautiful thing.
—Hadewijch of Antwerp (13th century)
Music © 2005 Dent Davidson. Used by permission.
How shall I sing that majesty — Kenneth Naylor; arr. Alistair Warwick
How shall I sing that majesty which angels do admire? Let dust in dust and silence lie; sing, sing, ye heavenly choir. Thousands of thousands stand around thy throne, O God most high; ten thousand times ten thousand sound thy praise; but who am I?
Thy brightness unto them appears, whilst I thy footsteps trace; a sound of God comes to my ears, but they behold thy face. They sing, because thou art their Sun; Lord, send a beam on me; for where heaven is but once begun there alleluias be.
Enlighten with faith’s light my heart, inflame it with love’s fire; then shall I sing and bear a part with that celestial choir. I shall, I fear, be dark and cold, with all my fire and light; yet when thou dost accept their gold, Lord, treasure up my mite.
How great a being, Lord, is thine, which doth all beings keep! Thy knowledge is the only line to sound so vast a deep. Thou art a sea without a shore, a sun without a sphere; thy time is now and evermore, thy place is everywhere.
—John Mason (1646-1694)
Music © Oxford University Press. Used by permission. ONE LICENSE No. A-706794.
The Church is like a table — Gary James
The church is like a table, a table that is round. It has no sides or corners, no first or last, no honors; here people are in one-ness and love together bound.
The church is like a table set in an open house; no protocol for seating, a symbol of inviting, of sharing, drinking, eating; an end to them and us.
The church is like a table, a table for a feast to celebrate the healing of all excluded-feeling, (while Christ is serving, kneeling, a towel around his waist).
The church is like a table where every head is crowned. As guests of God created, all are to each related; the whole world is awaited to make the circle round.
—Fred Kaan (1929-2009)
Music © 1993 GIA Publications, Inc. • Words © 1985 Hope Publishing Co.
2019–2020 Program Year
Round the Lord in glory seated — C. H. H. Parry
Round the Lord in glory seated cherubim and seraphim filled his temple, and repeated each to each the alternate hymn: “Lord, thy glory fills the heaven, earth is with thy fulness stored; unto thee be glory given, holy, holy, holy Lord.”
Heaven is still with glory ringing, earth takes up the angels’ cry, “Holy, holy, holy,” singing, “Lord of hosts, the Lord Most High.” With his seraph train before him, with his holy Church below, thus unite we to adore him, bid we thus our anthem flow:
“Lord, thy glory fills the heaven, earth is with thy fullness stored; unto Thee be glory given, holy, holy, holy, Lord.” Thus thy glorious name confessing, with thine angel hosts we cry “Holy, holy, holy,” blessing thee, the Lord of hosts Most High.
—Richard Mant (1776-1848)
Litany to the Holy Spirit — Peter Hurford
In the hour of my distress when temptations me oppress,
And when I my sins confess, sweet Spirit, comfort me, comfort me!
When I lie within my bed, sick in heart, and sick in head,
And with doubts discomforted, sweet Spirit, comfort me, comfort me!
When the house doth sigh and weep, and the world is drowned with sleep,
Yet mine eyes the watch do keep, sweet Spirit, comfort me, comfort me!
—Robert Herrick (1591-1674)
Music © 1958 Oxford University Press. Used by permission.
I will not leave you comfortless — Everett Titcomb
I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you yet again: Alleluia! And your heart shall be joyful. Alleluia!
Music © 1934 Carl Fischer, Inc. Used by permission.
God the sculptor of the mountains — Gerre Hancock
Music © Oxford University Press. Used by permission.
He is the Way — David Hurd (b. 1950)
“He is the Way. Follow Him through the Land of Unlikeness;
You will see rare beasts, and have unique adventures.
He is the Truth. Seek Him in the Kingdom of Anxiety;
You will come to a great city that has expected your return for years.
He is the Life. Love Him in the World of the Flesh;
And at your marriage all its occasions shall dance for joy.”
Words from For the Time Being: A Christmas Oratorio by W. H. Auden (1907-1973)
Words © Faber and Faber Limited. All rights reserved. • Music © GIA Publications, Inc.