Songs & Updates for Saturday, December 2, 2023 [updated]

1st Sunday of Advent
Image Credit: https://www.rapidcitydiocese.org/

Thanks for a nice small-group Mass last week! The dynamic changes on The King of Glory worked well & Anthem is coming along nicely. It was fun pulling out He is Exalted again too. Here's the audio.

A reminder that we have Christmas rehearsal this Saturday @ 3 PM. I believe everyone's available, so we'll look at both preludes & regular Mass music (especially parts!). Since we only have 2-3 rehearsals left, I'd like to see where we stand and go from there. Stay tuned for a separate email on logistics.

Welcome to Advent & Liturgical Year B! We have a lot going on this week, so please review the music & parts before Saturday. If we could be ready to start right at 4:00, that would be great!

Note a couple of tweaks to the December music plan -- a Penitential Rite has been added and the Wreath Blessing song removed (not needed after all). There may also be some small tweaks to the Christmas program (for example, adding a Communion Meditation; stay tuned!).

We switch to Mass of Joy & Peace this week. There's no Gloria during Advent. We'll also continue using the same Alleluia (just a different verse). The Penitential Rite may need a cantor for the presider parts, but we're confirming. We'll review Mass Parts on Saturday.

UPDATE: 11/30: Fr. Jozef confirmed that a cantor will sing the Penitential Rite.

For Prepare! Prepare!, let's use the same arrangement as past years (check out the recording for how this flows). I'm happy to cantor the verses, but if anyone would like to give these a try, go for it!

We'll sing Wait for the Lord for the Candle Lighting, which will immediately following the Gathering song and Wreath Blessing. In the past, we've only done the refrain; depending on how much time is needed, we may try adding the verses this time, which are sung on top of the refrain.

Please be careful of tempo on My Soul in Stillness Waits. It's easy to take this too fast (the recording below is about right). We may also want to have someone stay behind to start the singing (or go up to receive one at a time like last week).

Looking ahead, I'll be out next Saturday, 12/09, for the SCCS Christmas concert. Bev will be in charge. Paul will also be joining on guitar in Frank's absence.

UPDATE: 12/01: Music just went out for the Christmas Pageant on 12/16 @ 3 PM.

UPDATE: 12/01: If you're able, I could use a hand with putting the Mass of Joy & Peace cards in the seats. We can take care of this during rehearsal time.

Finally, here are some possible dates for a Christmas 'dress rehearsal'. I'm pretty flexible, so please let me know this week what works best (we can also pick a 'snow date' just in case :-).

Thursday, Dec. 21st - evening
Friday, Dec. 22nd - morning or early/mid-afternoon
Saturday, Dec. 23rd - morning

I think that's it. Stay warm and have a great week!

(All Mass Parts, except the Gospel Acclamation, are from Mass of Joy & Peace, including Penitential Rite, Holy, Eucharistic Acclamation 'A' (We Proclaim Your Death), Doxology & Lamb of God)

Out: Ginny

Entrance:

GC3 #398 - Prepare! Prepare! (Pishner)