Musical Notes | February 10

For the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, the readings contemplate the Lord’s call to discipleship and its transformative power. Isaiah is purified and sent on a mission by the Lord, Simon responds to Jesus’s call, and St. Paul shares his transformation from being a persecutor of the early Church to a preacher of Christ’s death and resurrection. The message in the liturgy is echoed in today’s music, drawing from three sections within the hymnal: (1) discipleship,
(2) grace and mercy, and (3) praise.

The service opens with hymn #797 “You Walk Along Our Shoreline,” drawing us into a relationship with Jesus. The Ordinary parts of the Mass can be found in the Misa Santa Fe (copies available on the bookcase in the rear of the church and on the two music stands at the front), starting with the Glory to God. We praise the Lord in today’s Psalm “In the Presence of Angels” (#91, refrain 2), and reflect on the role of God’s grace in healing us by singing the Preparation hymn “Amazing Grace” (#645). In the Communion hymn “Lord, When You Came to the Seashore” (#781), we respond to the Lord’s call to us with loving hearts and willing feet. To close today’s service, let’s sing out God’s praises with #615 “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name” (verses 1, 2, and 4).

The choir rehearses every Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., and new members are always welcome. In addition, Ron Fabry, OLM Music Director, generally keeps office hours (lower level at the base of the stairs) on Tuesday afternoons. He can be reached at refjr1960@gmail.com.