Music for the First Week of Lent Year B 17th/18th February 2024.

These early Easters certainly let Lent sneak up on you.

Ash Wednesday is his week. One thing I’ve noticed in this small town I live in, is that many events assume that you either retired and can attend at any time, or you are working and too busy to be bothered. I can’t get to any Ash Wednesday service locally, as there is one at 9am, including the school, and one half an hours drive away at 5.30pm. In the suburbs there was usually a 6.30am Ashes for the workers. I only work three days a week but it includes Wednesdays and let’s just say there is a shortage of GPs in rural Tasmania so on the days I work I am there before 8am and rarely way before 6pm, so neither service locally is feasible. I should be grateful there is a Catholic church here at all, but there is a little irony if my Lenten penance is to not attend Ash Wednesday services.

It also means I hadn’t thought much about music for Lent. It will be low key and have lots of repetition over the weeks leading up to Easter.

For Gifts over Lent we will do “Oh God, Why are You Silent.” We will do Mason’s “With the Lord There is Mercy” as a seasonal psalm. I will insert Alonso’s “Merciful God” in its various guises and use “Glory in the Cross” as well.

Entrance: Merciful God – Entrance (Alonso)

Psalm 129 (Mason)

With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.

Gifts: Oh God, Why Are You Silent (Haugen)

Communion: Tree of Life (Thompson) AOV NG138

Recessional: Lord, the Light of Your Love (Kendrick) AOV 2/59