Fifth century mosaic of "Loaves and Fishes"
from the floor of an ancient church and monestary at
Tabgha, on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, near
where Jesus is said to have fed the 5,000, thus initiating
his Bread of Life discourse.
Larger image.
One way to enrich your experience of the Lord's Supper is to sing songs designed for communion. Many songs about the cross, Christ's sacrifice for sins, and communing with Jesus are appropriate. But here are specific communion songs, arbitrarily divided into newer and older songs.
Many of these, especially the older ones, have the lyrics
available online. As you meditate, read out loud some of these
wonderful poems of Eucharistic worship.
The Bread of Life for All Men Broken, words by Timothy T'ing-fang Lew (1936), translated by Walter R.O. Taylor (1943), music by Su Yin-Lan (1934, in
New Broadman Hymnal, 1977)
Come with Us, O Blessed Jesus, words by John Henry Hopkins,
Jr. (1872), music Johann Schop (1665) (in The Hymnal 1982,
The Episcopal Church)
Completed, Lord, the Holy Mysteries, words from the Liturgy
of St. Basil, translated by Cyril E. Pocknee (1906-1980), music:
Song 4 (in The Hymnal 1982, The Episcopal Church)
Deck Thyself, My Soul, with Gladness, words by Johann Franck
(1649), translated from German by Catherine Winkworth (1858),
music Schmücke Dich by Johann Crüger
(1649)
Draw Nigh and Take the Body of the Lord, words from the
Antiphonarium Benchorense, a late 7th century
manuscript from the Monastery of Bangor, Ireland, translated from
Latin to English by
John M. Neale (1851), various tunes (in The Hymnal 1982,
The Episcopal Church)
Father, We Thank Thee Who Hast Planted, words translated from
Greek Didache (ca. 110 AD), by F. Bland Tucker (1941),
music: Rendz a Dieu, Louis Bourgeois (in The Hymnal
1982, The Episcopal Church)
For the Bread, Which Thou Hast Broken, words by Louis F. Benson (1924), music by Charles J. Dickinson (1822-1883)
From the Table Now Retiring, words by John Rowe, music by Isaac B. Woodbury
Here at Thy Table, Lord, We Meet, words by Samuel Stennett (1727-1795), music by Hugh Wilson
Here at Thy Table, Lord (this sacred hour....), words by May Pierpont Hoyt (19th century), music by William F. Sherwin (1877, same tune as "Break Thou the Bread of Life")
Here, O My Lord, I See Thee Face to Face, words by Horatius Bonar (1855), music by Felix Mendelssohn, or by James Langran (1861)
Humbly I Adore Thee, Verity Unseen, words by St. Thomas
Aquinas (ca. 1260), translated The Monastic Diurnal (1932), music
Adoro devote, French church melody (1697; in The Hymnal
1982, The Episcopal Church)
In Memory of the Saviour's Love (... we keep the sacred feast), words by Thomas Cotterill (1805), music adapted from Johann M. Haydn, or "St. Peter" by Alexander R. Reinagle (1836)
Let Thy Blood in Mercy Poured, words translated from Greek by
John Brownlie (1907), music Johann Crüger
(1653, in The Hymnal 1982, The Episcopal Church)
Lord of Our Highest Love, words by Gilbert Young
Tickle (1819-1888), music by W. H. Havergal, founded on a melody
by J.B. König, "Franconia" (1738)
Lord, at Thy Table We Behold, words by Joseph Stennett (1727-1795), music by Lowell Mason
My God, Thy Table Now Is Spread, words by Philip Doddridge
(1755), tune: Rockingham (1780;
in The Hymnal 1982, The Episcopal Church)
Now, My Tongue, the Mystery Telling, words by St. Thomas
Aquinas (13th century), translated from Latin by Edward Caswall
(1861), various tunes (in The Hymnal 1982, The Episcopal
Church)
O Food to Pilgrims Given, words in Latin (1661) translated by
John Athelstan Laurie Riley (1906), various tunes (in The
Hymnal 1982, The Episcopal Church)
O God, Unseen Yet Ever Near, words by Edward Osler (1836),
music St. Flavian (1562) (in The Hymnal 1982, The
Episcopal Church)
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O Thou, Who at Thy Eucharist Didst Pray (that all thy Church
might be forever one....), words by William Harry Turton (1881),
various tunes (in The Hymnal 1982, The Episcopal Church)
Shepherd of Souls, Refresh and Bless, words by James Montgomery (1825), music "St. Agnes" by John B. Dykes (1866)
This Is the Hour of Banquet and of Song, words by Horatius
Bonar (1855), various tunes (in
The Hymnal 1982, The Episcopal Church)
While in Sweet Communion Feeding, words by Edward Denny (1796-1889), music by Edward J. Hopkins
Zion, Praise Thy Savior, Singing, words by St. Thomas Aquinas
(1263), translated in The Hymnal 1940.
A rich collection of communion hymns is the Chalice Hymnal (St. Louis: Chalice Press, 1995), which serves the Disciples of Christ, who partake of the Lord's Supper each week. The hymnal contains 50 such hymns. For older communion hymns, a rich resource is Christian Worship: A Hymnal (Christian Board of Publication; St. Louis: The Bethany Press, 1941).
The Hymnal 1982 (The Episcopal Church; Church Hymnal
Corporation, 1985) is also a rich collection of mainly older
songs, some translated from ancient hymns.
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