Songs for Lent
Squeezebox is a place for our Song Leaders, as well as congregants, to learn the songs we sing at St. Lydia’s.
Below you’ll find all the music you need for our observance of Lent at St. Lydia’s. Lent is a season of preparation when we pare things down and strip things away in order to hear the story of Christ’s death and resurrection. Our music for the season reflects that sense of simplicity.
Anointing Song
Rather than gathering in song this season, we’ll be gathering with a chanted collect, then participating in an anointing, where each congregant will be marked with the sign of the cross in oil on their head or hands. Our bodies are anointed for death as the woman at Bethany anointed Jesus’s body with her jar of oil. During the anointing, we’ll sing “Receive O Earth” by Daniel Schwandt, a piece intended for a funeral.
Click here to listen to the teaching recording (bonus points for those whose ears pick up Emily’s cat meowing in the background) and here for the sheet music.
Candlelighting Song
As we process to the tables, we’ll sing “Come Light the Lamps,” a simple piece by Emily Scott with two parts (or three if we’re really burning) and a solo descant. I would suggest teaching Part 1 to half the group, keeping them singing, and then teaching the other half of the group in on Part 2. Then have a “plant” to sing Part 3, and a soloist to sing the solo (or you could do it yourself if it feels in reach!)
Click here for the sheet music.
Table Acclamation
We’ll sing a simple Lent Table Acclamation for our Eucharistic Prayer.
Prayer Song
During Lent, we’ll sing the lovely Iona Kyrie for our prayer song. Kyrie Eleison means “Lord, Have Mercy.”
Final Hymn
For our final hymn, we’ll sing “What Wondrous Love Is This,” a haunting shape note piece.
And finally, here is the script for the season!
Thank you so much for posting the script and music for your Lent dinner church. After experiencing dinner church at Luther Seminary’s winter convocation we are hoping to try it out here at Spirit of Joy in Sioux Falls, SD.
Peace to you these days of Lent.