March 12th, 2013
Squeezebox is a place for our Song Leaders, as well as congregants, to learn the songs we sing at St. Lydia’s.
At Saint Lydia’s our prayers begin and end with a song that the song-leader chooses from a list of options. Below, you’ll find links to recordings of those songs made by our own Heather Young, who sang them to us all the way from her new home in Seattle. (Thank you, Heather!!!) Note that some of the recordings include helpful notes for performance.
Because the prayers at Saint Lydia’s take place when we are all sitting around small tables, the song leader can’t rely on visual cues to let the rest of the congregation know when to listen, when to begin, and when to end. That means, as you practice these songs, it will be useful to think about how to use your breath and note lengths to guide the congregation. Heather has given useful tips in this regard.
Shine On Me
A tune that Emily learned from her pastor, Dr. Brad Braxton, and she’s shared it with the congregation at St. Lydia’s. The piece was recorded in the late 1920’s by Blues and Gospel performer Blind Willie Johnson. You can listen to a snippet of his recording here.
I Will Guide Thee
Rachel brought us this piece, often sung by her friends the Peter and Mary Alice Amidon, folk singers in Vermont. You can hear Peter’s choral arrangement of this piece here. The song is a variation on an 1873 hymn called “Precious Promise”
I Must Tell Jesus
Emily brought us this hymn from her time at The Riverside Church, where it was sung as an anthem. It’s a variation on a hymn of the same name written by Elisha A. Hoffman in 1893.
All Shall Be Well
Emily wrote this setting of Julian of Norwich’s famous text, “All shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.”
What We Need Is Here
This piece was written by students in the Episcopal/Lutheran student group at MIT, and taught to us by their priest, Amy McCreath.
Tar a Thighearna
A piece by our friend, Ruth Cunningham. It’s published in the volume, Music By Heart. The piece is a simple, beautiful melody, which encourages improvisation from the congregation. We sing it during prayer at St. Lydia’s, and on Good Friday.
Come, Bring Your Burdens to God
A lovely song from Kenya taught to us by our musicians in residence, Paul Vasile. Paul always reminds us that the line, “Jesus will never say no,” does not imply that all our prayers will be answers, but simply that Jesus will never say to to carrying our burdens with us.
My Soul Waits
A beautiful song by our own Debbie Holloway. It’s singing suggests the rhythm of breath and is not only great as a prayer song but as an introduction to meditation and contemplation.
Fear Not the Pain
A stanza of What You Cannot Hold, from Rilke’s Sonnets to Orpheus, I, 4, set to music by Rachel Pollak Kroh.
Don’t Be Afraid
By John Bell
September 15th, 2023
The music menu for summer is here!
Gathering Song: Come, Come, Whoever You Are
Candle Lighting Song: Evening Lamps are Lit
Table Acclamation: Shelton Acclamation (not to be confused with the similar sounding “Summer Table Acclamation”)
Prayer Song: Build a Shelter / Let It Rest, Down to the River to Pray, or any of these prayer songs or one you’d like to teach!
Offering Song: Zimbabwe Allelulia
Final Hymn: In June we’ll sing, Spirit I Have Heard You Calling, and in July and August, we’ll sing Day Is Done.
September 15th, 2023
Dear Songleaders,
Here are the songs will be using for dinner church for the new liturgical season!
April 23rd, 2023
Dear Song Leaders,
Here is the music we’ll be singing during Eastertide!
February 25th, 2023
Dear Song Leaders and Lydian music lovers,
Here’s our menu of songs for Lent:
Thank you for leading your community in song!
August 27th, 2019
Hello song leaders! Here is the music we’ll be singing this fall (Sept 8 – end of October).
There are lots of songs from Lydian composers! Click the linked song titles to hear the recording.
1) Gathering Song
The Mighty Will Fall, by Debbie Holloway
-or-
Lament for Zion, by Debbie Holloway
2) Candle Lighting Song
The Journey of a Thousand Miles, by Paul Vasile
-or-
Lead Me, Guide Me
3) Table Acclamation
Fall Table Acclamation, by Meave Shelton
4) Prayer Song
Song Leader’s Choice
5) Gathering Song
Shukuru Yesu
-or-
Amen
6) Final Hymn
September
Come Thou Fount
October
God Whose Giving Knows No Ending
June 5th, 2019
Hello song leaders! Here is the music we’ll be singing for the rest of this summer. We’ll switch some songs up from time to time, so check the months on the list below to make sure you learn the relevant music for the service you’re leading.
Click the linked song titles to hear the recording. Check out the harmony parts and optional descants (high solo parts) for the Candle Lighting Songs.
1) Gathering Song
June: Come Holy Spirit
July & August:
Come All You People
-or-
Sing God’s Praises Glory Hallelu
-or-
Jesus, We Are Gathered
2) Candle Lighting Song
June: Come Light of Lights
July & August: Christ is Our Guiding Light
3) Table Acclamation
Summer Table Acclamation
4) Prayer Song
Song Leader’s Choice
5) Offering Song
Caribbean Alleluia
– or –
Know That God Is Good (sheet music)
6) Final Hymn
June: Come Down O Love Divine
July: Spirit I Have Heard You Calling
August: Day is Done
April 27th, 2019
This is a place for our Song Leaders, as well as congregants, and anyone else who’s interested, to learn the songs we sing at St. Lydia’s.
Happy Easter! Christ is risen indeed, Alleluia! We’ve got lots of Alleluias this season. Click the linked song titles to hear the recording, and bookmark this page so that you can check in to listen to the pieces and practice.
1) Gathering Song
“Kiev Alleluia”
2) Candle Lighting Song
“The Lord is My Light,” Lillian Bouknight
The Lord is My Light and My Salvation (not to be confused with other songs we sing using the first half of that sentence).
3) Eucharistic Prayer Setting
“Festive Table Acclamation,” Paul Vasile
4) Prayer Song
Song Leader’s Choice. A selection of songs may be found here.
5) Song at the Offering
“Duncan Alleluia”
6) Closing Hymn
April 28 – May 13
“Now the Green Blade Rises,” French Carol
then
May 19 – June 3
“Jesus Christ is Risen Today“
March 11th, 2019
Lent is a season of reflection and re-turning to God. The Table Acclamation is very simple and spare, so if you’ve been waiting for a chance to try leading the Acclamation, this can be a great season to begin!
1) Gathering Song
A Kyrie Eleison, which means, “Lord, Have Mercy.” This Kyrie is from the Iona Community in Scotland. Introduce the piece by having people repeat the words, then give the translation: “Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy”.
John Bell Kyrie
2) Candle Lighting Song
This juicy tune, “Here is Bread for the Hungry Soul,” which reminds us we are forgiven, and also that we’re going to eat soon! The harmonies are recorded for you, but folks will mostly improvise off the melody.
Note: we usually flip the words to, “here is bread for the hungry heart, here is wine for the thirsty soul,” because I think the alliteration sounds better and makes the song easier to remember!
“Here is Bread for the Hungry Soul,” words: Mary Kay Beall; music: John Carter
Sheet Music
3) Table Acclamation
We’ll use the very simple Lent Table Acclamation
4) Prayer Song
What We Need Is Here, written by Amy McCreath for a Thanksgiving service of the Lutheran Episcopal Ministry at MIT while she served as chaplain there. A lovely setting of the title of the poem by Wendell Berry.
5) Offering Song
Love and Faithfulness Shall Lead
or
Hamba Nathi Mkhululi Wehu (Go with us, God, and set us free) trad. Xhosa
6) Closing Hymn
What Wondrous Love is This
*Please note, the harmonies on this recording are not the harmonies from our current sheet music.
January 2nd, 2019
Happy New Year! Here’s the music we’ll be singing this Epiphany season, from Jan 6 to March 4.
1) Gathering Song
Arise, Shine
-or-
Jyothi Dho Prabhu (Give Us Light)
2) Candle Lighting Song
The Light of Christ Has Come Into the World
3) Table Acclamation
Ordinary Table Acclamation (Scott)
4) Prayer Song
Song Leader’s Choice
5) Offering Song
Mxadana Alleluia
6) Final Hymn
Jan: Be Thou My Vision, recording here, or here (violin and harp by girls with braids in a field!!) sheet music here (scroll down)
Feb:
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise,
recording here (hey there big organ!) sheet music
here (scroll down!)
