Album Review: Songs of Common Prayer

Album Title: Songs of Common Prayer

Group/Artist: Greg LaFollette

Release Date: 2018

Stream on Spotify; Stream on YouTube

You can read an interview with Greg LaFollette at The Rabbit Room. 

I discovered Songs of Common Prayer a few days after deciding I was going to try to incorporate the Daily Offices from the Book of Common Prayer into my life. The album is influenced--strongly influenced--by the traditional elements of the Book of Common Prayer. 

The album released BEFORE the Book of Common Prayer 2019. I have not made myself familiar with the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, so the words may be more in tune (or in line) with that edition of the Book of Common Prayer. 

For me, nothing is really lost by this album not being closely linked with the Book of Common Prayer 2019. 

The songs on the album:

World Without End 

Most Merciful God

Hosanna in the Highest

Mystery of Faith

The Lord's Prayer

We Cry Mercy

Prayer After Communion

Blessed Be God

Lighten Our Darkness

Benediction

The first song, "World Without End," is linked to the Invitatory of the Morning Prayer. (Although with just a few slight changes it links thematically with the Evening Prayer as well.) 

Officiant:  O Lord, open our lips;
People: And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Officiant: O God, make speed to save us;
People: O Lord, make haste to help us
Officiant: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
People: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Officiant: Praise the Lord.
People: The Lord’s Name be praised.

 

 

Book of Common Prayer, 1979

The second song, Most Merciful God, is perhaps my FAVORITE, FAVORITE, FAVORITE from the album. It is linked with the Confession of Sin in both the Morning and Evening prayers. I do NOT know why there are two versions of each--two of Morning, two of Evening. This prayer is for the second version of both. 

Book of Common Prayer, 2019

The 2019 Book of Common Prayer has different words for the Confession of Sin. 

The third song, Hosanna in the Highest, appears to be linked to the service of the Holy Eucharist. (Something I've not encountered just doing the Daily Offices on my own.) Again, it is with the second version of Holy Eucharist. 

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosannain the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

The fourth song, Mystery of Faith, is the second to be linked to the Holy Eucharist. It expands beyond singing the words on the page and encompasses the meaning of communion and the unity of the church in Christ. 

The Lord's Prayer is the fifth song. The Lord's Prayer is foundational to all the Daily Offices -- Morning, Midday, Evening, and Compline. 

The sixth song, We Cry Mercy, could fit in just about anywhere and everywhere. Mercy is stressed throughout from what I can tell! But I think it best fits with the daily use of the Lord's Prayer in all four of the Daily Offices. 

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Officiant and People
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

The seventh song is Prayer After Communion. 

The eighth song is Blessed Be God. It took a bit of hunting to find the inspiration source for this one. But I found it in the service for the Ordination of the Bishop! I personally think the song has far wider applications than this service. 

Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The ninth song, Lighten Our Darkness, is inspired by one of the Collects of the Evening Prayer. 

A Collect for Aid against Perils

Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen

The tenth and final song is Benediction. 

I referred to the online Daily Offices (using the Book of Common Prayer, 2019). 

I referred to the 1979 Book of Common Prayer--in pdf form. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible