February 2, 2025
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Tip: if your screen isn’t large enough to comfortably display both the livestream and this page, load this page on another device!
Return to “Music This Week” main page
Prelude: In His Temple Now Behold Him (RS 967)
1. In his temple now behold him,
See the long-expected Lord;
Ancient prophets had foretold him;
God has now fulfilled his word,
Now, to praise him, his redeemed
shall break forth with one accord.
2. In the arms of her who bore him,
Virgin pure, behold him lie,
While his aged saints adore him
Ere in faith and hope they die.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Lo, th’incarnate God most high.
3. Jesus, by your presentation,
When they blest you, weak and poor,
Make us see our great salvation,
Seal us with your promise sure,
And present us in your glory
to your Father, cleansed and pure.
4. Prince and author of salvation,
Be your boundless love our theme!
Jesus, praise to you be given,
By the world you did redeem,
With the Father and the Spirit,
Lord of majesty supreme.
Text: Luke 2:22–24; Vs. 1–3: Henry J. Pye, 1825–1903; Vs. 4: William Cooke, 1821–1894. Tune: 87 87 87; John F. Wade, 1711–1786. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE License #A-727305.
Entrance Hymn: A light for revelation (RS 1297)
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE License #A-727305.
Scripture Readings (external link): Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Responsorial: Psalm 24 (RS 1297)
R: Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord.
Preparation Hymn: Of the Father’s Love Begotten (RS 529)
Of the Father’s love begotten,
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending he,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see,
Evermore and evermore!
O that birth for ever blessed,
When the Virgin, full of grace,
By the Spirit blest conceiving,
Bore the Savior of our race;
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed his sacred face,
Evermore and evermore!
This is he whom seers and sages
Sang of old with one accord,
Whom the voices of the prophets
Promised in their faithful word;
Now he shines, the long expected;
Let creation praise its Lord
Evermore and evermore!
Let the heights of heav’n adore him;
Angel hosts, his praises sing;
Pow’rs, dominions, bow before him,
And extol our God and King;
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Ev’ry voice in concert ring,
Evermore and evermore!
Christ, to you with God the Father,
Spirit blest eternally,
Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving,
And unending praises be:
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory,
Evermore and evermore!
Text: Corde natus ex Parentis; Aurelius Prudentius, 348-413; tr. by John M. Neale, 1818-1866 and Henry W. Baker, 1821-1877 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE License #A-727305.
Communion Hymn: The King Of Love My Shepherd Is (RS 820)
The King of love my shepherd is,
Whose goodness fails me never;
I nothing lack if I am his,
And he is mine for ever.
Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul he’s leading,
And where the verdant pastures grow
With food celestial feeding.
Confused and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love he sought me;
And on his shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.
In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
With you, dear Lord, beside me,
Your rod and staff my comfort still,
Your cross before to guide me.
You spread a table in my sight;
Your saving grace bestowing;
And O what transport of delight
From your pure chalice flowing!
And so through all the length of days
Your goodness fails me never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing your praise
Within your house for ever.
Text: Psalm 23; Henry W. Baker, 1821-1877, alt. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE License #A-727305.
Concluding Hymn: Praise to You, O Christ Our Savior (RS 702)
Praise to you, O Christ, our Savior, Word of the Father, calling us to life;
Son of God who leads us to freedom: glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
You are the Word who calls us out of darkness;
You are the Word who leads us into light;
You are the Word who brings us through the desert:
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
You are the one whom prophets hoped and longed for;
You are the one who speaks to us today;
You are the one who leads us to our future;
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
You are the Word who calls us to be servants;
You are the Word whose only law is love;
You are the Word made flesh who lives among us:
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
You are the Word who binds us and unites us;
You are the Word who calls us to be one;
You are the Word who teaches us forgiveness:
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
Text: Bernadette Farrell, b.1957, © 1986, Bernadette Farrell, published by OCP Publications. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE License #A-727305.
Alternate Hymn: Long-Awaited Holy One (RS 968)
1. Long-awaited Holy One,
Simeon hailed you as God’s Son.
Anna welcomed you with praise,
Glad fulfillment of her days.
2. Light of all the nations, shine!
Show, to those who wait, a sign:
God on earth, our host and guest,
In our flesh made manifest.
3. Radiance of God’s holy face,
Shine your love in ev’ry place.
Splendor of God’s glory bright,
Lead us to eternal light!
Text: Delores Dufner, OSB, b.1939, © 1984, 1992, 2003, 2011, GIA Publications, Inc. Tune: NUN KOMM DER HEIDEN HEILAND, 77 77; Geistliche Gesangbüchlein, Wittenberg, 1524 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE License #A-727305.
Concluding Hymn: Christ Be Our Light (RS 692)
Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
Light for the world to see.
Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.
Longing for peace, our world is troubled.
Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has pow’r to save us.
Make us your living voice.
Longing for food, many are hungry.
Longing for water, many still thirst.
Make us your bread, broken for others,
shared until all are fed.
Longing for shelter, many are homeless.
Longing for warmth, many are cold.
Make us your building, sheltering others,
walls made of living stone.
Many the gifts, many the people,
many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another,
making your kingdom come.
Words and music: Bernadette Farrell, b. 1957 © 1993, 2000, Bernadette Farrell. Published by OCP. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE License #A-727305.