Eternal Gifts
SATB choral/organ score
PEL2059-Choir and Organ
AN ANTHEM FOR SATB CHOIR AND ORGAN WITH TREBLE AND BARITONE SOLOS
Commissioned for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Choir of Men and Boys of St. Matthewʹs Anglican Church, Ottawa, this anthem combines texts from St. Matthew's Gospel, St. Ambrose, St. Francis and Bishop Thomas Ken to create the sense of wonder Matthew must have felt having answered Jesus' call and changed from tax collector to disciple and finally Apostle.
Texts
Eternal Gifts
What wonderful majesty!
What stupendous condescension!
O sublime humility!
That the Lord of the universe,
God and the Son of God,
should humble Himself like this
under the form of a little bread,
for our salvation. (St. Francis of Assisi; c.1181-1226)
Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valued than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to the span of your life?
And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
Therefore, do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you. (St. Matthew 6:26-33)
The eternal gifts of Christ the King,
The apostle’s glory let us sing;
And all, with hearts of gladness, raise
Due hymns of thankful love and praise. (St. Ambrose; trans. J. M. Neale)
Thou, Lord, e’en now art calling me,
I will leave all, and follow thee. (Bishop Thomas Ken, 1721)
