Simple Musical Settings of the Communion Liturgy

Jamie Brown has composed a simple communion setting for use with the 1979 Episcopal Book of Common Prayer and 2019 proposed Anglican Church in North America Book of Common Prayer. This setting includes the Sanctus-Benedictus and Memorial Acclamations A and B, and the Great Amen.

The setting also includes the optional pre-communion devotion "Behold the Lamb" of God," which may be used with the three ACNA forms of the Holy Eucharist and is taken from the revised 2011 Roman Missal and other sources. These sources include the 1991 Anglican Service Book, The Anglican Missal, and The American Missal.

In the Roman Rite the pre-communion devotion"Behold the Lamb of God" is used when the priest shows the consecrated elements to the people and joins with them in adoring Christ whom the Catholic Church teaches is present in the elements. It should not be confused with the Agnus Dei although both devotions are taken from the same source--John 1:29.

The rubrics of the first Book of Common Prayer of 1549 prohibits the priest from elevating the consecrated elements or showing them to the people. The 1552 and 1662 Declarations on Kneeling articulate the classical Anglican view that Christ is not substantively present in the consecrated elements and by kneeling to receive the elements the communicants are not adoring the elements. Upon consecration the bread and wine undergo no change in substance. The only change they undergo is a change in use. Since the 19th century, however,  the practice of showing the consecrated elements to the people has been reintroduced into the Anglican Church even though it is not consistent with the Scriptures and the classical Anglican formularies.

This said, the Sanctus-Benedictus, the two Memorial Acclamations, and the Great Amen are easy to learn and to sing. Brown uses a video to teach the setting to the congregation at Truro Anglican Church. Videos posted on a church's website or Facebook page is a good way of helping congregations to learn new hymns, worship songs, and service music. Watch Video

Also See:
What Liturgy Should (And Shouldn’t) Aim To Do
Hosanna (For Two Percussionists)