Going over some old papers, I found these prayers which I composed about fifty years ago. To my knowledge they have never been used, so I'm pleased to make them available now to any choir that might be interested. At the time I was working on the prose rhythms of the Book of Common Prayer, so these prayers are composed rather in the manner of the BCP's Collects, which are themselves based on much older Latin prayers from the medieval Sacramentaries.
I.
Bless, Lord, we beseech thee, our voices to thy faithful service; that singing thy praise in the concord of harmony they may join our hearts in the consonance of love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
II.
Almighty and most merciful Father, who hast made us to know the song of thy holy Angels; grant us so to praise thee in this life, that in the next we may sing in the choir of their company; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
III.
Bless, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, the music of thy faithful children; that they that sing to thy praise may be instruments of thy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
IV.
Almighty and everlasting God, who gavest us skill to sing of thy glory; give us grace, we beseech thee, to know whereof we sing, and faithfully to embrace the same; that saved at the last by thy redeeming love, we may raise our songs in the day of thy Kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Image: Magdalen College Choir, Oxford
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