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This is the Sunday on which we would have sung Tallis's simple, yet gorgeous anthem, the text of which is the first two verses of the Gospel of the day, John 14.15-21:

If ye love Me, keep My commandments.
And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another
Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever, even
the Spirit of Truth. Amen

Here is a link to a performance by the choir of St John's, Cambridge.

In trying to find something that is in line with the same sentiment to use in the morning's Zoom service, but not having a recording of the Tallis, I decided upon Walford Davies's lovely 'God be in my head', which we hastily recorded in early March before the lockdown. The words are from the Sarum Primer of 1558:

God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in mine eyes, and in my looking;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;
God be at mine end, and at my departing.

It's not a perfect recording, but heartfelt. Every choir in every corner of the world longs to be able to sing together again - that perfect, mystical mix of spirit and understanding.

 

Worship And Prayer
Parish Eucharist