TAKE OUR BREAD

"Take Our Bread" is a gentle, deeply moving Offertory hymn that captures the very heart of the Eucharistic celebration. Written by Joe Wise and arranged here with a soaring descant by Chandali Joseph, the song moves beyond simply bringing forward the physical gifts of bread and wine. It is a profound prayer of self-offering, asking the Father to accept our lives and our hearts alongside the gifts placed on the altar.

In the choir loft, this piece requires a tender, prayerful approach. The verses paint a vivid picture of the congregation's journey—standing at the table, hungry for spiritual food, and bringing the "harvests of our labour" to lay at the Lord's feet. The arrangement uses a lovely conversational feel in the first verse, where the sopranos and altos sing of standing at the table, answered by the tenors and basses reflecting on the bread we eat, before all voices unite.

Singing this during the preparation of the gifts brings a quiet reverence to the Mass. The recurring refrain, "O Father we are yours," serves as a unifying anchor for the faithful. It reminds everyone present that despite our human frailty, we offer the best we can, trusting completely in God's grace and acceptance.