GOD OF ISRAEL

When a choir folder holds a collection like this, it gives us a wonderful variety of moods to draw from during the liturgical year. Opening with "God of Israel," the music immediately establishes a sense of majesty and petition. We sing out to the "Mighty Messiah," asking God to lend an ear to our prayers. It is the kind of robust, joyful anthem that lifts the congregation's spirits, especially as the voices layer together in promises to praise His name forever with lute and harp.

The second piece, "When the Lord Turned Again," takes us straight into the heart of Psalm 126. Singing this feels like a collective sigh of relief and joy. The text recalls the sheer disbelief of being delivered from captivity—feeling "like them that dream." As the parts echo "with laughter" and "with singing," you can almost hear the bubbling over of gladness that comes when God does great things for His people. It is a wonderful choice for seasons of restoration or thanksgiving.

Finally, "Benedictus Sit Deus" blends Latin reverence with English exultation. Moving from the solemn "Blessed be God" to the grand declaration that "Great and wonderful are thy deeds," it captures the awe of standing before the Almighty. Mixing these languages connects our local choir lofts to the universal Church, making it a powerful anthem for feast days or moments of deep adoration.