LIKE INCENSE

When the gifts of bread and wine are brought to the altar, the choir's role is to help the congregation lift their hearts in preparation for the Eucharistic sacrifice. Emmanuel Atuanya’s "Like Incense" captures this moment perfectly. Drawing on the imagery of the Psalms, the song asks God to let our prayers and offerings rise up to Him, just as the fragrant smoke of incense fills the sanctuary.

The melody is gentle and flowing, marked allegretto, giving it a steady, walking pace that suits the offertory procession. The choir begins with a unified plea for God's blessings to fall "like morning dew," a phrase that brings a sense of quiet grace to the liturgy.

As the piece moves into the verses, it becomes a deeply personal prayer. The singers ask the Lord for blessing, answers, and healing, responding each time with a promise to thank and praise Him with all their hearts. It is a wonderful choice for an offertory hymn, giving both the choir and the congregation a moment to reflect on what they are bringing to the altar—not just the physical gifts, but their very lives and petitions.