THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU

There is a special kind of stillness that falls over a congregation when a choir begins this classic benediction. Setting the ancient words of the Aaronic blessing, Peter C. Lutkin’s "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" has become a beloved staple in choir lofts everywhere. It is a piece we often turn to at the close of a service, or when sending someone forth—whether for a wedding, an ordination, or a heartfelt farewell. The gentle, flowing lines carry a profound sense of peace, wrapping the listener in a prayer for God’s continuous grace and protection.

What truly sets this anthem apart, and what singers often look forward to the most, is the magnificent Sevenfold Amen at its close. Rather than a simple, single chord, the voices weave through a soaring, overlapping sequence of Amens that build in warmth before settling into a quiet, reverent finality. It requires careful listening and breath control from the choir, but when those final notes ring out and fade into the silence of the church, it leaves a lingering sense of divine comfort.