Contact: Ben Peterson, OCP, 503-460-5363
PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 14 /Christian Newswire/ -- In his previous works, A Lenten Journey and One with the Risen Lord, Bob approached the communion song as an echo of the day's readings. His new collection, Dining in the Kingdom, instead focuses on the Eucharistic rite itself: the action of sharing in the body and blood of Christ. This approach allows these songs of unity to be used all year long, not only when specific lyrical lines are referenced in the liturgy of the word. The CD and accompanying octavo packet are now available for purchase from OCP.
"What does it mean that Christ gives himself to us as our food and drink?" asks Hurd. "And when we receive him, to what are we committing ourselves? This is the territory I explored in the new collection."
Dining in the Kingdom includes nine communion songs and three gathering songs that emphasize a central theme of the Eucharist (that of gathering as one body in Christ). "With All the Saints" is packed with brass, rumbling percussion and majestic choral movements that dynamically build to the last note. Bluesy guitar phrasings provide added depth to the joyful anthem "Here I Am, O Lord." In the calming and peaceful "A Listening Heart," soloists emerge and return to the choir with vocals that act as a meditation.
Music ministers and choir directors can bring the music to life with the Dining in the Kingdom octavo packet. Featuring arrangements from Craig Kingsbury and Rick Modlin, eight of the 12 songs lend themselves especially well to choir, keyboard and guitar, as well as one or two solo instruments.
"The beautiful and energetic melodies in Dining in the Kingdom make the scriptures come alive with meaning," said Barbara Bridge, Associate Director of Artist Relations and Product Development for OCP. "This is music that choirs and assemblies will love to sing."
The CD ($17.00) and Octavo Packet ($12.50) are available for purchase at www.ocp.org/dininginthekingdom.
About OCP
OCP, a not-for-profit publisher of music and worship resources based in Portland, Oregon, has been in operation for more than 80 years. Worship materials produced by OCP are used in thousands of churches in the United States and are distributed worldwide. More information is available at 1-800-548-8749 and www.ocp.org.
