One Early Morning on a Shore--SAB choir anthem

This anthem directly relates to the wonderful story in John 21:1-19,
in which the Risen Christ appears to his disciples as they are fishing on the Sea of Galilee. He offers breakfast and a miraculous catch of fish.
The story is the Gospel reading for the Third Sunday of Easter, Year C, but the song could also be used for communion services through the Easter season.

Sheet MusicAudio FilesSong/Study

slightly revised 4/5/23

Text:

One early morning on a shore,
you called your friends to breakfast, Lord.
You brought the fire, the fish, the bread—
You stood on shore, back from the dead.

Your friends had caught no fish that night.
Unknown, you hailed, "Cast to the right!"
Oh, then, the fish!__ Yet would nets last
to lift aboard so great a catch?

But then John shouted, "That's the Lord!"
and Peter turned, the fish ignored.
From fish and crew, he swam to you.

Much more than bread met Peter there:
joy, forgiveness, calling, care....
And it feeds us, too, this vision, Lord,
of you in welcome on that shore.

(Alternate ending)
joy, forgiveness, depth of care....
And bread we take now sustains us toward
our own bright morning with you, Lord.

Musical Details:

This is written for SAB choir and piano. An altered ending can make the song
even more suitable for communion services. The basic tune is O WALY WALY.

To see a communion hymn for congregation based on the same Bible reading, click here.

Feel free to share the text through bulletins or screens as your choir sings this.