We’ve been introducing sections of Marty Haugen’s “Mass of Creation” in our Sunday worship.  You may be wondering, just who is Marty Haugen?

Well, in brief, here’s his story.  Marty Haugen was born December 30, 1950, in Wanamingo, Minnesota and raised in the American Lutheran Church in Minnesota.  It was during his first job as a worship leader in a Catholic Parish, that he became dissatisfied with the quality of music he was required to lead and began composing.  He pursues a career as a liturgical composer, writing hymns and liturgical music for the Lutheran and Catholic Churches. 

Among his compositions is “Holden Evening Prayer,” originally written for Holden Village, a remote wilderness retreat center that sits in the North Cascade Mountains near Seattle, Washington.  This was the beautiful evening prayer music which we sang for our Lenten Services this year.  Among his hymns, you may be familiar with “Now the Feast and Celebration,” “Gather Us In,” and “Shepherd Me, O God.”

In 1984 he began composing the “Mass of Creation.”  As we are introduced to the various sections of this liturgy, you may find it helpful to listen to a recording. I’ve attached a recorded version of this liturgy with the lyrics.

Judy