Gift of Finest Wheat

This Eucharist hymn was written by Dutch-American liturgist and composer Omer Westendorf (1916-1997).

With common meter (CM) with refrain, it is set to the tune BICENTENNIAL, composed by Robert Edward Kreutz (1922-1996).

It was the theme song for the International Eucharistic Congress help in 1976 in Philadelphia, USA, and is copyright to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia,1977.

The phrase "Gift of Finest Wheat" is from from Psalm 80.

Downloads

This section may contain affiliate links: I earn from qualifying purchases on these. Free downloads are provided where possible (eg for public domain items).

Arranged for SATB choir, assembly, with organ by Robert Kreutz (1922-)

An Arrangement by Gary Daigle, for choir (SATB), cantor, keyboard accompaniment. Includes guitar chord names. 8 pages. Published by GIA Publications (GI.G-4968)

Examples

Small choir, on-screen lyrics:

Singer with guitar:

Professional recording, choir with sax(?) and guitar-led band:

An instrumental-only version, with lyrics on screen for practise.

Lyrics

The words are still copyright, so cannot be shown here in full, but they are currently available from this website.  

The song starts with a chorus, and there are four verses with the chorus repeated between each one. A rough outline is:

Chorus:
You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest wheat,
Come give to us o saving Lord, the bread of life to eat.

1 As when the shepherd calls his sheep ...

2 With joyful lips we sing to You ...

3 The mystery of your presence Lord ...

4 You give yourself to us O Lord,

See more ...

• Hymns about the Eucharist
• American hymns

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY
Chorus:
You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest wheat.
Come give to us, O saving Lord, the bread of life to eat.

1. As when the shepherd calls his sheep, they know and heed his voice;
so when you call your fam'ly, Lord, we follow and rejoice.

2. With joyful lips we sing to you our praise and gratitude
that you should count us worthy, Lord, to share this heav'nly food.

3. Is not the cup we bless and share the blood of Chist oupoured?
Do not one cup, one loaf, declaire our oneness in the Lord?

4. The myst'ry of your presence, Lord, no mortal tongue can tell:
whom all the world cannot contain comes inour hearts to dwell.

5. You give yourself to us, O Lord; then selfless let us be,
to serve each other in your name in truth and charity.