Our Supper Invitation (Take of my bread and eat) - Bates

This is a gentle folk-style hymn about the Eucharist. It is based on John 6.

It was written by Australian Roman Catholic Marist priest Kevin Bates SM (-2024) and first published in 1985 by Spectrum Publications Inc. Today, sheet music is available from Willow Publications (link below).

It is set to an unnamed tune, also by Bates. This has a 3/4 time signature. In the key of D, the first few notes are FED F AA_ G F D B,_ with accompanying chords D / A6 / G / D.

Downloads

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Buy sheet music from Willow On-line

Examples

Singer with guitar:

Music group and congregation, with guitar - recorded live in a church service:

Choir with violin and keyboard:

Children's choir with gentle organ:

Instrumental - piano:

Instrumental - organ, with words on-screen:

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:

Take of my bread and eat, drink my new wine.
Take of my life and live, branch of my vine.
Let me befriend you now; eat take your fill.
Don't be afraid to dream; love has its will.

Take up your burden now, walk 'til you find
Just what the journey means; walk while there's time.
Food for the journey will answer your need.
Don't be afraid to walk; love, my love will lead.

Take of my bread and eat, drink my new wine.
Be a sweet nourishment to good friends of mine.
Let me befriend you now; eat, take your fill.
Share with your people, that love has its will.

Take of my bread and eat, drink my new wine.
Take of my life and live, branch of my vine.