It was written by American Lutheran composer and pastoral musician, Marty Haugen (b 1950), and first published in 1999 by GIA Publications.
It is set to an unnamed tune, also by Haugen. This has a 2/4 time signature. In the key of F, the first few notes of the melody are F F F GA Bc AF FA G C C with accompanying chords F / Bb6 / F / C / F.
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Singer and chorus with guitar, whistle and rhythm - professional recording:
Choir with band, live in a church service:
Cantor and choir/congregation with organ - live in a church service:
Lyrics
The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:
1. Come now, the feast is spread; in Jesus’ name we break the bread ...
Chorus: Blessed are they who will feast in the Reign of God! Blessed are they who will share the bread of life! Blessed are they who are least in the Reign of God! They shall rejoice at the feast of life!
2. Stand up and do not fear, for Christ is truly present here ...
3. Welcome the weak and poor, the sinner finds an open door ...
4. All fear and hatred ends and foes become our faithful friends ...
5. Sing out the jubilee when those enslaved are all set free ...
6. One earth, one holy band, one fam’ly as our God has planned,
KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY
Come now, the feast is spread; in Jesus’ name we break the bread. Here shall we all be fed within the reign of God. Come take this holy food; receive the body and the blood. Grace is a mighty flood within the reign of God.
Chorus: Blessed are they who will feast in the Reign of God! Blessed are they who will share the bread of life! Blessed are they who are least in the Reign of God! They shall rejoice at the feast of life!
Stand up and do not fear, for Christ is truly present here. Heaven is truly near within the reign of God. Now at the wedding feast, the greatest here shall be the least. All bonds shall be released within the reign of God.
Welcome the weak and poor, the sinner finds an open door, none judged, and none ignored within the reign of God. Here shall the weary rest, the stranger be a welcome guest. So shall we all be blest within the reign of God.
All fear and hatred ends and foes become our faithful friends, just as our God intends within the reign of God. All you who seek God’s face are welcome in this holy place; join in the feast of grace within the reign of God.
Sing out the jubilee when those enslaved are all set free, children of God are we within the reign of God. No more can we forget the ones who bear life’s crushing debt; God’s justice guides us yet within the reign of God.
One earth, one holy band, one fam’ly as our God has planned, all share the promised land within the reign of God. Come now, the feast is spread, in Jesus’ name we break the bread; here shall we all be fed within the reign of God.
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