Product Description "Gift of Finest Wheat" is the second album produced by St. Mary's Music. It features Rev. Scott Vandehey and the choir from St. Mary Catholic Church in Eugene, Oregon. With solo and instrumental arrangements by David Phillips, "Gift of Finest Wheat" presents prayerful and inspirational renditions of traditional and contemporary Eucharistic hymns. They are as varied as the old favorites, "O Salutaris/Tantum Ergo" and "Soul of My Saviour" to the more contemporary "I Am the Bread of Life" and "One Bread, One Body." After the success of St. Mary's Music' first album, "Full of Grace" (released early in 1991), "Gift of Finest Wheat" was recorded and released later that same year. It soon become one of our most popular albums. Now available on CD, we offer it to you. From the Artist As Christians we are eucharistic people because, for most of us, the Eucharist is, indeed, the center of our lives. Whenever we assemble around the table of the Lord, we gather to exchange gifts with God Himself. We give Him our lives in joyful praise, and He, in turn, feeds us with His Gift of Finest Wheat--the Lord Jesus. It seems fitting to me to offer a collection of old and new sacred Communion hymns that speak in different ways about this holy exchange. Sad to say, many of these old favorites are no longer sung in our churches. With a desire for a little nostalgia and, most importantly, a resolve to help our homebound elderly prepare for weekly Communion, these hymns have been beautifully arranged and joyously sung by our musicians here at St. Mary's. May these time-honored hymns remind us always that we are, indeed, a eucharistic people who gather to say thanks.--Rev. Scott Vandehey About the Artist Rev. Scott Vandehey, pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church in Eugene, Oregon, first began his recording ventures in May, 1991, with the release of "Full of Grace," a collection of hymns in honor of Mary, the Mother of God. After its successful debut, he followed with "Gift of Finest Wheat" in October of that same year. "Hovering Dove" was released in 1993, "Christmas Peace" in 1994, "You Are Mine" in 1997, "By Request" in 1998 and "The Bells of St. Mary's" in 2000. Although Fr. Vandehey was reassigned to a parish in Portland in 1999, he continues to be greatly involved in music. He is truly a man of faith and song. See more
