In the Breaking of the Bread - Ward

This is a hymn about Eucharist, based on Luke 24 and Acts 2 - the story of seeing Jesus on the road to Emmaus.

It was written by American liturgical musician and composer Michael Philip Ward ().  It was first published in 1986 in the collection "Open our Hearts - Ten songs for worship ...at baptisms, confirmations, weddings, first communions, and other special celebrations".

The tune has a 4/4 time signature, and in the key of G the first few notes are DD DD DD E EF G.  

It should not be confused with hymns of the same title by Bob Hurd or Timothy R Smith (and likely others).

Downloads

Arranged for SATB Choir or Assembly with descant, piano and guitar

Downloadable setting for SATB choir +soloists + piano, guitar, keyboard

Examples

Singer with guitar accompaniment

Solo singer with piano accompaniment - professionally produced:

Choir with piano (lots of background noise):

Lyrics

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

1 In the walking on the road, we saw him.
... we knew he was alive!

2 We set out to find his friends to tell them ...

3 But then we became afraid without him.

Bridge:
We ran out in o the street to tell them, ev’ryone that
“God has raised him up and we have seen the Lord!”
We took bread as he had done and then we blessed it,
broke it, offered it.
In the breaking of the bread, we saw Him!

4 Suddenly our eyes were opened, there within ...

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

See more ...

• Hymns about the Eucharist
• Hymns about the Emmaus journey

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY
1 In the walking on the road, we saw him. In the telling of our hopes, we saw him. In the burning of our hearts, we saw the Lord At the meal he took the bread and then he blessed it, broke it offered it. In the breaking of The bread, we saw him! Suddenly our eyes were opened, and we knew he was alive! 2 We set out to find his friends to tell them. We went to Jerusalem to tell them; And with joy we told the, “We have seen the Lord” And, as we were speaking, there he stood among us, blessed us, said to us, “Now my peace I leave with you.” We saw him! Suddenly our eyes were opened, and we knew he was alive! 3 But then we became afraid without him. In the darkened room we stayed without him... Waiting for the one he said that he would send. Then the Spirit of the Lord came down upon us, filling us, changing us giving us the strength to say, We saw him! Suddenly our eyes were opened, and we knew he was alive! Bridge: We ran out into the street to tell them, ev’ryone that “God has raised him up and we have seen the Lord!” We took bread as he had done and then we blessed it, broke it, offered it. In the breaking of the bread, we saw Him! 4 Suddenly our eyes were opened, there within our midst was Jesus, and we know he was alive, In the breaking of the bread, he is here with us again, And we knew he was alive, In the breaking of the bread, he is here with us again, And we know his is alive! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!