If that's the Durufle "Ubi Caritas", it's got my vote! Which "Taste and See"? I know of at least five settings (we used to sing a really wild Gerald Near setting in our old ECUSA church - modern but beautiful, and very difficult to sing!)
And PLEASE tell me that they didn't change the words to "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring". Like the congregation is too stupid to tell the difference between mankind and a male person . . . shoot, just sing it in German ("Jesu bleibet meine Freude") and avoid the whole problem! But you can never, never go wrong with Bach, even an old warhorse like that!
The other anthems are completely unfamiliar to me. Who are the composers?
Do you not sing another anthem during the collection, before the Offertory hymn?
Let's see, yes on the Didemata, Palestrina and Beethoven's 9th with the religious words. Ubi Caritas is Rosania. Taste and See is Hurd (1950)
And it is the word change for "Jesu, Joy of OUR desiring" We do seem to use the 'alternate' text for those pieces that have it (like in the Prayer of St. Francis) The rest are pieces from Haugen, Haas, Farrell...
again, it's a mix, at least in our church. Of course, that is just for our choir. We are the traditional 4-part choir. There is also a gospel choir, a more contemporary choir, and a Life teen mass with it's own music. Just depends on what time you go!
Our choir also does some gospel too, some of my favorite music is from that genre (Deep River, Don't Be Worried).
...and *gasp* I personally have used the tamborine! Sending song "Soon and Very Soon"....
I guess I just love music and as I have said in other threads... the Lord knows what is in your heart. If you sing the music, whatever the music is, with your eyes set on God, He will know.
Also I have never seen anyone waving their hands around frantically when they were cantoring. Just a gentle hand raise.