The Lord Is My Shepherd: A Song for the Saints

For Sunday, November 2, 2025
The Lord is My Shepherd by Howard Goodall

By Carol Nave

This Sunday, the choir offers Psalm 23 by English composer Howard Goodall, a setting many will recognize as the theme from the beloved BBC series The Vicar of Dibley. Written in 1993, Goodall’s version of this familiar psalm pairs the comforting words “The Lord is my shepherd” with a luminous, flowing melody that feels both timeless and deeply personal.

Unlike many traditional choral settings, Goodall’s music unfolds with a gentle simplicity. The harmonies shimmer with warmth and reassurance, inviting listeners into the peaceful trust expressed in the text. The piece captures the spirit of Psalm 23 not as a distant declaration of faith, but as a tender conversation between the soul and God.

Goodall has said he wanted to write a setting that reflected “calm, consolation, and timelessness,” and this anthem does just that. It reminds us that even “though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” we do so accompanied by God’s abiding love. May its beauty offer you peace and renewal as we worship together this Sunday.