Church Music

Shirley Erena Murray, the great writer of convicting hymn texts of social justice died recently. Known worldwide for such texts as “A Place at the Table” and “Star Child”, her song “Touch the Earth Lightly” is in CWB II. You might also know “When Human Voices Cannot Sing”, which is in Gather Australia.

I pass on some of the e-mail from her family.

Tena koutou

It is with much sadness that we note the passing of Shirley.

She died on Saturday afternoon New Zealand time, peacefully at Paraparaumu.

Mum had been in declining health for some months, and was accepting of the last passage of her life, so it was both a relief for her and the family, despite the obvious sadness.

Funeral arrangements – Friday 31 January, 11:00 am at Kapiti Uniting Church, 10 Weka Road, Raumati Beach.

We send aroha (love) to all her friends, relatives, and those in the music community.

David, Alastair and Rob

There are further details here.

She had a unique gift that will be greatly missed.

All the songs in Brian Boniwell’s book Spirit of Love have a liturgical purpose, which is certainly obvious here. Interestingly, this song finishes on a verse rather than the chorus, which works as the final line of the second, fourth and fifth verses states what is happening. There are enough verses for a crowd to get baptised. I should note that in some of these songs, including this one, Jan Boniwell contributes to the lyrics.

1 Here in this water the Spirit has come

covering all with new love.

The seed of the Spirit, the breath of new life,

the power of creation within.

2 You are my daughter, you are my son,

grow with the gifts that I bring.

Nurtured and fed by the Spirit of God,

the life of the Father and Son.

You have been baptised in Christ.

Refrain

All who are born of the Spirit,

Sing the song of new life.

Living with hope and new vision,

graced from the presence within.

3 Called to be holy, called to grow strong,

washed in the waters of life.

Anointed and graced to walk in the light,

clothed with the garment of faith.

4 You are the temple, the house of our God,

shine with the light in your heart.

Loved by his people who share in your life,

walk with the fire burning bright.

You have been baptised in Christ.

Refrain

5 May all our family who gather this day

find a new peace in our lives.

Strengthened, encouraged, united as one,

share this joy and this love

You have been baptised in Christ.

© Brian Boniwell 2000

This is obviously the song for Eucharist from Brian Boniwell’s Spirit of Love collection.

I hear a vague similarity to David Haas’s “Table Song” . The sheet music says 75 bpm but 100 is more like it.

Refrain

This is the body of Christ,

Blessed and broken for us,

Blessed and given for us.

This is the body of Christ.

1 This is the bread of my love.

How I long to fill you with my life.

Refrain

2 Drink from the cup of my blood.

Let my Spirit heal you deep within.

Refrain

3 If you would live in my love,

Hold my word, my promise in your heart.

Refrain

4 Gathered as one in my name,

Take my joy, my freedom to the world.

© Brian Boniwell 2000

This is is another recessional from Brian Boniwell’s Spirit of Love collection.

It is in the voice of God, which I gather is frowned on these days but it suits the liturgical action well and is singable as usual. He does introduce slight variations in the timing of notes between the verses – he does this a lot – but assemblies will just sing over these and smooth them out.

1 Go now I am sending you to walk the way of peace.

To spread the warmth of human kindness, love will be your sign.

Love will be your sign.

2 Take the bread of life I give, a leaven for the world.

Share the word that has been broken, share the fruits of love.

Share the fruits of love.

3 Let my Spirit come the change your water into wine.

Heal the broken, raise the fallen, comfort in my name.

Comfort in my name.

4 Join the song creation sings, a hymn of joyful praise.

Speak the truth and speak for justice, let your voice be heard.

Let your voice be heard.

5 Know that I will be with you, no matter where you roam.

Gently leading gently guiding, love will bring you home.

Love will bring you home.

© Brian Boniwell 2000

Entrance: Praise To You O Christ (Farrell) AOV 1/28

Psalm 23:

Who is the king of glory? It is the Lord!

Gifts:  Blessed be Our God  (McKenna) AOV NG 13

Communion: Bread of Life  (Farrell) AOV 1/164

Thanksgiving: Come to Set Us Free (Farrell) AOV 1/39

Recessional:  Christ Be Our Light  (Farrell) AOV 2/3

This Brian Boniwell song from his collection, Spirit of Love, is meant for reconciliation. It would also be fine during Lent or for private reflection.

Contact Brian to get the sheet music. ( boniwell@aapt.net.au )

1 I have strayed from you O Lord.

I have turned my face from you.

I have walked down other ways.

But now I come to seek your love and forgiveness.

Refrain

Keep me safe in the shadow of your wings.

Keep me safe, keep me safe.

Though I have strayed from you, O Lord,

your mercy will endure.

2 Now I know your light in me.

Now I feel your warmth within.

You have touched my deepest need.

And now, O Lord, in you alone I want to live.

Refrain

© Brian Boniwell 2000

All the songs in Brian Boniwell’s collection Spirit of Love have a liturgical use.

This one is a stirring recessional with an unusual three line verse form. Contact Brian to get the sheet music. ( boniwell@aapt.net.au )

Refrain

Let your light shine with the brightness of Christ.

Let your light shine for the world.

Walk in the light of the glory of God,

O, come, let your light shine.

1 Darkness is touched by the dawn,

Word become flesh in our lives,

Jesus the light.

Refrain

2 Stars of the heavens so bright,

rich with the depth of your love,

guiding our way.

Refrain

3 Fire in the desert of night,

lead us to freedom and peace,

promise of life.

Refrain

4 Called to be one in the light,

you are the salt of the earth,

savor of life.

Refrain

5 Reach out with healing and hope,

Spirit alive in our hearts,

Spirit of love.

Refrain

©Brian Boniwell 2000

Brian Boniwell suggests this lovely song as a reflection. It is based on Matt 13:4-9,18-23 and would make sense when those readings come up. It would make a good solo. It is from the collection Spirit of Love available from Brian. ( boniwell@aapt.net.au )

It is a folk song but the gentle syncopation suggested a bossa to me.

1 The sower came at sunrise and walked upon the earth,

to spread the seed of life, to plant the Word of God.

Some fell on the pathway, where the birds fed on the seed,

some fell on the shallow rocky ground.

2 Seed that fell on rocky ground had little strength to last.

Without a depth of soil, it withered up and died.

Seed that grew among the thorns was covered by the sun.

The worries of each day destroyed its life.

Refrain

Take the Word of life deep within your heart.

Nurture it with prayer, nurture it with love.

Let it grow within you. let it fill your life.

The harvest of the Spirit of God.

3 Seed upon the fertile soil was taken by the earth,

enfolded in its warmth and given new birth.

From deep within creation’s heart it grew into the light.

The golden harvest ripened in the sun.

Refrain

©Brian Boniwell 2000

I’ll give OCP’s Guitar Accompaniment Book a rest again and finally get around to this excellent collection from Australian songwriter, Brian Boniwell.

This collection is of songs that are all suitable for liturgy. Godsongs has a good overview of the whole collection.

I have already blogged the title track here. It is designed for confirmation.

Since then we have had contact details and you can contact Brian about purchasing his collections at boniwell@aapt.net.au to check on prices etc.

His most well known songs in the collection, “Will You Love Me” and “Prepare the Road of Justice”, have also already been blogged here, but I will cover all the others.

Ricky Manalo wrote the music and refrain for this song that can be used for prayer. It may have once been used for the gospel acclamation but I’m not sure that would be OK these days. He gives five psalm verses for each church year from various sources.

The sheet music is at OCP where the text is in their preview.

I just did the refrain since the verses are sung over it by the cantor.