Church Music

This song, from the As One Voice digital archive, is by Erica Marshall and is designed for the Scrutinies in Lent. The themes of water, light and life will resonate in many liturgies outside that specific use. It is a simple singable tune.

The sheet music can be purchased at As One Voice. You can also stream a vocal performance of the hymn there.

I made a backing to help learn the song.

1 Come, all of you who thirst, drink deep of my abundance.

With the water I will give, you will never thirst again.

Streams will freely flow, more than you could know.

With the water I can give you will never thirst again.

2 Come, all who dimly see, walk into light and beauty.

With the light that I will give, you will not be blind again.

All men to the light, darkness turn aright.

With the light that I can give you will not be blind again.

3 Come, all who are bound tight, come out into new freedom.

With the life that I can give, you will never die again.

Roll the stone away, you can live today.

With the life that I can give, you will never die again.

© 2007 Erica Marshall

The Year of Mercy was certainly the spur for much song writing. This one from As One Voice by Patricia Smith was written for school masses in that year, but that does not mean it couldn’t be used now in other liturgical situations.

The sheet music can be purchased at As One Voice. There is no sample music to listen to there, but I have made a backing to sing a long with.

1 Hands that welcome, hands that forgive,

Hands that are friendly, and hands that give!

Refrain

These are the hands of mercy, these hands give love and life.

These are the hands of mercy, these are the hands of Christ.

2 Hands, that comfort, hands that care,

Hands that are gentle, and hands that share!

3 Hands that heal us, hands that create,

Hands that are joyful, and celebrate!

4 Hands that encourage, hands that pray,

Hands that can speak and communicate!

5 Hands that lead us, hands that guide,

Hands that protect us and hold us tight!

© 2015 PA Smith

This Amanda McKenna song from the As One Voice digital archive is a response for between the Prayers of the Faithful.

You can purchase the sheet music here.

My backing goes through the tune twice, the second time being the tune used for the last time.

God of mercy and compassion, hear our prayer, hear our prayer.

God of mercy and compassion, hear our prayer, hear our prayer.

© 2015 Amanda McKenna

I am continuing may somewhat random survey of songs from the As One Voice digital archive. I’m especially looking at more recent songs that aren’t in the collections.

This lovely song on the subject of mercy was written by Monica O’Brien (lyrics) and Gina Ogilvie (music) for the Year of Mercy. That doesn’t mean it isn’t still useful when liturgically appropriate.

The sheet music can be purchased at As One Voice where there is a snippet of the song sung by Gina Ogilvie. I bought the sheet music to make my own backing.

1 God of mercy and compassion draw us deeply to your heart,

lead us to a place of healing where we’ll never be apart.

2 Let forgiveness be our passion reaching out with hands of peace.

Turning from the chains that bind us finding freedom and release.

Chorus

Mercy, ever flowing, freely given.

Mercy, mercy from the heart of God.

Mercy from the heart of God.

3 May our mission be of mercy, welcome all without reserve.

As one heart we stand for justice with compassion, called to serve.

Chorus

© 2015 Monica O’Brien & Gina Ogilvie

This is a very recent song (2020) from David McGregor from the As One Voice digital archive.

It is a much needed song of comfort in these times. It is in a country style.

The sheet music can be purchased at As One Voice.

There was no sample track there but I made a backing to sing along with.

1 No matter what’s around the corner, no matter what disorder,

No matter what the danger, You are there.

When worry makes you fear tomorrow, not much joy and too much sorrow,

When noises press, come follow. You are there.

Chorus

Do not fear. Do not fear. I’ll hold you in my mercy, I am here.

I’ll be your light; your safest keeping.

I’ll hold you forever, I’ll hold you forever, I’ll hold you forever, in my love.

2 O may I seek Your life, Your kingdom. O may I live Your wisdom.

O may I walk Your freedom ev’ry day.

To wait with joy to greet tomorrow, find peace in you I’ll follow,

Through ev’ry high and hollow, come what may.

Chorus

Chorus

© 2020 David MacGregor

I’m looking at songs from the As One Voice Digital archive. Some I can mostly work out from the preview provided, at least enough to see if the song is suitable for use, and some I am just buying the sheet music. Obviously if we are using a song at mass we purchase the sheet music.

This one only has a lead sheet with no notes for sale, based on the preview, but it is a great song by Amanda McKenna, so I set myself the task of figuring out the melody of this song to make a backing. I’m not one who can just figure this stuff out myself so I fed the song from Soundcloud through Band in a Box to get an idea of structure and using the chords from the lead sheet and my trusty ukelele I nutted out some notes that are a simplified version. Her wonderful version is quite the performance and would need some rationalisation to suit an assembly. My backing is just twice through the verses and chorus.

You can purchase the lead sheet at As One Voice.

1 Love one another. Love one another.

What keeps the earth from falling?

What moves a heart to sing?

What never ends has been here all along

and moves right through the heart of everything.

It’s the love of the mother for her child.

The love that lights the way through the darkest night.

Chorus

When we love one another and we love all of creation.

We have the power to move mountains and calm the raging seas.

This could be heaven on earth.

2 Love one another, Love one another.

Love is the word unspoken

and speaks the word to heal.

Love never ends, has been here all along

and moves the heart to overcome the fear.

Like the love of the father for his child.

The love the lights the way through the darkest night.

Chorus

© 2002 Amanda McKenna

The whole thing including the bridge I left out is in her Soundcloud file.

I’m getting to this song for Holy Week from the As One Voice Digital Archive a bit late, but I really love the tune, so perhaps for next year. The song is by Chris Currie with help from Peter Grant for the text of the verses and help from the Orthodox liturgy for the chorus.

The sheet music can be purchased at As One Voice, but there is no sample track for listening purposes. I’ve made my own backing so you can get an idea from that.

1 Father forgive the things they do, they know not who they crucify.

So let you mercy be on them, grant your forgiveness now I cry.

Refrain

Holy God, Holy Strength, Holy Immortal One,

Have mercy on us.

2 “In your kingdom, remember me”, a thief pleads with repentant cries.

His sorrow frees his soul to be, this day with me in paradise.

3 Oh mother, here beside my cross, woman, let John be now your son.

John, my beloved friend in life, take to your heart my dearest one.

4 My God, my God, where are you now? Why does your love seem far from me?

In this dark house of pain and loss, my heart cries “why abandon me?”

5 I thirst! They offer me sour wine; and yet, I offer them my love.

I thirst for those who love my vine. I thirst so all can know my love.

6 My sacrifice is finished now; the work of saving love is done.

Yet, in each one who sees my truth, love’s healing work continues on.

7 Father, my spirit now I pray, with trust into your loving hands.

I pray that I will see your face as death now claims my life and breath.

© 2014 Chris Currie

This is another song from As One Voice online, that was written after their collections were published. Patricia Smith wrote the text on mercy, that looks great for Lent, and set it to the chant IESU DULCIS MEMORIA.

The sheet music can be purchased at As One Voice.

I followed the metrical setting in the sheet music and made up some chords but you will realise this is chant and so free it up when you play it. As previously noted on this blog BIAB IS LOUSY AT CHANT.

1 Time of mercy, time of hope, a time to look into our hearts.

Review the path that we have chosen. Lord, lead us to your wilderness.

2 Hearts of anger, hearts of fear, made hard by selfishness and pride.

That ties the bonds that make us weak. Lord break our hearts to know your love.

3 Place of peace where we can hear the still and gentle voice of God.

Lord, gaze upon us long and deep. call us to come and follow you.

4 Lord, we seek your cleansing grace, now at the fountain of rebirth.

We long to turn from sin and seek the living water that you give.

5 Refresh our thirst with wisdom sweet. Restore the life that we have spoiled.

Renew our strength to do your will. Lord, lead us from the wilderness.

© 2015 P A Smith

This is the what it sounds like as chant with the original Latin text that goes with the tune.

This is another song originally in As One Voice for Kids. It is what is says it is and was written by Damian O’Halloran and Maria Millwood. This one is just for young children and is a version of the Lord’s Prayer for them.

The sheet music can be purchased at As One Voice where there is a snippet of the song to listen to. Our you could sing along to my BIAB backing to learn it.

1 Loving God in heaven above, holy your name; we sing it with love.

Help make our world a good place to be, happy and caring, peaceful and free.

Help all your children to do as you say, help us to listen to you everyday.

2 Give to us all of the good things we need, to help us grow strong, to go where you lead.

Forgive us all of the wrong things we do, we will forgive each other too.

Help all your children to do what is right, hold us and keep us safe in your sight.

Wonderful, powerful God, forever and ever. Amen!

This is a song for the Procession of the Gifts that was written for children with words by Monica O’Brien and Trisha Watts and music by Trisha Watts. It is in As One Voice for Kids but I never got round to blogging that collection. I found it in the As One Voice digital archive.

As I often comment, there is no reason for adults to avoid these children’s songs. They are direct and singable and have clear liturgical uses. We would also hope that children are participating at mass. You can purchase the sheet music at As One Voice.

Sing along to my backing if you don’t know it already.

1 We give thanks for the goodness of love that is shared.

We give thanks for this table around which we are fed.

We give thanks for this circle of friends and family.

We give thanks, we give thanks, we give thanks.

2 We give thanks for this off’ring of bread and of wine.

We give thanks for these blessings from earth and of vine.

We give thanks for the gath’ring of symbol, sign and song.

We give thanks, we give thanks, we give thanks.

3 We give thanks for tomorrow and thanks for today.

We give thanks for the journey and faith along the way.

We give thanks for the promise of Jesus with us now.

We give thanks, we give thanks, we give thanks.

© 2000 Trisha Watts and Monica O’Brien