This is another worthy song from the As One Voice Digital archive that isn’t in one of their collections. This song for Pentecost is by Amanda McKenna and Dave Brebner. It is quite singable with some gentle syncopation.
The sheet music can be purchased at As One Voice. You can hear Amanda McKenna sing it on Soundcloud.
1 You are the Spirit on the waters, you are the answer to our thirst.
You are the gentle rains upon the fields, the waters of new birth.
The rhythm of the ocean, the quiet sigh of the breeze.
The fire burning within our hearts to lift our voices up in praise.
Chorus
Holy Spirit come, Holy Spirit come, Holy Spirit come to us now.
Holy Spirit come, Holy Spirit come, Holy Spirit come to us now.
2 You are the heart of our compassion, you are the author of our days.
You are the voice crying in the wilderness, “Prepare ye the way.”
The warm hand on my shoulder, the courage to keep moving on.
The light that shines in the darkest hour, the hope when all our strength is gone.
I’m looking through the digital archive of As One Voice for songs that were written after the as One Voice Collections were published. This is a song about mercy, funnily enough, with Monica O’Brien’s text set by Gina Ogilvie.
Since it is a challenge it would work as a recessional or as a song of thanksgiving. I’m concerned the beautiful melody at the end of each verse might be a bit much for an unpracticed assembly.
The sheet music can be purchased at As One Voice, where you will also find Gina’s version of the song to stream.
Sing along with my Band in a Box backing to learn the song:
1 Light of mercy, shine within our hearts and reveal the path of justice.
Tear away the fear that holds us back from reaching out in love.
Chorus
In all that we do and all that we are
May the light of mercy shine deep within us.
Deep within us.
2 Light of mercy, shine within our minds, free us from the chains of judgment.
Turn our thoughts toward equality where we can live as one.
3 Light of mercy, shine within our souls, and release us from our struggles.
Show us your compassion, hold us in your everlasting light.
It is a song of praise and thanksgiving with a text based on Psalms 92 and 95.
There is a nonvocal music sample at AOV to give you an idea of the tune and you can also purchase the sheet music there. I made a backing to sing along to in any case.
1 It good to give thanks to the Lord,
To sing praise to the Name most high;
To declare God’s kindness at dawn,
Love and faithfulness throughout darkest night.
Refrain
Praise God with stringed instruments and the lyre,
This is a mantra with words by Monica O’Brien and music by Gina Ogilvie that was written after the closing of the canon at As One Voice (ie it’s not in the book). The uses are obvious from the text.
This a Peter Grant hymn based on Psalms 98 and 149 that is in the As One Voice digital archive. It is a gentle but joyous song of praise for thanksgiving and sending forth from Mass. The tune goes in unexpected directions and the triplets in the verse are effective. Peter is taking over the ! mantle from Frank Andersen!
In the digital archive of As One Voice I found another fine song from Patricia Smith of Kuringai Chase parish that was written after the As One Voice books were published. The new website makes it easier to find songwriters that you haven’t heard of, and fresh songs that are liturgically useful.
This song was written for the Year of Mercy but is still a useful song and is especially recommended by AOV for Lent and Advent.
There is no sound sample at AOV so listen to the BIAB backing I made and sing along. The sheet music can be purchased at As One Voice.
1 Lord, come and change my heart, heal my spirit, and put a new heart in me.
A heart whose love knows no limits, a heart of mercy, a heart like yours.
Refrain
Come break this heart of stone, come break this heart of stone,
And place within me a heart of flesh, a heart of mercy, a heart like yours.
2 Lord, give me a heart that’s open and forgiving, a heart that never gives up hope.
A heart that sees without judging, a heart of mercy, a heart like yours.
3 Lord, give me a heart that’s patient and gentle, a heart that listens and heals.
A heart that says, “I am with you,” a heart of mercy, a heart like yours.
4 Lord, give me a heart that longs to feed your people, that hears the cry of the poor.
A heart that gives without counting, a heart of mercy, a heart like yours.
5 Lord, give me a heart that’s always slow to anger, a heart that’s quick to forgive.
A heart that’s rich in compassion, a heart of mercy, a heart like yours.
In my search through the digital archive at As One Voice, I found this Amanda McKenna song that she wrote for Catholic Education week at the Rockhampton Diocese. It is based on John 10:10 and would work well as a rousing recessional.
The sheet music that can be purchased at as One Voice is also available in SATB and it would great to hear it done by a choir.
The snippet there gives a wordless idea of the tune, but I made my own backing as well.
Chorus
Come, live life in all its fullness and become the very best that we can be.
This another song from As One Voice’s digital archive that never made it into their print hymnals. Amanda McKenna wrote this soul song in praise of the Creator. The text sounds like a hymn for panentheism so I’m all in.
I don’t see why an assembly could not sing this – the syncopation is gentle and it is a lovely tune.
This is very recent song from the digital platform of As One Voice. It is a dance/rap praise and worship song from Gen Bryant that is from 2019. It could be used a recessional in a youth context but the rap section is not very participatory so maybe just do verse, chorus and the “woo-oo”s. Much of the verse is triplets but the chorus is for joining in.
Making a backing for this on Band in a Box was asking for trouble – suffice to say there are sixteen bars to rap over if you wish, otherwise just jump up and down a lot.
1 We welcome you into the light of this day.
With each new horizon you show us the way,
You show us the way.
We find understanding, we walk in your truth;
Transform our hearts and lead us to you,
Lead us to you.
Chorus
When the night falls, Spirit guide us; through the darkness, lead the way.
Be our power deep within us; come revive our hearts again.
Woo-oo Woo-oo Come revive our hearts again.
Woo-oo Woo-oo Come revive our hearts again.
2 The Father created, the Son he redeemed.
The Spirit inspires… oh what mystery.
What mystery.
Though we may not know this by reason alone,
We walk in faith: in your love we will know;
By our lives we will show.
Chorus
Bridge
The Spirit is moving inside you and me,
Chaos surrounds us, but still we will sing.
The Spirit is moving are you listening?
Close your eyes: you’ll hear the Paraclete.
Rap break
Do you hear it? Can you feel it?
Light shines bright down in your spirit.
Most people never acknowledge it ’cause they fear it.
Some sacrifice their life to stay near.
A beautiful light. A beautiful struggle. The world is loud. The spirit is subtle.
A beautiful light. A beautiful struggle. The world is loud. The spirit is subtle.
Holy Spirit’s my confidant – guides my path when the nights are long.
When everything around me is feeling wrong,
You give me strength to sing along.
Praise your name until I’m gone. By your side’s where I belong.
You’re our joy in trials and pain.
This revival’s bringing real change.
This revival’s bringing real change.
Last Chorus
When the night falls, Spirit guide us; through the darkness, lead the way.
Be our power deep within us; come revive our hearts again.
When the night falls, Spirit guide us; through the darkness, lead the way.
Be our power deep within us; come revive our hearts again.
I’m continuing to look for songs at As One Voice that weren’t in their collections.
Patrica Smith wrote this one and as there was no sample of the music I made a backing to see how it went. She is the music coordinator at St Patrick’s church in the parish of Kuringgai Chase, Sydney.
It is an impressive song of conviction and social justice. The repetition makes it almost into a mantra with a gentle singable tune that I would bring down from C to A so the long notes are A’s rather than Cs.
The sheet music can be purchased at AOV. For once I actually put the ritard in at the end of the song.
1 By the grace of God, I am a servant of the Lord.
By the grace of God, I have been called to his work.
By the grace of God, we will stand against the night.
By the grace of God, we will witness to the truth,
By the grace of God.
2 By the grace of God, I hear the cries of those in need.
By the grace of God, I see their hunger and their fear.
By the grace of God, we will answer when they call.
By the grace of God, with open hands and hearts,
By the grace of God.
3 By the grace of God, I have been gifted by the Lord,
By the grace of God, to help the children of the poor.
By the grace of God, we will fill their lives with hope.
By the grace of God, we will bind up every wound,
By the grace of God.
4 By the grace of God, life will triumph over death.
By the grace of God, love will vanquish every fear.
By the grace of God, we will set the captives free.
I've worked my way through the As One Voice books and other collections making backings on Band in a Box to help me (& you if you're interested) learn new songs for church. This is aimed at churches and musicians that own the collections but haven't exploited them fully. If you don't have them they are certainly worth buying. This site is educational, nonprofit and designed to enhance the commercial prospects of songwriters. This site does not distribute copyrighted sheet music.
Disclaimer
Any opinions expressed here are personal views and not the responsibility of any Church.
All music backings posted are created by myself and the intention is for them to be used to learn the songs. If any copyright holder wishes me to cease publicising and promoting their wares and directing people to where sheet music can be legally purchased please let me know.
Mason’s “Mass of Glory and Praise”
To access my backings for Paul Mason's mass go to Feb 2011 in the archive.
