Church Music

This is Amanda McKenna’s version of the blessing from Numbers 6:24-26. I don’t think I have heard it before but it dates from 1987. (The song not the blessing…it is somewhat older)

It is call and response but more thoughtful than most of those specimens as the response isn’t always the the same notes and there are unison sections as well.

The sheet music can be purchased at As One Voice. You can hear Amanda sing it at Sound Cloud.

(Solo) May the Lord Bless you and keep you.

(ALL) MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU.

(Solo) May His face shine upon you.

(ALL) MAY HIS FACE SHINE UPON YOU.

(Solo) And be gracious.

(ALL) AND BE GRACIOUS .

AND BE KIND AND GRACIOUS TO YOU.

(Solo) May He look upon you with kindness.

(ALL) MAY HE LOOK UPON YOU WITH KINDNESS.

(Solo) And give you His peace.

(ALL) AND GIVE YOU HIS PEACE.

AND GIVE YOU HIS PEACE .

AMEN

© 1987 Amanda McKenna.

I don’t think I’ve blogged any of Jen Charadia’s work before. I have been to workshops of hers over the years at AOV and APMN conferences.

This perhaps isn’t typical of her work, which is often reflective mantras, as it is a rock song for gathering or recessional and commissioning as well. It is a P&W format with a prechorus and bridge and repeated refrains etc. It was written for a Catholic youth leaders conference in 2012.

The sheet music can be purchased at As One Voice where there is a snippet of it played properly, switching to a half time pattern in the refrain. My backing is straight up rock.

1 Ev’rything we are we bring to you.

Immersed in living waters washed in grace.

You draw is from the deep and speak our names,

Surrounded by your Spirit’s warm embrace.

Come upon us Spirit fall. Come upon us Spirit fall.

Refrain

Anointed in holiness sent out with hearts that burn.

Anointed in your holy name sent to proclaim good news, good news.

2 Ev’ry day we meet you face to face

Within the captive heart that we set free.

You lead us from the dark that we might see

The blind and oppressed and give release.

Come upon us Spirit fall. Come upon us Spirit fall.

Refrain

Bridge

Blessed be our holy hands.

Blessed be our holy eyes.

Blessed be our holy hearts.

Blessed be our work with you

Repeat Bridge

Refrain x2

© Jen Charadia 2012

Having put OCP’s book to bed, I’m going to focus on the Australian offerings at the new Willow/As One Voice digital site for a while.

This is an amazing Amanda McKenna song I haven’t heard before. She wrote the “Mass of Love” and the psalm responses that we use. As One Voice: Next Generation has several of her wonderful songs, including “Gather As One” and “Blessed be Our God” that we use locally.

I can’t find any versions of this song to listen to, so I made my own version. I love the melody, although I wonder if it is too delicate for an assembly in places. She has pulled in pretty much direct biblical quotes for her lyrics so there can be no complaints there. The sheet music can be purchased at Willow in Am or Bm. My backing is in Am.

1 God so loved the world he gave his only son.

The light has come into the world that we may all be one.

2 And he said, “Peace I give to you, my peace I leave with you my friends.

And I will always be with you until the end of time.

Refrain

Should you walk through the fire, be not afraid!

Or pass through the stormy seas, be not afraid!

I go before you, be not afraid!

Come to me and I will give you rest.”

3 Love your God with all your heart; with all your mind and soul and strength.

And love your neighbour as yourself. Do this and you will live.

Refrain

Refrain

© 2009 Amanda McKenna

This is the last of the 2007 update that I haven’t already blogged and a lovely song to end the many years of blogging the enormous tome that is my OCP Guitar Accompaniment Book c2005.

I really like this song of praise adapted by Angus McDonell from Psalm 146.

OCP provides the text in their preview and will sell you the sheet music here. BIAB thought it was even more a country song than the original version.

This Harry Hagan hymn is good for commissioning rites, RCIA and All Saints. He set his new(ish) words to an old tune called DETROIT. There are alternative verses for more saints than you could wish for.

As usual the sheet music can be purchased at OCP who provide the text in their preview.

The tune looks like it began life as a shapenote song.

Janet Sullivan Whitaker has written this fetching ballad on the theme of social justice and peace. Is “swords and ploughshares” such a common trope that Isaiah 2:4 needs no mention, nor Psalm 122 for “your peace we pray, O Jerusalem”.

OCP have the sheet music and the text in their preview.

Entrance:  Gather As One  (McKenna) AOV NG 48

Psalm 46 (McKenna)

God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

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

Communion:  Seed, Scattered and Sown (Feiten) CWB II 592

Thanksgiving:  One Body (O’Brien- Watts) AOV 2/146

Recessional:  Sing of the Lord’s Goodness   (Sands) AOV 1/131

Entrance:  Alleluia! Love Is Alive (Angrisano, Manibusan, Hart)

Psalm 97 (McKenna)

The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power; his saving power.

Gifts: As I Have Done for You (Schutte)

Communion: Bread of Heaven  (Manibusan-Hart)

Thanksgiving: Servant Song   (Gillard) AOV 2/169

Recessional:  Though the Mountains May Fall  (Schutte)  AOV 1/182

Entrance: All the Ends of the Earth (Dufford) AOV 1/76)

Psalm 21 (McKenna)

I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.

Gifts: A Trusting Psalm (Bates) AOV 1/115

Communion: Bread Broken, Wine Shared Bread  (Horner) AOV 2/155

Thanksgiving: A New Commandment (Unknown)

Recessional:  Sing to the Mountains  (Dufford) AOV 1/92

Entrance:   Christ Light, Shining in the Darkness (Grant) CWB II 468.

Psalm 117 (McKenna)

The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.

Gifts:  Shepherd Me O God (Haugen) AOV 1/33

Communion: Unless a Grain of Wheat (Farrell) AOV 1/35

Thanksgiving: Like a Shepherd (Dufford) AOV 1/160

Recessional:  Jesus Is Risen (O’Brien- Ogilvie) AOV NG 82