Church Music

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

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.

Chorus

© 2006 Amanda McKenna & Dave Brebner

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.

© 2015 Monica O’Brien and Gina Ogilvie

This is a another of Peter Grant’s melodic songs from the As One Voice Digital site.

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,

With melody upon the harp;

For you make me glad O Lord, by your deeds,

At the works of your hand I rejoice!

2 O come let us sing to the Lord;

Make a joyful noise to our God.

Let us come into the Presence,

With thanksgiving and joy, sing God’s praise!

3 O come, let us worship, bow down;

Let us kneel before God, our Maker!

For the Lord is God, and we

Are the flock the Lord shepherds and guides.

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.

The sheet music can be purchased at A One Voice.

I couldn’t find a version of the tune on the internet so I made a BIAB backing.

Spirit flowing through mind and body.

Spirit flowing in this place.

Spirit flowing through mind and body.

Spirit flowing in this place.

© 2012 Monica O’Brien and Gina Ogilvie

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!

The sheet music can be purchased at As One Voice. There is a wordless melody sample there.

I made my own backing to sing along to so I can learn the song.

Refrain

Lift up your hands! Lift up your voices in the praise of Jesus our Lord!

Lift up your hearts! Sing and rejoice and give praise to Jesus our Lord!

1 Sing to the Lord a new song of praise

in the assembly of the faithful.

Let people be glad! Let children rejoice!

Come praise him with dance, with music and voice!

2 Sing to the Lord with joy all the earth.

Give thanks for all his love and faithfulness.

Let instruments play! Let ev’ry voice sing!

Creation resound! Praise Jesus our King!

© 2013 Peter Grant

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.

© 2015 P A Smith

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.

When we open our eyes and open our hearts

We shine the light of love for all to see.

Verse

Christ is the vine and we are the branches,

Learning and growing in wisdom each day.

And we have been called to love one another.

Jesus Christ will show us the way.

Chorus

© 2014 Amanda McKenna

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.

The sheet music can be purchased at As One Voice.

1 Breath of Creator, essence of stardust,

Lord of eternity, keeper of time.

Wisdom of ages, through eons unfolding,

called into love by God’s own design.

2 Word of God spoken, Christ here among us,

Lighting the way with compassion and grace.

Fountain of mercy, of wisdom and justice,

Beautiful vision of God’s loving face.

3 God of communion, love without limit,

Seeded in stardust and sprung from your Word.

Breath of the Spirit through all of creation,

Make our hearts one with the Author of all.

© 2007 Amands McKenna