Church Music

This is a song of encouragement from Brian Boniwell loosely based on John 14. He has us singing in the voice of God, which is less fashionable these days, but it was OK for psalms in the day.

The verses have the minor variations that suggest a cantor, like many of his songs, but I wonder if an assembly would just smooth them out and sing each verse the in much the same way.

Apple Music will let you listen to an except of the song. Directions on how to get the sheet music are here.

Refrain

Wherever you go, I will go with you,

Wherever your road, I will be there.

Wherever you go, wherever you journey,

I will be there with you.

1

Do not let your hearts be troubled.

Do not be afraid.

I will walk beside you

Every step of the way.

2

Loving one another

With the love I give to you,

You will be a light that shines

For all the world to see.

3

Peace, the gift I give to you,

Will be your strength and joy.

Let my spirit lead you to

the place where I have gone.

© Brian Boniwell 1997

I’m still working my way through Brian Boniwell’s fascinating collection “People of the Resurrection”.  If you only know his hits, it is worth digging though the rest of his canon.

Here he sets one of the oldest Christian hymns from Phillipians 2:6-11. He again uses repetition effectively in his paraphrase. He does push a higher Christology than the original – it doesn’t say he was God, just that he had “the nature of God”. This hymn is quoted by Paul and therefore precedes him and as you would expect has an early low Christology.

You can hear an extract of the song at Apple Music. You can find out how to get his sheet music here.

Refrain

Jesus you are Lord of life,

Raised to share the Father’s glory.

Jesus you have come to us,

Giving us your life.

1

And though he was God,

He came from the Father to live as a man, to be like us.

Not claiming his rights as the Son of the Father,

He emptied himself to give us his life.

2

And though he was God,

He came as a servant, to share in our joys, to share in our pain.

Though living as man, he became yet more lowly,

Accepting death, death on a tree.

3

The father raised him high above all creation,

To give him the name above other names.

And so every knee on earth and in heaven,

Must bow to the name of Jesus the Lord.

© Brian Boniwell 1997.

Based on Matt 14:25-33 this Brian Boniwell song is a song of faith and welcome.

I’m noticing his gift for repetition that sells a theme well. There is something comforting about the tune, too.

The verses don’t match exactly but should suit an assembly with a little effort.

You can get his sheet music by following the instructions here and you can listen to a snippet at Apple Music.

Refrain

Come to me, do not be afraid.

I will lift you up and carry you along.

Walk upon the water, take courage it is I,

Come.

1

What little faith you have, why should you doubt?

I will never leave you, I will never leave you.

Do not turn your face from me, trust in my call.

Look across the waters, see me on the waters.

2

Shining in the darkest night my light will be there,

Guiding you to safety, leading you to harbour.

Listen to my voice gently calling your name,

walk upon the water, walk upon the water.

Coda

Come, come, come.

© Brian Boniwell 1997.

Brian Boniwell based this unusual song on Ephesians 3:14-21.

I love the last 3 lines of the refrain. The verses do have some fiddly variations again that might call for a cantor, or it might just be a solo vehicle. Parts of it remind me of a John Denver song, “For Baby, For Bobbie”.

A snippet of the song can be heard at Apple Music. Details on how to get the sheet music are here.

1

This prayer I pray, kneeling before the Father,

From whom each one takes their name.

Out of the store of his mighty glory,

May he make you strong in his love.

Refrain

May you be filled with the knowledge of God,

And grow in the fullness of love.

For in Jesus we live,

And in Jesus we move,

And in him we are born, once again.

2

May Jesus live by faith in your hearts,

Be planted and built on his love.

With all the saints, desire to know his riches,

All knowledge beyond what is known.

3

All praise to him whose power is working in us,

He can do far more than we could ask.

Blessed be his name for ages unending,

Give glory to him for all time.

© Brian Boniwell 1997.

I’ve got to the title track of this album by Brian Boniwell. I see it as an out and out rock song that could be used for gathering. The verses have the same basic tune but there are variations to fit the text that might require a cantor. Since the verses are in the voice of God that may be a good thing in any case.

Follow this link to get details on purchasing the sheet music.  You can hear a snippet of the music at Apple Music.

My backing is a little heavier.

Refrain

People of the word, people of the Spirit,

People of the resurrection.

People of the word, people of the Spirit,

People of the resurrection.

1

I came to be your servant,

The least among you all.

I came to seek the outcast and the poor.

2

You must give to others

What I have given you.

Reaching out to welcome in my name.

3

Called to be a river

That flows on to the sea.

Pouring out, receiving from on high.

4

Welcoming the stranger,

You have welcomed me.

Gather round the table in my love.

© Brian Boniwell 1997.

Brian Boniwell has mined passages from Romans to channel an uplifting message from St Paul. It has a memorable tune with a triplet hook through most of the refrain. I think a cantor will be needed to cope with the variations between the verses, but the refrain hits a pleasant groove and should be open to the assembly.

Use these contact details to get the sheet music and listen to snippet  of the song here.

My backing goes laid back with a little gentle Latin influence.

Refrain

Where there is joy, there is peace.

Where there is faith, there is a light.

Where there is love there is laughter and song.

Where there is hope there is life.

1

For this is know, that neither death nor life

Can take us from the love of the Lord.

Nothing on the earth, nothing in the heavens

Can keep us from the love of God.

2

Nothing from the past, nothing in the future

Can take us from the love of the Lord.

Neither hurt nor sorrow, nor any earthly power,

Can keep us from the love of God.

3

Keep us safe from harm O Spirit of the Lord,

Be with us in the hour of our need.

Lead us to the Father through Christ, the only Son.

Protect us with the strength of your love.

Coda

Where there is hope there is life.

© Brian Boniwell 1997

Entrance: All Are Welcome (Haugen)

Psalm 33 (McKenna)

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Gifts: A Place at the Table (Shirley Erena Murray – Lori True) AOV NG 1

Communion: Lord to Whom Shall We Go? (Herry) AOV 1/6

Thanksgiving: Enemy of Apathy (Bell-Maule) AOV 2/75

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

I think this lovely song by Brian Boniwell shows his appeal.  It is a song that has three bible stories that exemplify God’s love, each told as a bare bone simple narrative that all compliment the refrain about the incarnation. Simple but charming, singable and effective.

It would make sense when any of the relevant readings came up in the liturgy.

Buy his sheet music following the directions here and listen to a snippet at Apple Music.

Refrain

No greater love, no greater love

Than the Word of the Father come to live among us.

No greater love, no greater love

Than the Word made flesh for us.

1

Weeping at the feet of Jesus, pouring out her love.

Mary touched the living heart of God.

Drying with her hair, love’s forgiveness was reborn,

Reaching deep within to bring her home.

2

The shepherd watching for his sheep went searching for the stray,

Leaving all the flock to search for one.

And finding it, rejoicing on his shoulders bore it home,

Holding it with tenderness and love.

3

The Father searched each day to find his son returning home,

And when at last he came, the Father cried:

“Celebrate, this son of mine was lost, but now is found.

Clothe him in our joy to feast with us”.

© Brian Boniwell 1997.

This is a song for Eucharist by Brian Boniwell from his album “People of the Resurrection”.

There are some subtle changes from verse to verse lying in wait for the unwary, but probably not enough to enforce a cantor. The more I listened the more I liked the tune and the text is simple and direct.

You can hear a sample of the song at Apple Music and I put contact details to purchase the sheet music here.

Refrain

Whenever you take this bread to eat,

Do it in memory of me.

Whenever you drink this cup of my blood,

Do it in memory of me.

1

This bread has become the body of Christ,

Broken and given for you.

This cup now holding the covenant blood,

Was poured out in anguish for you.

2

This bread is for all who come in my name,

Gathered to worship and pray.

This cup we share brings new life for the world,

Conquering darkness and sin.

3

This bread now broken, this cup we now take,

Will be our forgiveness and peace.

Your word, your life shared so gently with us

Binds us together in love.

© Brian Boniwell 1997.

The next song in my survey of Brian Boniwell’s book People of the Resurrection is “We Are Your People”.

This is most singable and liturgical apt as a gathering song. There are some minor variations in the tune across the verses but they flow naturally from the text so it should be alright for the assembly.  There is some “Yoda-speak” in the second verse that I think he gets away with.

A sample of the music is at Apple music and I put up contact details to get the sheet music here.

Refrain

We are the people who follow your word,

We are your people Lord.

We are the people who follow your word,

We are your people Lord.

1

We are your people, chosen by you.

Called to be holy, called to be true.

Gifted and graced by the Spirit of God,

We are your people Lord.

2

Broken your body, poured out your blood.

Love given freely, given for all.

Gathered to praise you to share in your life,

We are your people Lord.

3

Life in the Spirit, Life in the Son.

Poured out in Jesus upon every one.

Cover us gently O Spirit of God,

We are your people Lord.