Church Music

I’m sure I have played this song at church in the past but I’ve never blogged it here. He based it on Exodus 19:4. Like many of his songs Fr Andersen suggests the verses aren’t suitable for the assembly, but that hasn’t stopped anyone.

It has an obvious use in funerals and the chorus is suggested as a psalm response.

In the big book I have, he suggests that when singing the chorus we express the “sweep and swing of the soaring eagle that is built into the music.”

Antiphon:

I have carried you on eagle’s wings!
I will care for you in all your years!

My heart is full of peace;
You have been within my life!
Your guiding hand has always covered me
I am full of confidence in You! Antiphon

My soul is like a child,
Cradled safe within your arms!
You have carried me across my years!
Leading me thru’ sorrow and thru’ joy. Antiphon

You have bridged the flowing streams,
And moved aside the mountains tall!
You have kept me through the stormy past
I know that you secure and guide me still! Antiphon

Never need I be afraid!
No matter how uncertain things may be!
Sometimes thru’ me, sometimes in spite of me,
You seem to find your purpose in my life! Antiphon

I know failure in my life
The weakness so central to my heart!
When I have strayed or fallen in my life
You gently set me on my feet again! Antiphon

© Frank Andersen 1979

Frank Andersen based this uplifting hymn on Col 1:15-20.

You can get his sheet music and CDs here.

My old book had only three verses but the new downloadable version has four.

1

Christ the visible expression of our God. We praise you!

Long before creation he existed and was Lord. We praise you!

Chorus

And therefore he is rightly called Lord of all.

And therefore he is rightly called Lord of all!

2

Through him everything was made, he is the Father’s word. We praise you!

Power and dominion rest on him, creation’s Lord. We praise you!

3

Deep in him the principle from which all life began. We praise you!

Center point of history, God’s reconciling plan. We praise you!

4

Making peace upon the cross he suffered for all men. We praise you!

Reconciling man to God and reconciling men. We praise you!

© Frank Andersen 1979

Tom Hodgson is looking for a copy of this book.

I want to obtain the new living parish hymnal accompaniment book ( blue cover ) by Lucas set written in the late 1960’s. It is the hymnal I grew up with and I have been chasing one for over 20 years. Would anyone know where one is?

I have a copy I bought years ago at a Life Line book sale.  I can’t find one on Abebooks.

I think it is what he is after but it is from 1987 and edited by John de Luca. There was the loose leaf “Living Worship Hymnal” that was also blue I suppose.

Any suggestions for Tom?

Entrance: A New Heart for a New World (O’Brien/Watts) AOV 1/158

Psalm 77 (McKenna)

The Lord gave them bread from heaven.

Gifts: Come to Set Us Free (Farrell) AOV 1/39

Communion: In the Breaking of the Bread (Hurd)  AOV 1/58

Thanksgiving: I am the Bread of Life (Toolan) AOV 1/49

Recessional: Bring Forth the Kingdom (Haugen) AOV 2/4

This song by Fr Frank Andersen, from Eagle’s Wings is based on Philemon 1:3-11. I’m not sure how a text like this can actually be used.

His music can be purchased here.

Chorus

I thank my God each time I think of you.

And when I pray for you I pray with joy.

1

Now there is one thing I am sure of

He who begins this work in you

Will see that it is truly finished

When the day of Jesus comes.

2

That I should feel like this towards you

Seems only natural to me.

For you have shared with me my labours;

The Gospel privilege with me.

3

Since you have borne with me my burdens,

I now bear you within my heart.

And God alone knows how I miss you.

I love you just as Christ loves me.

3

Since you have borne with me my burdens,

I now bear you in my heart.

And God alone knows how I miss you.

I love you just as Christ loves me.

4

I pray your knowledge will be deepened.

Your love be mutual and strong.

Then you will reach the perfect goodness.

Then to the Lord you will belong.

© Frank Andersen 1979

As I continue through Frank Andersen’s Eagle’s Wings, Deep in the Spirit can skipped  as I have already covered it.

This song is pretty self explanatory but none the worse for that. It is based on Psalm 139.

It is a lovely tune that reminds in parts of the incidental music in Charlie Brown’s Christmas! The latest version in the downloadable sheet music loses a couple of Yahweh’s. I have have lost all his exclamation marks.

As a song for personal devotion it is a lovely surprise and one of Father Frank’s hidden gems.

Chorus

I will praise my God in the morning.

I will sing God’s praises all my day.

For my God is my strength and glory.

My God truly is my song.

1

Lord, you know each turn within my heart,

You read me from afar.

All my ways lie open to your mind, my God.

2

If I flew beyond the rising sun,

Or westward to the sea…

I would still be held within your arms, my God.

3

It was you who planned my inmost self,

You formed me in the womb.

For this wonder of myself, I now thank you.

© Frank Andersen 1979.

I can skip Frank Andersen’s  “Trinity Song” and “My Soul is Joyful” in Eagles Wings because I have already covered them.

Even in the latest downloadable version (available here) this song trips over the first word “Yahweh”. My Bible says “The Lord your God” rather than “Yahweh , your God” and that may have to do, although starting with a “The” is a bit plodding as a lyric and I can understand wanting to keep Yahweh from that perspective.

This song bravely starts with thirteen consecutive G notes. The variation is in the rhythm and that’s OK as it is a joyful song that he recommends for use as a recessional.

I’m sure Zephaniah would have loved to sing about Mary, and some of his song (Zeph 3:14-20) really is suggestive of the Magnificat.

1

Yahweh, your God, lives within you.

Open your heart and see

How God comes in power, creating.

Forming you.

Chorus

God will sing gladly in joy for you.

God will renew you in love.

God will rejoice and in deep delight dance for you.

2

Mary, the Lord, dwells within you.

Don’t be afraid when God

Over shadows this chosen creation:

God in you.

I got carried away in my survey of Fr Frank Andersen’s music and made a backing for this song I had already blogged here.

This backing sounds different:

Refrain

I ask you my friends to be still and know that I am here with you.

The longing in your hearts I will fill for I now make my home in you.

1

The mountains, the valleys, the oceans deep sing praises and glory to you.

And all of creation joins in song; but we find you within.

2

The crowds on the hillsides need your bread. The lame need your healing hand.

The blind and the dumb cry out for you; when will our hearts be filled?

3

We’ve worked all the day, Lord, hear our prayer. Our hearts laboured long for you.

But now we’ve returned and you know our need; to spend some time with you.

© Frank Andersen 1979

In the big book of his songs suggests this as a solo in the verses and perhaps as a gathering song for a less formal liturgy.

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

Psalm 144 (McKenna)

The hand of the Lord feeds us, he answers all our needs.

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

Communion: In the Breaking of the Bread (Hurd)  AOV 1/58

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

Recessional: We Are Many Parts (Haugen) AOV 1/86

I’m at the start of a survey of Australian composers like Leo Watt and Brian Boniwell, and I’m currently looking at Fr Frank Andersen MSC.  I really should add Michael Herry to my list as well. Then there is the Holy Trinity of Mangan, Chinn and Burland to consider… not to mention O’Brien, Watts, Ogilvie and McKenna, even though a lot of their work is in AOV. Let me know who else I should be looking at.

This is a country song about Mary and probably is a solo or a school choir piece. It was originally called “The Wonders He has Done For You” but the language was tidied up for modern sensibilities. I’ve removed the exclamation marks because of my sensibilities.

His music and CDs are available here and the download version of the sheet music is really the one you are after.

1

Long before the earth your name was Mary.

Born from deep within God’s memory.

Fashioned by the finger of God’s wisdom,

A burning sun within a world of sin.

In your heart the message was implanted;

A word of hope God had longed to send…

Nourished by your prayer and in the Spirit…

You gave birth to God in Bethlehem.

Refrain

So sing to the Lord with all your heart.

Sing God’s praises today.

The wonders God has done for you

Speak to me of God’s ways. (Rpt)

2

Through your heart a sword will pass in sorrow.

Opening a mother’s tenderness.

Showing us the courage of one Woman,

Standing with her son in emptiness…

In your life we see God’s faithful servant…

Confidence burns bright within your heart.

You have walked beneath the cloud of Knowing.

The hand of God itself has touched your heart.

© Frank Andersen 1979