Church Music

This is reggae style story song based on the life of Moses from the Wildfire group at Lismore. It is the final song from their latest EP, Kingdom Come.

This could be used in primary schools and is a fun singalong. The chord chart is here. This rural diocese in Australia is supporting young people and their music in a way that is sadly rare and is to be applauded.

This song was written by Evronia Allan, Alex Pereira, Daniel Pereira, Laurie Pratt &
Josiah Varney.

REFRAIN
Da da, da da da, da (da da, da da da, da)
Da da, da da da da da a (da da, da da da da da a)
Da da, da da da, da (da da, da da da, da)
Da da, da da da da da a (da da, da da da da da a)
VERSE 1
Let us tell you a story
All about a Hebrew baby
Hidden by his mother to be saved
In a basket on the water
Found by the Pharaoh’s daughter
You won’t believe who that baby became
PRE – REFRAIN
The Moses story
REFRAIN
VERSE 2
Born and raised in Egypt
Ran from a little disagreement
Fled into the desert on his own
Met God as the bush was burning
God told him, ‘My children are hurting’
Moses went to lead his people home
PRE – REFRAIN
REFRAIN
VERSE 3
They made their way to the Red Sea
Split the water and then they were set free
No longer held by Egyptian hands
For the Lord has triumphed
He empowered them to trust and rise up
On the way to find the Promised Land
PRE – REFRAIN
REFRAIN

© 2024 Proclaim Lismore Wildfire
Allan – Pereira – Pereira – Pratt – Varney

This is a sung prayer for Adoration from the Wildfire group in Lismore, but is obviously useful in other prayerful settings.

Without sheet music I won’t be making backings, but a lot of people play off chord charts, and I didn’t want to neglect a source of good music for Catholics coming from Australia.

The chord charts are here. It was written by Evronia Allan, Daniel Pereira & Laurie Pratt.

REFRAIN X2
Slow down
And kneel before Him
As we worship and adore
Slow down
And bow before Him
As we honour our Lord
VERSE X2
We will sit here in the silence
Lift Your eyes to Him
We are in the presence
Of our sovereign King
Take this time to listen
Let Him in.
(Only on second time)
Ooo
REFRAIN X2

© 2024 Proclaim Lismore Wildfire
Allan – Pereira – Pratt

This is title track from Wildfire Proclaim Lismore‘s latest EP, Kingdom Come. As a youth ministry they make songs primarily for that segment of the church but they are great songs in any case. This one is a performance piece – the words of the verse tumble out and would be hard for an assembly, but they can yell out the chorus I suppose.

The chord sheet is here. It was written by written by Evronia Allan, Daniel Pereira, Laurie Pratt, Sophie Sullivan & Josiah Varney.

INTRO
When I’m down, You pick me up
When I’m weak, You make me tough
When I’m sad, You make me smile
God, You’re always there for
God, You’re always there for me
VERSE 1
When I’m feeling low, I lift my eyes
I know I’m not alone, I feel alive
When I have my doubts, You hold my hand
When things don’t work, You have a plan
PRE REFRAIN
You are the Saviour, the King of Kings
You lift us up, we’ll forever sing
REFRAIN 1
God, You’re the one. You gave us Your Son
By body and blood, let Your kingdom come.
God, You’re the one. You gave us Your Son
By body and blood, let Your Will be done on earth
TAG X2
Let Your Will be done, let Your Will be done on earth
VERSE 2
When I sing these songs of praise
I feel Your joy, I feel Your grace
God, I couldn’t ask for more
You are all I’m looking for
PRE REFRAIN
REFRAIN 1
TAG
BRIDGE X2
Our God is greater, no need to fear
We will be stronger, for He is here
REFRAIN 2
God, You’re the one. You gave us Your Son
By body and blood, let Your kingdom come.
God, You’re the one. You gave us Your Son.
By body and blood, let Your Will be done!
REFRAIN 1
TAG

© 2024 Proclaim Lismore Wildfire
Allan – Pereira – Pratt – Sullivan – Varney

This is the next song from Wildfire Proclaim Lismore‘s latest EP, Kingdom Come.

This lovely song of encouragement is ideal for school settings.

I’m not making backings because they only have chords charts, but listen to their clip and play along and you’ll get the idea. I’d probably play it capo 2 for my taste but beginners would probably prefer capo 4.

This song was written by written by Evronia Allan, Eliza Blunn, Ashlinn de Dassel and Charlotte Kean.

VERSE 1
Trapped in the walls of my mind, tryin’ escape this
Down on my knees and I crawl through the darkness
I’m looking for someone to save me, somebody to reach out
Somebody is calling my name, hmmm
PRE REFRAIN 1
Even though I’m feeling bound
(I can hear the trumpets sound)
Now I know that I’ve been found
REFRAIN
Jericho thinks they’ll defeat You with a sword
But the wall will crumble from Your power, Lord
I’m not scared of what You’ll ask of me
I’ll stay strong until You set me free
TAG
Let it fall. Hmm
Let it fall. Hmm
VERSE 2
I hear Your voice it’s calling ‘I’ll come to find you.’
So I will stand before the walls, I’ll let You break through
I’m feeling some cracks in the mortar, light’s starting to fill the room
There’s nothing that You can’t do
PRE REFRAIN 2
Even though I’ve had my doubts
(To Your name, Lord I will shout)
I know You will pull me out
REFRAIN
TAG
PRE REFRAIN 3
Lord, Your love will conquer all
(I know You will win this war)
You are mine and I am Yours
REFRAIN
TAG X2

© 2024 Proclaim Lismore Wildfire
Allan – Blunn – de Dassel – Kean
All rights reserved by the
Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Limited

I’m going to take a sharp turn from all the hymnal archeology I’ve been doing and publicise some recent achievements of Catholic youth, specifically, Proclaim Lismore Wildfire.

They describe their mission thus:

Proclaim Lismore Wildfire, or ‘Wildfire,’ is a contemporary Catholic Worship Team from the Diocese of Lismore, Australia.
Praising God through worship since 2018 and founded in the scripture ‘John 10:10,’ Wildfire travels to Primary and Secondary schools within the Diocese to invite students and staff to encounter Jesus, and live life to the full.

Lismore is in a rural area in Australia and has a Catholic diocese that takes young people’s needs seriously.

I’ll look at their latest EP, but since they only post chords and not notes, I will not make backings, just promote their talents.

“Unashamed” is a song for commmitment that would be great for schools and youth groups. It was written by Evronia Allan, Daniel Pereira, Laurie Pratt, Daniel Saban, Sophie Sullivan and Josiah Varney. The chord chart is available here.

VERSE 1
I’m not afraid to give it all I’ve got
I’m gonna run into Your open arms
Even when others try to shut You out
I won’t, I won’t
VERSE 2
In Your presence, I am always known
And in Your love I know I’m always home
This is the truth I’m not afraid to show
Now I’m here, I’m here
PRE REFRAIN 1
Ooo, ooo, ooo
I’m not afraid to move
This is the life I choose
I’m unashamed of You
REFRAIN
This is my ‘yes’ to You
This is my ‘yes’ to You
This is my ‘yes’ to You
This is the life I choose
VERSE 3
You left the ninety-nine to save the one
Now in Your love I know I’m not alone
Jesus, You chose to give Your life for me
I’m free, I’m free
PRE REFRAIN 1
REFRAIN
BRIDGE X2
Unapologetically, openly, uncontrollably, constantly I am fallin’ in love with…
Even when the enemy tempts me and tries to get to me, pushing me down, I’m still here in love with…
PRE REFRAIN 1
You.
I’m not afraid to move
This is the life I choose
I’m unashamed of You
REFRAIN

© 2024 Proclaim Lismore Wildfire
Allan – Pereira – Pratt – Saban – Sullivan – Varney
All rights reserved by the
Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Limited

This is a new Marian hymn that is sincere and singable and written by Brigid McNally. I often say here that I have trouble with songs about Mary due to my Protestant upbringing, but this is good.

The sheet music, MP3 and backing are available at Willow.

Which didn’t stop me making a backing as well:

Chorus

Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you.

Blessed among all women are you and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now,

and at the hour of our death. Amen.

1 Wise and strong, compassionate and kind, tender and graceful.

You’re a shining star in the darkest night.

Chorus

2 Humble and sure, glorious and brave, loyal and loving.

Queen of Heaven, Queen of all our hearts.

Music and verse lyrics © 2025 Brigid McNally

Payl Taylor’s Mass of St Francis is a very popular setting in Australian churches. There were six settings recommended initially and this was one of three that were playable in a typical suburban church. It was one of two we used back in Queensland and it is the only mass setting we use at my current parish.

I got this comment from Isaac Reefman about the mass recently:

I/my brother made a simplified harmony for guitarists and contemporary musicians that is now available from willow here: https://willowpublishing.com.au/product/mass-of-st-francis/

It’s barely adapted from the original, but some of the busy chord changes that don’t translate so well to guitar/comping have been simplified.

The mass is now best obtained from Willow where you will find the original setting, the Gospel Acclamation that wasn’t in the original music and Reefman’s simplified guitar setting.

I currently play the whole mass down two semitones, which helps. The Kyrie and Gloria I play down from D to C but capo 3 (in A) which I find makes the “busy” changes better. The rest being in F, I should play Capo 3 in D, but I drop it to capo 1 again for singing comfort. We still use the Celtic Alleluia instead of Taylor’s acclamation.

It would be nice to have a second mass locally but I’m not sure anyone has the energy to teach a new setting. I’m happy enough to be using this mass setting every week.

I like Erwin Cabucos’s versions of the mass parts:

An organ based take:

This is the last song from the Praise to God parish hymn book I’ll be doing for now. There are others to cover, but I was looking at ones derived from smaller collections that I am unlikely to ever cover on their own. This one is from the Young People’s Folk Hymnal Vol 1, still available from GIA and even with postage to Australia it’s less than $10 all up. I’d be concerned it is old stock from when they took over WLP and when it is gone it is unlikely to be reprinted.

Scribd has a version in Eb for choirs, thankfully PTG is in A for the rest of us.

This song was written by the great folk songwriter, Anonymous. The version in PTG doesn’t have all the lyrics below – it has one verse with the first two lines of the first verse and last two lines of the second verse. The clips below suggest high rotation in Africa.

Come to the Lord with a song in your heart,
for the Lord our God is good.
Shout out your praises for all that he has done;
give him glory as you should.

Come before his alter rejoicing. Beat the drum and
strum the guitar. Let cymbals sound out the news
we have found out he loves us as we are.

Praise him for his loving kindness. Praise him
for his outstretched arm. He shields us from any
kind of foe and keeps us safe from harm.

For people who pray on their feet:

Choral:

This is 60s folk song that the Dominican’s Praise to God parish hymn book got from the Young People’s Folk Hymnal, who presumbaly got it from the Franciscan’s release by Sebastian Temple. Mary at Godsongs is all over the Folk Mass era and as always provides the salient background to this song.

The text is here. As a prayer for peace the words have not aged I’m afraid. The collection at GIA is your best bet for the sheet music.

BIAB and 6/8 is usually going to come out Irish, which in this case is a plus – there is a real chance of dreariness otherwise.

The With Joyful Lips people changed the setting:

With Joyful Lips is downloadable on the internet and is the ultimate cut and paste job. They suggest that the author of this text is unknown – I have seen it called traditional elsewhere – and it is set there to a tune by Manuel De Souza.

This is more folk mass loveliness from Sebastian Temple that made it into the Praise to God parish hymn book.

Temple has a very similar fingerpicking style to Paul Simon so I assume they learnt it from the same English folk singers.

Mary at Godsongs again has useful background and the lyrics are here. The best bet for the sheet music remains the Young People’s Folk Hymnal Vol 1.