Church Music

This is a great song by Patricia Lewis and Alister Spencer with an interesting tune and a matching set of words. It is an avian Liturgy of the hours. A sample can be heard at AOV.

Refrain

Made in God’s likeness, moved by the Spirit,

Called to create a new world for the Lord,

Called to create a new world for the Lord.

1. Birds in the mountains sing of your praises,

Called in the morning to tell of your love;

Bell-birds and whip-birds sing of creation,

Celebrate always that Christ is the King.

2. Summoned at noontide come now and follow,

Joyfully marching wherever you lead;

Roller birds stuntmen, king-fishers’ laughter

Clowns of creation in the circus of God.

3. Called in the night time to act in your drama,

To take on the Christ role, your script in our hearts;

Masked owl and bower-bird teach us to study

The part we must play and the gifts we can share.

4. Called now at all times, to wait on the Father,

Follow his lead as he partners our dance;

Brolga bird dances, retreats and, returning,

Bowing at last to his partner, the Lord.

© Alister Spence and Patricia Lewis 1984,1986.

At least this one is clearly for children, with lots of repetition and fun.  It is by Kathy Chan and the sample at AOV is a lot of fun.

My backing is not as calypso as the original.

Chorus

God is good,

Let the sun and moon and stars say: “God is good.”

Let the heavens and the earth say: “God is good.”

God is good, yes, God is good.

And let the mountains and the trees say: “God is good.”

Let all creation join together, “God is good.

God is good, yes God is good.”

Rpt Chorus

Verse

Let all people ev’rywhere join together in song,

Let them come from ev’ry nation,

Let them gather together as one.

And God himself shall live with them

And he shall be their God

And we all shall sing together:

“God is good!”

Yes God is good!

Chorus

Verse

Chorus

Chorus (Rpt and fade)

© Kathy Chan 1994.

This is a chant from Arnhem Land, to a traditional tune with words “versified” by D’Arcy Wood. I really don’t know what to make of it, but the suggestion to sing it unaccompanied, as here at AOV, is probably right. “Marrkapmirr” is translated in the notes at AOV as “altogether lovely, and worthy of affection.” I suppose, since it is in this part of the book, it is being considered a children’s song.

1. O Lord Jesus Marrkapmirr,

All the power belongs to you.

Hold me by this power, O Lord,

You alone are king.

2. Now we praise you for your Word,

Living, true, and full of light.

Yours the hands that rest on me:

Hold me for all time.

© Australian Hymn Book Pty Ltd

This is one we have used in first communion services with some success over the years.  It is a simple but powerful song by John Burland and John Jacobs. The excerpt at AOV is suitably reverent. This is a pleasant version.

Let the Spirit dwell within our hearts
To celebrate the wonder of our God
As we reach out together
And find our strength in you
Come share the gifts of the Spirit

© John Burland and John Jacobs 1995.

I have a bit of a backlog of backings so I’ll do a few more.

This is a children’s song by Michael Mangan, one of thousands he must have written by now and he really has a knack for words that spark up littlies: fabulous, remarkable, marvellous, fantastic, etc. The snippet at AOV gives you the idea.

My backing tries to be as bright as possible.

Chorus

Sing your joy to God

Praise and glory sing.

Clap your hands and sing your joy to the Lord.

Verse 1

As we go out today, we are sent to serve.

Spread this message on the way.

God’s love is truly fabulous.

Chorus

Verse 2

The Spirit fills our souls, the Word our minds.

This meal has made us whole,

God’s strength is so remarkable.

Chorus

Verse 3

We give the Lord all thanks, for such great love.

We praise with song and dance,

God’s gifts are simply marvellous.

Chorus

Verse 4

We are the chosen ones, who’ve seen God’s light.

Tell of all that has been done,

God’s pow’r is just fantastic.

Chorus

© Litmus Productions 1993.

I’m back from a Japan where I gave up trying to blog on my Ipad – my fingers are too fat and formatting too hard and besides, I can’t hear if it works on an Ipad without flash.

This is a baptism song with a modern text by Ronald S. Cole-Turner with music from three hundred odd years ago by Christian F. Witt. As One Voice has an excerpt to listen to here. You can hear the typically awful MIDI file here. This is a rather pacey version by a church with a great organ.

My backing is just piano and faux viola.

I’ve seen some variations on the text on the net but this is the text as per AOV.

1. Child of blessing, child of promise,

Baptised with the Spirit’s sign:

With this water God has sealed you

Unto love and grace divine.

2. Child of love, our love’s expression,

Love’s creation, loved indeed!

Fresh from God, refresh our spirits,

Into joy and laughter lead.

3. Child of joy, our deepest treasure,

God’s you are, from God you came;

Back to God we humbly give you,

Live as one who bears Christ’s name.

4. Child of God, the loving parent,

Learn to know whose child you are.

Grow and laugh and sing and worship,

Trust and love God more than all.

Text © Ronald Cole-Turner 1981.

I’m trying to blog on my Ipad in Tokyo and I have fat fingers, so I am finding it somewhat difficult.

This is a chant to an Austrian tune.

If we could all live in peace

What a good world this would be.

Live in peace what a happy world.

I’d never thought of this as a children’s song, but it is in this run of songs for kids, so perhaps it could be.  It is by Felicia Sandler. Listen to a sample from AOV.

I remember we used it once with some liturgical movement but I can’t remember how it went.

Refrain
A circle of love, yes a circle of love;
each hand in a hand, a circle of friends.
A circle of love that is open to all;
we open the circle and welcome each one of you in.

1. Each person has something to bring:
a song, a story, a smile, a teardrop,
a dream, and loving to share.

2. Jesus calls us to come close to him;
the tall, the smaller, the young, the older,
with colors so rich and so rare.

3. All people are special to God:
the lost, the lonely, the sick, the hungry.
With God now we welcome them in.

© Felicia Sandler 1991.

This is a traditional African melody that we have sung with the original text.

It wasn’t easy.

A snippet is available to listen to at AOV.

You can hear a childrens’ choir do it here, but I’m not sure this qualifies as just a children’s song.

We are marching in the light of God,
we are marching in the light of God.
We are marching in the light of God,
we are marching in the light of God.
We are marching,
Oo we are marching in the light of God.
We are marching,
Oo we are marching in the light of God.

Siyahamb’ ekukhanyen’ kwenkhos’,
siyahamb’ ekukhanyen’ kwenkhos’.
Siyahamb’ ekukhanyen’ kwenkhos’,
siyahamb’ ekukhanyen’ kwenkhos’.
Siyahamba,
Oo siyahamb’ ekukhanyen’ kwenkhos’.
Siyahamba,
Oo siyahamb’ ekukhanyen’ kwenkhos’.

PS  I’m blogging from Tokyo so I can’t answer e-mails this week.

Gerry Holmes wrote this song which has a Christmas version and a Baptism version. Listen at AOV for an excerpt.

Refrain

We welcome you little baby, into our family life.

Come now, gentle and frail, and we will hold you tight.

Verse 1

Each Christmas morn he comes to us

And we must let him in.

How can it be, so long ago

There was no room within?

Refrain

Verse 2

Amidst the wrappings torn and toss’d

We hear a little cry,

And if we look, with caring hands

We find a lonely child.

Refrain

Verse 3

Around this world this Christmas day

A million babes will come

And with each tear, they’ll share this day

With Mary’s little son.

Refrain

Baptism verses

Verse 1

A new boy/girl comes to join the fun

And we must let her/him in.

How can it be, for Mary’s babe

There was no room within?

Verse 2

Amidst the noises all around

We hear a little cry,

And if we stop and look awhile

We’ll find a little child.

Verse 3

Around the world this special day

A million babes will come,

And with tear, they’ll share this day

With Mary’s little son.

© Gerry Holmes