Church Music

Tina also wanted this hymn, which is another one new to me.  That is not surprising as it the American national hymn written for the centennial of their declaration of independence, an event of less interest elsewhere.

It was written by Daniel C Roberts and George W. Warren and there is a blurb about it here with a MIDI file to listen to. I’ve seen it as “God of All Ages” and there are various sites to download tabs, sheet music etc for money or for free on the net.

I had terrible trouble getting this one going so I apologise if the backings are less than stellar. I had several goes in several styles so take your pick of these three.

God of our fathers, whose almighty hand
Leads forth in beauty all the starry band
Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies
Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.

Thy love divine hath led us in the past,
In this free land by Thee our lot is cast,
Be Thou our Ruler, Guardian, Guide and Stay,
Thy Word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.

From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence,
Be Thy strong arm our ever sure defense;
Thy true religion in our hearts increase,
Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.

Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way,
Lead us from night to never ending day;
Fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.

Shirley wanted this Fr Frank Andersen song (music available at his site) and it is one of my favourites.  I like songs with lots of spaces to breath and contrast. It is based on Ps115 and 1 Cor 10:15 and has a wonderfully unresolved ending.

My backing is at 87 bpm.

Chorus

This blessing cup is our communion in the blood of Christ!

Each time you drink this cup

You proclaim his death until he comes!

Verse 1

How can I repay the Lord for His goodness to me?

The cup of salvation I will raise and call on his name!

Chorus

Verse 2

Father please hear my prayer! May this chalice pass by!

But if You want that I should drink, Your will be done.

Chorus

Verse 3

To You I give my heart! You are Father to me!

And I will live within Your house! Strong in Your love!

Chorus

© Frank Andersen msc

This is an odd one.  I’m back in the mysterious miscellaneous folder of Church songs and this is an ancient song that appears to have been part of a musical drama for children, but I think we used it as a sort of mantra. It has not been spotted for a very long time. It is by Harry D. Clark and was originally published in the 1920s. You can download the sheet music from the publisher here. This is a solo vocal version.

Into my heart, into my heart.

Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.

Come in today, come in to stay.

Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.

© Hope Publishing Co.

Tina wanted this song that we’ve never used locally but I noticed it in the liturgy Chris put up in the comments here a couple of weeks ago. It is by Dan Feiten and you can hear a sample at the publisher here and I found the sheet music in Gather Australia. It is also available to buy from Ekklesia. It is a serene Eucharist song drawing on beautiful images from the Didache, 1 Cor 10 and Mark 4.

My copy of Gather Australia has no chords so BIAB had to work them out for me.

Refrain:
Seed, scattered and sown,
wheat, gathered and grown,
bread, broken and shared as one,
the living Bread of God.
Vine, fruit of the land,
wine, work of our hands,
one cup that is shared by all,
the living Cup, the living Bread of God.

1.
Is not the bread we break, a sharing in our Lord?
Is not the cup we bless, the blood of Christ outpoured?

Refrain

2.
The seed which falls on rock will wither and will die.
The seed within good ground will flower and have life.

Refrain

3.
As wheat upon the hills was gathered and was grown,
So may the church of God be gathered into one.

Refrain

© Ekklesia Music 1987.

The liturgy team (including me) for this week have selected these songs:

Entrance: Gather As One (McKenna) AOV NG48

Psalm: This Blessing Cup (Frank Andersen)

Gifts: Something Wonderful (Kerr) AOV NG 115

Communion:

Table Song (Haas)

Come to the Table (Burland) AOV NG 33

Recessional: Anthem (Conroy)

A Eucharist song from Monica Brown that we don’t seemed to have played for a while.  Is the tune too subtle, because it is rather gorgeous?    If you go here and scroll down to “A Special Collection” you can hear a sample of this song and buy the sheet music.

 Verse 1

Before His death Jesus gathered His friends

Longing to share His life with them,

Longing to make them one,

And at the table of God’s love.

He took the bread, He said the blessing,

He broke the bread saying, “Take this and eat.

This is my body given for you”.

Chorus

It is as You have asked, O God,

That we do the same in memory of You,

As You have asked, O God, in memory of You.

Verse 2

Before His death Jesus surrendered Himself,

Pouring out His life for all

Giving hope to a broken world,

And at the table of God’s love,

He took the wine, He said the blessing,

He shared the cup saying, “Take this and drink

This is my lifeblood given for you”.

Chorus

© Monica Brown 1991.

I wasn’t at all sure about this song when a fellow musician at church brought it along but it has grown on me. It is a Eucharist song and so always welcome, written by Jimmy Owens. I gather it is from a musical he wrote called “The Witness.” There is a sample to listen to here.

This is a normal church group singing the song.

You may need to contact the author (jimmyowens@adelphia.net) to get the music, unless you can get an old copy of Scripture in Song Book 2.

This is my body, broken for you,
Bringing you wholeness, making you free.
Take it and eat it.
And as you do, do it in love for Me.

This is my blood poured out for you,
Bringing forgiveness, making you free.
Take it and drink it,
And as you do, do it in love for Me.

I found these extra lyrics on the net that aren’t used in the musical:

Back to my Father soon I shall go
Do not forget me, then you will see
I am still with you, and you will know
you’re very close to me.

Filled with my Spirit, how you will grow
You are my branches, I am the tree
If you are faithful, others will know
you are alive in me.

Love one another, I have loved you
and I have shown you how to be free
serve one another, and when you do
do it in love for me.

© Lexicon Music 1978.

A simple chant by Michael Herry fms with obvious liturgical uses. You can hear a sample at Amazon. I can’t find a collection to purchase with this song in it, so you may have to contact the author.

I am the vine, you are the branches

Make your home in me.

I am the vine, you are the branches

Make your home in me.

© Michael Herry 1995.

*The Marists have the made the sheet music available here.

Another excellent Vene Sancte genre song, this time from Michael Mangan.  We also have used this frequently for confirmations, and as with a lot of Michael’s songs, this should not be considered only a children’s song.

You can hear a sample and buy the sheet music in the “Setting Hearts on Fire” collection, here.

I have always needed to watch the tempo to avoid going to fast on this one.

 Verse 1

Holy Spirit of Fire, open up our hearts set us ablaze.

Holy Spirit of Fire, help us know the mystery of God’s ways.

Chorus

Keep us blazing, keep us burning,

Open up our hearts to fan your flames of love,

Holy Spirit of Fire.

Verse 2

Holy Spirit of Fire, fill us with a passion for your life.

Holy Spirit of fire, help us show the world your shining light.

Chorus

Verse 3

Holy Spirit of Fire, fan the flames of courage in our hearts.

Holy Spirit of Fire, help us live the Good News where we are.

Chorus

Verse 4

Holy Spirit of Fire, breathe your fire of love into our lives.

Holy Spirit of Fire, keep the embers glowing through the night.

Chorus

© Litmus Productions 2001.

We use this beautiful Monica Brown song for confirmations etc and it is very effective. The verses are sung over the second half of the chant. You can hear Monica sing it here. It’s hard to do it as slowly as that but probably worth the effort. It is available in the “Holy Ground” collection here.

If you aren’t using this song then you really should learn it and use it the next opportunity.

Mantra:

Holy sacred Spirit, breathe Your breathe on us.

Holy sacred Spirit, breathe Your life in us.

Verse 1

Create a new heart in me, oh God,

Enflame my heart with Your love, Your Spirit of love.

Verse 2

Send forth Your Spirit and renew the earth,

The longing earth, the waiting earth, the fragile earth.

© Monica Brown 1991.