Church Music

Sebastian Temple has set the words of St Francis in this song. The excerpt at AOV shows it can be sung sensitively, but this is a song that can suffer under the hands of the assembly. It is very simple song that is difficult to sing well. This is a good try.

Sarah McLachlan’s setting is much nicer but only as a solo version.

My backing has Band in a Box take us back around the campfire.

Verse 1:
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love.
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.

Verse 2:
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness only light,
And where there’s sadness ever joy.

Bridge:
Oh Master, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console.
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love with all my soul.

Verse 3:
Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
In giving of ourselves that we receive,
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.

© OCP Publications 1968.

This song, also known as “Anna’s Song”, has a gorgeous tune by Robin Mann and some striking lyrics by Norman Habel. Listen to a sample at AOV to get the idea. Robin Mann explains the origin of this strange Christmas song here.

My backing is at 96 bpm.

1. Lift this child to the sun, raise this child to the sky,

God has come from above, come to earth from on high.

Lift this child, lift this child to the sun.

 2. Lay this child on the ground, one with us, one with earth;

Let God know in his Son, human clay, human birth.

Lay this child, lay this child on the ground.

 3. Place this child in the shade, hang this child ‘neath a tree;

With his hand on the wood may this child set us free.

Place this child, place this child in the shade.

4. Give this child to the world, let him be common folk;

God has come to be born as an ordin’ry bloke.

Give this child, give this child to the world.

 5. Send this child down the road, let him ride hard the track;

To be king of the bush and the harsh world outback.

Send this child, send this child down the road.

 6. Lift this child to the night, to the silence of God;

Let this child cry for us and the silence be heard.

Lift this child, lift this child to the night.

© Robin Mann and Norman Habel 1981.

A Christmas song by Kathy Poelker that is randomly placed here, possibly as a children’s song. We have used it for its calypso lightness and it works well. Lazy guitarists (like me) will do it capo 1. Some uninterested children sing it in the sample here.

Refrain

Sing we sing we Noel, Noel!

Born is Jesus Emmanuel.

Sing we sing we Noel, Noel!

Born is Jesus Emmanuel.

Verse 1

The Holy child is born today:

Sing we, sing we Noel, Noel!

Alleluia we sing in praise:

Sing we, sing we Noel, Noel!

Refrain

Verse 2

Alleluia to God above:

Sing we, Sing we Noel, Noel!

Born today is God’s gift of love:

Sing we, sing we Noel, Noel!

Refrain

© Kathy Poelker and Look at Me Co. 1984.

A chant that is what it says by Phil Porter and Elaine Kirkland.  We’ve used it quite a lot over the years and it is a very useful piece, especially when done as the two part round as suggested. Listen to a sample at AOV.

The guitar version of AOV that I have is missing an Em in the last bar of the top line.

Twilight then darkness, night falls and candles glow.

Gently surrounding us a new birth of hope.

Watching, waiting,

Awakening a new birth of hope.

© Phil Porter and Elaine Kirkland 1992.

This is a three part chant written by Cheryl Reid.  The third part is added to the first after the second, if you get my drift. There is an excerpt to listen to at AOV.

My backing is just to learn the tune and I’ve done Verse 1, verse 2 and verse 1&3 together. I think unaccompanied would be best.

 Part One

Do not worry, do not fear.

Do not worry, Jesus is here.

Ev’ry moment, ev’ry day,

Trust in Jesus. Don’t be afraid.

Part Two

Peace, Peace, perfect peace,

Never doubt or fear.

Peace, peace, perfect peace,

Knowing Jesus is near.

Part Three

Peace, peace, perfect peace.

Peace, peace, perfect peace.

Peace, peace, perfect peace.

Peace, peace, perfect peace.

© Beacon Media 1994.

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.