Church Music

This Christopher Walker songs risks a lot in its simplicity.  Sheer repetition and unsympathetic voices can harm a song that lacks flash like this one, but try to imagine it sung by Johnny Cash in the last years of his life or Tom Waits and it might revive the piece. Otherwise you could resort to a children’s choir. Obviously a communion song, very accessible for children, but also simply saying what Eucharist is meant to mean for all of us.

It can be purchased for download at OCP.

I’ve never heard the eight verses done at once but my backing does that if you want to sing it all.

* I have put up a corrected backing after Alexandra alerted me to an error (30/4/2016)

Refrain
Jesus, you are bread for us.
Jesus, you are life for us.
In your gift of Eucharist we find love.

Verse 1

When we feel we need a friend
you are there with us, Jesus.
Thank you for the friend you are.
Thank you for the love we share.

Refrain

Verse 2

When we feel that we need love
you are there with us, Jesus.
Thank you for the friend you are.
Thank you for the love we share.

Refrain

Verse 3

When we feel that things aren’t fair
you are there with us, Jesus.
Thank you for the friend you are.
Thank you for the love we share.

Refrain

Verse 4

In communion we believe
you are there with us, Jesus.
Thank you for the friend you are.
Thank you for the love we share.

Refrain

Verse 5

Gathered in God’s family
you are there with us, Jesus.
Thank you for the friend you are.
Thank you for the love we share.

Refrain

Verse 6

When we help our families
you are there with us, Jesus.
Thank you for the friend you are.
Thank you for the love we share.

Refrain

Verse 7

When we help the hungry ones
you are there with us, Jesus.
Thank you for the friend you are.
Thank you for the love we share.

Refrain

Verse 8

When we help the thirsty ones
you are there with us, Jesus.
Thank you for the friend you are.
Thank you for the love we share.

Refrain

© Christopher Walker 1990.

This is an odd one for the Source: New Songs – a text from the 19th century by Charitie Bancroft with a newish tune by Vikki Cook from the late twentieth century.  This version does it as a P&W slow burn and get rather noisy as it goes, which is fine but I think the tune sounds like an old Irish air and can be left in that register without going all out.  This thoughtful reformed blog posts about it here and has links to what appears to be free sheet music of the song.  I’ll leave that for you to explore. A spent a while reading the blog posts about music there and decided the lovely guy running the blog was far too patient with outright nasty comments that made me pine for the civility (?) of PrayTell. Fundamentalists who don’t like contemporary music are happy to let you know, it appears.

My objection to the obvious substitutionary atonement in the lyrics is really just saying it is a text of its time, not really a Catholic objection. That said, I can’t see it turning up in Catholic Church any day soon, but as a rejigged hymn it is interesting; Judy Bailey has done similar things.  It turns John Bell on his head as he writes new words for old tunes.

My backing is somewhat restrained and gives the tune a chance.

© PDI Worship 1993.

I don’t recall ever using this setting of Ps 84 by Michael Joncas.  Joncas has written many beautiful pieces of church music that we do use and I’m sure I’ll have more backings for him as I work through the As One Voice volumes. His version of the song here is a stately reverent piece but relies on a good choir and helped by some choice clarinet.  Still, no reason the assembly couldn’t tackle the refrain at the very least and good Psalm settings are always gratefully accepted.  It can be purchased for download at OCP.

Refrain

How lovely is your dwelling place,

O Lord God of Hosts!

Verse 1

My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord,

My heart and my flesh cry out;

Even the sparrow may find a home,

The swallow a nest for her young;

Your altars, my king and my God.

Refrain

Verse 2

How happy are they who may dwell in your courts,

How happy when you are their strength;

Though they might go through the valley of death,

They make it a place of springs.

Your first rain will bring it to life.

Refrain

Verse 3

O Lord of Hosts hear my cry,

And harken, O God of Jacob;

One day in your house is worth much more to me

Than ten thousand anywhere else.

The Lord is my sun and my shield.

Refrain

© New Dawn Music 1979.

Another song by Brian Boniwell of Corinda or Toowoomba, but in Queensland at least.  Biographical information is thin on the net so anyone who knows the details please pass them on.

This song is very frequently sung at our church and I must admit having not noticed just how odd it is until I looked at the lyrics printed without the music.  It is sung as if from God, so unsurprisingly no “Yes” from the NLMB, and consists of a series of questions or challenges to our commitment.*  A brave thing to be doing and quite blunted by repeated use I’m afraid. I will have to pay more attention.

This may be also be due to technical problems of a distracting nature that arise when singing this song.  The “will yous” are to be quavers but somewhere along the the line our assembly have voted for crotchets, so if you sing it as written there is a battle on.  Also there is a sign for a pause at “night”, but everyone wants to come back in a different time and so best ignored I reckon. On the other hand the descending chords after “I die” are most effective.  Here is a Youtube clip of solo voice and guitar doing the song.

Verse 1

Will you give me your life forever?
Will you carry my cross every day?
Will you walk in the light of my presence?
Will you follow the truth of my ways?

Refrain

Will you love me as I have loved you?
Will you live with me the darkness as I die?
For the moon and the stars will be gone like
the night,
And the sun will be shining on you.

Verse 2

Like the purest of gold in the furnace,
Is your love strong enough to endure?
Does your faith carry on through the shadows?
Does it shine in the night for the world?

Refrain

Verse 3

Can you walk in the footprints of silence?
Through the wilderness sands in the sun,
From the desert of doubt and temptation.
To the glorious mountain of fire?

Refrain

© Spectrum Publications, 1978.

http://www.spectrumpublications.com.au/

* I was wrong – astonishingly it was approved – they put a bracket at the beginning so the song appeared out of sequence in their list.

Bernadette Farrell was certainly popular when this collection put together.  This song is very suitable for Advent but could be a more general gathering song.  We’ve never used it, so if anyone does and finds it useful, by all means let me know. It can purchased at OCP.

You can hear it done with extra vocal lines and brass here.  Otherwise you could just sing along with my backing.

Refrain

Come to set us free, come to make us your own.
Come to show the way to our people, your chosen.
Open our lives to the light of your promise.
Come to our hearts with healing, come to our minds with power,
come to us and bring us your life.

Verse 1

You are light which shines in darkness,

Morning Star which never sets.

Open our eyes which only dimly see,

The truth which sets us free.

 

Refrain

 

Verse 2

You are hope which brings us courage,

You are strength which never fails.

Open our minds to ways we do not know,

But where your Spirit grows.

 

Refrain

 

Verse 3

You are promise of salvation,

You are God in human form.

Bring to the world of emptiness and fear

The Word we long to hear.

 

Refrain

© Bernadette Farrell 1986,1988.

Ray Paxton I can only guess is an Australian who has written songs for children.  I’d love to know more, because this is another hope filled song that is not just a kid’s song, but I can find nothing about him on the net. Twenty years on I wonder if people are writing this sort of thing anymore because we do not appear to be on a new journey at all.

Apart from having the longest title around for this sort of thing, I suppose it could be a gospel acclamation.

Verse 1

Listen all who hear! The time has come to pass

When the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.

A newer age is born, the signs of change are here.

The curtain has been torn, you need not live in fear.

Refrain

We’re beginning a new journey, our hearts burning.

Will you be there?

We’re creating a new vision, in Christ risen, for all to share.

Speak a message of justice, reach out and bring it to birth!

Let’s break open the word and renew the face of the earth.

Verse 2

I chose to send you forth before I gave you life.

I will stay with you to shelter you from strife.

You say you are too young, your lips I will endow

With words to build and renew my Kingdom now.

Refrain

Bridge

Blessed be the poor, the merciful the just.

Blessed be the pure in heart, in whom I place my trust.

Verse 3

I have called you by name, I go before you now.

Do not be afraid or be frightened by the crowd.

The Lord is your help, The Lord is your light.

Trust and follow me, the flame is burning bright.

Refrain

© Ray Paxton 1991.

This is a Darlene Zschech song from the Source: New Songs 1 that actually has a liturgical use.  When I used it some years ago to match the readings, I wondered why everyone had so much trouble with the timings and now looking at it again, it is rather a difficult song to get the rhythm just right in places.  Nonetheless, it isn’t a bad song at all and probably will reward the work needed to get it up an running.  You can hear it in all of its Hillsongness here.  I note in this version she omits the first verse in the repeat. My version is more basic P&W as I don’t have the over top brass section and I follow the music I’ve got with a full repeat.

Verse 1 :
Beautiful Lord, Wonderful Saviour
I know for sure
All of my days are held in your hands
Crafted into
Your perfect plan

Verse 2 :
You gently call me into your presence
Guiding me by Your Holy Spirit
Teach me dear Lord
To live all of my life
Through Your eyes

Bridge :
I’m captured by
Your holy calling
Set me apart,
I know you’re drawing me to yourself
Lead me Lord I pray

Chorus:
Take me, mould me, use me, fill me
I give my life to the Potter’s hand
Call me, guide me, lead me, walk beside me
I give my life to the Potter’s hand

Rpt entire song

© Darlene Zchech / Hillsong Music Australia/ Kingsway’s Thankyou Music 1997.

Gregory Norbet’s song “Come to Me” uses Matt 11:28-30 as a refrain for the Twenty-third Psalm, which was a fine idea. The version in AOV has only the first verse of the psalm and an instrumental interlude, but is is clear from the nonprintable preview at OCP that all verses have been set.  We do the version in AOV and the nice thing is that you really only need the first verse of the psalm to get the idea.

This is nicely done – just organ and voice – actually Dawn’s Youtube channel is a gentle treat all round.

Refrain

Come to me all who labour and are heavy burdened,

And I shall give you rest.

Take up my yoke and learn from me,

For I am meek and humble of heart.

And you’ll find rest for your souls,

Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Verse

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall never be in need,

Fresh and green are the meadows where he gives me rest.

Refrain

Interlude

Refrain

Copyright © 1971
The Benedictine Foundation of the State of Vermont, Inc.,
Weston Priory, Weston, Vermont.

www.westonpriory.org

This song by James Walsh uses Ps 139 to make a meditation that alternates minor and major verses.  I couldn’t find any biographies of the songwriter, which is a rarity in these internet days but you can hear a snippet at OCP.  It is a beautiful psalm text.  I’m still deciding whether the setting enhances it or not.  I’ve included the descant line in the sixth verse for reference.

Verse 1

You know me, Lord, you search my heart,

My thoughts are open to your gaze.

Protect me, Lord, from evil ways

And guide me in the path of life.

Verse 2

Before a word is on my tongue

You know the secrets of my heart.

Be close to me, surround me, Lord

From all my terrors set me free.

Verse 3

Where should I go to flee from you?

How can I shelter from your face?

If heavenward, I find you there:

In earth’s dark depths you follow me.

Verse 4

If I could take the wings of dawn

And journey to the ends of earth,

Your hand would still be guiding me,

Your right hand still would hold me fast.

Verse 5

If darkness came to swallow me

And night surround me in its grasp,

No darkness would there be for you:

The light would be as light as day.

Verse 6

For it was you who fashioned me:

Knit bone to bone and flesh to flesh.

I thank you, Lord, Creator God,

That you should think and breathe on me.

Verse 7

You know me, Lord, you search my heart,

My thoughts are open to your gaze.

Protect me, Lord, from evil ways

And guide me in the path of life.

© James Walsh 1989.

Another Bernadette Farrell tune that can be used when these readings come up and more generally. The refrain is quite lyrical and flowing while the verses are essentially in a different key and the jolt matches the hard medicine in John’s text.. Because the verses are challenging, my recollection is that we have used the refrain more as a response than the whole thing. You can hear an assembly sing it here.

It is available to purchase for download from OCP.

 Refrain

Unless a grain of wheat shall fall up-on the ground and die,

It remains but a single grain with no life.

Verses
1. If we have died with him, then we shall live with him;

if we hold firm, we shall reign with him.

 

2. If any one serves me, then they must follow me;

wherever I am, my servants will be.

 

3. Make your home in me as I make mine in you;

those who remain in me bear much fruit.

4. If you remain in me and my word lives in you;

then you will be my disciples.

5. Those who love me are loved by my Father;

we shall be with them and dwell in them.

6. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you;

peace which the world can-not give is my gift.

© Bernadette Farrell 1984.