Church Music

No 98 in “As One Voice: The Next Generation” is the song of the WYD 2008 in Sydney.  “My Witness You’ll Be” is by Patrick Keady of emmanuelworship.  I did not enjoy playing it – too long, too many repeats in seemingly random order (a common emmanuel trait).  It didn’t stick (ie no-one wanted to keep playing it, unlike their other songs – we still do their Fire Mass – has it been updated?)

I’m listening to their version again now – it has it charms.  Parts to jump up and down, parts to stand and sing – I suppose it ticks the boxes.  I think perhaps my backing is too fast but there you go.

Verse:

You will receive power

When the Holy spirit falls on you… (repeat)

Chorus:

And you will be My witnesses!

To the ends of the earth, the ends of the earth

To all nations and distant lands

My witness you’ll be, My witness You’ll be

Verse

Chorus

Chorus
Bridge:

To the cities and towns – hey! – and country plains

‘Cross mountains and oceans, to ancient lands.

Proclaiming the truth in every tongue

‘Your sins are forgiven by the death of the Son’

To the rich and the poor, the old and the young

‘This gift is for you, this gift is for you…’

etc…

© Patrick Keady 2006.

No 97 in AOV NG is another song by Steve Angrisano of OCP via USA, “My Soul is Thirsting.”  You can hear his version here, although that is a different version to the piano driven one on the AOV NG CD. You can even watch him teach the song – he plays it capo 5 (ie uke chords). Based on Psalm 62 it is a professional, sweet song with little to stand in it’s way for liturgical use. It can be purchased for download from spiritandsong.

I personally find those qualities somewhat distracting and prefer Australian settings, but that is likely just unreasonable prejudice.

My backing is pure MIDI.  I have noticed that when BIAB renders a song with no sampled audio in it, they are turning out a bit strange.  It is not so noticeable on this slower song, but I fear there are still a couple a slipped notches in the rhythm track. I’ve had to go back and fix some of the more rhythmic backings that were pure MIDI.

Refrain
My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord,
thirsting for you, my God.
My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord,
thirsting for you, my God,
thirsting for you, my God.

Alternate Refrain
As morning breaks I look to you;
be my strength this day.
As morning breaks I look to you;
be my strength this day,
be my strength this day.

Verse 1.

O God, you are my God,
and I will always praise you.
In the shadow of your wings
I cling to you and you hold me high.

Refrain

Verse 2.

Through the day you walk with me;
all the night your love
surrounds me.
To the glory of your name
I lift my hands, I sing your praise.

Refrain
Verse 3.

I will never be afraid,
for I will not be abandoned.
Even when the road grows long
and weary
your love will rescue me.

Refrain

© Steve Angrisano 1997.

Judy Bailey is proving the real eye opener of this collection as I’d never heard of her and every song of hers that Willow have picked for this collection has something special about it.  No 96 in AOV NG is her song, “My God Knows.”  It is an unusual song that ends up with the verse and chorus being sung simultaneously (& at the same time!).  This is magic stuff.  My backing just follows the music in the book, which is less inventive than the arrangement on the CD.  She builds on the simple idea beautifully.

Verse 1

My God knows ev’rything about me,

Ev’rything about me, my God knows. (Rpt)

Verse 2

My God knows ev’rything I’m needing,

Ev’rything I’m needing, my God knows. (Rpt)

Verse 3

My God knows when my heart is aching,

When my heart is aching, my God knows. (Rpt)

Chorus

God is love, God is with me.

Ev’ry thing about me, my God knows. (Rpt)

Verse 4

My God knows, ev’ry time I struggle,

Ev’ry time I struggle, my God knows. (Rpt)

Verse 5

My God knows where my life is going,

Where my life is going, my God knows. (Rpt)

Chorus

© Dyba Music / Judy Bailey 2006.

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Anne Maree Higgins fabulous pop song “Mission to Love” is No 95 in AOV NG.   The sugar coating does not disguise the hard message of verse two.  I’m sure it would work as entrance, gifts and recessional at least.  My backing is pure MIDI I’m afraid and as is frequently the case does not do the song justice.  You can hear the proper version at her Myspace page.

Verse 1

Love is the greatest gift, that we can give, that never fails.

Love’s meant to lead the way, to stretch our hearts, to make a change.

We know the spirit’s present when we put selfish ways aside.

We give God’s life to others when we can go the extra mile.

And everyone will see that

Refrain

Now our love will be forever,

A mission of love, a mission of love.

And now our love will last a lifetime, a mission of love.

You’re the centre of our lives.

Verse 2

Love’s not for holding back or loving those that love you too.

It’s not enough to say that good things come to those who wait.

Show mercy to the hostile, do good to those who wouldn’t care,

Make peace with old resentments, talk to the hardest hearts and share.

And everyone will see that

Refrain

© Anne Maree Higgins 2006

On Good Friday we have No 94 from AOV NG, “Love Never Ends.”  This was written by Paul Mason, one of the greats of Australian liturgical music and is based on 1 Corinthians 13.  It is therefore ideal for weddings or if that reading is appropriate to a particular mass.

It can purchased for download at Score Exchange.

Mason has put enough variety into the writing that it should be done a simply as possible and I think the version on the CD lets the songwriter down a little in this case.

Verse 1

If I have the gift to speak in tongues,

If I have the faith to move mountains

But do not have love;

If I have the gift of prophecy,

If I comprehend all mystery

But do not have love, I am nothing.

Refrain

Love is patient, love is kind.

Love is not jealous, Love’s not pretentious.

It’s never self-centred, and not easily angered.

Love keeps no record, and love is not rude or proud.

It bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails; love never ends.

Verse 2

If I give the poor all I possess,

If I give my life to holiness

But do not have love;

If I speak in tongues and prophecise,

If I learn the knowledge of the wise

But do not have love, I gain nothing.

Refrain

Love never ends.

© Paul Mason 2007.

No 93 in AOV NG is an emmanuelworship song by James Garrahy, called “Lord, Send Me Your Spirit.”  We have used this for many years as an extra veni sancte or as gifts.  It is a song that can turn into a hair metal thrash if you so desire or can be sung with some restraint.  It is very much an electric guitar song.  Be careful with the arrangement – it is not as simple as it looks.

Chorus/chorus/verse/chorus/verse/chorus/chorus/coda

Chorus

Lord, send me your Spirit,

I need you now

To fill my heart with your love.

Come fill me now.

Chorus

Come fill me now.

Verse

The love of God is overflowing

And I need you to fill me up,

So Lord, send your Spirit into my heart,

Please come into me now.

Chorus

Verse

Chorus

Chorus

Come fill me now x3

© James Garrahy 1997.

 Written for St Mark’s Primary School, Drummoyne by James Maher msc, No 92 in As One Voice the Next Generation is “Live the Gospel”.  It looks a challenge on the page but once you hear it – not so bad – and catchy as all get out for the children.   You can see a version from the AOV conference from last year here.

Refrain

Living in faith, we gather in your name.

Living in hope, we learn about our world.

Living in love, we reach out to one another.

With our ears and eyes and hands and lips

and minds and hearts,

we live the gospel! (repeat)

Verse

Open our ears to hear your voice.

Open our eyes to see.

Open our hands to help

and to be all that we can be.

Open our lips to speak kind words.

Open our minds to learn.

Open our hearts to feel your love

and to love you in return.

Refrain

Refrain (key change)

© James Maher 2002.

I’ve already done No 91″Like a Candle” before Advent last year.  You can find it here.

No 90 in AOV NG is a great song by Amanda McKenna.  It is sort of Latin funk brass blast feel good gospel song that could even be used liturgically for entrance or recessional.  It has a proper gospel call and response.    The tempo is exactly twice what the music says it is so I suspect another misprint.

You can purchase the sheet music for download at As One Voice.

I made two backings – one is a slower tempo in a more bluesy style and the other a flawed attempt to match her rhythmic prowess.

Chorus

Light the fire and burn it deep within.

Take us higher into the rushing wind.

Open our hearts to your love and let it shine around,

And we can share it all around.

Verse 1

Listen to the word of God,

Listen to the word of God.

Hear the Spirit speak of love,

Hear the Spirit speak of love.

Coming to ignite the fire,

Coming to ignite the fire of love!

Chorus

Verse 2

Alleluia is our song,

Alleluia is our song.

Sing your praises to our God,

Sing your praises to our God.

Coming to ignite the fire,

Coming to ignite the fire of Love!

Chorus

We can let it shine around,

And we can share it all around.

Fire! Fire! Light the fire!

Fire! Fire! Light the fire!

Fire! Fire! Light the fire!

Fire! Fire! Light the fire of love!

© Amanda McKenna 2008.

This gentle funeral song by Monica O’Brien and Gina Ogilvie is No 89 in AOV NG.

It can be purchased for download at As One Voice.

Verse 1

We gather here to give our thanks

For the life that you have lived,

For the journey you have travelled

On this earth.

We celebrate the laughter,

The struggles and the joys,

We thank our living God

For the precious gift of you.

Chorus

And we lift you into heaven

With outstretched arms of love.

We lift you into heaven

Where you will be at peace.

We lift you into heaven

Where you’ll meet the close embrace of our God.

We lift you into heaven with our prayers.

Verse 2

Memories of you will stay

And we will hold them near;

Remembering with happiness

And joy.

Our hearts are heavy

As we say goodbye to you,

But we know that your spirit

Will never, ever die.

Chorus

© Monica O’Brien and Gina Ogilvie 2009.