Church Music

This country song is no 88 in As One Voice: the Next Generation.  It is another heartfelt John Coleman song, “Let Us Drink from the River.”  It comes complete with French and German versions if you need them and these are used on the  AOV NG CD.  This one is even liturgically useful.

Chorus

Let us drink from the river, thirsty daughters, tired sons.

Let us drink from the river, we are many we are one.

Rpt chorus

Verse

Loving God, you recreate us,

Loving God, a living sign.

Loving God, through life together,

Loving God the bread and wine.

Loving God, pilgrims together,

Loving God, the winding road.

Loving God, our constant comfort,

Loving God, the river flow.

Chorus

© John Coleman 2005.

Just in time for Easter is a wonderful Christmas song, “Let the Season Shine” by Judy Bailey (No87 in AOV).  Every one of Judy Bailey’s songs in this collection so far has been a delight and this is no exception.  This could be sung all through advent as well as at Christmas itself.  My backing is a bit disappointing as there are so many notes that BIAB decided it would refuse to play them all, however by the time that happens you should know the melody.

If you don’t have AOV NG you can purchase this song for download at As One Voice.

Verse 1

A child is born, a star lights up the world.

Emmanuel is fleshing out the word.

Let the season shine. Let the season shine!

Verse 2

The church bells ring, to celebrate his birth

And people sing of joy and peace on earth.

Let the season shine. Let the season shine!

Let the season shine! Let the season shine!

Chorus

One and all hear the call.

Let’s live our lives to be a light

As we walk in the light of God together.

Hope has come through the Son,

A chance of heav’n for ev’ryone

This Christmastime remember.

Let the season shine!

Verse 3

The perfect time to lay our hatred down,

Time to forgive, let love flow all around.

Let the season shine. Let the season shine!

Let the season shine! Let the season shine!

Chorus

out, Jesus, let the season shine out,

Jesus, let the season shine out,

Jesus, let the season shine out,

Jesus. let the season shine!

Bridge

Oh we all, oh we all hold the key to the light now –

Let the season shine x8

Chorus

Chorus

Let the season shine

© Dyba Music / Judy Bailey 2008.

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This reflective song written by James Maher msc, is number 86 in As One Voice: The Next Generation.  The version of “Let Me Know Your Love” on the AOV NG CD is sung by by Phil Simmons with rather too much echo on his voice, but is pleasant enough for all that.  It is a very special meditation on spiritual dryness and waiting upon the Lord.  It has a dramatic bridge and some tasteful triplets in the chorus.  I’d like to hear it down in a much more stripped back version.  I don’t think my backing is that version unfortunately.

Verse 1

In the darkness of the desert,

In the hollow of my soul.

Tempted by life’s grand illusions,

And empty promises well known.

In the silence of the wilderness

In this sacred empty space,

Standing on the edge of mystery

And on the edge of faith.

Refrain

Let me know your love,

Let me see your face.

Let me find within my heart,

Your Spirit’s touch, the gift of faith.

O hidden God help me believe.

Speak to my heart, Silent One.

Let me hear in the hunger, your voice.

Verse 2

Lost and weary without water,

Stumbling over endless sands,

Cast adrift from all security,

And the power to understand.

But held within this womb of darkness,

there are silent words to hear,

Words of wonder, words of courage,

Words of freedom beyond fear.

Refrain

Bridge

Long in exile from the garden,

Lured to the wilderness.

Speak to me that I might live anew!

Refrain

© James Maher msc 2007.

Another slab of sugary P&W goodness comes in at 85 in AOV NG with Matt Maher’s “Just Like You.”  Suitable for jumping up and down to… a lot.  You can purchase the sheet music for download and listen to an excerpt of the song here.

I’ve added a third verse to my backing instead of the ad libbing on the recording so you can sing the first verse again if you like or just come in on the prechorus.

Verse 1

Revive my heart, renew my soul
In You, oh Lord, I am made whole
No more in fear will I wander
‘Cause you’re my God
My Lord and Lover

Like a burning fire
Be my one desire

Chorus:

I wanna be holy, just like You
I wanna go where You lead me to
With reckless abandon to Your truth
I wanna fall deeper in love with You

Verse 2

Oh lift me up, God my Father
In all this world, there is no other
I’m dancing in Your holy presence
And Your glory fills all my senses

Like a burning fire
Be my one desire

Chorus

© Matt Maher 2001.

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No 84 in AOV NG is another emmanuelworship song, “Jesus You’re the One” by James Garrahy.  This is a fair pop song but too high and too long for anything other than praise and worship settings.  There are also far too many words IMHO.  Some strikingly good phrases are lost in the verbiage, like “so you know what it’s like to breathe” and “the one who took the nails”.

Verse 1

You’re one who calmed the storm.

You’re the one who healed the sick.

You’re the one who walked upon the water.

You’re the one who taught forgiveness.

You’re the one who loved us all.

You’re the one who gave his life to set us free.

And oh how you walked the earth for us

So you know what it’s like to breathe.

And all the pain you took for us

So we could have hope and believe.

Refrain

Jesus, you’re the one!

I want you in my life.

Without you I wouldn’t be the same.

Jesus, you’re the one!

You teach me how to shine.

Jesus, you have set me free!

Jesus you’re the one!

Verse 2

You’re the one who lifts the lonely.

You’re the one who feeds us all.

You’re the one who never leaves our side through the darkest storm.

You’re the one who died for us.

You’re the one who rose again.

You’re the one who put death to sleep forever.

And all the love you have for us

So we could have hope filled days.

And all the grace you’ve given us

So we could have hope and believe.

Refrain

Jesus, you’re the one

(key change)

Verse 3

You’re the one who loves to love me.

You’re the one who cheers me on.

You’re the one who lifts me up when I can’t carry on.

You’re the one who’ll never leave me.

You’re the one who never fails.

You’re the one who’s there through it all,

The one who took the nails.

And all the love you have for us,

a love I can’t understand.

and all the life you bought for us

So we could have hope and believe.

Refrain

You have set us free.  You have set us free  (four times)

© James Garrahy 2003

So the question arises – are the revised masses playable, learnable, even doable?

Maggie Russell’s Mass of Freedom is sung enthusiastically by our parish.  The Gloria has required a very extensive rewrite.  Have a go at singing the new words to the revised tune.  I’ve left it in the original key although we usually bring it down to F to make it more singable.

Refrain

Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to people of good will.

Rpt Verse 1

We praise you,

we bless you,

we adore you,

we glorify you,

we give you thanks for your great glory,

Lord God, heavenly King,

O God, almighty Father.

Refrain

Verse 2

Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,

Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

you take away the sins of the world,

have mercy on us;

you take away the sins of the world,

receive our prayer;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father,

have mercy on us.

Refrain

Verse 3

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High,

Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father.

Refrain

No 83 in As One Voice: the Next Generation is John Coleman’s “Jesus with Me”.  I’m pretty sure I heard him sing this at the AOV conference last year.  Another slow meditation, it is absolutely wonderful, but because the first two verses are sung freely I can’t get that feel with BIAB so I’ve just done my own arrangement, which will have to do.  Listen to the CD if you get a chance, or listen to it on bandcamp.

Refrain

Jesus with me, always with me.

Ever near me, always with me.

Verse 1

The Jesus who feeds the hungry and tired,

Jesus feed my family and I

Refrain

Verse 2

The Jesus who hungered, was tortured and died,

Is the Jesus who rose on Eastertide.

Refrain

Verse 3

Just as the spearpoint enters the side,

There is Jesus – incoming tide.

Refrain

Verse 4

The Jesus who gave the blind man his sight,

To your presence, open our eyes.

Refrain

rpt vs 4

Refrain

© John Coleman 1998.

I’ve already done this wonderful easter song, “Jesus is Risen”.

No 81 in AOV NG is James Maher’s beautiful meditation, “Jesus, Face of God.”  It’s worth finding Julie Jenkin’s version on the CD.

Jesus, face of God, holy mystery,

Truth beyond what we’ve conceived, bold reality!

Jesus, word of God, heaven’s poetry,

Wisdom born beyond our minds, divine humanity.

Jesus, heart of God, pierced on calvary,

Love beyond imagining, heaven’s majesty.

Jesus, song of God, Spirit’s melody,

Sounding deep within our hearts, transforming harmony,

Holy mystery.

© James Maher msc 2007.

Getting back to As One Voice: the Next Generation takes us to No 80, “Jesus, Bread of Life” by Amanda McKenna. This song is an old fashioned waltz and a bit of a Swiss army knife of a song. The refrain could be used as a communion mantra, refrain + verse one as a gospel acclamation, verse 4 for last week’s gospel, etc.  She even has an extra verse for advent.  In other words she is as liturgically useful as anything.

You can buy the sheet music for download at As One Voice and if you look around their site you’ll find Amanda has put up many other instrumental parts for sale.

My backing is just the song as written with five verses. She alters the tune in some of the verses just enough to drive the assembly crazy I suspect, but it is a useful song nonetheless.

Refrain

Jesus, bread of life, cup of love poured out for us.

Jesus, lamb of God, holy one, gift of peace.

Verse 1

No-one can live on bread alone,

But ev’ry word from the mouth of God.

Refrain

Verse 2

This is my son, my beloved one.

He is my delight, listen to him.

Refrain

Verse 3

Those who drink this water I shall give

Will have welling springs of eternal life.

Refrain

Verse 4

Lord rubbed my eyes and I could see,

And I believed, believed in God.

Refrain

Verse 5

All those who live and believe in me

Will never die forever, says the Lord.

Refrain

© Amanda McKenna 2006.