Church Music

This is the first of several sending forth (Go! songs) and it is a good one to start with, Steve Angrisano and Tom Tomaszek’s “Go Make a Difference”. (No52 AOV NG)  They are both famous (in the USA) Christian artists and I’ve heard this song as a rocker with massed voices belting it out to great effect.  It presses all the right recessional buttons – uplifting and with a message ringing in our ears as we leave.

The sheet music can be purchased for download at spiritandsong.

Very minor musical point – p160, second line, third verse, there is an unnecessary tie on the notes above “dif-f’rence”.

My backing is more latin than rock- it’s just felt right.  Steve’s more usual arrangement is in the You Tube video.

Refrain
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.

Verse 1

We are the salt of the earth,
called to let the people see
the love of God in you and me.
We are the light of the world,
not to be hidden but be seen.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.

Refrain

Verse 2

We are the hands of Christ
reaching out to those in need,
the face of God for all to see.
We are the spirit of hope;
we are the voice of peace.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.

Refrain

Verse 3

So let your love shine on,
let it shine for all to see.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
And the spirit of Christ
will be with us as we go.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.

Refrain

Go make a diff’rence in the world.

Go make a diff’rence

In the world.

© Steve Angrisano and Tom Tomaszek, 1997.

At last – a funeral song – No51 in AOV NG is “Go in Peace” by Sarah Hart and Dwight Liles.  They are experienced artists from the US and have collaborated on a gentle, appropriate hymn for the mourning. If Psalm 23 and “Abide with Me” aren’t for you, perhaps this is.  The You Tube video with just piano and vocals is probably a better approach than, the admittedly nice, arrangement on the CD and much better than my fussy hamfisted attempt at a backing.

Verse 1

There will be no more darkness.
There is no more night, no more night.
There will be no more sadness,
only joy and light, joy and light.
Lift your eyes beyond the hills
and see the dawn.
There is beautiful mercy
in the arms of the holy one.

Refrain
Go in peace, God be with you.
Go in peace, be at rest
with the saints and the angels.
Now you are free. Go in peace.

Verse 2

See the Father is waiting
with a robe of white, purest white.
Go and feast at his table
with the bread of life, bread of life.
Lift your heart, rejoice and sing
for you are home;
home at last and forever
in the arms of the holy one.

© Sarah Hart and Dwight Liles 2004, 2005.

“Glorify Thy Name” by Donna Adkins must be the oldest song in this collection, dating back to 1976.  I’ve reached 50 songs in only a couple of months, so I should be finished by Easter at this rate.

This is a sedate and stately hymn of praise.  It is probably better a little slower than 86 bpm – I used 78. There is some background and a list of other collections that contain this song at Hymnary.

Verse 1

Father we love You
We worship and adore You
Glorify Thy name in all the earth
Glorify Thy name
Glorify Thy name
Glorify Thy name in all the earth

Verse 2 

Spirit we love You
We worship and adore You
Glorify Thy name in all the earth
Glorify Thy name
Glorify Thy name
Glorify Thy name in all the earth

Verse 3

Jesus we love You
We worship and adore You
Glorify Thy name in all the earth
Glorify Thy name
Glorify Thy name
Glorify Thy name in all the earth

© Donna Atkins 1976.

No 49 in AOV NG is another lovely Gina Ogilvie song, “Gift of Grace.”  It starts as a reflective piece and winds up a festival.  I’m not sure I was able to get the flavour in my backing, so seek out the CD and give it a listen.  If you were having quiet reflective mass, the first verse could be the gathering, done as a chant and the second the recessional.  It would also be wonderful for a healing service.

It can be purchased for download at As One Voice.

 

Bless this land and your people

As we gather on this day.

Lead us to a place of healing

Where we know the gift of grace.

Bless this land and your people

As we journey from this place.

May our lives reveal your promise

As we become your gift of grace.

© Monica O’Brien and Gina Ogilvie 2007.

“Gather As One” is a great slice of funk gospel from Amanda McKenna and is found at No48 in AOV NG.  Obviously a gathering song, it is a great singalong. Some of it is very reminiscent of “Power to the People” – I challenge you not to sing “power to the people right on” coming into the verses.  My backing tries to be funk gospel as well.

There is a missing chord on the very last bar of the song – pencil in an E.

Chorus

Gather as one.  Gather as one.

Gather all the people of God!

All of our days singing God’s praise,

Gather all the people as one!

Verse 1

We will sing a new song unto the Lord,

Of truth and beauty surrounding our God;

Of holiness and glory,

Sing out to the Lord all the earth!

Chorus

Verse 2

Gather all the nations unto the Lord.

Bring us together our Lord and our God

And we will come rejoicing,

Proclaiming the Lord’s holy name!

Chorus

Verse 3

Come, now let us worship unto the Lord,

And let us bow down in honour of God.

We come into God’s presence

And shout out with joy to the Lord!

(key change)

Chorusx2 (then)

Gather all the people as one!

Gather all the people as one!

© Amanda McKenna 2007.

Geoff Bullock is channeling the great Jimmy Webb in his song, “Forgiveness,” which is No 47 in AOV NG.  There are hints of Come Saturday Morning as well.  It has a subtle tune and real emotion in the lyrics.  It has a heart and depth and suggests life experience of being broken hearted and needing healing himself.  It is a world away from the triumphalism of Hillsong, so I suppose he must have learnt something since he left.  The other songs on his website are pretty good too.

This is another song for a Mass of Forgiveness or a reflection for all of us. My backing attempts to mimic the solemn dignity of his arrangement.

Verse 1

Can we see the broken hearted, can we feel their pain?

Can we hear the cry of a lonely child?

Can we find the time for sorrow, can we be so brave?

Can we find the truth and the heart for grace, and a time for healing?

Chorus

Let forgiveness come, a new day now begun.

Let grace and mercy overflow us,

Heal this nation’s heart,

Forgiveness, forgive us.

Verse 2

Can we see the lost and lonely, can we stop the blame?

Can we dry their tears, can we bear their pain?

Can we leave our pride and wisdom ‘til our hearts are healed?

Can we walk as one, can we give our land, a new beginning?

Chorus 2

Let forgiveness come, a new day now begun.

Let grace and mercy overflow us,

Heal this nation’s heart,

Let forgiveness come, a new day now begun.

Let grace and mercy overflow us,

Heal this nation’s heart,

Forgiveness, forgive us.

Forgiveness, forgive us.

Forgive.

© Geoff Bullock 2008.

No 46 in AOV NG is another great Monica O’Brien/Gina Ogilvie song called “Forgiven.”  This gentle midtempo rock song, perhaps better at 108 than the 120 bpm suggested, is suitable as a penitential rite or a mass for forgiveness.  Sung by Jasmine Forsyth on the CD it’s as if the Carpenters wrote for liturgy – that would have been great.  This will have to do and is does well.

I was enjoying the song so much I decided my backing would repeat the first verse and I’d let Band in a Box have some fun soloing.

Verse 1

For the times when I was selfish, saw no-one else but me;

When I didn’t think of others and I was too blind to see;

For the times when I was silent and I should have spoken out,

When I was paralysed by fear and I was overcome with doubt.

Chorus

Forgiven for every hurt and sorrow, touched by the grace of God.

Forgiven to be free and restored, forgiven made whole again.

Verse 2

When my choices have been influenced by what others say and do;

And I’ve turned away from what my heart and soul knows to be true;

When I stop and I remember I’m worthy in God’s sight.

The darkness that surrounded me is transformed by healing light.

Chorus

Forgiven to be free and restored, forgiven made whole again.

© Monica O’Brien and Gina Ogilvie 2008

Robert Galea (now Father Robert Galea) wrote “Fill Us Up” with Bettina Cassar and it is No 45 in AOV NG.

You can listen to the song on Fr Galea’s MySpace page.

I had to listen to it several times to get the hang of it.  It grew on me and I’m a fan.  It’s a great reflection song and could replace a Vene Sancte with style.  My backing is a little on the jazz side but still has his style.

Verse

You are all we need, Your presence in this place.

We are your own, Yours alone.

Fill us up we pray, Fill us up we pray.

Chorus

Fill us up ‘till we’re overflowing,

Fill us up, fill us up.

Fill us up ‘till we’re overflowing,

Fill us up, fill us up.

Verse

Chorus

Chorus

Bridge

Fill our hearts and our minds

Fill our lives

Fill us up Rpt

Chorus

© Bettina Cassar and Robert Galea 2007

“Feel the Spirit” by James D’Arcy and Jo Kenderes is No 44 in AOG NG.  This is a standout track if only because it dares to jump out of the boring straight 4/4 into a swing rhythm.  It has a dynamic pre-chorus that reminds me of Tim Finn’s “Dead Man” (that’s good).  It has some clever wordplay that you don’t often see in this sort of song. (see “Own” and “Peace”)

I see no reason this couldn’t be a gathering song.

On p137 top line the B over spir (-it) is a Bflat.

Verse 1

The time has come to make a change for the future.

Look around and rearrange.

There’s injustice everywhere, it’s always close to home.

Ev’ry change begins with me, but I’m not on my

Own the future and we can make a stand

Follow your plan and we can get things right.

The spark of love is ready to show, let’s light the fire and watch it,

Watch it grow

Chorus

I hear the power in this place,

I see the power in Your love.

I feel the love within my heart,

I know, I know, I know it’s true.

I hear the power in this place,

I see the power in Your love,

I feel your love within your heart,

Feel the spirit too.

Verse 2

Spirit always in the world before the start of time.

I see anger all around but the future now is mine.

Making constant acts of love so all the fear will cease.

There is anger here but we were made for making

Peace is the answer and love’s the only way.

Speak from the heart and listen to what we say.

Feed the hungry and love the poor welcome all the children at our

At our door

Chorus

The spark of love is ready to show

Let’s start the fire and watch it

Watch it grow

Chorus (“We” instead of “I”)

© James D’Arcy and Jo Kenderes 2008.

No 43 in As One Voice: The Next Generation is Brenton Brown and Ken Riley’s “Everlasting God.”  I recently noted my opinion that Hillsong does the best songs of the Hillsong variety.  No, Brenton Brown is better – I prefer his “Over All the Earth” to this song but it is still a pretty good pop song.

It is available to purchase for download at more than one site on the net but praisecharts have every version you could possibly want.

Verse

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon you Lord (x 2)
Our God, you reign forever
Our hope, our strong deliverer…

Chorus
You are the everlasting God, the everlasting God
You do not faint, you won’t grow weary
You’re the defender of the weak, you comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles…

Verse

Chorus

© Brenton Brown and Ken Riley 2005.