Church Music

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.

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.

)

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.

)

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