Church Music

I’m continuing with my return to Australian music, with John Burland‘s latest album, We Follow Jesus.

His website describes it thusly:

A vibrant and engaging album by Australian educator and composer John Burland.

Perfect for children and families, this collection celebrates the call to follow Jesus with faith, hope, and love. Designed to complement Religious Education programs in both school and parish settings, each song enriches understanding and deepens knowledge of our faith. Featuring a variety of musical styles, the album explores themes such as, forgiveness, the Kingdom of God, creation, justice, the Emmaus journey, the Creed, and the Beatitudes. “We Follow Jesus” is an essential resource for any faith community.

What you expect from John Burland is expertly recorded pop songs in a wide range of genres that are ideal for schools but have application beyond that. I am always interested in music for liturgy, but that is not always the first intention here. As I say repeatedly here, the most healthy section of the Australian Catholic Church is the school area and in music that is especially so, and happily much of the music that is designed for young people is fine for not so young people.

The sheet music collection is $A20 from his website, where you can also by the music album.

The first song is, appropriately, an enthusiastic song for welcoming that is fine for gathering for mass. It was written by John Burland and Philippe-Marc Anquetil. It is a well constructed pop song with an engaging change in tune for the second verse. I’m fine with the “oo”s but as with many of Burland’s songs the pitch is for performance and I would be lowering the key for an assembly, especially of you indulge him with the key change.

It’s interesting pitting Band in a Box against Nashville’s musicians and recording excellence, and it’s fun failing. I just like singing with a backing rather than a performance for learning purposes.

Chorus
Come gather here you’re welcome in this place
Where God’s great love is bringing endless grace
We gather with God’s loving family
We’re gonna celebrate that God is great together
You’ve welcome here OOOO (In God’s House)
You’ve welcome here OOOO (In God’s House)

1 Young and old we’re called to gather here
For we are loved and our God holds us near
We’re called to walk as Jesus did
Following in all his ways

Chorus

2 If we love like he does
And we give like he gives
Then we’ll know that there’s hope
If we love like he does
And we give like he gives
Then we’ll know that there’s hope
We can find

© 2023 John Burland and Phil Anquetil

Entrance: Gather As One  (McKenna) AOV NG 48

Psalm 18 (McKenna)

The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

Gifts: A Trusting Psalm (Bates) AOV 1/115

Communion: As a Fire is Meant for Burning  (Duck) GA 481

Recessional: Send Down the Fire (Haugen) AOV 2/164

Entrance:  Gather Your People (Hurd) AOV 1/71

Psalm 53 (McKenna)

The Lord upholds my life. The Lord upholds my life.

Gifts: The Cry of the Poor (Foley) AOV 1/83  

Communion: From the Many Make Us One (Huck/Alonso)

Recessional: A New Heart for a New World   (O’Brien/Watts) AOV 1/158

Entrance: Will You Love Me?   (Boniwell) AOV 1/40

Psalm 114 (McKenna)

I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.

Gifts: Blessed Be Our God  (McKenna) AOV NG 13

Communion: Tree of Life (Thompson) AOV NG138

Recessional: The Summons  (Maule-Bell) AOV NG 149

Entrance: All You Works of God (Haugen) AOV 1/19

Psalm 145 (McKenna)

Praise the Lord, my soul! Praise the Lord, my soul!

Gifts: Open My Eyes  (Manibusan) AOV 1/166

Communion: One Body In Christ (McKenna) AOV NG 102

Recessional: We Remember (Haugen) AOV 1/81

Entrance: A Place at the Table  (Shirley Erena Murray – Lori True) AOV NG 1

Psalm 14 (McKenna)

The just will live in the presence of the Lord.

Gifts: Bless Our Gifts (Grant) AOVD

Communion: From the Many Make Us One (Huck/Alonso)

Recessional: Christ be Our Light  (Farrell) AOV 2/3

Entrance:  All Are Welcome (Haugen)

Psalm 33 (McKenna)

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Gifts: Lord, to Whom Shall We Go (Herry) AOV 1/6

Communion: Come to the Table (Burland) AOV NG 33

Recessional: Send Us Out (Bryant) AOVD

Erwin Cabucos sent me another hymn, this time a gathering song for Advent. It would be good to have more avenues for parish musicians writing hymns to get their songs known, and to collaborate with others. He has other hymns that are worth looking at as well.

The sheet music is available at sheetmusicdirect.

I made a BIAB backing to assist learning the song.

1 Time to begin a new life with Christ

And live out compassion and love

Make a room for Him in our hearts

Maranatha, together we pray.

2 We gather now in memory of Him

His victory in Calvary

He came as a child born of Mary

Maranatha, together we pray.

Chorus

Light up the candles of hope and peace

Brighten the lights of joy and love

We look to His birth in Bethlehem.

Emmanuel God with us

We wait for His return.

3 Mary said yes on the day

The Word made flesh and dwelt among us

May we share her humility

Maranatha, together we pray.

Chorus

4 He will return in power and glory

To invite us to eternity

Shine His light of love and mercy

Maranatha, together we pray.

Chorus

© 2024 Erwin Cabucos

I did not intend to spend three months finishing Gather 3rd edition, but having got that out of the way, I can get back to some Australian music.

I have been sent two songs by Erwin Cabucos from St Bernadine’s in Queensland. I believe he is the celebrated short story writer.

This is a rousing song for gathering. The sheet music can be purchased here.

I have made a backing track on BIAB to sing along with to help learn it.

This is the day God has made, when we walk with Christ
And celebrate for saving us
By his dying on the cross, and his rising again
He leads us to our loving God.

This is a gath’ring our souls long for
A nourishing feast of new life.
We hear His voice in His Holy Word
Together in the Body of Christ, the Body of Christ.

Many nations and peoples, we worship as one,
We pray for justice and peace.
We are the salt of the earth, we are the light of the world
Let us shine the presence of Christ.

This is a gath’ring our souls long for
A nourishing feast of new life.
We hear His voice in His Holy Word
Together in the Body of Christ, the Body of Christ.

We come with our failings, we carry our pains
‘Round this altar we gather and pray.
We who are weary, take his yoke, learn from Him.
His burden is light, we’ll find rest.

This is a gath’ring our souls long for
A nourishing feast of new life.
We hear His voice in His Holy Word
Together in the Body of Christ, the Body of Christ.

© 2024 Erwin Cabucos

These are texts by Fred Kaan set to FARRELL by Thomas J. Porter for Father’s Day and Mother’s Day respectively, so if you need songs for those days they are available.

The texts are at Hope Publishing here and here. While GIA no longer sell it, except for a handbell arrangement, the preview is still visible at Hymnary.

OCP set it to STUTTGART and Hope use PENHILL and SUSSEX. Basically find your favourite 8 7 8 7 and go for it.

That will do for Gather 3rd edition, there are only American patriotic songs left that have no place in a Catholic liturgy, so I will ignore them and get back to Australian music.