This one is a version of a John Bell song for which Michael Herry adapted the text. It is obviously a gathering song.
The tune changes key every two verses and can be done as call and response. I can’t find the Bell original anywhere so I don’t know how much adaptation has gone on here.
The sheet music is available for free at Marist music where you can hear the song.
I made a backing.
1 Sent from God who loves us, Jesus Christ.
Heralded by prophets, Jesus Christ!
For a world that waited, Jesus Christ:
We gather in his name.
2 Word of God the Father, Jesus Christ.
From the womb of Mary, Jesus Christ!
Face of love and mercy, Jesus Christ:
We gather in his name.
3 Light of all the world. Jesus Christ.
Scattering the darkness Jesus Christ!
Calling us to follow, Jesus Christ:
We gather in his name.
4 Sign of contradiction, Jesus Christ.
Daring to be different, Jesus Christ!
Calling us to banquet, Jesus Christ;
We gather in his name.
5 Breathing life and Spirit, Jesus Christ.
Crucified and risen, Jesus Christ!
Present here among us, Jesus Christ;
We gather in his name.
6 Face of God;s compassion, Jesus Christ.
Binding up the wounded, Jesus Christ!
Pouring oil of blessing, Jesus Christ;
We gather in his name;
We gather in his name.
ⓒ 2007 WGRG Iona community. words and music John L. Bell; text adaptation ⓒ Michael Herry
This is the title track from Michael Herry‘s collection, God of Surprises.
His point of departure is the beatitude found in John 20:29, “Blest are those who have not seen, and yet believe”. The tune is surprising with a 9/8 to 6/8 refrain. The melody in the verse has a touch of Don Quixote about it – dreaming impossible dreams.
Get the sheet music at Marist Music for free, where you can listen to the song as well.
Refrain
O God of surprises open our eyes to see your presence amongst us.
O God of surprises open our eyes to see your face O God.
1 In the smile of a child, in the tears of the old,
In the touch of a hand, in the warmth of a friend,
In the calm of the night, in the glory of sunrise,
in the voice of the prophet who challenges all to look deeper again.
2 In the stir of a breeze, in the pow’r of the storm.
In the dark of the forest, in the might of the sea,
In the cry of the poor, in the need of a neighbour,
in the voice of the prophet who challenges all to look deeper again.
3 When God’s voice is silent. When prayers go unheard.
When loving is labour and life seems absurd.
In the doubts and the questions, in the sunshine and rain.
in the voice of the prophet who challenges all to look deeper again.
4 In the turn of the tide birthing hope in our hearts.
In our coming together when our paths move apart.
In the dawn of tomorrow, in the faith here declared,
In the presence of Jesus whose Spirit of love is now sent to be shared.
Last Refrain
O God of surprises open our eyes to see your presence amongst us.
O God of surprises open our eyes to see your face, in the face of Christ.
While remaining with Australian songwriters, there will now be major change in style from emmanuelworship to Michael Herry. I have blogged many songs by Marist Brother Michael Herry, but I haven’t even scratched the surface of his output. Put his name in the search engine to see what songs I have already covered.
His songs are all available on the Marist Music website, which can be a bit confusing. The best entry site is here where you can access all his albums. Apart from his usual hymns there are songs for Eucharist for every week in ordinary time and psalms for all occasions. All are now free to download. The other options is just googling to take you past the home page straight to the album you want.
Herry’s work is biblical, liturgical and singable… and vast. They are usually in a folk style but with memorably clever music.
I will start with the collection God of Surprises and this song, ” Behold the Flowers”, but I doubt I’ll live long enough to cover everything.
It is based on Matt 6:24-24 and Luke 12: 16-21. This one does have a fair old range but the cunning tune is worth the effort if you can stretch high and low enough.
The sheet music is here where you can also listen to the song. As usual I will make BIAB backings you can sing along with to to learn the hymns.
1 Behold the flowers in the field;
For all their beauty they neither toil nor spin,
Yet the Father clothes them in crimson and gold,
Their grace beyond compare.
Refrain
So set your hearts on the kingdom first; your Father knows your needs.
With simple trust, walk hand in hand, God’s children, such as these.
2 For know that life means more than food.
So, too, your body means surely more than clothes.
Raise your eyes to heaven; where birds flying free,
Have food from God’s own hand.
3 Beware the lure of bigger barns;
And all false promises and dreams that melt away.
Taking staff, and sandals, and a song in your heart,
I’ll round out the emmanuelworship collection, “Glory” with this surprising ballad written by everyone, well at least: Roby Curtis, Chiara Keady, Liam Desic and Dom Dougherty. It is good to see emmanuelworship with other gears apart from music to jump up and down to. Their version does build up to a lot of noise but I wouldn’t bother, it’s lovely without that. I suspect we are meant to sing it an octave down from the written music.
It is a personal song suitable for a Lenten reflection. The lead sheet has been provided for free at emmanuelworship. Since I am trying to stay with Australian music, I will likely return to them soon. I have some of their out of print books as well as their more recent stuff to look at.
For my BIAB backing I jazzed up the chords, slowed the tempo a little and dialed down the volume, which really isn’t needed here. The instrumental sections allowed BIAB to solo, which is always fun.
1 You saved me when I was lost, oh God,
You raise me from the miry clay
Set my feet on a rock and made me whole again.
2 My failings, your forgiveness reigns.
Your mercy conquers all my shame,
Shepherd me oh God if I should ever stray.
Chorus
You’re my Saviour, you’re my closest friend.
From the ashes, I’m raised to life again.
Now I’m running, running, through the madness of this perfect storm.
You are shaking, shaking up my old self,
Carving newness, with plans to make me whole.
Now I’m running, running through the madness of this perfect storm.
I have a couple more songs to do from emmanuelworship‘s “Glory” collection.
This is an energetic rock praise and worship song espousing unity. It was written by Roby Curtis and Dom Dougherty. It has the full set: prechoruses, bridgework and midtros!
This is another emmanuelworship song from the collection, “Glory”. This was written by the old firm of Pat Keady and Roby Curtis who have been involved with emmanuelworship for decades. It is a straightforward praise and worship song. These songs are part Psalm and part mantra.
The sheet music is available for free at emmanuelworship. This song not only has an “intro” it also has more than one “midtro”, which here is an introduction to a verse or bridge. I have no idea when this term achieved currency and I don’t have to like it.
There aren’t that many 6/8 rhythms in BIAB, and doing it in 3/4 would be cheating, so its more celtic backings for emmanuelworship. See their version for something less eclectic.
1 Jesus Christ, King of all ages, sacrifice, history’s pages.
Tell of grace, poured down from heaven on earth’s stage,
Let us receive our King.
Chorus
We sing unto the One, seated upon the throne,
And to the Lamb be all honour and praise.
With all the angels sing, glory unto the King,
Honour and praise, King of all days, Jesus.
2 Son of man, come for the broken and the lost, seeking the weary,
I am trying to stick with Australian music for the most part, so I will continue working through the collection, “Glory” from emmanuelworship.
This is a pop song from Kiara Keady, who I assume is the next gen Keady – Pat Keady is the moderator of the community and wrote a lot of the songs twenty years ago. It is the most upbeat song for Lent I can think of. The text has baptismal allusions and artfully takes breath/ruach/spirit on board still within in the pop idiom.
I've worked my way through the As One Voice books and other collections making backings on Band in a Box to help me (& you if you're interested) learn new songs for church. This is aimed at churches and musicians that own the collections but haven't exploited them fully. If you don't have them they are certainly worth buying. This site is educational, nonprofit and designed to enhance the commercial prospects of songwriters. This site does not distribute copyrighted sheet music.
Disclaimer
Any opinions expressed here are personal views and not the responsibility of any Church.
All music backings posted are created by myself and the intention is for them to be used to learn the songs. If any copyright holder wishes me to cease publicising and promoting their wares and directing people to where sheet music can be legally purchased please let me know.
Mason’s “Mass of Glory and Praise”
To access my backings for Paul Mason's mass go to Feb 2011 in the archive.
