A Charge to Keep

I’m moving on to another Australian artist now, one David MacGregor. He has many songs published at Willow, so I came across him there. He is a Uniting Church minister from Queensland and has been writing and recording music for many years. Despite living in his neck of the woods for most of my life, I have only come across his work since moving away.

His Together to Celebrate site offers useful suggestions for music, but the highlight is his own songs, for which he puts up the sheet music and audio files, either sung or instrumental backings. He says they are offered as a gift, but obviously need to noted through OneLicence or CCLI if used in services. His style tends folk/country but there are boppy songs for kids and other styles as well. There is a level of sophistication in his music that goes beyond those genres and it is well worth a look.

There is so much there it rivals Michael Herry’s archive for ambition, but I’ll make a start and probably get back to finish it in stages.

This song, inspired by Numbers 9:15-23 would work as a recessional.

1. There’s a song that sounds
   There’s a call – resounds
   Come and follow, hear my voice
   Leave the past behind
   One in heart and mind
   Move with God – in strength, in choice

Know God’s presence, life
Live God’s Spirit power
Be one people, clear in resolve
There’s a charge to keep
There’s a light to shine
There’s a story still to be told.

2. T’ward a promised land
   In God’s grace, we’ll stand
   Tell God’s story fresh in these times
   As the Spirit gives
   We’ve the tools to live
   as redeemed,
   enlivened by Christ.

Charged to serve you well
from the heart, pray tell
Chosen people
purposed in God
We’ve a charge to keep
We’ve a light to shine
There’s a story still to be told.

3. God you call us on
   by your living Word
   Grant us courage all to obey
   Purpose in our steps
   by your Spirit’s breath
   Jesus’ voice and heart for today

Called to be your church
As your face on earth
Grow in Christ wherever we be
We’ve a charge to keep
We’ve a light to shine
for the one who sets us all free

We’ve a charge to keep
We’ve a light to shine
for the one who sets us all free.

David MacGregor
© 2014 Willow Publishing / Inspired by Numbers 9:15-23