I’m continuing to look for songs at As One Voice that weren’t in their collections.
Patrica Smith wrote this one and as there was no sample of the music I made a backing to see how it went. She is the music coordinator at St Patrick’s church in the parish of Kuringgai Chase, Sydney.
It is an impressive song of conviction and social justice. The repetition makes it almost into a mantra with a gentle singable tune that I would bring down from C to A so the long notes are A’s rather than Cs.
The sheet music can be purchased at AOV. For once I actually put the ritard in at the end of the song.
1 By the grace of God, I am a servant of the Lord.
By the grace of God, I have been called to his work.
By the grace of God, we will stand against the night.
By the grace of God, we will witness to the truth,
By the grace of God.
2 By the grace of God, I hear the cries of those in need.
By the grace of God, I see their hunger and their fear.
By the grace of God, we will answer when they call.
By the grace of God, with open hands and hearts,
By the grace of God.
3 By the grace of God, I have been gifted by the Lord,
By the grace of God, to help the children of the poor.
By the grace of God, we will fill their lives with hope.
By the grace of God, we will bind up every wound,
By the grace of God.
4 By the grace of God, life will triumph over death.
By the grace of God, love will vanquish every fear.
By the grace of God, we will set the captives free.
By the grace of God, in the Kingdom of the Lord,
By the grace of God.
© 2012 P A Smith