The is a recently composed chorus for all ages in a reggae style from David MacGregor. Done gently it may be suitable for Gifts.
The sheet music is at his site.
He loves his reggae.
We want to hear your voice;
God, hear your call; Jesus,
Know your will for us,
One and all.
Spirit, hear our voice
Every time we call.
We want to walk your way
for your glory, Lord.
Walk your way
for your glo—ry, Lord.
David MacGregor
© 2024 Willow Publishing
David MacGregor says this is “a reflective song, based on theme for UCA: Qld Synod 25th anniversary,” which was twenty something years ago. I wish them a happy fiftieth.
It is a commissioning and commitment hymn.
The sheet music is available to download at his site.
Usually I do backings not long before I post about a hymn, but I did all these some time ago, so they are a surprise to me now. This is meant to be “at first reflective… then building.” It does kick in after the key change so it does that.
- Lord, I offer my heart
All the passion in me
Lord I offer my soul
All I’m longing to be
Take my heart and my soul
Take my joy and my pain
Take me wholly,
I’m yours in surrender
Jesus, again.- Lord, you’ve offered your heart
Paying passion’s great price
Lord, you’ve offered your soul
so in you we’d know life.
Lord, your heart and your soul
take on Calv’ry our stains
You redeem and
restore us completely
to life, in your name.- Lord, we offer our hearts
As a people of grace
By your Spirit, inspire us
to love in each place.
Lord, we offer our hearts
To your mission, your call
Heart and soul:
each one serving you wholly,
Offering all.© David MacGregor 2002
I could see this David MacGregor song used in Lent, for anointing or even a second rite. While based on a psalm that is part lament and part prayer for protection, Jesus becomes the hope.
The sheet music is at his site.
I did this backing a while ago – I hope I followed the direction ‘with restraint.”
.. not really… sigh.
You’re the healer of hearts
when we’re opened wide
You’re the healer of hurts
when we’re pained inside
You’re the healer of body, mind and soul
Jesus, bring us your life
Come, make us whole
Hear my cry, O God, my prayer
From the heart
in deep despair
When I’m far from anywhere
Let me know that God,
you’re there
You’re the healer of hearts
when we’re opened wide
You’re the healer of hurts
when we’re pained inside
You’re the healer of body, mind and soul
Jesus, bring us your life
Come, make us whole
Keep me safe from
harm’s cruel way
You’re my refuge,
come what may
God in you: my life, my way
In your presence night and dayYou’re the healer of hearts
when we’re opened wide
You’re the healer of hurts
when we’re pained inside
You’re the healer of body, mind and soul
Jesus, bring us your life
Come, make us wholeYou’re the healer of body, mind and soul
Jesus, bring us your life
Come, make us wholeDavid MacGregor
© 2010 Willow Publishing
Then again these versions aren’t all that restrained either.
David MacGregor based this song on Psalm 78:1-7, and so it is a psalm of praise I suppose.
Looking at the text it could have a use a recessional.
The sheet music is available at his website.
I made these backings a while ago, so they often a surprise to me. I must have interpreted “purposeful” as light funk/soul.
Give ear to God’s teaching
Lean into God’s word
Hear all God’s saying
we’ve long known and heard
Truth from the saintly
Truth we’ll share forward
In praise of God’s wonders
In praise of the LordWe won’t hide them from our children
May they tell their children too
May they trust in you, O Holy One
Your commands we’re called to doGive ear to God’s teaching
Lean into God’s word …Your wonders will not be forgotten
We will teach our children well
Your word, your truth, your life, your love
Have we a tale to tell!Give ear to God’s teaching
Lean into God’s word
Hear all God’s saying
we’ve long known and heard
Truth from the saintly
Truth we’ll take forward
In praise of God’s wonders
In praise of the Lord
In praise of God’s wonders
In praise of the LordDavid MacGregor
© 2023 Willow Publishing
from Psalm 78:1-7
More children’s song goodness from David MacGregor.
The sheet music is hard to download so I have posted a pdf version below.
Oh-oh-oh
Happiness begins with Jesus
Happiness begins with love
It’s living Jesus way
today and ev’ry day
Oh – hap-ap-appiness is love.
- Means sometimes doing things differently
than all our friends would do.
When sometimes people say things that hurt
God’s there to pull us through …- Happiness as we help someone.
God’s happiness we’ll bring
With Jesus always our Lord and friend,
for joy, we’ll dance and sing …coda: Oh-oh-oh, hap-ap-appiness is love.
Oh-oh-oh, hap-ap-appiness is love.
Jesus’ love! (shouted)© David MacGregor 1992
I was daydreaming at Mass yesterday – mea culpa Father Bala – and was wondering what the best mass I had ever attended was.
I can think of a lot of worse ones: our only Irish mass in Tralee with zero assembly participation and a rush for the doors after communion by all but a couple of stunned tourists. I recall some mechanical twenty minute Cathedral masses at sixish at St Mary’s in Sydney.
I was greatly uplifted by the masses at the APMN conventions. When the assembly is entirely made up of singers it is astonishing.
My mind wandered to Kagoshima at St Francis Xavier Church in the chapel at the base of their steeple with no more than twenty people singing the mass in Japanese, call and response with a cantor and a Vietnamese priest. I had sat inadvertently in an elderly lady’s favourite chair at the end of a row of seats and with her struggling to move she needed it. You have to be tough to be a Catholic in Japan. She wouldn’t leave at the end until she had given us a small gift – this has happened once or twice in Japan over the years.
The priest interrupted his homily to give us precis in English, which was most pastoral.
I think that was about perfect. I have been to mediocre masses in Japan as well mind you. I have been at masses that may have appeared perfunctory but touched me. I have been to elaborate masses that left me feeling alone.
I invite comments.
BTW I recovered in time to play the Sanctus … just.
The prolific and celebrated American hymn writer, Ruth Duck, died on Boxing Day. Her text for “As a Fire Is Meant For Burning” is a favourite of mine and set here to the traditional shape note tune BEACH SPRING.
This just about gets us to Lent.
Entrance: Gather Us In (Haugen) AOV 1/12
Psalm 91 (McKenna)
Lord, it is good to give thanks to you,’
To give thanks to you.
Gifts: Open My Eyes (Manibusan) AOV 1/166
Communion: To the Table We Are Called (O’Brien/Harvey) AOVD
Recessional: As a Fire is Meant for Burning (Duck) GA 481
Entrance: All Are Welcome (Haugen)
Psalm 102 (McKenna)
The Lord is kind and merciful.
Gifts: Be Merciful (Haugen)
Communion: To the Table We Are Called (O’Brien/Harvey) AOVD
Recessional: Go Make a Difference (Angrisano/Tomaszek) AOV NG 52
Listening to the backing for the psalm reminds me that I made these quickly, some time ago just to learn them and I was paying no attention whether the style was suitable. This one isn’t.
Entrance: A New Heart for a New World (O’Brien/Watts) AOV 1/158
Psalm 1 (McKenna)
Happy are they who hope in the Lord.
Happy are they! Happy are they!
Gifts: From the Many Make Us One (Huck/Alonso)
Communion: Beatitudes (Balhoff/Ducotte)
Recessional: Send Us Out (Bryant) AOVD
All but one Australian song, this week.
Entrance: Come, Now is the Time to Worship (Doerksen) AOV NG 29
Psalm 137 (McKenna)
In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
Gifts: Harvest (Grant) AOV Digital
Communion: To the Table We Are Called (O’Brien/Harvey) AOVD
Recessional: Galilee Song (Andersen) AOV 1/15
