Church Music

I’ll give Frank Andersen a rest for a while and attend to songs in liturgies posted here that are new to me.

Ryan’s parish sang this gospel song written by Thomas Dorsey (text) and George Allen (music) recently. It is also often sung in a country style. The text is here. The sheet music is available to purchase at various places on the internet including musicnotes. I have a copy in Gather Comprehensive. I can see a liturgical use during Lent, funerals or for Reconciliation.

The wikipedia entry lists an amazing number of covers. There is a detailed commentary here.

This is the last of Frank Andersen’s songs from Everything I Possess, that I haven’t already blogged elsewhere. It is available in the collection Scripture in Song available here.

I had already done, “Springs of Salvation”, “My People”, “His State Was Divine”, and “Galilee Song”, so you can search for them here if you want to look at those.

This one is a very slow but lovely tune, based on Psalm 131

In you, o Lord, we find our peace. In you the God of tenderness. We long to gaze upon your face, O Lord, to live in the shadow of your wings… to live in the shadow of your wings.

My heart has no ambitions, Lord. My eyes do not search the skies. Nor am I concerned with marvels beyond my scope but enough for me to be tranquilly within your arms, my God.

© Frank Andersen

Entrance: Hail Redeemer King Divine (Brennan – Elvey)

Psalm 121 (McKenna)

Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord

Gifts:    All the Ends of the Earth (Dufford) AOV 1/76

Communion:    We Remember (Haugen) AOV 1/81

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

Recessional:    Lord, The Light of Your Love (Kendrick) AOV 2/59

This is a sweet song by Frank Andersen that could be used for gathering from the album Everything I Possess. I have my usual quibble about the voice of God flitting in and out of the text. It is available in the collection Scripture In Song.

Chorus

This is our acceptable time!
This is our day of salvation!
This is our acceptable time,
It will be the day of the Lord!

1 Gather you people! Return to your God!
Trusting his mercy and goodness again!
Give him your heart! Open your eyes!
See how your Saviour comes!

2 Listen, my people, when you were a child,
Out of your bondage I called you to me!
But when I called, you walked away!
How could I part with you?

3 You are my people, my choice, my delight!
Could I forget you, the child of my womb?
I am your God searching for you!
Give me your heart and live!

© Frank Andersen

This is a Frank Andersen song for Passion Sunday and since I haven’t got a favourite song for that liturgy I was hoping this might be the one.

My problem with the text is that it switches from the voice of God to the voice of the assembly in a somewhat random fashion – maybe if a cantor did the voice of God bits it would work, but it does seem a bit messy. The tune is fine.

You can purchase this one for download here.

1 Blessings on our King!
Blessings on our King!
Honour! Glory! Praise and thanks!
Blessings on our King!

Who do you say I truly am?
What is your faith in me?
You are the one, promised of old!
Son of the living God!

2 Jesus is our King!
There is just one Lord!
Lord of life and Lord of death!
Jesus is our Lord!
This is my Son, Truly Beloved!
My Spirit lives in Him!
Listen to Him, open your hearts!
He is my gift to you!

3 Sing your praises now!
Sing Hosanna! Sing!
We praise you, we bless you, Lord!
Blessings on our King!
Have you the strength to drink with me
from this one Cup of mine?
I am your Lord, you cannot live
other than I have lived!

© Frank Andersen

I’m continuing with Frank Andersen songs from the collection Everything I Possess that I haven’t already covered elsewhere.

This is based on Col 1 and sounds like a fast John Denver song. It may have a use as a recessional.

Refrain

I never fail to remember you in prayer giving thanks to my God for you.

Ever since the time I heard of your faith in Jesus Christ my Lord.

In Jesus Christ my Lord. In Jesus Christ my Lord.

1
We ask that God will give to you
the fullest knowledge of God’s will
so you will lead the kind of life
which the Lord expects of you.

2
May you have within your heart the strength
to bear your circumstances with joy.
To thank the Father for that gift
and to live within that Light.

© Frank Andersen

This is a jaunty, folky Frank Andersen song based on Psalm 91 (92). The songs from this collection appear to be either very slow or very fast.

Chorus

It is good to give thanks to the Lord
To make music to your name, Oh Most High
To proclaim your love in the morning
And your truth in the night
With the murmuring sound of instruments, I sing

1 Planted in the house of my Lord
Growing in the courts of my God
Still bearing fruits when I am old and worn
Prove of the justice of my God

2 When I see the wonders you have done
Then my heart is truly filled with joy
Oh Lord, how deep are your designs in me
The foolish person cannot understand

3 Those who love will flourish like the palm
and grow like the cedar firm and tall
the justice of the Lord will be my saving song
in Him, my rock there is no wrong

© Frank Andersen

Getting back to the Frank Andersen album, Everything I Possess, I find this song, “The Hand of the Lord Himself”. Like most of the songs I am doing now it is only available in the folio edition of Scripture in Song available here. The title varies depending on the source +/- “himself”.

This is a very slow song that appears largely based on Psalms including 42, 62 and 121. Frank recommended a cantor for the verses but they sound fine for an assembly – especially of basses. It would work well for the Procession of the Gifts.

Refrain

The hand of the Lord feeds us with this bread.

It answers all our needs… Blessed be the name of God.

1

Like the deer that yearns for running waters my heart longs for you.

My soul is thirsting for you. When can I see your face.

2

You alone my hope and my salvation – all my trust in you.

I have always called on you. My portion you have been.

3

So I lift my eyes up to the heavens, from whence shall come my hope?

Trust in the Lord at all times and call upon his name.

© Frank Andersen

Entrance:  Gather Us In (Haugen) AOV 1/12

Psalm 97 (McKenna)

The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.

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

Communion:  Song of the Body of Christ  (Haas) AOV 1/27

Thanksgiving:  Sing Out Earth and Skies (Haugen) AOV 2/32

Recessional:  Hearts on Fire  (Mangan) AOV NG 62

This song by Frank Andersen would have to have the necessary substution for Yahweh before it can be sung. Unfortunately the “Yah” is the long note so “the Lord” won’t work – how about “our God”.

It is a pleasant ballad with a text based on Gen 28:15-17.

Chorus:
Truly Yahweh was in this place
And I never knew,
Truly Yahweh was in this place
And I never knew.

1 Be sure that I am with you,
There wherever you go!
And I will bring you back to your own land,
As I have promised you.

2 For I shall be your Father
You shall be truly mine.
And deep within your heart my home shall be,
For I have chosen you.

© Frank Andersen