Church Music

This hotly anticipated collection of new songs written by Australian Catholic song-writers from Willow Publishing, available in hard copy and e-book form, has been launched today. I had a small hand in one of the songs as it originated in a workshop last year with four of us throwing words around and Gen Bryant massaging it into music, as we were lucky enough that she had the guitar!

It was amazing to see what a hot house collective can bring together in a short space in time and it was a great experience. I think it is the way to go for songwriters in Australia to bounce things off each other in person or virtually, as a way to see the Holy Spirit working in our music.

You can purchase the collection at Willow.

The important information from Willow is:

In this remarkable Year of Jubilee, we are blessed to present the Pilgrims of Hope Music Collection for Parishes & Schools, a vibrant anthology of ten original compositions by celebrated and emerging Australian sacred music composers. This collection embodies Pope Francis’s vision that “the joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus,” offering fresh musical expressions of faith that resonate across generations and cultures.

The collection’s strength lies in its diversity and accessibility. From a jubilant anthem to contemporary arrangements that engage worshippers in prayer and praise.  Each piece has been crafted with congregational singing in mind.

The lyrics throughout the collection are carefully aligned with the themes of the Jubilee Year, exploring hope, renewal, and communal joy. As Pope Francis reminds us, “Hope opens new horizons, making us capable of dreaming what is not even imaginable.” These songs give voice to that dream, providing parishes and schools with fresh ways to express their faith through music.

Whether used in liturgical celebrations, school Masses, or community gatherings, this collection offers something for every setting and occasion. The arrangements are designed to be adaptable, allowing both skilled musicians and developing music ministries to bring these songs to life in their communities.

The collection features songs by the following established and emerging artists living in dioceses around Australia: Lauren Bierer, Gen Bryant, Kallie Deegan, Beth Doherty, Timothy Hart, Michael Harvey, Maeve Louise Heaney, Toni Janke, Steph Jorna, Danielle Anne Lynch, Geoffrey Madden, Brigid McNally, Monica O’Brien, Gina Ogilvie, Patricia Smith, Ashen Warnakulasooriya and Trisha Watts.

The Pilgrims of Hope Music Collection for Parishes and Schools offers something for every setting and occasion.

Bundle: The bundle includes the music book, the recordings, and the presentation slides for the lyrics.

Music Book: The arrangements are designed to be adaptable, allowing both skilled musicians and developing music ministries to bring these songs to life in their communities .

Recordings:  The recordings have been professionally recorded.

Presentation Slides:  The slides display the lyrics for each song in an easy-to-read format with a font size of 40 points with a choice of a black background with white text and a white background with black text. 

Physical Music Book:  For a limited time, the Music Book is available in printed book format.  Orders must be placed at this link: bit.ly/4asqmn8

Titles:

1. Fan The Flame Of Hope – Music: Michael Harvey. Lyrics: Monica O’Brien. 
2. Hope In Love – Lauren Bierer, Kallie Deegan, Timothy Hart, Danielle Anne Lynch, Trisha Watts.
3. On This Sacred Ground – Maeve Louise Heaney, Toni Janke.
4. Here At The Table – Music: Michael Harvey. Lyrics: Gina Ogilvie.
5. To The Table We Are Called – Music: Michael Harvey. Lyrics: Monica O’Brien.
6. All the Hungry, Come – Beth Doherty.
7. Holy Spirit Of The Great South Land – Patricia Smith.
8. Hold Us Close – Music: Gina Ogilvie. Lyrics: Monica O’Brien.
9. Be Hope! – Music: Gen Bryant. Lyrics: Gen Bryant, Steph Jorna, Geoffrey Madden, Brigid McNally.
10. Hope Is Alive! – Music: Gen Bryant & Ashen Warnakulasooriya. Lyrics: Gen Bryant.

If you like hard copies like me, you best get in while they are being made. I’ll look at them all once my copy arrives and I will be getting copies for the local school and you might want to think about donating some copies of the music to your local school.

I have already looked at the very impressive songs for Eucharist, “To the Table We Are Called” and “Here at the Table” if you want to get an earlier look.

The other song in John Burland‘s two song Jubilee collection is a completely different matter to the one I blogged yesterday, which was all about participation.

This one is a stretch for an assembly or school class, as it is a gorgeous duet thatI can see no way to reconcile into one melody track.

I’m most impressed by it though and it will be most useful well beyond the Jubilee for two talented seniors to use, perhaps as a performance in a reflection time at the start of each term.

He wrote it with his frequent collaborator, Philippe-Marc Anquetil. You get both songs for next to nothing at his site.

My backing this time has the two melody lines at opposite ends of the stereo spectrum with different voicings to assist with learning the parts. If anyone wanted a backing track with no melody lines it would easy enough for me to make it and post it, so let me know.

Verse 1
Do you see the one left by the road
Broken and all alone
Are you the tender hand that comforts
As others just walk by
A chance for us to put things right
We can inspire every nation

Chorus
A time to start all over again
Reaching out with healing hands
We can stand together in love
The strength of many will be one
The Spirit of the Lord renew our hearts
With justice and hope to set us free
Thy kingdom come thy will be done
As it is in Heaven above
A time to rejoice
A time to sow
As it is in Heaven
A time to rejoice
A time to sow
To lift our voice
A time to grow

Verse 2
Do you hear the voices cry
For justice and for freedom
Are you the sculptor of a better world
Where our children live in Faith
And just like a candle burning bright
We’ll be God’s shining light
© 2024 John Burland and Philippe-Marc Anquetil

Luke 4:18-19; cf. Isaiah 61:1-2

His recording is quite the performance! Using autotune as an effect does make it sound modern I suppose, but he doesn’t need it.

Enjoy:

I was not overly enamoured with the official hymn for the the Jubilee year, but then I am notoriously grumpy.

There will obviously be a lot of other songs for the Jubilee, and I hope many of them will have a use beyond 2025. I am awaiting the release of Willow’s Pilgrims of Hope, with which I was peripherally involved, tomorrow. It is a brave plunge back into physical media, which I much prefer when available, probably an age thing.

In the mean time, John Burland has published a two song collection for the Jubilee, available at his site for only $A5 a copy.

The first song is an up-tempo song that I can see being used as a theme song in schools for the year. I recall singing a lively Michael Mangan song for the last Jubilee and then being unable to use it after the year 2000 – well it was fun while it lasted.

This is one of his participatory songs – it has a sensible range for the assembly and the syncopation is light. The chorus is baby shark catchy for kids – “singing Jubilee, singing Jubilee, we are pilgrims of hope” may drive parents crazy on the way home from school, or have them singing along.

John makes a lot of effort to make songs like this useful. His well produced versions (see below) give a good idea of what is possible, while the simple guitar chords needed won’t scare basic teacher guitarists. The text simply conveys the themes of this Jubilee in a way the children will understand, but does not preclude it’s use as a joyous recessional this year.

For future use I will need a suitable phrase for a recessional, to replace “Singing Jubilee” – how about “Going out to be, Going out to be … pilgrims of hope.”

My backing is hot mess to sing along to.

Chorus

Fan the flame of hope, trust in God’s great love.

We journey to tomorrow, strengthened by God’s love.

Singing Jubilee, singing Jubilee, we are pilgrims of hope.

Singing Jubilee, singing Jubilee, we are pilgrims of hope.

1 A time to start again, a time to heal and mend.

A time for God’s embrace, a time to give thanks.

Chorus

2 A time to set hearts free, a time to look and see.

A time for joy and peace, a time of praise and prayer.

Chorus

3 A time to know God’s love, a time join as one.

A time to open hearts, a time to celebrate.

© 2024 John Burland

I will have a break from David MacGregor songs after this song, as I’ve come to the end of another folder that I filled with his material in a vaguely alphabetical way. I have no doubt I will be back here at some stage.

This is an Easter song for children with compulsory handclaps, which I left out of my dance track backing.

The sheet music is free from his website.

He’s alive – yes he is! X – X
He’s alive – yes he is! X – X
Christ is risen
Reigns forever
He’s alive – yes he is!
X–X … X (x4)

You died for us upon a cross
Love’s forgiving way
You rose victorious from the tomb
Death has had it’s day!

He’s alive – yes he is! X – X
He’s alive – yes he is! X – X
Christ is risen
Reigns forever
He’s alive – yes he is!
X–X … X (x4)

© David MacGregor 2002

I’ll do a couple more from the amazing David MacGregor‘s inexhaustible treasure trove of music, before conceding defeat. I am fully aware that in the unlikely event that I ever get to the end of them, he will have written enough new material to confound me further.

This is a very wise recent Pentecost / Social Justice text set to NETTLETON.

The sheet music is freely available at his website.

My backing is meant to be low key BIAB Appalachian. I like his backing better than mine, but I tried for a swung rhythm.

Holy Spirit, come among us
Come upon us, God, we pray
Holy Spirit, come enliven 
Ever gift us on our way
In Your power make us bolder
to proclaim the love of Christ
Live in freedom
Work for justice
in God’s name 
to set things right

Holy Spirit, You are freedom
Holy Spirit, You are life
Come transform us in Your glory
In Your love and in Your light
Shape us as Your covenant people
to proclaim the love of Christ 
Work for freedom
Work for justice
in God’s name 
to set things right

Holy Spirit, You are truth
O Spirit Helper, lift our days
God’s forever, loving presence
Hope and compass on Your way
You our joy and You, our comfort 
to proclaim the love of Christ
Work for freedom
Work for justice
in God’s name 
to set things right

Holy Spirit, come upon us
Come among Your people now
Holy Spirit, come enliven 
Fill us with Your gospel power
Fill our hearts with deep compassion 
to proclaim the love of Christ 
Work for freedom
Work for justice
in God’s name 
to set things right

lyrics: David MacGregor
© 2024 Willow Publishing. tune: Nettleton
drawing on scriptures including: 2 Corinthians 3:17-18, Acts 2:1-11, John 14:15-15, John 16:13

David MacGregor has masterfully set Brian Wren‘s moving Good Friday text in a suitably stately and mournful way. This is a worth a look, with adoration of the cross only a couple of months away.

Wren’s lyrics are available at the ever wonderful Hope Publishing Company. The sheet music is at MacGregor’s website.

My backing is lots of Band in a Box strings following the music’s instruction to be “plaintive”.

Yes, I know. There is only one “Hearts on Fire” written in Brisbane, Australia and it is written by Michael Mangan. Except that in 2015, David MacGregor must have thought we needed another one.

An obvious pick for Pentecost, it is also a candidate for a recessional more generally. It’s a fine pop song and the chords progression won’t hurt my hands as much as the Mangan song.

The sheet music is for sale at Willow. I paid more attention than usual to his arrangement and put the piano hook in my backing.

God of life, you’re the light that shines
Love afire in these days, these times
Spirit kindling within our hearts
fire of your love
Spirit of welcome across this land
Different we are, yet as one, we stand

With our hearts on fire
With our hearts on fire
Oh … come Holy Spirit,
set our hearts on fire

We long to keep, Lord, your flame alight
Speak for truth, set injustice right
Share compassion in Christ each one
Reaching out with joy
Living the life that Jesus lives
Living the love as Jesus gives

With our hearts on fire
With our hearts on fire
Oh … come Holy Spirit,
set our hearts on fire

Come – be walking God’s holy ground
Come – be sharing God’s hope around
Stoke, O Spirit, our burning light
‘cross this ancient land
So the oppressed, the detained go free
Spirit of God bringing liberty

Set our hearts on fire
Set our hearts on fire
Oh … come Holy Spirit, set our hearts on fire
Come Holy Spirit, set our hearts on fire
Come Holy Spirit, set our hearts on fire

David MacGregor
© 2015 Willow Publishing

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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 day

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

You’re the healer of body, mind and soul
Jesus, bring us your life
Come, make us whole

David MacGregor
© 2010  Willow Publishing

Then again these versions aren’t all that restrained either.