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