Walk Together Children

Walk together children
Don' you get weary
Walk together children
Don't you get weary
Oh, talk together children
Don't you get weary
There's a great camp meeting in the promised land

Sing together children
Don' you get weary
Sing together children
Don't you get weary
Oh, shout together children
Don't you get weary
There's a great camp meeting in the promised land

Gwineter mourn and never tire
Mourn and never tire
Mourn and never tire
There's a great camp meeting in the Promised Land

Traditional African American Spiritual

Strong and Constant is My Love (Frank Andersen)

1. I will be Yahweh who walks with you!
You will be always within my hand!
Take my heart and give it all to me!

Refrain:

Strong and constant is my love!
Strong and constant is my love!

2. Should you wander far away from me,
I will search for you in every land!
Should you call, then you will truly know: (Refrain)

3. When you know sorrow within your life,
I will come! I will embrace your heart!
Through your pain you will discover me! (Refrain)

Composer: Frank Andersen

 See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

When we are called to sing your praise (KINGSFOLD)

1. When we are called to sing your praise with hearts so filled with pain
That we would rather sit and weep or stand up to complain,
Remind us, God, you understand the burdens that we bear;
You, too, have walked the shadowed way and known our deep despair.

2. When we are called to sing your praise and cannot find our voice,
Because our losses leaves us now no reason to rejoice.
Remind us, God, that you accept our sad laments in prayer;
You, too, have walked the shadowed way and known our deep despair.

3. When we are called to sing your praise and life ahead looks grim,
Still give us faith and hope enough to break forth in a hymn,
A thankful hymn, great God of Love, that you are everywhere;
You walk the shadowed way with us and keep us in your care.

Text: Mary Nelson Keithahn (b. 1934)
Tune: KINGSFOLD, CMD

Forgive our sins as we forgive

1. “Forgive our sins as we forgive,”
You taught us, Lord, to pray;
But You alone can grant us grace
To live the words we say.

2. How can Your pardon reach and bless
The unforgiving heart
That broods on wrongs and will not let
Old bitterness depart?

3. In blazing light Your cross reveals
The truth we dimly knew:
How trifling others’ debts to us;
How great our debt to You!

4. Lord, cleanse the depths within our souls
And bid resentment cease;
Then, by Your mercy reconciled,
Our lives will spread Your peace.

Text: Rosamond E. Herklots (1905-1987).
Tune: DETROIT CM (Supplement to Kentucky Harmony, from The Sacred Harp, Philadelphia, 1844).

Well of Tears (Bob Dufford)

1. Is there no balm in Gilead,
no hand to heal this sorrow?
Are there no eyes to share this grief
and see beyond tomorrow?

2. Will no one come to hear this tale
and stand amid the ashes?
Can no one dry this well of tears,
or stay this wound within me?

Refrain

God above, hear our plea.
Turn your eyes of mercy here
to light our way.
Stay with us, Lord of all.
All we seek, all we've lost
we find in you.

3. How can I bear this memory,
and keep my soul from breaking?
How will I rise again each day
and greet a life worth living? (to Refrain)

4. Rivers will run and flowers grow,
and stars will steer their courses.
Springtime will come for me one day
when I have stayed this winter.

Composer: Bob Dufford

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

God of Silence (Bukas Palad)

The God of silence beckons me
To journey to my heart
Where He awaits
O Lord, I hear You calling tenderly
To You I come to gaze
At the beauty of Your face I cannot see

To rest in Your embrace I cannot feel
To dwell in Your love hurting but sweet
To be with You; to glimpse eternity

God of night, fount of all my delight.
Show Your light . . . that my heart, like Yours, burn bright.

Be still the torment of the night
Will not encumber you, if you believe
My child this darkness isn't emptiness
For here I mold your heart
Unto My image painfully you long to see

The self you yearn to be, but fear to know
The world from which you flee in Me find home
All these I give you, if you remain in Me

COUNTERPOINT:
I am ever here
My child, you need not fear
The dark will set you free
And bring your heart to Me

CODA:
The God of silence beckons me
To journey to my heart
Where He awaits me.

Setting: Bukas Palad (Philippines)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

All That I Am / Magnificat (David Haas)

Refrain:

All that I am sings of the God who brings new life to birth in me.
My spirit soars on the wings of my Lord.

1. My soul gives glory to the Lord, rejoicing in my saving God,
who looks upon me in my state, and all the world will call me blest;
For God works marvels in my sight, and holy, holy is God's name.

2. God's mercy is from age to age, on those who follow in fear;
Whose arm is power and strength, and scatters all the proud of heart;
Who casts the mighty from their thrones and raises up the lowly ones!

3. God fills the starving with good things, the rich are left with empty hands;
Protecting all the faithful ones, remembering Israel with mercy,
the promise known to those before and to their children for ever!

Composer: David Haas

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Come to Me (David Haas)

1. Ask and you shall receive
Seek and you shall find
Knock - it shall be opened
The goodness of the Lord.
For the one who asks, receives
The one who seeks shall find
The one who knocks will enter
And see the face of God.

Refrain:

Come to me all who weary
I will refresh you
Learn from me
My yoke is easy, my burden light.

2. See the birds in the sky,
They neither sow nor reap
And still our God cares for them
Will not the Lord care for you.
See the lilies in the field
They do not work or sleep
If they are clothed in splendor
God will provide for you. (Refrain)

3.Do not worry about your life
What to eat or wear
Is not your life for greater things
Is not your life for the Lord?
Seek the One who knows your need
And all things will be yours
Worry not of tomorrow
Let tomorrow find its way. (Refrain)

Composer: David Haas (1989)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Holy Darkness (Dan Schutte)

Refrain

Holy darkness, blessed night,
heaven's answer hidden from our sight.
As we await you, O God of silence,
we embrace your holy night.

1. I have tried you in fires of affliction;
I have taught your soul to grieve.
In the barren soil of your loneliness,
there I will plant my seed.

2. I have taught you the price of compassion;
you have stood before the grave.
Though my love can seem
like a raging storm,
this is the love that saves.

3. Were you there
when I raised up the mountains?
Can you guide the morning star?
Does the hawk take flight
when you give command?
Why do you doubt my pow'r?

4. In your deepest hour of darkness
I will give you wealth untold.
When the silence stills your spirit,
will my riches fill your soul.

5. As the watchman waits for morning,
and the bride awaits her groom,
so we wait to hear your footsteps
as we rest beneath your moon.

Inspired by St. John of the Cross (1542-1591)

Composer: Dan Schutte (1988)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.   

Whispering Hope

Soft as the voice of an angel,
Breathing a lesson unheard,
Hope with a gentle persuasion
Whispers her comforting word:
Wait till the darkness is over,
Wait till the tempest is done,
Hope for the sunshine tomorrow,
After the shower is gone.

Refrain:

Whispering hope, oh, how welcome thy voice,
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.

2. If, in the dusk of the twilight,
Dim be the region afar,
Will not the deepening darkness
Brighten the glimmering star?
Then when the night is upon us,
Why should the heart sink away?
When the dark midnight is over,
Watch for the breaking of day.

3. Hope, as an anchor so steadfast,
Rends the dark veil for the soul,
Whither the Master has entered,
Robbing the grave of its goal;
Come then, oh, come, glad fruition,
Come to my sad weary heart;
Come, O Thou blest hope of glory,
Never, oh, never depart.

Composer: Septimus Winner (1868)

I am the Good Shepherd (John Michael Talbot)

I am the Good Shepherd
You are My people
I am the Good Shepherd
And I call you by name
And I will lead you out
Into pastures of plenty
I am the good Shepherd
I am the Way

Paraphrase of Psalm 23

Composer: John Michael Talbot (b. 1954)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series. 

With What Great Love (Carey Landry)

Composer: Carey Landry

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series. 

Lay your hands (Carey Landry)

Refrain:

Lay Your hands, gently upon us,
Let Their touch render Your peace.
Let them bring your forgiveness and healing,
Lay Your hands, gently lay your Hands.

1. You were sent to free the broken -hearted,
You were sent to give sight to the blind.
You desire to heal all our illnesses,
Lay Your hands gently lay your hands.

2. Lord we come to you through one another,
Lord we come to You in our need.
Lord we come to You seeking wholeness,
Lay Your Hands, gently lay Your hands.

Composer: Carey Landry

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Redeemer Lord (John Foley)

1. You are our Father, Redeemer Lord are You.
Why must we wander, so far away from Your truth!
Open the heavens, return to our side.
You are our Father, Lord our guide.

2. Come back to Your servants now.
Give back O Lord Your light.
The pathways are parting now we choose
Yet You hide from our sight:
Rupture the heavens, come back to our lives:
Come down to Your people, Lord of Life.

My Shepherd is the Lord, there is nothing I shall need.
Fresh and green are the pastures where he'll lead.
My Shepherd is the Lord, there is nothing I shall need.
Fresh and green are the pastures where he'll lead.

3. Your world doesn't know You now,
they close their eyes to You.
O where are the wondrous deeds You do,
all for those who were true?
Sunder the heavens and come to our aid.
Lord, look how Your people stand afraid.

My Shepherd is the Lord, there is nothing I shall need.
Fresh and green are the pastures where he'll lead.

4. Where is Your answer? I cry my days to You.
A worm and no man am I, despised by all in my gloom.
Lord will You hear me, take heed of my heart?
O why must You let Your love depart?

My Shepherd is the Lord, there is nothing I shall need.
Fresh and green are the pastures where He'll lead.

Composer: John Foley

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series. 

Turn to me (John Foley)

Refrain: 

Turn to me, O man and be saved,
Says the Lord for I am God;
There is no other, none beside me.
I call your name.

1. I am He that comforts you;
Who are you to be afraid of man who dies,
is made like the grass of the fields, soon to wither.

2. Listen to me, my people;
Give ear to me my nation:
a law will go forth from me,
and my justice for a light to the people.

3. Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
and look at the earth down below.
The heavens will vanish like smoke,
and the earth will wear out like a garment.

Composer: John Foley

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

My son has gone away (Bob Dufford)

1. My son has gone away, left me, gone astray.
But I have seen the way he went and I will bring him back.

Refrain:

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how could you run away?
Jerusalem, how long my son? I'll wait for you, I'll stay.

2. Perhaps my son is weary and cold.
Perhaps he's tired and sad.
Tonight I'll go and watch again,
And wait for his return.

Composer: Bob Dufford

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Water of Life (David Haas)

Chorus

Water of Life, Jesus our Light,
Journey from death to new life.

1. Fountain of light, new sight for the blind.
We come to the water, we come now to see.

2. Fountain of compassion, freedom from fear.
We come to the water, we come to find peace.

3.Fountain of mercy, bind all our wounds.
We come to the water, we come to be healed.

4. Fountain of our future, seek out our pain.
We come to the water, we come to be whole.

5. Fountain of new life, seek out our thirst.
We come to the water, we come now to live.

6. Fountain of mission, calling our name.
We come to water, we come now to serve.

Composer: David Haas (1987)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series. 

Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery (Marty Haugen)

Tree of life and awesome mystery,
In your death we are reborn,
Though you die in all of history,
still you rise with every morn,
Still you rise with every morn.

Seed that dies to rise in glory,
May we see ourselves in you,
If we learn to live your story,
We may die to rise anew,
we may die to rise anew.

We remember truth one spoken,
love passed on through act and word,
Every person, lost and broken
wears the body of our Lord,
wears the body of our Lord.

Gentle Jesus, mighty Spirit,
come inflame our hearts anew,
We may all your joy inherit,
if we bear the cross with you,
if we bear the cross with you.

Christ you lead and we shall follow,
stumbling though our steps may be,
One with you in joy and sorrow,
we the river you the sea,
we the river you the sea


Composer: Marty Haugen (1984)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Gather Your People (Bob Hurd)

Refrain

Gather your people, O Lord.
Gather your people, O Lord.
One bread, one body, one spirit of love.
Gather your people, O Lord.

1. Draw us forth to the table of life:
brothers and sisters,
each of us called to walk in your light.

2. We are parts of the body of Christ,
needing each other,
each of the gifts the Spirit provides.

3. No more harm on the mountain of God;
swords into plowshares.
Free us, O Lord, from hardness of heart.

4. Wash us, Lord, in the waters of life;
waters of mercy,
waters of hope that flow from your side.

Composer: Bob Hurd (1991)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Thine Arm, O Lord, in Days of Old

Thine arm, O Lord, in days of old
was strong to heal and save;
it triumphed o'er disease and death,
o'er darkness and the grave.
To thee they went, the blind, the dumb,
the palsied, and the lame,
the leper with his tainted life,
the sick with fevered frame.

And lo! thy touch brought life and health,
gave hearing, strength, and sight;
and youth renewed and frenzy calmed
owned thee, the Lord of light:
and now, O Lord, be near to bless,
almighty as of yore,
in crowded street, by restless couch,
as by Gennesaret's shore.

Be thou our great deliverer still,
thou Lord of life and death;
restore and quicken, soothe and bless,
with thine almighty breath:
to hands that work and eyes that see,
give wisdom's heavenly lore,
that whole and sick, and weak and strong,
may praise thee evermore.

Text: Edward Hayes Plumptre (1864)
Tune: ST. MATTHEW, CMD, from Supplement to the New Version of Psalms by Dr. Brady and Mr. Tate, 1708