Christians Let Us Love One Another (Tune: PICARDY)

1. Christians let us love one another
as we share the true living bread
Jesus is our God and our brother;
with his flesh and blood we are fed.

Refrain:

Everyone who lives is born of God
Jesus is our life, God is love.

2. We who break this bread are one body,
we who share this cup are all one
Children of our Father in heaven,
we are heirs of God’s only Son. (Refrain)

3. We who eat and drink at this table
die and rise again with our Lord.
Drawing from our rock living water
giv’n to all who thirst for accord. (Refrain)

4. Wheat and grape incarnate a mystery;
Jesus is the true living bread
Let us eat with joy and thanksgiving,
trusting in the word he has said. (Refrain)

5. Jesus is the vine, we the branches;
we are grains of wheat, Christ the bread.
Those who eat this bread live forever,
one with Christ our Lord and our head. (Refrain)

Words: Armand Nigro & Cladia Foltz (1973)
Tune: PICARDY 98.98 + Refrain

O grâce magnifique (Taizé)

O grâce magnifique,
Dont Dieu seul est l'auteur:
Jésus, son Fils unique,
Est notre Rédempteur!
Etoile matinale
Qui n'a pas son égale
Dans tout le firmament!

O grâce mémorable
Qu'on adore à genoux:
Dieu même est favorable
Aux pécheurs tels que nous!
Au ciel et sur la terre,
Qui pourra nous soustraire
A l'éternel amour?

O grâce salutaire,
Ta force nous confond!
D'un aussi grand mystère,
Qui peut voir jusqu'au fond?
Grâce incompréhensible,
Lumière inaccessible,
Abîme de bonté!

See my other blog postings in the "Taizé" series of chants.

Official Taizé Community Website

Wikipedia information on the Taizé Community
- in French
- in English

Dieu fidèle, Dieu très bon (Taizé)

1. Dieu fidèle, Dieu très bon,
Dieu sauveur, gloire à ton nom !
Jésus vient briser nos fers,
Et les cieux nous sont ouverts.

2. Des peuples qui l'attendaient,
Des saints qui le prédisaient
Les vœux sont enfin remplis:
Dieu nous a donné son Fils.

3. Sois le bienvenu, Seigneur,
Viens habiter dans mon cœurs :
Possèdele désormais
Pour y régner à jamais.

4. O toi qui laissant le ciel
pris pour nous un corps mortel
Viens Jésus, régner en moi
et que je demeure en toi.

5. Je veux t'aimer ici-bas,
jusqu'à l'heure où tu viendras
rassembler ton people élu
qui t'appartient, ô Jésus.

See my other blog postings in the "Taizé" series of chants.

Official Taizé Community Website

Wikipedia information on the Taizé Community
- in French
- in English

'Sé an Tiarna m'aoire (Psalm 23 / Gaelic)

Refrain: 'Sé an Tiarna m’aoire, ní bheidh aon nith de dhith orm.

1. Cuireann se i mo luí mé I móinéar fear uaithne.
Seolann sé ar imeall an uisce mé
Mar a bhfaighim suaimhneas.
Seolann sé mé ar rianta díreacha
Mar gheall ar a ainm.

2. Fiú dar súilfainn i ngleann an dorchadais
Níor bhaoil liom an tolc
Agus tú faram le do slat is do bhacall
Chun sólás a thabhairt dom.

Setting of Psalm 23

Composer: Fiontán P Ó Cearbhaill (Fintan O'Carroll), 1922-1981.

Day is Done, But Love Unfailing (James Quinn)

1. Day is done, but love unfailing
Dwells ever here;
Shadows fall, but hope, prevailing,
Calms every fear.
Loving Father, none forsaking,
Take our hearts, of Love’s own making,
Watch our sleeping, guard our waking,
Be always near.

2. Dark descends, but light unending
Shines through our night;
You are with us, ever lending
New strength to sight:
One in love, your truth confessing,
One in hope of heaven’s blessing,
May we see, in love’s possessing,
Love’s endless light!

3. Eyes will close, but you unsleeping
Watch by our side;
Death may come, in love’s safekeeping
Still we abide
God of love, all evil quelling,
Sin forgiving, fear dispelling,
Stay with us, our hearts indwelling,
This eventide.

Text: James Quinn (b. 1919)
Tune: AR HYD Y NOS 84.84.884 

Give Me Jesus (Jeremy Camp)

In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise

Refrain:

Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus.
You can have all this world,
Just give me Jesus.

When I am alone,
When I am alone,
When I am alone,
Give me Jesus.

When I come to die,
When I come to die,
When I come to die,
Give me Jesus.

Composer: Jeremy Camp (b. 1978)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) series.

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

Baba Yetu [Our Father / Swahili / Christopher Tin]

Baba yetu, Yetu uliye
Mbinguni yetu, Yetu amina!
Baba yetu Yetu uliye
Jina lako e litukuzwe.
Utupe leo chakula chetu
Tunachohitaji utusamehe
Makosa yetu, hey!
Kama nasi tunavyowasamehe
Waliotukosea usitutie
Katika majaribu, lakini
Utuokoe, na yule, muovu e milele!
Ufalme wako ufike utakalo
Lifanyike duniani kama mbinguni. Amina

Background Information

Composer: Christopher Tin (2005)

God Beyond All Names (Bernadette Farrell)

1. God, beyond our dreams,
you have stirred in us a memory,
you have placed your powerful spirit
in the hearts of humankind.

Refrain:

All around us, we have known you;
all creation lives to hold you,
In our living and our dying
we are bringing you to birth.

2. God, beyond all names,
you have made us in your image,
we are like you, we reflect you,
we are woman, we are man. (Refrain)

3. God, beyond all words,
all creation tells your story,
you have shaken with our laughter,
you have trembled with our tears. (Refrain)

4. God, beyond all time,
you are labouring within us;
we are moving, we are changing,
in your spirit ever new. (Refrain)

5. God of tender care,
you have cradled us in goodness,
you have mothered us in wholeness,
you have loved us into birth. (Refrain)

Composer: Bernadette Farrell 

 See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Let nothing trouble you (Bernadette Farrell)

Refrain:

Let nothing trouble you or frighten you.
God alone, God alone, God alone is enough

1. If God builds the house nothing will shake it;
neither the storm nor the raging tide.
For the one who builds lays the foundation;
strong as the earth, deep as the sea.

2. Be God's living stones, building God's temple;
shelter of light, with an open door.
Be the dwelling place of God's compassion;
where there is love, God will be there.

Composer: Bernadette Farrell 

 See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Restless is the Heart (Bernadette Farrell)

Refrain:

Restless is the heart until it comes to rest in you.
All the earth shall remember and return to our God.

1. Lord, you have been our refuge through all time,
from one generation to the next;
before the mountains were born, or the earth brought forth,
you are God, without beginning or end.

2. To your eyes a thousand years are like a day,
no more than a watch in the night.
You sweep us away like a dream,
like the grass that springs green in the morning, but faded by night.

3. Make us know our life’s shortness
that we may gain true wisdom of heart.
In the morning, fill us with your love.

Paraphrase of Psalm 90

Composer: Bernadette Farrell 

 See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Unless a Grain of Wheat (Bernadette Farrell)

Refrain

Unless a grain of wheat shall fall
upon the ground and die,
It remains but a single grain with no life.

1. If we have died with him, then we shall live with him;
if we hold firm, we shall reign with him.

2. If any one serves me, then they must follow me;
wherever I am, my servants will be.

3. Make your home in me as I make mine in you;
those who remain in me bear much fruit.

4. If you remain in me and my word lives in you;
then you will be my disciples.

5. Those who love me are loved by my Father;
we shall be with them and dwell in them.

6. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you;
peace which the world can-not give is my gift.

Composer: Bernadette Farrell (1983)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

The Galilee Song (Frank Andersen)

Deep within my heart, I feel voices whispering to me.
Words that I can’t understand; Meanings I can’t clearly hear!
Calling me to follow close, lest I leave myself behind!
Calling me to walking into evening shadows one more time!

Refrain:

So I leave my boats behind!
Leave them on familiar shores!
Set my heart upon the deep!
Follow you again, my Lord!

2. In my memories, I know how you send familiar rains
falling gently on my days, dancing patterns on my pain!
And I need to learn once more in the fortress of my mind,
to believe in falling rain as I travel deserts dry! Refrain

3. As I gaze into the night down the future of my years,
I’m not sure I want to walk past horizons that I know!
But I feel my spirit called like a stirring deep within,
restless, ’til I live again beyond the fears that close me in! Refrain

Composer: Frank Andersen

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

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.

The King of Love My Shepherd Is (Tune: ST. COLUMBA)

See also: The King of Love My Shepherd Is (Tune: DOMINUS REGIT ME)

The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am his,
and he is mine for ever.

Where streams of living water flow,
my ransomed soul he leadeth,
and where the verdant pastures grow,
with food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
but yet in love He sought me,
and on his shoulder gently laid,
and home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death's dark vale I fear no ill
with thee, dear Lord, beside me;
thy rod and staff my comfort still,
thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spread'st a table in my sight;
thy unction grace bestoweth;
and O what transport of delight
from thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days
thy goodness faileth never:
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
within thy house for ever.

Paraphrase of Psalm 23

See also: The King of Love My Shepherd Is (Tune: DOMINUS REGIT ME)

Text: Henry Williams Baker, 1868
Tune: ST. COLUMBA 87.87

This is my song, O God of all the nations (Tune: FINLANDIA)

In celebration of Independence Day, 4th July 2013

1. This is my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is;
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my sacred shrine.
But other hearts in other lands are beating,
With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.

2. My country’s skies are bluer than the ocean,
And sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine.
But other lands have sunlight too and clover,
And skies are everywhere as blue as mine.
O hear my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for their land and for mine.

3. This is my prayer, O Lord of all earth's kingdoms:
Thy kingdom come; on earth thy will be done.
Let Christ be lifted up till all shall serve him,
And hearts united learn to live as one.
O hear my prayer, thou God of all the nations;
Myself I give thee, let thy will be done.

Text: vv. 1-2 Lloyd Stone (1912-1993), v.3 Georgia Harkness (1939)
Tune: FINLANDIA 11 10. 11 10. 11 10, by Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)

God of Our Fathers

In celebration of Independence Day, 4th July 2013

God of our fathers, whose almighty hand
leads forth in beauty all the starry band
of shining worlds in splendor through the skies,
our grateful songs before thy throne arise.

Thy love divine hath led us in the past,
in this free land by thee our lot is cast;
be thou our ruler, guardian, guide, and stay,
thy word our law, thy paths our chosen way.

From war's alarms, from deadly pestilence,
be thy strong arm our ever sure defense;
thy true religion in our hearts increase,
thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.

Refresh thy people on their toilsome way,
lead us from night to never-ending day;
fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
and glory, laud, and praise be ever thine.

Words: Daniel Crane Roberts (1876)
Tune: NATIONAL HYMN 10.10.10.10

Come to me (Gregory Norbet)

Refrain

Come to me all who labour and are heavy burdened,
And I shall give you rest.
Take up my yoke and learn from me,
For I am meek and humble of heart.
And you’ll find rest for your souls,
Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

1. The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall never be in need,
Fresh and green are the meadows where he gives me rest.

2. Beside peaceful waters you restore my true self;
There you lead me to walk in the path of new life.

3. Should I be surrounded by the shadows of death,
I will not fear, for you are steadfast in your love.

4. Before my deep hunger you spread out your feast.
My skin you anoint with the richest oil.

5. Pursue me, O God, with your fathomless love,
In your tent let me dwell all the days of my life.

Text: Paraphrase of Psalm 23
Composer: Gregory Norbet (1971, revised text 1994)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Yerusalem Kota Surgawi (Jerusalem, Heavenly City)

Source: Madah Bakti, no. 834 (Indonesia)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.  

Vem, Eu Mostrarei (Come, I will show)

Vem, e eu mostrarei que o meu caminho te leva ao pai
Guiarei os passos teus e junto a ti hei de seguir
Sim, eu irei e saberei como chegar ao fim
De onde vim, aonde vou, por onde irás, irei também

Vem, eu te direi o que ainda estás a procurar
A verdade é como o sol e invadirá teu coração
Sim, eu irei e aprenderei minha razão de ser
Eu creio em ti que crês em mim e a tua luz verei a luza

Vem, e eu te farei da minha vida participar
Viverás em mim aqui, viver em mim é o bem maior
Sim, eu irei e viverei a vida inteira assim
Eternidade é na verdade, o amor vivendo sempre em nós

Vem, que a terra espera quem possa e queira realizar
Com amor, a construção de um mundo novo muito melhor!
Sim, eu irei e levaria teu nome aos meus irmãos
Iremos nós e o teu amor vai construir enfim a paz!

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.