Songs for Advent 2023

Dear Song Leaders and all singers,

Here is the menu of songs we’ll be singing during Advent.

Gathering song: O Come, O Come Emmanuel (with updated lyrics)

Candle Lighting song: Within Our Darkest Night

Table Acclamation: Vasile Advent Table Acclamation

Prayer song: Songleader’s choice, including this new Taizé song.

Offering Song: Taste and See

Final hymn:  This will be a surprise hymn that we pick each week and practice during rehearsal before church!

Taste and See

“Taste and See” is an worship song by Jo Boyce, Mike Stanley & Aidan Pepper.

Here are the lyrics. We’ll use only the repeated refrain that begins the song.

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord

If you’re interested, here are the rest of the lyrics. If you want to teach these, make sure to mix up the pronouns for God:

Come to him, come to him all who are hungry;
Come to him, come to him all who thirst:
(He says) “I am your God and you are my people”

I am the Living Bread, I am the New Wine
Blessed, broken, poured-out, shared for all.

We’ll

Here’s a beautiful recording of it.

And here’s another, even livelier version.

Wait for the Lord

“Wait for the Lord” is a beautiful prayer song from the Taizé community.

The words are:

Wait for the Lord, whose day is near;
Wait for the Lord, keep watch, take heart!

Here is a recording that illustrates the main melody, harmonies, and other options for soloists.

Within Our Darkest Night

“Within Our Darkest Night” is a beautiful song from the Taizé community in France.

The words are: “Within our darkest night, you kindle a fire that never dies away”

Here’s a recording that illustrates the melody and, for those who are curious, also includes harmony.

Songs for Summer 2023

The music menu for summer is here!

Gathering Song: Come, Come, Whoever You Are

Candle Lighting Song: Evening Lamps are Lit

Table Acclamation: Shelton Acclamation (not to be confused with the similar sounding “Summer Table Acclamation”)

Prayer Song:  Build a Shelter / Let It Rest, Down to the River to Pray, or any of these prayer songs or one you’d like to teach!

Offering Song: Zimbabwe Allelulia

Final Hymn:  In June we’ll sing, Spirit I Have Heard You Calling, and in July and August, we’ll sing Day Is Done.

Songs for Fall 2023

Dear Songleaders,

Here are the songs will be using for dinner church for the new liturgical season!

• Gathering Song: Lament for Zion
• Candle Lighting Song: Jyothi Dho (Give Us Light)
• Table Acclamation: Fall Acclamation
• Prayer Songs:  Any of these or one you’d like to teach us.
• Offering song: Amen
• Final Hymn: Come Thou Font of Every Blessing

Freedom Is Coming

“Freedom Is Coming” is a powerful song from the South Africa anti-apartheid movement.

It’s sung in a call response pattern between the song leader and congregation and therefore a bit trickier to lead than it may sound. Feel free to choose a different song if it feels like too much.

The congregation’s lyrics are . . .

Freedom is coming
Freedom is coming
Freedom is coming, oh yes I know

Subsequent verses vary, following on the song leader's call . . .

Jesus is coming
Jesus is coming
Jesus is coming, oh yes I know

And . . . 

Oh yes I know
Oh yes I know
Oh yes I know
Oh yes I know

Here is a helpful teaching track made by our own Debbie Holloway.

And here is a YouTube performance to help give you a sense of what it sounds like when it all comes together.

Songs for Eastertide 2023

Dear Song Leaders,

Here is the music we’ll be singing during Eastertide!

• Gathering Song:  Here Is Bread
  
• Candle Lighting Song: I’ve Got Peace Like a River
  
• Table Acclamation: Festive Table Acclamation
  
• Prayer Song: Any of our prayer songs or a new one you’d like to teach us.
  
• Offering Song: Duncan Alleluia or Freedom Is Coming.
  
• Final Hymn:  Now the Green Blade Riseth (April 23-30) and Jesus Christ is Risen Today (May 7-14)

I’ve Got Peace Like a River

“I’ve got Peace Like a River” is a beautiful and well-known African-American spiritual. Here’s a wonderful recording of it by Lynda Randle.

The words are . . .

I've got peace like a river
I've got peace like a river
I've got peace like a river in my soul
I've got peace like a river
I've got peace like a river
I've got peace like a river in my soul

Subsequent verses can swap in new imagery . . .

I've got love like an ocean . . . 

Or

I've got joy like a fountain . . .

Here is Bread

“Here Is Bread” is a beautiful song by  Mary Kay Beall and John Carter. You can hear a teaching recording here.

Our words are slightly different from the original song and the version used in the teaching recording linked above.

Here is bread for the hungry heart.
Here is wine for the thirsty soul.
Here is forgiveness, full and free.
Here at the table of the Lord."

It can be sung either a cappella or with a shruti box set to silver (C and G).