Archive for the 'Songs We Sing' Category
November 4th, 2022
“Walking into Darkness” is a song by Jacob Slichter, with words adapted from the poem “Love is a Stranger” by Sufi mystic and poet Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī as well as line from the song “What a Wonderful World,” (written by Bob Thiele and George Weiss and originally performed by Louis Armstrong). Here are the […]
November 3rd, 2022
“Honor the Dark” is a beautiful song in 4 parts, written and performed by Lea Morris. It’s a wonderful piece for advent and wintertime, featuring loving lyrics which embrace the warmth and power of darkness: 1. Honor the dark, honor the dark 2. Honor the darkness, honor the darkness 3. Honor the darkAs you do the lightReceive […]
September 22nd, 2022
Greetings Song Leaders and all who love to sing! Here is our list of songs for the fall. Gathering Song: Till the Moon is No More Candle-Lighting Song: Journey of a Thousand Miles Table Acclamation: Shelton Table Acclaimation (thanks Meave!) Regathering/Offering Song: Amen Final Hymn: Come Thou Fount Thank you for holding your community in song!
June 15th, 2022
Greetings song leaders and voices of the congregation! Here is our menu of songs and hymns for Pentecost and Pride, June 2022. Gathering Song: “Come, Come, Whoever You Are” Table Acclamation: Summer Table Acclamation Prayer Songs: Build a shelter / Let it Rest or . . . Down to the River to Pray Or any […]
June 15th, 2022
“Come, Come, Whoever You Are” is a beautiful setting of a Rumi poem by Unitarian Universalist pastor and poet Lynn Ungar. It can be sung in a round of up to four parts. Here’s a recording. And here are the lyrics: Come, come, whoever you are,wanderer, worshipper, lover of leaving. Ours is no caravan of […]
May 25th, 2022
Build a Shelter / Let it Rest is a beautiful prayer song with words by Pamela Grenfell Smith and tune by Conie Borchardt. Pamela writes, “This is a lyric about giving permission to rest from one’s own inner struggle and pain.” Here’s a recording. Note that the lyrics can change for new verses. Thus, “Build […]
April 22nd, 2022
Hello everyone! Here is the music we’ll be singing during Eastertide. Gathering Song: Kiev Alleluia Candle Lighting Song: Wade in the Water” Table Acclamation: Festive Table Acclamation Prayer Song: “Down to the River to Pray” Offering Song: “Duncan Alleluia” Final Hymn: April 3-18 “Now The Green Blade Riseth” (shruti on silver) April 24-May 9 “Jesus […]
April 21st, 2022
“Down to the River to Pray” is a beautiful song first published in a 1867 collection of African American songs. It is classic of various American musical traditions, including African American spirituals and Appalachian music. You may recall this version by Alison Krauss from the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? Here is a teaching […]
April 21st, 2022
“Wade in the Water” is a powerful African American jubilee song, first sung by enslaved people in reference to the Israelites who escaped bondage in Egypt. Historians believe Harriet Tubman herself sang the song to encourage those escaping slavery to make use of rivers and streams to lose the dogs used by patrols trying to […]
March 9th, 2022
Greetings, beloved song leaders and voices of the congregation, Here is the menu of music for the 2022 Season of Lent. Gathering Song: “Lament for Zion” -or- “John Bell Kyrie” Candle Lighting Song: “Here is Bread for the Hungry Soul ” Table Acclamation: Lent Table Acclamation AND Holy, Holy, Holy Prayer Song: Any […]