This lament invites the community to sit with their experience of longing. 1 Listen to my sighing. Holy One, hear my cry 2 In the morning, hear my voice with the sunrise 3 Wait and hope; we wait and hope The song can be taught by one practiced leader, inviting the assembly to listen to each section of the song and then repeat before moving on to the next. To sing the song with the three parts sung simultaneously, the song is best taught with three leaders, each leading one of the three parts of the song. Words and music by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan ©2019 Worldmaking.net (ASCAP) Licensed via OneLicense.net, CCLI and Worldmaking.net Permission and blessing is grated for use. If you have a license, please do your reporting as usual. Thank you. Audio and sheet music: https://www.psalmimmersion.com/psalm-5 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxE6ZY0-XUo
This adaptation of my favorite Hafiz poem was made around the time of my father's death, and it became a kind of mantra for All Saints that year. Even death now will have no power to quiet your name from beating wildly in our hearts The song is likely best taught through repetition by practiced leadership. There are two distinct parts that can be sung simultaneously if desired. Audio and sheet music: https://www.worldmaking.net/even-death-now Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrS9Fc2dNyU Poem by Hafiz Music by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan © 2017 Worldmaking.net (ASCAP) Licensed via OneLicense.net, CCLI and Worldmaking,net Permission and blessing is granted for use. If you have a license, please do your usual reporting.
This simple song came out of a text immersion with pastors during the pandemic from Olive Branch Community in Rochester, MN. 2 Corinthians 4 sees the Apostle Paul describe a heart-wrenching season of life with a trust that his and Timothy's lives and ministry has purpose and meaning. Do not lose heart Do not lose heart Life is at work Do not lose heart Take courage, friends Take courage, friends Lean into love Take courage, friends Words and music by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan ©2020 Worldmaking.net (ASCAP). All rights reserved. Licensed via OneLicense.net, CCLI and Worldmaking.net. Permission and blessing is granted for use. If you have a license, please report usage. The song is probably best learned by the community through repetition from practiced leadership. ASL or hand gestures may help embody and amplify the meaning. Audio and sheet music: https://www.worldmaking.net/do-not-lose-heart Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT_J9-sLoME Video with meditation on courage and resilience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51qLJqcxLpw
This gentle, expressive song by John Bell is a powerful invitation into a space of loving trust.
"Don't be afraid, my love is stronger,
My love is stronger than your fear.
Don't be afraid, my love is stronger,
And I have promised to be always near."
Copyright for the piece is held by GIA Publications, Inc. so you'll need a OneLicense membership to print the text or music.
Learn more about the song and find a score on Hymnary.
Here is a version performed by Music that Makes community presenter Ana Hernández:
This buoyant, rhythmic setting of verses from Psalm 134 was written by Ana Hernández in 2007.
The 7/8 meter is best felt in the body, first through tapping or clapping the larger rhythmic groups (2+2+3). Ana often invites the group to sing the tune on "la" until they've gained familiarity with the melody and rhythm. Then text can be added.
"Yours the day also the night, you made the moon and the sun.
La la la la...
God has bless'd us. God has bless'd us. God has bless'd us."
A shruti box or another drone instrument can help the group stay on pitch; percussion instruments can add rhythmic support.
Sheet music can be found in Music By Heart, the original collection of paperless songs that gave birth to MMC's workshops.
We Are Coming, Lord, to the Table is joyous communion song from Sierra Leone transcribed by Greg Scheer, a composer, author, and speaker with roots in the Reformed Church. It was carried to MMC by Paul Vasile, who learned it at a Calvin Institute of Worship symposium at the Chandler School of Theology in Atlanta, GA.
Because each section of the song repeats, it's easiest to teach the community through call and echo. In the second section, the word changes from "bread" to "wine" on the repeat, so it can be helpful to call it out a few beats ahead. Once learned, harmony can be invited. Drums and other rhythm instruments can also be added, but be sure they support the group's learning.
"We are coming, Lord to the table.
(We are coming, Lord to the table)
With the gift of bread we are coming, Lord.
(With the gift of wine we are coming, Lord.)
Oh, we are coming, Lord.
(Oh, we are coming, Lord.)
We are coming, Lord to the table.
(We are coming, Lord to the table)
To receive the bread, we are coming, Lord.
To receive the wine, we are coming, Lord.
Oh, we are coming, Lord.
(Oh, we are coming, Lord.)"
Copyright for the song is held by Greg Scheer. A CCLI license is required to print or project the music or lyrics.
Find sheet music in the collection Global Songs for Worship published by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and Faith Alive Christian Resources.
Here's a short audio recording as well as a video of a group singing the piece with keyboard, drumming, and shakers.
This South African Song in Xhosa is roughly translated “Go with us, our Savior” and comes from the repertoire of anti-Apartheid Freedom Songs written in the 1970's and 80's. It was shared with the MMC community by Paul Vasile, who learned it from Pamela Warrick Smith. In the spirit of music from many African contexts, the song invites opportunities for improvisation and adding actions/themes specific to the community's needs or experiences.
We have seen leaders share it as zipper/pocket song (i.e. Go with us, Lord, and give us your love/joy/peace) or deepen its communal spirit by crafting new verses (i.e. Come walk with us and share in our bread/...and join in the song). It makes a powerful sending song.
"Hamba nathi Mkhululi wethu"
There are several poetic translations of the song into English, not all faithful to the original Xhosa:
1. You Are Holy, You Show Us the Way
2. God With Us, Lord, and Set Us All Free
3. Come Walk With Us, the Journey Is Long (Anders Nyberg)
Teaching note from Paul Vasile: When you lead Hamba nathi, make sure that you keep a steady beat so the group feels the syncopated rhythm of the tune. I teach the tune first and once that's set offer the bass line. If folks don't intuitively add harmony (almost every group I've taught this to has), outline parts.
Here is sheet music for an SATB setting in Xhosa.
Here is a recording of the song by the Drakensberg Boy's Choir in South Africa.
Kerri Meyer wrote There Is Enough at a Music that Makes Community workshop and it became an instant hit! The melody was adapted from a Peter Mayer refrain and she also composed a descant to sing over the tune.
The song is easy to teach through call and echo. Simple hand gestures can help reinforce the subtle differences between the phrases, especially the first and third. And harmony is so intuitive it may show up before you invite folks to add it.
We've seen the piece shared in so many settings - from church suppers and stewardship campaigns to a protest in the office of a United States senator.
"There is enough!
There is enough!
There is enough, oh,
Enough and some to share!"
Descant:
"God has blessed her people, God has blessed us!"
The Rev. Breen Sipes of Tri-Saints Lutheran Parish in rural Nebraska shared additional verses she's used with young people in her community:
"I am enough..."
"You are enough..."
"God has enough..."
Kerri has given faith communities permission to sing and share the song without copyright restrictions.
Sheet music can be found here.
Hear an audio clip of Kerri leading this song at our 2014 Musical Test Kitchen in San Francisco.
And here's a video of AnnaMarie Hoos leading this song at our Winter Retreat at The Bishop's Ranch in 2015.
This lively call and response song composed by Marilyn Haskel was originally written for a weekly paperless Eucharist at St. Paul's Chapel in New York City that welcomed visitors from around the world.
Begin by teaching the 'Hallelujah!" responses, then sing the call and invite the group right in. Before you know it, the group will be singing the whole song. In Marilyn's context, a quartet of singers filled out the harmony parts in the printed score.
"Listen to the Word of God.
Hallelujah!
Hear the living Word.
Hallelujah!"
Here's a link to a printed score, and here is a recording provided by Marilyn.
Rachel Kroh composed this song at a Music that Makes Community workshop in 2012. The text is from Burnt Norton in T. S. Eliot's The Four Quartets.
"In my end is my beginning, in my beginning is my end."
Here's a video of Rachel leading the song at The Bishop's Ranch: