Voices Found

  Voices Found: 77 We stand within the circle of Christ's eternal light. No more to walk in darkness, no more to live by sight. We live by faith he gives us, our food our bread and wine. And ever lift our praises beyond life's earthly signs. We sing with shining voices, made worthy by his light. Hosanna in the highest, Christ, morning's star burns bright. Words: Beverly Easterling Music: Carl Haywood   "We stand within the circle" is a delightfully simple song for Communion, appropriate especially during the Lent/Easter season, or for Baptism.  Carl Haywood's folk tune is easy to learn and you can sing it as a round.  The optional accompaniment can be varied to suit the needs of the group as suggested in The Leader's Guide to Voices Found.   The third verse of Easterling's text echoes the ancient hymn " Wie schoen leuchtet der Morgenstern "  by Philip Nicolai in 1597.  Johann Sebastian Bach  based his 1725   cantata   Wie schön...

  John 2:13-16 1 3  The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money-changers seated at their tables.  15 Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.  16 He told those who were selling the doves, ‘Take these thin gs out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a market-place!’  Voices Found # 57, verse 2 Claiming our passion, embracing our rage strengthens our love to refashion this age, unleashes the power to challenge our lies and in righteous anger, the Spirit shall rise. Rise on our wings, awake to new birth, breathe in our bodies, and free all the earth. Words: Judy L. Caldwell Music: Kimberly A Williams For most Christians, especially Anglicans, it is hard to talk about anger, let alone sing about it.  This Scripture from John ...

                                                                                Voices Found#74, verse one O wheat whose crushing is for bread, O bread whose breaking is for life, O life, your seeming end is seed, a seed for wheat, our bread and life. Words: Dolores Dufner, OSB Music: Draycott   Barry Rose "O wheat, " a contemplative hymn,  is perfect for Communion during Lent.  Dolores Dufner writes that her preferred use of the three verses  is,"when all is quiet and nothing else is happening."  Her text is a meditation  on the crushing of wheat, wine and life, as mourning turns to joy. Barry Rose, a world renown British choral director, served on the Voices Found hymnal committee while he was in Philadelphia offering a  workshop for the girl and boy ch...

                                                     Voices Found #141 Christ the vine and God the gardener We your branches bearing fruit. We can bring forth shoots of promise When our lives in Christ take root. Christ, the fruit from Jesse springing, You fulfilled the prophet’s trust. And you pray that we, your body, Will fulfill your trust in us. Words: Edith Sinclair Downing (1922-2016) Music: Ecce Deus, Alfred V. Fedak Edith Sinclair Downing's text is based on John 15:1-8, a text appointed for Lent II.  This simple song is a great teaching piece for informal congregational worship, especially for family services.  The  melody with keyboard or guitar accompaniment is highly accessible for communities of all sizes and the  AABA structure is easy to memorize.  To involve young musicians you could invite a melody instrumentalist...

                                                                                             Voices Found #92 Be still and know that I am God. Be still and know that I am God. Be still and know that I am God. In thee O God I put my trust  In thee O God I put my trust  I am the God that healeth thee. I am the God that healeth thee. Words and Music: Ana Hernandez "Be still and know" is a meditation that welcomes God into our hearts.  It is  a  personal contemplative  prayer, which is  even more powerful chanted as a group in the style of Taize.  A calming and centering meditation, it can serve as a centerpiece for a Lenten retreat.  Ana Hernandez offered  her chant originally as a breathing exercise to make u...