Because the Lord’s my shepherd

Long time ago I wrote a new musical setting of Psalm 23.  I called it Because the Lord’s my shepherd.

It was written in the late 1970s (yes, that’s right) as part of a musical called Rock-On Goliath!  I wrote the musical in connection with the International Year of the Child.  We performed Rock-On at my local church at Indooroopilly, Brisbane, Australia.  Later that year (or was it the next!) as part of a Queensland Uniting Church synod musical presentation.  Chris Macnaught, later a member of my first congregation in ministry (Sunnybank UC) sang the part of David – the shepherd boy.

This Sunday’s lectionary readings (especially John 10:22-30 and Psalm 23) take us back into the shepherd heart of God. We’re reminded that the sheep know the shepherd’s voice.   At a time when “The Voice” (as in TV show phenomenon) rates through the roof, I need to be reminded of our shepherd God, and to listen afresh to that voice.

you are planted

Hi

Just back from our annual Church Camp – at Luther Heights campsite at Coolum, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.  A weekend well-spent in Christian community.  My colleague Ken helped us explore the theme: God grows us where we are planted. We used Louie Giglio’s Symphony presentation and also The Tale of Three Trees in this exploration.

I did something unusual for me. Apart from bringing some song booklets, I quite deliberately did not do any advance Sunday camp worship planning.  Yesterday, as we were encouraged to share in a particular craft activity, I struggled with how best to respond to Ken’s invitation.  I guess, I was keen not only to unpack the sense that we are wonders of God’s creation, each unique; but also to personally reflect on what it means to grow where God has called and placed me in ministry.   What does it mean to grow … I kept pondering. Tried writing a song … too forced.

Then … as I was heading to my evening slumber, I reflected how it would be good to begin Sunday’s camp worship with something akin to the old-fashioned ‘charge’ – as someone is commissioned for ministry.

The phrase: You are called kept coming to me as I lay down for the night. Surprisingly I slept and not-surprisingly (for that’s how I’ve often sensed God’s hand in things), this phrase and the words which were to follow started rolling off my iPad keyboard and fingers upon rising.  I was keen to inject a sense … remembering this was the church family camping together … of We are called.  So I did.

I offer this to you.  Perhaps you can use in somewhere, sometime.

You are planted
Planted with promise
Planted with hope
Planted with love
With all the potential
God has invested in you
For God is love

You are planted
Planted
enriched by the gifting;
the gifting God’s Spirit
has infused in you
Gifting that helps grow each other
gifting to shared in building
a brighter, more peaceful world
a world in harmony with God
Gifting that points
to the hand of the Creator
that gives glory to God
God who is love

You are planted
Planted for a purpose -
many purposes:
To love
To grow
To be fruitful
To praise
To take in every bit of goodness,
life and light
the Creator promises to pour into you
God who is love

You are planted
Planted,
depending on God who is life
Apart from God
you ultimately can do nothing
so, we abide in God
In God we live
and move
and grow
and have our being, in
God who is love

We are planted
Planted as community in Christ
Commanded not only to grow
but commanded to love
God and neighbour 24/7
Planted – to share God’s economy
in which we each are gift
in which we each grow
learning … living …
blessing … respecting
enriching … blessing one another
as chosen people
as called people
as saved people
as planted people
as people of God:
yesterday, today, forever, in
God who is love
Lord,
as planted people
we want to grow
We want your life – life overflowing
We want to make a difference
We want to be the people
you call;
you plant us to be
Wherever
Whenever
However, with
whoever

Tending God,
send our tender,
struggling shoots Godwards
deep into your kingdom life
God,
our life growing in you
in you …
God …
love

David MacGregor
© 2013

“songwrite” – video package (take 2!)

[sorry for a bit of cross-posting and re-posting]

You will probably be well aware, that just a few weekends ago, I had the privilege along with Sharon Kirk (Presbytery Minister: the Downs) of coordinating and leading the inaugural national Uniting Church songwriters weekend in Canberra: songwrite.

Always room for improvement, but the feedback from this time spent with 30 others from across Australia was resoundingly affirming, as new songs were written, manuscripted and recorded for use in Christian worship.

The Uniting Church Assembly Communications team have just uploaded a short video package of the weekend.  It gives a good feel for what songwrite was (and we believe will continue to be) all about.

David

Ash Wednesday meditation – Shane Claiborne

Hi

Just home from leading an Ash Wednesday service at our church. A meaningful time of reflective worship and, following the prompting of a Thom Shuman service, nice to insert three Taize’ pieces.  After the readings, I shared a really succinct and helpful Shane Claiborne piece of meditation:

Becoming like a flute: meditations on Fat Tuesday and Ash Wednesday.

To quote some of Claiborne’s wording from the beginning and end of the reflection:

“What’s the difference between a flute and a stick in the mud?” our priest asked on Sunday.  He then went on, “The stick in the mud is full of itself.  The flute has been emptied of itself so it can make music.”  That’s a good image for Fat Tuesday and Ash Wednesday

… So whether it is giving up an old bad habit or take on a new holy habit… May we each use this Lenten season as an excuse to do something that empties us of ourselves so that our lives make better music.

Worth a read.

I wrote a musical setting of text from Psalm 51 a few years back. We used that again. Dale does a great vocal interpretation of the lyrics.  I’m unashamedly biased!

Create in me a clean heart
music score
lyrics
mp3

Blessings of this Lenten season,

David

“you are mine” … baptism song VOCAL

Hi!

A few weeks now since, inspired by the gospel accounts of Jesus’ baptism, I wrote a baptismal song of my own – the lyric throughout the song being in the first-person of God addressing the one baptised.

Dale and I have finally – been offline for two days due to loss of power here in Brisbane – put together a vocal track (in the key of A) for the song.  Gives what I believe is a good feel for the song.

I was thrilled to hear of someone using the song at their child’s baptism this past weekend.

music score
lyrics
Vocal mp3

Blessings,

David

“Spirit Come” – song for Sunday 27 January

[apologies for cross-posting/emailing]

Greetings all,

 One commentator has described this Sunday’s gospel passage – Luke 4:14-21 as Jesus’ “Inauguration Speech”.

Some years back, I wrote a song Spirit Come drawing closely on the this well-known text. It appears in the current year’s Seasons of the Spirit songbook resources.

It’s one of those rare songs for me, in which the chorus is more subdued and reflective than the verses.  I encourage you to try the echo in the chorus.

It’s offered with lyrics below, and links to:

• music score
• mp3

Blessings,
David         

Spirit Come

 Spirit come (spirit come),
Spirit come (spirit come),
Open our eyes
Open our hearts
Come, Spirit, come.

1. Chosen to bring good news
to ev’ryone poor, abused.
We are your hands, we are your voice.
Spirit come.
To captives we shout, proclaim
freedom in Jesus’ name!
Fill us with love
Fill us with power
Spirit come.

Spirit come (spirit come) …

 2. Good news that blind can see
Oppressed ones can now be free
We are your hands, we are your voice.
Spirit come.
Announcing the time’s arrived
when God will save people’s lives;
Fill us with love
Fill us with power
Spirit come.

Spirit come (spirit come) …

©   David MacGregor 1994 … based on Luke 4:18,19

you are mine – baptism song score & backing

Greetings.

Back home a week from a delightful week at Hervey Bay. Back with access to my computer and musical gear; which means I’ve now done both a

• full piano score
• backing track (with French Horn melody line)

… for my recently-written baptism song: You are mine.

Dale and I shared it last Sunday in worship (fairly hastily rehearsed, I might add) along with Gerry Holme’s M-M-M-Miracle … a marvellous kids song for anyone unpacking baptism with kids and families.  Both went well.

For what it’s worth, here are the lyrics in their final form.  It’s my deep prayer that this song will find use in worship services on baptism Sundays.  The reality is there does not seem to be much out there. If it is (great!!), but at least in my circles there’s a fairly small repertoire.  The backing eventually moves into a bit of country-tinged groove.  It works, in my totally-biased opinion, with a straight piano backing — along the lines of the intro and the opening chorus.

Keen to get feedback on this one. In the next week or so, Dale and I will hopefully organize a vocal track.

Blessings,
David

You are mine

“Child, I love you
Child, I claim you
I delight in you
For all time
In my gifting
In your belonging
Child, I love you and
you are mine”

“When you pass through the waters
I’ll be with you
When you walk through the fire
You won’t be burned
Do not fear
You are loved
I have redeemed you
I’m with you always
You are mine”

“Come, find life in fullness
in living water
In my dying, my rising
be renewed
Come, be welcomed
into my living body
My Spirit life and promise
born in you”

David MacGregor (c) 2013
Willow Publishing