“No Other Hands” – a discipleship song

A new song … No Other Hands

You see, I’m just back last night from an enriching Emmaus Walk, which I helped lead. The Emmaus movement has enriched and stretched me over 25 years, though I’ve been less involved in recent years.

Time and time again over the three days, as pilgrims and team refocused on so many things to do with faith and discipleship, in a special community of grace, I kept on coming back to 16th century words attributed to Teresa of Avila, though her authorship is disputed.

Many of you will know these well …

Christ has no body now on earth but yours; no hands but yours; no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which the compassion of Christ must look out on the world. Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good. Yours are the hands with which He is to bless His people.

On Saturday, as people around tables discussed much about faith and discipleship … what it means to follow Jesus, somewhat surprisingly (because spare time was at a premium) I found myself penning a song based on these words.  I chose to keep it simple, and somewhat repetitive.  It’s called No Other Hands.  Didn’t seem right to share it on the walk (the walk is for the “pilgrims”), so I’m sharing it now.

For now, I’ve put together the most basic of backing track https://dmacgreg1.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/no-other-hands-backing-demo-c.mp3

as well as piano score. Vocal recording some time later 🙂
Here’s the lyrics. Feel free to use, as a song of discipleship.

Blessings, David

Christ has no other hands but your hands
no other hands but yours
No body now on earth but yours
… no other hands but yours
… no other hands but yours.

Christ has no other feet but your feet
no other feet but yours
No body now on earth but yours
… no other feet but yours
… no other feet but yours.

Yours are the eyes for Christ’s compassion
the eyes for Christ to see
To look out on a hurting world
… the eyes for Christ to see
… the eyes for Christ to see

Christ has no other hands but our hands
– no other eyes to see
Ours are the feet to do God’s work
… the ones by whom God blesses
… the ones by whom to bless

David MacGregor
© 2017 Willow Publishing
based on words traditionally attributed to Teresa of Avila

On the Road (Hearts are burning) … road to Emmaus song

With many churches focusing on the Luke 24 Walk to Emmaus narrative this Sunday and my approaching Emmaus Walk involvement in a months time … I found myself the past 24 hours writing a song as my reflection on that gospel passage.   More about that soon ..

I’m typing this late morning on Anzac Day, home an hour or so from a moving local Anzac ceremony at a local park.  I offered a prayer.  Our church once again offered Anzac Day coffee, tea and Anzac biscuit hospitality.  Thanks HB and team.  In recent years, thanks to my brother’s wonderful family history work some years back, I’m increasingly grateful of the service offered by my grandfather Thomas Laur McGregor at Gallipoli, Middle East and France during WW1 as an ambulance officer.

me, Thomas Laur McGregor, Howard Thomas MacGregor (father)

To the song … here it is, with rough backing track.  Feel free to use.   score   lyrics  mp3 backing demo

On the Road (Hearts are burning)

Far too long
we have walked in fear
Far too long in despair
‘til Christ transcending
transforms, revealing
in bread that is broken and shared

Hearts are burning
Spirits stirring
Eyes are op’ning
On the road
   Hearts are burning
Spirits stirring
As Christ meets us … on the road

O Christ, your presence
It draws, awakens
Your Spirit within us ignites
O Lord, inspire us
O Lord, sustain us
You send us to love, be your light

Hearts are burning
Spirits stirring
Eyes are op’ning
On the road
Hearts are burning
Spirits stirring
Christ, you meet us … on the road
Hearts are burning
Spirits stirring
Christ, you meet us … on the road

                     David & Dale MacGregor       © 2017 Willow Publishing.  From Luke 24:13-35

“More Than Dream” – the interview

Hi
My friend Matt Gees was at my worship album launch this past Saturday night.
As I was coming down from “the cloud” and gratefully signing some CDs, Matt asked if he could interview me.  Provided I could get hold of a cold drink and a coffee, I was more than happy to.
This is Matt’s interview.  I found it a personally helpful exercise reflecting some more one the More Than Dream journey and how the whole songwriting and songs-for-worship thing has been for me.   Matt does some work with Vision Radio.
To access my album (you could even purchase it – hard copy or download it) go to this link for the CD-in-hand version or to any of iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon for download/streaming.
Check out Matt”s interview. Thanks Matt

David

sss

finally “More Than Dream”

“Tonight’s the night” (sorry, Rod) that my worship song CD More Than Dream (peace be our living) worship song CD is finally launched.  Uniting Church Qld Moderator Rev David Baker is doing the launching.  How are we “launching”? My “Dream Team” of musicians are presenting all 13 songs live.

It’s all happening at our church – Wellers Hill-Tarragindi Uniting Church at 7 pm tonight. Tonight for me is a way of acknowledging all who have shared this musical journey with me. It’s a journey that began back in 70s. I know some dear friends have travelled quite some distance to celebrate with us tonight. So many people have mentored and encouraged me along the way, critiqued and welcomed my songs. The songs though are ultimately from God, the master musician and Creator.

South Pacific Cruise 2017 … part 2

Picking up from earlier. Excruciatingly slow ship internet plus WordPress blog app eccentricities meant the previous post left you there at beautiful Leucila Beach at Lifou, New Caledonia.  Let’s continue, now just 15 hours from Brisbane, as the afternoon sun glistens on the waters off the promenade deck. Close on 2100 nautical miles sailed once we’re home!

Thursday we docked at breakfast time at beautiful, tropical Noumea, capital of New Caledonia. Two enjoyable tours; one on the much-lauded Chou Chou Train, along with another ocean swim and a to-die-for French crepe for morning tea. Our second guide, Lida could talk her way out of a deep mine shaft but did a great job:-)

So … final two days at sea. Here are some pics.

Looking forward to starting the year more refreshed, and besides, my CD recording launch is in just over a month!

Cruising? Must do it again some time. Mediterranean? New Zealand?

Blessings – David