Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2) vocal

Hi folks. Dale’s recorded a nice vocal for my latest song Jesus is Lord! based closely on the Christ Hymn from Philippians 2:5-12.  I blogged about this just a few days back. Blessings,  David

score
lyrics
demo backing track  (in A minor)
vocal demo (in E minor)

 

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Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2)

New song … as I prepare to preach this Sunday on Philippians 2:1-13; one of the great passages of the Christian scriptures.   Still working on the sermon (barely started 🙂 but I’ve got a new song, paraphrasing verses 5 to 11, which many scholars think was an early Christian hymn.

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Over the years I’ve wondered how this hymn actually went, especially musically.  How singable was it?  Was it upbeat?  Was it reflective?   Parallel to all this, I’ve been reading a great article from a book by the late Henri Nouwen called The Selfless Way of Christ, in which Nouwen points to Christ in full humility taking the path of “downward mobility” in the form of a slave, all the way to the Cross and beyond. I’ll connect with that this Sunday. A minor key seemed to be in order, yet rounded off with a repeated coda of “Jesus is Lord”.  Done score,  lyrics  and demo backing track for now (piano/flute melody line).  A nice echo at the end!

Meanwhile, here’s my adapted lyrics, David.

Let the same mind be in you as in Christ Jesus
Though he was God freely emptied himself
Taking the form of a servant
in human likeness
Humbled himself in obedience
– to death on the cross

So God exalted him
his name high over all names
At Jesus’ name every knee should bow down
In all of heaven
and on earth around and under
To the Father’s glory
every tongue cries, “Jesus is Lord!”
“Jesus is Lord!”
“Jesus is Lord!”
“Jesus is Lord!”

from Philippians 2:5-11
David MacGregor   © 2017  Willow Publishing

in worship – new song backing track

Hi again.

Been working on a sample backing track for my new worship song: In Worship.  I blogged about it yesterday.

Here’s some files:
backing track

score
lyrics

Blessings, David

in worship … new song

Yes, been doing much reflecting on worship these times.

What with attending the Uniting Church’s Transforming Worship conference less than a fortnight ago and our congregation working our way through Malcolm Gordon’s wonderful The Journey of Worship DVD teaching series this month … I just can’t get away from worship.

Nor should I as a Christian. Famously, humankind’s chief purpose is said to be about glorifying God and enjoying God for ever. Got me thinking especially about worship together as community of faith. It’s not just about praise. There’s much more – confession, engaging the world, the sacraments, and then worship that is all of life!

So … I’ve written In Worship – a teaching song of sorts, modulating melodically along the way, but importantly for me, including a chorus/bridge which praises our holy God. Not too many of my songs until now have allowed time for that! Backing track in pipeline. Hope you enjoy the song in your worship.

David

lyrics

score

God, we bring our praise to you in worship
All our joy and thanks for all you are
In your holiness and your wonder, Lord
Take the praise we bring to you

God, we bring our pain to you in worship
All our brokenness, both near and far
Jesus take our sinful, suffering hearts
Take the pain we bring to you

X2 You alone are holy
You alone are holy
You alone are holy
Living, loving God

Lord, we bring our world to you in worship
Jesus’ face in ev’ry troubled soul
Take them deep into your loving heart
God, we trust you make things whole

X2 You alone are holy
You alone are holy
You alone are holy
Living, loving God

God, you feed us deep by word and table
Born of water, spirit we are raised
Open wide our ears; hear again your word
May our mouths declare your praise
… may our lives declare your praise

David MacGregor
© 2017 Willow Publishing

Put on Love in Perfect Measure

A songwriting first … well I think so!   lyrics
This past four days, I’ve joined 18o folk from around Australia at Transforming Worship (click for video highlights) the Uniting Church’s national worship conference – with guest speakers: Ruth Duck (USA), Mark Pierson (NZ) and Stephen Burns (Melbourne, but originally UK). Its been an enriching conference in so many ways.

Ruth Duck is one of the world’s foremost hymn writers and has been for decades.  Ruth writes wonderful new words to (mostly) well-known tunes.  I mostly write new tunes and words, occasionally a new tune to exisiting words but perhaps never new words to an old tune.  That is, until these past days. I chose to go to a three-session writing workshop with Ruth. I appreciated her insight, facilitation and encouragement.

By yesterday morning, to the tune of Hyfrodol (yes, mispronounced as you know what), I’d written a paraphrase of Paul’s classic “put on love” passage in Colossians 3:12-17. Hyfrodol is a well-known tune for such hymns as Wesley’s Love Divine, All Loves Excelling.

I initially resisted using the phrase “put on love” … memories of a kids song by that title many decades ago 🙂 I tossed between writing a broad reflection in song on that passage OR a closer paraphrase.  I settled for the latter.  We workshopped it in a group setting yesterday.  I enjoyed that. In some ways it’s still a work in progress. Perhaps I’ll add in something about God “wrapping us up” in God’s love.

For now, this is my take on that passage. Not sure how often I’ll do this.  Somehow I think the “new tunes … new lyrics” approach suits me best.  Anyhow, feel free as always to not only use the song but also make suggestions for improvement!  Blessings – David

Put On Love in  Perfect Measure

Put on love in perfect measure
Chosen people, holy, loved.
Clothe with kindness, God’s compassion
Tol’rance, each one God’s beloved.
All forgiven, all forgiving
In the grace of Christ our Lord
Bound as one in perfect measure
Above all
we put on love

Put on love and patience, gentleness
Modesty, wear all around
In our hearts let peace rule deeply
Peace our call; within, without
Ever thankful as your body
May Christ’s peace dwell deep in our heart
Bound as one in perfect measure
As your people
each playing our part.

Let the word of Christ dwell richly
Teach each other on the way
May our doing, saying, living
Be in Jesus’ name, we pray
Giving thanks to God, Creator
Singing psalms and songs in praise
Bound as one in perfect measure
Clothed with love
through all our days

David MacGregor
© 2017 based on Colossians 3:12-17
Willow Publishing.  Tune: Hyfrodol