Make it joyful!

Once again, playing catch-up to Facebook posting, so here’s a longer version to what I’ve recently posted there.

I don’t write many praise songs.

I’ve often wondered why down the years. Is it because I’m less than praiseworthy in my spirit, somehow lacking in my adoration of God? Maybe. Is it because of my longstanding restlessness about the way so many churches (not only the Pentecostal/evangelical) seem to base so much of their musical repertoire on songs of praise and avoid (or at least fail to recognise) the place of songs of lament, confession, mission, justice, discipleship, community, and so on? Maybe.

Amid this strange and tragic and agitating pandemic season, the melancholy side of me has certainly come to the fore. That’s me. That’s life. That’s been my journey, which I’ve been sharing in song, patient that you are😀

However, I found myself woken in the early hours of the morning yesterday with my namesake’s wonderful words from Psalm 100. Yes, I was surprised. A praise song at 2 am?. Sleepy-eyed … wanting so, so much to get back to sleep, I took my iPhone and noted the chorus words and wrote alphabetical letter names about many of the words so I’d remember the melody.

As it turned out, I actually remembered it when I woke many hours later. Always a good sign for a song if the tune stays with me. This is my hopefully-uplifting take on it.

UPDATE:
Dale and I have just done a multi-part vocal! Eventually I want to score this one in SATB. Maybe choirs could use it. It’s one of the least syncopated songs I’ve written for a long, long time … unusual for me .

Anyhow here’s my new unsyncopated song of praise:
MAKE IT JOYFUL! Hopefully I have.
Enjoy!

score lyrics 
mp3 backing
mp3 vocal [E]

Make a joyful noise to God (make it joyful)
Make a joyful noise to God (make it joyful)
Make a joyful noise to God (make it joyful)
Come worship and be glad!

Come before him with praise, thanksgiving
God has made us and we are God’s
We are God’s people
Embraced in love
Come bless, come bless the Lord

Make a joyful noise to God (make it joyful) …

For the Lord is every goodness
And God’s love is steadfast, sure
From generation to generation
God’s faithfulness endures

Make a joyful noise to God (make it joyful) …
… Come worship and be glad! (make it joyful)
Come worship and be glad !(make it joyful)
Come worship and be glad! (make it joyful)

David MacGregor
© 2020 Willow Publishing
from Psalm 100

new song for Advent – “In This Time of Waiting”

Hi.

No sooner back from two lovely weeks on our own and with great friends Jan & Glenn in Cairns, I’ve headed promptly into forward planning for November and December’s worship at my church.  That of course, includes the season of Advent – a time of waiting, watching, expecting, hoping and preparing … in readiness for celebrating Christ’s coming.  A special time.  For some years I’ve used the Cameroon song He Came Down That We May Have Love.

“Will I use that again this year?” I thought. No – inspiration came for something more reflective, while still making use of the four traditional advent theme of hope, peace, joy and love … a new verse sung each Sunday of Advent.

So … In This Time of Waiting  is written and ready for use.  See what you think!

Blessings,
David

score   mp3 backing

In this time of waiting

In this time of waiting
We will sing of hope
Hope in Jesus
who alone makes whole
In our expectation
We will sing of hope
Hearts of longing
We will sing of hope

In this time of waiting
We will sing of peace
Peace in Jesus:
Saviour, Prince of Peace
In our expectation
We will sing of peace
Hearts of longing
We will sing of peace

In this time of waiting
We will sing with joy
Joy in Jesus
Darkness won’t destroy
In our expectation
We bring sing with joy
Hearts of longing
We will sing with joy.

In this time of waiting
We bring hearts of love
Peace and hope and joy
Bound up in love
In our expectation
We bring hearts of love
Hearts of longing
We bring hearts of love

         David MacGregor
          © 2019 Willow Publishing

jump for joy – Easter song for little kids!

Well,

I never thought I had it in me – but surprise, surprise (and thanks, God!) I’ve written a boppy song for a playgroup Easter program at our church this coming Friday. Think 2-4 year olds.  This is the closest I’ll possibly ever get to the Wiggles/Hi-5 generation.

The song (named after Friday’s program) is called Jump for Joy!. Adults will offer the ‘middle’ teaching section, with the kids hopefully really getting into the initial (and repeated) boppy section. Lots of jumping,  hand-waving, hand-clapping, dancing … overall lively fun!

Usual story for me … couldn’t find much around for the age-group on a clear Christian Easter theme … so I wrote my own. When we link with the playgroup again before Christmas, we should be able to make some lyrical changes to fit the season.

Feel free to use it, and remember … PLENTY of actions!!!!

Shalom,
David

leadsheet      full lyrics

vocal track – in lower key of B flat

backing track – in original key of D

 

jump for joy

We’re gonna jump for joy (jump x4)
* Wave our hands (wave x 4)
Sing out loud (yeah!)
Dance around (dance in circle)
Because Jesus
 – Jesus is alive!
(repeat)

Jesus how you love me
For all the world you came
You lived, you died, you rose again
We praise your mighty name
Oh …

We’re gonna jump for joy (jump x4)
* Wave our hands (wave x 4)
Sing out loud (yeah!)
Dance around (dance in circle)
Because Jesus
 – Jesus is alive!
(repeat)

David MacGregor
© 2014 Willow Publishing


* option in this line to either wave or clap … with accompanying actions

hope and joy amid our pain, grief & messiness

Advent & Christmas greetings to you.
Our church in Oxley, Brisbane held its annual outdoor Community Carols last night. A great night; 400+ attended, great carol-singing, wonderful sense of community and sparkling and engaging jazz music by guest band, Scat.

I was invited, as is the norm, to share a brief message on the theme; ” Joy to the World”. I struggled with that thought. Events in Newton, Connecticut impacted on my thoughts, prayers and preparations. Thought I’d share what I presented under a beautiful Brisbane evening summer sky. My theme:HOPE & JOY

David

Our theme for tonight is JOY. Joy to the world the Lord is come. That “joy” theme runs through so many of our much-loved Christmas carols:

Joy to the world! The Lord is come; let earth receive its king
Joyful, all you nations rise, join the triumph of the skies
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant …

JOY.

But yesterday morning, just like others around the world, I was confronted with the news – just over a week before Christmas – that 28 people, mostly primary-school kids, had lost their lives in a tragedy at a primary school in Connecticut, USA.

My heart bleeds for these kids and staff, and the families left behind. I shed plenty of tears as I started taking this in, mindful of course that in parts of the world such as Africa, children die in their 1000s.

I’ll get to JOY, but for a few moments I want to change tack. HOPE is another of the great words of this Christmas season.HOPE.

You see, HOPE is every bit at the heart of Christmas as JOY.
It’s not only our hearts that bleed and break for innocent children; innocent school staff with their lives needlessly cut short.

God bleeds. God’s heart gets broken too. God weeps.
God’s hopes and longings and love for our world … for you and me were so great that 2000+ years ago, God chose to do something decisive in history.