Category Archives: Church

O Risen Christ, Our Living Hope

Each week as I plan worship services, I study the scriptures the preacher has chosen in order to plan music that fits their theme. I spend lots of time at hymnary.org searching for songs and often find things that are … Continue reading

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If The Lord Had Not Been On Our Side @ GIA

I was very pleased to hear that my Gospel/Spoken Word/Choral rendition of Psalm 124, “If The Lord Had Not Been On Our Side,” is featured in their Spring 2021 choral packet. I was even more excited to hear the recording … Continue reading

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Abide with Us (Emmaus Road)

My blog has been quieter than usual because my time has been devoted to a super-secret, epically large composition. But I still try to find time for a little musical bonbon here and there. In this case, the musical bonbon … Continue reading

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A New Heart, O God

This week’s sermon at Fuller Ave Church follows the lectionary: The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17). This is not a passage that lends itself to a long list of inspiring songs! But as I researched the service, I kept thinking about … Continue reading

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God of Knowledge, All-Consuming (with Hunter Lynch)

God’s omniscience. How do we speak about it without using hifalutin words like “omniscience”? How do we sing about it? And does this esoteric theological category have any bearing on our life and faith? Hunter Lynch addresses these questions in … Continue reading

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Psalm 122: Let Us Go (Church of the Servant)

How cool is this? My friends at Church of the Servant made a music video of my song “Let Us Go” for the COS Psalm Contest premiere Sunday. It was great to see old friends from the COS Choir, Guitarchestra, … Continue reading

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Joy (with Harry Plantinga)

Harry Plantinga, the guru behind Hymnary.org, is fluent in computer code. But lately, all his work with Hymnary.org is rubbing off on him and he has also started writing hymn texts. “Joy” is a short, meditative lyric based on the … Continue reading

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Psalm 57: The Thunder’s Rage Is Roaring (with Kate Bluett)

I met Kate Bluett through a Facebook group in which we’re both members: Liturgy Fellowship. After she won first place in a song contest and I placed second (always the bridesmaid!) I introduced myself and asked if she’d like to … Continue reading

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You Walk Along Our Shorelines

Sylvia Dunstan wrote the beautiful hymn “You Walk Along Our Shorelines” in response to Mark 1:14-20, in which Jesus calls the first disciples. It is often paired with the tune AURELIA (“The Church’s One Foundation”), but I felt it needed … Continue reading

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Psalm 56: O God, in Mercy Look to Me (Carlill)

I came back again to Adam Carlill’s Psalms for the Common Era, this time his version of Psalm 56. This Psalm is a plea for mercy when being hotly pursued by enemies. Have you ever felt like David did when … Continue reading

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