Category Archives: Demos

A New Heart, O God

Posted on March 5, 2021 by Greg Scheer

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)

Posted on February 26, 2021 by Greg Scheer

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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The Perfect Song

Posted on February 10, 2021 by Greg Scheer

One of the traits that makes me annoying (among so many others) is my pursuit of perfection. I’m not a perfectionist in the traditional sense of the word–abusing myself for every short-coming–but I do seek excellence. (Making me an excellentionist?) … Continue reading →

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Joy (with Harry Plantinga)

Posted on February 2, 2021 by Greg Scheer

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)

Posted on February 1, 2021 by Greg Scheer

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

Posted on January 20, 2021 by Greg Scheer

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)

Posted on January 7, 2021 by Greg Scheer

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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The Peaceable Kingdom

Posted on December 18, 2020 by Greg Scheer

This song started its life a few years ago at the Christmas songwriting retreat that produced Refugee King, Jesus Be Enough, and Tiny King. The page of sketches had “Peaceful Revolution” scribbled at the top, a phrase I still like. … Continue reading →

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Psalm 53: Fools Deny Their God within Them (Carlill)

Posted on December 10, 2020 by Greg Scheer

I returned to Adam Carlill’s excellent Psalms for the Common Era to get his take on the difficult Psalm 53. This Psalm (and its nearly identical twin, Psalm 14) is full of rancor, claiming that foolish humans are godless, corrupt, … Continue reading →

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Psalm 6: Lord, My God, Do Not Contend (Carlill)

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Greg Scheer

A few weeks ago, a friend recommended Psalms for the Common Era, a collection of 150 Psalm versifications by Adam Carlill. It is a lovely collection that strikes a fine balance between faithfulness to the Hebrew texts and singability for … Continue reading →

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