What are your “Amazing Graces?”
Planning music for liturgy is enjoyable, but it can also be a challenge. Some weeks, it seems like everything just falls into place…we have the perfect song for everything! Other weeks, we might read the readings and think, “Um…ok…I got nothin’.”
– They are highly accessible (fairly simple to learn/perform/sing) for most, if not ANY music group.
– The assembly sings these songs well and consistently embraces them wholeheartedly!
– The text fulfills a particularly common theme, or seems appropriate for most Sundays.
– They are songs that have stood the test of time, whether that be a few months for a newer song, or even years for songs we’ve known longer.
– They are songs we just simply couldn’t do without. Any music ministry would find them effective.
These are not exhaustive lists by any means, but these are some of our ‘go-to’ choices…our ‘Amazing Graces’…when we need a song for some particular part of the liturgy. They are, simply, songs that work well.
Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) by John Newton, Chris Tomlin, and Louie Giglio (worshiptogether.com) – the classic, traditional song with some new text and an added powerful chorus. Be careful to choose a key that’s not too high.
Suggested use: Offertory, Second Communion
Be Merciful, O Lord by Steve Angrisano (spiritandsong.com) – a great setting…be careful not to take this too fast. Just relax and play it…pray it… nice and easy. Great, singable refrain your assembly can sing. The verses allow for some solo singing.
Suggested use: Psalm, Second Communion/Meditation
Beautiful Things by Michael Gungor (worshiptogether.com) – a powerful song for a communion meditation…”you make beautiful things…you make beautiful things out of us.” Find the key that’s right for your singer(s). (From the CD Beautiful Things).
Suggested use: Second Communion/Meditation
From the Inside Out by Joel Houston (Hillsong) – “A thousand times I’ve failed, still your mercy remains…” Check out this song.
Suggested use: Entrance/Song of Gathering, Offertory, Communion
Homeward Bound by Ken Macek (WLP) – Cliff Petty sings a powerful interpretation of this song on the Voices As One vol. 1 CD Father, We Thank Thee. Also found in the Voices As One vol. 1 collection.
Suggested Use: Psalm, Offertory, Second Communion/Meditation
Hosea by Gregory Norbet (OCP) – I love this song. We’ve done it ‘as-written’ as well as with a dotted-eighth, dotted-eighth, eighth rhythm on the first three notes in the verse. (each phrase)
Suggested use: Entrance/Song of Gathering, Offertory, Communion
Journey for Home by Ed Bolduc (WLP) – “we live and journey…journey for home.” Easy to play, easy to sing. (From the CD The Face of God.)
Suggested use: Entrance/Song of Gathering, Offertory, Communion
Return to God by John Angotti (WLP) – another great song from John’s Joy Beyond Our Dreams. This song also works well at many places in the liturgy.(From the CD Joy Beyond Our Dreams) This song is also a part of the More Voices As One vol. 1 collection. (see the link on the sidebar)
Suggested use: Entrance/Song of Gathering, Offertory, Communion
Your Grace Is Enough by Matt Maher (spiritandsong.com) – driving, singable, powerful… (From the CD Empty and Beautiful).
Suggested use: Song of Thanksgiving/Dismissal