Welcome to this page of free stuff! Here are downloadable and printable versions of the hymns and practices. (Some were released in my book, Star-Struck by the Stable Gate: Fifteen New Hymns and Thoughts for the Christmas Season; others in The Inn of God’s Forgiveness and Other Hymns for the Progressive Church; still others have not yet appeared in print.)  The music and lyrics are copyrighted, but they include a license for copying. This license is the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, which you can read about in detail here. Basically, it allows unlimited copying for non-commercial use.

If you find these things useful, please support the work by buying my books. (And if you’ve already bought them, God bless you!)

Hymns from Star-Struck by the Stable Gate

“O Mother of Music”

“But Still I Tremble”

“We Prepare”

“Advent Canon” and “Advent Processional”

“Be Born in Us Tonight”

“Star-Struck by the Stable Gate”

“All Shall Be Well, Noël”

“Rejoice! Rejoice!”

“Beacon of Bethlehem”

“Not So Wise Are We”

“Marvel and Let Be”

“I Am but a Little Dove”

“Turn to the Life”

“God Send You Liberation”

“The Stars Sing Out Your Song of Joy”

Hymns from The Inn of God’s Forgiveness

“We Too Seek You”

“Often, Often, Often”

“Follow You, My Jesus”

“Let the Spirit Shout”

“Dear God, In Your Garden”

“The Inn of God’s Forgiveness”

“Welcome, Thomas, Doubts and All”

“Advent Canon” — see under Star-Struck by the Stable Gate, above

 

Other Hymns

“That We May All Be One”

This new hymn is a reflection on Jesus’ prayer from the Farewell Discourses in the Gospel of John: “that they may all be one.” (John 17:21) That phrase is the motto of my denomination, the United Church of Christ, and I think there is a positive and generous way of understanding it. But unity is a challenging concept, especially for a denomination that prides itself on diversity!  I introduce and discuss this hymn in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“Mother, Child, and Breath of Life”

This three-part trinitarian chant is still a work in progress.  I introduce it and discuss it in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“The Harmony of the Incredible Earth”

This is a jaunty, upbeat hymn that celebrates the earth.  I introduce it and discuss it in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“Compassion’s Sting”

This hymn laments the harm we do to the earth and to each other through our lack of compassion. I introduce it and discuss it in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“When I Hunger”

This hymn uses a range of images of physical desires and joys as metaphors for spiritual desires and joys. I introduce it and discuss it in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“Break Our Chains”

This is a hymn of liberation: asking God to break our chains, and resolving to help other people break their chains. I introduce it and discuss it in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“I Remember”

This is a song I wrote for Lent. It’s a remembrance of Jesus. I introduce it and discuss it in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

That third version is in a higher key, and with an accompaniment better suited to solo vocal performance; I discuss it in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“One Great Hour”

This is a song I wrote for the One Great Hour of Sharing. I introduce it and discuss it in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“Tune Her to Thee” and “Tune Us to Thee”

I wrote these words as a prayer for the healing of a sick child.  They fit the Welsh folk melody, Ar Hyd y Nos (All Through the Night).  I introduce the song and discuss it in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“Midwives of Hope”

I wrote this song to celebrate the work of midwives.  It’s inspired by the story of the birth of Moses.  (Note that the “hymn parts and piano” version is in D minor, while the others are in C minor.  That’s because I think the range of the C minor version is more comfortable for untrained singers.)  I introduce the song and discuss it in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“Open Up”

This song is a prayer for God’s help in opening up our hearts. It’s an upbeat song with a catchy refrain; I’ve used it as a warm-up song at the start of a Sunday morning service. I introduce the song and discuss it in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“Viriditas”

This choral piece is for an SATB ensemble, accompanied by rhythm instruments.  (I’ve notated the rhythm instruments as Frog, because it looks nice played on wooden croaking frogs.  But it would probably sound better on guiro.)  A versatile quartet might be able to accompany themselves, which would look cool.  I introduce the song and discuss it in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“Come, O People”

This choral piece is a processional for cantor and three-part choir. The verse lyrics fit the six Sundays in Lent, particularly in Year C in the Revised Common Lectionary, but it could be used as a processional at any time.  I introduce the song and discuss it in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“Spirit Friend, Be With Us As We Pray”

This piece uses a melody from Sarum plainsong: the “Pange lingua.” It could be chanted a cappella, or sung with keyboard accompaniment. I introduce the song in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“Beyond This Journey’s Ending”

By the end of this four-part choral piece, it uses the old Welsh melody, Bugeilio’r Gwenith Gwyn. But that isn’t how it starts. I discuss it in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“As the Loaf Is Broken Open”

This is a classic eucharistic hymn with new words. I discuss it in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“Let Worries Go”

This hymn accompanies the teaching of Jesus (as in Matthew 6:25-34) that we shouldn’t worry. I discuss it in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“Don’t Let It Go to Your Heart”

This hymn accompanies the teachings of Jesus about money, as in Luke 19:1-10, Mark 10:17-25, John 12:3-5,7-8, and Matthew 6:24. I discuss it in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“We Are Called to Solve the Puzzle”

This hymn accompanies the teachings of Jesus about nonviolence, as in Luke 13:31-34, Matthew 5:39-41, Luke 6:27-28, and Luke 22:47-53. I discuss it in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“We Built a Clubhouse, Snug and Tight”

This hymn accompanies the teachings of Jesus about universal solidarity; he didn’t often talk about this, but he often demonstrated it. I discuss this teaching in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“Truth”

This hymn accompanies the teachings of Jesus about truth and honesty. I discuss this teaching in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“Live Lovingly”

This long, slow hymn was the capstone of my seven-week series on the practical teachings of Jesus. I discuss it in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“Transfiguration Shows the Flame”

I wrote this hymn for Transfiguration Sunday, and I discuss it in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“I Claim This Calm and Quiet Space”

I wrote this hymn about rest, and I discuss it in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“O Mother of Music”

I wrote this hymn using the melody Ebenezer. I discuss it and sing it in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“Surely You Know the Change I Need”

I wrote this hymn for the first Sunday in Lent; it’s about change. I discuss it in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“You Loved Your Life, and You Let It Go”

I wrote this hymn for the second Sunday Lent; it’s about Jesus, of course. I discuss it in this issue of The Merry Mystic.

“Slow Me Down”

I wrote this hymn to go with my sermon, “Kairos Bathing.” It asks for God’s help to free us from our enslavement to chronos time—the clock and the calendar.

“The Dark Night”

This is not a hymn, but a solo song with piano accompaniment. It’s a reflection on the dark night of the soul, and goes with my sermon, “The Dark Night.”

Practices from The Inn

Here are printable versions of the prayer practices introduced in my book, The Inn of God’s Forgiveness and Other Hymns for the Progressive Church. I hope these will be useful for spiritual formation, for groups and individuals.

These texts are copyrighted, but they include a license for copying. This license is the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, which you can read about in detail here. Basically, it allows unlimited copying for non-commercial use.

Other Practices

“Healer of the World, I Hunger for You” is an audio guided meditation related to fasting.

“Stilling Chant” is an audio guided meditation using a repeated chant that grows shorter and shorter.  Sheet music for the chant  (page 1, page 2) may be useful for those wanting to lead this practice for a group.