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Be Right Here
Artist: Alison Casella Brookins Lyrics: Here; right here; be right here Type: Unison, Loose round Notes: Starting note C#. This one is good with a drone, or a Shruti box. Can be sung in unison, or layered, either precisely as demonstrated in the recording, or loosely with a drone accompaniment, with each person singing the words repeatedly, coming in whenever they want, creating a tapestry of sound. A good song to sing before prayer or before a practice like confession. Encourages us to ground and center ourselves here and now. Who Will Set Us Free?
Artist: Father Bernardo Maria Perez and Francisco Feliciano Lyrics: "Who will set us free? Jesus, we're waiting for you. You said you'd be coming. Don't let our hope be futile." Full lyrics can be found here. Type: Echo Notes: This is a "Yo Jesus! Keep your promise! Do something!" It's a petitionary prayer that actually expects an answer, asking for what it needs without hesitation. I love the strong, ringing notes of the last line. Til the Moon is No More (In the recording she sings the song, then teaches how to teach the song)
Artist: Angela Morris Lyrics: Adapted from Psalm 72:6-7. "Roll down like rain, water the earth. Shower the world in justice and peace, from now til the moon is no more." Type: Unison Notes: Love a good minor key. Also love drones! This is a good one for petitionary prayer. Thank You For This Day, Spirit (Rhythmic, Loose)
Artist: from the Native American Church Movement Lyrics: "Thank you for this day, Spirit, this healing day." Full lyrics can be found here. Type: Unison Notes: I learned this at a tempo somewhere between the above rhythmic/loose recordings; rhythmic enough that it can be sung in a group, but with all the stretching of notes you want. When I first heard this I thought it was tacky, but then I found myself singing it all week, and it popped into my head whenever I felt gratitude—often before I consciously realized I was grateful, I would be singing this. Now it's one of my favorites. Lay Me Low (link to teaching video)
Artist: Shaker text, music by Daniel Schwandt Lyrics: "Lay me low where the Lord can find me...hold me...bless me..." Type: Unison or echo Notes: Love this one. For times when we need a reminder that the lowest places are exactly where God is most present. Often use this one at Longest Night, Good Friday, etc. In This Circle
Artist: Joan McMillan Lyrics: "In this body no fear, in this body safety, in this body greatest happiness, in this body deep peace. In this circle/family/city/country/world..." Type: Unison Notes: Woof this song hits me in the gut, in the best of ways. Starting with "in this body," and drawing the circle larger and larger, this trauma-informed song embodies the necessity of safety in our own bodies to be able to offer safety to others. I use this song in my own prayers all the time, and I've used it as a congregational prayer. I'm listening
Artist: LEA Lyrics: "I’m listening. I am listening. Spirit speak to me. My ears are wide open, my eyes are now open, to see what I may be. I’m listening. Spirit speak to me?" (full lyrics under video) Type: Unison Notes: I've used this with just the first part, leaving out the (for me) harder to sing second part. Good for moments of discernment, for singing before scripture or sermon, etc. |
 This work by Alison Casella Brookins is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. AuthorAlison ArchivesCategories
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