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For Today...
'I, the Lord of Sea and Sky'
Top-drawer song by Dan Schutte: along with Bernadette Farrell, he's one of the best Catholic songwriters who is widely known across Protestant / non-conformist denominations.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgLwH5RdtPk - a Songs of Praise recording (a verse short) - and an interesting arrangement. Includes roughly the same echo line I use in the chorus, too.www.youtube.com/watch?v=6grXk3e5bs0 - another Songs of Praise recording - a bit quicker, so they fit in 3 verses. A more conventional accompaniment, and a different chorus echo.
(11/09/2026)
Recent links
'Hide me now (under Your wings)'
Another Reuben Morgan song that has added to the richness of expression in worship. And great to play keyboard in.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv3eJgqq2aw - solo voice and guitar (mainly), nicely done.www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FrEmqyM4-k - Hillsongs live recording (loud and extended).
(10/09/2026)
'Living under the shadow of His wing'
A great song. You can't beat the Geoff Baker arrangement of this, but unfortunately, I can't find a recording on the Web.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB17ibKf3XU - nicely sung.(09/09/2026)
'I heard the voice of Jesus say'
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rr_4M5LQLo - sung by the choir of Manchester Cathedral, with a flourish.(08/09/2026)
'Purify my Heart'
Powerful top-drawer song by Brian Doerksen.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IvXA0yRDwY - making good use of the electric piano, which is my choice of instrument for this one too.(07/09/2026)
'Be Thou my vision'
Two decisions have to be made before singing this song. The first involves Eleanor Hull's versification:- do you go with the original (10.10.10.10), or do you use the 10.11.11.11 version (as used in the 1951 BBC Hymnal and adopted by two subsequent generations of Baptist Hymn Book) which improves it for congregational singing? The answer to that question is... the latter, without doubt. The second decision is... to syncopate, or to play it straight? That largely depends on whether you're playing the organ or leading a worship band... and what mood you're in.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05kgpcw - a Songs of Praise recording from St Patrick's, Dungannon. (Only 4 verses, though.)www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiukM6WHQEQ - syncopated version, nicely done, but not using the improved words.
(06/09/2026)
'The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want'
Sung to Crimond. (Though the tune is much newer than the words: look in an older hymn book and you will probably find Wiltshire or St Fulbert set.) Some people love it, some people hate it. I suspect it has to do with the associations: Apart from at funerals, I've rarely played it in recent years.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=syJFsLZmO8o - from the choir of York Minster.(05/09/2026)
'Yakanaka Vhangheri (English version: Listen Now for the Gospel)'
A lively Zimbabwean (Shona) song with a cantor and repsonse chorus.
hymnary.org/text/come_holy_spirit_melt_and_break_these_he - we use these words, published by the Wild Goose Resource Group.www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYdsskFFAkE - couldn't find a recording of the version we use: here's a slightly different one.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQfw63wKxB4 - and another.
(04/09/2026)
'The Lord's Prayer (Hillsong Worship)'
The two verses are irregular, and perhaps best left to a lead singer. But the pre-chorus, chorus and bridge have strong tunes which are easy to pick up and stand a fair bit of repeating.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCxqjEz5hJ4(03/09/2026)
'Within the Veil'
A 1970s golden oldie, worth hanging on to.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFo7AETAXG4 - album recording - nicely done, but with different, less varied chords to those I use.(02/09/2026)
'I will worship'
A good opener, and one which can work very well with just a solo guitar if it needs to. Like all line-and-echo songs written by men, the women get the echo.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LSOkkiB4HI - very rhythmic, extended rendering.(01/09/2026)
'Who is there like you'
Immensely powerful song by Paul Oakley, and part of our core repertoire. I like to use it pre-communion.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv-2ay7JxEU - the composer's own take on it... though I prefer to lead it from a straight (well, doubled - octave plus a bit of super-octave) piano.(31/08/2026)
'O for a thousand tongues to sing'
I can't find an arrangement with same bass part as ours, but this is a fairly exciting one.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T-i3COsefM(30/08/2026)
'Blessed be Your Name'
A top-drawer Matt and Beth Redman song written in response to personal tragedy.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnWKehsOXu8 - Matt Redman knows how to arrange and sing this!(29/08/2026)
'Come and pray in us, Holy Spirit'
A Taize canon.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdIHZZGt6r0 - from a service of prayer and meditation (Baltimore, Maryland).(28/08/2026)
'Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me'
The Iverson song of this name is an early 20th century golden oldie. We use it simply as a 4 line chorus, although it originally had a verse too.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrwRS1h-rmY - nice A Capella version from Voices of Praise.(27/08/2026)
'Praise is Rising'
A versatile and deservedly popular modern song.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMBDWG9tseU - extended version, by one of the authors (Paul Baloche).(26/08/2026)
'We will walk with God, my brothers'
A great song for sending out. (We've only ever tried in in English.)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKybxg99fUc - a bilingual album recording from 'Sing with the World'.(25/08/2026)
'We are marching in the light of God / Siyahamba'
My own preference is to lead this a cappella, and animatedly try to get the congregation clapping on 2 and 4.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=feB0Iq9uhcM - bilingual version, from a church choir festival.(24/08/2026)
'O Jesus, I have promised'
Scouring Youtube and Vimeo, it seems that 'Day of Rest' is by far the most popular tune for this hymn. (It's certainly the easiest to play if you've not properly woken up.) I prefer to use 'Thornbury', though I can't find a suitable link to share, and you could argue that it's stealing from "Thy Hand O God Has Guided". Some use 'Wolvercote'... which first appeared in the Public Schools Hymn Book and has never quite shaken off that association. And of course there's Geoffrey Beaumont's 'Hatherop Castle', fun but rarely used now.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFLOCoYaPI - sung to Day of Rest.www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi71IIsEfkY - gamely played on the organ (presumably no piano/pianist was available) with a... unique take on the rhythm.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNz-33V1V8A - Hatherop Castle again, a brass band performance, played by the book.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=07hhz4LRFjM - Wolvercote.
(23/08/2026)
'Thank You for the Cross, Lord (Worthy is the Lamb)'
Not the easiest of songs for congregations, but they can be confident with the powerful chorus.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=azYQqzoEjgU - A Hillsongs live recording.(22/08/2026)
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