Butterfly and yellow rose

A song
4 today

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For Today...

'Bread of the world, in mercy broken'

Bishop Heber's words make a beautiful communion hymn when paired with Lancelot Hankey's lyrical tune.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMiuUOjuNhQ - the only recording of it on Youtube, as far as I know.

(09/03/2026)

Recent links

'Let us build a house where love can dwell'

Brilliant, moving, anthemic masterpiece by Marty Haughen.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbyZQnPw-wk - with all the verses, including the 'communion' one.

(08/03/2026)

'Night has fallen'

An old evening favourite: not much use at other times, alas.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qduinik0WM - the video includes a preamble in which the congregation are taught to sing it.

(07/03/2026)

'Lord, You have always given'

From the Northumbria Community's Evening Prayer.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvzSTOFd6i0 - a video presentation of the recording which originally introduced me to this.

(06/03/2026)

'Only by grace'

A well written and well known song.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-ixkmBOIUE - a popular recording.

(05/03/2026)

'Come and see'

Well-known song for Passiontide and at communion

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gizXMaQ7Y5o - a Graham Kendrick recording from 2011.

(04/03/2026)

'Behold The Lamb / Communion Song'

A Townend/Getty song. Can be used with half before communion and half afterwards.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACHPwx7EGQA - album recording.

(03/03/2026)

'It's your blood'

A good communion song, taken gently, with a good role for a piano.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLoXae0kQQI - complete with percussion. It moves along.

(02/03/2026)

'Praise to the Lord, the Almighty'

A fine German hymn with a good (Joachim Neander) tune. A standard traditional opener.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhQi4yWTUBY - sung by the choir of King's College Cambridge.

(01/03/2026)

'My life flows on in endless song'

There are many variations on this old hymn:- we use the version published in "I will not Sing Alone", from Wild Goose. Robert Lowry was in a different league to most of the late 19th century evangelical hymn writers and composers, and this song illustrates the point.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BifkC92nT8 - a quite different version to the one we use - by a church choir from Oakland CA, nicely done.

(28/02/2026)

'May the fragrance of Jesus'

One of Graham Kendrick's call and response worship songs.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlUsGfXo8Ww - this recording waits until the second verse to include both parts.

(27/02/2026)

'Lamb of God, Holy One'

A Chris Bowater song, typically 'musical', and with a powerful second half.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHtmKXrReBg - "From the album The Passion, by Heart of Worship", it says in the description.

(26/02/2026)

'We bow down and confess'

Different to our arrangement, but the harmony is very similar...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tblhqgHfVrI - opening verse is beautifully done.

(25/02/2026)

'Cleanse me, O God'

A good song to use with prayers of confession. Musically, it works well with open chords on the guitar.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve-UyHjAnPU

(24/02/2026)

'Travelling the Road to Freedom'

Thought-provoking song. To date, only sung to rather than by our congregation.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUEZP0P95-M - a lockdown recording by members and friends of Ferryhill Parish Church.

(23/02/2026)

'Here I am, a sinner free'

Not one of Matt Redman's more widely-known songs, but one worth keeping in repertoire.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNBoSL4qquM - a Soul Survivor recording. Nicely done, but a rare example of one I'd like to slow down a bit.

(22/02/2026)

'There's a wideness in God's Mercy'

The Geoff Baker song of this title.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_yJOWBLVGo - church service recording from Dromore, N Ireland, with piano and organ accompaniment.

(13/02/2026)

'As we bring our songs of love today (How Long?)'

Passionate song of commitment, witness, and longing for justice.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CwxN7EqWGA - Live recording by and from Graham Kendrick.

(12/02/2026)

'Brother let me be your Servant'

Now more often known as 'Brother, sister, let me serve you'.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL3vStmoMDw - here's the man who wrote it (Richard Gillard), singing and accompanying himself on the guitar.

(11/02/2026)

'Though I feel afraid (of territory unknown)'

Easy to pigeon-hole this song for overseas mission, but it deserves wider usage that that. Also, the brilliant and powerful chorus can be used on its own, or with other material.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=f32uz50sOD4 - live recording.

(10/02/2026)

'Were I the perfect child of God'

A good song for baptisms. But if you change the first 4 lines of the last verse, it can also be at other times. Example, for communion:-
Redeemed by grace, I now would dare,
To meet with Christ, this meal to share,
Together, as we all declare
We're followers of Jesus.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=w69KxWREcFA - an album recording.

(09/02/2026)

 

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