Butterfly and yellow rose

A song
4 today

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For Today...

'Don't be afraid, my love is stronger'

Memorable, useful and beautiful 4-liner from John Bell.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXCMv5lF-TM - a recording where it's sung by children

(18/03/2026)

Recent links

'Father God I wonder'

An enduring all-age song, with plenty of potential for musical variation.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EFJHUWujag - nice piano-led arrangement.

(17/03/2026)

'Reign in me'

A little chorus that's been around a while, but is still useful to have in repertoire. Intense, flexible.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEcrJvC4gN0 - A Christ Bowater interpretation - recorded in worship.

(16/03/2026)

'Here is Love, vast as the Ocean'

A very popular Welsh hymn (and rightly so). It works well in a modern style... but it's also great to sing more traditionally (with an organ and - ideally - part singers).

www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8YOPj5TnUM - a Robin Mark version.

(15/03/2026)

'One church, one voice'

A good but undervalued song, and a song with a rhythm to wake everyone up in the morning.

satelliteworship.bandcamp.com/track/one-church-one-voice - from some of Scotland's finest.

(14/03/2026)

'Above all Powers'

A popular and powerful song, which the band needs to handle with particular care.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg9zjVUz9Kw - a slightly extended version.

(13/03/2026)

'All Heaven Declares'

One of those songs where the improvisation opportunities (singing / playing 'in the holes') seem endless... a hallmark of musical quality.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-s9Kk6tfVU - a Robin Mark interpretation - relatively understated - so you can fill it in as you sing along.

(12/03/2026)

'Jesus Christ is waiting'

Song of discipleship from John Bell and Graham Maule, set to Noel Nouvelet.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai-OydgMLSs - Adrian Snell version - extracted from a BBC TV programme.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zblM-JG3nWg - a lively choral version with drum and fife.

(11/03/2026)

'When I survey the Wondrous Cross'

You can sing other tunes for a change, but if you just had to pick one, it would have to be Rockingham.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EikGeNuoBA - More from Songs of Praise. (The last verse is overblown: there's a lot to be said for a more thoughtful, quieter approach.)

(10/03/2026)

'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)

'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)

 

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