A communion set for the Earth

A few years back, I started working on a communion set which would reflect a more Creation-centred theology, a set still rooted in the historic Trinitarian formulas of our tradition, but re-interpreted through an environmental lens. The first composition was a simple, layered setting of a text reflecting the character and language of the historic Sanctus or “Holy, holy, holy”. I followed this with a reframing of the Memorial Acclamation and, recently, a Great Amen to complete the set, all with similar musical material to make it cohesive overall.

Please download the pdfs and share these songs with your community – I always appreciate feedback! Audio/video recordings to come soon…

Earth Sanctus

Earth Memorial Acclamation

Earth Amen

A song for returning to worship in our buildings

The bizarreness of pandemic life is something many of us continue to struggle with, particularly when we have devoted our working life to lifting up congregational song, and for the past year that collective voice has been silenced. As we prepare to return to our buildings, when public health guidelines allow us to do so safely, here’s a song from our catalogue which may find new meaning for you. Originally written for Epiphany worship, “Returning Home a Different Way” captures some of the hope we feel as we will, in time, find our song to sing together again. Here’s a revised piano/vocal score and our original recording for you to share with your community. Note the language change at the end of the chorus in the score – “we are sister, brother” misses the many expressions of gender identity we experience today, so we have changed the language to “Through loving one another” to address the issue. Blessings, everyone!

A song for July 5

I wrote “Come to Me” for Cheryl and her mother when Dad died in 1994. As I see the Matthew text come around in the lectionary again I am reminded of what a comfort this song has been to us over the years. And the recording is 25 years old now! Enjoy, and share with your community.

https://evensong.ca/wp-content/uploads/come_to_me.pdf

 

Now is the Moment

We’re leading music these days for Living Interfaith Sanctuary, a contemplative community in Vancouver, BC, which meets every two weeks and lives the seasons by celebrating a faith festival close to the meeting date. This coming Saturday is a combined celebration of the Christian festival of Ascension along with an exploration of the Unity Consciousness tradition, presenting a challenge to us to provide songs which can support and feed both perspectives. Now is the Moment is an attempt to meet both needs, evoking the waiting for the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Ascension texts and the celebration of Now, the desire for true presence in the current moment which is one of the hallmarks of Unity Consciousness. Enjoy and share!