Richard Bruxvoort Colligan

  1. This World Is Pregnant With God
    By: Richard Bruxvoort Colligan

    Picture her sputtering in awe when you imagine Saint Angela of Foligno singing, "This world is pregnant with God." It's a powerful feminine metaphor for change. Sing it in Springtime, either Lent or Eastertide, on Earth Day, or any moment to remember humankind's interconnection with creation. The simple refrain deepens in meaning as the verses suggest dimensions of the metaphor: if creation is a pregnant witness of Christ incarnate in the world, then every living thing is kin (verses 1-2). For verse 3, I was thinking about the parable of the treasure in the field, and of my family's roots in farming. John 16, Mark 13, and Romans 8 refer to labor pain as a metaphor for the pain of transformation and renewal (verse 4). Teach the community the single-phrase refrain, and your music leader or choir sings the verses. Learn More

  2. Your Light Has Come
    By: Richard Bruxvoort Colligan

    A simple chant around Isaiah 60:1-4. This Epiphany piece can be sung with minimal accompaniment, and can be sung in canon. Use it as a theme song throughout the Epiphany season or to feature the texts from Isaiah. Learn More

  3. You Are a Light On My Path
    By: Richard Bruxvoort Colligan

    An upbeat community song for Psalm 119:105-12. Fun to sing, easy to teach. The psalmist sings of the joy and confidence in God among times of real struggle. Clap along! Learn More

  4. Ten Commandments Song
    By: Richard Bruxvoort Colligan

    A catchy, open-hearted sing-along paraphrase sing-along of the Decalogue. This is particularly useful for children, youth and families. Learn More

  5. Body of God
    By: Richard Bruxvoort Colligan

    An Advent-Christmas song about the incarnation-- a kind of midrash take on the Jesus birth story. The title comes from theologian Sallie McFague. Learn More

  6. We Light a Candle
    By: Richard Bruxvoort Colligan

    A song for Advent wreath lighting. Each verse draws attention to one of the candle themes: peace, hope, joy, and love. Learn More

  7. Behold the Night
    By: Richard Bruxvoort Colligan

    A meditation song for Winter Solstice appreciating the goodness of darkness. Learn More

  8. We Remember Her
    By: Richard Bruxvoort Colligan

    “We Remember Her” is a song celebrating the so-called "woman with the alabaster jar" in Mark 14:3-9, Matthew 26:6-13, Luke 7:36-50 and John 12:1-3. In singing, we honor this nameless disciple and her courageous act of kindness that was so important to the gospel writers. The story of the "woman with the alabaster jar" is told with varying details in all four gospels. A few days before Jesus' death, into a room full of men she came and anointed Jesus with expensive ointment. In Mark and Matthew's accounts, the scene has Jesus recognizing the woman as one of the most important in his ministry. "Wherever the gospel is proclaimed in all the world, what this woman has done will be told in remembrance of her." The moment happened early in holy week, and according to the gospels, Jesus wouldn't have bathed before he was arrested. Could it be the aroma of the perfume was with him on Friday? Could it be that the scent, so tenderly offered to Jesus, sustained him with hope as he was dying on the cross? Learn More

  9. Bless This Good Earth
    By: Richard Bruxvoort Colligan

    "Bless This Good Earth" is a song for body anointing. It was originally made to fit within a Holy Week service remembering the Woman with the Alabaster Jar who anointed Jesus days before his death (John 12:1-3, Luke 7:36-50, Mark 14:3-9, Matthew 26:6-13). The central refrain invites the community to sing of our bodies the way we do on Ash Wednesday-- as dust, good earth. The verses invite a blessing with oil or water on eyes, ears, lips, heart, shoulders, hands and feet. Learn More

  10. God, Known and Unknown
    By: Richard Bruxvoort Colligan

    A hymn exploring the mystery of God and how we name this Mystery. Learn More

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