“Joy of the desolate, light of the straying, hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure. Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying, ‘Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot cure.’” These words from this classic hymn take on new life in this meditative CHORAL SETTING by Ken Medema and Cathy Chamblee. A gentle, flowing piano accompaniment supports easy-to-learn four-part writing, making this anthem a meaningful addition to a variety of worship settings. This anthem is sure to become a mainstay in your choir’s repertoire! Because it was arranged during the pandemic, no performance recording exists, but you can acquaint yourself with the piece through the free MIDI-generated recording available on this website. Learn More

The lyric sheet product is a chord chart with lyrics and chords. The lead sheet product bundles lead sheet, congregational melody line and songleader's guide. This song is licensed via OneLicense.net, CCLI and Worldmaking.net. This song is part of Richard Bruxvoort Colligan's intergenerational camp song album, "Branching Out: Neo Camp Songs." This song centers on Romans 8:38-39, a passage abot God's unfailing love. Verses unpack the nitty gritty, the refarin is a catchy reminder of the heart of the Jesus tradition. Great for camp, intergeneratial worship or a hymn of praise in a liturgical service. Learn More

Lenora, Gary, and Hannah Rand of "The Many" have just written and recorded this beautiful song as part of the "We Stand With Love" campaign.  "We Stand With Love" has a great website with instructions on how to get involved with this campaign to help congregations focus on God's Love and Grace this Fall in particular as the presidential election approaches.  There are some great resources and instructions on how to participate and who is involved at www.westandwithlove.org

Please see the entire free bunch of liturgical resources on the CMP site to go along with this campaign also.  Among other prayers and written liturgical resources you will find an entire worship service and a sermon written by Lenora Rand that can be used in worship.

Thanks SO MUCH to The Many for creating these special  "We Stand With Love" resources!

There is no sheet music available yet for this song, but we'll post it as soon as there is. 

The lyric sheet product is a chord chart with lyrics and chords. The lead sheet product bundles lead sheet, congregational melody line and songleader's guide. This song is licensed via OneLicense.net, CCLI and Worldmaking.net. This song is part of Richard Bruxvoort Colligan's intergenerational camp song album, "Branching Out: Neo Camp Songs." Resilience, not happiness. Nothing wrong with being happy, but if that's the only goal for our kiddos, we will be forming grown-ups who understand seasons of unhappiness as failure and be unprepared for inevitable losses in a mature life of faith. Many outdoor ministry settings happen around woods, so this uses a tree's growth rings in the forest as a metaphor for how each person's stories is embedded in our daily life. Learn More

A simple song written initially to go with a camp curriculum and with the Emmaus Road road story from Luke 24:13-35. Easy to play and accessible to all ages. Learn More

A new CHORAL OFFERING by Ken Medema! On this journey in life, we travel fraught paths. We endure unspeakable wounds, relentless threats, and deep sadness. But if we look closely, we see that God is with us through these untrodden paths as the Light that does not surrender and the Song that does not cease. God is always granting us a next verse and is always wrapping us up in encircling love. In this space, we are unbound, freed souls. This S.A.T.B. piece is a prayer of gratitude to God for that healing, redemptive space and steadfast presence in this life. It features original music by Ken Medema and text by Cathy Chamblee, arranged for choir by Ken and Cathy with piano accompaniment and optional cello. Because it was composed during the pandemic, there is no performance recording available, but you may enjoy a free MIDI-generated mp3 to acquaint yourselves with the anthem. This piece can be used in a variety of worship settings and is a MUST HAVE for its highly accessible choral writing and its compelling, lovely musical message. Learn More

• The lead sheet product includes lead sheet plus songleader's guide and congregational melody line. 
• The lyric sheet product is a chord chart.
• Choral arrangement available at Worldmaking.net.

This piece can function in 3 ways: the refrain can stand alone as a Gloria, fit for that celebratory moment in worship; the verses can stand alone as a hymn form; all together the song can serve both/either. This song works well with organ, piano or band ensemble.

This song is licensed via OneLicense.net, CCLI and Worldmaking.net.

This is a brand new song written specifically to go with the Day 1 Scripture and Themes of the 2018 "Beyond Belief" Outdoor Ministries Camp Curriculum published by Chalice Press. Based on Psalm 139 and the theme, "What If I Belong?"--this is easy to learn and sing and will be useful in many contexts, including Sunday morning worship services. Learn More

This brand new song by gifted composer and musicologist Mark Miller was written just before Mark underwent surgery to remove a tumor on his brain.  He was told that the surgery could wind up leaving him deaf, especially in one ear--no small matter for anyone--but especially huge for one who is called to teach and create and perform music.  Thankfully, the surgery went well, the tumor was benign, and Mark hears perfectly.  And we all received the gift of this beautiful song in and through the process!  This one will minister deeply to anyone facing uncertainty and risk and who needs to be reminded that God and the community of faith will always "surround us with love."

If and when Mark does a more produced version of this song in the studio we will make that available, but for now this simple demo is the only recording of this brand new song that exists.  Thanks so much for sharing it with us Mark, and we have a feeling this song is going to be widely used!

Three verses following the Lover/Beloved story in Song of Songs. Learn More

A hauntingly beautiful melody and poetic lyrics that can be used as a lament, a prayer of longing for deeper union and response to God, and that ends with a resolve to "lay our armour down." 

Note:  The sheet music for this song is in a key that is significantly lower than the artist's recording in order to make the range more accessible for congregational singing.  If you purchase the sheet music and would like it also in the original key, please contact CMP and we will send it to you at no additional charge.

Singing the grace and generosity of Holy Communion. This song mixes longing with celebration and gratitude. Learn More

Another beautiful, singable, earth-honoring chorus. Easy to play on guitar. This song works well for outdoor worship, church camp, or any time you want to connect with the sacred around you. The song also turns the idea that God is somehow "up" on its head, using imagery of the Spirit rising from the ground. The song works well as a gathering song, introit, call to worship, prayer, or as a congregational hymn. Written by Dr. Christopher Grundy, Associate Professor of Preaching and Worship at Eden Theological Seminary. One License #CGHiTP2002 Learn More

This brand new song from The Many is such a gift to us all right now. The song acknowledges some of the heartbreaking realities of injustice and cruelty that confront us, such as the separation of families at U.S. borders. The lyrics validate our sorrow and frustration with the fact that even though we pray and work for justice, we humans keep losing our way and causing each other so much unnecessary pain. But as always, The Many reminds us that God is with us and sustaining us and leading us in the midst of heartache and loss. In other words, God comes to us--"again and again"-- in the middle of our brokenness and bewilderment, and gives us courage and strength to keep living, loving, and working for change. There is a great video available for this song that is perfect for virtual worship! CCLI #716829 Learn More

"Come As You Are” is from the album, Love > Fear, from The Many. It's a reflection on the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28: "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” The song is an invitation to all of us into God's loving embrace. We can come with our faith and with our doubt; we are welcomed with hopes and with fears. We can come deeply weary and wounded and carrying loads of baggage and God promises to never turn us away. We come as we are and are loved as we are. No small print. No exceptions. Learn More

From the Composer Sherri Hansen... A fresh, inclusive take on the beloved Prayer of St. Francis. Suitable for solo or congregational singing with an optional vocal or instrumental obligato. Learn More

A brand new song by CMP's number one selling artist, "The Many." This one is a prayer of longing to be able to trust and believe that God's Love is present and real despite all our questions, doubts, weariness, and fear. Learn More

A beautiful new piano based song that will work well as a congregational song or a choral anthem. The music and lyrics are a gentle and soulful reminder of God's presence and grace and how God leads us into healing and hope. The chorus is a prayer for God to "light my step" and to be open to the leading and guidance of the Spirit. Learn More

This song was inspired by a story told by Rev. Traci Blackmon, a UCC clergyperson and National Church leader who was on the front lines of the clergy response to the KKK and white extremist violence in Charlottesville, VA. According to the story (which did not take place in Charlottesville), a 5 year old boy was going to say a few words in his church on Easter in front of the whole congregation. When the time came, he was too afraid to do it and refused. Eventually though he went ahead and spoke his piece. When the pastor then asked him to explain how he got rid of his fear, the little boy said, "I didn't. I just did it afraid." This brief chorus will work in many contexts, especially after the story that inspired it is told. Sometimes faith doesn't mean not being afraid--it means feeling the fear and yet doing what we're called to do anyway... Learn More

This song is vintage Christopher Grundy and really deserves to be used more widely.  Great invitation, call to worship, prayer, or "short song or response" based on Jesus' invitation to come and find rest in Matthew 11:28.

Ken Medema presents the traditional hymn, "All Through The Night," with a quiet piano accompaniment suitable for a reflective benediction. Learn More

"All my Life" is a contemporary setting of Psalm 73 and offers a little bit of everything! Ken Medema uses funky rhythmic music for us to sing about the frustration of walking in God's ways while watching evil flourish, and he pairs that with contemplative music as we sing a prayer of gratitude for our salvation and for God's abiding presence. This song is best suited for a vocal solo but the opening verses also allow congregational participation. "All my Life" can be performed with piano and additional rhythm section instruments (guitar and drums). Look for these additional titles in this series of Psalm settings by Ken: "God, I am Beaten, Battered, and Bruised (Psalm 56)," "It's Good to Give Thanks (Psalm 92)," and "We Will Raise Our Eyes (Psalm 121)." Learn More