Steve Schallert lives in Hawaii and works often with Youth With a Mission.  He is a soulful and passionate songwriter and artist who writes beautiful songs of longing, lament, and the call for biblical justice.  This simple but powerful "Song of Lamentation" will touch the hearts of many and give us all a deeply needed way to sing our prayers for healing and wholeness.

A common critique of "contemporary praise and worship music" is that it does not touch the brokenness of the world enough and that there are too many "happy clappy" songs and very few songs of lament.  Lament is a crucial step in response to the pain of the world and the processes of grieving, healing, and regrouping we all need both in our individual lives and in our communities of faith.  CMP is grateful and proud to have songs like this on our site and to point you toward the work of Steve Schallert.

"As We Gather, Draw Us Nearer" marries the traditional hymn melody Beach Spring with vibrant images of nature, family, communion and belonging. This text explains holiness in a fresh, new way. It's a CMP staff favorite! Lyric video for this is coming soon! Learn More

An upbeat rocking song with a catchy hook based on Psalm 58 that names systemic injustice and oppression.  This song has some guts and is a strong call for introspection and "uprooting corruption even when it serves us." 

From Brian McLaren:  "In the Lord's Prayer, we not only acknowledge our sins ("Forgive us our trespasses") but also our hurts ("those who trespass against us.")  These days we have many songs about our sins, but few songs that acknowledge our hurts.  That was my goal in this song."

From CMP: Brian McLaren was on a road Sabbatical for the first 8 months of 2016.  During this time away from the grind of constant travel and preparation for live events Brian wrote, rewrote, compiled, and recorded demos (not finished studio recordings) of 21 songs.  9 of these demos are currently available here on the CMP site, and we are in the process of creating lead sheets and piano arrangements for them.  If you would like to purchase this entire collection of Brian's demo's, lyrics, and some notes he wrote about each song (21 songs for $18), please email Bryan Sirchio, CMP Lead Designer, and he will send you a link you can use to purchase Brian's entire collection.

A community song celebrating God whose spirit pervades creation. Resonates with 'This We Affirm' Affirmation #3 Learn More

Ken Medema takes the familiar Ebenezer hymn tune and sets his original lyrics as a call to worship for many kinds of believers--those who are joyful, those who are broken, those without answers, and those who stand firm in faith. He reminds us that God asks us to gather in worship with our fears and our masks left at the door. Ken has created new music to lead us into each new verse. The hymn culminates in a prayer from the gathered for the journey ahead. This setting is highly suitable for congregational singing. Learn More

Ken’s new CHORAL OFFERING uses unique imagery to capture the opportunity that we have to point others to God. When we light the lights, till the soil, and raise the signs that point to home, we keep the Song alive for us all. This easily accessible and multi-purpose anthem, with words and music by Ken Medema and choral arrangement by Ken Medema and Cathy Chamblee, features a flowing piano accompaniment and logical S.A.T.B. voicings that your choir can readily learn. No matter how you use it in your worship service, this anthem will quickly become a choir and a congregational favorite! The mp3 recording of this piece is from an April 2022 performance by the Mercer Singers of Mercer University, Stanley Roberts, director. Learn More

This beautiful poem by Richard Wilbur is quite flexible and may be used as a solo with guitar or piano, and also as a hymn with the entire congregation. 
Stay blessed.

A simple song of blessing and benediction to send people on the road knowing that God is with us and that we're not alone as we take to the road. This one will work well with the "Day 7" "Beyond Belief" 2018 Outdoor Ministries Camp Curriculum theme, "What If We Go Beyond?" The title and lyric was inspired in part by author Anne Lammot's book "Traveling Mercies." Learn More

This song proclaims the simple truth that the Divine is too big and vast to be contained by any one name or concept or even theology.  A beautiful reminder that God will always be more than our ability to comprehend or describe the Holy One.

For those for whom the word/image "King" is problematic, the word "Source" can be inserted there with the composers' consent.  We've listed the lyric this way in the second verse of the song on the sheet music even though the audio file uses "King" both times.

A simple song that is immediately accessible and easy to pick up. Be sure to listen long enough to hear the beautiful vocal harmonies that Matthew Black uses to really bring this song to life. In a world where fear is used to manipulate and control us in so many ways, this simple reminder that when we are "in God"--we can rest and find deep peace and security. In fact Matt suggests that it is ONLY in God that we can "lie down and not be afraid." This song could be used in lots of different ways liturgically, and Matthew includes the vocal arrangement as a download. 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

A catchy blue-grass/country flavored song with a very accessible chorus and call and response verses.  Fun, celebratory, and easy to learn.  Nice feminine reference to the Divine in one of the verses!

A fun, upbeat, contagious bluegrass song focusing on the biblical vision of a world of justice and wholeness for the earth and its ecosystems. This one works in many contexts--worship, Sunday School, camp. Amy Sens is an ordained UCC pastor serving a congregation in Baltimore, MD. She has compiled an entire "Bluegrass Hymnal" which you can find out more about by visiting her bandcamp site. Learn More