"You Are," by South African singer/songwriter, worship leader. and author John van de Laar is an upbeat, joyful, and moving song of celebration for all the ways God meets us as we are. "You Are" draws worshipers into praise and adoration, and adds meaning to the celebration of the Eucharist. It can also remind us of our diversity in Christ and that we are called to be those who include in our circle every "God-beloved life." CCLI No.: 5513178 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.

"We've had our fill of hatred..." the song sings. "We look to you for mercy." This song is a reflection on Psalm 123, a prayer of surrender in the midst of honest struggle.

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

• The lead sheet product includes lead sheet plus songleader's guide and congregational melody line. 
• The lyric sheet product is a chord chart.

This song is a reflection on Psalm 101, longing for wholeness on behalf of self, others, a nation, a world. Reconciliation is possible when there is a desire for integration, collection, weaving together of two things thought to be polarized or opposed. Singing this song may bring to mind the conflicts that are present and our longing for change.

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

• The lead sheet product includes lead sheet plus songleader's guide and congregational melody line.
• "I Am For Peace" is from Richard Bruxvoort Colligan's album, "Love Stands With."

Psalm 120 is the voice of the psalmist desperate. At one point in the psalm, the psalmist throws their head back and wails, "I am for peace but whenever I open my mouth, they are for violence!" This is a song for sidewalk, street and capital steps. The rerfain may stand alone at a protest rally or the entire song can be sung to name moments of our lives ready for serious change. Particularly adventurous communities may invent verses that hit home at the time of singing.

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

From Brian McLaren:  "I've spent quite a bit of time in Africa over the last decade or so, and one of the beautiful words I picked up there was amahoro," an East African word for peace.  Some of my Native American friends taught me the beautiful words "elohe" and wolakota," and I wondered if I could weve these words into a song that congregations could sing as a benediction--a parting song of peace.  I integrated these words with an adaptation of the classic Hebrew blessing.  Someday, I'd love to hear a children's choir sing 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.

From Brian McLaren:  "This was another older song that I rewrote during my sabbatical.  It attempts to take prayer out of its box, and let a more mature contemplative spirituality invade and enrich all of our lives, so that we truly "pray without ceasing."  I'm especially happy about the line, "Death is my life praying" (along with the reference to death in "Praise to the One") because I think we need to get more comfortable with the reality of death, to integrate it into our spiritual lives, and to stop reducing it to an enemy.  It is, like all profound things, both an enemy and a friend."

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.

This gorgeous chorus from Christopher Grundy is a poetic invitation to sing the soul's deepest yearnings and longings for union with the Divine.  We have a feeling this one's going to be used widely.  It could be done in a variety of styles and tempos and used both in worship contexts and beyond (another potential great camp song).

A very simple yet profound prayer for healing, peace, non-violence, and wholeness.  Very easy to learn and sing, yet full of potential for layers of harmony and many different musical approaches and styles. 
 

This song was originally written as a theme song for a retreat that took place during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend and that focused on the life and witness of Dr. King.  It underscores the fact that Dr. King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech was rooted in his understanding of the Dream of God.  In addition to working well in the context of worship and in several different liturgical moments in worship services, this song is also often used as a theme for church renewal programs, stewardship campaigns, and as music for videos dealing with issues such as hunger, racism, compassion for the poor, and social justice in a broad sense.

A gentle and soulful prayer to be open and receptive.  A simple and repetitive lyric, close to a chant, with a hauntingly beautiful melody and a lovely descant.

This mid-tempo anthem-style song focuses on the river or prayer that is going on 24/7/365 around the world. It's great for World Communion Sunday, or Pentecost, or any time you want to invite people to step into worship. Verses can be sung by a soloist, with the congregation joining on the refrain. Suitable for a band or a single instrument. Rev. Dr. Christopher Grundy is Professor of Worship and Preaching and Dean of the Chapel at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis. He's also an exceptionally gifted singer/songwriter and liturgical musician. "Stepping In" is the title track of his collection of over 20 songs for worship. One License #CGSi2004 Learn More

Amahoro” is a word from the Kirundi language, spoken in Burundi as well as adjacent parts of Tanzania, Uganda and the D.R. Congo. It is a common greeting meaning “peace” and is used in this song as a prayer and blessing that could be translated, “Let peace flow between us!”  Composer Tracy Howe Wispelwey is committed to composing songs that honor and draw from cultural traditions and communities that have been historically marginalized.  Congregations that love to sing songs like "We Are Marching In The Light of God"  (Siyaham' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos') will jump right on this one!

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." 

This is a brand new song for Advent 2016 from The Many.  We're really excited about this one!  So timely in light of all that's going on in the world right now.  This beautiful, singable, easily accessible song could work as an anthem, a congregational song, or a solo.  It taps into the Advent themes of waiting and longing for God to come, act, and bring about Divine justice.  And yet it is also a call to action, love, service, and hope while we wait. 

Thanks for another GREAT song Gary, Lenora, and Hannah Rand!