This song was written to go with the "Day 2" theme of the "Beyond Belief" Outdoor Ministries 2018 Curriculum. The Scripture for the day is Luke 1: 35-55 (the angel's visitation to Mary announcing she had been chosen to give birth to the Christ). The theme for the day is, "What if God is Bigger?" This song helps underscore that God's capacity to enable us to do "amazing things" in this world is unlimited when people say, as Mother Mary did, "Here I am, let it be." 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.

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

This song was written specifically to match the "Day 5" Scripture and Theme of the 2018 "Beyond Belief" Outdoor Ministries Camp curriculum published by Chalice Press. The Scripture is the amazing encounter of Jesus and the Syrophoenician Woman in Mark 7:24-30, and the theme for the day is "What If We Speak Up?" Sometimes speaking up is hard and requires courage and strength to "find our voices." This song is a prayer for that courage and grace and the ability to know when it's time to speak up. Learn More

"God of the Movements and Martyrs" was written in honor of the 85th anniversary of the North Carolina Council of Churches. the Council was formed in 1935 to address racial injustice, and continues to work for peace, justice, equity, and inclusion. The hymn honors Christians who have been working for a better world for generations, because of their faith, and invites all of us to join in that sacred work. Learn More

The Bread of Life is for everyone, and Ken Medema reminds us of this truth in this upbeat easy-to-learn reminder for believers to stay dedicated to the task of bringing Jesus to the world. This piece can be performed as a solo or as a congregational song accompanied by piano and optional additional rhythm section instruments. It is a suitable song for missions and outreach topics or for communion. Learn More

Quiet Place is from the EP, Have Mercy, from The Many and has been featured as the theme music for Lament Together, the Wednesday night online gatherings hosted by The Many. This is a beautiful, meditative song that can help prepare our hearts and minds to be still, to seek God in the quiet and to express our desire to know God and to learn God’s way. It is perfect as a frame for prayer, or as a prayer response. The piano score alone is an effective underscore to times of lament or congregational prayer. Useful throughout the church year, this song is particularly effective in Lent or Holy Week. Learn More

This song is in Spanish, is arranged for choirs, and is part of an "Oscar Romero Cantata" written by Tracy Howe Wispelwey. The Cantata is based on the homilies of Arch Bishop Romero who was assassinated in El Salvador in 1980 for speaking out against human rights violations and particularly defending the most vulnerable among the poorest of the poor. According to the composer, "this is a song repenting of materialism and recognizing God's will and blessing on all God's people." This could be a powerful choral anthem, and an entire service could easily be built around the themes in the lyrics. See the translation to understand the lyrics in English. Learn More

This is a fun and rocking song by Jonathan Rundman based on the call of Samuel in 1 Samuel 3:1-21. This text is one of the Scriptures for the Day 5 theme of the 2018 "Beyond Belief" Outdoor Ministries camp curriculum, so this song will go well with the theme for that day, "What If We Speak Up?" Learn More

"God of the Movements and Martyrs" was written in honor of the 85th anniversary of the North Carolina Council of Churches. the Council was formed in 1935 to address racial injustice, and continues to work for peace, justice, equity, and inclusion. The hymn honors Christians who have been working for a better world for generations, because of their faith, and invites all of us to join in that sacred work. Note: There are several different versions of this song on the CMP site. Each version has it's own product page and related downloads available. It is the same song done in several different styles by several different artists. Learn More

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.

Composer and UCC pastor James F.D. Martin (or "Jim" to most of his friends and colleagues) writes very catchy, easy to learn, upbeat and meaningful songs for worship.  Several of his songs are in the UCC's supplemental contemporary hymnal, "Sing!  Prayer and Praise!" and we are delighted to be sharing his music here at CMP.  

This one has a Latin feel and could be done in a number of different ways.  Jimmy Buffet worship anyone?

This is a song of longing for "Green hearts" and gardens that need to be planted. It includes spoken parts in between the repeatable chorus that could be done by various readers within a congregation. This would work well for traditional churches committed to eco-justice and lifestyle changes in order to address climate change and the integrity of Creation. 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

I originally wrote “Love For Enemies” for New Braunfels Presbyterian Church (USA) in the Texas Hill Country. I was coming through on tour, playing a concert and doing some guest worship leading. One of the lectionary passages for that Sunday was Luke 6:27-38. After some searching I realized that I didn’t know many songs based on that passage, so I decided to write one. We strive to love our enemies because Jesus loved us “while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8). This is such an important part of Christianity, but it’s so hard to actually live out, especially in an election year! As we seek to do justice let’s not forget to love kindness and walk humbly with our God, even in 2020. They will know we are Christians by our love. Learn More

The popular youth event duo "Lost And Found" (Michael Bridges and George Baum) sometimes refer to their music as "speed wood" music.  High energy, great sense of humor, and yet some really nice content.   Usually they perform with just acoustic guitar and electric piano, and they are always lots of fun.  This one may not make it into Sunday morning worship in a lot of congregations, but then again who knows!  Teens and kids love these guys! 

No sheet music yet for this one...

“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

From singer/songwriter Tracy Howe: "A song celebrating and cultivating intimacy with the Holy Spirit." Learn More

From the first line, “The whole world is waiting, the whole world cries…” to the last, this new song for Advent gives us a way to sing about the realities we are living at this moment. It gives us a song to sing honestly in these days of devastating war, climate crises, political upheaval, hatred, exclusion and division. It gives us a way to cry out to God and look for hope. Originally written by Kate Hurley several years ago, Kate and The Many’s lyricist, Lenora Rand, got together recently and created a new version of the lyrics. When word of their work began to spread, our new friends, Flamy Grant, and Ben Grace of The Calendar Days, soon joined The Many and Kate to create the powerful and moving new recording included here on the site. This is the song we need to be singing this Advent and Christmas season. A song that assures us there is a God that hears the “cries for justice and the longing to be free.” Who “heals and shows us what can be.” And it also reminds us that love can change things. A reminder we all desperately need to hear right now. One License # 265086 CCLI #7229442 Learn More

A beautiful song for Lent by popular worship band The Many that uses the powerful image "Lamb of God" WITHOUT getting into penal substitutionary atonement issues! A moving and accessible congregational song that will also work well for choirs as an anthem. This song has been on the CMP site for a while, but the files were all just updated with new recordings, arrangements, and video. Special Note: A gorgeous 4 part vocal arrangement is available for this song!!!! Learn More

This song is a straight ahead pledge to "honor the stories" of individuals and groups of persons who have been victimized by the abuse of power and systemic injustice. The verse is a simple pledge NOT to violate the dignity of others or to misuse one's power. The chorus is a promise to "speak only truth" and to celebrate the lives of those who have been put down and disrespected. Co-writers Bryan Sirchio and Richard Bruxvoort Colligan had the #Me Too movement in mind when this song was written, as well as the oppression and injustice committed historically against the LBGTQ community and against all marginalized individuals and groups of persons. Learn More

Brian McLaren is known widely for his many books and his signficant role as one of the pioneers and theological framers of the "Emerging Church" movement.  But music and songwriting in particular has also been a passion of Brian's for many years.  Brian took a travel sabbatical for the first part of 2016 during which he composed a number of new songs for worship.  Many of these new songs of his will soon be available primarily if not exclusively through CMP!

No one is more humble and self-deprecating when it comes to his own playing and singing than Brian, so cut him some slack if his "Garage Band" demos aren't flawless.  We or others may redo some of these songs in a more studio polished format, but we want to begin sharing his new songs with the Church right away.  Few songwriters hit the lyrical heart and essence of what CMP is all about any more deeply and consistently than Brian.

"Spirit Running" is a fun, joyful, upbeat song proclaiming the call to do justice and to care for and honor the earth.  Enjoy!

Andra Moran's setting of Psalm 100 is a great opening song for congregational worship, inviting everyone to recognize God's faithful presence with a simple, singable refrain. This song entreats us to open our hearts, hands, and minds to the Spirit. Learn More

A beautiful new song for Advent by Ben Grace and Nicholas Zork based on the hymn by Henry Alford.  This is part of a collection of Advent songs they have released called The Calendar Years.

Sorry--no piano arrangement for this one yet, but we're working on it!