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.

This song is based on the life and teachings of Mother Teresa. When living with her order in Calcutta, India Mother Teresa would end each morning's time of worship by saying to her sisters, "Today let us do something beautiful for God." The song includes as many key teachings and insights that motivated Mother Teresa's work, such as "do something small where you are with what you've got." This song works great in congregational worship and can be done either with just piano or guitar or with a worship band. Learn More

A rousing "Call and Response" about the active nature of peace-making, Sing for Peace is both fun to sing and stirring in its message. It challenges the congregation to join together to be the people who make peace and move from the hate of the world to harmony in the midst of difference. Sing for Peace is an effective way to get people singing at the beginning of worship, as a response to the Passing of the Peace, or to put a punctuation mark at the end of a sermon or service. Featured Soloist: Harold Aldridge Learn More

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

"We will seek the shalom of the city. We will work with each other, hand in hand. We will build, we will plant, we will pray, we will dream. Come, Shalom, to our cities, to our land." Ken Medema creates a poignant musical setting for this cry for all believers to join together to seek shalom--true peace--for our time. In these days when the world around us feels fractured and irreparably hateful, and many of us feel disillusioned, this song calls us to do the work of God in the world around us with great hope, knowing that we are joined in a holy endeavor that will one day bring peace to the land. This song is suitable for solo performance of congregational singing and can be used to complement a variety of worship topics, including community building, missions, outreach, hope, and faithful service. Learn More

This song was co-written by Brian McLaren and Tracy Howe Wispelwey and is based on the well known text of Micah 6:8. This would be a fun song for church bands to work with. A beautiful transition between verses that could be solo and an uplifting and accessible chorus for the congregation. 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

A beautiful acoustic guitar driven invitation to the Communion Table by "Dakota Road" (Larry Olson and Hans Peterson). Easy to play and sing and teach to the congregation. Lots of great inclusive and healing themes throughout... Learn More

This is an Advent/Christmas song which works all year long as a song about welcome and hospitality, particularly in relationship to refugees and immigrants. The chant from this song, “We are on this Earth to Love” has become the closing chant at most of The Many's live events. The closing chant is so catchy and soulful that the song is sometimes called, “Room for Us All: We are On this Earth to Love.” Learn More

This song features both a beautifully melodic and inspiring chorus for congregations to sing and also rap style verses with great theology.  A powerful anthem that can be used in many contexts.

Note:  Given the nature of this song there is no piano arrangement for it, but there is piano notation for a repetitive part that can be played underneathe the rap at the top of the lead sheet.

Looking for an Easter season song that takes a different approach? The Many, as we might expect, has written one. It's a call to follow Jesus and to rise up in solidarity! To rise up and live like hope is real, to live like there is enough to go around, to rise up and be the change we need! "We can rise up and be a holy Alleluia!" It's a song you can sing with soloists and choir, with a congregation singing at full volume and (maybe dancing?)... RISE UP! You can sing it anytime you're in that Easter spirit. NOTE: There is an accompaniment track available for this song (music without the lead vocal and also one without the lead vocal but with the backing vocals on it). If you would like access to these files please contact Bryan Sirchio at bryan@convergencemp.com and request them. Unfortunately at this point we can only make one Mp3 available for download on the product page). CCLI #7196806. One License #63fe4b9205629 Learn More

Can we be honest? Sometimes we wonder where God is and what God does. When horrible things happen in our personal lives and in our world we may not always say it out loud, but we think it...where were you God? Why don't you do something about this? We cry out like the Psalmists did in Psalm 10 "Lord, why are you so far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?" Or lament like the writer of Psalm 42: "My tears have been my food day and night, as people constantly question me, 'Where’s your God now?'" This song is about that - remembering some of the recent events that have left us in tears, left us heartbroken and undone. Where was God when children are put in cages on the U.S. border? Where was God when Laquan McDonald was killed or Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor or George Floyd? Where was God when the child is sent to conversion therapy or when we lose thousands and thousands of people in a pandemic? The answers don't come easy in this song...but as we cry out and ask God, "Why didn't you send help?" we sometimes hear God's still, small voice saying, "I did. I sent you." This song is on The Many's 2019 album "Love Greater Than Fear" which is available on iTunes and Spotify. You can learn more about The Many at: https://www.themanyarehere.com CCLI#: 7140930 Learn More

Another great new Advent Song by the worship band, "The Many." The text of this song is by Lenora Rand and is inspired by the Magnificat, Mary’s song in Luke 1. Gary Rand co-wrote the tune with legendary Gospel pianist and musical director, Elsa Harris. For many years, Elsa was the musical director for Jessy Dixon and plays piano on much of the recording work Jessy did with Paul Simon. Gary, Lenora, and Hannah Rand are the primary songwriters and arrangers of the music of The Many, and they have an entire Advent program put together which they make available through the organization they have founded called "The Plural Guild." Please contact them directly--the Plural Guild has a Facebook Page-- if you'd like to find out more about their Advent materials and the other fantastic music, albums, etc. they have to offer. Learn More

In John 15, we have the beautiful images of the vine and the vine grower reminding us of our deep connection in Christ and the gift of abiding in the love of God. "Remain in Me" is a meditative scripture song that is quick to teach a congregation. The chorus can also be used as a sung refrain in liturgy or scripture reading. This song works equally well for a congregation, soloist, or small ensemble. 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

A very useful and simple refrain for the congregation and soulful verses for a soloist or cantor drawn from this well known and beloved Psalm. The audio file for this song features Rev. Vince actually teaching this song to a congregation in his own unique style. Learn More

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.

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

A gentle prayer of surrender and service. Learn More