1. Teach Us What It Means to Pray
    By: Richard Bruxvoort Colligan

    A song exploring the mystery of prayer- prayer beyond words. Learn More

  2. Do It Afraid
    By: Bryan Sirchio

    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

  3. Love For Enemies
    By: Paul Demer

    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

  4. Come to Me
    By: Christopher Grundy

    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.

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  5. Forgive Us
    By: The Many

    From Gary Rand of "The Many..." "Forgive Us is a song of lament and confession. It’s a song to sing when the words don’t come; when our efforts to help, or do right, or even pray seem to come up empty. The songs says, “we don’t know how to pray here, stay here. All we hope is that you’re here.” It’s a song that resonates with Romans 8:26-27, where Paul speaks of the Spirit interceding for us when we don’t have the words." Learn More

  6. We Will
    By: Bryan Sirchio
    By: Richard Bruxvoort Colligan

    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

  7. If in your heart
    By: Ana Hernandez

    If in your heart is one of the most popular tunes off An Unexpected Christmas, Ana's 2010 collaboration with The Virginia Girls Choir, directed by Dan Moriarty. It can be done with equal voices, or if you have an adventurous group, with much improvisation. 

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  8. We Remember Her
    By: Richard Bruxvoort Colligan

    “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

  9. Losing Faith/Finding Faith
    By: Brian McLaren

    From Brian McLaren:  "As Richard Rohr (in Falling Upward) and I (in Naked Spirituality) have both written, many of us inherit a childish, naive, or adolescent faith that we're never given permission to outgrow in the second half of life.  A more mature congregational hymnody would give us encouragement (far more than permission) to "leave childish things behind" and move on in a lifelong migration of spiritual growth.  That's why I wanted to include 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.

     

     

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  10. She Who Is
    By: Tracy Howe

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

  11. Only Grace
    By: The Many

    Another beautiful song from The Many that focuses, as the title makes clear, on Grace.  Reflective, profound in its simplicity both musically and lyrically, and a really lovely recording with some gorgeous harmonies.  This one could be an anthem, the sound track for a visual interpretation used liturgically, or a congregational song, especially the ending tag which takes us back to "Amazing Grace."

    Note:  The wonderful Gary Rand (producer, arranger, songwriter for The Many) has provided lead sheets in 2 different keys to help with differing vocal ranges.  You receive them both in one pdf when you purchase the lead sheets).

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  12. Faithful Through The Years (Psalm 100)
    By: Andra Moran

    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

  13. We Make The Road
    By: Brian McLaren

    From Brian McLaren:  "This song expresses the same sentiment as 'Losing Faith/Finding Faith' but in a more positive and poetic way.  I wrote it while working on my book by this title.  Many of us have been exploring a more contemplative spirituality in our personal lives, but we have few congegational songs that express it.  I hope people will fee this song does so."  

    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.

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  14. Of The Earth
    By: The Many

    "From living soil we were formed. You breathed into us living souls. Made of love, made to love.” These are lyrics from this new song by The Many. A song of love for the earth, and for the God of creation. It’s a song to sing on every “Earth Day” and for all the days in between. It is one of a new group of songs being written by The Many to help us reflect and pray and give thanks for the earth in this time of climate change. CCLI# 7195087 Learn More

  15. Mercy Reigns
    By: Bill Tonnis

    A very accessible and singable song about the beauty and power of the mercy of God and mercy in general. This will work well as a choral anthem and also with the entire congregation. Learn More

  16. We Are Enough
    By: The Many

    Lots of folks are talking these days about an epidemic of not-enoughness. All of us are daily bombarded with the message that we aren’t enough. And this belief, that we are not enough, often leads us directly to the notion that there is not enough to go around. It seems like much that is wrong in our world — hatred, greed, exclusion, violence, climate devastation — is related to these widespread feelings of inadequacy and scarcity. So The Many’s songwriters, lyricist, Lenora Rand and music writer, Hannah Rand, have written a song that we can all sing (maybe on a daily basis...) and that we hope will be helpful. The chorus is a simple affirmation: You are enough. I am enough. Breathe in the love. We are enough! CCLI Song #7218151 Learn More

  17. A Dance on the Grass
    By: Christopher Grundy

    “What song will you sing on your deathbed?” This brief, a cappella song is a threshold song - meant to be sung at the time of dying. With a gentle Celtic feel, it can be useful for hospice, or even funerals. Alto / Tenor / Baritone / Bass. This song is registered with CCLI. #7111716. Learn More

  18. Table of Love
    By: Andra Moran

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

  19. Break Our Hearts Again
    By: Paul Demer

    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.

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  20. Great Big Beautiful World
    By: Bryan Sirchio

    A fun song for kids celebrating the beauty of Creation. This is the title track of a 22 song collection that Bryan Sirchio created for the "Shine" VBS curriculum in conjunction with the Mennonite Church. CMP is delighted to now be a source of great new original music for children (of all ages!) that have solid theology, inclusive language, and great messages. Learn More

  21. We'll All Stand Together
    By: Amy Sens

    The imagery for We’ll All Stand Together comes from the book of Revelation. In the city of God, redeemed and made new, the people gather together at the banks of the river, a river of grace that blesses the whole city. We’ll All Stand Together works well at a faster tempo, and is a good one for starting or ending a worship service, especially one focused on social justice and solidarity. Amy Sens is an ordained UCC minister serving a congregation in Baltimore, MD. She has compiled an entire hymnal of bluegrass style worship songs with inclusive language and theology. Contact her directly at her bandcamp site for more information about this great resource! Learn More

  22. Change This World
    By: Bryan Sirchio

    This song underscores the "Day 6" Scriptures and themes from the 2018 "Beyond Belief" Outdoor Ministries Camp Curriculum. The Day 6 theme is, "What If We Change The World" Matthew 5:13-16 in which Jesus refers to his followers as "salt and light." Another easy to play, learn, sing, and teach song that will be useful in camps and in congregational worship as well. Learn More

  23. To Know God And To Make God Known
    By: Ken Medema

    "Renewed by love and changed by grace to do God's will in every place! To know God and to make God known." Ken Medema sets these reasons to celebrate and this reminder of our task as witnesses to this cheerful, uplifting musical setting. The lyrics to this contemporary song recall the truth and light of God's Word and presence and the joy in serving God even in dangerous times. This piece can be performed as a vocal solo or a congregational song, accompanied solely by piano or with additional rhythm section instruments. Learn More

  24. Hope House
    By: Ken Medema

    Another song written to go with Day 3 Scriptures (Mark 2:1-5; Isaiah 40) and themes of the 2018 “Beyond Belief” Outdoor Ministries Curriculum Published By Chalice Press. The theme for the day is, "What If We Hope?" Note: There are Music accompaniment tracks (the music without the vocals) available for all of Ken's "Beyond Belief" songs! Learn More

  25. God of the Movements and Martyrs (Joe Newberry Version)
    By: Joe Newberry

    "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

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