A gorgeous song of praise and gratitude for God's presence and grace in the midst of struggle, questions, and the full range of experience. 

This 4 part a capella arrangement holds a unique and much needed message--that there are gifts and truths given in the "dark." In addition to this being a powerful message in and of itself--that there is beauty and power and deep Truth to be experienced in the dark moments and realities of life (literally and metaphorically), there is also power in challenging the implicit racist implications in assuming that "light is good" and "dark is bad." This song could be a congregational song and/or a choral anthem. It could also be a piece to use on "Good Friday" during Holy Week. Lots of potential uses for this provocative chorus. Learn More

Based on the Dies Irae melody, this song encourages us to receive the wholeness of Christ’s love even amidst and through the apparent dualities of life. The audio file for this song is just the guitar and vocal, and the video features harmonies and a beautiful trumpet part played also by Chrisitan, Learn More

"In the Valley" is a song to be sung after a mountaintop experience like a beautiful retreat or a week at a church camp, or in silence, or in nature, or in circumstances we face each day. It might well be sung before a sermon. Learn More

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

This empowering song shows the incarnation not as God stooping down into a sinful world, but rather becoming one of us as an affirmation of our bodies and experience. Great for Advent and Epiphany. CCLI #7236608 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

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.

Many of us struggle with how to name God. So many of our old names and metaphors feel used up, small, and polluted with toxic associations. Yet if we give up on speaking to and about God, there are other terrible losses. This song grew out of that struggle and is an attempt to maintain a heart of hungry, thirsty openness to the Mystery who transcends all of our words and concepts. The song was written by Brian McLaren (brianmclaren.net) and this recording is by Fran McKendree, a gifted singer/songwriter you can learn more about here: https://franmckendree.com/ Learn More

Brian McLaren's gift for finding fresh language and images with which to refer to and praise the Divine comes through powerfully in this song. This is another song from the "Songs For A Revolution of Hope" collection that Brian released with the musical aid of Tracy Howe Wispelwey. Learn More

An upbeat worship song about how God delights in all of creation — even us! Based on the theology of St. Julian of Norwich. Great for the beginning of a worship service. CCLI #7236607 Learn More

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.

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

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!