From Brian McLaren:   I 'm an enthusiastic Supporter of the #WeStandWithLove campaign (westandwithlove.org), and I wrote this song to bring some beautiful and powerful words from Dr. King into our congregational life.

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.

"We Pray for Peace" is a prayer for peace on earth, hoping that love will come down like the rain and rivers of justice will flow freely 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.

The title of this song comes form the Pledge of Alligience, whose presence and meaning has changed over the years for many people. Psalm 2 is about two ways for nations to live, and the song "Under God" laments the way that brings suffering. The song directly addresses the authorities and powers that make political decisions that effect people's life and livelihoods.

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

When the world diverts our attention from the important to what seems to be urgent, we can feel frazzled. We have a weakened capacity to reach out to others because we are depleted. But if we choose instead to listen to God, we become centered, renewed, and able once more to minister to the world around us. This lovely meditative song is suitable for congregational singing. Learn More

A song about about using your voice, taking a risk when the moment comes. There's a time to be quiet and a time to Speak Up! Consider the moment when you witness bullying, injustice, someone in need or a time to simply be honest about your situation. Resonates with Day 5 of the "Beyond Belief" Inside Out curriculum. 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.

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

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