Congregational Songs

  • As the Deer

    As the Deer

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    [audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/09-As-the-Deer.mp3"][/audio]

    Psalm 42 and 43 are set to a haunting, melancholic melody that mirrors the poignancy of the original Psalm text. This song continues to be one of the most frequently downloaded songs of the site. An arrangement for choir published is by Augsburg Fortress.

    PowerPoint slides for congregational singing are available from Digital Songs & Hymns.

  • As With Gladness / For the Beauty of the Earth (DIX)

    As With Gladness / For the Beauty of the Earth (DIX)

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    [audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/dix-as_with_gladness-for_the_beauty.mp3"][/audio]

     

    This Just Add People arrangement of the hymn tune DIX includes a stately piano accompaniment as well as an alternate, more active accompaniment for select verses. It can be used with any text sung to DIX, including “As with Gladness Men of Old” and “For the Beauty of the Earth.”

    Piano accompaniment for congregational singing.

  • Ask the Complicated Questions

    Ask the Complicated Questions

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    https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/bjorlin-ask_the_complicated_questions.mp3

    Dave Bjorlin’s hymn “Ask the Complicated Questions” assumes that God is big enough to handle our questions, doubts, and disagreements. That’s a breath of fresh air.

    Because the song deals with the uncertainty of seeking truth in a sometimes perplexing world, I chose an understated melody that moves in many different directions and never quite comes to rest. It’s this lack of resolution that urges Dave’s words forward.

    This leadsheet is a free download. If you sing this song in your church, please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.

  • Be Still and Know

    Be Still and Know

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    [audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/be_still_and_know.mp3"][/audio]

    This Just Add People arrangement of the simple refrain “Be Still and Know” is perfect for congregational singing.

     

    Piano accompaniment for congregational singing.

  • Be Still, God Will Fight Your Battle

    Be Still, God Will Fight Your Battle

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    This is a relatively little known spiritual that fits beautifully with the crossing of the Red Sea where Moses says, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today… The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:13-14) 

    This arrangement isn’t “authentic” or true to a particular stream of African American performance practice, just something that makes it accessible to a group that can read a leadsheet. Below is a video from the service for which I arranged it. Notice that this song segues like butter into “Go Down, Moses.”


    Sunday Worship on May 3, 2020 – Wilderness – Discovering God in the Desert from Fuller Avenue Church on Vimeo.

  • Before the Cross / When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (O WALY WALY)

    Before the Cross / When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (O WALY WALY)

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    [audio m4a="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/o_waly_waly.m4a"][/audio]

     

    One of my favorite hymn tunes is O WALY WALY, and one of my favorite hymn texts is “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” This Just Add People arrangement combines them and adds an original refrain. This arrangement could also be used with other texts sung to O WALY WALY, either with or without the refrain.

    Piano accompaniment for congregational singing, including original refrain.

  • Behold the Love

    Behold the Love

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    https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/behold_the_love.mp3

    Barton W. Stone (of Stone-Cambell movement fame) wrote only one hymn: “Behold the Love, the Grace of God.” What struck me about Stone’s text is how effusive it is: “My soul’s on fire, it pants to prove the fullness of redeeming love.” Though I decided to write new lyrics, I tried to retain the original text’s first-person awe and gratefulness for Jesus’ sacrifice. This would be a great song for communion or Good Friday. Think of it as a gospel sibling of “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.”

    This leadsheet is a free download. If you sing this song in your church please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.

  • Placeholder

    Behold, a Table Is Spread

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    http://musicblog.gregscheer.com/behold_a_table_is_spread.mp3

    This song draws its inspiration from John S.B. Monsell’s 1866 hymn “I Hunger and I Thirst.” I added a chorus and rewrote the original text. Drawing from the “I AM” titles for Jesus, the three verses of this uptempo communion hymn focus on bread, blood, and water.

    This leadsheet is a free download. If you sing this song in your church please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.

  • Benediction (The Last Word)

    Benediction (The Last Word)

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    http://musicblog.gregscheer.com/benediction-the_last_word.mp3

    The song’s genesis began with some phrases scratched on the back of a church bulletin. The phrase that stuck was “from the postlude to the prelude.” (That’s also the title of a book about church music administration by Randall Bradley.) From there I started to flesh out the kinds of things that could, indeed should, be understood as part of a worshipful life. Some of these seem clear: a playground feels like part of God’s world. But what about a prison?

  • BIG OLD TREE

    BIG OLD TREE

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    https://archive.gregscheer.com/sounds/big_old_tree.mp3

    Hymn tunes shouldn’t only be for the older folks, right? Here’s a common meter tune that would work perfectly for a children’s song. The last phrase is repeated, so you can think of it as 8.6.8.6.8.6.

    This is an orphan tune, waiting to be adopted by a text to call its own. If you write your own lyrics for this melody or pair it with an existing text, please let me know how you’ve used it.

  • BLEST BE THOU

    BLEST BE THOU

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    https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/blest_are_the_innocents.mp3

    This tune was originally written for “Blest Are the Innocents” by Sylvia Dunstan, a text about the Slaughter of the Innocents, when Herod killed every male under two in the hopes of killing Jesus, the prophesied King. Dunstan wrote the text with the 10.10.10.10 tune  SLANE (“Be Thou My Vision”) in mind. However, a well-loved tune like SLANE may cause some cognitive dissonance with the grim subject matter of the text, so consider this alternative.

    This is an orphan tune, waiting to be adopted by a text to call its own. If you write lyrics for this melody or pair it with an existing text, please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense and let me know how you’ve used it.

  • BRIDESMAID

    BRIDESMAID

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    Adam Tice’s “The Church of Christ Cannot Be Bound” is an urgent call for the church to take action in the world:

    The church of Christ cannot be bound
    by walls of wood or stone.
    Where charity and love are found–
    there can the church be known.

    This new tune, BRIDESMAID.* It was conceived as a simple folk song in the tradition of 60s protest songs like “The Times They Are A Changin” or “If I Had a Hammer.” I’m sure the tune would fit other texts, as well.

    This hymn is a free download. If you sing this song in your church please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.