Congregational Songs

  • Brightest and Best (STAR IN THE EAST)

    Brightest and Best (STAR IN THE EAST)

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    [audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/brightest_and_best.mp3"][/audio]

    Brightest and Best of the Stars of the Morning,” written by Reginald “Holy, Holy, Holy” Heber in 1811, wonderfully ties together the visit of the Magi with our own offerings to Christ. This Just Add People arrangement uses verses 3 and 4 of Heber’s text and makes a great offertory hymn.

    Piano accompaniment for congregational singing.

  • Broken and Wasted

    Broken and Wasted

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    [audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/broken_and_wasted.mp3"][/audio]

    This song is based on a prayer of confession written by John Polhill from the Iona Community. It recognizes how we harm God’s creation, both through personal actions and global systems. The verses, which ask God to bless our lament and grief over how we have cared for his world, are punctuated by the prayer “Kyrie eleison”— “Lord, have mercy.”

  • Build a Longer Table

    Build a Longer Table

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

    GIA recently published a collection of Dave Bjorlin’s texts, Protest of Praise. It’s full of fresh hymns that address modern injustices. In “Build a Longer Table,” Dave shows that God’s incredible welcome to us through Christ requires us to show hospitality to others. This song’s exuberant Gospel groove declares the text with strength and joy.

  • By Blessed Wounds

    By Blessed Wounds

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

    Tammy Moody wrote a lovely text about trusting God to be a good father. I like how Tammy approaches the image of God as Father, which is quite out of fashion in some circles. She acknowledges the fear and doubt many of us have in believing we’re children, accepted and loved by a good Heavenly Father.

  • CHARMING FOURTH

    CHARMING FOURTH

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    [audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/charming_fourth.mp3"][/audio]

    This tune is called CHARMING FOURTH, because I wrote and rejected three other tune drafts before settling on this one; they say the third time’s the charm, but I was hoping for an exception to that rule. I’m also hoping a talented text writer will stumble upon this tune and give it beautiful words that let it soar.

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

  • Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies

    Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies

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

    Charles Wesley originally titled this text simply “Morning Hymn.” Indeed, the text is filled with images of morning, light, and day. This new tune complements Wesley’s wide-eyed, joyful text, conveying the refreshing hope of a new sunrise. Though the song itself is simple and singable, I’ve added a challenging and exciting instrumental verse that either keyboard or two solo instruments can play.

  • Come Home

    Come Home

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    https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/come_home.mp3

    I was reading the excellent Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi by Amy-Jill Levine, and as I contemplated the parable of the prodigal son I imagined a song that would bind the son’s story to ours.

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

  • Come Praise, Be Cradled

    Come Praise, Be Cradled

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    [audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/moody-come_praise_be_cradled.mp3"][/audio]

    The chorus of this song is about joy welling up in the soul in praise of the Creator. It is paired with a Renaissance-style hymn with a persistent pulse underneath.

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

  • Come, All You Weary

    Come, All You Weary

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    One of the wonderful things about the Christian faith is that Jesus doesn’t require us to “have it all together” before we come to him. Before we even knew we needed him, he was calling us. This short, meditative song, reminds those of us who are tired and weighed down are especially welcome. Jesus is calling us to himself.

    Piano accompaniment with optional vocal descants.

  • Come, Sinners, Come, to the Gospel Feast

    Come, Sinners, Come, to the Gospel Feast

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

    In 1747, Charles Wesley wrote a beautiful hymn that turns the parable of the great banquet in Luke 14:15-24 into a sung altar call. This lively folk melody captures the urgency of that call to salvation, giving new life to this historical text.

    This song is mentioned in Greg’s podcast, “2021 Musical Year in Review.”

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

  • Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (BEACH SPRING)

    Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (BEACH SPRING)

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    [audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/come_thou_long_expected-beachspring.mp3"][/audio]

    The Advent text “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” is sung to several tunes. Full of longing and melancholy, BEACH SPRING emphasizes the now- and not-yet-ness of Advent. This arrangement could also be used with other texts set to BEACH SPRING, including “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” and “Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy.”

  • Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (HYFRYDOL)

    Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (HYFRYDOL)

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    [audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/hyfrydol-come_thou_long_expected.mp3"][/audio]

    The Advent text “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” is sung to several tunes. HYFRYDOL, written by 19th-century Welsh composer Rowland Prichard, is a bright tune that prepares the joy of Christmas well and makes for a great closing hymn. This arrangement accompanies congregational singing and could be used with other texts set to HYFRYDOL, including “Alleluia! Sing to Jesus” and “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling.”

    Note: The piano and string arrangements can be played together, but they are also complete when played independently.

    [audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/hyfrydol-come_thou_long_expected-strings.mp3"][/audio]