Music Resources for Today’s Christian Worship
(Last updated 14 December 2007 - now playing “Sing High With The Holly”

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WHAT’S NEW? | DOWNLOAD | COPYRIGHT INFO | LINKS | MIDI EXPLANATIONS
STRAIGHT TO THE WORSHIP MUSIC LIST | CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC
SEARCHING FOR A SONG? | ABOUT REFLECTION AND REFLECTION RECORDS

Proven guitar and keyboard-based contemporary music for Christian worship in sheet music and MIDI format (either unpublished or not widely known), made available as efficiently, effectively and freely as possible - that’s the main purpose of this site. But if your church has a Christian Copyright Licensing International licence for reproducing lyrics and/or music (and legally and morally, if it does, it should have!) do please report any use.

There’s a wide variety of music, in very varying styles. Most of it is for worship, but there is a separate page, “Contemporary Christian Music” for Christian songs that wouldn’t easily fit into worship.

The sheet music is in gif format, and together with the MIDI files of varying complexity, can be downloaded in “zipped” files from each page. There's also an increasing number of MP3 and (older) Real Audio files dotted around, particularly in the CCM section.

If you find the individual pages load too slowly on your computer, there is a separate download page (without embedded sound) where you will find each of the zipped files separately as well as two master files - one of much of the music and MIDIs and the other with just the MIDIs. Unfortunately, it’s far from up to date with the latest files.

Some of the early MIDI files were consciously geared to Soundblaster FM synthesis. If they sound generally poor on your system (missing notes, poor balance etc) please read MIDI explanations and advice for suggestions. Those with wavetable soundcards can temporarily change their MIDI output to FM synthesis to assess what the instrumental balance should be, and then make appropriate patch and volume changes in a sequencer.

If you want to be notified when this site is updated, ChangeDetect (a replacement for URL-minder that I used to use) was a superb, free and secure service which sent you an e-mail whenever the “What’s New?” page changed. Simply enter your e-mail address below. It is guaranteed not to be made available to anyone else - even me - and I confidently use it myself!

Unfortunately, but inevitably, like most things it gets more commercial, and tries to push you up the ladder into paid services. But there is still currently a more limited free option after the initial trial period.

You can find out more about ChangeDetect and register other sites that you want to monitor at the ChangeDetect site.

Although many of these songs were written by Michael Lehr and used by Reflection over a number of years, the aim is to be wide-ranging, and music by other writers is being added to the list as permission for inclusion is obtained.

A page with links to other Christian music sites was added some years back. Although it now needs serious updating, it might serve as a starting point for finding other interesting and informative sites, including those concerned with MIDI and copyright issues.

Music currently available is:

• Sing High With The Holly A very striking, original and haunting Christmas carol, with lyrics by Dr A.J.Lewis. It blends traditional imagery and contemporary thought

• His Cross Stood Up On Stony Ground (Broken) This is a passionate (but in parts stark) communion hymn-song with words and basic melody written by Kim Ilene McDaniel.

• We Believe In God The Father Almost a creed paraphrase but not quite, as it’s based on the declaration of Peter to Cornelius in Acts 10. John Hartley wrote the words, and I think he’s very gifted.

• Christmas Is Real A brand new set of Andrew Pratt lyrics for Christmas, as good as ever. This musical treatment owes a debt to the late Sydney Carter..

• God, Forgive Our Shallow Praise Andrew Pratt is an imaginative writer with much published work in a traditional format. This musical treatment aims to take it away from that approach.

• I’m A Child Of The King A family worship song that came rather rapidly out of the Christian Songwriters' Gathering in Townsend TN in Jun 2006

• You are the Image of the Unseen God (A new worship song/hymn based closely on Colossians 1, verses 15-20)

• Ashes Or Gold (A solo song exploring the alienation of those who feel outsiders in certain churches)

• Jesus, Pour Your Healing On Us Now (A worship song exploring healing needs, starting from the Gospel reading for 16 February 2003 - Mark 1.40-45)

• Shalom, My Friends (Based on the traditional Hebrew round, but hopefully with just a little more content than some of the other published versions)

• O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Plainsong is not much in fashion in churches these days, although it's apparently very popular in recordings. This setting makes a traditional Advent hymn more accessible)

• The Lord Bless You and Keep You (A four-part unaccompanied setting of the Aaronic blessing from Numbers 6, verses 24-26, which can also be used as a unison setting with accompaniment)

• May Your Holy Word (A new hymn-song on the theme of the Bible, based on 2 Timothy 2, verses 14-17)

• Lead You To Your Home (A gentle but powerful new song with prayerful lyrics by Jason Mitchener)

• All The Ends Of The Earth (A contemporary liturgical setting of psalm 22, verses 22-30)

• An Eagle’s Wings (I Was Not Made A Butterfly) (A slow solo ballad with inspirational lyrics by Jenn Erickson)

• We Need Your Rain To Come Down! (A new song of yearning for revival with excellent lyrics by Jason Mitchener and a strong repeated congregational chorus)

• We Are All Called To Be Saints (An energetic worship song specifically written for all-age worship on All Saints Day, but the message is hardly date-specific!)

• I Talked To The Trees (A joyful song about the glory of creation, perhaps for a children’s choir)

• Benedictus (This setting of the Morning Prayer canticle, the Song of Zechariah in Luke 1,68-79, was written for congregation and soloist/soloists. Optional harmonies are available on request)

• Novocaine (A fastish rock song/hymn on the Christian response to pain and suffering)

• Resurrection Day (An urgent “Easter season” song/hymn for adventurous churches, developed through the Christian Songwriters’ Group mailing list from original lyrics by John Merrick)

• The Prize Is Worth It All (the title says it all - a powerful country-style song/hymn by Tim Barber, linking 1 Corinthians 9 v24 with central themes from Revelation)

• I Thank God For You (an excellent Christian wedding/love song by Phillip Wages, written specially for the marriage of close friends)

• Carols, All Too Familiar (a thoughtful but passionate song with lyrics by Janie Ivey reflecting on the experience of Christmas)

• Your Prayers, Your Love, Your Witness (a gentle ballad of Christian support and fellowship)

• You Are The Christ (a vigorous new hymn by Paul Lepine based on Peter’s words in Matthew 16:16 and John 6:68)

• The Coming Of The Light (a great “Advent” song of celebration by Tim Barber)

• Break Not The Circle (a visionary hymn with a “celtic” feel - words by Fred Kaan)

• When The Herald Angels Sang (a new carol with excellent words, linking the old to the new) - new MIDI

• It’s Jesus, The Lover Of My Soul (a slow-paced guitar-based worship song by Tim Barber)

• Take Comfort, My People (a gentle but prophetic song for Advent)

• The Gleneagles Service (a congregational guitar/keyboard-based setting of the Holy Communion Service - ASB Rite A for the initiated!). New MIDIs.

• In The World That God Has Made (A rock-style hymn/song on the problem of evil, relating to Matthew 5, 43-48)

• Now It Begins (A meditative song exploring Mary’s feelings after the Annunciation)

• Thank You, My Jesus (A gentle song of thanksgiving by Larry Holder)

• Love Is The Word (A very different song by Ken Okines - see “Take The Bread” - this time an exuberant song of faith with a rousing chorus)

• Don’t Let Me Walk Alone (A hymn for times of trouble)

• O My Land, If Only You Could Know (A hymn of lament and hope for the nation)

• Caribbean Lord’s Prayer (Perhaps hardly new, but a fresh treatment of a setting that often sounds turgid and lifeless)

• Don’t Break Me Open (A powerful ballad on risking the way of the Cross - try it with “I And I Alone”)

• We Approach Your Throne, Lord (Again something a bit different - a hymn of approach in the making, to which your own contributions are invited!)

• Two Thousand Years (A finger-picking electric folk-style song on the relevance of the Crucifixion and Resurrection today)

• Son Of Man (An excellent Sydney Carter song that deserves to be much better known - deals subtly with the paradox of Jesus being both God and man)

• Arrangements of Traditional Hymns (Something a bit different - “Immortal, Invisible”, “All Creatures of our God and King” and “Be Thou My Vision” in new settings of the well-known tunes)

• Son Of The Carpenter (Be There) (A hymn of prayer for God’s forgiveness and Jesus’ presence - by Ivor Sperrings and Peter Sharrocks)

• In The Beginning (A driving “rap-beat” hymn exploring God’s creation and man’s denial of him)

• You Walk Together (A meditative song of mutual support in the love of Christ)

• Be At Every Family Table (A hymn of prayer for God’s presence in every part of life)

• Everybody, Praise The Lord! (A Caribbean-style praise song, suitable for children)

• O Worship The Lord In The Beauty Of Holiness (Not the traditional hymn, but a new responsorial praise song)

• Now They Are Taken (A slow meditative solo song for during or immediately after communion)

• My Strength Shall Be Renewed (A new worship song by Barry Adams, based on Isaiah 40:31)

• O Jerusalem (a strong ballad, ideal for Palm Sunday, with imaginative lyrics by Derrick Barber)

• Feed Us Now (a challenging folk-rock hymn by Peter Allen - good, thought-provoking words)

• When I Look Around Me (a fast-paced communion hymn - one of the last by the late Fr Gerard (Geoffrey) Beaumont, with excellent words by Lesley Ellison)

• Take The Bread (a folk-style communion motet for soloist/choir - deceptively simple but powerful words)

• So Many Things (a medium-paced hymn exploring the meaning of Holy Communion)

• What A Surprise! (a children’s action song, based on St Paul’s conversion)

• Lord, Make Me Love (a medium-paced modern hymn, based on I Corinthians 13)

• Lord, I Believe (a rock song in Beach Boys style, based on Matthew 16 verses 24-26)

• Moths into a Flame (a medium rock song exploring the central paradox of Christianity - “losing life to gain it”). With MP3 and RA files.

• Hymn of Creation (a modern hymn for soloist/choir/congregation based on a prayer of St John Chrysostom and originally written for a “naming and blessing” service)

• Shadow of Calvary (a contemporary song/carol by Rob Cox, bridging the old and new)

• Father in Heaven (a modern setting of a new Lord’s Prayer paraphrase)

• So Hard to Stay Close (a driving rock song exploring the pressures of Jesus’ situation)

• What Does The Lord Require? (a folk-rock setting of a strong hymn based on Micah 6)

• I Don’t Know Where I Am Going (a folk-hymn of confession)

• Let Every Tongue Confess (a four-part round for worship use)

• I and I Alone (a song in three-part harmony with excellent lyrics)

The sheet music may be freely copied (unless otherwise indicated), but only for personal and church use. Where publishers have generously given permission for inclusion of their copyright material the restrictions they request should be respected.

If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. I love hearing from people and making new web-friends! However, I don't claim to have an expert and comprehensive knowledge of new or old Christian music, and if you are searching for lyrics or music for other published songs, you are unlikely to find them legitimately available for downloading on the Internet, and I am very rarely able to supply them. Try looking at my SEARCHING FOR A SONG? page for hints.

michael.lehr@zetnet.co.uk

since 18th October 1996

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