Strut Your Stuff (Psalm 115)

Glorify your own name, God. You’re the one who’s worthy.

Leave no doubt for anyone, heavenly or earthly.

Do whatever pleases you: speaking, seeing, feeling.

Move around and strut your stuff, show off what we’re fearing.

—–

Everybody, trust the Lord, who will help, protect you.

Prophet, preacher, pontiff, priest; do the jobs you’re called to.

God has not forgotten us, blessing small and great ones.

May the Lord give us increase, children, parents, ancients.

—–

Everything is God’s and yet, heaven is the throne room.

Earth is for humanity. It’s a precious heirloom.

Keep it good for those who’ll come, in the generations.

Bless the Lord forevermore, people and all nations.  

———-

Photo: by Breakreate on Unsplash  

Source: Psalm 115

Text: © David Alexander, 2020

Tune:  St. John Damascene

Score:  https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/Score_PDF/ComeYeFaithful-StJohnDamascene.pdf 

Audio:  www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission. 

Looking Down on Earth and Space

Praise, all servants of the Lord,

praise God’s name forevermore,

from the rising of the sun

to the hour when day is done.

Seated over nations, kings;

Glory greater than all things.

—-

Looking down on earth and space,

With compassion, healing grace. 

Raising poor and needy up;

Lifting all from ash and dust;

Bring barren women home

Granting them a fruitful womb.

——–

Photo: by Simone Busatto on Unsplash

Source: Psalm 113

Text:  © David Alexander, 2020

Tune: Palgrave

Score:   https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/2014/Score/GraciousSpiritDwell-Palgrave.pdf 

Audio: www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission

Dreaming Towards Restoration

To be restored to laughter, love and joy; this is our dream.

Like watercourses in the desert, flowing in full stream.

We’ve sowed our oats, both wild and tame, and broadly scattered seed.

We yearn for harvest, coming home in wagons full of sheaves.

—–

For other people, God, it seems that you once did great things.

We look around ourselves and question what the future brings. 

Might it be said in this, our nation, that the time has come

For sanity, civility, respect for everyone. 

———-

Photo:  by Raisa Nastukova on Unsplash

Source: Psalm 126

Text:  © David Alexander, 2020

Tune: Kingsfold,  Public Domain

Score:   https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/2016/Score/IHeardTheVoice-Kingsfold-Chords.pdf 

Audio:   www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission

Reordered and In Rhyme (Psalm 112)

In anger and with gnashing teeth the wicked see the righteous;  

who rise in darkness as a light and shine with radiant brightness; 

who deal with generosity and always act with justice; 

who fear no evil, freely lend, and always can be trusted. 

—-

The righteous go from strength to strength in steady onward progress; 

In God’s commandments find delight and to the poor give access. 

Their offspring will be mighty in the land and know its blessing.

The reputation of their lives will leave nobody guessing.

—–

Photo:  Miguel Bruna on Unsplash

Source:   Psalm 112

Text:  © David Alexander, 2020

Tune:  St Gall, Public Domain

Score:  https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/2013/Score/ToTheeOLordOurHearts-StGall.pdf 

Audio: www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission

The Seed of Wisdom (Psalm 111)

Wholeheartedly, in company, let’s give thanks to the Lord,

Whose works are great and give delight to all who learn the word.

With majesty accomplished, in honor brought to birth

By righteousness delivered for everyone on earth.

—

The seed of wisdom, for all who understand, 

Is found in awe of God on high whose praises, whose praises never end. 

—

The Lord is gracious, merciful, and providential, too.

God’s promises are kept. The holy power is on view.

A nation’s heritage is firmed up when it is just.

The word of God is faithful, in that we all can trust. 

 —

The seed of wisdom, for all who understand, 

Is found in awe of God on high whose praises, whose praises never end. 

—

Forever they’re established and in faithfulness performed.

Uprightness is expected of whoever is transformed.

Redemption has been sent, and a covenant been made

All people are invited to gather in God’s name. 

—

The seed of wisdom, for all who understand, 

Is found in awe of God on high whose praises, whose praises never end. 

———-

Photo by Istvan Hernek on Unsplash

Source:  Psalm 111

Text:   © David Alexander, 2020

Tune:  Geibel, Public Domain

Score:  https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/Score_PDF/StandUpForJesus-Geibel.pdf

Audio:  www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by permission. 

Bustin’ Heads (2)

By mighty scepter you will rule, your enemies tread under.

Your people follow willingly, as you lead them to plunder.

—

Like morning’s dew, your youth renewed, will serve you at the altar,

By God’s command you’ll ever stand, your priesthood never falter.   

—

The Lord will stand at your right hand; Your foes the Lord will shatter.

The judgments God will execute to life and death will matter. 

—

Some heads will rise and others break as you lead out your forces

To holy mountain, sacred vale, while filling them with corpses. 

——–

Photo:   Studio Incendio CC BY 2.0

Source:  Psalm 110 

Text:  © David Alexander, 2020

Tune:  Barbara Allen, Public Domain

Audio:  www.smallchurchmusic.com  used by permission. 

Bustin’ Heads (1)

By mighty scepter you will rule, your enemies tread under.

Your people follow willingly, as you lead them to plunder.

Like morning’s dew, your youth renewed, will serve you at the altar,

By God’s command you’ll ever stand, your priesthood never falter.   

—–

The Lord will stand at your right hand; Your foes the Lord will shatter.

The judgments God will execute to life and death will matter. 

Some heads will rise and others break as you lead out your forces

To holy mountain, sacred vale, while filling them with corpses. 

———-

Photo:   Studio Incendio CC BY 2.0

Source: Psalm 110  

Text:  © David Alexander, 2020

Tune:  Bishopgarth, Public Domain

Audio:  www.smallchurchmusic.com  used by permission. 

When I’m Not a Goner (Psalm 109)

Young Death by Takeshi Morisato

Those who hate me wish me ill:

cursing beyond measure;

hoping that misfortune will

rob me of all pleasure.

Curses may not harm me, but

something’s been in action.

Now I’m poor and weak and gaunt,

scorned with no compassion.

---

Turn and help me, Lord my God;

save me by your loving.

Show the world what you have done;

bless the one they’re shoving.

Put the ones who hate to shame;

clothe them with dishonor.

All will hear, and praise your name

when I’m not a goner. 

---

Photo: Takeshi Morisato on Unsplash

Source:  Psalm 109

Text:  © David Alexander, 2020

Tune: Boundless Mercy

Score:  https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/2013/Score/ComeOSpirit-BoundlessMercy.pdf 

Audio:  www.smallchurchmusic.com 

For Never-ever Ending Love

For never ever ending love we give our thanks to God.

The wonders of the earth and sky, the waters everywhere.

The stars and lights we see at night, the moon and sun up there.

All these God made to give to us, and put them in our care.

---

For never ever ending love we give our thanks to God.

When we get stuck God hauls us out and gives us liberty.

No obstacle can stand between us and our destiny.

No tyrant stop the will of God to bring community.

---

For never ever ending love we give our thanks to God.

Though we are low and God is high, we are remembered yet.

God’s gift of saving grace to us, we never will forget. 

Upon the earth and heaven’s gates, are places where God is met.

---

Photo:  by Brandi Ibrao on Unsplash

Source:  Psalm 136

Text:  © David Alexander, 2020

Tune: Spes Celestis

Score:  https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/Score_PDF/HowHappyEveryChild-SpesCelestis.pdf 

Chord Sheet:  https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/2019/Score/HowHappyEveryChild-SpesCelestis-Chords.pdf 

Audio: www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission

Borders Are Nothing (Psalm 108)

Waken, O soul, O harp, O lyre—.

Make melody with all you are.

Give thanks to God above all things.

Among all peoples, praises sing. 

God, be exalted, over all. 

Rescue your people from our fall.

—–

Lines drawn in sand by human hand—

can not reflect what God has planned.

God will divide, and God unite

Nations and peoples, dark and light.

God, be exalted, over all. 

Rescue your people from our fall.

—–

Apart from God, no help have we—.

Joined up we shall do valiantly.

When with the Lord, our armies go

we win the fight with ev’ry foe. 

God, be exalted, over all. 

Rescue your people from our fall.

———-

Photo by Barbara Zandoval on Unsplash

Source: Psalm 108  

Text:   © David Alexander, 2020.

Tune:  Lansdown, Public Domain

Score: https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/2014/Score/AndCanItBe-Lansdown.pdf 

Audio:  www.smallchurchmusic.com