Calling all Christians who like Christian music (modern and old).

[BaroqinAroundTheChristmasTree]

I need some ideas for songs/hymns to use for something my vicar has asked me to do. This is what she's said

"I'm doing Friday 21st Jan of the week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It's only 30 mins but what I wanted was a piece of music with either stills or video to help people focus on the need for Christian Unity, Homeless, Traffiking, war etc etc And then a different one for the end of hope and praise The first one can be about 7 mins and the last one 5mins."

I can do the stills/video thing - it's the songs I need ideas for. If needs be I can string two songs together so say there's a 3 minute one and 4 minute one I can do the video so they follow straight on. So it doesn't have to be one song.

Right now the only song/hymn that springs to mind is the hymn based on Luther Kings speech "We have a dream" - but I can't find it a recording of it anywhere online.

So any ideas of songs that would tie into those two themes - please

(I will love you forever and even let you see the finished thing if you can come up with some fab ideas )

There is a rather beautiful hymn called "Hills of the North Rejoice", which takes every compass point and kind of geography.Lots of unity and diversity. Here.

As for trafficking, would the hymns about Exodus, a part of the Bible story taken up by black slaves in the American South, be a good start? The gospel treatment is very rousing, and Boney M, of course, popularised the Rivers of Jordan hymn.

Will have a think.

oh yes I LURVE Hills of the North rejoice. It's one hymn I ALWAYS make sure we have during Advent as a starting hymn so I can pull all the stops out. Not sure it's quite what my Vicar is thinking of (or me ).

I am tempted to re-hash the video (stills) - I did before Christmas (for Remembrance Sunday) to Townsend "How long". But really want to do something new specifically for this.

There must some more songs about Christian Unity or global issues

Hmmm. The Christian unity one is difficult, one that springs to mind is - more focussing on how as Christians we need to get out and do stuff reflecting God's justice, but does bring images of the sort you want to mind (this video is a good one for that too if you wanted to just lift it!)

Hope and Praise - how about something like by Chris Tomlin? Or are you looking for a more hymn type flavour? will have more of a think. Love doing this sort of thing :)

Lots here from the RSCM:

may they be one

I like "Let there be love shared among us"

also good for the unity one, you need the Chris Townend version really as this one bit twee but can't find good one on youtube, you can easily get mp3 download from amazon, it's on the New best praise/worship songs album.

ooo - thanks everyone. Sorry not to come back sooner - been doing the church news sheet for tomorrow. Have also got some ideas on my FB (pool resources and all that )

Spoke to my vicar today to see if she could narrow it down a bit more and she (very helpfully LOL) said

"oh do whatever you think is best" (still it's nice that she trusts me to choose appropriate songs/music/etc) . Seems the music doesn't have to totally fit the criteria - she wants reflective music with images to watch.

\link{\I think this is what you were looking for madhairday} - Stuart not Chris.

I'm formulating some ideas now.

Thinking of 2 shorter songs for the first bit. ???? followed by \link{\this one - which I love} (hey any excuse to use the songs I like when I'm given free reign ).

To finish I'm thinking (possibly) \link{\this} or maybe \link{\this?}

With that last one I thought I could find some "positive" images of things I've shown in the 1st video (right now only thing that springs to mind is a picture of the Berlin Wall falling) - - kind of based on the video that's with it but on a global scale iykwim?

or maybe I could use a song (as just re-read it and she just says "music" - and as long as it's not "anti-christ" music she's very open to secular music being used for stuff).

\link{\a bit cheesy} - but it's got the "problems" iykwim?

any other songs like that I wonder perhaps? (followed by the one that I love above?

do you think using "We are the World" would be too cheesy/predictable?

It's actually exactly the right length - and it does actually really fit it.

It talks about all being of part of God's family - and how change will only come if we stand together as one.

"Well, well, well, well, let us realize
That a change will only come
When we stand together as one "

that's it I think for the first one. Cheesey or not - it sums it up perfectly (for me) (though I'll use the original one - the new one that they did for Haiti is a bit imo).

Just need one to finish with - will definitely use a "Christian" one for that one though.

That is good lyrics. Love that first Robin Mark one, not heard it before.

Did you want a more lively one to finish, or reflective?

I love most of Robin Mark's stuff.

I think yes a lively(ish?) one to finish - as she wants it to show hope and praise.

I quite like \link{\another Robin Mark one}

especially after reading \link{http://www.robinmark.com/FAQ/detail.php?faqID=5\this where he explains the meaning behind it}

We Have a Hope/All Will Be Well by the Emmaus community (quiet, reflective, repetitive and meditative).

Awesome God, Michael W. Smith. Doesn't especially mention Christian unity etc. but is generally uplifting.

I'm also a fan of Hallelujah (Your Love is Amazing) by Brenton Brown.

Not bad for a Catholic

lol Fink - not bad indeed for a Catholic

I love Awesome God. See this is the problem - there's too many I love - and I don't have enough time to set pictures/edit/play around with all of them and then get my vicar to choose her favourite

My DH has set some great stills to Queen's "Is this the World we created" which worked well at church on a Feast or Famine evening.

As a song you could use 'At A Distance' by Cliff Richard. I did a similar project at one time and used that.

Love Days of Elijah, it's a real song of restoration and hope, think it would fit well.

Another Brenton Brown/Michael w smith fan here. There are just too many aren't there.

Tim Hughes' 'Happy Day' is a great one to go out to as well - full of hope and praise.

For the final song:

Our God is greater by Chris Tomlin is perfect. It speaks of hope and love and unity and overcoming all things with Him.

or (there are quite a few)

Others to consider:
Ben Cantelon - Saviour of the world OR love came down.
Chris Tomlin - God of this City (good video, hopeful song)

Hope this helps, though I do think 'Our God' (as also suggested above) is an excellent choice.

"I'm doing Friday 21st Jan of the week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It's only 30 mins but what I wanted was a piece of music with either stills or video to help people focus on the need for Christian Unity, Homeless, Traffiking, war etc etc And then a different one for the end of hope and praise The first one can be about 7 mins and the last one 5mins."

Can't you choose hymns/songs that have the same rhythm, then you can put more than one in without it sounding odd.

Using hymns would work (maybe for the short one) becuase if you choose a hymn that everyone knows, like "we have a gospel to proclaim", then people will hear the words in their heads when only hearing the tune out loud iyswim.

Evocative music might make more sense than putting in a song being sung .

also, wrt usin a hymn - you can play it and record it yourself, so using the stills as a guide, make the verse loud, quiet, emotional etc as you go along.

through all the changing scenes of life.

Come down o love divine

How about "Let there be love shared among you" combined with "A new commandment" for the Christian unity bit? Maybe a bit short though?

father god i wonder? maybe have a look on youtube at vicky beeching and chris tomlin for more up to date stuff

not a New Commandment - it's lovely as a simple one verse, one chorus song, but it drags and sounds hideous when you have more verses (as i found to my chagrin one sunday when we had to singthe AHO&N version which has 4 verses and choruses)

Oops, I thought it only had one verse. Sorry.

Coldplay - fix you?