Once in Royal David’s City

We’re at Sanctum talking about music in worship. After a conversation writing Mary’s Lullaby, Ruth mentioned Once in Royal David’s City to one of the other delegates. I was going to share it in the Sanctum group and discovered it had slipped through the cracks.

So here it is. A slight rewrite of Once in Royal David’s city to give it a bit more meat.

Once in Royal David’s City

Once in royal David’s city, stood a lowly cattle shed,

Where a mother laid her baby in a manger for His bed.

Mary’s courage brought to birth, Jesus, Saviour of the earth

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He came down to earth from heaven, who is God and Lord of all

And His shelter was a stable and His cradle was a stall

With the poor and mean and lowly, lived on earth our Saviour holy

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For he is the promised Saviour, bringing freedom, love and peace

Comfort for the broken-hearted, ever shall our joys increase!

In the darkness of this night, comes the Everlasting Light.

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Not in that poor lowly manger, in a home in Bethlehem

We shall see Him, but in glory, in the new Jerusalem!

When creation is restored, there we’ll dwell with Christ our Lord!

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Merry Christmas Everybody – O Little Town of Bethlehem

It has been a busy few weeks in our house.  Beginning a new parish ministry at the start of advent is always going to feel like you are jumping onto a moving conveyor belt.  We have also been consciously pressing the brakes and trying to ‘do’ advent without rushing into Christmas.  This has involved some interesting mental gymnastics.  I don’t know how well I have managed to compartmentalise myself whilst preparing all of the Christmas services has been an interesting experience.  Whilst I’ve been telling people to await expectantly I’ve been going to my computer, digging out common worship and looking up Christmas responses ready for tonight, tomorrow and the next few weeks.

In the midst of all of this, we managed to spend our day off in the same room playing music.  Ed came and did drums and Ruth and I spent an afternoon recording the other parts for O Little Town of Bethlehem.  It was finished on Friday ready for the Online 9 Lessons and Carols Service but embargoed until this afternoon when the service was transmitted.  In typical Metanoia fashion, it was a crazy idea Ruth had whilst I was noodling the Chili Peppers in the rehearsal room.  Hope you like it!

Now Christmas is here and I’m heading off to midnight mass in a few hours.  Then I’ll grab my guitar and go play Slade for the families who come tomorrow morning to meet around God’s table.

Merry Christmas Everybody!!

Are You Gonna Go My Way?

One of the many things I need to do now that I am back online is sort through all of the tasks that have been backing up.  Here is one of the clips of The Rock Mass that I’ve managed to get off my computer and up to YouTube.  Thanks to Trash II Treasure for the shooting and editing.

Guess I’d better update Metanoia’s website.

Metanoia T-Shirts

A lot of people have been expressing an interest in a band T-shirt for Metanoia before Greenbelt.  I’ve spoken to the company who made our Silverthorn T-shirts and they will be able to sort out a run of screen printed shirts with the Metanoia Logo on the front and the Rock Mass “Follow Me” logo as a full back print.  From experience, it is better if people let me know what size of T-shirt you want.  I have to pay out for a run of 50 in one go.

If you would like one, please could you let me know (click email me icon), and pay in advance?  I know it sounds the wrong way around but 50 T-shirts is quite a lot

 

as they are costing £10 each.  If I am going to see you in church on Sunday we can sort it out there.

They will be ready before Greenbelt so I can give you them there if you are going.  If you are local to me (Yorkshire), we can meet and pass the merchandise over.  If you need it posting, It will be £2 for postage (If you are outside of the UK, no problemo but it will be at cost, sorry).

Mens fit or ladies fit, let me know.  If you don’t pre-order, I’ll only have mens fit left.

If you would like a hoodie I can get them for £25 but only as a special order.  If you want one, let me know before hand as it will be too late after that.

I personally will be having a T-shirt and a hoodie.

Loh-Kee – Snap, Crackle & Pop​-​Punk

This is a quick plug for our friends Chris and Becky’s band Loh-Kee who have recorded an album of pop punk.  Lots of familiar songs given a new twist.  The whole lot is available for free as a download through band camp.  Does it get better pricing than that?

Check them out. 

Greenbelt 2012 – U2charist

As you probably know, Ruth and I are involved in a couple of services at Greenbelt this year.  We’ve had details confirmed about when the U2charist will be happening.  It is going to be in the “InSense” venue at 5pm on Monday.  The worship is being organised by Luminous in Lincoln.  Metanoia will be leading the musical aspects of the service with a selection of U2 songs.

It’ll be great to see you there!

Metanoia at Greenbelt

Greenbelt 2012 is fast approaching and Metanoia are going to be involved in two of the services there.  Blesséd  are once again providing alternative sacramental worship and we have been asked to collaborate with Fr Simon and the team once more.  This year we are doing the opening act of worship in the Big Top at 5pm on Friday.  What the organisers were looking for was a ‘charismatic’ service of benediction.  Needless to say it will have a distinctive @metanoiauk feel to it.

There was also a request for a live band who would be able to help Luminous stage a U2charist.  Fr Simon suggested that we would be able to help out as we played a couple of U2 numbers in the big top last year.  Not quite sure which venue the U2charist is in yet or at what time but I’ll keep you up to date!

So who is coming then?

Metanoia – Now The Green Blade Rises

Easter weekend was completely hectic and I totally forgot to post this.  It was part of the Stations of the Resurrection over at the Big Bible Blog organised by @vahva.

Here is Metanoia with Now The Green Blade Rises.  Why not follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or me on Soundcloud.

Alternative Hymnal: Emeli Sandé – Next To Me

One of the easiest ways to amuse me is to throw “I know it’s not your kind of music but…..”  I can only assume that lots of people listen to stuff that Simon Cowell is making cash from.  Here is a song Ruth and I were listening to on the radio in the car yesterday.  She was intrigued by the lyrics and their potential.  So here I offer you, Emeli Sandé with Next To Me.

You won’t find him drinking at the tables
rolling dice and staying out til 3.
You won’t ever find him being unfaithful
you will find him, you’ll find him next to me.

You won’t find him trying to chase the devil
for money, fame, for power,
out of grief you won’t ever find him
where the rest go you will find him, you’ll find him next to me.

Next to me ooooh
Next to me ooooh
Next to me ooooh
You will find him you’ll find him next to me.

When the end has come and buildings falling down fast
when we spoilt the land and dried up all the sea
when everyone has lost their heads around us
you will find him you’ll find him next to me.

Never in my life have i met someone like him
I’m blown away by his love for me
if you ever wonder where it is you’ll find him
you will find him, you will find him next to me.

Next to me ooooh
Next to me ooooh
Next to me ooooh
You will find him you’ll find him next to me.

When the money’s spent and all my friends have vanished
and I can’t seem to find no help or love for free
I know there’s no need for me to panic
cause I’ll find him, I’ll find him next to me.

When the skies are grey and all the doors are closing
and the rising pressure makes it hard to breathe
well, all I need is a hand to stop the tears from falling
I will find him, will find him next to me

Next to me ooooh
Next to me ooooh
Next to me ooooh
You will find him you’ll find him next to me.

Blesséd @Home @ Greenbelt – The Video

This is a video of the Blesséd Alt:Worship Mass at Greenbelt last Friday night.  Unfortunately the battery ran out before the end but you get the idea.

I wish we had someone operating a roving camera as well so that you could get the full effect of being there as the bubbles filled the whole place during the confession liturgy.  Very well done to Fr Simon and the Blesséd team!

So here you go, me playing guitar with Metanoia – the first time I’ve put that on the blog!  Moshing in church?  8-o

Now I’d better get back to planning The Rock Mass at Dewsbury Minster!