Sois la Semilla

Sois la semilla que ha de crecer,
sois la estrella que ha de brillar,
sois levadura, sois grano de sal,
antorcha que ha de alumbrar.
Sois la mañana que vuelve a nacer,
sois espiga que empieza a granar.
Sois aguijón y caricia a la vez,
testigos que voy a enviar.

Estribillo:

Id, amigos, por el mundo,
anunciando el amor,
mensajeros de la vida,
de la paz y el perdón.
Sed, amigos, los testigos
de mi Resurrección.
Id llevando mi presencia.
¡Con vosotros estoy!

Sois una llama que ha de encender
resplandores de fe y caridad.
Sois los pastores que han de guiar
al mundo por sendas de paz.
Sois los amigos que quise escoger,
sois palabra que intento gritar.
Sois reino nuevo que empieza a engendrar
justicia, amor y verdad. (Estribillo)

Sois fuego y savia que vine a traer,
sois la ola que agita la mar.
La levadura pequeña de ayer
fermenta la masa del pan.
Una ciudad no se puede esconder,
ni los montes se han de ocultar.
En vuestras obras que buscan el bien
los hombres al Padre verán. (Estribillo)

Composer: Cesáreo Gabaraín (1979)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Lead On, O King Eternal

Lead on, O King eternal,
the day of march has come;
henceforth in fields of conquest
thy tents shall be our home.
Through days of preparation
thy grace has made us strong;
and now, O King eternal,
we lift our battle song.

Lead on, O King eternal,
till sin's fierce war shall cease,
and holiness shall whisper
the sweet amen of peace.
For not with swords loud clashing,
nor roll of stirring drums;
with deeds of love and mercy
the heavenly kingdom comes.

Lead on, O King eternal,
we follow, not with fears,
for gladness breaks like morning
where'er thy face appears.
Thy cross is lifted o'er us,
we journey in its light;
the crown awaits the conquest;
lead on, O God of might.

Text: Ernest W. Shurtleff (1887)
Tune: LANCASHIRE, 76.76 D, by Henry T. Smart (1835)

Onward, Christian Soldiers

1. Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
forward into battle see his banners go!

Refrain:

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.

2. At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee;
on then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell's foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise. (Refrain)

3. Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
one in hope and doctrine, one in charity. (Refrain)

4. Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
but the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;
we have Christ's own promise, and that cannot fail. (Refrain)

5. Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King,
this through countless ages men and angels sing. (Refrain)

Background Information (Wikipedia)

Text: Sabine Baring-Gould (1864)
Tune: ST. GERTRUDE, 65.65 D with Refrain, by Arthur Seymour Sullivan (1871)

O Zion, Haste

1. O Zion, haste, thy mission high fulfilling,
to tell to all the world that God is light,
that he who made all nations is not willing
one soul should perish, lost in shades of night.

Refrain:

Publish glad tidings, tidings of peace;
tidings of Jesus, redemption and release.

2. Behold how many thousands still are lying
bound in the darksome prisonhouse of sin,
with none to tell them of the Savior's dying,
or of the life he died for them to win. (Refrain)

3. Proclaim to every people, tongue, and nation
that God, in whom they live and move, is love;
tell how he stooped to save his lost creation,
and died on earth that we might live above. (Refrain)

4. Give of thine own to bear the message glorious;
give of thy wealth to speed them on their way;
pour out thy soul for them in prayer victorious;
O Zion, haste to bring the brighter day. (Refrain)

Text: Mary A. Thompson (1894)
Tune: TIDINGS, 11 10.11 10 with Refrain, by James Walch (1875)

Pass It On (It Only Takes A Spark)

It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing;
That's how it is with God's Love,
Once you've experienced it,
Your spread the love to everyone
You want to pass it on.

What a wonderous time is spring,
When all the tress are budding
The birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming;
That's how it is with God's love,
Once you've experienced it.
You want to sing, it's fresh like spring,
You want to pass it on.

I wish for you my friend
This happiness that I've found;
You can depend on God
It matters not where you're bound,
I'll shout it from the mountain top
I want the world to know
The Lord of love has come to me
I want to pass it on.

Composer: Kurt Kaiser (1969)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) series.

Singt dem Herrn (Taizé)

Singt dem Herrn ein neues Lied.
Lob singt ihm alle zeit,
lob singt ihm alle zeit!

(Sing to God with joyful hearts.
Praise the Lord for evermore,
praise the Lord for evermore!)

Music: Jacques Berthier (English bio) (French bio)

See my other blog postings in the "Taizé" series of chants.

Official Taizé Community Website

Wikipedia information on the Taizé Community
- in French
- in English

We've A Story To Tell To The Nations

We've a story to tell to the nations,
that shall turn their hearts to the right,
a story of truth and mercy,
a story of peace and light,
a story of peace and light.

Refrain:

For the darkness shall turn to dawning,
and the dawning to noonday bright;
and Christ's great kingdom shall come on earth,
the kingdom of love and light.

We've a song to be sung to the nations,
that shall lift their hearts to the Lord,
a song that shall conquer evil
and shatter the spear and sword,
and shatter the spear and sword. (Refrain)

We've a message to give to the nations,
that the Lord who reigneth above
hath sent us his Son to save us,
and show us that God is love,
and show us that God is love. (Refrain)

We've a Savior to show to the nations,
who the path of sorrow hath trod,
that all of the world's great peoples
might come to the truth of God,
might come to the truth of God. (Refrain)

Composer: H. Ernest Nichol (1896)
Tune: MESSAGE, 10.8.87 with Refrain