Church of God

Church of God, chosen people, sing your praise to God.
He has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
Come, people of God, with joyful song,
Praise God the Father of all.
Baptized in Christ, reborn in him,
Our hearts are filled with joy.
He cleanses our sin,
Renewing our lives.

Church of God, chosen people, sing your praise to God.
He has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
The church is built with living stones
With Christ as cornerstone.
In him we trust who makes us one,
Uniting us in love.
We build on the rock
Of faith in Christ.

Church of God, chosen people, sing your praise to God.
He has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
As heirs of Christ, redeemed by love
We wait for his return;
A priestly people off'ring praise
To God, the source of hope.
For Jesus is Lord,
Our Saviour and God.

Church of God, chosen people, sing your praise to God.
He has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
As water springing from the rock
Once brought God's people life,
The living water giv'n by Christ
Creates our lives anew.
So come you who thirst
To springs of new life.

Church of God, chosen people, sing your praise to God.
He has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
We gather here to worship God,
Our eucharist to share.
We give him thanks and celebrate
The myst'ry of his love;
The Word is made flesh
And given for us.

Church of God, chosen people, sing your praise to God.
He has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
May fragrant smoke of incense rise
To fill this house of prayer.
May we who gather find true peace,
God's presence filling our lives.
Our hearts lift with praise,
Our lips sing in joy.

Church of God, chosen people, sing your praise to God.
He has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
The light of Christ has come to us
Dispelling all our fears.
His light reveals the path of life.
We follow him with joy,
The glory of God,
The light of the world.

Text: Sr. Pamela Stotter
Tune: Margaret Daly

Lord, You Give the Great Commission

Lord, you give the great commission:
"Heal the sick and preach the word."
Lest the Church neglect its mission,
And the Gospel go unheard,
Help us witness to your purpose
With renewed integrity;
With the Spirit's gifts empower us
For the work of ministry.

Lord, you call us to your service:
"In my name baptize and teach."
That the world may trust your promise,
Life abundant meant for each,
Give us all new fervour, draw us
Closer in community;
With the Spirit's gifts empower us
For the work of ministry.

Lord, you make the common holy:
"This my body, this my blood."
Let us all, for earth's true glory,
Daily lift life heavenward,
Asking that the world around us
Share your children's liberty;
With the Spirit's gifts empower us
For the work of ministry.

Lord, you show us love's true measure:
"Father, what they do, forgive."
Yet we hoard as private treasure
All that you so freely give.
May your care and mercy lead us
To a just society;
With the Spirit's gifts empower us
For the work of ministry.

Lord, you bless with words assuring:
"I am with you to the end."
Faith and hope and love restoring,
May we serve as you intend,
And, amid the cares that claim us,
Hold in mind eternity;
With the Spirit's gifts empower us
For the work of ministry.

Jeffrey Rowthorn

The Church's One Foundation

The Church's one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is his new creation
By water and the Word;
From heaven he came and sought her
To be his holy bride;
With his own blood he bought her,
And for her life he died.

Elect from every nation,
Yet one over all the earth,
Her charter of salvation,
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With every grace endued.

Amid toil and tribulation,
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace forevermore;
Till with the vision glorious
Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious
Shall be the Church at rest.

Yet she on earth has union
With God the Three-in-One;
And mystic, sweet communion
With those whose rest is won.
O blessed heavenly chorus!
Lord, save us by your grace,
That we, like saints before us,
May see you face to face.

Samuel John Stone

Gather Us In

Here in this place, new light is streaming,
now is the darkness, vanished away,
see, in this space, our fears and our dreamings,
brought here to you in the light of this day.

Gather us in, the lost and forsaken;
gather us in, the blind and the lame;
call to us now, and we shall awaken,
we shall arise at the sound of our name.


We are the young, our lives are a mystery;
we are the old, who yearn for your face,
we have been sung throughout all of history,
called to be light to the whole human race.

Gather us in, the rich and the haughty;
gather us in, the proud and the strong;
give us a heart so meek and so lowly,
give us the courage to enter the song.


Here we will take the wine and the water,
here we will take the bread of new birth,
here you shall call your sons and your daughters,
call us anew to be salt for the earth.

Give us to drink the wine of compassion,
give us to eat, the bread that is you;
nourish us well, and teach us to fashion
lives that are holy and hearts that are true.


Not in the dark of buildings confining,
not in some heaven light years away,
but here in this space, the new light is shining,
now is the kingdom, now is the day.

Gather us in, and hold us forever;
gather us in, and make us your own;
gather us in, all peoples together,
fire of love in our flesh and our bone.

Marty Haugen