O God, You Search Me

O God, you search me and you know me.
All my thoughts lie open to your gaze.
When I walk or lie down you are before me:
Ever the maker and keeper of my days.

You know my resting and my rising.
You discern my purpose from afar,
And with love everlasting you besiege me:
In ev'ry moment of life or death, you are.

Before a word is on my tongue, Lord,
You have known its meaning through and through.
You are with me beyond my understanding:
God of my present, my past and future, too.

Although your Spirit is upon me,
Still I search for shelter from your light.
There is nowhere on earth I can escape you:
Even the darkness is radiant in your sight.

For you created me and shaped me,
Gave me life within my mother's womb.
For the wonder of who I am, I praise you:
Safe in your hands, all creation is made new.

Bernadette Farrell

Shelter Me, O God

Shelter me, O God; hide me in the shadow of your wings.
You alone are my hope.

When my foes surround me, set me high above their reach.
Hear me when I call your name.

Shelter me, O God; hide me in the shadow of your wings.
You alone are my hope.

As a mother gathers her young beneath her care,
Gather me into your arms.

Shelter me, O God; hide me in the shadow of your wings.
You alone are my hope.

Though I walk in darkness, through the needle's eye of death,
You will never leave my side.

Shelter me, O God; hide me in the shadow of your wings.
You alone are my hope.

Bob Hurd

The Lord Is My Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd, and I want to follow,
wherever he leads me, wherever he goes.
Over the mountains, the waters and byways,
valleys and highways he's waiting for me.
I want to go to meet him there,
to lay myself down in his love.
The Lord is my shepherd and I want to follow,
wherever he leads me, wherever he goes.

And while on the journey to where we are going,
he promised to be there to help us along.
And over the mountains we'll walk on together,
to know all the wonders he's given to me.
I want to go to meet him there,
to lay myself down in his love.
The Lord is my shepherd and I want to follow,
wherever he leads me, wherever he goes.

Psalm 23
Brian Boniwell

The Lord's My Shepherd

The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want.
He makes me down to lie
in pastures green: he leadeth me
the quiet waters by.

My soul he doth restore again,
and me to walk doth make
within the paths of righteousness,
e'en for his own name's sake.

Yea, though I walk in death's dark vale,
yet will I fear none ill:
for thou art with me, and thy rod
and staff me comfort still.

My table thou hast furnished
in presence of my foes;
my head thou dost with oil anoint,
and my cup overflows.

Goodness and mercy all my life
shall surely follow me:
and in God's house for evermore
my dwelling place shall be.

Psalm 23

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heav'n to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.

Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return, and never,
Nevermore Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.

Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heav'n we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.

Charles Wesley

The King of Love My Shepherd Is

The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness fails me never.
I nothing lack if I am His,
and He is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow,
with gentle care He leads me,
and where the verdant pastures grow,
with heav'nly food He feeds me.

Perverse and foolish, I have strayed,
but yet in love He sought me;
and on His shoulder gently laid,
and home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death's dark vale I fear no ill,
with you, dear Lord, beside me;
Your rod and staff my comfort still,
your cross before to guide me.

You spread a table in my sight;
your saving grace bestowing;
and oh, what joy and true delight
from your pure chalice flowing!

And so through all the length of days,
your goodness fails me never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing your praise
within your house forever.

Henry Williams Baker

Seek the Lord

Seek the Lord whose mercy abounds;
call aloud to God who is near.
Today is the day and now the proper hour
to forsake our sinful lives and turn to the Lord.

Seek the Lord whose mercy abounds;
call aloud to God who is near.
As high as the sky is above the earth,
so high above our ways, the ways of the Lord.

Seek the Lord whose mercy abounds;
call aloud to God who is near.
Open your heart to hear the voice of God,
whose words, whose ways lead us to life.

Seek the Lord whose mercy abounds;
call aloud to God who is near.
Some day we'll live in the house of God;
hearts full of praise for God's gracious love.

Roc O'Connor

He Will Hold Me Fast

When I fear my faith will fail,
Christ will hold me fast;
When the tempter would prevail,
He will hold me fast.
I could never keep my hold
Through life's fearful path;
For my love is often cold;
He must hold me fast.

He will hold me fast,
He will hold me fast;
For my Savior loves me so,
He will hold me fast.

Those He saves are His delight,
Christ will hold me fast;
Precious in His holy sight,
He will hold me fast.
He'll not let my soul be lost;
His promises shall last;
Bought by Him at such a cost,
He will hold me fast.

He will hold me fast,
He will hold me fast;
For my Savior loves me so,
He will hold me fast.

For my life He bled and died,
Christ will hold me fast;
Justice has been satisfied;
He will hold me fast.
Raised with Him to endless life,
He will hold me fast
'Till our faith is turned to sight
When He comes at last!

He will hold me fast,
He will hold me fast;
For my Savior loves me so,
He will hold me fast.

Ada R. Habershon

As the Deer Longs

As the deer longs for running streams,
so I long, so I long, so I long for you.

A-thirst my soul for you the God who is my life!
When shall I see, when shall I see,
see the face of God?


As the deer longs for running streams,
so I long, so I long, so I long for you.

Echoes meet as deep is calling unto deep,
over my head, all your mighty waters,
sweeping over me.


As the deer longs for running streams,
so I long, so I long, so I long for you.

Continually the foe delights in taunting me:
"Where is God, where is your God?"
Where, O where, are you?


As the deer longs for running streams,
so I long, so I long, so I long for you.

Defend me, God, send forth your light and your truth,
they will lead me to your holy mountain,
to your dwelling place.


As the deer longs for running streams,
so I long, so I long, so I long for you.

Then I shall go unto the altar of my God.
Praising you, O my joy and gladness,
I shall praise your name.

Bob Hurd

Trinity Song

Father, in my life I see
You are God who walks with me
You hold my life in Your hands
Close beside You I will stand
I give all my life to You
Help me, Father, to be true.

Jesus, in my life I see
You are God who walks with me
You hold my life in Your hands
Close beside You I will stand
I give all my life to You
Help me, Jesus, to be true

Spirit, in my life I see
You are God who walks with me
You hold my life in Your hands
Close beside You I will stand
I give all my life to You
Help me, Spirit, to be true

Frank Andersen

My Soul in Stillness Waits

For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits,
truly my hope is in you.
O Lord of Light, our only hope of glory,
your radiance shines in all who look to you,
come, light the hearts of all in dark and shadow.

For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits,
truly my hope is in you.
O Spring of Joy, rain down upon our spirits,
our thirsty hearts are yearning for your Word,
come, make us whole, be comfort to our hearts.

For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits,
truly my hope is in you.
O Root of Life, implant your seed within us,
and in your advent, draw us all to you,
our hope reborn in dying and in rising.

For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits,
truly my hope is in you.
O Key of Knowledge, guide us in our pilgrimage,
we ever seek, yet unfulfilled remain,
open to us the pathway of your peace.

For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits,
truly my hope is in you.
Come, let us bow before the God who made us,
let ev'ry heart be opened to the Lord,
for we are all the people of his hand.

For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits,
truly my hope is in you.
Here we shall meet the Maker of the heavens,
Creator of the mountains and the seas,
Lord of the stars, and present to us now.

Psalm 95
Marty Haugen

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

Be Not Afraid

You shall cross the barren desert,
but you shall not die of thirst.
You shall wander far in safety
though you do not know the way.
You shall speak your words in foreign lands
and all will understand.
You shall see the face of God and live.

Be not afraid.
I go before you always.
Come, follow me, and I will give you rest.


If you pass through raging waters in the sea,
you shall not drown.
If you walk amid the burning flames,
you shall not be harmed.
If you stand before the pow'r of hell
and death is at your side,
know that I am with you through it all.

Be not afraid.
I go before you always.
Come, follow me, and I will give you rest.


Blessed are your poor,
for the kingdom shall be theirs.
Blest are you that weep and mourn,
for one day you shall laugh.
And if wicked tongues insult and hate you
all because of me,
blessed, blessed are you!

Be not afraid.
I go before you always.
Come, follow me, and I will give you rest.

Isaiah 43:2-3, Luke 6:20
Bob Dufford

Brother James' Air

The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want.
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; He leadeth me
The quiet waters by.
He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
the quiet waters by.

My soul He doth restore again;
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
E'en for His own Name's sake.
Within the paths of righteousness,
E'en for His own Name's sake.

Yea, though I walk in death's dark vale,
Yet will I fear no ill;
For Thou art with me; and Thy rod
And staff me comfort still.
For Thou art with me; and Thy rod
And staff me comfort still.

My table Thou hast furnished
In presence of my foes;
My head Thou dost with oil anoint,
And my cup overflows.
My head Thou dost with oil anoint,
And my cup overflows.

Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me;
And in God's house for evermore
My dwelling place shall be.
And in God's house for evermore
My dwelling place shall be.

Psalm 23
James Leith Macbeth Bain

Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God

Seek ye first the kingdom of God
And His righteousness;
And all these things shall be added unto you.
Allelu, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,
Allelu, alleluia.

Man shall not live by bread alone,
But by every word
That proceeds out from the mouth of God.
Allelu, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,
Allelu, alleluia.

Ask, and it shall be given unto you;
Seek, and ye shall find.
Knock, and the door shall be opened unto you.
Allelu, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,
Allelu, alleluia.

Matthew 6:33, 7:7
Karen Lafferty

The Summons

Will you come and follow me
If I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know
And never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown,
Will you let my name be known,
Will you let my life be grown
In you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind
If I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind
And never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare
Should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer
In you and you in me?

Will you let the blinded see
If I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free
And never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean,
And do such as this unseen,
And admit to what I mean
In you and you in me?

Will you love the "you" you hide
If I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside
And never be the same?
Will you use the faith you've found
To reshape the world around,
Through my sight and touch and sound
In you and you in me?

Lord, your summons echoes true
When you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you
And never be the same.
In your company I'll go
Where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I'll move and live and grow
In you and you in me.

John L. Bell

As Gentle as Silence

Oh, the love of my Lord is the essence of all that I love here on earth.
All the beauty I see God has given to me, and the giving is gentle as silence.

Every day, every hour, every moment have been blessed by the strength of God's love.
At the turn of each tide God is there at my side, with a touch that is gentle as silence.

There've been times when I've turned from your presence, and I've walked other paths, other ways.
But I've called on your name in the dark of my shame, and your mercy was gentle as silence.

Estelle White

How Can I Keep from Singing

My life flows on in endless song
Above earth's lamentation.
I hear the real though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I'm clinging.
Since Love is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I keep from singing?


Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear that music ringing;
It sounds and echoes in my soul;
How can I keep from singing?

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I'm clinging.
Since Love is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I keep from singing?


What though the tempest around me roar,
I hear the truth it liveth.
What though the darkness around me close,
Songs in the night it giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I'm clinging.
Since Love is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I keep from singing?


When tyrants tremble, sick with fear,
And hear their knells ringing;
When friends rejoice both far and near,
How can I keep from singing?

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I'm clinging.
Since Love is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I keep from singing?


The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
A fountain ever springing.
All things are mine since I am his;
How can I keep from singing?

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I'm clinging.
Since Love is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I keep from singing?

Robert Lowry

I am the Bread of Life

I am the bread of life.
He who comes to me shall not hunger;
he who believes in me shall not thirst.
No one can come to me
unless the Father draw him.

And I will raise him up,
and I will raise him up,
and I will raise him up on the last day.


The bread that I will give
is my flesh for the life of the world,
and he who eats of this bread,
he shall live for ever,
he shall live for ever.

And I will raise him up,
and I will raise him up,
and I will raise him up on the last day.


Unless you eat
of the flesh of the Son of Man
and drink of his blood,
and drink of his blood,
you shall not have life within you.

And I will raise him up,
and I will raise him up,
and I will raise him up on the last day.


I am the resurrection,
I am the life.
He who believes in me
even if he die,
he shall live for ever.

And I will raise him up,
and I will raise him up,
and I will raise him up on the last day.


Yes, Lord, I believe
that you are the Christ,
the Son of God,
who has come
into the world.

And I will raise him up,
and I will raise him up,
and I will raise him up on the last day.

Suzanne Toolan

Strong and Constant

I will be your God who walks with you!
You will be always within my hand!
Take your heart and give it all to me!
Strong and constant is my love!
Strong and constant is my love!

Should you wander far away from me,
I will search for you in ev'ry land!
Should you call, then you will truly know:
Strong and constant is my love!
Strong and constant is my love!

When you know sorrow within your life,
I will come, I will embrace your heart!
Through your pain you will discover me!
Strong and constant is my love!
Strong and constant is my love!

Frank Andersen