Psalm23Immersion
Adventurous, imaginative music for Psalm 23
Psalm 23 is the best-known bit of the Bible, and for good reason. It sings of trust, the ache for guidance, and the desire to know the presence of the Holy in every moment, whether on joyful paths or in fearful valleys.
Below are some songs for you and your circle, each emphasizing a different aspect of this most beloved Psalm.
God is My Shepherd
Cantor/choir piece
About the song
Psalm 23 is political. The first line of the psalm names the one to whom we give authority in our lives.
When we need guidance, "God is my shepherd."
When unfair systems push on you, "God is my shepherd."
God is my shepherd
Who is my shepherd?
Who lays out the way of justice?
Who provides for me in a complicated world?
Who guides and leads my life?
Who is with me when death is near?
Whose generosity overwhelms me?
Who lets me sprawl in green meadows?
To whom do I cry out?
Whose love pursues me daily?
Who refreshes my life by still waters?
Who seeks me out when I am lost?
To whose family will I always belong?
God is my shepherd
Words and music by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan
©2021 Worldmaking.net (ASCAP) All rights reserved. Use with permission please.
Licensing via CCLI and OneLicense.net.
Sing it with your circle
God is My Shepherd charts
$10.00
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piano score
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lead sheet
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guitar/bass chart
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jpg congregational line
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lyrics
-
songleader's notes
God is My Shepherd Accompaniment Pack
$12.00
-
songleader's notes
-
piano score
-
lead sheet
-
guitar/bass chart
-
congregational line
PLUS: -
powerpoint & keynote slides
-
original recording
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instrumental accompaniment track
On the Path of Justice
A hymn with refrain
About the song
What if those "paths of righteousness for his name's sake" is an invitation to be part of God's justice for all people? A walk not for ourselves but for all creation?
Verse 1
Green pastures, quiet waters
Lead us and restore us
Death-shadow, fearful valley
Lead us and restore us
Refrain:
On the path of justice Oh-oh
On the path of justice Oh lead us on the path of justice
Verse 2:
Old hatreds reconciling
Bring us to your table
Full blessing overflowing
Bring us to your table Refrain
Verse 3:
Full lifetimes in your presence
Your compassion drives us
Full lifetimes in your presence
Your compassion drives us Refrain
Words and music by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan
©2017 Worldmaking.net (ASCAP) All rights reserved. Use with permission please.
Licensing via CCLI and OneLicense.net.
Sing it with your circle
On the Path of Justice chart package
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piano score
-
lead sheet
-
guitar/bass chart
-
jpg congregational line
-
songleader's notes
On the Path of Justice
Chart Package
$10.00
On the Path of Justice Accompaniment Pack
-
everything in the charts package above
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PLUS:
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powerpoint lyric slides
-
original recording
-
instrumental accompaniment track
On the Path of Justice
Accomp Pack
$12.00
All of My Days
A hymn with refrain
About the song
The last line of Psalm 23 speaks of a life-long journey of trust: years surounded by the Holy One through both suffering and joy.
Together the people of God sing of the unfailing covenent love (Hebrew: chesed) that chases after us and surrounds us.
We sing not only for ourselves and our community, but for all of us around the planet immersed in the same mystery.
Verse 1
Into green pastures, beside the still waters
Along the good paths and through the dark valleys
Refrain
All of my days God's mercy follows
All of my days God’s love surrounds
All of my days, all of my days
Verse 2
Among my enemies, you call me to table
Your deepest blessing my cup overflows
Verse 3
Always in God’s heart, I shall be forever
Always in God’s heart, I shall be forever
Words and music by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan
©2006 Worldmaking.net (ASCAP) All rights reserved. Use with permission, please.
Licensing via CCLI and OneLicense.net.
Sing it with your circle
-
piano score
-
lead sheet
-
guitar/bass chart
-
pdf congregational line
-
songleader's notes
All of My Days charts
$10.00
-
piano score
-
lead sheet
-
guitar/bass chart
-
pdf congregational line
-
songleader's notes
PLUS: -
jpg of congregational line
-
powerpoint & keynote slides
-
original recording,
-
instrumental accompaniment track
$12.00
All of My Days Accompaniment Pack
Surely Goodness and Mercy
A refrain with readings
About the song
A simple refrain brings our focus to the culminating verse of Psalm 23 as this beloved text is recited in any translation you wish.
See "My Love is My Shepherd" below for notes on the Worldmaking translation used here.
Refrain
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all my life
Cantor 1
My love is my shepherd; I need nothing more.
She leads me into lush pastures and alongside still waters.
My life is renewed today.
Guiding me on the best paths,
even as I move in fear and darkness, this love is with me
Cantor 2
Anointed and blessed with abundance, I thrive
with a table prepared in spite of my enemies
and my secret fears.
My soul lacks for nothing now.
Cantor 3
Goodness and mercy are relentlessly pursuing me
every day-- every single day of my life--
and I am forever home in the presence of this love.
Words and music by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan
©2013 Worldmaking.net (ASCAP) All rights reserved. Use with permission please.
Licensing via CCLI and OneLicense.net.
Sing it with your circle
Surely Goodness & Mercy Accompaniment Pack
Surely Goodness and Mercy charts
$10.00
-
piano score
-
lead sheet
-
guitar/bass chart
-
pdf congregational line
-
songleader's notes
$12.00
-
piano score
-
lead sheet
-
guitar/bass chart
-
pdf congregational line
-
songleader's notes
PLUS: -
jpg of congregational line
-
powerpoint & keynote slides
-
original recording
-
instrumental accompaniment track
My Love is My Shepherd
An anthem
About the song
Carried by Johann Sebastian's melody that is at once stong and delicate, we sing of God's guiding presence.
In many cultures, passionate nurturing is characterized in the archetypal feminine. In this song we imagine God's shepherding love in Psalm 23 as a female strength.
My love is my shepherd; I need nothing more
for she leads me into lush pastures of green
and beside the still waters.
My life is renewed today.
Guiding me on the best paths of her way,
though I walk through the valley
of darkness and fear,
my love is with me
Anointed and blessed with abundance, I thrive
with a table prepared in spite of my enemies
and all my secret fears.
My soul lacks for nothing now.
Goodness and mercy are following me
every day of my life
and I'm forever home
in the presence of Love.
Words by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan. Music by Johann Sebastian Bach.
©2007 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Use only by permission please.
Sing it with your circle
-
piano score
-
lead sheet
-
guitar/bass chart
-
jpg congregational line
-
lyrics
-
songleader's notes
My Love is My Shepherd charts
$10.00
My Love is My Shepherd Accompaniment Pack
$12.00
-
songleader's notes
-
piano score
-
lead sheet
-
guitar/bass chart
-
congregational line
PLUS: -
powerpoint & keynote slides
-
original recording
-
instrumental accompaniment track
Great Psalm 23 songs by other artists
Shepherd Me, O God
by Marty Haugen
Psalm 23
by Bobby McFerrin
Still Waters
by Greg X. Volz
Green Pastures
by Emmylou Harris
Psalms 23
Buju Banton feat. Gramps
Traveling Light
Allison Mellon, Marc Byrd, Brown Bannister, Steve Hindalong
performed by Joel Hanson & Sara Groves
Savior Like a Shepherd, Lead Us +
The King of Love
Fernando Ort
Psalms
Victoria Williams