Open our hearts – gathering song
I wrote this last year as part of the 12 Song Challenge. First challenge was to write a gathering song – and because I like my liturgy and like to be inspired by texts that are already there – this is based on the Collect for Purity. I’ve linked it to Wiki in case this is totally unfamiliar to you and you want to find out where the text comes from. It’s a text that’s carved on my own consciousness from childhood. I really enjoyed writing this simple, energetic little song which I think could be used in the kind of worship setting where you might not normally consider using the original.
It’s meant to be a bit bouncy – simple home recording to follow so you get the idea. Needs to swing. I scored this on MuseScore (free version) when I’d just had the software recommended to me. I’d recommend it to anyone – great way to turn illegible ideas into tidy scores. Someone how plays guitar tells me that these chords with capo on 2nd fret make this just about as easy as it gets – like those “200 songs with 3 chords” books you used to be able to get 🙂
Celebrating Women’s Ministry “With You, dear Lord”
Recently (Feb 2025) my lovely colleagues on the Diocese of Leeds team of Women’s Ministry Advisors have been promoting a crowd-funder. They’re raising money to commission O’Hooley and Tiddow (local writers of folk tunes – and contributors to the soundtrack of the Gentleman Jack BBC TV series) to write a song celebrating the ministry of women, in time for International Women’s Day 2026. Click through to find out more about that and contribute if you would like to.
Unfortunately I only skim read the original email telling me about this and thought “Oooo – they’re inviting submissions – I’ll write something” – so I did. The result – “With you, dear lord.” Recording and sheet music (guitar chords and piano) to follow – in the meantime this is the text. There’s too much of it – I’d be tempted to skip the odd verse depending on season and context used in. But the thing is, I’m a liturgy geek and couldn’t write a Good Friday verse without a Resurrection verse (lyrically the weakest I feel – and open to future editing).
Where were we when angels sang of glory over Bethlehem? – when bright star guided diverse Magi searching for a King? – when you became a refugee, pursued by power, where were we? With you, dear Lord, with you. Women throughout ages asked to open hearts of welcome true to you, Dear Lord, to you.
Where were we when fisherfolk abandoned nets to follow you? – when those rejected by their own were welcomed to the feast? – when you declared the captives free, fulfilling scripture, where were we? With you, dear Lord, with you. Women throughout ages hearing we are called to follow too, with you, Dear Lord, with you.
Where were we when in an upper room you washed disciples feet? – when one betrayed, when one denied three times and others fled? – when you were nailed in agony, when sky grew dark Lord, where were we? With you, dear Lord, with you. Sisters, mothers, true disciples as the curtain tore in two, with you, Dear Lord, with you.
Where were we when angels rolled a stone away from empty tomb? – when people ran to share the news of resurrection joy? – when fish was cooked by Galilee and love was spoken, where were we? With you, dear Lord, with you. Women throughout ages hearing we are called to follow too, with you, Dear Lord, with you.
Where were we when through the ages others would deny our place? – when ways of men rejected those you call to break your bread? – when ears were deaf to martyrs pleas, when saints adored you, where were we? With you, dear Lord, with you. Striving to be all you made us, more than world would know us due, with you, Dear Lord, with you.
Where are we as sisters called to share good news of liberty? – when everyday in streets and towns your people seek your face? Standing for equality, in church and nation, where are we? With you, dear Lord, with you. Women for the ages, for your Kingdom, witnessing Good News, with you, Dear Lord, with you.
It came upon a Midnight Clear
I wrote this years ago when I was the Vicar of Lindley, and spent a lot of time working with the schools in that parish. I wrote it because I love the carol – and wanted a more ‘worship song’ version I could sing and accompany myself. The Infant School in Lindley is C of E and then the children go up to a separate Junior School (on the same site) which is rather legendary for their multi-award winning choirs. In my head this is folky and atmospheric and the ‘Gloria’s build through the verses until said award winning choir are singing it with me, or you 🙂 As I keep saying – recording to follow (sans choir I’m afraid).
