Sydney Staff Songsters

_{Words and music by Graham Kendrick, arr. Graeme Press
© 1988 Make Way Music
 
  From ‘It Still Feels Like Christmas Time To Me’, 2002} 

Come and join the dance, come and join the song;
Lift your voice and sing, welcome Christ your King!

O come and join the dance that all began so long ago,
when Christ the Lord was born in Bethlehem.
Through all the years of darkness still the dance goes on and on,
O, take my hand and come and join the song.

Rejoice! O lift your voice and sing,
and open up your heart to welcome Him.
Rejoice! And welcome now your King,
for Christ the Lord was born in Bethlehem.

Come shed your heavy load and dance your worries all away,
for Christ the Lord was born in Bethlehem.
He came to break the pow’r of sin and turn your night to day,
O, take my hand and come and join the song.

Let laughter ring and angels sing and joy be all around,
for Christ the Lord was born in Bethlehem.
And if you seek with all your heart, He surely can be found,
O, take my hand and come and join the song.

_{Featuring Meghan Gough & Martin Bust
Words by Lily Sampson, music by Oscar Ahnfelt, arr. Graeme Press (ASCAP)
© This arr. 2006, Graeme Press (ASCAP)}

  _{From ‘Still’ (2006)}

Day by day by day.

As the varied way of life we journey,
come the plains and then the mountain side,
come the days of joy when birds are singing
and the world is fair and sweet and wide.
Then a deeper joy comes overfilling
from the everlasting throne of love
and all other joy is but an echo
from the ever blessèd heights above.

There are shadows on the earthly pathway
where at times uncertainly we tread.
In perplexity we halt and linger
’til our faith again is upward led.
For the heights of truth are ever calling
and celestial radiance from afar,
on our pilgrim way is gently falling
for our comfort where the shadows are.

In the days of peace and golden sunshine,
in the days of joy, or days of woe,
there is confidence in Him who holds us,
there is light to guide us here below.
And beyond await the heights of rapture,
where all earthly joys transcended fade
in the glory of the Saviour’s presence,
in the home eternal He has made.

In the home He has made.

_{Soloist: Elwyn Humbley
Words and music by Jeffrey D. Moran, arr. Graeme Press
© Life Source Music, BMI, © this arr. Graeme Press (ASCAP) 2005}

  _{From ‘Fill This House’ (2005)}

Now some folk are preoccupied with looking young and trim,
and I can still remember when I was just like them.
But time has shown it’s what’s inside your heart that really counts,
and not how many store-bought teeth you have inside your mouth.

Oh, I just love old people, yes I do.
I just love old people, how about you?
With silver traces in their hair, there’s so much wisdom they can share;
I know of none that can compare with old people.

My joints may not be perfect, my walking may be slow,
and it may take me three attempts when I get up to go!
But when it comes to serving God I still have much to give,
like teaching all these younger folk how great it is to live.

So when you’re old and turning grey,
I hope that you’ll hear someone say
that “I just love old people”.

<sub>Soloist: Brooke Sellers
Words and music by C. Aaron Wilburn and Phil Johnson, arr. Graeme Press
© 1999 Darby Corner Music, On the Phipside Music, Winkin Music (admin. Gaither Copyright Management) (SESAC)
© This arr. Graeme Press (ASCAP) 2004

    From ‘Fill This House’ (2005)</sub>

Everywhere I look around me there is pain in every eye.
Broken hearts and promises, the sorrow of goodbye.
I see suffering little children in a world that isn’t fair,
and the only hope is the hope I have of a place somewhere.

Where eyes don’t cry and hearts don’t break,
we’ll never ever wonder why again.
Our questions here He’ll answer there,
where eyes don’t cry and hearts don’t break.

It’s beyond my understanding how everything will be.
I only know my faith has sight of things my eyes can’t see.
And a million years of endless joy for every tear we’ve cried,
will be the gift the Father gives as He welcomes us inside.

_{Words and music by Graeme Press (ASCAP)}

  _{From ‘The Heart Of Worship’ (2002)}

In spirit and in truth we come.
In spirit and in truth we come.
We gather in this sacred place;
We seek His holy face.
In spirit and in truth we come.

In spirit and in truth draw near.
In spirit and in truth draw near.
Come, humbly bow on bended knee
and worship Him alone.
In spirit and in truth draw near.

Holy Lord, meet us here.

_{Soloist: Simon Gough
Words and music by William and Gloria Gaither, Woody Wright, arr. Graeme Press (ASCAP)
© 2002 Gaither Music Company/ASCAP and Would He Write Songs/SESAC}

  _{From ‘Fill This House’, 2005)}

I’m gonna sing just as long as it takes for a song
to make sad, heavy spirits free.
I’m gonna keep makin’ music that carries the secret
that Jesus is liberty.
I’m gonna turn off the sounds that would drag people down
to the pit of despondency
with the sweet, happy tune “He is coming soon
for His children like you and me”.

It’s a song that will carry a message along
through the densest of foggy nights.
And a tune is the rope that can throw a man hope
when he’s goin’ down for the third time.
It’s a sweet melody that can cut your heart free
from the chains of a past defeat.
You can suddenly see through the sweet harmony
a path for your wanderin’ feet.

Don’t tell me the world is a hopeless old place
and I might as well just give in
to the doom and gloom, life’s a waitin’ room
for the blow that’ll do us all in.
I can’t sympathise when before my eyes
is a hope shinin’ bright as day.
I’ve got to follow the song that keeps drawin’ me on
with my feet dancin’ all the way.

I’m gonna sing.

_{Words and music by Sarah Jean Graham, Thomas Hastings alt.,
arr. Graeme Press © 2008}

  _{From ‘Windows Of The World’ (2008)}

On the cross of Calvary, Jesus died for you and me;
There He shed His precious blood that from sin we might be free.
O the cleansing stream does flow, and it washes white as snow.

O what wondrous, wondrous love brought me down at Jesus’ feet!
O such wondrous, dying love asks a sacrifice complete!
Here I give myself to Thee soul and body, Thine to be.

Take me, Jesus, I am Thine wholly Thine, for evermore;
Blessèd Jesus Thou art mine, dwell within for evermore;
Cleanse, O cleanse my heart from sin, make and keep me pure within.
Make and keep me pure within,
Pure within.

_{Soloist: Derek Smith
Words by Charlotte Elliott, music by William Bradbury, arr. Graeme Press© 2003  Graeme Press/ASCAP}

  _{From ‘For Such A Time As This’ (2003)}

Just as I am, without one plea,
but that Thy blood was shed for me,
and that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not
to rid my soul of one dark blot,
to Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind,
sight, riches, healing of the mind,
yes, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thy love unknown
has broken ev’ry barrier down,
now to be Thine, yes Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

_{Soloist: Brooke Sellers
Words and music by Elizabeth Goodine, arr. Graeme Press (ASCAP)
© 1998 Wayne Goodine Music (admin. by ICG). This arr. © 2006 Graeme Press (ASCAP).}

  _{From ‘Still’, (2006)}

In prisoners’ chains with bleeding stripes,
Paul and Silas prayed that night
and in their pain began to sing,
their chains were loosed and they were free.

I bless Your name, I bless Your name.
I give You honour, give You praise.
You are the life, the truth, the way.
I bless Your name, I bless Your name.

Some midnight hour, if you should find
you’re in a prison in your mind.
Reach out and praise, defy those chains
and they will fall in Jesus’ name.

We bless Your name, we bless Your name.
We give you honour, give You praise.
You are the life, the truth, the way.
We bless Your name, we bless Your name.

_{Featuring Brooke Sellers, Ash Sellers, Nicola Poore & Simon Gough
Words and music by Chris O’Brien, arr. Graeme Press
© 1997 Seam of Gold International.  This arr. © 2008 Graeme Press}

  _{From ‘How Can I Keep From Singing’ (2008)}

I can hear the roar of a mighty army, thundering through the land.
Flying banners, lifted high, saying, “Salvation for every man!”
They were reaching out to their neighbours, healing broken hearts.
Spreading the good news of the Gospel and shining the light in the dark.
At the sound of the trumpet we will march forth.
We, His army will rise.

Whatever it takes, whatever the cost, this city belongs to Jesus.
People arise!  People stand up!
Now is the time to harvest.

Can you see the tears of our children?  The future is in our hands.
I can feel the spirit moving; we’re gonna see revival in this land.
Jesus said, “I’ve come to build My church.”
We, His church will arise.

Can you feel the power of love?  Can you feel the power of love?
Can you feel it?  Can you feel it?  Can you feel the power of love?

Can you feel the power of love?  United we stand.
Can you feel the power of love?  Moving through this great land?

Jesus said, “I’ve come to build My church.”
We, His church will arise.

_{Featuring Meghan Gough & Martin Bust
Words and music by Mike Burn, arr. Graeme Press
© 1998 Daybreak Music Limited.  This arr. © 2007 Graeme Press}

  _{From ‘How Can I Keep From Singing’ (2008)}

Whiter than the snow, purer than the clearest stream;
Wash me and I’ll be bathed in purity, I long to feel clean.
A robe of righteousness, a robe that I could not afford;
My Lord, You paid the price, Your perfect sacrifice
has covered up my shame.

And so I thank You Jesus, for the sweet forgiveness of the cross.
It’s a mystery to amaze even angels that when Father looks into my heart,
He sees me now as whiter than the snow.

Lord, wash me and I shall be whiter than the snow.

_{Soloist: Garry Druery
Words by Gloria Gaither, music by William J. Gaither, arr. Graeme Press
© 1982 Gaither Music Company/ASCAP}

  _{From ‘For Such A Time As This’ (2003)}

Deep within the heart has always known that there is freedom.
Somehow breathed into the very soul of life;
The prisoner, the powerless, the slave have always known it,
there’s something that keeps reaching for the sky.

And even life begins because a baby fights for freedom,
and songs we love to sing have freedom’s theme.
Some have walked through fire and flood
to find a place of freedom,
and some faced hell itself for freedom’s dream.

Let freedom ring wherever minds know what it means to be in chains.
Let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain.
Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key,
we can be free and we can sing “Let freedom ring!”

God built freedom into every fibre of creation
and He meant for us to all be free and whole.
Oh, but when my Lord bought freedom
with the blood of His redemption
His cross stamped pardon on my very soul.

I’ll sing it out with ev’ry breath! I’ll let the whole world hear it;
This hallelujah anthem of the free,
that iron bars and heavy chains can never hold us captive,
the Son has made us free and free indeed!

Let freedom ring down through the ages from a hill called Calvary.
Let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain.
Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key,
You can be free and you can sing, “Let freedom ring!”

_{Words and music by Dan Burgess, arr. Graeme Press (ASCAP)
© 1983 Belwin Mills Publishing Inc. (admin. by Warner Bros. Publications US Inc.)
This arr. © 2005 Graeme Press (ASCAP)}

  _{From ‘Still’ (2006)}

When the valley is deep, when the mountain is steep,
when the body is weary, when we stumble and fall.
When the choices are hard, when we’re battered and scarred,
when we’ve spent our resources, when we’ve given our all.

In Jesus’ name, we press on.
In Jesus’ name, we press on.
Dear Lord, with the prize clear before our eyes,
we find the strength to press on.

Forgetting all that is behind us
and straining toward all that lies before,
we press on toward the mark of our high calling,
that is ours in Christ, our Lord!

_{Soloist: Meghan Gough
Words by Ivy Mawby, music by George Marshall, arr. Graeme Press
© The Salvation Army, this arr. 2008 Graeme Press}

  _{From ‘Windows Of The World’ (2008)}

Softly the shadows fall o’er land and sea,
voices of evening call, speaking to me;
Busy my hands this day, small time to think or pray;
Now at the close of day I come to Thee.

Lord, ’tis Thy tender touch now we implore;
Day with its toil is done, labour is o’er;
Now in the evening while shadows fall,
grant us Thy peace, who give to Thee our all.

What can I bring to Thee, fruit of the day?
Have I walked worthily in work and play,
lightened my brother’s load, walking life’s toilsome road,
new strength and love bestowed, Master, I pray?

_{Featuring Brooke Sellers & Derek Smith
Words and music by Lee Kernaghan, arr. Graeme Press
© 2002 This arr. Graeme Press ASCAP}

  _{From ‘It Still Feels Like Christmas Time To Me’ (2002)}

There isn’t any falling snow, no sleigh bells ringing by my door,
but it still feels like Christmas time to me.
The weather man says hot today, the kids are swimming in the lake,
but it still feels like Christmas time to me.

We know it won’t snow in late December,
but we’ll still decorate the Christmas tree.
You can still feel the magic from the outback to the sea,
for it still feels like Christmas time to me.

There’s not a snowman to be found, the country’s turning golden brown,
but it still feels like Christmas time to me.
’Cos long ago a Child was born one starry night in Bethlehem,
and it still feels like Christmas time to me.

We know it won’t snow in late December,
but we’ll still gather ’round the Christmas tree.
You can still feel the magic from the outback to the sea,
for it still feels like Christmas time to me.