Tag Archives: 12 Song Challenge

Lead me

06 Wed Nov 2024

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This is a song written as part of this year’s 12 Song Challenge and I realised I hadn’t put together a demo of the song. So here is a rough piano/vox demo as a placeholder in the meantime. I sung as I played, so the vocal isn’t the best but that isn’t the point of the demo.

If you like my stuff, please take time to like the video and subscribe to my channel as there are more songs coming.

Lead Me

Verse 1:

Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.
As I go through my day I call to you
For you have been my refuge, and my strong tower
And as my heart grows faint, I cry out to you

Chorus:

Lead me, oh lead me, to the rock that is higher than I
My fortress, my refuge, my saviour, beginning and end,

Verse 2:

Let me spend my days resting in your house
Settled safe beneath the shadow of Your wings.
For you heard my cry, answered my prayer
No matter what may come, I know you’re by my side.

Richard Stringer 2024
CCLI Song ID: 7248496

January 12 Months Song Challenge

01 Sun Jan 2023

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Hello, and welcome to 2023!

A new year, a new month and so a new challenge and this month it is to write an Assembly Banger.

From my eldest daughter’s point of view, the last Assembly Banger was Shine Jesus, Shine. Having been around at the time when Graham Kendrick wrote the song and heard him lead it around the time it came out it’s hard to disagree with her.

So in honour of that and before I’ve had a chance to work on any ideas it only seems apt to share the song for everyone’s enjoyment

12 Song Challenge for December

12 Mon Dec 2022

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So the new subject for December is here and its on the global church

Its such a big subject but after a looking of work I settled on the idea of many peoples, tribes and tongues from

So the new subject for December is here and its on the global church

Its such a big subject but after a lot of work I settled on the idea of many peoples, tribes and tongues from Revelation 7: v9

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.”

The initial words and tune came quite quickly, but I found myself straying into tunes that sounded familiar and it took about 4 or 5 tries to find one that I was happy with and I felt was my own work.

I submitted the song and got some good feedback and worked again on the lyrics. They probably need a bit more polish, but I don’t think they will change dramatically, so I felt safe making a demo and here it is.

All Around the World

Verse

We are a church of many nations
Diffr’nt peoples, tribes, and tongues
Some are local some have travelled
To this place that we call home
We have come in expectation.
We have come to praise the Lord
Like brothers our and our sisters all around the world.

Verse

In every land in every country
Every corner of the world
Saints are gathering, some in secret
Some in prison, some are free
They have come in expectation.
They have come to praise you Lord
Joining with God’s children, all around the world.

Verse

When at last we all will see Him
In the new Jerusalem
Pure and spotless without blemish
The Bride of Christ will be revealed
Blessed are those invited to the wedding of the Lamb
They will come from every nation, every people, tribe, and tongue.

(c) Richard Stringer 2022
CCLI Song ID: 7211159

Yes and Amen

24 Thu Nov 2022

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It’s been a long time since I posted and, like of people who do similar things I’m going to blame the busyness of life. There is lots going, most of it good.

I’m still active in the 12 Song Challenge hosted by Resound Worship and the reason for today’s post is to share the song I have submitted for November.

The challenge was to write a song based on Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. It took me a while to find a passage that really stirred me and I finally settled on Chapter 1 and verse 20.

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”

Yes and Amen

All the promises of God find their ”Yes” in Jesus Christ x2
So Ask, seek, knock and the door will be opened to you x2

God says Yes! Yes! Yes! He says Yes! x2
Give glory to God with a loud Amen! x3

Listen on Soundcloud

In The Boat With Jesus

23 Sun Jan 2022

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Well, I have finally done it, I’ve written a song for all-age worship . I’ve been writing songs for use in church since 1985 and this is the very first song I’ve written with this in mind.

It came about because of the theme of this month’s subject on the 12 Song Challenge run by Resound Worship, we were challenged to write a song with more than one voice. Not harmonies but distinct voices and this was what I came up with.

Its based on the story of Jesus calming the storm as described in Matthew 8: 23-27 and Mark 4: 35-40 and is told from the perspective of the disciples who were Fishermen and used to the vagaries of the weather on the Sea of Galilee.

The The Boat With Jesus

Verse 1:

Our boat was on the water,
A place that we knew well
But soon as we had left the shore
The sea began to swell.
But we were sure
We’d seen this before
We’d see our journey through.

Chorus:

Voice one: So we’re not frightened
Voice two: No! No!
Voice one: Not of this wind
Voice two: No! No!
Voice one: Not of these waves
Voice two: No! No!
Voice one: Not on this sea
Voice two: No! No!
All: We might be wrong, but we are strong,
we’ll see this journey through

Verse 2:
But soon the waves were bigger
And the wind began to howl
Lightning flashed and thunder clapped
Things were different now
Not so sure we’d seen this before
Could we see this journey through?

Chorus:
Voice one: But where was Jesus?
Voice two: Sleeping!
Voice one: How could He be
Voice two: Sleeping!
Voice one: Wake up Jesus!
Voice two: Please! Please!
Voice one: Wake up Jesus!
Voice two: Save me!
All: This boat might sink, and we don’t think
we’ll see this journey through.

Verse 3:
But then He stood among us
Awakened from His sleep
Our lack of faith made us afraid
While He had been at peace
Who is this man the waves obey?
Who silences the storm?

Chorus:
Voice one: Who is this man?
Voice two: Its Jesus!
Voice one: What has He done?
Voice two: He’s saved us!
Voice one: Thank you Jesus!
Voice two: Thank you!
Voice one: Yes, Thank you Jesus!
Voice two: Thank you!
All: With You around we’re safe and sound
we’ll see life’s journey through.

(C) Richard Stringer 2022
CCLI Song Number: 7190897

Its Psalms Month

02 Sat Oct 2021

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This month in the 12 Month Song challenge, we are going to be writing songs based on psalms.

Its interesting as you read through the book of psalms how many lines from songs we sing pop up and its no surprise that as a song writer I’ve written my fair share of psalm based songs. Some have work but most haven’t. So this month gives me the opportunity to revisit some of those past efforts and see if I can build some of them into a decent song.

In the meantime I thought I’d share one of the songs I did complete and we have used in church.

It comes from You (Psalm 121)

Verse 1

I lift my eyes up to the mountains where does my help come from?
I lift my eyes up to the mountains where does my help come from?

Chorus 1

(Voice 1) It comes from You
(Voice 2) You are the Maker of heaven and earth.

(Voice 1) It comes from You
(Voice 2) Who watches me and will not fall asleep

(Voice 1) It comes from You
(Voice 2) And who will watch over all of my life

Where can I go but you, Lord?
Where can I go but you?

Verse 2

I lift my prayer up to the heavens where does my help come from?
I lift my prayer up to the heavens where does my help come from?

Chorus 2

(Voice 1) It comes from You
(Voice 2) O Lord My God, I take refuge in You

(Voice 1) It comes from You
(Voice 2) You are my shield and my hiding place

(Voice 1) It comes from You
(Voice 2) You are my rock and the strength of my life.

Where can I go but you, Lord?
Where can I go but you?

Coda

For You have the words of eternal life
You have the words of eternal life
You have the words of eternal life
For me

Last time:

You have the words of eternal life
You have the words of eternal life
You have the words of eternal life
Where can I go but You?
Where can I go but You?

CCLI Song # 7094880

Richard Stringer

© 2017 Stringer, Richard

The Ballad of Joe Lockdown

30 Tue Jun 2020

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It is the end of the month so it must be time to be pulling to demo of this months 12 Song Challenge.

This month’s challenge has been tough with many very good ideas discarded until Lockdown Joe walked onto the stage.

the challenge for this month was:

June Challenge: Living Room Songs
Songs to be sung in living rooms (or other appropriate places around the house)
– for online church
– for small groups
– for domestic liturgy

Suggestions:
Vocal range – maybe C to Bb
Dynamics – using melody and harmony, not arrangement
Acoustics – not so many long notes
Lyrics – appropriate to the moment

I tried very hard to write a worship song and came close, but my submission is this.

Come and Celebrate My Love

Verse 1:

Been too long since we gathered together
Too long to be so far apart
All I’ve got are these four walls
I feel like they are closing in
Jesus hear my prayer!

Chorus:

You say: Peace be still, I am here beside you
Come on and celebrate my love.
‘cause its time to join my people online
Gathering together in new ways

Verse 2:

Where to start? they didn’t teach me this at school
Download what!? My headset plugs in where?
The service doesnt start til ten, but no way will I be ready then
Jesus hear my cry!

Verse 3:

Three months gone, and it all goes smoothly now
Everyday, I’m meeting with the church
I didn’t think we’d still be here
But satan’s run and we have won!
Jesus Christ be praised!

Chorus:

We’re singing: Peace be still, He is here among us
Come and celebrate His love.
‘cause its time to join the church of God online
Gathering together in new ways

April’s 12 Song Challenge

30 Thu Apr 2020

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The theme for April’s songs was songs of solace and hope and I decided early on that I would write a tune that was bright and bubbly and that, for me at least, meant a song in the style of groups like The Beatles, The Hollies, Hermans Hermits etc.

The first part of the chorus was written a long time ago and was one of those scraps I keep hanging around just in case they can be built upon. At the start of the month I finished off the chorus and worked on the structure and some placeholder lyrics.

Last weekend I finalised the words and tune and then set to working on the demo. The biggest challenge was getting the guitar to sound vaguely like I wanted it too, but eventually it was finished in time for the deadline.

Hope you enjoy it and don’t forget to leave a comment.

When I’m With You

Verse 1:
In troubled times 4
Its easy to forget 6
All the promises you’ve made to me
But you’re not like me 5
And You will never change 6
All Your promises are just as true today 11

Pre- chorus
Though the news is bad
I won’t be sad or blue
I will take my stand
‘cos I’ll be found in You

Chorus:
You will never ever leave me
Never will forsake me
Never leave me on my own
I will always have a brother
Always have a sister
Always have a place called home
When I’m with You
When I’m with You

Verse 2:

So even if
I’m struggling to believe
All the promises you’ve made to me
For Your word is true
And it will never change
Lord I believe please help my unbelief

Pre- chorus

For You are my hope,
My anchor in the storm
I will cling to you
for you’ll come through for me.

© Richard Stringer 2020

CCLI Song Number: 7150191

When I’m with You