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I'll Sing A Little Song​.​.​. (Prayers & Celebrations)

by Alexander Massey

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1.
“Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the straight of heart.”
2.
“Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the straight of heart.”
3.
“Adonai, Adonai, a God compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and faithfulness, extending kindness to the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin.”
4.
“Adonai, Adonai, a God compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and faithfulness, extending kindness to the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin.”
5.
“My God, my light, my help, how could I fear? My God, my strength, my life, I won’t be afraid. My God, my light. / Just one thing only I ask, my God, just one thing I seek: to live in your house, my God, all the days of my life, to gaze on your beauty, my God, and to return to my royal home.”
6.
7.
“1. Bless Yah, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless Yah, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits; who forgives all your iniquity; who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit; who encompasses you with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 2. Who satisfies your old age with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle. Yah executes righteousness, and acts of justice for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his doings to the children of Israel. Yah is full of compassion and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 3. He will not always contend; neither will he keep his anger for ever. He has not dealt with us after our sins, nor requited us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
8.
“1. There is none like our God; there is none like our Lord; there is none like our King; there is none like our Saviour. 2. Who is like … etc. 3. Let us thank … etc. 4. Blessed be … etc. 5. You are … etc.”
9.
“I’ll sing a little song, a song for you. You, you, you, only you. Where can I find you? Where could I not find you? You, you, you, only you. Wherever I go, you, you. Whenever I’m still, you, you. When all goes well, or when things go ill, you, you, you, only you. To East, you, to West, you, to North, you, to South, you, to Heaven, you, to Earth, you, below, you, above, you. You, you, you, always, only you.”
10.
“God is my shepherd; I lack nothing. God makes me lie down in green pastures; God leads me to water in places of repose; God renews my life; God guides me in right paths as befits God’s name. Though I walk through a valley of deepest darkness, I fear no harm, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. You spread a table for me in full view of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my drink is abundant. Only goodness and steadfast love shall pursue me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of God for many long years.”
11.
“1. Sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless his name, proclaim day after day his salvation. 2. Ascribe to the Lord, kindred of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name, bring an offering, and come into his courts. 3. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the seas roar, and all that is in them; let the fields exult, and all that is in them; then shall all the forest trees sing with joy … 4. … in the presence of the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to govern the earth; he will govern the world with justice, and peoples with his faithfulness.”
12.
“These and these/those are the words of the Living God.”
13.
May we search for shalom with all who live nearby, And may we pray for shalom to Adonai. For when shalom descends, Then all unkindness ends. For when shalom descends, our enemies become our friends.
14.
“1. Who is like you among the gods, O God? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, awesome in splendour, doing wonders? Yah will reign for ever and ever! 2. A new song the redeemed sang to your name at the shore of the sea. Yah will reign … 3. Together, all praised, and acknowledged [Your sovereignty] and proclaimed: Yah will reign …”
15.
“May the words of my mouth, and the song in my heart be pleasing to you, my God, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
16.

about

In summer 2023, these songs formed the programme for a devotional, illustrated talk I gave to the Oxford (UK) Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ); many of these texts are shared by Jews and Christians. A musical setting of a text creates its own world, and suggests a particular way of seeing, hearing and feeling. For me, these songs are both emotional statements, and psychological and theological commentaries. But above all, they are songs for the soul—a call to the precious immediacy of prayer and intimacy with God.

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released September 18, 2023

All music composed, arranged, performed (vocals, guitar, piano, percussion), and recorded by Alexander Massey in Oxford, UK. © 2023 Alexander Massey

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Alexander Massey Oxford, UK

A sacred songwriter and performer, I draw on more than 40 years as a multi-genre singer (opera, folk, music theatre, jazz), multi-instrumentalist, theatre director, teacher, academic, writer, community activist, charity trustee, mentor, communication coach, workshop leader, interfaith activist, cantorial soloist, celebrant, retreat facilitator, Jewish Renewal-ist and leader of ritual and prayer. ... more

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