'Bridge Builders'

Songs that work well in worship with both adults and children


The list below is by no means exhaustive; there are many more songs which I believe will work equally well, but I cannot yet claim to have tested as thoroughly. Here follows a short list of those songs which I have tried and tested in all three of the following situations:

  1. With children (in Sunday School/ school/ Lighthouse/ with groups of young people visiting Iona 1).
  2. With adults (in churches/'Big Sings'/vocal training workshops/ with choirs/in worship at Iona Abbey).
  3. With adults and children (in churches and at Iona Abbey)

The songs:

  1. Amazing Grace
    Words: John Newton, 1725- 1807. Music: Traditional, arr. Roland Fudge. No 10 in Fudge, R., Horrobin, P. & Leavers, G. (compilers) (1983) Mission Praise. London: Marshall Pickering

  2. Behold, I make all things new Words: traditional liturgical. Music: John L. Bell. p84 in Bell, J.L. & The Wild Goose Worship Group (1994) Come All You People -- Shorter Songs for Worship. Glasgow: Wild Goose Publications

  3. Be still for the presence of the Lord
    Words and music: David J. Evans. No 12 in Bell, J.L. et.al. (eds.) (1998) Common Ground - A Song Book for All the Churches. Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press

  4. Be still and know that I am God
    Words: John Bell and Graham Maule. Music: John Bell. p96 in Bell, J.L. & Maule, G. (1988) Enemy of Apathy. Glasgow: Wild Goose Publications

  5. Bless the Lord
    Words: Taize Community; Music: Jacques Berthier. No 9 in Songs and Prayers from Taize (1991) London: Geoffrey Chapman Mowbray

  6. Deus de Deo
    Words: traditional liturgical. Music: John L. Bell. p49 in Bell, J.L. & The Wild Goose Worship Group (1994) Come All You People -- Shorter Songs for Worship. Glasgow: Wild Goose Publications

  7. Don't be afraid
    Words and Music: John L. Bell. p72 in Bell, J.L. & The Wild Goose Worship Group (1994) Come All You People - Shorter Songs for Worship. Glasgow: Wild Goose Publications

  8. For yours is the Kingdom
    Words: traditional liturgical. Music: John L. Bell. p86 in Bell, J.L. & The Wild Goose Worship Group (1994) Come All You People - Shorter Songs for Worship. Glasgow: Wild Goose Publications

  9. From the rising of the sun
    Words: Psalm 113:3. Music: John L. Bell. p26 in Bell, J.L. & The Wild Goose Worship Group (1994) Come All You People - Shorter Songs for Worship. Glasgow: Wild Goose Publications

  10. Halle Halle Halle
    Words: traditional liturgical. Music: Caribbean; arr. John L. Bell. p32 in Bell, J.L. & The Wild Goose Worship Group (1998) There is One Among Us - Shorter Songs for Worship. Glasgow: Wild Goose Publications

  11. If you believe and I believe
    Words and music: Zimbabwean traditional. p72 in Bell, J.L. (ed. & arr.) (1991) Sent By The Lord - Songs of the World Church Volume 2. Glasgow: Wild Goose Publications

  12. In the Lord I'll be ever thankful (El Senyor)
    Words: Taize Community; Music: Jacques Berthier. No 47 in Songs and Prayers from Taize (1991) London: Geoffrey Chapman Mowbray

  13. It's me, it's me, it's me O Lord
    Words and music: traditional. No 119 in Burt, P., Horrobin, P. & Leavers, G. (eds.) (1997) Junior Praise. London: Marshall Pickering

  14. Jesu Tawa Pano
    Words and music: Patrick Matsikenyiri. p62 in Bell, J.L. (ed. & arr.) (1990) Many & Great - Songs of the World Church Volume 1. Glasgow: Wild Goose Publications

  15. Jubilate Deo
    Words: Taize Community; Music: Jacques Berthier. No 23 in Songs and Prayers from Taize (1991) London: Geoffrey Chapman Mowbray

  16. Jubilate, Servite
    Words: Taize Community; Music: Jacques Berthier. No 18 in Songs and Prayers from Taize (1991) London: Geoffrey Chapman Mowbray

  17. Kyrie Eleison
    Words: traditional liturgical text; Music: Dinah Reindorf. p28 in Bell, J.L. (ed. & arr.) (1990) Many & Great - Songs of the World Church Volume 1. Glasgow: Wild Goose Publications

  18. Kyrie Eleison
    Words: traditional liturgical text; Music: from the Russian Orthodox tradition. p58 in Bell, J.L. (ed. & arr.) (1990) Many & Great - Songs of the World Church Volume 1. Glasgow: Wild Goose Publications

  19. Lord of the Dance
    Words: Sydney Carter; Music: American Shaker tune. No 375 in The English Hymnal Company Ltd. (compiler) (1986) The New English Hymnal. Norwich: Canterbury Press

  20. Magnificat
    Words: Taize Community; Music: Jacques Berthier. No 45 in Songs and Prayers from Taize (1991) London: Geoffrey Chapman Mowbray

  21. O Lord, hear my prayer
    Words: Taize Community; Music: Jacques Berthier. No 20 in Songs and Prayers from Taize (1991) London: Geoffrey Chapman Mowbray

  22. On God alone
    Words: from Psalm 62, paraphrased by John L. Bell. Music: John L. Bell. p73 in Bell, J.L. & The Wild Goose Worship Group (1998) There is One Among Us - Shorter Songs for Worship. Glasgow: Wild Goose Publications

  23. Peruvian Gloria
    Words: traditional liturgical text; music: traditional. p40 in Bell, J.L. (ed. & arr.) (1991) Sent By The Lord - Songs of the World Church Volume 2. Glasgow: Wild Goose Publications

  24. Seek ye first
    Words and music: Karen Lafferty (arr. Roland Fudge). No 201 in Burt, P., Horrobin, P. & Leavers, G. (eds.) (1997) Junior Praise. London: Marshall Pickering

  25. The Lord is my Light
    Words: Taize Community; Music: Jacques Berthier. No 36 in Songs and Prayers from Taize (1991) London: Geoffrey Chapman Mowbray

  26. The Son of Mary
    Words: John L. Bell & Graham Maule; music: Geordie Traditional. p82 in Bell, J.L. & Maule, G. (1987) Heaven Shall Not Wait. Glasgow: Wild Goose Publications

  27. Uyai Mose
    Words & music: Alexander Gondo, arr. John L. Bell. p14 in Bell, J.L. & The Wild Goose Worship Group (1994) Come All You People - Shorter Songs for Worship. Glasgow: Wild Goose Publications

  28. Walk in the light
    Words and music: Damien Lundy. No 472 in Burt, P., Horrobin, P. & Leavers, G. (eds.) (1997) Junior Praise. London: Marshall Pickering

  29. We are marching in the light of God (Siyahamba)
    Words: South African Traditional; music: South African Traditional, arr. Anders Nyberg. No.139 in Bell, J.L. et.al. (eds.) (1998) Common Ground - A Song Book for All the Churches. Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press





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  1. I was the resident Abbey Musician at Iona Abbey in 1994. Back to text