For church music directors and retreat facilitators:
Here are some well-known melodies that I've re-written the lyrics to, turning them into inspirational sing-along songs. This provides me with a cache of easy-to-sing tunes at spiritual retreats, Course In Miracles study groups, and Sunday services. Feel free to print these out and use them at your own spiritual gatherings.
QUIETLY
Tune: Yesterday by Lennon/McCartney
Lyrics: Marcy Matasick
Quietly,
in the stillness of eternity
I find holiness surrounding me.
God comes to me
so quietly.
Opening
to the greatest love I’ve ever known,
to a wisdom far beyond my own.
I’m opening,
the way is shown.
As I breathe in God
Here and now
God breathes in me.
Between God and me,
I can see no boundary.
Quietly,
in the silence of infinity,
All the words are gone; I just believe.
And I am healed
so quietly
LIKE A SEED WITHIN THE EARTH
Tune: Sounds of Silenceby Paul Simon
Lyrics: Marcy Matasick
Like a seed within the earth
I am ready to be birthed
In the dark, I know not how to grow
Yet the life of God within me knows
The vision, of what I’m meant to be
When I can't see
I trust in God to grow me.
Reaching deep for sustenance
reaching up for nurturance
Everything I need is given me
In this garden of infinity
I am growing, without knowing how or why
Don’t have to tryI trust in God to grow me.
I may be a daffodil
Or an oak up on the hill
But it doesn’t matter what I am
Long as I fulfill God’s perfect plan
Unfolding my uniqueness in God’s way
It’s all okay
I trust in God to grow me
MAY YOU BE BLESSED
Danny Boy / Londonderry Air
Lyrics: Marcy Matasick
May you be blessed, may you be blessed abundantly
May blessings come to you from far and near
May every day be filled with joy and beauty
May you be free from worry and from fear
For you are loved, and always in a state of grace
And you are safe, no matter where you are
The love of God enfolds you in a sweet embrace
My wish for you is that you know how loved you are
Your guardian angels hover close around you
they sing to you their songs of heaven’s love
They whisper words of faith and hope to guide you
and holy wisdom they remind you of
For you are loved, and always in a state of grace
And you are safe, no matter where you are
The love of God enfolds you in a sweet embrace
My wish for you is that you know how loved you are
YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE (as sung to God!)
Lyrics: Marcy Matasick
You are my sunshine,
my only sunshine
You make me happy
when skies are gray
You surely know, God
how much I love you
You’re my sun, and I am your ray
Throughout this life, God,
I have been sleeping
I dreamed that I was all alone
I was mistaken;
Now I awaken:
I’ve been held in your arms all along
I let your love in, to fill my heart up
Teach me to love the way You do
With no conditions, and no exceptions
I’m an open channel for You
The light of God is
the stuff we're made of
It shines within us tirelessly
No cloud of darkness
can ever dim it
In this light, only oneness I see
[Repeat 1st verse]
PRAYER OF SAINT FRANCIS
Tune: The Rose by Amanda McBroom
Lyrics: from the prayer of St. Francis, adapted by Marcy Matasick
O-oh Lord, make me a channel
of your peace, of your peace
And wherever I see hatred
Let me sow a little love
Where there’s injury, sow pardon
To despair, let me bring hope
Where there’s darkness, let my light shine
Where there’s sadness, I’ll bring joy
May I never seek as much to
be consoled, as to console
May I seek to understand more
rather than be understood
Holy, Master, let me not seek
to be loved, but to be loving
O-oh Lord, make me a channel
of your peace, of your peace
For it truly is in giving
that we learn how to receive
And it’s only in forgiving
that forgiveness comes to us
And it’s only in the dying
to ourselves, that we may live
O-oh Lord, make me a channel
of your peace, of your peace
MY RELATIONS ARE THEY
(a blessing for the animals)
Tune: What a Wonderful World by George Weiss, Bob Thiele
Lyrics: Marcy Matsick
They wear coats of scales, feathers or fur
They all belong - they all share this world
and I honor these ones:
my relations are they
They may walk on paws, others may fly
They care for their young, they live and they die
and I honor these ones:
my relations are they
The Spirit of Creation that breathed us into birth,
Now holds us all together with every life on earth
We are born of the One, to the One we’ll return
Love is the lesson we must learn
Every creature has wisdom of its own
Wisdom and knowledge that I’ll never know
and I honor these ones:
my relations are they
Yes, I honor these ones
my relations are they
GOD, SHOW ME HEAVEN
Tune: Goodnight, Irene by Leadbelly
Lyrics: Marcy Matasick
There’s only beauty in heaven
Oneness and harmony
Singing, rejoicing and dancing,
Peaceful and loving and free
We can see glimpses of heaven
Shining through you and me
Heaven is here all around us
If that’s what we want to see
[Chorus:]
God, show me he-e-eaven
I want to see
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
On earth, today, through me
There’s no such thing as a sinner
There’s no such place as hell
But when we feel disconnected
From God, it sure feels like hell
Grace is a state of forgiveness
No karmic debt to pay
Whether you think you deserve it,
you still can choose heaven today
[chorus]
I see the love of God shining
There in your eyes right now
I feel the life of God flowing
Filling my world all around
God wants us all to be happy
Living in harmony
Bringing His Kingdom of heaven
To earth, as reality
[chorus]
THE FACE OF GOD
Tune: Fire & Rain by James Taylor
lyrics: Marcy Matasick
I look with my eyes, and only the surface I see
Only the separateness and the differences
You’re bigger or smaller, older or younger than me
Different beliefs and different experiences
But, there’s another way to see
There’s a quiet knowing — a feeling deep inside
Of the Spirit Life flowing through both you and me
Looking with my heart, I can see the face of God
So look in my eyes--
you’ll see your Self shining there
That’s how you see
that you’re getting close to Home
Smile in your heart, knowing you don’t have a care
Know that you’ll never walk this earth alone
Yes, there’s another way to see
There’s a quiet knowing — s24 a feeling deep inside
Of the same Life Force
flowing through both you and me
Looking with your heart you can see the face of God
When you look down upon me, Jesus,you’ll find me singing this song
Over and over — sing it to everyone
Until I know it in the depths of my soul
‘til I can see God’s face in everyone
Oh, there’s another way to see
There’s a quiet knowing — a feeling deep inside
Of the same sweet Life
flowing through both you and me
Looking with my heart, I can see the face of God
I RELEASE!
Tune: Bless Them All (a WWII song)
Lyrics: Marcy Matasick
I release! I release!
All things that I no longer need
The fears and the worries
The judgements and shoulds
And all that has kept me from my highest good
I can finally say I am free!
The past can have no hold on me
I listen to One Voice; I make a new choice:
With the help of my God, I release!
I receive! I receive!
Great blessings are coming to me
I’m steadily walking each day toward the light
And trusting in Spirit to guide me a-right
There’s a much higher Plan, I believe
Than anything my eyes can see
Now God is revealing His Plan for my healing
I open my heart and receive!
GOD BLESS OUR PLANET EARTH
Tune: God Bless America
Lyrics: Sally-Alice Thompson & Marcy Matasick
[Intro:] We are all related on the land and sea
And we all are yearning, to be safe and free
Let us show our reverence for this world we share
As we raise our voices in a song and prayer:
God bless our Planet, Earth,
World that we love;Let the creatures, and people
Live in peace like in Heaven above
Bless the continents, and the islands
And the oceans, white with foam.
God bless our Planet, Earth,
Our home, sweet home
God bless our Planet, Earth
Our home, sweet home
I AM READY!
Tune: I've Been Workin' on the Railroad
lyrics: Marcy Matasick
I am ready to let go of
dreams of littleness
Letting go of all illusions
that Iin ’m weak and powerless
Ready to accept my role as
a holy Christed one
co-creator with my God, now:
sunbeam to the Sun!
Channeling the light (Dinah won't you blow)
channeling the love
channeling the good and beautiful
Who I thought I was,
never truly was.
Greatness always was God’s will.
Of my little "self" I do nothing (someone's in the kitchen)
But the Christ of me can do it all
All the power of God flows through me
Manifesting miracles
How much, God & love & light (fe fi fiddlei-o)
Am I willing to manifest?
How much God & love & light
am I willing to express?
I am here to be a master (I've been working)
I can have no fear
Side by side I walk with Jesus,
as his friend and as his peer
God created me for greatness,
as a Christed one.
I am ready to be holy!
Let His will be done!
I WANT TO THINK THE THOUGHTS OF GOD
Tune: When the Saints Go Marching In
lyrics: Marcy Matasick
I want to think the thoughts of God
I want to think the thoughts of God
Let no fears or worries distract me
From the holy thoughts of God
I want to feel the love of God
I want to feel the love of God
I am loved and loving forever
In the holy love of God
I want to live the peace of God
I want to live the peace of God
Even where there seems to be conflict
I will live the peace of God
I want to shine the light of God
I want to shine the light of God
Let no doubts or fears cast a shadow
On the holy light of God
I want to see the higher view
The eyes of God I would look through
I will see such beauty and glory
When I see God’s point of view
I want to dance with heaven’s joy
I want to dance with heaven’s joy
So much joy I cannot contain it
I will dance with heaven’s joy!
IN THE LOVE OF GOD I DWELL
Tune: Michael, Row the Boat Ashore
Lyrics: Marcy Matasick
In the love of God I dwell - alleluia
God is here and all is well - alleluia
Love of God is infinite - alleluia
Holding all of us in it - alleluia
Let me always be aware - alleluia
That God’s love is everywhere - alleluia
I’m surrounded and embraced - alleluia
By God’s holy love and grace - alleluia
Sweet communion makes me whole - alleluia
Satisfies my very soul - alleluia
Lift me up and hold me near - alleluia
To your sacred heart so dear - alleluia
Fill my heart until it sings - alleluia
Flow through me to bless all things - alleluia
Let me always keep in mind - alleluia
I am God’s and God is mine - alleluia
In the love of God I dwell - alleluia
God is here and all is well - alleluia
IN TUNE
Tune: She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain
Lyrics: Marcy Matasick
If you want to be in tune with Higher Power
Then you've got to watch your thinking hour by hour
‘cause the mind is always drifting
and emotions always shifting,
And you quickly lose the signal from God’s tower
So be sure to hold the highest thoughts in mind
Thoughts of love and joy and goodness of all kinds
Take attention off what’s missing
and be grateful for your blessings
And your blessings will be multiplied, you’ll find
All around us there are many frequencies
From the lowest, to the highest harmonies
All the static and the chatter
and appearances don’t matter:
Keep your dial on the channel G - O - D
