My debut EP, No Part of You, was released in February 2010. The four original songs on the album range from snarky love songs to honest explorations of faith, from the full band sound of “World on Fire” to the stripped down piano-and-vocals-only raw feel of “Stick Around.” Listen to and download the album, including a bonus track (a live version of “No Part of You” featuring Gary Mitchell) for FREE below or pick it up on iTunes.
I decided at some point recently that I want to be a hymnwriter. What exactly this might look like, I’m not sure, but I’m starting to get an inkling. Here are two hymns I’ve written recently. “Gather, Grow and Go” was written for Orange United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill, NC, the lyrics based on their new vision statement. It has been a blessing for this song to be used in worship, both in traditional and contemporary settings. “Spirit Hymn” was the fruit of a class I took in seminary about the Holy Spirit.
“Spirit Hymn”
Spirit, unify us by your love
Spirit, draw us in your life above
Pour yourself upon our hearts
Through your grace which abounds
You are gift and you are giver, you surround
Spirit
Spirit, open out our hearts to you
Spirit, make our sweet communion true
Give us strength to overcome
All the bound’ries in place
Open us to see God’s image on each face
Spirit
Spirit, comfort us in suffering
Spirit, to the body help us cling
Make us see upon the cross
Christ whose wounds are the balm
Hold us safe within the Savior’s nail-scarred palm
Spirit
Spirit, prophet and redeeming one
Spirit, with the Father and the Son
Let us live into your love
As partakers of God
Help us witness to your glory shed abroad
Spirit
“Gather, Grow and Go”
We gather in your name
We grow together in love
Then we go out in the same
The work of faith to be done
And you will walk by our side
As Father, Spirit and Son
Lord, we will gather, grow and go
We come with joys that we share
In thanks for all you have done
We come with burdens to bear
In faith that healing will come
We are the body of Christ
The hands and feet of your Son
So we will gather, grow and go
Words and music (c) 2011 Sarah S. Howell
