This page is provided so that you can hear the tunes of items which we use in church. Mostly they are written by the vicar. Please note that they are copyright - we are very happy to give permission to you to use them, but we would like to hear about it. Please include any use on your Christian Copyright Licence returns.
Down this page:
- the words,
- the story,
- the sheet music,
- media player.
Bread
The world needs bread
A song for Harvest, following Christian Aid's theme of "bread"
The world needs bread to feed the hungry
there is enough if all would share.
Thank you, Lord God, that you've provided all
that we need to show your care:
and so if we
will gen'rous be,
we'll make a diff'rence when we dare.
We rich have bread in stocks and savings:
we trade in goods to gain still more.
We hold the strings of power which keep in place
all the debt which makes men poor.
Help us destroy
this evil ploy,
so justice from your throne may pour.
"I am the bread of life," said Jesus;
"Come follow me and you will live.
I give my life that you might find God's peace:
an eternal home you'll have."
But will we trust
that you are just,
that you'll preserve us when we give?
We share the bread and wine in worship,
express our trust in all you've done.
We know you hold our future in your hands,
you've looked after saints who've gone:
and so we place
before your face
our welfare as we trust your Son.
Copyright © John Hartley 2005.
Story behind the song
This song was written following an e-mail correspondence with Peter Graystone, the Christian Aid worship coordinator about the difficulty of providing music for worship on the theme of social justice, suitable for the evangelical and charismatic wing of the churches. It is offered for whatever use Christian Aid might like to make of it, although time is rather short for it to receive much use during the 2005 Harvest season. Critiques are welcome, as it has probably not reached its final form yet.
John Hartley
Windows Media Player. When you click the left-hand "play" button your computer should have started to play the tune. If it didn't, you might be able to get the tune by clicking here, or by right-clicking the link, choosing "save target as", saving it onto your computer, and then opening it with a music-playing program.
Please remember that a midi file of a tune isn't supposed to be a state-of-the-art musical arrangement - it is only supposed to give a basic idea of how the tune goes. Any reasonable organist / keyboard player / music group could make it sound far better.