Songs to welcome new church members

At Brunswick Uniting we have a special service twice a year to welcome new people to our community. Those who want to be part of the community (but who may not necessarily be seeking membership by baptism, confirmation or a confession of faith) are invited to name Brunswick as their community of faith.

  • CH198 / MV001 / GC753 / GC(II)741 / RS 846 Let Us Build a House / All are welcome (Haugen / TWO OAKS) This song has wonderful lyrics of hope for what a Christian community can be like, and a chorus that joyfully says “All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place”. Sheet music sample. Sound sample. Lyrics (scroll down a little).
  • MV 145 / CP418 / SP&P123 Draw the circle wide (Light) A great song about welcoming all people. Lyrics (downloads a Word document). Chorus is “Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still. Let this be our song, no-one stands alone, standing side by side, draw the circle wide”.
  • Online Resource: Welcome to this circle (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A lovely song of “radical inclusivity” which is kind of what our welcoming service is about. This song is more a promise coming from the congregation that welcomes all regardless of their level of faith. We’ve sung this a couple of times at welcoming services already. Youtube. Sheet music available here.
  • Tune In: Community (Brown) “Part of a fam’ly, interconnected, this is community”. A big favourite at Brunswick. Excellent words and very easy to sing; really good for a welcoming service. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook available here.
  • ACS978 / GtG399 God welcomes all (John Bell / South African Traditional) A simple song of welcome, if your table is fully welcoming. Sound sample

Songs for Confirmation Services

This will grow over time, so check it when you need it; it's really only just a draft at the moment
  • NCH350 Now in the days of youth (Mathams) Sung to the familiar tune DIADEMATA, this song has great words for young people, including those being confirmed, asking for knowledge to use their lives wisely and to love truthfully. 
  • FFS65 / SFFS 2185 This thread I weave / For one great peace (Shirley Erena Murray) Lovely simple song about how all our actions can be part of a prayer for peace.  Good for kids.
  • ATOK 320 / NCH351 / VU645 / StJ / WoV770 / ELW732 / SFFS 2051 / HPP516 / W&R680 / Cha075 I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry. A song of God’s presence in all stages of life. Very simple tune to sing. Lyrics, and a nice (slow) sound sample.
  • NCH354 God, when I came into this life (Kaan) Excellent words of commitment to a well known shape note tune (LAND OF REST).
  • ATOK 348 / Iona (HSNW) / G(II)496 / GC692 / GC(II)697 Come with me / Sing hey for the carpenter (Iona) Excellent. I love this one. Very joyous, and a big favourite in our congregation. Lyrics. I think its strange that some have changed it to "sing yes for the carpenter".
  • ATOK 413 / Iona (HSNW) / CH533 / VU567 / StS039 / R276 / ELW798 / GA502 / SFFS 2130 / HPP317 / G(II)510 / GC700 / GC(II)687 / CP430 / CP(E) 622 / W&R350 / URW060 Will you come and follow me / The Summons (Iona / KELVINGROVE) A classic. Don't sing it too slowly or it really drags and takes forever! Lyrics and tune sample.
  • ATOK 412 / Iona (SBL, Common Ground) / CH250 / MV212 / SFFS 2184 Sent by the Lord am I / Sent out in Jesus name / Enviado soy de Dios (Traditional Cuban) / Great rhythm, good words and not too hard to sing (provided you sing it a little slowly the first time!) I prefer the MV translation "Sent out in Jesus' name". Lyrics.
  • Cha373 Be In Our Midst O Christ (Cartwright) Good for the end of a baptism of some adults, or confirmation, particularly of young adults; it's the same tune as "This is a day of new beginnings" so will be familiar to some congregations.
  • G(3)897 You Have Been Enlightened (Cuddy) Slightly mushy blessing for a confirmation class who have worked carefully towards confirmation / rite of Christian initiation. Sound sample. Melody line and lyrics.