Dispersed Choir
I was talking with people on twitter the other day where people were responding to the recent blessing UK song. We thought it was great, but that it wasn’t a very inclusive song, with very few disabled voices and no signing or captions.
We thought it might be a good idea to do a song of our own.
Timeline of a song
I think that at some point our church buildings will reopen, not simply for an individual, but for people to come back together. My fear is that having moved online and seen the benefits of connecting together that there may be a celebration when people come back together which we may be left out of.
I want to provide a music video for churches to play in their services (Where singing is unlikely to be allowed) that reminds them that some of us will still be isolated and separated as we ever were.
This video should reflect all groups of people who cannot return to churches and even those who may return, but are aware of us not being there. It should be captioned and signed in all venues and should be to the glory of God!
As my background is in Music (I’m a french horn player and arranger of music) I took today to try to put something together and this is where I am at so far.
After trying to produce other people’s music I realised that there might be mileage in writing something of our own within our community.
Since then I have developed an idea based on the Disability and Jesus daily office tagline – ‘Alone Together’ – http://anordinaryoffice.org.uk/
Process for production
1 – Backing Track
For this process to work we will all need to be recorded singing (and signing) to a backing track.
This will be a rhythm heavy mix that we can listen to through headphones while we sing along.
2 – Musical Parts
Currently I have only produced a singing part with Guitar chords, but this will quickly be added to with harmonies and parts for different instruments – Let me know what you fancy playing! Everything from triangle to trumpet will be included if I can
Vocal Part
The Lyrics in order of the backing track
Alone together
is where we sit at Jesus’ feet,
Alone together
is where we meet.
Spending time with each other,
sharing our pain, our joy, our fears
The love of Jesus is with us here.
Wherever we are God hears our call.
We hold on to him through uncertainty.
He brings us hope when we live in shades of darkness.
He will lift us when we fall.
Alone together
is where we sit at Jesus’ feet,
Alone together
is where we meet.
Spending time with each other,
sharing our pain, our joy, our fears
The love of Jesus is with us here.
Be with us now as we meet with you.
Alone in our homes, come hear our prayer.
bring hope in your Churches where we can join together.
Lord give us your power anew.
Alone together
is where we sit at Jesus’ feet,
Alone together
is where we meet.
Spending time with each other,
sharing our pain, our joy, our fears
The love of Jesus is with us here.
Alone together
is where we sit at Jesus’ feet,
Alone together
is where we meet.
Spending time with each other,
sharing our pain, our joy, our fears
The love of Jesus is with us here.
The Next phase
Before we start recording our videos I want to get some advice from people who are blind or deaf about how best to make the video as inclusive as we possibly can.
I also will need to talk to someone who has more skills in video tech than I do. So for now, keep singing the tune along with the backing track, so you can get used to it and I’ll be in touch soon
If you do want to take part it please send me an email to timrourke.churcharmy@gmail.com so I can let you know what to do next.
If you want to keep up to date follow me on twitter @TimRourkeCA
Holding Space 