“New Life Awaits Us All,” INCLUSIVE SONGS FROM THE HEART OF GOSPEL

The gospel proclaims new life. Music has great power to spread the good news of peace, justice, liberation, and abundant life for all people.

Inclusive Songs from the Heart of Gospel, coming out soon, will sound this good news with power to change our world. “New Life Awaits Us All” is one of the songs in this collection. For these lyrics, I chose the lilting tune THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME. The original words to this tune sing of the joys of heaven. My new words celebrate liberation and transformation in this life and beyond.

New Life Awaits Us All

New life awaits us all along the gospel way;
we’re growing and becoming stronger every day.
We join with people rising up on every shore,
and we keep on embracing new life evermore.

We will not let abusive systems keep us down;
they cannot stop us now, for we are freedom bound.
The Spirit deep within gives energy to soar,
and we keep on embracing new life evermore.

The Spirit gives us visions of equality;
Her power sets us free to be all we can be.
We join together, moving onward to explore,
and we keep on embracng new life evermore.

Refrain:

We’re growing, changing, claiming all our gifts;
the Spirit liberates, empowers, and uplifts.
She calls us always forward through the open doors,
and we keep on embracing new life evermore.

Words © 2019 Jann Aldredge-Clanton                 THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME

One of my fondest memories of visits to my paternal grandparents’ home in Abilene, Texas, is playing the piano for family members gathered around to sing gospel hymns. I can still hear Aunt Lavelle, Aunt Katie, Aunt Polly, Aunt Betty, Uncle Leland, my granddad, and my dad singing in beautiful harmony. Their favorite hymns, like “This World Is Not My Home” and “When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder,” envision the glories of heaven. The original words of “This World Is Not My Home” include these lines: “The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door, and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.”

I also love gospel tunes, and have written new lyrics to them for Inclusive Songs from the Heart of Gospel. My words to the tune THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME celebrate open doors and transformation in this life and in the life beyond:

We’re growing, changing, claiming all our gifts;
the Spirit liberates, empowers, and uplifts.
She calls us always forward through the open doors,
and we keep on embracing new life evermore.