New song for 2024 World Plenary
‘This selection reflects the insight that “I am because you are”. Almost all of the songs listed here are shared with the wider Christian family.'
A special version of the song ‘Every Time I Feel the Spirit’ has been published to celebrate the 2024 World Plenary.
The song is part of a new ‘2024 World Quaker Songbook’, whose contents were agreed last month. Friends Worldwide Committee for Consultation (FWCC) is also looking at songs to mark the 400th birthday of George Fox. With songs including ‘This Little Light of Mine’, ‘Down By the Riverside’, and a new one called ‘Ubuntu’ (reflecting the World Plenary’s theme), the selection has been made by the worship working group of the 2024 World Plenary Meeting, with further advice from a Friend based in Bolivia.
Tim Gee, general secretary of FWCC, said that the team first looked at songs in previous World Plenary songbooks, and previous FWCC gatherings. Friends looked for songs that ‘have been chosen many times; are well known; relatively simple; and are distinctly (although not necessarily uniquely) Quaker’. They included songs that ‘could speak to the condition of Friends’, as well as having words which are ‘acceptable and relevant to various Quaker traditions’.
Tim Gee added: ‘This selection reflects the insight that “I am because you are”. Almost all of the songs listed here are shared with the wider Christian family, and some of them, for example “Great is Thy Faithfulness” and “Santo Santo Santo (Holy, Holy, Holy)” are among the best known hymns of all. There are also songs here written by, and for Quakers: “Forever Friends/Para Siempre Amigos”, penned for the World Gathering of Young Friends in 1985, and the round “Dear Friends”, to the tune of “Building Bridges”. Whatever their origin, every song listed here has a deep resonance with Quaker experience.’
All participants in the World Plenary Meeting (including online) will receive a copy of the songbook.
‘Every Time I Feel the Spirit’ is an African-American spiritual dating to before the US civil war. It has been recorded by many artists including Nat King Cole.
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