Vol. 2 // Lent - Easter - Pentecost
The Soil and The Seed Project creates music, art, and “Little Liturgies” that follow the liturgical year to help us welcome the seed of the Good News together as it takes root in our lives. It is a gift to the church, given freely to any individual or community who wants it (not sold).
To download a digital copy of Vol. 2 // Lent - Easter - Pentecost or request a physical copy, click the button to fill out the form below:
May the peace of Christ be with you!
Welcome to the digital home of The Soil and The Seed Project. This page links to electronic and mobile versions of the Little Liturgies, a "How to Use" section, and original artwork to accompany the second installment of The Soil and The Seed Project. It also contains lyrics, references, liner notes and more information on how the "Seeds" section of the Little Liturgies were created.
May God's Love abound in us as we turn and believe the Good News,
The Soil and The Seed Project Team
LYRICS, MUSICIANS, NOTES, and PERMISSIONS
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Holy Spirit Love divine
Glow within this heart of mine.
Kindle ev’ry high desire,
Purify me with your fire.Holy Spirit, Truth divine
Dawn upon this soul of mine.
Voice of God, and inward Light,
Wake up my spirit, and clear my sightHoly Spirit, Peace divine,
Still this restless heart of mine.
Speak to calm this tossing sea,
Grant me your tranquility.
Grant me your tranquility.Comforter, come comfort me.
Lyrics: Samuel Longfellow, 1864
Music: Seth Crissman, 2022
Vocals: Valerie Bess and Taylor Bess -
Christ who left his home in glory,
And upon the cross was slain,
Now is ris’n! O tell the story
That the Savior lives again.Glory, sing Gloria; glory, sing Gloria. Glory, sing Gloria, oooh.
While the world in peace was sleeping,
Early on that Easter day
Came the faithful women, weeping,
But the stone was rolled away.Hail to the One, God’s only son, Jesus, Redeemer.
Hail to the one who conquered death and sin.
Hail to the One, God’s only son, Jesus, Redeemer.
Highest praises now we sing.Lyrics: Abram B. Kolb, 1896
Music: Seth Crissman, 2022
Vocals:. Lauren Yoder, Taylor Bess, Greg Yoder -
You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
Who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
Will say to the Lord,
“My refuge and my fortress;
My God, in whom I trust,
My God, in whom I trust.”In your Holy Darkness,
In your Holy Shadow,
Under your wing I will hide myselfSafe and secure from all alarms
Lyrics: Direct quotation from Psalm 91:1-3 (NRSV), see full citation below; and by Seth Crissman, 2022
Music: Seth Crissman, 2022
Vocals: Ebony Nicole, Ben Luna, Jackson Maust -
God, in your mercy, turn your ear
God, in your mercy, hear us
God of compassion please come near
God, in your mercy, hear us
God, we are dust and our days our few
God, you are making all things new
God, of all time, we turn to you
God, of all mercy, hear us.
God, of all mercy, hear us.Lyrics: Seth Crissman, 2022
Music: Greg Yoder, 2022
Vocals: Greg Yoder, Lauren Yoder, Seth Crissman -
We have sinned against each other
Take our sins away
We’ve betrayed our sister and brother
Take our sins away
Teach us how to love our neighbor
Take our sins away
Teach our hands to do your labor
Take our sins awayAll the times we have forgotten
The depths of your great love
All the times we have forgotten
The depths of your great loveTeach us how to have compassion
And take our sins away
Spur our words into action
Take our sins away
When we fail to turn and listen
Take our sins away
Building up the walls of division
Take our sins awayAll the times we have forgotten
The depths of your great love;
All the times we have forgotten
The depths of your great love;
take our sins away.Lyrics and Music: Seth Crissman, 2015
Vocals: Valerie Bess and Taylor Bess -
At the cross her vigil keeping
Stood the mournful mother weeping
Where he hung, the dying Lord
Through her soul of joy bereaved
Bowed with sorrow deeply grieved
Passed the sharp and piercing swordWho upon that mother gazing
In her anguish so amazing
Born of woman, would not weep?
Who of Christ’s dear mother thinking,
While her son that cup is drinking,
Would not share her sorrow deep?אֵלִ֣י אֵ֭לִי לָמָ֣ה עֲזַבְתָּ֑נִי רָחֹ֥וק מִֽ֝ישׁוּעָתִ֗י
Near your cross, O Christ, abiding,
Grief and love my heart dividing,
I with her would take my place
By your saving cross uphold me,
In your dying, Christ, enfold me,
With the deathless arms of grace.אֵלִ֣י אֵ֭לִי לָמָ֣ה עֲזַבְתָּ֑נִי רָחֹ֥וק מִֽ֝ישׁוּעָתִ֗י (דִּבְרֵ֥י שַׁאֲגָתִֽי)
Lyrics: Jacopone, da Todi, 13th century, translation by Edward Caswell
Music: Seth Crissman, 2022
Vocals: Ebony Nicole, Jackson Maust -
Why so solemn? Why so gloomy?
Jesus isn’t here, he busted out, he left the tomb
He needed more room, he needed more room to bloom
They keep tryin’ to bury Jesus, but God’s love exhumes
I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES, GLORY HALLELUJAH!You can’t bury a seed and think it won’t grow
Can’t give a trumpet to a kid and think she won’t blow
Or give love to somebody, think it won’t show
So let the horn blow, in case they don’t know
I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES, GLORY HALLELUJAH!Death tries so hard to win, it’s almost comical
Death wastes time on Him, not economical
Balloons give up their air, become unpoppable,
When Jesus gave his life, he became unstoppable!
Love so deep that you can’t touch bottom
Love so wide that the net always caught ‘em
Love so rich that the moon wears gold
Love so big that the tomb can’t hold
I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES, GLORY HALLELUJAH!God’s kingdom is not built on domination
No, Jesus builds the kingdom like a different kind of nation
Built upside down with jubilation, celebration
And giving up power and money and station and
Being patient, gentle, humble, loving, kind
Faithful, merciful, leaving fear and hate behind
And loving God with heart, soul, and mind
And knowing Jesus’ love can never be confined
I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES, GLORY HALLELUJAH!Jesus...Jesus had to decide
In the wilderness, would he stand up or hide?
Would he relent and give up, and ask that the cup pass from him?
Cut the ties, and give in?
No, Jesus tethered himself to Love, together-ed himself with God
Trusting that LOVE would sustain
As he walked into the storm, the wind, the rain,
The hurricane of resistance to the kind of life he was showing
Seed he was growing
Love he was knowing
The way he was going
Not the way of a soldier
But the way of a lamb
Giving himself over.
Plants don’t decide to give themselves over. They just do. Life flows through
From the seed to the sprout to the flower to the bulb
To the sprout to the seed in the streaming of Love
Oh, Jesus is the seed, the sprout, irrepressible
And he ain’t in the tomb, he’s out, sing it “Yes, my Lord!”
I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES, GLORY HALLELUJAH!
WHAT COMFORT THIS SWEET SENTENCE GIVES, GLORY HALLELUJAH!Lyrics and Music: Greg Yoder, 2018, with chorus lyrics by Samuel Medley (1738-1799) and chorus music by Lewis D. Edwards (1858-1921)
Vocals: Greg Yoder, Lauren Yoder
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I want to know Christ
And the power of his resurrection
And the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings
Becoming like him in his death
And so somehow to attain to
The resurrection from the deadLyrics: direct quotation from Phil. 3:10-11 (NIV), see full citation below
Muisc: Jason Wagner
Vocals: Rachel Mast, Seth Crissman -
For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.
For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Because if you confess with your lips
that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Lyrics are direct quotations from Romans 10:9, 13 and Hebrews 4:14, 16 (NRSV), see full citation below
Music: Seth Crissman, 2022
Vocals: Leah Wenger, Jackson Maust, Taylor Bess, and the EMU Chamber Choir -
Holy Spirit, Truth divine, dawn upon this soul of mine.
Voice of God, and inward Light,
Wake up my spirit, wake up my spirit
And clear my sight.Holy Spirit, Love divine, glow within this heart of mine.
Kindle ev’ry high desire,
Purify me, purify me with your fire.Holy Spirit, Power divine, fill and nerve this will of mine
Boldly may I always live,
Bravely serve and gladly give.Breathe upon me, and fill me with your Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit, breathe upon me, and fill me with your love
With your love, with your love, and fill me with your joyLyrics: Samuel Longfellow, 1864, with bridge lyrics by Greg Yoder, 2022
Music: Greg Yoder, 2022
Vocals: Ben Luna, Greg Yoder -
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
O God, we put our trust in you
When the earth under our feet gives way,
though the mountains fall into the seaWait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
Lyrics are a direct quotation from Psalm 27:14 (NRSV), see full citation below
Music: Seth Crissman, 2022
Vocals: Seth Crissman, Greg Yoder -
Peace I leave with you.
My peace I give to you.
When you fail, when you fall
When you’re scared, when call for me
My peace I’ll give to you.Lyrics and Music: Seth Thomas Crissman
Vocals: Greg Yoder
Scripture Song References
Holy Darkness (Track 3) - Psalm 91:1-2, NRSV
At the Cross, Her Vigil Keeping (Track 6) - Psalm 22:1b
I Know That My Redeemer Lives (Track 7) - Job 19:25a/b
I Want to Know Christ (Track 8) - Phil. 3:10-11, NIV
Everyone Who Calls on the Name (Track 9) - Romans 10:9, 13; Hebrews 4:14, 16, NRSV
Wait for the Lord (Track 11) - Psalm 27:14 NRSV
Peace I Leave with You (Track 12) - John 14:27a
Scripture quotations for tracks 3, 9, 11 are direct quotations from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. // Track 8 (lyrics) is a direct quotation from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
All music copyright The Soil and The Seed Project except: Track 8 © Jason Wagner, Harrisonburg, VA (used with permission) // Tracks 4, 5, 6, 7 © The Walking Roots Band (used with permission) // Lyrics for tracks 1 and 10 written by Samuel Longfellow (1864) // Lyrics for track 2 written by Abram Bowman Kolb (1896) // Lyrics for track 6 written by Jacopone, da Todi (13th century)
The Soil and The Seed Project Team
Seth Thomas Crissman - Project Director, Editor, Songwriter
Melody Zimmerman - Lead Writer (Little Liturgies)
Harrigan McMahon Bowman - Visual Artistic Director, Contributing Writer
Contributing Musicians: Valerie Bess (tracks 1 and 5), Ebony Nicole (tracks 3 and 6), Ben Luna (tracks 3 and 10), Leah Wenger (track 9), Taylor Bess (tracks 1, 2, 5, and 8) and members of The Walking Roots Band // thewalkingrootsband.com
Artwork: “Three” by Kimberly Michelle Hewavita // “Our Lamentor” by Havilah Wingfield
CD Cover Photograph: Harrigan McMahon Bowman
CD Cover Design: Harrigan McMahon Bowman and Greg Yoder
Little Liturgies’ Soil and Seed Images: Jessamyn Bryant
Mixed and Mastered by Taylor Bess // taylorbessmusic.com
Made possible through partnership with VMMissions (vmmissions.org) and the generosity of many individuals and communities. Thank you. Gloria in Excelsis Deo.
