Vol. 6 // 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. 6 // 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 third 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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For your goodness and your mercy, we will sing
For your goodness and your mercy, we will sing
Each breath, a hallelujah
Each song, our offering
For your goodness and your mercy, we will sing
For the turning of the seasons, we sing praise
For the turning of the seasons, we sing praise
Every frost, a benediction
Every dew, a warm embrace
For the turning of the seasons, we sing praise
Lyrics: Seth Thomas Crissman, Greg Yoder, and Lindsey FitzGerald, 2023
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman, 2022
Vocals: Spectator Bird
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And I will fear no evil, for you, my God, are with me
And I will fear no evil, for you, my God, are with me
Even though I walk through the valley,
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
You will lead me beside still waters
You will give me rest
And I will fear no evil, for you, my God, are with me
And I will fear no evil, for you, my God, are with me
Even though I thirst in the desert,
Even though I thirst in the desert and the wilderness
You have promised the greenest pastures
You have promised rest
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow
and I shall dwell in your house, O God,
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow
and I shall dwell in your house,
And you will give me light
And I will fear no evil, for you, my God, are with me
And I will fear no evil, for you, my God, are with me
Lyrics: Seth Thomas Crissman and Greg Yoder, 2023, based on Psalm 23
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman and Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Valerie Bess, Lauren Yoder, Kristina Yoder
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Set your minds on things that are above,
not on things that are on earth,
Set your minds on things that are above,
not on things that are on earth,
for you have died, and your life is
hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ who is your life
is revealed, then you also will be revealed
with him in glory.
with him in glory.
Lyrics: direct quotation from Colossians 3:2-4 (NRSV)
Music: Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Michael Yoder, Jackson Maust, Mitchell Yoder
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I know that my Redeemer lives, Glory, Hallelujah
What comfort this sweet sentence gives, Glory, Hallelujah
For I had known Death’s awful sting, Glory, Hallelujah
Now Death is silent, and I can sing, Glory, Hallelujah
When trials come and tempests rage, Glory, Hallelujah
My soul is imprisoned in fear’s dread cage, Glory, Hallelujah
But there is no victory for the grave, Glory, Hallelujah
I know that my Redeemer saves, Glory, Hallelujah
That Sunday morn, at break of day
The faithful women went their way
To seek the tomb where Jesus lay
But he was not there, let your voices raise
Glory, glory, glory, Hallelujah
Glory, glory, glory, Hallelujah
Death, where is your sting? Your victory, O grave?
Conquered by the One who lives, by the One who saves
Glory, glory, glory, Hallelujah
Lyrics: Seth Thomas Crissman and Greg Yoder, 2023, with quotation from Jean Tisserand, 1518-1536; tr. John M. Neale, 1851
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman and Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Jackson Maust, Lauren Yoder, Mitchell Yoder
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For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,
you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,
you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
This is my body that is for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.
Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.
Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.
Lyrics: direct quotation of 1 Corinthians 11:24,26 and John 13:34
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman and Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Emily Grimes, Kristina Yoder, Ben Luna, Lauren Yoder, Mitchell Yoder
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Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
African-American spiritual // Arr. Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Ebony Nicole
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O love, how deep, how broad, how high!
It fills the heart with ecstasy,
that God, the Son of God, should take
our mortal form for mortals’ sake.
For us he was baptized and bore
his holy fast, and hungered sore.
For us temptation sharp he knew,
for us the tempter overthrow.
For us he prayed, for us he taught,
for us his daily works he wrought
by words and signs and actions thus
still seeking not himself, but us.
For us to wicked hands betrayed,
scourged, mocked, in purple robe arrayed,
he bore the shameful cross and death,
for us a length gave up his breath.
Eternal glory to our God
for love so deep, so high, so broad;
the Trinity whom we adore
forever and forevermore.
Lyrics: Thomas a Kempis, 15th century (Latin), trans. Benjamin Webb, 1854
Music: Greg Yoder, 2013
Vocals: Mara Carlson, Monica Carlson, Matt Carlson
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Oh, Christ is risen! Oh, risen indeed!
Oh, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Early on that Easter day, the women went down to pray
They went on down to the tomb and they found the stone was rolled away
Oh, Christ is risen! Oh, risen indeed! Oh, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Why do you look for the living among the dead?
Why do you look for the living among the dead?
Why do you look for the living among the dead?
He is not here; he has risen!
From the women at the empty tomb
To the disciples in the upper room
Spreading the word that the seed was in the dirt
Now it’s out and the sprout’s in bloom
Oh, Christ is risen! Oh, risen indeed! Oh, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Lyrics and music by Greg Yoder, 2023, with direct quotation of a portion of Luke 24:5-6 (NRSV)
Vocals: Crystal Yoder, Greg Yoder, Kristina Yoder
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I don’t know about you, but I’m a do-er
I’m a roll up my sleeves, buckle down, and hop to-er
I’m a skewer, kebab, yah, I’m a push through-er
Man through a man-hole, down into the sewer
When the job gets tough, I’m tough enough
Hit me with the spotlight, I’m a strut my stuff
I got a plan, man, I got a detailed plan
I’m reckless with my checklists, got it in hand
I got a down-to-the-minute plan,
Everything-is-in-it plan,
Begin-it-and-fin’-it-and-spin-it-’til-you-win-it-plan
I’m talking nano-seconds, I don’t mess with the minute hand,
“Have you thought of this?”-”yeah, got nine ways to skin it, man,” plan
And I got goals
I got soul goals
I got soul goals trying to make the world whole
Trying take control and follow the recipe like baking those rolls
I made a long list of injustices
I got road map to where justice lives
But the truth is I’m petrified
To give up the wheel, fear immobilizes
That’s why I got the plan, ‘cuz I’m scared for my life
Ain’t taking no risks, got three kids and a wife
And a mortgage, man, I can’t afford to die
But I gotta let someone else drive
Holy Spirit, come pouring in
Breathe on me, Breath of God, like a roaring wind
Spirit, break me out, shake me up, and make me yours again
Holy Spirit, come pouring in
It’s takes a whole lifetime to learn
But from dust we are formed, and to dust we return
Then let’s adjourn this meeting, I mean, life’s so fleeting
And there’s no beating death
Yeah, see, that’s where you’re wrong
Your life’s not the start, but it’s part of a song
And the song goes on
The song started long ago, still going strong
See, Jesus conquered the tomb
But the disciples didn’t get it, they were locked in the upper room
Hiding out, afraid,
Feeling doom and gloom, consumed with fear and the death they assumed
When BOOM!
Jesus stepped into the room
With a breath blew death back into its tomb
And the rocks of the tomb and the stars and the moon,
And everybody, hear him say,
“Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you”
“Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you”
So we gotta get out, open these doors
Open these windows, get our dust off these floors
Trust that the Spirit’s more than mine or yours
And open up for whatever God pours
Holy Spirit, come pouring in
Breathe on us, Breath of God, like a roaring wind
Spirit, break us out, shake us up, and make us yours again
Holy Spirit, come pouring in
Lyrics: Greg Yoder, 2023, with direct quotation of John 20:21b (NIV)
Music: Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Greg Yoder, Ebony Nicole, Lauren Yoder, Mitchell Yoder
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Let the same mind be in you
that was in Christ Jesus, who,
though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself, taking the form
of a slave, being born
in human likeness. And being found in human form,
he humbled himself and became obedient
to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Therefore,
God also highly exalted him, and gave him the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus, so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God.
Lyrics: direct quotation of Philippians 2:5-11 (NRSV)
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman and Greg Yoder, 2023
Vocals: Rachel Mast, Leah Wenger, Mitchell Yoder, Kristina Yoder
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You give us more grace when our burdens grow greater,
You send us more strength when our labors increase,
To added affliction You add your great mercy,
To multiplied trials, you multiply peace.
Your love has no limit, Your grace has no measure,
Your power no boundary and never will end,
For out of your infinite riches in Jesus,
You give and you give and you give us again.
You give and you give and you give us again.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half-done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our God, your full giving is only begun.
Lyrics: based on “He Giveth More Grace” Annie Johnson Flint (*1866-1932), alt. by Seth Thomas Crissman Music: Seth Thomas Crissman (2020)
Vocals: Stephen Horst
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When I am afraid, I put my trust in you
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you
Lyrics: direct quotation of Psalm 56:3
Music: Seth Thomas Crissman, 2023
Vocals: Seth Crissman, Redeemer Classical School
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Set Your Minds — Colossians 3:2-4 (NRSV)
This Is My Body — 1 Corinthians 11:24,26 and John 13:34 (NRSV)
Risen Indeed! — Luke 24:5b-6a (NIV)
Come Pouring In — John 20:21b (NIV)
Every Knee — Phil. 2:5-11 (NRSV)
When I Am Afraid — Psalm 56:3 (NIV)
Part or all of tracks 3, 5, and 10 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. Part or all of tracks 8, 9, and 12 are direct quotations 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 6 (public domain)// Tracks 2, 3, 8, and 9 © 2023 by The Walking Roots Band (used with permission) // Track 7 music © 2013 by The Walking Roots Band // Track 11 music © 2020 by The Walking Roots Band // Lyrics for track 1 co-written by Lindsey FitzGerald, 2023 // Verse 1 of track 4 contains text by Samuel Medley, 1775, alt.; Verse 3 for track 4 contains text by Jean Tisserand, 1518-1536; tr. John M. Neale, 1851 // Lyrics for track 7 written by Thomas a Kempis, 15th century (Latin), trans. Benjamin Webb, 1854 // Lyrics for track 11 written by Annie Johnson Flint, 1866-1932, alt. // Part or all of tracks 3, 5, and 10 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. Part or all of tracks 8, 9, and12 are 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.
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
Greg Yoder - Project Coordinator, Contributing Songwriter
Contributing Musicians: Valerie Bess (track 1), Taylor Bess (tracks 1, 10, and 11), Rachel Mast (track 2), Ebony Nichole (tracks 3, 6, and 7), Jessica DiPuma (track 5), Stephen Horst (tracks 8 and 11), Justin Yoder - Cello (track 3), Kyle Remnant - Trombone (track 5), and members of The Walking Roots Band // thewalkingrootsband.com
Artwork: “Twilight at San Cayetano” by Lindsey Kolb
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 ( www.vmmissions.org ) and the generosity of many individuals and communities. Thank you. Gloria in Excelsis Deo.