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    • Amanda Udis-Kessler
    • Amanda Udis-Kessler is a songwriter and published composer of sacred music (everysoulmusic.com; queersacredmusic.com), a writer (sermons, other worship materials, adult faith formation curricula, a sociology monograph, and other writings), and community educator on matters of religion, social inequality, and social justice. She has a sociology doctorate from Boston College and a certificate from the Iliff School of Theology. She is the Director of Assessment and Program Review at The Colorado College. Contact her at amanda@amandaudiskessler.com.

When Christmas Brings More Pain Than Joy: A Blue Christmas song

“Blue Christmas” services, which take place to support people struggling emotionally during the holiday season, are becoming more common. This song was written for such services. Ken Janzen sings and plays the instruments.

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Make of My Heart a Stable, 4 Video Hymns for Advent

4 Advent Video Hymns written for the Worship Design Studio, which created its own separate videos. Recordings and videos by Ken Janzen

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For a Faith: A Hymn of Thanksgiving

An old hymn of mine, recently rewritten slightly. Recorded here by the Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Choir.

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We Will Go Out in Love! A sending-out worship song

Suitable for progressive/inclusive/justice-focused Christian congregations. Written for The Fountains, a UMC congregation in Arizona.

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Maker of All: A Sung Response to the Lord’s Prayer

Inspired by my March 2023 visit to The Fountains UMC in Arizona; written with a very simple melody and small range to maximize small congregations’ ability to learn and sing the piece.

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Table of Unity, Bread of Community: a Communion hymn

This Communion hymn, commissioned by the First Congregational Church, Branford, CT, is appropriate for progressive/inclusive Christian churches.

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Rooted And Grounded In Love: a worship song

This progressive Christian hymn images Jesus as healer, teacher, and prophet, and invites all people (regardless of their religion) to be healers, teachers, and prophets in our time.

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So Great a Cloud of Witnesses: a worship song

Written for the installation of Rev. Mallory Everhart as Co-Pastor at Vista Grande Community Church UCC; the images under the final verse are related to the congregation, inspired by Hebrews 11-12.

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Just Such a Time as This: A Worship Song for Troubled Times

A COVID-19 song about our pain, resilience, and ability to care for each other in impossible times. We were called for just such a time as this.

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In The Breaking of the Bread

A gentle Communion hymn usable with Emmaus text.

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Holy Boldness

Written for the Reconciling Ministries Network; this video centers Pride and inclusive church images.

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God Speaks Today

  Lead vocals by Rev. Kate Penney Howard. Other vocals, instruments, and engineering by Ken Janzen. New hymn text, set to the tune of Ar Hyd Y Nos; a reflection on how the sacred works in the …

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God is Known: An Evolution Sunday/Process Theology Hymn

This was written for an Evolution Sunday service and incorporates ideas from process theology.

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From Our Abundance We Give: a stewardship hymn

Swing version of my stewardship hymn From Our Abundance We Give. Appropriate for inclusive Christian, Unitarian Universalist, and other congregations.

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Everyone Is Worthy

This upbeat sending-out song or closing hymn is based on words adapted from a famous John Wesley quote.

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Do All the Good You Can

This upbeat sending-out song or closing hymn is based on words adapted from a famous John Wesley quote.

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The Church Where Love Lives

Amanda wrote this for an inclusion campaign within the United Methodist Church and also did a Pride version of the video.

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Church is the Way We Live

Amanda wrote this piece when churches were closing their doors early on in COVID as a reminder that church is more than a building.

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Brave Spirit, Make Us Brave

A Pentecost social justice song. And a prayer for any day of the year for those dedicated to building Beloved Community. Winner of the 2021 United Church of Christ Musicians Association Hymn Writing Competition

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As You Go Your Way

A short closing or sending-out song appropriate for all forms of inclusive worship.

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All the Earth Belongs to God: an environmental justice hymn

This hymn is appropriate for Earth Day and other environmental worship services. Recording and video by Ken Janzen.

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Prayer: Above All Else

This simple prayer is inspired by the writings of Brian McLaren.

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A Blessing for Civil Disobedience

The religious traditions of the world affirm that we should treat others as we wish to be treated, but too often our laws are cruel.

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God Abundant, God of Wonder

A Christian Hymn against Christian Nationalism

God abundant, God of wonder, God of every living thing,

God of justice and of righteousness, empower us as we sing.

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Hymn: Blest Are You, the Poor in Spirit

A Beatitudes hymn text with a suggested public domain hymn tune.

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You Cannot Serve God and Guns: A Prayer of Protest

Initially written as a somber a cappella piece for a worship service, this version is musically full and rich, leaning toward hope while still acknowledging the grief so many of us feel from deaths caused by gun violence.

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Litany for Strength and Guidance in Justice Work

Holy One, lover of all, knowing that you desire that all people should live in joy and
wellness, we ask today for strength and guidance in the work we do to build a just and peaceful
society.

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When All is Burned Away: An Ash Wednesday Reading

A Liturgical Piece

When all is burned away by violence, fear and greed
We tremble in our terror that we’ve lost the things we need.

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Love Will Have the Final Laugh: An Easter Hymn

A pretty, simple Easter Hymn: Love Will Have the Final Laugh

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A Holy Week Litany for White People Working against Racism

As we enter Holy Week, we remember the holy work of Jesus in order to take up that work in our own lives and for our own time.

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The Creatures We Love

A new hymn by Amanda Udis-Kessler for The Blessing of The Animals Services

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Love Had a Dream

An Easter Journey

A progressive Christian encounter with the Easter story that situates it within the longer story of sacred love and within our lives today.

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Two Processions by Amanda Udis-Kessler

A solemn Palm Sunday hymn based on the book The Last Week by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan

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An Advent Hymn and A Christmas Hymn

Do all the good you can by all the means you can
In all the ways you can in all the places you can
At all the times you can to all the people you can
As long as ever you can (John Wesley)

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LGBTQ+ Hymns

Amanda Udis-Kessler shares LBGTQ+ hymns along with the sheet music – just click on the title of the hymn to open the PDF Sheet Music.

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Eight Hymns with Music Sheets

Amanda Udis-Kessler shares 8 hymns along with the sheet music – just click on the Title of the Hymn to open the PDF Sheet Music.

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