This song was born through ongoing conversations about the practice of listening in community. It is an invitation to notice the voices, bodies, and experiences we can see or hear, as well as those we cannot. 

It has been used in dialogue with poetry and sacred text. I also see it as an invitation for people of privilege to deepen their looking and listening, cultivating curiosity and humility as part of ongoing anti-racist work. 

"What can we see? What can we not see?
What will our noticing help us to see?

What can we hear? What can we not hear?
What will our listening help us to hear?

Who can we see? Who can we not see? 
Who will our noticing help us to see?

Who can we hear? Who can we not hear? 
Who will our listening help us to hear?

What can we know? What can we not know? 
What will our wondering help us to know?

What can we say? What can not say? 
What will our listening help us to say?"

Text and Music: Paul M. Vasile, LovedIntoBeing Music ©2021

What Can We See?

This setting of the well-known "Serenity Prayer," attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr, was composed for the Lifeline Recovery Community in New York City (http://lifelinenyc.org). 

Free sheet music is available for download at www.paulvasile.com. 
©2014 Paul M. Vasile

The Serenity Prayer - setting by Paul Vasile

The Lord Has Done Great Things for Us (Psalm 121) - Paul Vasile

Performed by the Gospel Choir of Park Avenue Christian Church
Angela Starks, soloist
Deanna Witkowski, piano
Willard Dyson, drums

To find sheet music for the piece, visit: www.lovedintobeing.wordpress.com/music

The Lord Has Done Great Things for Us (Psalm 126)

When the invitation to write a Lenten theme song for A Sanctified Art (https://sanctifiedart.org/) came in a season of political and personal turmoil, I found it difficult to imagine singing across significant differences with other faithful people. If I took that risk, what music or text could honor the complexity of our stories and experiences and not do more harm?

I leaned into my experiences of community singing over the past decade, trusting practices of song-sharing that are deeply relational can foster spaces to know yourself, know others, and be known to them. 

What felt essential was a return to the breath which could anchor an invitation to listening and self-awareness. The phrase “breathe, listen, and notice” emerged as I imagined what might help us share our stories and experiences without judgment or assumptions. If all you do while you listen to the song is breathe, that is enough. I also hope that moments of call-and-echo singing can model the back and forth patterns of conversation, as well as offer opportunities for grace-filled learning. If you can’t sing all the echoes the first few times, keep at it!

The piece could be used for gathering or centering, woven through a Prayer of Confession, used as a sung Prayer of Illumination, or offered in response to the proclamation of the Word. No matter how or where you use it, may it invite you to slow down, breathe deeply, and hold the challenging, complex spaces with tenderness and courage.


Help us speak less, slow judgment,
breathe, listen, and notice 
what is present in the dissonance, discomfort, and the questions.

Help us rest well, find balance, 
breathe, listen, and notice 
what is present in simplicity, in slowness, and in quiet.

Help us to lean in, seek wisdom,
breathe, listen, and notice
what is present in the letting go, the learning, and the struggle.

Help us love well, walk humbly,
breathe, listen, and notice: 
God is calling us to faithfulness, compassion, and to courage.

Paul Vasile - voice, piano, bass
George Waltemire - guitar
Abby Madden - percussion
Recorded, produced, and mixed by George Waltemire

Copyright ©2025 LovedIntoBeing Music

Sheet music can be purchased at: https://www.paulvasile.com/products/breathe-listen-and-notice

Breath, Listen, And Notice

Inspired by Jesus’ words in Luke 12:48, ‘To Whom Much Is Given, Much is Required’ is a Gospel-style anthem that calls all of us, especially folks of privilege, to put their faith to action.

Chorus:
To whom much is given, much is required. 
God calls us to action, God calls us to stand up
for justice and dignity, freedom and peace, 
to listen and let every silenced voice speak.
And share the love that can heal and restore our world.

Verse:
It’s not enough to think about it. 
Faith without works is dead.
But when we pray with our feet, we hasten the day 
when justice will roll down like water.

Verse:
How will you use the gifts God has given 
to make for change in this world?
Will you advocate and pray, support others on their way, 
give talent, time and treasure to the cause?

And we won’t stop praying…
And we won’t stop giving…
And we won’t stop shouting…
And we won’t stop marching…
And we won’t stop sharing…
And we won’t stop singing…

Text and music: Paul M. Vasile, ©2015

Sheet music for may be obtained by contacting the composer at lovedintobeing@gmail.com. Additional music is available at www.lovedintobeing.wordpress.com/music

To Whom Much Is Given, Much Is Required

This simple prayer song is based on the words of medieval mystic Julian of Norwich, who speaks of mother Christ in "Revelations of Divine Love." The phrase 'Mothering Christ' comes from Jean Janzen’s hymn, “Mothering God, You Gave Me Birth,” which distills Julian’s writings into a beautiful Trinitarian hymn. 

Written for St. Lydia's in Brooklyn (www.stlydias.org), it can be used as an invitation to prayer, a response to prayer petitions, or in another moment where we acknowledge that Christ knows us, loves us, and hears us.

Mothering Christ, you know us.
Mothering Christ, you love us.
Mothering Christ, you hear us.

Text and music: Paul M. Vasile, ©2015

Sheet music for may be obtained by contacting the composer at lovedintobeing@gmail.com. Additional music is available at www.lovedintobeing.wordpress.com/music


Mothering Christ, You Know Us

This Advent/Christmas song was written for Pioneer Ocean View United Church of Christ in San Diego, CA. Inspired by a quote of Meister Eckhart, a 13th century theologian, philosopher, and mystic, the piece invites us all to consider how we might give birth to Christ in our time and place.

Recorded live with a creaky piano bench, so forgive the background noise!

Verse:
What good is it to me
if Christ's eternal birth takes place unceasingly,
but does not take place within me?
What good is it to me 
for the Creator to give birth to a child
if I do not give birth to him in my time and place.

Refrain:
We are all meant to be mothers of God,
for God is ever waiting to be born.
We are all meant to be mothers of God,
to give God a face, to give God a voice,
to give God a place in this world.

Bridge:
And so like Mary full grace,
we make our lives a welcome space.
We say yes to love in the midst of fear.
We say yes to hope, we trust that you are near.
We say yes to joy so deep it soothes the pain,
We say yes to peace and light and freedom once again.

Text and music: Paul M. Vasile, ©2015

Sheet music is available upon request. Additional music is available at www.paulvasile.com 

We Are All Meant To Be Mothers Of God (live recording)

Arrangement of the Christmas Carol "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" by Paul Vasile (www.paulvasile.com). For sheet music, contact the composer at lovedintobeing@gmail.com

The piece is part of an ongoing recording project featuring arrangements of traditional holiday tunes.

It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

An expansive language praise song written for Holy Ground (www.holygroundlb.org) in Long Beach, CA. The piece can serve as an Gathering Song, Introit, Call to Prayer, or as a general song of praise.

Sheet music for may be downloaded at:
www.paulvasile.com/products/holy-one-we-welcome-you

Holy One, we welcome you.
Sing with us, help us find a voice
to praise your endless Mystery and your unchanging Love
which is present now and with us evermore. 

Text and music: Paul M. Vasile, ©2016

Holy One, We Welcome You

A lament for the victims of the mass shooting in Orlando that seeks to honor the  unanswered questions, challenges, and pain of life, even while claiming God's love and presence in these dark and difficult places.

A sample score may be downloaded here: http://tinyurl.com/hy67vc9

Verse I:
In the unknown, in the empty places, 
in the ache of mind or body, heart or soul,
in the sorrow, in the lonely spaces, 
in the longing for a comfort we can feel
 
Refrain:
You are present, ever present,
Holy Comforter, Companion, and our Friend. 
And we trust, even when we cannot see it,
the Love that holds us close from our beginning until our end.
 
Verse II:
In the wounds, in the tender places, 
in the scars that hold a mem'ry of the pain, 
in the dark, in the hidden spaces, 
in the secrets we may never speak again

Text and music: Paul M. Vasile, ©2016 LovedIntoBeing Music

You Are Present

A joyful, Gospel-inspired tune that invites us to share the blessing of forgiveness and peace with others. It was written as a sung response to the Assurance of Pardon but can also be used for the Passing of the Peace, Baptism, a Benediction, or as a general song of praise

Sheet music is available for purchase at http://www.paulvasile.com/products/we-are-forgiven-loved-and-free

We are forgiven, loved and free.
We're washed anew and then called to be
hope for the weary, strength for the weak,
with a blessing of peace for all.

Text and music: Paul M. Vasile, ©2016

We Are Forgiven, Loved, And Free

A rhythmic, minor-key sending song based on a quotation of Saint Teresa of Calcutta as I first heard it in a song of folk singer Steve Eulberg. It was written as a sending song for the Not So Churchy (www.notsochurchy.org) community in New York City.

Sheet music may be downloaded at:
http://www.paulvasile.com/products/i-can-do-small-things

I may never do great things, that can move earth and heaven above,
but I can do small, small things, and do them with great love.

Music: Paul M. Vasile, LovedIntoBeing Music ©2016

I Can Do Small Things

A song that affirms our identity as beloved children of God, written for Pastor Ben Colahan and the congregation of Faith Lutheran Church in Chico, California. It was sung as a response to his sermon on the First Sunday of Lent. It could also be used as an Assurance of Grace, a prayer song, or as a sung affirmation.

Sheet music is available for purchase: http://www.paulvasile.com/products/god-calls-you-good

God calls you good, beloved child.
You are a treasure deeply prized.
And you can say to every doubting voice,
'God calls you good, beloved child.'

 God calls me good, beloved child.
I am a treasure deeply prized.
And I can say to every doubting voice,
'God calls me good, beloved child.'

Music: Paul M. Vasile, LovedIntoBeing Music ©2017

God Calls You Good

Several improvisations by pianist/composer Paul Vasile (www.paulvasile.com) inspired by verses of the French Christmas Carol, 'People Look East.'

Inspired by an Advent reflection group with colleagues at Eden Seminary and part of an ongoing set of arrangements and improvisations on traditional holiday tunes.

For more information, contact the composer at paul@paulvasile.com

Improvisations on 'People Look East' - Love the Rose

Improvisation on 'People Look East' - Love the Guest

Improvisation on 'People Look East' - Love the Bird

This call to faithful action is based on a quotation by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and speaks back to the shallow 'thoughts and prayers' and inaction of American politicians in face of ongoing mass shootings and gun violence. It is intended to be used in faith-based protests and marches, or as a sending song in churches and synagogues.

Sheet music is available for free on my website: http://www.paulvasile.com/products/pray-with-our-feet

It's not enough to offer thoughts and prayers.
It's not enough to say that we care. 
It's not enough to hope that things will change. 
We've got to pray with our feet,
pray with our feet, pray with our feet 
and get out, out on the street.

Music: Paul M. Vasile, LovedIntoBeing Music ©2018

Pray With Our Feet

An arrangement of the well-known carol 'Away in a Manger' by pianist/composer Paul Vasile (www.paulvasile.com).

The piece is part of an ongoing set of arrangements and improvisations on traditional holiday tunes.

For more information, contact the composer at paul@paulvasile.com

Away In a Manger

The Journey of a Thousand Miles is rhythmic walking song based on a teaching of Taoist teacher Laozi (also known as Lao Tzu), with some added text of my own.

Sheet music is available for download on my website: https://www.paulvasile.com/products/journeyofathousandmiles

The journey of thousand miles begins with one step.
The journey of thousand miles begins with one step.
O though we may not know where the road will lead,
we know that Love will always guide our feet.
The journey of thousand miles begins with one step.

Text: A teaching of Laozi from the Tao Te Ching, Paul Vasile 
Music: Paul M. Vasile, LovedIntoBeing Music ©2018

The Journey of a Thousand Miles

Trust the Work is a contemplative chant based on a line of a poem by Jesuit priest, philosopher, and paleontologist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J. It's intended to be sung like a Taizé chant, repeated again and again to become a prayer of the heart.

Sheet music is available for download on my website: https://www.paulvasile.com/products/trust-the-work

Trust the work.
Trust the slow work.
Trust the slow work of God within you.

Text: Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J. 
Music: Paul M. Vasile, LovedIntoBeing Music ©2019

Trust The Work

I Cannot Dance Unless You Lead is based on a saying of Saint Mechtild of Magdeburg (1210-1282), a medieval mystic who shared visions that inspired and shocked her contemporaries for their sensuous, intimate language of relationship with the Divine. 

It’s a challenging layered song that's anchored by the lowest part, which should be taught first. While it can take time for the other parts to come into focus, when they lock in the song takes on a joyous life of its own and doesn’t want to stop, as you can hear in this recording from Village Fire in 2019.

Sheet music is available for purchase on my website: https://www.paulvasile.com/products/i-cannot-dance-unless-you-lead-me

Part 3: I cannot dance unless you lead me.
Part 2: I cannot sing unless you teach me, O Love.
Part 1: I cannot leap unless you hold me, O Love.

Text: Based on a poem of St. Mechtild of Magdeburg (1210-1282)
Music: Paul M. Vasile, LovedIntoBeing Music ©2019

Village Fire 2019 - 2019-06-11 - Songs for Healing and Wholeness

I Cannot Dance Unless You Lead Me (Village Fire) - Paul Vasile

Our Tears, Falling Down Like Rain was written for the final Hymn Festival of the 2018 Conference of The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada. It’s a Kyrie eleison (Lord/God, have mercy), a classic penitential text in the Christian tradition, rooted in a verse from Psalm 126.

The piece can be accompanied two ways: simply with a shruti box or drone on D and A, or a piano/keyboard can realize the printed chords to offer a flowing, gentle accompaniment.

Sheet music is available for purchase on my website: https://www.paulvasile.com/products/our-tears-falling-down-like-rain

Our tears, 
falling down like rain to the ground, 
will water seeds of change. 
*Kyrie eleison.

*You may also substitute the phrase, ‘Let it be,’ in interfaith or non-sectarian spaces.

Text: Paul M. Vasile, inspired by Psalm 126:6; Traditional liturgical  
Music: Paul M. Vasile, LovedIntoBeing Music ©2019

Our Tears Falling Down Like Rain

Arrangement of the Christmas carol "See Amid the Winter's Snow" by pianist/composer Paul Vasile (www.paulvasile.com). For more information, contact the composer at paul@paulvasile.com

The piece is part of an ongoing recording project featuring arrangements and improvisations on traditional holiday tunes.

See Amid The Winter's Snow

Arrangement of the Christmas carol "Infant Holy, Infant Lowly" by pianist/composer Paul Vasile (paulvasile.com). For more information, contact the composer at paul@paulvasile.com

The piece is part of an ongoing recording project featuring arrangements and improvisations on traditional holiday tunes.

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly

Arrangement of the Christmas carol "O Holy Night" by pianist/composer Paul Vasile (www.paulvasile.com). For more information, contact the composer at paul@paulvasile.com

The piece is part of an ongoing recording project featuring arrangements and improvisations on traditional holiday tunes.

O Holy Night

Improvisation on the Advent hymn "People, Look East" by pianist/composer Paul Vasile (www.paulvasile.com). For more information, contact the composer at paul@paulvasile.com

The piece is part of an ongoing recording project featuring arrangements and improvisations on traditional holiday tunes.

Improvisation on 'People, Look East' - Love the Star

Improvisation on the Advent hymn "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" by pianist/composer Paul Vasile (www.paulvasile.com). For more information, contact the composer at paul@paulvasile.com

The piece is part of an ongoing recording project featuring arrangements and improvisations on traditional holiday tunes.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

An arrangement of the well-known Christmas carol 'In the Bleak Midwinter' by pianist/composer Paul Vasile (www.paulvasile.com).

The piece is part of an ongoing set of arrangements and improvisations on traditional holiday tunes.

For more information, contact the composer at paul@paulvasile.com

In the Bleak Midwinter

Change Is Gonna Come is a protest song for those fatigued by the seemingly endless resistance to change in our world, our country, and our churches. While it’s easy to find ourselves impatient, depressed, or angry with the slow pace of progress, it feels important and hopeful to assert “change is gonna come.” Though we may not always see it, injustice, cynicism, and hatred will not last but are being lovingly worn down and reshaped by Love.

Sheet music is available for download on my website: https://www.paulvasile.com/products/change-is-gonna-come

It may be slow. It may seem late.
It may be voted down, resisted or delayed.
But like a steady glacier, turning hardest stone to grains of sand: 
change is gonna come. Yes, change is gonna come. 

It may be slow. It may seem late.
It may be voted down, resisted or delayed.
But like a mighty river carving deep new grooves into the land: 
change is gonna come. Yes, change is gonna come. 

It may be slow. It may seem late.
It may be voted down, resisted or delayed.
But like a strong, relentless wind bending the shape of tallest trees: 
change is gonna come. Yes, change is gonna come. 

Text and Music: Paul M. Vasile, LovedIntoBeing Music ©2019

Change Is Gonna Come

This jazz-inspired Advent song was written on the plains of Southern Ohio last spring and holds an invitation to reflection and wonder. Rather than assume we know who or what is coming (because we often struggle to know ourselves), we are invited to look and listen, to be in the present moment, attentive to where and when Divine will manifest.

Given its flexible, ballad style, the first part of the song is best offered by soloist or choir. But the final phrase (‘waiting, waiting, waiting’) invites the participation of a congregation and could be part of an Advent litany, a prayer response, or candle-lighting.

Music is available for purchase on my website: https://www.paulvasile.com/products/waiting

I don’t know who you are.
I barely know who I am.
All I know is I am here,
looking for a glimpse of you,
listening for the sound of you.
Waiting, waiting, waiting.

Text and Music: Paul M. Vasile, LovedIntoBeing Music ©2019

Waiting

This song is an invitation to relax our grip on things we cannot control. I have used it for gathering groups and as part of embodied prayer practice. It can also be sung as a two-part round when the melody is secure.

Make it a pocket/zipper song by inviting the group to name different parts of the body that might need to relax... head, jaw, neck, back, knees. Feel free to adapt and improvise in ways that are helpful to your context.

Use a shruti box or drone instrument on C and G to provide a supportive sound cushion.

More music is available on my website: www.paulvasile.com

Why do you hold so tight to what you cannot control?
Relax your grip and *let it flow.

*you are also welcome to sing "let it go"

Text and Music: Paul M. Vasile, LovedIntoBeing Music ©2020

Why Do You Hold So Tight?

This song frames a question about human formation and our potential for growth and change. It was written in August 2020 as a response to Resmaa Menakem’s writing about somatic healing in "My Grandmother's Hands." I imagine the song as an invitation to settle our bodies and cultivate practices that help us metabolize trauma and pain.

Use a shruti box or drone instrument provide a supportive sound cushion.

“Who are we becoming?
Who are we becoming together, 
as we move, as we breathe, as we sing together?”

Text and Music: Paul M. Vasile, LovedIntoBeing Music ©2020

More music is available on my website: www.paulvasile.com

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