Every Single Creature: Songs for Children and All-Age Worship

I love writing songs for children because really I am writing for myself. To put things simply but not simplistically: to speak of God in real terms without technical ‘insider’ language is a challenge – and one that children will punish you for if you are not keeping them engaged and entertained.

These songs all began with particular children in mind: ‘I’m gonna give’ was written for a stewardship campaign in Stockbridge in Edinburgh. ‘Every single creature’ emerged from an impromptu discussion about whales during a children’s talk in Barclay Viewforth Church, Edinburgh. ‘God’s love is big’ began in trying to keep my young son awake in the car; whilst ‘I want to walk with God’ is the most personal song, inspired by a university course on Christian-Muslim relations.

So all of these songs have been extensively road-tested with real living children, none of whom were harmed in the manufacturing process, but many of whom have been found humming the tunes or asking for them to be played over and over again in the car. You have been warned.