Tim Beale and I wrote this song in 1998 for the 1999 National Christian Youth Convention. There was a slight error in the music score in the NCYC songbook (which Tim repeats here!). Here are the correct words and an audio recording by Tim. The music score is also in my book Deeper Water.
This is our story, this is our song
This is the dream that we depend upon
Written on pages, carved in stone
Rebel people become God’s own
Freed from oppression, captured by grace
Shake off your boots, it’s a holy place!
Now living in exile, alien land
Got a strange way, strange hope, strange plan
Gather us into your history
Gather us into your song
Take us along on your journey
Yahweh with you we belong
You are our story, you are our song
You are the One we depend upon
God of the cosmos, walking the earth
Jesus you came giving hope new birth
Women and children, beggars they came
Those on the edge you called their names
Voice of forgiveness, healing, release
Crying for mercy, singing for peace
Gather us into your history
Gather us into your song
Take us along on your journey
Jesus with you we belong
Red moon, red blood, red sky
Joshua tree standing oh so high
Poured out Spirit, cyclone fire
Sons and daughters, prophesy!
We are your story, we are your song
We are the ones you depend upon
Breaking the claim of the gods of our age
Money and power, fashion and fame
Dangerous message, whispering word
Reckless compassion washing your world
Called to walk in a costly way
Welcome God’s future into today
Gather us into your future
Gather us into your song
Take us along on your journey
Spirit with you we belong
Gather us in, take us along
Gather us in, Your story, Your song
Gather us in, with you we belong
Gather us in
From “Deeper Water” published by Mediacom Education 2021.