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Short Name: | Shirley Erena Murray |
Full Name: | Murray, Shirley Erena, 1931- |
Birth Year: | 1931 |
Death Year: | 2020 |
Shirley Erena Murray (b. Invercargill, New Zealand, 1931) studied music as an undergraduate but received a master’s degree (with honors) in classics and French from Otago University. Her upbringing was Methodist, but she became a Presbyterian when she married the Reverend John Stewart Murray, who was a moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. Shirley began her career as a teacher of languages, but she became more active in Amnesty International, and for eight years she served the Labor Party Research Unit of Parliament. Her involvement in these organizations has enriched her writing of hymns, which address human rights, women’s concerns, justice, peace, the integrity of creation, and the unity of the church. Many of her hymns have been performed in CCA and WCC assemblies. In recognition for her service as a writer of hymns, the New Zealand government honored her as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit on the Queen’s birthday on 3 June 2001. Through Hope Publishing House, Murray has published three collections of her hymns: In Every Corner Sing (eighty-four hymns, 1992), Everyday in Your Spirit (forty-one hymns, 1996), and Faith Makes the Song (fifty hymns, 2002). The New Zealand Hymnbook Trust, for which she worked for a long time, has also published many of her texts (cf. back cover, Faith Makes the Song). In 2009, Otaga University conferred on her an honorary doctorate in literature for her contribution to the art of hymn writing.
I-to Loh, Hymnal Companion to “Sound the Bamboo”: Asian Hymns in Their Cultural and Liturgical Context, p. 468, ©2011 GIA Publications, Inc., Chicago
Texts by Shirley Erena Murray (191)![]() | As | Authority Languages | Instances |
---|---|---|---|
A single grain of wheat | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
All my being and all that I possess | Shirley Erena Murray (Paraphraser) | English | 2 |
Always there's a carol | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
And Jesus said: don't be afraid | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 5 | |
As the wind song through the trees | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 6 |
Athi shudha, athi shudha (O most holy, O most holy) | Shirley Erena Murray (Paraphraser (English)) | English, Sinhala | 2 |
Because you came and sat beside us | Shirley Erena Murray, b. 1931 (Author) | English | 4 |
Because You live, O Christ | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 8 |
Bring in the Christmas that lights up the ages! | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Bring in your new world, child of the sun | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
Bring the bread, bring the wine | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Carol our Christmas, an upside-down Christmas | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 5 |
Celebrate each generation | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Child of Christmas story | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 3 |
Child of joy and peace | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 6 |
Christ has changed the world's direction! | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 3 |
Christ is alive, and the universe must celebrate | Shirley Erena Murray (b. 1931) (Author) | English | 4 |
Christ is our peace, Christ is our health | Shirley Murray (Author) | English | 4 |
Christ Jesus, in your name | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
Christ, let us come with you | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 4 |
Christmas comes close | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Church of the living Christ | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Come and find the quiet center | Shirley Erana Murray, 1931- (Author) | English | 13 |
Come, Christian people, sing your praises, shout! | Shirley Murray (Alterer) | 3 | |
Come, Christmas Child, come again in your wonder | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Come in, come in, New Year | Shirley Murray, 1931- (Author) | 2 | |
Come into the streets with me! | Shirley Murray (Author) | English | 4 |
Come now, Lord Jesus | Shirley Murray (Author) | English | 3 |
Come, on this wedding day | Shirley Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Come, teach us, Spirit of our God | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 3 |
Come the day, come the sun | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Come to a wedding | Shirley Erena Murray, 1931- (Author) | English | 6 |
Come to our land, come to our hearts | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Come to this Christmas singing | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 4 |
Community of Christ | Shirley Erena Murray, b. 1931 (Author) | English | 7 |
Creation sings! And we are in the music | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 3 |
Cuando vienen a la vida | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | Spanish | 3 |
Dream a dream, a hopeful dream | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 5 |
Every day, I will offer you | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Everything that has voice | Shirley Erena Murray, b. 1931 (Author) | English | 5 |
For everyone born, a place at the table | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 14 |
For the bread and wine and blessing | Shirley Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
For the music of creation | Shirley Erena Murray (b. 1931) (Author) | English | 10 |
Forgive us, forgive us, holy God! | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
From mothers' arms, we see the world | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
From the apple in the garden | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 3 |
From the waiting comes the sign | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 5 |
Gentle God, when we are driven | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 4 |
Give thanks for life, the measure of our days | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 14 |
Give us this day our daily bread, The right to work that all be fed | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Go gently, go lightly | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 3 | |
God bless our land, in every generation | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
God, bless the ones who watch and wait | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
God, give me time to learn the words | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
God in whose memory no one is lost | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
God of all time, all seasons of our living | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 5 |
God of freedom, God of justice | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 13 |
God of our every day | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
God of the Bible, God in the Gospel | Shirley Murray (Author) | English | 9 |
God of the galaxies spinning in space | Shirley E. Murray (Author) | English | 3 |
God of the workplace, God in our city | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
God of wonder, God of thunder | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
God was in Christ | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
God weeps at love withheld | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 9 |
God within our deepest thought | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
Great God of earth and heaven, Whose Spirit is our breath | Shirley Erena Murray, 1931- (Author) | English | 3 |
Here in the busy city | Shirley Erena Murray, 1931- (Author) | 3 | |
Here is the place, now is the time | Shirley Murray (Author) | English | 4 |
Here to the house of God we come | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 5 |
Here we bring, small or great | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 3 |
Hiru sandawa tharu mal bara liya thuru (Sun and moon and stars above, the flowers and the fruits that grow) | Shirley Erena Murray (Paraphraser (English)) | English, Sinhala | 2 |
Holy Presence, Holy Teacher | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 4 |
Honour the dead, our country's fighting brave (Kia ikeike te wāhi mō te māia) | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English, Māori | 2 |
How happy you who work for peace! | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
How shall we find you | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 3 |
How small a spark has lit a living fire! | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 3 |
I am standing, waiting, waiting at your door | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 3 |
I am your mother: Do not neglect me! | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 4 |
I was sick, I was sad, and you visited me | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
In a garden, God blessed creation | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
In the name of Christ we gather | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 7 |
In the quiet of this day | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
In the singing, in the silence | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 8 |
In what strange land will I sing your song, O God, my God? | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
Into the hands that blessed the children | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 3 |
Ish war ko pri ya putra phrabhu Khrist (Savior in heaven, Christ Jesus, God's Son) | Shirley Murray (Translator (English)) | English, Nepali | 2 |
It is time! Let the white poppies bloom | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Jagotho tharono korono Karono (Your throne of glory you gave up to save all people | Shirley Murray (Paraphraser (English)) | Bengali, English | 2 |
Jesus, I come trusting your kindness | Shirley Erena Murray (b. 1931) (Author) | English | 4 |
Jesus, Savior, Spirit, Sun! | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 4 |
Jesus walked on to Calvary | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Just as a mother sings her baby to sleep | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 3 |
Leftover people, in leftover places | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 4 |
Let my spirit always sing | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 4 |
Let our earth be peaceful | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 4 |
Let us go in your peace | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
Let's praise the Creator who gave us each other | Shirley Erena Murray (b. 1931) (Author) | English | 7 |
Life into life, the threads are woven | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
Little one, born to bring us such love | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 3 |
Look at me, O God! | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Look in wonder, hold in honour | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
Lord Jesus, when my courage fails | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Love is your way, love is your nature | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 3 |
Loving Spirit, loving Spirit | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 24 |
Make spaces for Spirit! For energy rising | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
May the rainbow always touch your shoulder | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Mera tan man aor dhan tere lie | Shirley Murray (Paraphraser (English)) | Urdu | 2 |
More than we know, God works within us | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 3 |
Nagŭnee yangshik (Food for pilgrim people) | Shirley Murray (Paraphraser) | English, Korean | 3 |
Natha thithee nathi soka biya (This is the story of the sheep who went astray) | Shirley Erena Murray (Paraphraser (English)) | English, Sinhala | 2 |
New child of God, come to be blessed | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Niño: es astro, mediador de Dios | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | Spanish | 3 |
No obvious angels sing through the night skies | Shirley Erena Murray, 1931- (Author) | English | 3 |
Nouv knong duong chiet knhom men preas Yesu (Now my heart is sure that Jesus lives) | Shirley Murray (Paraphraser (English)) | English, Khmer | 2 |
Now a mighty tree has fallen | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Now as we go, kind Spirit keep us | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Now thank we all our God for lives beloved and cherished | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Now the star of Christmas | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
Now to Your table spread | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 4 |
O beauty ever ancient | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 4 | |
O Christ, who by a cross made peace your sign | Shirley Murray (Author) | English | 4 |
O Christ, you hang upon a cross | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 3 |
O God, our God, disabled God | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
O God, to you I cry in pain | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 3 | |
O God, we bear the imprint of Your face | Shirley Erena Murray (b. 1931) (Author) | English | 8 |
O little Love, who comes again | Shirley Murray (Author) | English | 5 |
Of women, and of women's hopes we sing | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
On this good earth, God's generous creation | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Open wide the church's door! | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Our life has its seasons | Shirley Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
[Paul's Goodbye] | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
"Peace be with you," says the risen Christ | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
Peace Child, in the sleep of the night | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Peace comes crying through the world | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Peace that no word or secret can tell | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Set us free for freedom | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Siir Yesu nadhenukku (O Jesus, we would praise you) | Shirley Erena Murray (Paraphraser (English)) | English, Thamilz | 2 |
Simply to be, to be in stillness | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
Sing a happy hallelujah | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 4 |
Sing green for the good sweet earth | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Sing to celebrate the city! | Shirley Murray (Author) | English | 3 |
Small things count, so Jesus said | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 3 |
Something beautiful for God | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
Son of God, whose heart is peace | Shirley Erena Murray (Paraphraser) | English | 2 |
Spirit of love, you move within creation | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 5 |
Spirit who broods | Shirley Murray (Author) | English | 4 |
Star-Child, earth-Child | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 15 |
Startle us, God, by the signs of Your Spirit around us! | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Take my gifts and let me love you | Shirley Murray (Author) | English | 6 |
Tama ngakau marie (Son of God, whose heart is peace) | Shirley Erena Murray (Paraphraser (English)) | English, Maori | 5 |
Teach us, O loving heart of Christ | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 4 |
The blessing of water and light and air | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
The bread is blessed, the wine is poured | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
The garden of the world, the paradise we share | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
The grain is ripe: the harvest comes! | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
The light, the Christmas light | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
The spring has come | Shirley Erena Murray (b. 1931) (Author) | English | 5 |
There is no child so small | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 3 | |
This is our faith: trouble may break us | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
This is the day of joy and peace | Shirley Murray (Paraphraser (English)) | English | 2 |
This is the mindset of one who has come | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
This thread I weave, this step I dance | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 3 |
Through all the world a hungry Christ | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 3 |
Through winter cold and drifted snow | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
To Christ, whose hands will bless | Shirley Erena Murray, 1931- (Author) | 2 | |
Tomar akash, tomar batash (Joy in your sky, joy in your wind) | Shirley Erena Murray (Paraphraser (English)) | Bengali, English | 2 |
Touch the Earth Lightly | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 24 |
Un le hami lai pre ma gari (For he loved and suffered on Calvary) | Shirley Erena Murray (Paraphraser (English)) | English, Nepali | 2 |
Vem, ó tu que fazes novos | Shirley Erena Murray, n. 1931 (Translator (English)) | French, German, Portuguese, Spanish | 2 |
We are the household that gathers round Jesus | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
We are the singers who celebrate Jesus | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
We wait for you | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
When at this table I receive a blessing | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 5 | |
When human voices cannot sing | Shirley Erena Murray, 1931- (Author) | English | 5 |
[When I Was a Child] (Murray) | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
When our lives know sudden shadow | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
When we lift our pack and go | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 4 |
Where are the voices for the earth? | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 3 | |
Where is the room | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Where mountains rise to open skies | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Where the light of Easter Day | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
Who is my mother? | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 10 |
Who is the child that is to be born | Shirley Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Who sweeps the stable when Christmas is over | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 3 | |
Who will there be to sing | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Who would steal a life to satisfy a greed? | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Who would walk cheerfully | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
Wind on the water, in the waves of the sea | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
Wisdom be our guide | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | 2 | |
Wise men came journeying, once, long ago | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 2 |
Wounded world that cries for healing | Shirley Erena Murray (Author) | English | 3 |