One More Redeemer
A warm-hearted affirmation of the divine spark in each child
Music: Elizabeth Alexander
Words: Rob Eller-Isaacs & Bill Neely
A warm-hearted affirmation of the divine spark in each child. Rich in close-harmony voicings and counterpoint, this American folk/gospel-inspired song is especially moving as an anthem for baptism and child dedication services.
“Hey Elizabeth, it’s Jason Shelton. It’s Thursday evening. Just finished choir practice and want to tell you how much I love One More Redeemer. That piece makes me happy. Thank you for that.” Voicemail from Jason Shelton, Music Director of First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville (Nashville, TN)
Details and Ordering Information
Composer Notes
I fell in love with the words “one more redeemer” the first time I ever heard them. Rev. Rob Eller-Isaacs coined the phrase as a blessing for young children and used it in all of his child dedications. These words offer a blessing for children in every place and time, thanking them for the unique and unimaginable ways they will bless the world.
As it turned out, I was not the only one who fell in love with this phrase. It is now used in many baptisms and child dedications, as well as in the celebration of hope and new life we call Christmas.
One More Redeemer
Every child is born one more redeemer
In each new life is a spark divine,
One more voice for compassion, one more holy sign,
One more chance to restore and reveal and receive.
This is our faith, this we believe:
That every child is born bring one more redeemer to this world.
Rob Eller-Isaacs and Bill Neely
Composite lyric created by Elizabeth Alexander
© 1997 by Rob Eller-Isaacs and © 2005 by Bill Neely
Performers
Premiere: Unity Singers of Unity Church-Unitarian of Saint Paul / Ruth Palmer (St. Paul, MN)
Chalice Choir of First Unitarian Church of Toledo / Gladys Rudolph (Toledo, OH)
Chamber Singers of First Unitarian Church of Nashville / Jason Shelton (Nashville, TN)
Choir of Brookfield Unitarian Universalist Church / Lila Farrar (Brookfield, MA)
Choir of Davies Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church / Dixon Redditt (Camp Springs, MD)
Choir of First Congregational Church of Montclair / Julie Morgan (Montclair, NJ)
Choir of First Parish in Concord / Beth Norton (Concord, MA)
Choir of First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco / Mark Sumner (San Francisco, CA)
Choir of Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church / Mary Neumann (Melrose, MA)
Choir of Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church / Sarah Dan Jones (Atlanta, GA)
Choir of Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church / David Simmons (Overland Park, KS)
Choir of Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham / James Sullivan (Birmingham, AL)
Choir of Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lawrence / Susan Harper (Lawrence, KS)
Choir of Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Marin / Philip Hildreth (San Rafael, CA)
Choir of Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saint Johnsbury / Steve Finner (Saint Johnsbury, VT)
Choir of Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville / Ruth Lewis (Gainesville, FL)
Choir of Unitarian Universalists of Transylvania County / John Austin (Brevard, NC)
Choir of UU Church of Nashua / Jed Holland (Nashua, NH)
Choir of UU Church of Savannah / Kelly Blackmarr (Savannah, GA)
Claremont Chorale / Charles W Kamm (Claremont, CA)
Countryside Choir / Jeff Hamrick (Palatine, IL)
Guardian Angels Music Ministry / Roger Stratton (Oakdale, MN)
MidSouth Unitarian Universalist Music Festival / Sarah Dan Jones (Atlanta, GA)
Saint Edward’s Madrigal Chamber Choir / H. Morris Stephens Jr. (Austin, TX)
Sanctuary Choir of First Christian Church of Denton / Mark Graham (Denton, TX)
