God With Us

God With Us is a Lessons & Carols service that creatively illustrates man’s relationship with God through the idea of “home.” The idea of “home” is traced through man’s design to be at home with God, our loss of that home, and God’s restoration of that home through Christ.


The full God With Us includes high-quality underscores for ten scripture readings, as well as recommended carols. It's scored for String Quartet, Clarinet in Bb (doubling Bass Clarinet) and Piano.
  1. Created to be at home with Him (Genesis 2:5-9, 15-25) Full Ensemble
  2. Sin created separation (Genesis 3:1-7, 22-24) String Quartet only
  3. Abraham’s Covenant (Genesis 17:1-8) Cello only
  4. Lament for the loss of home (Psalm 137) Bass Clarinet only
  5. Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14) Silence 
  6. Mary (Luke 1:26-38) Full Ensemble
  7. The birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:18-25) Viola and Cello only
  8. Angels (Luke 2:8-20) String Quartet only
  9. Christ will make His home in your hearts (Ephesians 3:14-19) Piano only
  10. God will dwell with us (Revelation 21:1-4) Bass Clarinet/Bb Clarinet + String Quartet. *For this reading, the text is written out rhythmically with the music. You may want to assign a reader who can read music.
 

Purchase the Full Score for Use at Your Church


Purchase Audio for Public Performance

God With Us is available for churches and other organizations to use, and you can purchase the full set of sheet music here. If you would like to purchase sheet music for just one song, click the links below. If you are not interested in hiring musicians to perform the music audio for public performance is available for purchase here. 

More information about my other Lessons & Carols services can be found here, and a complete list of all Lesson Underscores organized by instrumentation and scripture can be found here.


This music is written to complement the reading of the text, and is meant to be played while the scripture is read - however, the music can be performed without the scripture reading. It's always my goal to support the text without overwhelming it. 


Flexible instrumentation version (Piano+high instrument+low instrument) version coming soon - shoot me a message to let me know your interest. :)

1. Created to be at home with Him (Genesis 2:5-9, 15-25) Full Ensemble


I composed the opening chords of “Created to be at home with Him” to captivate the listener similarly by being slow, and deliberate. The moment that God intimately breathes life into man, the clarinet enters the texture with a melody that seems to sigh. Juxtaposed rhythm groups of 2's and 3's represent how God is present with man. (Just like Bach would have?) As Eve becomes present with Adam, the music becomes more energetic and joyful. Creation is now complete, and the created are glad to dwell in it together.

  Audio // Purchase Individual Score+Parts

2. Sin creates separation (Genesis 3:1-7, 22-24) String Quartet only

“Sin creates separation” opens with halting, repeating chords in the strings. The chords are static, and meant to arrest the listener’s ears. Sin has entered the world, and the world is totally changed.



  Audio // Purchase Individual Score+Parts

3. Abraham’s Covenant (Genesis 17:1-8) Cello only


"Abraham's Covenant" slows melodies down from "Created to be at home with Him." God is present as he breaks his silence to Abraham, but he still feels awfully far away.

  Audio // Purchase Individual Part

4. Lament for the loss of home (Psalm 137) Bass Clarinet only


 “Lament for the loss of home” takes advantage of the many unusual (and sometimes ugly) sounds that the bass clarinet can make.  God is with Israel in the promised land, He is with them in Babylon, and He is even with them in the deepest, ugliest cries of their hearts.


Audio // Purchase Individual Part

5. Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14) Silence 

Silence only felt right here.

6. Mary (Luke 1:26-38) Full Ensemble


While I love the many solemn depictions of Mary, I was struck this time around by the joy that Mary must have had in learning she was with child with the son of God. Music from "Created to be at home with Him" is re-rhythmed to be sprightly and exuberant. 


  Audio // Purchase Individual Score+Parts

7. The birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:18-25) Viola and Cello only

Thinking of how God so often accomplishes his plans through partners, family, and fellowship, I wrote this track specifically to be played by violist and cellist Jessica and Karl Ronnevik, an actual real-life mom and dad.


  Audio // Purchase Individual Score+Parts

8. Angels (Luke 2:8-20) String Quartet only


Angels appear and take over the sky in this intricate and energetic fugue.


  Audio // Purchase Individual Score+Parts
9. Christ will make His home in your hearts (Ephesians 3:14-19) Piano only

In this track, the "Created to be at home with Him" chords makes their final appearance, but here the chords are warmer, and a little bit more personal in character.   

Audio // Get Individual Part (it's a freebie.)

10. God will dwell with us forever (Revelation 21:1-4) Bass Clarinet + String Quartet

The final underscore opens with the same ominous repeating chords that opened the second underscore, “Sin creates separation,” but ends with a joyful peace and calm. Humankind is dwelling again with God in the new creation. Everything is again how it should be.


Audio // Purchase Individual Score+Parts

Special note: When presented in full, the music in God With Us  carries the listener around the circle of fifths - essentially bringing us from home, to far away from home, and then back to home again. (Oooh!)

God With Us: The Album Recording


In 2020, God With Us was written and recorded through the generous support of kickstarter supporters, a residency at Arts Letters & Numbers, and Hope Chapel. You can enjoy the album on Spotify, Itunes, and can be purchased on bandcamp.

This album was created with the help of the following talents...

Composer and Producer: Robin McLaughlin 

Voiceovers: Kendra Adachi and Andy Hudson

Violins: Tracy Viator and Madeleine Klee

Viola: Jessica Ronnevik

Cello: Karl Ronnevik

Clarinets: Taylor Barlow

Piano: Michael Van Patter 

 

Recording Engineer: Christopher Miller

Mixing and Mastering Engineer: Shawn Milloway

Photography: Brittany Faith Photography

Graphic Design: Michael Van Patter

 

Special Thanks To: Arts Letters & Numbers, Hope Chapel, Michael Van Patter, Jillian Storey, Peter Swanson, and Mark Engebretson.


The text in this album is taken from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.