Christ Is Alive!

Music by Ron Klusmeier
Words by Brian Wren
Tune Name: LLOYDMINSTER

Lyrics as Poetry

Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.
The cross stands empty to the sky.
Let streets and homes with praises ring.
Love, drowned in death, shall never die.

Christ is alive! No longer bound
to distant years in Palestine,
but saving, healing, here and now,
and touching every place and time.

In every insult, rift and war,
where color, scorn or wealth divide,
Christ suffers still, yet loves the more,
and lives, where even hope has died.

Women and men, in age and youth,
can feel the Spirit, hear the call,
and find the way, the life, the truth,
revealed in Jesus, freed for all.

Christ is alive, and comes to bring
good news to this and every age,
till earth and sky and ocean ring
with joy, with justice, love and praise.


Words by
Brian WrenCopyright © 1989 by Hope Publishing Company
(Carol Stream, Illinois) for USA,
Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Copyright © 1989 by Stainer & Bell Limited
(London, England) for all other territories

Comments About Song

by BRIAN WREN from his book
“Piece Together Praise” (p 50):


“April 1968, revised 1978, 1989, 1993. Ten days after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, the congregation I served as minister, Hockley and Hawkwell Congregational [now United Reformed] Church, Essex, met to celebrate Easter. I tried to express Easter hope out of that terrible event, in words which could be more widely applied, and wrote ‘Christ is Alive!’ because our available hymns spoke of Easter as a glorious event long ago, far away, and high above. Revisions keep the original theme (the risen Christ shares yet outlasts our suffering, making Easter good news for all) while searching for better language than the command-and-control vocabulary of the original. The 1993 revision added the stanza, ‘Women and men, in age and youth’ etc., affirming that the life and love of God are ‘revealed in Jesus, freed for all.'”


Piece Together Praise
(A Theological Journey)
is co-published by:Hope Publishing Company
Carol Stream, IL USA
(for USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand)Stainer & Bell, Limited
London, England
(for all other countries)

                                                    Audio Sample

THIS SAMPLE
PIANO: HYMN-STYLE:
Click on the player above to hear one verse and refrain played on piano.

ACCOMPANIMENT TRACK
Subscribers and Purchasers may access full accompaniment tracks (including introduction and all verses) through the "Accompaniment Recordings" box found at the
bottom of this column.

Scripture References

  • Isaiah 11:9
  • Matthew 28:2
  • Mark 1:14-20
  • Mark 16:19
  • Luke 12:50
  • Luke 24:23
  • John 14:6
  • John 20:2
  • Acts 1:1-3
  • Acts 2:17
  • Colossians 1:24
  • Colossians 3:1
  • Hebrews 4:15
  • Revelation 1:18

Season, Theme
or Subject

  • Call to action
  • Care, Caring
  • Celebration
  • Challenge
  • Christ∶ living
  • Christian∶ life
  • Easter
  • Free, Freedom
  • Heal, Healing
  • Here-and-nowness
  • Hope
  • Liberation
  • Love∶ Christ's love
  • Perseverance
  • Resurrection
  • Sing, Singing
  • Spirit
  • War

Presentation Suggestions

There are many possibilities in terms of how to use this title. Here are a few thoughts:• It may work best to slow the suggested tempo somewhat if used as a congregational hymn.• In any event, it will be effective to sing the last verse and refrain somewhat slower than the others.• Both organ and piano accompaniment are provided. Consider using both instruments if resources permit — but not on every verse. Offer variety by alternating verses.• If using guitar-only or guitar and bass accompaniment (with or without percussion), consider a three-finger picking style.• If second or third guitars are available, have at least one play the capo chords. This will provide a broader and fuller sound when combined with the non-capo chords.• ‘Build’ this title into a choral anthem by utilizing the different ‘Hymn-style’ harmonizations. Some possibilities include a unison verse, a 2-part mixed voices verse, an SSA verse, an SAB verse and SATB verses. If children’s voices are available, they could sing a verse or two either in unison or from the 2-part treble voices arrangement with SAB or SATB parts hummed by the adult choir. Adult choir members could join on the refrain. 

Projection Images

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Projection Images
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16:9 Words Only
16:9 Words With Music
16:9 Words With Images
4:3 Words Only
4:3 Words With Music
4:3 Words With Images

Accompaniment Recordings

ACCOMPANIMENT RECORDINGS NOTES:• 4-measure Introduction.
• 4-measure Interlude (same as    Introduction) between verses.
• Slight ritard at end of final Refrain.


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Versions Available for This Title

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Melody Line Versions (includes transposing instruments)


  • Melody Line: 'C' Instrument or Vocal
  • Melody Line: 'C' Instrument 8va
  • Melody Line: Bass Clef 'C' Instrument
  • Melody Line: Alto Clef Instrument
  • Melody Line: ‘Bb’ Instrument
  • Melody Line: ‘Eb’ Instrument
  • Melody Line: ‘F’ Instrument (high)
  • Melody Line: ‘F’ Instrument (low)

Bulletin Masters


  • Bulletin Master: Letter-size 1-up
  • Bulletin Master: Legal-size 2-up
  • Bulletin Master: Legal-size 1-up
  • Bulletin Master: Letter-size 2-up

Hymn-style Vocal Harmonizations (accompany with any piano versions)


  • Hymn-style: SATB voices
  • Hymn-style: SAB voices
  • Hymn-style: SSA voices
  • Hymn-style: 2-part mixed (m/f) voices
  • Hymn-style: 2-part treble voices

Piano Versions


  • Piano: Hymn-style
  • Piano: Hymn-style, without lyrics
  • Piano: Melody Line and Chords
  • Easy Piano: Hymn-style
  • Easy Piano: Hymn-style, without lyrics

Organ Versions


  • Organ: Manuals-only
  • Organ: Manuals-only without lyrics
  • Organ: Manuals and Pedals
  • Organ: Manuals and Pedals without lyrics

Guitar Chords & Bass Progressions


  • Guitar & Bass: Full chords in keyboard key
  • Guitar: Transposed capo chords
  • Easy Guitar: Basic chords