Stranger, Standing at My Door

Music by Ron Klusmeier
Words by Shirley Erena Murray
Tune Name: MAPLE RIDGE

Lyrics as Poetry

Stranger, standing at my door,
you disturb me in the night:
you have needs I can’t ignore,
you have eyes that speak your plight.Do I know you, nameless face,
battered woman, detainee,
hungry youth or sickness case,
jobless parent, refugee—Do I know you, nameless face?You are strange in speech and dress,
you have children at your side,
you are not like one of us—
you have begged away your pride.If you passed across my screen
I might switch you out of sight,
worlds away you might have been,
yet you stand here in the night.Do I know you, nameless face?I am fearful of your claim,
yet I cannot turn away.
Stranger with the foreign name,
are you angel come to stay?You are messenger and guest,
you the Christ I can’t ignore,
you my own compassion’s test,
stranger, standing at my door.You, the Christ I can’t ignore.

Words by
Shirley Erena MurrayCopyright © 1997 by Hope Publishing Company
Carol Stream, Illinois • USA

Scripture References

  • Genesis 18:1-8
  • Matthew 25:31-45
  • Luke 10:25-37
  • Revelation 3

Season, Theme
or Subject

  • Children∶ music for
  • Compassion
  • Conflict
  • Culture
  • Door, Doors
  • Free, Freedom
  • Heal, Healing
  • Intergenerational
  • Justice, Human Rights
  • Lent
  • Neighbour
  • Race, Racism
  • Violence
  • War

Presentation Suggestions

Not yet available for this title. Contact us if you are a subscriber (or purchaser of this title) and need this item.

Projection Images

Not yet available for this title. Contact us if you are a subscriber (or purchaser of this title) and need this item.

Accompaniment Recordings

Not yet available for this title. Contact us if you are a subscriber (or purchaser of this title) and need this item.

  • Subscribe To All Titles

    unlimited annual access to everything on this site

  • Purchase This Title

    unlimited access to all versions of this title

  • unlimited access to an individual version of this title

Purchasers and Subscribers
Click links below to download your versions.

Versions Available for This Title

Contact us if you need a version you don’t see here.

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)

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

  • Hymn-style: SATB voices

Guitar Chords & Bass Progressions

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