And They'll Know we are Christians by our Love (We are One in the Spirit)

This is a folk-style song about Christian unity and social justice.   It is based on John 13:35 "This is how all will know you are my disciples ... "    Alternative titles include "They Will Know we are Christians" or "We are One in the Spirit", and more-recently, By Our Love.

It was written by American Roman Catholic guitarist, folk-musician and and at-the-time priest Peter Raymond Scholtes (1938-2009), to provide material for ecumenical, inter-racial events including a choir of disadvantaged youth (ref).  The song was initially included in volume 1 of the Hymnal for Young Christians, arranged by Denis Fitzgerald and published in 1966 (ref Keep the Fire burning).  It is included in McCrimmon Publication's Celebration Hymnal for Everyone, and sheet music is available for immediate download (SheetMusicPlus link below).

The tune, also by Scholtes is called ST BRENDAN'S in some publications, after the Chicago parish where Scholtes was associate pastor.   It has a 4/4 time signature, and in the key of Fm, the first few notes are CE F FEFA.   It has the style of a Hebrew folk-tune but has not been identified as any particular tune.

Since the 1960s/70's, the song has become less popular in liturgical churches.  But it has more recently has been recorded by several 21st-century contemporary-Christian-music artists, eg Jars of Clay, King and Country.   YouTube shows that it is also used in youth-ministry in various countries.

The original recording left out the fourth verse - presumably because of limited space on the record - and it has been left out of many subsequent publications and recordings also. The original third verse refers to "each man's dignity" and "each man's pride" - in some circumstances this is changed to "each one's dignity" etc.






Downloads

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Examples

Original recording



Professional arrangement



Congregation, guitar led



Contemporary arrangement - singer with praise band, professional recording



Solo singer, guitar and band



Choir in a church service, unaccompanied



Another 1960s folk-band recording:


Instrumental - pipe organ


Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:
1 We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord ...

Chorus:
And they'll know we are Christians,
By our love, by our love.
Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.

2 We will walk with each other, will walk hand in hand ...

3 We will work with each other, we will work side by side ...

4 All praise to the Father, from whom all things come ...

See more ...

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY 1- We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord.
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord.
And we pray that all unity, may one day be restored.

And they'll know we are Christians,
By our love, by our love.
Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.

2- We will walk with each other, will walk hand in hand,
We will walk with each other, will walk hand in hand,
And together we'll spread the news, that God is in our land.

3- We will work with each other, we will work side by side,
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we'll save each man's dignity, and guard each man's pride.

4- All praise to the Father, from whom all things come,
And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son
And all praise to the Spirit, that makes us one.

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