I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light / Shine in my Heart

This is a hymn about following Jesus, who is the light of the world.

It was written American organist and hymnwriter, Kathleen Thomerson, nee Armstrong (b 1934) in 1966, when she was involved with the Episcopalian charismatic Community of Celebration based at the Church of the Redeemer, Houston.

With meter 10.7.10.8.9.9.10.7, it is set to a tune called HOUSTON (Thomerson), which the author wrote for the text.

This tune has a 3/4 time signature. In the key of C, the first few notes of the melody are C E F GG_ A G F G_ with accompanying chords C / F / G / C / F / C Dm7 / G.

Image adapt. from NeedPx - CC0

Downloads

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Downloadable SAB choir arrangement by Mark Hayes

Buy sheet music from OCP

Examples

Choir with very gentle organ:

Singer with guitar, words on-screen:

Large choir (and congregation?) with organ:

Choir with organ and orchestra:

Singer with organ:

Choir, unaccompanid in a very reverberant room:

Small group with electronic keyboard and guitar:

Instrumental - keyboard, with words on-screen:

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:

1 I want to walk as a child of the light.
I want to follow Jesus.
God set the stars to give light to the world.
The star of my life is Jesus.

Chorus:
In him there is no darkness at all.
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.

2 I want to see the brightness of God.
I want to look at Jesus.
Clear sun of righteousness, shine on my path,
and show me the way to the Father.

3 I'm looking for the coming of Christ.
I want to be with Jesus.
When we have run with patience the race,
we shall know the joy of Jesus.