Our church has two baptisms this Sunday and two new members joining.  I'm busy in the office trying to finish up everything for the worship service, studying up a little more on Paul (because we've been talking about him in our current adult education class), and trying to put out fires here and there.  Keeping me company is John Lennon.  Check out this important message from Amnesty International and then go download the album.  I did.  It is for a good cause and the music is, well, just what you would expect:  terrific. 

iTunes release Make Some Noise album

Some of the biggest names in music have come together to raise money for Amnesty International (AI) and awareness of the organisation's work -- especially on the current human rights crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan.

An array of over 30 stars from across the globe -- including U2, Avril Lavigne, R.E.M, Aerosmith, Christina Aguilera, Green Day, The Cure, Snow Patrol and Youssou N'Dour -- have recorded exclusive versions of iconic songs from the John Lennon back catalogue.

Yoko Ono has generously donated all music publishing royalties to the cause. Speaking about the Make Some Noise campaign, she said:

It's wonderful that, through this campaign, music which is so familiar to many people of my era will now be embraced by a whole new generation. John's music set out to inspire change and, in standing up for human rights, we really can make the world a better place.

Irene Khan, Secretary General of AI, said:

We're thrilled to be using John Lennon's songs in our human rights work. We hope this music will bring an awareness of human rights to a new generation. After all, human rights are what make music possible -- we wouldn't be able to create music, listen to it or dance to it without freedom of speech, expression, and association.

All 38 tracks will be available through the iTunes music store on Tuesday 12 June (with at least 97% of proceeds going to AI), while the 24-track double CD album will be released later in June on Warner Bros. Records.

AI has also launched a global petition on Darfur to coincide with the digital album. The petition calls on the Sudanese government to allow for a joint African Union and United Nations peacekeeping force to be deployed to the crisis-hit region. It also urges the Khartoum authorities to halt indiscriminate attacks against civilians, disarm a regional militia (the Janjawid) and enforce an arms embargo.

You can download the album and access the petition at: www.amnesty.org/noise

Make Some Noise: The Amnesty International Campaign To Save Darfur Track List

Disc 1
1. U2 – Instant Karma
2. R.E.M – #9 Dream
3. Christina Aguilera – Mother
4. Aerosmith ft. Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars – Give Peace A Chance
5. Lenny Kravitz – Cold Turkey
6. The Cure – Love
7. Corinne Bailey Rae – I’m Losing You
8. Jakob Dylan ft Dhani Harrison – Gimme Some Truth
9. Jackson Browne – Oh My Love
10. The Raveonettes – One Day At A Time
11. Avril Lavigne – Imagine
12. Big & Rich – Nobody Told Me
13. Eskimo Joe – Mind Games
14. Youssou N’Dour – Jealous Guy

Disc 2
1. Green Day – Working Class Hero
2. Black Eyed Peas – Power To The People
3. Jack Johnson – Imagine
4. Ben Harper – Beautiful Boy
5. Snow Patrol – Isolation
6. Matisyahu – Watching The Wheels
7. The Postal Service – Grow Old With Me
8. Jaguares – Gimme Some Truth
9. The Flaming Lips - (Just Like) Starting Over
10. Jack’s Mannequin ft. Mick Fleetwood – God
11. Duran Duran – Instant Karma
12. a-ha – #9 Dream
13. Tokio Hotel – Instant Karma
14. Regina Spektor – Real Love

Additional tracks available exclusively via iTunes
Gavin Rossdale – Mind Games
The Deftones – Jealous Guy
Ben Jelen – Woman
Meshell Ndegeocello – Imagine
Rocky Dawuni – Well Well Well
OAR – Borrowed Time
Widespread Panic – Crippled Inside
Emmanuel Jal – Mother
Fab Faux – I Don’t Wanna Face It
Yellowcard – Oh My Love