Song suggestions for coming Sundays...

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Lectionary Index
If you are planning further ahead, you can find suggestions for other Sundays here.

Scripture Index
If you are not using the Lectionary, here is an index to suggestions for specific readings.

Service Music
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Songs and Hymns for ANZAC Day (April 25) / Memorial Day (May 26) / Remembrance Day (Nov 11)

This is primarily a list compiled for ANZAC Day in Australia and New Zealand, but will also be suitable for other days that remember those who have died in past conflicts.
You may also wish to use resources on the page for International Day of Peace.
  • GWA136 Hope for the world's despair (Ally Barrett, England) A beautiful mournful song reflecting on healing needed after war, and the need for peace to grow. Sung to the tune LOVE UNKNOWN. Sound sample (a bit pompous, but it has a very moving animation). Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
  • FFS05 Be their names remembered (Shirley Murray) Simple chant, good for singing in response to a list of names of those who have died (e.g. catastrophe, ANZAC day). "Be their names remembered in the heart of God"
  • VU526 Weep for the dead (Brian Wren) This song would be very appropriate for Peace Day, but also for Memorial Day / ANZAC day / Services of Remembrance. Sheet music and lyrics.
  • Online Resource / GWA135 / HiOS061 Honour the dead (Shirley Murray, New Zealand) This hymn has a tune that is familiar enough (by Colin Gibson) for the congregation to join in as it is sung. There are 6 verses, so perhaps invite them to join in as they get the hang of the tune. Lyrics. Sound sample (with a brass band!).
  • Online Resource God who remembers (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) Based on Psalm 136, this simple chant could also be good to use during the prayers of the people, or while people are placing poppies somewhere, lighting candles, or reading the names of those who have died. Lyrics and sound sample. Sheet music.
  • StF131 By a monument of marble or a simple wooden cross (Marjorie Dobson) Memorial Day Thoughtful words that are appropirate for ANZAC day and other services of remembrance. I would use BLAENWERN for these words, though it is not the set tune. Lyrics.
  • TiS 680 / VU527 / StF698 God as with silent hearts we bring to mind (Fred Kaan) Good words, with multiple tunes. The set tune in TiS (LAVENDON) is not easy, and the one in VU simple but a bit dull. It can also be sung to SURSUM CORDA (TiS 87) which is much more well known. Lyrics.
Congregation Songs that may be useful for a public memorial service where attendees may not be regular church attenders:
  • TiS 10 / AHB 16 / AoV1-144 / NCH479 / Iona (Common Ground) / CH14/16 / UMH136 / VU747/8 / StS099 / LBW451 / ELW778 / GA473 / HPP55 / GtG801 / PH170 / CP519 / CP(E) 594 / W&R86 / Cha078 / Srce662 / Lau806 The Lord's my Shepherd I'll not want / God is my shepherd (Scottish Psalter) I think this is more than a sentimental favourite and will be meaningful for those remembering fathers, grandfathers, uncles, aunts and mothers who died. Lyrics are quite masculine in most sources. Lyrics.
  • TiS 650 / ATA 191 / CH694 / A&M604 / NCH539 / VU595 / ELW659 / AA08 / SFFS 2222 / HPP442 / GtG727 / G(II)476 / GC683 / GC(II)661 / G(3)751 / CP500 / CP(E) 393 / W&R391 / Cha490 / SP263 / URW117 / Lau924 Brother, sister, let me serve you / Won't you let me be your servant? (Richard Gillard) I think you all know this one. Lyrics. NCH has a nice turn on the lyrics with "Won't you let me be your servant?" as the first line.
  • TiS 621 / UMH435 / VU677 / LBW416 / ELW748 / GtG756 / PH289 / GC(II)717 / G(3)825 /  CP593 / W&R626 / Cha680 / 82Hml-607 O God of Every Nation (William Watkins Reid) Powerful words seeking God's redemption of the world. Can be sung to LLANGLOFFAN or PASSION CHORALE, both very familiar hymn tunes. Lyrics and sheet music. Go look at the lyrics just to bring a smile to your face. So much hope!
Recorded music or music that could be played by your musicians (pretty much all Australian anti-war folk songs) for reflection. With thanks to Shawn Whelan who plays most of these every ANZAC Day.
  • I was only 19 (John Schumann)  Written about the Vietnam War, and its after effects on those who returned, this poignant song manages to be both anti-war and pro-veteran and is known by many. Lyrics. Chords. Youtube.
  • Mothers Daughters Wives (Judy Small) One of those rare songs that presents the women's perspective on war. Lyrics & chords. Youtube.
  • And the band played Waltzing Matilda (Eric Bogle) A massive tear-jerker that realistically protrays the experience of the returned soldier. Particularly appropriate this year for the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli. Youtube. Lyrics & chords.
  • The Green Fields of France (Eric Bogle) Another mournful anti-war song that questions what it was like for those who died in the first world war. Particularly appropriate this year for the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli. Youtube. Lyrics & chords.
  • In Memoriam (Vic MacDonald) A New Zealand song reflecting on the decimation of and remembrance in many country towns for generations. Lyrics and mp3s. 
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Resources for Earth Day (22 April 2025)

For some years, I've been meaning to make a page specifically focussed on Care or the Earth, or for Earth Day. Even though I've listed songs for Season of Creation, which focuses on these issues, it's helpful to have them all in one place. Our Worship Committee at Brunswick Uniting has also received a request from our Church Council to develop a "Climate Crisis Liturgy", so this is also a clearinghouse of sorts for web pages that already have these resources. 

Liturgies and Prayers

Songs 

  • SFFS 2059 I Am Your Mother. Do not neglect me! (Shirley Erena Murray) Great words about the earth as our mother and the need to care for her. Lyrics and sheet music.
  • Online Resource Can Weeping for our Planet be Enough (Adam Tice / Sally Ann Morris) Powerful words calling us to action, rather than just lamenting the destruction around us. Contemporary tune which will need to be taught. Sheet music, lyrics sample, and purchasing options. 
  • VU297 All praise to you O God of all creation (Omer Westendorf) Good words of God's role in creation and our role to care for it. Sung to the familiar tune FINLANDIA. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
  • URW155 Earth and all who breathe (Ruth Duck) Excellent words about care for creation, our role as stewards of the earth, and the struggle against destructive progress. Sung to the familiar tune ICH HALTE TREULICH STILL. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes.
  • STB257 Green the wild fields (I-to Loh) This Taiwanese song reflects on the way we devastate creation and seeks repentance and better behaviour. The English translation could be better, but I quite like it.  
  • TiS 668 / AoVK-34 / ATFG587 / NCH569 / CH243 / VU307 / R254 / ELW739 / AA143 / A&M553 / GtG713 / G(3)805 / W&R38 / Cha693 / URW189 / StF729 Touch the earth lightly (Shirley Murray) Sings of the redemption of creation and our complicity in its destruction. Sources vary in their set tunes. TiS has a good tune (TENDERNESS) with a nice minor key change to the relative minor for the second verse. Can also be sung to BUNESSAN, if you need a familiar tune. Youtube video with all lyrics.New words to old tunes (if you want).
  • MV135 Called by earth and sky (Pat Mayberry) Gentle song about being called to care for the earth. Sheet music.
  • TiS 679 / Online God of Jeremiah grieving (Brian Wren) If you are going to focus on Jeremiah for the next few weeks, this would be a good hymn to learn. The traditional Scottish tune KELVIN GROVE is well known as the tune for "The Summons". Lyrics and free sheet music PDF. New words to old tunes.
  • CH240 / W&R37 / StF727 / Lau687 / MP832 God in such love for us lent us this planet (Fred Pratt Green) Really excellent lyrics of caring for creation and a reminder that the Earth is God's. Not all versions are inclusive (CH is). Lyrics and sheet music.
  • VU305 Into the unshaped silence (S Curtis Tufts) Lovely words of a new day, a day of rest, and care for the earth. You could choose just one verse and sing it as a round. Lyrics.
  • Cha658 / URW081 Restless Weaver (Cricket Harrison) Excellent words of our desire to help build God's new earth - caring for creation and desiring justice for all. Sung to the familiar tune HOLY MANNA. Lyrics.  New words to old tunes.
  • Online Resource / GWA024 Your labour is not in vain (Wendell Kimbrough / Paul Zach / Isaac Wardell) A soothing song about how the work is worth it in the end. Not so much a congregational song, but would work well for a time of reflection, with the congregation joining in on the chorus "I am with you, for I have called you by name, your labour is not in vain". Sound sample and chords for guitar. Sheet music and a different sound sample.
  • AHB 106 / CH238 / A&M543 / CP(E) 257 Lord bring the day to pass (Ian Fraser) Excellent words. Care for the earth. New heavens and earth. Can be sung to one of my favourite hymn tunes (LOVE UNKNOWN), but other tunes are also listed. Sound sample. New words to old tunes.
  • NCH559 / PH266 / W&R36 Thank You God for Water Soil and Air (Brian Wren) Good words asking God to help us renew the face of the earth by caring for creation. A prayer of confession. Lyrics & sheet music.
  • TiS 651 Take, take off your shoes (Jim Manley) A fun slightly silly song for kids; this song is focussed on caring for the earth and creation. Sound sample. Good for kids.
  • Online Resource For all beings without speech (Julie Perrin) Beautiful words, set to a quite meditative melody by Shawn Whelan, about our need to care for all of creation. Sound sample, and free sheet music.

 

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