Jeremiah 31:7-14
Gathering the flock of Israel, redeeming them, and the celebration afterwards
- TiS474 / AoV1-012
/ ATAR595 / CH623 / SFFS 2236 / HPP553 / A&M363 / GtG401 / G(II)539 / GC839 / GC(II)743 / G(3)848 /
CP465 / W&R649 / Cha284 / SP175 / URW054 / Lau475 Here in this place new light is streaming / Gather us in (Marty Haugen).
Excellent words, very well known. “Nourish us well and teach us to
fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true”. Lyrics, sound samples, sheet music.
- AoV2-139 / GA525 / SP&P045 Gather us O God Body spirit soul and mind
(Monica Brown) Very simple song. Would work well as a gathering chant "Gather
us O God, Body, spirit, soul and mind. Gather us, O God, One in union
now with you. Also works at the end of the service "Send us out O
God.... Lyrics & sound sample.
- MV007 Gather us in ground us in you (David Hann) A simple chant which would be great for an invitation to worship. Lyrics & sheet music sample.
- AoV1-071 / GA530 / GC(II)742 / G(3)837 / Lau462 Gather Your People (Bob Hurd) Excellent eucharistic theology. Sound sample. Lyric and sheet music sample.
- TiS 647 / AoV2-012 / ATN 25 Comfort, comfort all my people
(Robin Mann) Easy to sing, beautiful lyrics. Chorus is “Comfort,
comfort all
my people, with the comfort of my word. Speak ye tender to my people,
all your sins are taken away”. Note that most sources only list 2
verses, but there are two additional (more challenging) verses you may
wish to consider using written for the Christmas Bowl in 1988; these could be sung at any time of year. Thanks to
Simon for alerting me to them. Lyrics (including additional verses), lyric video.
- AoVK-125 / ATW 489 Turn our sadness upside down (Leigh Newton) Good for kids, and adults too. Simple tune, but not so simple that it’s boring. Lyrics. Sheet music.
- Iona (There is one among us) Lord you can turn all mourning into dancing
(John Bell) An excellent simple refrain “Lord you can turn all mourning
into dancing, evenings of grief to mornings of great joy”. Sheet music sample (part of a large PDF with many other good songs).
- Tune In / Online Resource You in all our worries / All will finish well
(Dave Brown) “In this world where injustice reigns, you are in the midst of
pain”. Excellent words of reassurance in a difficult world. Free downloadable songbook.
- TiS 670 / SiS569 / AoVK-138 / ATE 258 / CH692 / Srce385 / MP376 Jesus put this song into our hearts
(Graham Kendrick) A fun Yiddish tune that gets even more fun if you get faster
and faster as you go. Try teaching your congregation a simple side to
side “dance” step. If you teach them and make it clear that it’s okay,
you’ll be surprised how many people will join in. Good for kids. Youtube.
- MV221 I am walking a path of peace (Janet Tissandier) A simple song for the end of the service; words can be altered to paths of love, grace, hope, joy etc. Lyrics Good for kids.
Alternative Hebrew Scripture Sirach 24:1-12
Wisdom, from the beginning.
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ACS971 / MV010 / GtG174 / URW099 / VF060 Come and seek the ways of wisdom
(Ruth Duck) This song is more about the personification of Wisdom, but would work
very well as a gathering song in the context of this reading. The tune in ACS, MV and GtG is
a joyful 6/8 tune, but not familiar, so if it seems difficult, you could sing the
same words to PICARDY (TiS 497). VF has a more challenging tune, which may be a bit tricky for a congregation. Lyrics.
- CH604 Holy wisdom lamp of learning
(Ruth Duck) Great words seeking wisdom, judgement, and celebrating
a searching faith. Sung to a good joyful and easy hymn tune (IN
BABILONE). Could also be sung to BEACH SPRING.
Sample music and lyrics.
- Online Resource / URW206 In her house there is a table / Wisdom's Table (Doug Gay) Sung to BEACH SPRING, this song has great words of being welcomed by Wisdom at her table through times of trouble. Choral version (to a different tune, but you can see the words). New words to old tunes.
- MV063 / StJ / GC(II)500 / G(3)583 Long before my journey’s start / Wisdom my road
(Steven Warner) Song for Wisdom. Pretty straightforward. Lyric video.
- Online Resource / HiOS156 Wisdom be our guide
(Shirley Murray) Inspiring lyrics of peace and being grounded and
inspired by Wisdom. The tune is quite simple, and the chorus will be
easy to follow. Lyrics and sheet music.
- TiS 418 / AoV2-075 / Iona (EoA, Common Ground) / CH593 / GA372 / A&M259 / Cha255 / SP94 / URW165 / Lau305 She sits like a bird brooding on the waters (John Bell)
Beautiful words and very easy to sing,
provided it is not played too quickly The Iona recordings are generally
very quick, but there are a lot of words to fit in, so keep it elegantly
moderate in speed! Lyrics and sound sample.
-
MV027 Creator God you gave us life
(Judith Snowdon) “through the mist of time and space, we search for
that which makes us whole…. our spirits soar beyond the veil to touch
the very face of God”. A soaring tune that hits the “weepy” button for
me, though I don’t know why. Easy to sing after a brief introduction, I
think. Lyrics. Lyric video.
- Songs for a Hopeful Church Now Wisdom's feast continues
(Elizabeth Smith) Excellent words about God as Wisdom, and all of the
many ways she meets us and guides us in our faith. Sung to the familiar
tune ELLACOMBE. I really like these words. Lyrics (scroll way down, or search in this page!). New words to old tunes.
Psalm 147:12-20
God who grants peace and controls the wind and snow and rain
- ATE 216 / Iona (SBL) / CH126 / VU241 / StJ / ELW555 / GtG637 / PH472 / G(II)365 / GC527 / RS 671O sing to the Lord / Cantai ao Senhor / Cantad
al Señor (Traditional Brazilian) A good, fun and simple song that is
easy to learn in Portuguese or Spanish too. Some versions also have
multiple verses (e.g. CH). I really like it as a call and response, as in this sound sample. Sheet music samples.
-
TiS
706 / Taize / AoV2-142 / A&M600 / SFFS 2013 / GtG544 / PH224 / GC(II)576 /
G(3)620 / CP360 / PfAS103C / SP194 / Src79 / URW377 / Lau813 Bless the Lord my soul (Robert Batastini / Taize) A beautiful and very well known Taize chant. Sound samples, sheet music.Good for kids.
-
TiS 181 / AoV2-032 / GC(II)497 / G(3)577 / CP589 Come O God of all the earth / Sing Out Earth and Skies
(Marty Haugen) A very joyful song for cantor and congregation, or small group
and congregation; this is a big favourite in our church. Sheet music, lyrics and sound sample.
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CH753 / SFFS 2078 / GtG589 / GC(II)271 / G(3)338 / PfAS147A Alleluia alleluia
(Honduras) Simple and fun Alleluia that works well as a refrain for a
reading of this Psalm.
You could also use a different Alleluia.
-
AoVK-24 / Iona (T1AU) / CH756 Bless the Lord / My sisters
(Kenyan) Simple and fun Kenyan call and response. "Bless the Lord there is no other God" Kids would really enjoy this, and with some African
drumming, it would really be excellent. Sheet music. Good for kids.
-
MV037 Each blade of grass / Circle of God (Keri Wehlander) Lovely words set to a familiar-feeling folk tune. Lyric video.
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Iona (SBL) / CH140 / MV181 / WoV727 / ELW554 / G(II)341 / GC495 / STB178 Lord Your Hands Have Formed This World / The Earth is the Lord's / Imegmoy pitak ay yay (Sario and Ramon Oliano) Good words of creation to a lovely, and not too difficult,
Philippino melody. This would be a nice song for a children's choir or
for the offering. Lyrics and sample sheet music.
-
VU888 / LBW558 / ELW731 / GtG026 / PH458 / RS681 / CP358 / W&R642 Earth and All Stars
Fun words of cosmic praise. An easy hymn-like tune. I really like the
"boiling test tubes" bit, although this verse is not in all hymnals. Lead sheet. Sound sample.
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MV095 How deep the peace (Bauman / Good) Simple song. Would work particularly well as words of assurance after the prayers of confession. Lyrics (a very short slide show)
-
CH753 / SFFS 2078 / GtG589 / GC(II)271 / G(3)338 / PfAS147A Alleluia alleluia
(Honduras) Simple and fun Alleluia that works well as a refrain for a
reading of this Psalm.
Good for kids.
Alternative to the Psalm Wisdom of Solomon 10:15-21
Wisdom, rescuer of the Israelites.
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ACS971 / MV010 / GtG174 / URW099 / VF060 Come and seek the ways of wisdom
(Ruth Duck) This song is more about the personification of Wisdom, but would work
very well as a gathering song in the context of this reading. The tune in ACS, MV and GtG is
a joyful 6/8 tune, but not familiar, so if it seems difficult, you could sing the
same words to PICARDY (TiS 497). VF has a more challenging tune, which may be a bit tricky for a congregation. Lyrics.
- CH604 Holy wisdom lamp of learning
(Ruth Duck) Great words seeking wisdom, judgement, and celebrating
a searching faith. Sung to a good joyful and easy hymn tune (IN
BABILONE). Could also be sung to BEACH SPRING.
Sample music and lyrics.
- Online Resource / URW206 In her house there is a table / Wisdom's Table
(Doug Gay) Sung to BEACH SPRING, this song has great words of being
welcomed by Wisdom at her table through times of trouble. Choral version (to a different tune, but you can see the words). New words to old tunes.
- MV063 / StJ / GC(II)500 / G(3)583 Long before my journey’s start / Wisdom my road
(Steven Warner) Song for Wisdom. Pretty straightforward. Lyric video.
- Online Resource / HiOS156 Wisdom be our guide
(Shirley Murray) Inspiring lyrics of peace and being grounded and
inspired by Wisdom. The tune is quite simple, and the chorus will be
easy to follow. Lyrics and sheet music.
- TiS 418 / AoV2-075 / Iona (EoA, Common Ground) / CH593 / GA372 / A&M259 / Cha255 / SP94 / URW165 / Lau305 She sits like a bird brooding on the waters (John Bell)
Beautiful words and very easy to sing,
provided it is not played too quickly The Iona recordings are generally
very quick, but there are a lot of words to fit in, so keep it elegantly
moderate in speed! Lyrics and sound sample.
-
MV027 Creator God you gave us life
(Judith Snowdon) “through the mist of time and space, we search for
that which makes us whole…. our spirits soar beyond the veil to touch
the very face of God”. A soaring tune that hits the “weepy” button for
me, though I don’t know why. Easy to sing after a brief introduction, I
think. Lyrics. Lyric video.
- Songs for a Hopeful Church Now Wisdom's feast continues
(Elizabeth Smith) Excellent words about God as Wisdom, and all of the
many ways she meets us and guides us in our faith. Sung to the familiar
tune ELLACOMBE. I really like these words. Lyrics (scroll way down, or search in this page!). New words to old tunes.
-
Online Resource Hear the message we now are proclaiming / El mensaje que hoy proclamamos. This
jubilant Colombian song of liberty and new life for the poor and
suffering would fit well with God's care for all. Free sheet music. Sound sample.
- MV187 / ELW682 We give our thanks / Re a mo leboga (Traditional Botswana) A great song to sing for the offering. Older style version. More upbeat version. Amazing video with a newer version. Good for kids.
Ephesians 1:3-14
God as our loving adoptive parent and our new inheritance, of forgiveness- BUC Song Project Sing sing with me (Julia Potter)
This lovely new song from a member of our congregation is great fun,
and includes the phrase "Jesus calls us, let's go see what we can be, as God's family". Not available online yet. Good for kids.
- Online Resource / Tune In Part of a family, interconnected / Community (Dave Brown) A great and very easy-to-sing contemporary song about being welcomed and part of a community. Free downloadable songbook, lyrics and sound samples.
- TiS
417 / AoV2-133 / ATW 448 / VU387 / StJ / WoV683 / ELW397 / AA94 /
HPP237 / GtG293 / PH323 / CP657 / W&R135 / Cha244 / URW203 / StB220 / VF051 / LUYH793 Loving Spirit, Loving Spirit (Shirley Murray).
There are about a zillion tunes set for this. I prefer FELICITY (by
Colin Gibson TiS 417), but also like RESTORATION and OMNI DIE. Lyrics & sound sample. New words to old tunes (if that's what you choose)
- Online resource Children of God (Bruce Harding) A simple two part chant. Will need to be taught. Sheet music sample.
- AoVK-119 We're God's family God's children (Trish Watts / Monica O'Brien) Good words. Catchy tune. Good for kids.
- AoV2-037 Children Of God in one family (Christopher Walker) Great for kids. Sometimes we mess up, but God forgives. Sound sample and lyrics. Good for kids.
- TiS 465 / AHB 399 / ATA 115 / NCH279 / A&M271 / Iona (SBL) / CH116 / GA381 / Lau313 / StF004 Our God in heaven / Father in heaven / Loving Creator grant to your children
(Elena Maquiso / Daniel Niles) I really like this hymn, especially the Philippino
folk melody to which it's set. Newer versions of the hymn from the
Christian Conference of Asia have altered the lyrics to "Our God in
heaven / Creator God" in the first verse. Other versions, such as CH4
have "Loving Creator / Parent and God". History.
- TiS 163 / AHB 112 / NCH556 / UMH150 / LBW463 / ELW771 / GtG024 / PH268 / W&R644 / Cha651 / URW084 / 82Hml-580 God who stretched the spangled heavens
(Catherine Cameron) Good words of creation of nature and cities and creative possibilities
for the future. AHB has a Father and old language, but it works okay;
TiS and other sources are better. There are many possible tunes. I like
it best to HOLY MANNA as in the link. Lyrics and sound sample. New words to old tunes.
- MV157 I am a child of God (Bruce Harding) A simple song with powerful words. Good for kids and adults alike. Very easy to learn. Sheet music and sound sample. Good for kids (just the first verse probably).
- TiS 180 / UMH105 / W&R58 / Cha013 God of many names
(Brian Wren) If this is new it will need to be taught to your congregation as
the tune is not intuitive, but it is worth knowing. The chorus is
particularly appealing to kids. Lyrics
- NCH072 / UMH552 / VU362 / ELW530 / GtG311 / PH465 / CP534 / W&R597 / Cha278 / STB242 Here O Lord Your Servants Gather / Sekai no Tomo (Tokuo Yamaguchi) Beautiful song about being a community of faith seeking strength and courage. Lovely simple Japanese tune. Sound sample (video, with English and Japanese lyrics in the comments).
- TiS 428 / AHB 340 Help us O Lord to learn
(William Watkins Reid) Great challenging (but quite formal) words about being committed to
learning the faith. Good for a New Year message. Boring tune though. I
would sing it to ST THOMAS (TiS 271 / AHB 198) Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
John 1:(1-9), 10-18
The Word made flesh.
Again, Christmas Carols and Epiphany songs would fit well for this.
- NCH164 / VU79 / StS030 / WoV652 / LBW652 / ELW314 / PH411 / GtG744 / W&R231 / URW138 Arise your light is come! (Ruth Duck) Good general words of Christ coming to bring justice to the familiar tune ST. THOMAS (TiS 271). Sheet music. New words to old tunes.
- STB047 Sarennam
(Govada Dyvasirvadam) This song from India will need to be taught, but I
think it's worth it. Quite nice; the English translation is very poetic. Sheet music sample.
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VU886 / SFFS 2005 Arise Shine for your light has come (Gary Alan Smith) A simple call and response. Good for an intro to worship. This would be great for the whole Christmas season.
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Online Resource / Music by Heart 61 Arise shine for your light has come (Ruth Cunningham) A simple two-part chant, which can easily be taught before, or during, the service. Lyrics, sheet music and videos.
- GtG467 / STB058 Give Us Light / Jyothi dho Prabhu
(Charles Vas) This song in Hindi or English is simple and repetitive and could
be sung in either language (with a little teaching time). You could
sing all 5 verses or just a few. It might also work during Advent as a
candle lighting song. Choral version. Lead sheet.
-
BUC Song Project We are love
(Sheree Anderson) This is one of the new songs collated in 2009 at Brunswick
Uniting. It's got a quite anthemic chorus "We are love, made in the
image"....
- TiS
156 / AHB 91 / AoV1-135 / ATA 123 / CH212 / UMH145 / VU409 / ELW556 /
GA537 / A&M545 / HPP267 / GtG664 / PH469 / G(II)546 / GC756 / GC(II)748 / G(3)855 / CP003 / W&R35 /
Cha053 / URW186 / 82Hml-008 / Lau671 Morning has broken (Eleanor Farjeon) This song makes me smile every time. Here's Yusuf Islam (when he was Cat Stevens) in 1976 (love those green boots).
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TiS 447 / AHB 61 / CH112 / VU313 / LBW400 / ELW673 / A&M810 / CP560 / CP(E) 267 / 82Hml-371 / Lau887 God whose almighty word / Lord your almighty word chaos and darkness heard / Thou, whose almighty word
A good hymny hymn, very familiar, with the memorable “Let there be
light” line at the end of each verse. TiS lyrics are fairly inclusive,
but VU is better. Lyrics.
-
TiS 477 / Iona (LFB, Common Ground) / CH510 / StJ / GA529 / A&M450 / CP059 / SP218 / URW056 Jesus calls us here to meet him. Good words and a rollicking or gentle Celtic tune (depending on how you play it!). Lyric video with flutes and oboes and a choir. 4th verse (not in TiS, but in Iona sources) leads to communion.
- Online Resource Praise the Source who sang creation (David
Bjorlin) The "singing Trinity" brings forth the cosmos. Excellent lyrics to the well known tune NETTLETON. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options. Sound sample. New words to old tunes.
-
Iona (M&G) / ATAR609 / CH359 / MV033 / GtG137 / ZSS54 / StJ / ELW253 / GA293 / SFFS
2085 / G(II)276 / GC370 / GC(II)364 / G(3)429 / CP368 / W&R402 He came down that we may have love/ Jesus came bringing us hope
(Traditional Cameroon) A lovely simple song - you can make up words and
have a lot of fun with this if you also use some drums. Lyric video. Good for kids.
-
WoV768 / ELW737 / CP456 / W&R412 He comes to us as one unknown (Dudley-Smith) Great words to a very familiar hymn tune (REPTON).
- W&R104 / URW102 Hidden Christ Alive for Ever
(Wren) Wonderful and inspiring words of Christ in all things. Can be
sung to HYFRYDOL or HOLY MANNA, so would be easily sung by most
congregations. A good song for just after the sermon. Lyrics and sheet music.
-
StS028 / WoV638 / A&M067 / G(II)275 / GC369 / GC(II)354 / G(3)443 / W&R199 / Lau148 Holy Child within the Manger (Haugen) Lovely words and a simple gentle tune. Lyrics.
-
TiS
666 / AoV2-113 / AoVK-126 / ATOK 409 / NCH526 / Iona (Common Ground,
Freedom is Coming) / CH516 / VU646/647 / WoV650 / ELW866 / A&M483 / SFFS 2235 /
HPP153 / GtG853 / G(II)357 / GC513 / GC(II)516 / G(3)594 / Cha442 / SP235 / Srce737 / StF483 / MP954 We are marching in the light of God / Siyahamba / Caminando (South
African) A very popular chorus, with possible alternate verses,
depending on your source. Sometimes people get anxious about the word
"marching", but remember that this song comes from apartheid-era South
Africa, where people were protesting so that they could vote in their
own country. And the marching is toi-toing, much less militaristic than
what you may imagine. Amazing choral sound sample. Good for kids.
- Iona (Love From Below) / CH317 / CP621 / Lau738 Before the world began (John Bell) It annoys me a bit that this uses exclusively masculine
language for Christ when it speaks of the presence of Christ in
creation, but if this won't bother your congregation, or you find other
images to balance it out in the service, it is a very beautiful song. Lyrics
- TiS
242 / AHB 183 / AoV1-018 / ATN 27 / CH404 / UMH261 / VU352 / A&M667 / HPP163 /
GtG157 / PH302 / G(II)481 / GC708 / GC(II)689 / G(3)796 / CP(E) 468 / W&R118 / Lau765 / StF247 I danced in the morning / Lord of the Dance (Sydney Carter). Lyrics. You all know this one, right? Good for kids Oldy-but-a-goody
-
AoVK-123 / NCH3 / Iona (M&G) / UMH148
/ VU308 / WoV794 / ELW837 / GtG021 / PH271 / G(II)338 / GC499 / G(3)911
/ CP407 / W&R26 / Cha58 /
URW232 / 82Hml-385 Many and Great O God are your works / Wakantanka Taku Nitawa (Joseph Renville) Good words. Simple tune. Sounds great accompanied by a
good Native American-style drum beat, which is a great way to get people
involved in music-making. Lyrics here.
-
AA016 / Online Resource Christ is our peace (Shirley Murray) Wow. This one is excellent and good for the offering. Very simple Irish traditional tune. Lyrics & sheet music. New words to old tunes.
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Online Resource / NCH401 / GtG308 / W&R388 O god in whom all life begins (Carl P Daw) Excellent words of living as a community of faith. Sung to a simple English melody. Lyrics and sheet music.
-
NCH111 O loving founder of the stars (Latin 9th Century) Lovely words, to a plainsong-like tune. Plainsong is not as hard as people think....
-
Online Resource / CH348 / StS001 / LBW196 / ELW843 / A&M762 / G(3)625 / CP397 / W&R93 / SP304 / URW090 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness
(Rusty Edwards) Good words of Christ's ministry to all. Can be sung to the
familiar tune NETTLETON, or the less familiar and very lovely tune JOEL. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes .
I'd love to hear your ideas! Please add a comment below if you have something to share.
