Songs and Hymns for Advent 2C (December 6th 2009)

As well as the songs listed below, you may wish to sing a more "general" Advent type song. Here is a list of general Advent suggestions.

Malachi 3:1-4
One will come to prepare a way; One who purifies will come. See suggestions for Gospel readings below.
MV11 /StS007 / GC(II)338 Come, come Emmanuel / Advent gathering song (Chepponis) The simple chant is quite lovely, and the cantor soars beautifully. It could be quite formal if you like. Can work as a chant without the cantor part; you could choose particular cantor verses for each week, or even make up your own, which is what we did last year at Brunswick. At other times of year it can be used with the Cantor for confession. There is a sound and sheet music sample here (search for Advent gathering song), but it is about half the speed that we sung it last year.
W&R374 / Srce573 Purify My Heart / Refiner's fire (Doerksen) This song is not really a style that I like much; a little bit too individualistic and hand-wavy for me personally, but I think that it would be a perfect fit for this reading. For people like me, I think that using just the first four lines would make a beautiful reflective chant for personal purity "Purify my heart, Let me be as gold and precious silver, Purify my heart Let me be as gold, pure gold". Not sure if the reading is about personal purity so much as communal purity, but I digress... lyrics, video
Tune In / NCYC '07: Forgive us now (Brown). “As we forgive may we be healed, as we reach out….” An excellent ballad about healing and forgiveness for a whole community. Lyrics and sound sample.
TiS 712 / AoV2-021 / ATE 269 / The tide has turned songbook Create in us a clean heart O God (Hannah) Good. A big favourite in our congregation.
StJ / GA432 / GC800 / GC(II)800 O Breathe on Me O Breath of God (Murray) Good words seeking the spirits gifts of new life, purity and unity with Christ. Sung to a lovely simple, and quite intuitive Celtic tune (COLUMCILLE). Sheet music, sound sample and lyrics (search for "O Breathe On Me")
AoV1-143 Light Of Christ, light flaming bright (Zaragoza) Simple chant. "Light of Christ, light flaming bright, burn in my heart holy fire"; you could easily make this plural if you wish.
AoV2-164 / GA475 / G(II)327 / GC467 / GC(II)477 Send down the fire of your justice (Haugen) This one is usually sung near Pentecost, but I think it could work quite well with this reading too, particularly if your congregation already knows it. Lyrics, sound and sheet music sample (search for "Send down").

Luke 1:68-79
Song of Zechariah. See also suggestions for final gospel reading, below.
Tune in: Jesus is waiting. An honest catchy rock song about our hesitation to follow and Jesus not only waiting, but continuing to work and change the world. A good sending-out song. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook available here.
Iona (M&G) / CH359 / StJ / TF37 / ELW253 / GA293 / SFFS 2085 / G(II)276 / GC370 / GC(II)364 / CP368 / W&R402 He came down that we may have love (Traditional Cameroons) A simple, repetitive song. Make sure you sing the triplets or it gets boring. Great for kids and for some drumming, too. Sound sample, sheet music (search for "He Came Down")
TiS 688 Come to be our hope O Jesus (Marachin) This is a really fun Latin American song from the World Council of Churches Assembly in Canberra. It's not easy the first time, but once you've heard it, it's very catchy. The words are really excellent, despite a slightly clunky translation. It would be worth teaching to your congregation!
NCH110 / G(II)561 / GC775 / GC(II)5 Now bless the God of Israel who comes in love and power (Duck) Excellent words of salvation and sung to the familiar tune FOREST GREEN. Lyrics (search for "now bless")
VU901 / HPSS601 Blest be the God of Israel (Song of Zechariah) (Daw) A simple and inclusive paraphrase to the well-known hymn tune KINGSFOLD (TiS 262). Lyrics and tune sample.
AoV2-089 / Taize / MV086 / SFFS 2156 Give peace to every heart / Da Pacem Cordium (Berthier) A good, simple Taize chant. Sound samples, sheet music (not cantor lines though).

Philippians 1:3-11
See suggestions for Malachi reading above.
ATOK 320 / NCH351 / VU645 / StJ / WoV770 / ELW732 / SFFS 2051 / HPP516 / W&R680/ Cha75 I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry (Ylvisaker) A song of God’s presence in all stages of life. Very simple tune to sing. Lyrics, and a slow sound sample.
CH159 / CP(E) 81 / W&R70 / Srce439 Lord for the years your love has kept and guided (Dudley-Smith) Very traditional, but good words. Some lack of inclusive language that could easily be fixed. Sung to a well-known hymn tune (O PERFECT LOVE). Lyrics and sound sample.
TiS 217 / AHB 148 / NCH43 / CH519 / UMH384 / VU333 / LBW315 / ELW631 / GA463 / HPP48 / HPSS376 / GC622 / GC(II)613 / CP485/6 / CP(E) 516 / W&R358 / Cha517 / Srce457 Love divine all loves excelling A beautiful classic song and most hymnals use a very inclusive version of this hymn, even the AHB! Lyrics and sound sample.
AoV2-055 / G(II)513 / GC711 / GC(II)716 May we find richness / Harvest of Justice Simple to sing, and good words. Sample sheet music, lyrics and a plodding tune sample.

Luke 3:1-6
John the Baptist. I love the start of Luke's version of this story. It's like "Here's all these important men, but the word of God came to this ordinary guy out in the wilderness".
TiS 647 / AoV2-012 / ATN 25 Comfort comfort all my people (Mann) This is one of my all time favourite songs. 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”. It’s largely a paraphrase of this passage and well worth looking at if you are not familiar with it. Lyrics here, mp3 sample here.
TiS 270 / AHB 199 / NCH115 / CH334 / VU20 / LBW548 / ELW842 / HPPS010 / G(II)260 / GC321 / 322 / GC(II)344 / CP103 / CP(E) 34 / W&R156 On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry. If you would like inclusive lyrics (and who wouldn’t!), have a look at the New Century Hymnal’s version. If you’d like a groovy tune, check out AHB 199(ii) / GC322 – ST JOHN BAPTIST by Gary Lewis Miles and Betty Pulkingham. This is an excellent, fun tune. You can even combine the words of NCH115 with AHB199(ii) for the best of both worlds. But WINCHESTER NEW is also very good, and easy to sing if you don’t have a congregation full of people who grew up in the 60s and 70s. Lyrics and tune sample (Winchester New).
Seeds of Faith Prepare the Way For Love (Bruxvoort-Colligan). A good song for kids. Sound sample and lyrics here
UMH207 / VU10 / StS014 / GC336 / GC(II)330 / W&R174 / Cha121 Prepare the way of the Lord (Berthier) A lovely simple round. Great for kids. Sound sample, lyrics, sheet music (search for Prepare the way of the Lord).
Online resource: Down by the Jordan (Winfrey-Gillette). Good inclusive words to the familiar tune LOBE DEN HERREN. Available here.
Taize / UMH207 / VU10 / StS014 / GC336 / GC(II)330 Prepare the way of the Lord (Berthier) A lovely simple round. Sheet music and sound sample here.
TiS 447 / AHB 61 / CP(E) 267 Lord your almighty word chaos and darkness heard (Marriott) A well known Trinitarian hymn which generally fits this reading; each verse ends with "Let there be light!". Lyrics here.
TiS 288 / Iona Not the powerful not the privileged (Bell) Note that the lyrics are masculine for God in one instance in the 4th verse. The lyrics are great though, so perhaps balance this song with some feminine imagery elsewhere in the service! The tune is not difficult. Lyrics.
AoVK-50 / ATW 430 Come let us praise our God / A voice is heard (Trisha Watts) Excellent and energetic.
Tune In: Dare to Dream. A great song about having a vision for the future, being lead by the light of Bethlehem’s star. If you don’t have a copy of Tune In yet, there’s time to get it before Advent! Sorry about that shameless promotion there.... Sound sample and lyrics here.

Songs and Hymns for Advent 1C (November 29th 2009)

As well as the songs listed below, you may wish to sing a more "general" Advent type song. Here is a list of general Advent suggestions.

Jeremiah 33:14-16
The days are coming for God's promise of justice and righteousness to be fulfilled
WCC website: 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 this reading. I really like this song at the moment. Free sheet music!
Tune In: Kingdom Come: A song about how things are not what we expect in God’s kingdom. Lots of words and good images. Sound sample and lyrics
Tune In: Making things new (Sheree Anderson). A groovy one. Great for kids, and lots of fun. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook.
AoVK-28 / ATOK 376 Faith hope and love, this is what we long for (Watts) A groovy, easy, fun song. Great for kids and youth.
AoV1-061 / ATOK 355 / SFFS 2194 / G(II)521 / GC723 / GC(II)707 / ZSS110 Freedom is coming Excellent and lots of fun, especially if you have a keen African-style drummer in your congregation. It's really worth teaching the parts to your congregation before the service. It can get a bit boring if the congregation don't know they get to listen to the other parts! Partial sheet music, sound sample (search for Freedom)
Taize / MV016 / StJ / R180 / ELW528 / GA430 / SFFS 2157 / HPP410 / G(II)398 / GC570 / GC(II)550 / RS710 / CP402 Come and Fill our hearts/ Confitemini Domino Can be sun in English as "Come and fill our hearts with your peace, you alone O God are holy. Come and fill our hearts with your peace, Alleluia". Sound samples and sheet music.

Psalm 25:1-10
Make me know your ways, teach me your paths
MV45 Hamba nathi (Zulu). There are a lot of translations of this song. I like this version best, (Come walk with us, the journey is long) but the sound sample is a bit funny. There's only so much you can do with an electronic keyboard.
TiS 666 / AoV2-113 / AoVK-126 / ATOK 409 / NCH526 / Iona (Common Ground, Freedom is Coming) / CH516 / VU646/647 / WoV650 / ELW866 / SFFS 2235 / HPP153 / G(II)357 / GC513 / GC(II)516 We are marching in the light of God / Siyahamba / Caminando An excellent and very popular song for kids and grown-ups. Lyrics and sound sample.
Iona / CH803 / StJ / GC(II)635 We will walk with God my brothers / Sizohamba Naye A lovely joyous song from Swaziland. Very simple, and great if you can get your congregation into parts. Sound sample and sheet music (search for "We will walk").
Tune In: Dare to Dream. A great song about having a vision for the future, being lead by the light of Bethlehem’s star. "Dare to dream of new beginnings, Paths untried, by faith supplied" Sound sample and lyrics here.
Tune In: God’s Mercy A beautiful ballad about identifying God's mercy in the beauty of creation. Lyrics and sound sample.
TIS 624 / W&R453 Christ be my leader by night as by day. Excellent words of following Christ in times of struggle to a traditional Scottish melody. Lyrics
G(II)252 / GC328 / GC(II)336 For you O Lord my soul in stillness waits (Haugen) Nice refrain, and verses that contain a good range of images of God. Might be best for the congregation to join in only in the refrain? Sound and sheet music sample (search for stillness)
TiS 554 / AHB 459 / ATOK 384 / NCH410 / UMH142 / LBW453 / ELW769 / HPP383 / HPSS282 If thou but trust in God to guide thee / If you but trust in God to guide you If your congregation is familiar with this hymn, I highly recommend looking at the NCH version which, unlike most others, has inclusive words.
AoV2-014 To You O God I Lift Up My Soul (Hurd)
GC(II)26 To You O Lord (Haugen) Simple refrain and inclusive cantor part. Sample sheet music and sound sample (search for Psalm 25).
TiS 14 / GA026 To you, O Lord I lift my soul (Willcock) Good cantor and response.
NCH 531 / CH542 / UMH463 / VU589 / LBW403 / ELW676 / HPP372 / HPSS426 Lord speak to me that I may speak / God speak to me that I may speak (Havergal) An old fashioned hymn. If this is familiar to your congregation, I recommend using the words from the New Century Hymnal, which are modernised and inclusive but retain the spirit of the original. Some sources also have “Lord speak to us that we may speak” which is worth considering also.
Online resource: Make me know your ways (Harding). Simple two part round "Make me know your ways O God, teach me your paths...". Sheet music, sample pdf and groovy mp3.
Taize / CH276 / VU22 / ELW262 / G(II)256 / GC332 / GC(II)340 / CP94 Wait for the Lord (Berthier). "Wait for the Lord, whose day is near, Wait for the Lord, keep watch, take heart!" for singing practice available Sheet music, translations and sound samples

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
It's good to get together with other people of faith? Not sure where to head with this reading. Suggestions welcomed!

Luke 21:25-36
Signs to be seen and Christ coming in glory. Be alert!
Tune in: Tune In (Sims) A simple song for kids about seeing the signs of God's love all around us. Songbook, lyrics and sample here. I actually wrote this one. It's my only song ever!
TiS 259 / Iona (Love From Below) Among us and before us Lord you stand (Bell). Good words for an inclusive communion. The set tune (GATEHOUSE) will need to be taught. It can also be sung to SURSUM CORDA. Lyrics (downloads a word document).
TiS 728 Jesuchristo Reina reina ya! A fun Latin American song. It's particularly fun if someone is brave enough to yell out a "call" at the start of each verse.
TiS 217 / AHB 148 / NCH43 / CH519 / UMH384 / VU333 / LBW315 / ELW631 / GA463 / HPP48 / HPSS376 / GC622 / GC(II)613 / CP485/6 / CP(E) 516 / W&R358 / Cha517 / Srce457 Love divine all loves excelling A beautiful classic song and most hymnals use a very inclusive version of this hymn, even the AHB! Lyrics and sound sample.
TiS 210 / AHB 141 / NCH42 / CH352 / UMH57 / VU326 / LBW42 / ELW295 / HPP74 / HPSS466 / CP306 O for a thousand tongues to sing A classic. I particularly love NATIVITY for these words. They are so jubilant. In the AHB, Christ is masculine, but I think that's okay. Lyrics and one possible tune.
TiS 279 / AHB 212 / SFFS 2091 / HPP158 / GC487 / GC(II)494 / CP632 / W&R159 The King of glory comes the nation rejoices (Jabusch) Fun and energetic song to a traditional Israeli folk melody. A good processional. Lyrics and sign language (bottom of the page).
CH452 / AA57 Great ring of light (Gibson) Beautiful words of Christ's sacrifice and the image of a clear beam of love and light. The tune is also simple and beautiful, albeit unfamiliar.
TiS 181 / AoV2-032 / GC(II)497 / CP589 Come O God of all the earth / Sing Out Earth and Skies (Haugen). A big favourite of our congregation. Sheet music, lyrics and a nice sound sample (search for "Come O God").
NCH112 Keep awake be always ready (Clyde) Excellent words about Christ's coming to bring peace. It's sung to the tune for "Wake awake for night is flying", but is not simply a "rewrite". I particularly like the second verse of this one. "Rise and shine for One is coming whose love will quench all nature's thirsting to be made whole for evermore"
NCH421 / UMH131 / HPP552 / HPSS559 / GC571 / GC(II)549 / W&R81 / Cha276 We gather together to ask for God's blessing (Traditional Dutch) A good song about living together as a community of faith, sung to a very familiar tune (KREMSER). Sources vary, and some are very masculine and old fashioned. Seek out the lyrics in the NCH, or you may be left with these lyrics (the tune is the same though).
TiS 566 Lord Jesus if the same you are (Wesley) Good old fashioned tune and old fashioned words which may be very meaningful for some.

Songs and Hymns for Christ the King / Reign of Christ Sunday Year B (November 22nd 2009)

2 Samuel 23:1-7
The just ruler is like morning sunshine; God's everlasting covenant and the destruction of the godless. See also suggestions for Revelation reading below.
HPSS274 O God of Earth and Space (LEONI) Terrific words by Jane Parker Huber to a well known Jewish hymn tune. "Wherever freedom reigns, where sin is overthrown, Where justice fused with mercy rules, there you are known. Give us the courage clear, to make the earth a home, For all to live in harmony, in Christ’s shalom." Highly recommended. Lyrics.
NCH36 / HPSS219 To God compose a song of joy (Duck / KEDDY) “The God of Justice comes to save; let earth make melody; For God will judge with righteousness and rule with equity” Beautiful words. I prefer this sung to the tune in NCH – the standard hymn tune RICHMOND (TiS 425) Lyrics.
TiS 212 / AHB 140 / CH578 / UMH173 / VU336 / LBW265 / ELW553 / HPP145 / CP005 / CP(E) 2 / W&R91 Christ whose glory fills the skies (Wesley) An old-fashioned devotional hymn. This would be quite fine if familiar to your congregation. Lyrics and tune sample.
TiS 174 / UMH194 / CP(E)259 Morning glory starlit sky (Vanstone / KENOSIS) Quite formal words, but very very beautiful song of God's boundless love "Drained is love in making full, bound in setting others free, poor in making many rich, weak in giving power to be". The tune is not difficult, but will need to be taught to a congregation if not familiar. The lyrics could also be read as a poem, and challenges the image of Christ as monarch, but also affirms God's reign. Lyrics.

Psalm 132:1-12, (13-18)
David's commitment to build a dwelling place for God
CH198 / MV001 / GC753 / GC(II)741 / RS 846 Let Us Build a House / All are welcome (Haugen / TWO OAKS) This song has wonderful lyrics of hope for what a Christian community can be like, and a chorus that joyfully says “All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place”. Sheet music and short sound sample Search for "All are welcome"
NCH Psalter Let us go to God's dwelling place (Hurd) A good inclusive cantor line and simple refrain.
W&R543 Come Build a Church (Medema) Good words and a simple catchy tune, about God building a church out of God's people. Lyrics.

Revelation 1:4b-8
John's vision of Christ coming on the clouds. I will suggest some of these songs again next week, so you may like to take this opportunity to introduce something new!
TiS 728 Jesuchristo Reina reina ya! A fun Latin American song. It's particularly fun if someone is brave enough to yell out a "call" at the start of each verse.
TiS 217 / AHB 148 / NCH43 / CH519 / UMH384 / VU333 / LBW315 / ELW631 / GA463 / HPP48 / HPSS376 / GC622 / GC(II)613 / CP485/6 / CP(E) 516 / W&R358 / Cha517 / Srce457 Love divine all loves excelling A beautiful classic song and most hymnals use a very inclusive version of this hymn, even the AHB! Lyrics and sound sample.
TiS 210 / AHB 141 / NCH42 / CH352 / UMH57 / VU326 / LBW42 / ELW295 / HPP74 / HPSS466 / CP306 O for a thousand tongues to sing A classic. I particularly love NATIVITY for these words. They are so jubilant. In the AHB, Christ is masculine, but I think that's okay. Lyrics and one possible tune.
TiS 279 / AHB 212 / SFFS 2091 / HPP158 / GC487 / GC(II)494 / CP632 / W&R159 The King of glory comes the nation rejoices (Jabusch) Fun and energetic song to a traditional Israeli folk melody. A good processional. Lyrics and sign language (bottom of the page).
CH452 / AA57 Great ring of light (Gibson) Beautiful words of Christ's sacrifice and the image of a clear beam of love and light. The tune is also simple and beautiful, albeit unfamiliar.
MV106 I am the dream and you the dreamer (Tufts) A beautiful and simple song, based on images from Rilke's "The Book of Hours". I like it as a reminder that God still comes to us in dreams. It's nice because sometimes it seems like the "I" is the singer of the song, and sometimes the "I" is God. Lyrics (loads a pdf)
ATW 437 I have seen the Lord A good one, but my notes aren't clear about why I like it.
W&R368 / Srce511 O Happy Day Maybe I'm being a bit loose in my interpretation of this reading, but this song could work if you happen to have some good gospel singers in your congregation. Youtube video of the version from Sister Act 2.

Recorded Music John the Revelator (Johnson) This old song by Blind Willie Johnson (and covered by many artists) is probably not something you'd use in your worship service, but this recording by Clay Ross is an amazing fusion of Brazilian rhythm and Appalachian music, and I think it's just some strange coincidence that I only listened to it for the first time last night. Really, I'm just listing this because I think it's cool.

John 18:33-37
Jesus answers Pilates tricky questions about being King of the Jews
TiS 721 / Iona (LFB) He became poor that we may be rich (Iona) A simple chant with excellent words "He became poor, that we may be rich, loving the world and leaving his throne; King of all kings, and Lord of all Lords, flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone".
Tune In: Kingdom Come: A song about how things are not what we expect in God’s kingdom. Lots of words and good images. Sound sample and lyrics
Taize / GC(II)637 The Kingdom of God is Justice and Peace. Sample available here (use the left hand panel to search for GC 2nd edition 637).