Some churches have a service for International Overdose Awareness Day for those who have been affected by overdose; family and friends of those who have suffered fatal and non-fatal overdose, their supporters and those recovering from overdose themselves. Here are some ideas of what you may like to sing.
- TiS 693 / AoV1-031 / GA212 Come as you are that's how I want you (Deidre Browne) This song is beautiful, gentle, simple, and very well known; it is a song of God's generous welcome to all, just as they are. Lyrics. Slow and mushy Youtube sample. A good song to start the service.
- AoVNG55 / Taizé / G(3)959 / SP323 / Lau221 God is forgiveness / Bóg jest miłością (Taizé) "God is forgiveness, dare to forgive and God will be with you. God is forgiveness, love and do not fear". A simple Taize chant which could be particularly useful in this context. Sheet music, lyrics in many languages, sound samples.
- ATAR606 / StS121 / FFS50 Nothing is lost on the breath of God (Colin Gibson) A beautiful song and very easy to sing even if new. "Nothing is lost on the breath of God, nothing is lost for ever; God's breath is love, and that love will remain, holding the world for ever. No feather too light, no hair too fine, no flower too brief in its glory; no drop in the ocean, no dust in the air, but is counted and told in God's story." Words and full sheet music. Sound sample.
- MV074 When painful mem'ries haunt each day / When painful memories haunt each day (Ruth Duck) I suggest singing it to the more familiar Celtic tune KINGSFOLD (TiS 262). "When painful mem'ries haunt each day and dreams disturb the night, when life is washed with shades of grey and phantoms fill our sight, Christ stay beside us and embrace the child who dwells within; come, Healer, touch or lives with grace; restore our lives again." Lyrics (on page 4 of the PDF). New words to old tunes.
- Taizé / A&M842 / G(3)697 / SP328 Nothing can ever come between us and the love of God (Taizé community) A newer chant “Nothing can ever come between us and the love of God, the love of God, revealed to us in Christ Jesus”. It has a long “Oh…..” in it for a cantor part, but I have sung it many times with just a simple Oh and no cantor and it works fine. Sound samples and sheet music for practice.
- Online Resource / Tune In Like the sun upon my skin / God’s Mercy (Sheree Anderson) A beautiful ballad about identifying God's mercy in the beauty of creation. Free downloadable songbook.
- Taizé / GtG814 / CP563 / PfAS062D In God alone my soul can find rest and peace / Mon ame se repose (Jacques Berthier) A beautiful healing chant from Taize. Words and music and sound samples for learning the parts Good for kids.
- Iona (HSNW) / VU019 / A&M839 / SP326 Kindle a flame to lighten the dark and take all fear away (Iona) This song would also work well at various points in the service, including during intercessions. Good for kids Sound sample.
- Iona (LFB) / CH734 / CP296 O Christ you wept when grief was raw (Iona community) Lovely honest words. There are a couple of tune options. I like best ROCKINGHAM. Lyrics.
- Iona (Courage to say no / When grief is raw / Enemy of Apathy) / SP307 Sing my soul when hope is sleeping (John Bell) "Sing, my soul, when hope is sleeping. Sing when faith gives way to fears; Sing to melt the ice of sadness Making way for joy through tears." This is not so easy to sing, so will need to be sung by a soloist or small group the first time. Sound sample.
- NCH553 / UMH375 / VU612 / WoV737 / ELW614 / HPP379 / GtG792 / PH394 / G(II)460 / GC648 / GC(II)617 / G(3)640 / W&R631 / Cha501 / ZSS114 / SgTJ1045 / 82Hml-676 There is a balm in Gilead (African-American) "If you cannot preach like Peter, if you cannot pray like Paul". This song is not so meaningful for Australians, but I know it is for Americans. It's a good one for those who feel discouraged about anything magnificent happening in their life of faith. Lyrics and sheet music samples. Oldy-but-a-goody.
- FFS05 Be their names remembered (Shirley Murray) Simple chant, good for singing in response to a list of names of those who have died. "Be their names remembered in the heart of God"
- Online Resource / TiS 690 / CH259 / A&M557 / StS115 / SP237 / Srce54 / StF693 / MP806 Beauty for brokenness hope for despair / God of the Poor (Graham Kendrick) Themes of healing from personal and universal suffering and an emotive chorus. “Refuge from cruel wars, havens from fear, cities for sanctuary, freedoms to share, peace to the killing-fields, scorched earth to green; Christ for the bitterness, his cross for the pain”. It's a bit schmaltzy but very satisfying! Lyrics, sound samples, and sheet music purchasing options.
- AoVNG1 / CH685 / FFS17 / GtG769 / G(3)812 / W&R617 For everyone born / A place at the table
(Shirley Murray) Words of welcome and change for everyone. There are three possible tunes. The Lori True tune
is the most common. I like the Colin Gibson tune in FFS. This song is good for a service when
communion is celebrated, but it makes sense without communion, too. DO NOT SING ALL
THE VERSES if you're looking at the Hope Publishing version. Choose the
ones that work for your community. I recommend not using verse 4, which
talks about both the abuser and the abused being welcome at the table,
and places the onus on the abused for forgiveness; it is a verse that
Shirley Murray decided later she would have liked to remove. There is
also an optional verse: "For gay and for straight...." Lyrics & sheet music (for a tune by Lim Swee Hong). There is also a rewrite which has even more inclusion, which you may like to explore here.
- AoV2-085 / Iona (T1AU) / MV115 / A&M328 / SP129 Behold behold I Make All Things New (John Bell) A nice hopeful upbeat short song. Highly recommended. Sound sample (scroll down) Good for kids.
- TiS 638 / NCH175 / CH717 / A&M518 / GtG793 / PH380 / UMH265 / LBW380 / ELW675 / PH380 / CP291 / CP(E) 346 / W&R638 / Cha503 / Lau430 / StF653 O Christ the healer we have come (Fred Pratt Green) Beautiful words and simple to sing. Good for intercessions. I like the tune INVERCARRY best, but it can also be sung to TALLIS' CANON if your congregation needs a more familiar tune. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes.
- Online Resource We are loved (Sarah Smith) This anthemic song was written specifically for Overdose Awareness, and is a call to remember that we are loved and provide support to each other when we talk about overdose. Could be useful and helpful, though the video is a bit heartbreaking. More for listening, but maybe people could join in on the chorus. Video, with lyrics and chords in the description.
1 comment:
"O Christ the Healer" also works beautifully with Rockingham ("When I Survey") 342 in TiS.
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