Lectionary Suggestions for June 1st 2008 (Proper 4A / Ordinary 9A / Pentecost +3)

Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19
The story of Noah
  • NCH 32 / HPP 32 / VU 229 / HPSS 272God of the sparrow, God of the whale. This is a beautiful song, but I find the reference to creatures kind of odd. Works especially well this week with the lyric: “God of the rainbow, God of the cross, God of the empty grave”. I like to listen to this version from the River's Voice album Namaste.
  • TiS 668 / NCH 569 Touch the earth lightly, sings of the redemption of all creation.
  • Tune In: Tune in. A simple kid’s song. “Tune in, tune in, there’s a message coming in.” Encourages kids to look for signs of God’s love. Lyrics and sample available here.
  • Seeds of Faith: It’s a sign of God’s love. Not a congregational song – needs someone to sing this to the kids, really. Sample and lyrics available on this website.
  • Recorded Music "Just look up" (Eric Bibb / Michael Jerome Browne) On Eric Bibb's album "Friends" and on Putumayo's "Folk Playground". "There's a rainbow waiting for you, just look up". Sound sample. Good for kids.
  • Recorded Music "Didn't it Rain" Mahalia Jackson or Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Just love this song! Youtube.
Psalm 46
God our refuge and strength, even in the midst of disaster
  • 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. Sound sample, lyrics and free downloadable songbook.
  • Tune in / Online Resource The God that I Know (Sheree Anderson) A beautiful ballad with female and male images of a loving, embracing God. Sound sample, lyrics and free downloadable songbook.
  • Iona (T1AU) / URW408 On God alone I wait silently (John Bell) Simple and lovely chant or psalm refrain. Could work well with kids to help them to be calm and still and waiting-like
  • CH716 / VU374 / FFS10 / SFFS 2128 / W&R477 / Cha575 Come and find the quiet centre (Shirley Murray) A good song for the beginning of worship. I would prefer to sing this to one of the more traditional melodies offered (Tune 1 in FFS) or BEACH SPRING (TiS 493). New words to old tunes Lyrics and sheet music.
  • Emergent Psalter / PfAS046D The Lord of hosts is with us (Isaac Everett) Simple and haunting refrain. 
  • Linnea Good Come and ponder everything (Linnea Good) A quiet meditative chant of only these 4 words to be sung as a refrain to the reading over background music. Quite a different take on the psalm; would be good to provide some space in the worship service to include this.
  • CH289 / GC(II)341 Lift up your heads eternal gates (George Weissel / Catherine Winkworth / John Bell) I like how this reworking of the old standard turns the violent battle kingly God image on its head and points to Christ instead. "God's matchless and majestic strength in all it's height, depth, breadth, and length, now is revealed its power to prove, by Christ protesting "God is love!". The tune is a lovely old medieval-style tune, which should not be difficult. The chorus has been written in 4 parts which would be great if you can get some singers to sing the parts, or teach your congregation the chorus before the service starts. The parts for the chorus are very simple. Sound sample. Lyrics and lead sheet.
  • MV084 In you there is a refuge (Keri Wehlander / Linnea Good) A simple quiet song. "In you there is a silence, in you our minds are clear. When all we hear is discord may your quiet draw us near".
  • TiS 103 / AHB 8 / TOSB002 / NCH439 / CH454 / UMH110 / VU262 / LBW228 / LBW229 / ELW505 / HPP382 / PH259,260 / GtG275 / GC607 / GC(II)594 / G(3)687 / CP(E) 366 / W&R507 /  Cha065 / Srce2-27 / URW271 / 82Hml-687 A mighty fortress is our God / A safe stronghold our God is still (Martin Luther) Old words, lots of devils in this; could work if you did a poetic reading of it. Translations are very varied; the only words I would enjoy singing myself are in NCH and Chalice hymnal. Oldy-but-a-goody. Or you could use the following two options:
  • VU770 / Cha742 A mighty fortress is our God (2 lines only) (Martin Luther) Nice use of the hymn as a simple refrain to a responsive Psalm reading. If you like the old hymn, but aren't sure you want to use all the lyrics, this could be good option.Oldy-but-a-goody.
  • VU789 / Cha738 A mighty fortress is our God (Response) (Martin Luther) Responsive psalm with sung refrain of the first line of "A mighty fortress". This version is even shorter than the last one. Oldy-but-a-goody.
  • Taizé / TiS 739 / AoV2-041 / ATOK 404 / VU290 / GA269 / SFFS 2054 / GtG820 / G(II)451 / GC639 / GC(II)626 / G(3)733 / CP568 / W&R421 / URW388 / Lau947 / LUYH444/ VF088 Nothing Can Trouble / Nada te turbe (Theresa of Avila / Taizé) Excellent and quite well known Taizé chant. Spanish lyrics are not too hard for non-Spanish speakers. Sheet music, sound samples, lyrics and translations. Good for kids. 
  • TiS 560 / AHB 465 / NCH408 / CH192 / UMH132 / VU654/655 / WoV782 / ELW757 / A&M584 / CP529 / CP(E) 368 / Cha088 / Srce2-15 / 82Hml-665 / Lau959 / StF455 / MP016 All my hope on God is founded / is firmly grounded (Joachim Neander) Most translations of this well known German hymn are not inclusive, but the NCH and WoV are, so if you have those books (BUC people, we have NCH and WoV). Sheet music and older version of the lyrics. Oldy-but-a-goody.
  • AoV2-054 / Iona (T1AU, LFB) / MV077 /  GtG414 / SFFS 2057 / G(II)438 / GC618 / RS 736 / SP&P111 / PfAS046D / URW409 / Lau909 / StF019 Be still and know that I am God (John Bell / Graham Maule) This simple chant is beautiful. Works as a round or in unison. Good for kids.
  • ATN 9 / NCH743 / CH755 / W&R450 / Srce68 / StF018 / MP048 Be Still and Know (Anon) This is the old classic. Sources vary in the verses they have and the level of inclusiveness in the lyrics.  
Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28, (29-31)
Not ashamed of the Gospel, Paul gets into a circuitous argument.
Justification by Faith
  • AoVK-28 / ATOK 376 Faith hope and love (Trish Watts) This is so easy, and so cool. If you have some groovy musicians, this can even be a very funky rock song. Very easy, and great for kids and non-readers. Sound sample Good for kids
  • TiS 691 Faith will not grow from words alone Excellent strong words of a questioning faith to a familiar hymn tune.
  • TiS 607 / AoV2-126 / ATN 95 / CH528 / VU684 / StJ / A&M725 / SFFS 2171 / HPP406 / GtG753 / G(II)524 / GC726 / GC(II)721 / G(3)828 / CP(E)519/ W&R587 / Srce 462 / Lau898 / StF707 / MP456 Make me a channel of your peace (Sebastian Temple). Lovely. Nice if you can just start a capella...  Youtube video of Sinead O'Connor singing it and lyrics and chords.
  • TiS 157 / AHB 103 / CH246 / A&M547 / PH297 / CP411 / CP(E) 263 O Lord of every shining constellation / Great God of every shining constellation (Bayly) Great words; the tune in the Australian hymnals (NORTHBROOK) is a little tricky. Note that AHB is masculine for all people, so look up other sources for inclusive language.
  • STB189 Why have you forsaken me? (Wallace) Quite formal and sorrowful words of Christ's sorrows, including his crucifixion and the death of Lazarus. Helpful. Set to a lovely Japanese melody - will need to be taught.
Matthew 7:21-29
Not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom.
  • Traditional The wise man built his house upon the rock Old kids action song. Search on google if you can't remember it. It's good for smaller kids; my 4 year old loves this song!
  • TiS 578 / AHB 491 / UMH529 / VU660 / NCH407 / SLW075 / LBW507 / ELW796 / HPP248 / GtG463 / PH361 / GC606 / GC(II)587 / G(3)694 / CP527 / W&R411 / Cha618 / PfAS011B / Srce254 / 82Hml-636 / MP243 How firm a foundation (Unknown) The lyrics of almost all these versions is quite masculine. NCH has good alternative lyrics that are inclusive, and GtG is inclusive but retains the "thees" and "thys".  Oldy-but-a-goody
  • TIS 624 / W&R453 / StF492 Christ be my leader by night as by day (Timothy Dudley-Smith) Excellent words of following Christ in times of struggle to a traditional Scottish melody. Lyrics and sheet music New words to old tunes
  • AoV2-078 / VU952 / GA151 / SP206 Through Our Lives And by Our prayers (John Bell) An excellent chant for use in Intercessory prayers (or anytime really). Not super easy, but once known, it's very memorable.
  • SP&P89 / Worldmaking.net Ground and Source of all that is (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) This song is very beautiful and easy to sing. Lyrics and sound sample. 
  • GC(II)660 / G(3)750 Deliver Us O Lord of Truth (Hermann Steumpfle) Very challenging words to a good well known American folk tune (LAND OF REST - TiS 324). "Deliver us, O Lord of Truth, from speech unbacked by deed, from lives that by their faithlessness deny our spoken creed" (don't worry, it gets more positive in the later verses). Lyrics and sheet music sample. Sound sample. New words to old tunes