Reposted for the Christchurch earthquake, New Zealand, and Japan Earthquake and Tsunami 2011
Online resource In times like these (Janssen) Written for a tidal wave / tsunami, these words to the tune Was Mein Gott Will might be useful in the case of this earthquake. It also works to ST COLUMBA (TiS 523) Lyrics.
StS121 / FFS50 Nothing is lost on the breath of God (Colin Gibson). A beautiful song, easy to sing "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 music are here. Sound sample here. This song is from New Zealand
Online resource God we've known such grief and anger (Winfrey-Gillette) This hymn was written after the World Trade Center disaster and is still appropriate for today. Lyrics (to the standard hymn tune IN BABILONE) are here. Carolyn has given free-one-time use of this hymn to congregations that support the relief work by the Uniting Church in Australia, Anglican Church of Australia, Roman Catholic Church and/or ecumenical relief efforts in Victoria.
TiS 638 / NCH175 / CH717 / UMH265 / LBW380 / ELW675 /HPPS380 O Christ the healer we have come. A song of prayer for healing for others. I prefer the tune in TiS (INVERCARRY). Lyrics can be found here. "From every ailment flesh endures our bodies clamor to be freed; yet in our hearts we would confess that wholeness is our deepest need."
Iona (Sent By the Lord) / MV066 Senzenina? / What have we done? (South African) This beautiful chant from South Africa asks the question that we often ask when things go wrong beyond belief. It's important to know what the song means when singing it. If you have some part-singers in your congregation, this would be particular good. It's good to let people ask this question. It is also on the soundtrack for "The Power of One" so you could also play the recorded music if appropriate. Free sheet music is available here (loads a pdf).
Online resource: O God our words cannot express (Winfrey-Gillette). Words to the tune "Our God our help in ages past" (ST ANNE). Words here.
AoV2-070 / ATW 496 / MV090 / StJ Don't be afraid (Bell) I love this song of reassurance. "Don't be afraid, my love is stronger. My love is stronger than your fear".
URW311 I love you Lord you hear my cry (Watts) A simple song wth two verses, or you could use it as a Psalm refrain with the text read by a leader. It would be pretty amazing if you can sing it in 4 parts, I reckon. The 2nd verse could be quite appropriate as a lament on its own during intercessions.
Iona (Love From Below) / CH734 / CP296 O Christ you wept when grief was raw. This is a funeral song, that may be appropriate for those in communities more directly affected by the fires. A better tune for a congregation is ROCKINGHAM. Words are here. Words can be changed quite simply if you, sadly, need to remember more than one person who has died.
Online resource The Voice of our grief (Harding). A quite groovy chant "God of sorrow, God of justice, God of healing hear the voice of our grief". Sheet music available here. There is also a sample PDF and mp3 file with a really strange synthesizer part.
FFS05 Be their names remembered (Murray/Bray) Simple chant, good for singing in response to a list of names of those who have died in this event or any other. "Be their names remembered in the heart of God.
Specifically for bushfires
Online resource O God of mighty wind and flame (Winfrey-Gillette) This hymn was written at the time of the 2007 fires in California, and is just as appropriate for Australian fires. Free sheet music here. Carolyn has given free-one-time use of this hymn to congregations that support the relief work by the Uniting Church in Australia, Anglican Church of Australia, Roman Catholic Church and/or ecumenical relief efforts in Victoria.
Online resource Abide with me, there seems no place to hide (Peter Oliver). Please see in the comments section below some lyrics written by Peter. Thank you, Peter for contributing this.
MV 74 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."
Iona (Enemy of Apathy): Sing my soul when hope is sleeping. "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." Simple to sing.
SFFS 2216 When We Are Called to Sing Your Praise (Keithahn) A good hymn for times of trouble, sung to a very standard hymn tune, KINGSFOLD. Maybe a little bit preachy?
To remember the deaths of children
Iona (Last Journey, When Grief is Raw) / CH746 There is a place prepared for little children (Bell / Dunblane Primary) This song particularly grieves for children who have died. All lyrics are here (loads a Word document). "There is a place where God will hear our questions, Suffer our anger, share our speechless grief. Gently repair the innocence of loving And of belief. "
A song of hope to end: even in the dust the sun still rises:
TiS 156 / AHB 91 / AoV1-135 / ATA 123 / CH212 / UMH145 / VU409 / ELW556 / HPP267 / HPSS469 / G(II)546 / GC756 / GC(II)748 / CP003 / W&R35 / Cha053 / URW186 / 82Hml-008 Morning has broken (Farjeon) This song makes me smile every time. Thanks Sheryll for taking me to see Yusuf Islam last year! Here he is, in 1976 (love those green boots).
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Epiphany 6B (Ordinary 6, Year B), Sunday, February 15, 2009
For Epiphany 5B (Ordinary 5, Year B) February 8th, please click here.
2 Kings 5:1-14
The healing of Naaman. God speaking through a girl. Naaman didn’t have to do anything so amazing to get healed, either.
TiS 182 / AoV2-010 / NCH11 / CH134 / VU268 / SFFS 2047 / HPP13 / CP395 Bring many names beautiful and good (Wren / Young) This is a beautiful song, but it's very long. Try singing one verse unison, then one women, one men, then all together again, to keep people interested in what they are singing. Lyrics here.
ATW 435 Like the woman of old (Wellsprings) Not strictly related to this song, but if you wanted to pick up the theme of healing waters, you could sing this.
AoV2-006 / The tide has turned songbook There's a river running deep / Deeper River (Hannah) An excellent song if you want to focus on the theme of waters that heal.
Other songs about healing that may be appropriate are listed for the gospel reading (below).
Psalm 30
HPSS181 Come Sing to God O Living Saints (Anderson / ELLACOMBE) Good, simple, inclusive, humble and realistic words based specifically on this Psalm. Sung to a well known hymn tune (I sing the mighty power of God). Many congregations choose to sing only the first and last verses; the middle two are much more challenging. Lyrics for the first and last verse here (search for “come sing”). You can also find the whole song at google books here (this won't work on all browsers)
Iona (There is one among us) Lord you can turn all mourning into dancing An excellent simple refrain from John Bell “Lord you can turn all mourning into dancing, evenings of grief to mornings of great joy”
ATE 253 He turned my mourning into dancing This is not at all inclusive, but if you change the lyrics to make it addressed to God “You turned my morning into dancing”, it’s much much better.
Tune In: You in all our worries / All will finish well “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 songbook available here.
TiS 647 / AoV2-012 / ATN 25 Comfort comfort all my people (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”. Lyrics here, mp3 sample here.
TiS 670 / AoVK-138 / ATE 258 / CH692 Jesus put this song into our hearts (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 dance to God. Great for kids, too.
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 can be found here (search in the page for "sadness").
NCH85 I woke up this morning with my mind set on… A joyful and very simple freedom song. Many versions with lots of different words out there.
TiS 242 / AHB 183 / AoV1-018 / ATN 27 / CH404 / UMH261 / VU352 / HPP163 / HPSS302 / G(II)481 / GC708 / GC(II)689 I danced in the morning (Carter / SIMPLE GIFTS)
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Run the race to win it, even if it hurts.
Tune In: A Grain of Wheat. Excellent words about Christ's death and what it could mean to us. I would happily sing this one. Lyrics and sound sample here.
AoV2-033 / VU648 Travel on travel on (Sydney Carter). I think this old folk song would work well to pick up the theme of persistence. Lyrics and chords here.
NCH497 / SFFS 2208 / HPPS354 / G(II)508 / GC707 / GC(II)684 Guide my feet while I run this race An excellent civil rights song. Would work well as a meditative prayer for guidance or as an uplifting call to action at the end of the service.
Worldmaking.net O Author of Faith yet at work in our hearts. New words to an old tune “O Jesus our Christ, lead the way for our faith to give perseverance for running the race. You’ve gone on ahead for to stake out a claim. We trust in the journey and look for your footsteps. O Jesus our Christ, lead the way for our faith!” Lyrics and sound sample here.
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 Think of the persistence of the people of South Africa as they continue to run their race for justice.
TiS 594 / AHB 511 / CH517 / VU674 / CP503 Fight the good fight with all thy might (Monsell / Duke Street) With just a few changes, this song can be much more inclusive to sing. Try changing the first few lines to “Fight the good fight with all your might, Christ is your strength and Christ your light”, then use inclusive terms for God and I sing it with a lot more joy.
TiS 571 / AHB 480 / CH529 / UMH438 / VU416 / CP467 Forth in thy name O Lord I go
Mark 1:40-45
Jesus heals a leper and unwittingly becomes famous
Also see last week's suggestions for more songs about healing - click here.
Iona (HSNW) Sitting next to no-one (Bell / SAVIOUR) The verses to this are not easy, but the chorus is. If it’s not familiar you may like to have a soloist or small group sing the verses, and the congregation join the chorus. Verse 2 is particularly appropriate: “No-one going near him, most folk turn and walk away; eaten by diseases, he grows weaker every day; just a social leper, seeking someone in the street; one of life’s untouchables who no-one wants to meet”
Iona (Love From Below / common ground) / CH718 / VU613 / G(II)401 / GC575 / GC(II)558 / CP292 We Cannot Measure How You Heal Really very excellent words to a very familiar celtic air. Easy to sing. Lyrics and slow keyboard sample here (search for measure)
Iona (Heaven Shall Not Wait) When our Lord walked the earth (Bell / PERSONENT HODIE) Familiar and easy tune, excellent words. Chorus is “Power to speak and heal, grace to know what’s real, wisdom, insight and faith, grace and understanding”
Tune In: Your abundant life (Brown)“Come to us when we’re lost. Lead us into your abundant life”. Lyrics, sample and songbook available here.
Seeds of Faith Jesus’ hands are Healing Hands (Bruxvoort-Colligan). A simple and fun kid’s song.”Jesus hands are healing hands, full of love and grace”. Lyrics, sound sample and songbook available here.
TiS 638 / NCH175 / CH717 / UMH265 / LBW380 / ELW675 / HPSS380 O Christ the healer we have come Beautiful words and simple to sing. Good to sing during intercessions.
2 Kings 5:1-14
The healing of Naaman. God speaking through a girl. Naaman didn’t have to do anything so amazing to get healed, either.
TiS 182 / AoV2-010 / NCH11 / CH134 / VU268 / SFFS 2047 / HPP13 / CP395 Bring many names beautiful and good (Wren / Young) This is a beautiful song, but it's very long. Try singing one verse unison, then one women, one men, then all together again, to keep people interested in what they are singing. Lyrics here.
ATW 435 Like the woman of old (Wellsprings) Not strictly related to this song, but if you wanted to pick up the theme of healing waters, you could sing this.
AoV2-006 / The tide has turned songbook There's a river running deep / Deeper River (Hannah) An excellent song if you want to focus on the theme of waters that heal.
Other songs about healing that may be appropriate are listed for the gospel reading (below).
Psalm 30
HPSS181 Come Sing to God O Living Saints (Anderson / ELLACOMBE) Good, simple, inclusive, humble and realistic words based specifically on this Psalm. Sung to a well known hymn tune (I sing the mighty power of God). Many congregations choose to sing only the first and last verses; the middle two are much more challenging. Lyrics for the first and last verse here (search for “come sing”). You can also find the whole song at google books here (this won't work on all browsers)
Iona (There is one among us) Lord you can turn all mourning into dancing An excellent simple refrain from John Bell “Lord you can turn all mourning into dancing, evenings of grief to mornings of great joy”
ATE 253 He turned my mourning into dancing This is not at all inclusive, but if you change the lyrics to make it addressed to God “You turned my morning into dancing”, it’s much much better.
Tune In: You in all our worries / All will finish well “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 songbook available here.
TiS 647 / AoV2-012 / ATN 25 Comfort comfort all my people (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”. Lyrics here, mp3 sample here.
TiS 670 / AoVK-138 / ATE 258 / CH692 Jesus put this song into our hearts (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 dance to God. Great for kids, too.
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 can be found here (search in the page for "sadness").
NCH85 I woke up this morning with my mind set on… A joyful and very simple freedom song. Many versions with lots of different words out there.
TiS 242 / AHB 183 / AoV1-018 / ATN 27 / CH404 / UMH261 / VU352 / HPP163 / HPSS302 / G(II)481 / GC708 / GC(II)689 I danced in the morning (Carter / SIMPLE GIFTS)
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Run the race to win it, even if it hurts.
Tune In: A Grain of Wheat. Excellent words about Christ's death and what it could mean to us. I would happily sing this one. Lyrics and sound sample here.
AoV2-033 / VU648 Travel on travel on (Sydney Carter). I think this old folk song would work well to pick up the theme of persistence. Lyrics and chords here.
NCH497 / SFFS 2208 / HPPS354 / G(II)508 / GC707 / GC(II)684 Guide my feet while I run this race An excellent civil rights song. Would work well as a meditative prayer for guidance or as an uplifting call to action at the end of the service.
Worldmaking.net O Author of Faith yet at work in our hearts. New words to an old tune “O Jesus our Christ, lead the way for our faith to give perseverance for running the race. You’ve gone on ahead for to stake out a claim. We trust in the journey and look for your footsteps. O Jesus our Christ, lead the way for our faith!” Lyrics and sound sample here.
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 Think of the persistence of the people of South Africa as they continue to run their race for justice.
TiS 594 / AHB 511 / CH517 / VU674 / CP503 Fight the good fight with all thy might (Monsell / Duke Street) With just a few changes, this song can be much more inclusive to sing. Try changing the first few lines to “Fight the good fight with all your might, Christ is your strength and Christ your light”, then use inclusive terms for God and I sing it with a lot more joy.
TiS 571 / AHB 480 / CH529 / UMH438 / VU416 / CP467 Forth in thy name O Lord I go
Mark 1:40-45
Jesus heals a leper and unwittingly becomes famous
Also see last week's suggestions for more songs about healing - click here.
Iona (HSNW) Sitting next to no-one (Bell / SAVIOUR) The verses to this are not easy, but the chorus is. If it’s not familiar you may like to have a soloist or small group sing the verses, and the congregation join the chorus. Verse 2 is particularly appropriate: “No-one going near him, most folk turn and walk away; eaten by diseases, he grows weaker every day; just a social leper, seeking someone in the street; one of life’s untouchables who no-one wants to meet”
Iona (Love From Below / common ground) / CH718 / VU613 / G(II)401 / GC575 / GC(II)558 / CP292 We Cannot Measure How You Heal Really very excellent words to a very familiar celtic air. Easy to sing. Lyrics and slow keyboard sample here (search for measure)
Iona (Heaven Shall Not Wait) When our Lord walked the earth (Bell / PERSONENT HODIE) Familiar and easy tune, excellent words. Chorus is “Power to speak and heal, grace to know what’s real, wisdom, insight and faith, grace and understanding”
Tune In: Your abundant life (Brown)“Come to us when we’re lost. Lead us into your abundant life”. Lyrics, sample and songbook available here.
Seeds of Faith Jesus’ hands are Healing Hands (Bruxvoort-Colligan). A simple and fun kid’s song.”Jesus hands are healing hands, full of love and grace”. Lyrics, sound sample and songbook available here.
TiS 638 / NCH175 / CH717 / UMH265 / LBW380 / ELW675 / HPSS380 O Christ the healer we have come Beautiful words and simple to sing. Good to sing during intercessions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)