Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15
Jeremiah buys a field. Faith in the future.
TiS 687 God gives us a future (Smith) Great words to a very easy hymn tune. Careful not to let it get the tune get too pompous; the words are not! "God gives us a future, daring us to go into dreams and dangers on a path unknown. We will face tomorrow in the Spirit's power, we will let God change us for new life starts now!". Lyrics here (scroll down). Notice how the hymn has been split into to two parts to include the blessing and words of mission.
TiS 747 / Taize / ATE 214 / Iona (M&G) / URW393 The Lord is my light my light and salvation (Berthier) A very well known and simple Taize chant. Versions vary between "In him I trust" and "In God I trust"...
NCH461 Let us hope when hope seems hopeless (Beebe) A lilting tune and good words of hope in the face of difficulty. A song of a maturing faith. Sound sample (long introduction).
TiS 613 / AHB546 / ATOK 405 / NCH211 / CH166 / LBW469 / ELW765 / SFFS 2197 / HPP265 / GC578/ GC(II)560 / CP506 / CP(E)507 / W&R469 / URW179 Lord of all hopefulness Lord of all joy (Struther) Beautiful words, which I prefer this sung to the well known Irish tune SLANE. Would be a good choice for the final song. Lyrics. Tune sample.
TiS 679 God of Jeremiah grieving (Wren) If you are going to focus on Jeremiah for the next few weeks, this would be a good hymn to learn. In the USA it's available in "New Beginnings" and "Piece Together Praise". The traditional Scottish tune KELVIN GROVE is well known as the tune for "The Summons". Lyrics (with an alternate tune).
TiS 560 / AHB 465 / NCH408 / CH192 / UMH132 / VU654/655 / WoV782 / ELW757 / CP529 / CP(E) 368 / Cha088 / Srce2-15 All my hope on God is founded / is firmly grounded (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 I have WoV). Older version of the lyrics.
NCH433 / CH727 / UMH707 / VU703 / HPP474 / W&R515 / Cha638 In the bulb there is a flower (Sleeth) A simple song of hope symbolised in nature. Particularly good for those churches in colder Southern Hemisphere areas just coming into Spring. Lyrics.
UMH129 / VU636 / PH286 Give to the winds thy fears (Gerhardt) I quite like the modern translations of this old song (from 1656, originally translated by Wesley!). The tune (HANTS) is not familiar to me, but should be learned fairly quickly with some instruction. Older style lyrics.
Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16
More suggestions for this passage under "Social Justice Sunday" post (see left).
TiS 48 / AoV1-153 / ATOK 411 / UMH143 / VU808 / WoV779 / ELW787 / GA452 / HPP385 / G(II)433 / GC611 / GC(II)593 / CP531 / W&R438 / Cha077 You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord This is a beautiful and quite well known paraphrase of the Psalm. It has masculine imagery, but we can cope; some subtle changes will make it less grating. Lyrics and a very quirky sound sample. I think someone was trying to use every sound possible on their new keyboard.
MV096 And when you call for me (Bauman / Good) This simple chant "And when you call for me I have already answered... I am already there" might work nicely during the prayers of intercession. Tune is not immediately easy, so teach your congregation first.
AoV2-054 / Iona (There is one among us, Love from Below) / CH755 / MV077 / SFFS 2057 / G(II)438 / GC618 / RS 736 / URW409 Be still and know that I am God (Chant) Beautiful. I'd much rather sing this than the more well known version. Works as a round or in unison.
W&R633 Healer of My Soul keep me at even' (Talbot) A quiet meditative song. It might be best sung as a reflection if unfamiliar to your congregation. Video and lyrics.
MV214 May God's sheltering wings (Snowdon) A nice simple blessing and benediction, which may be sung about a feminine or a masculine God. Lyrics (downloads a pdf).
MV062 / SP&P076 There is room for all / Chacun a sa place (Harding) A simple one-verse song; will need to be taught, but it won't take long to teach it. More communal than many other versions of this Psalm. Sound sample and sample sheet music.
TiS 49 / Iona (Common Ground) / URW286 Whoever lives besides the Lord Masculine God, but easy to sing and generally quite good words to an easy Scottish tune.
Amos 6:1a, 4-7 and Psalm 146 (alternate readings)
For Psalm 146, see this post.
1 Timothy 6:6-19
Don't desire riches, seek greater, holy things. If you have riches, be generous and share them for good
TiS 547 / AHB 455 / AoV1-009 / NCH451 / CH465 / UMH451 / VU643 / WoV776 / ELW793 / HPP353 / HPSS339 / CP505 / CP(E) 386 / W&R502 / Cha595 / Srce70 / URW180 Be thou my vision O Lord of my heart (8th century Irish) Most recent hymnals are fairly inclusive in their language for this. Please note that the High King imagery is quite important in terms of Irish history. This has been changed in some hymnals because it is masculine, but the hymn is based on an ancient story of St. Patrick refusing to follow the High King Logaire, but choosing instead the "High King of Heaven". Probably worth telling this story to your congregation if you choose this song. Lyrics, tune and a little of the story.
TiS 560 / AHB 465 / NCH408 / CH192 / UMH132 / VU654/655 / WoV782 / ELW757 / CP529 / CP(E) 368 / Cha088 / Srce2-15 All my hope on God is founded / is firmly grounded (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 I have WoV). Older version of the lyrics.
TiS 594 / AHB 511 / CH517 / VU674 / CP503 / CP(E) 423 Fight the good fight with all thy might (Monsell) I left this song behind for a long time and I'd like to claim it back. The words are pretty old fashioned, but the idea is a good one. It's hard to hang on to faith and faithful practice. I like it best sung to DUKE STREET. Lyrics and sound samples.
TiS 571 / AHB 480 / CH529 / UMH438 / VU416 / CP467 / CP(E) 430 / W&R718 Forth in thy name O Lord I go A nice old minstrelly tune, and timeless words about committing all our works to God. I'm listing a lot of old hymns this week...! Lyrics.
AoV2-055 / G(II)513 / GC711 / GC(II)716 May we find richness / Harvest of Justice “Gather with patience for those who have nothing. Leave them your riches, and you will receive.” Sample sheet music, lyrics and a plodding tune sample here.
NCH562 / AA127 / Cha381 Take my gifts and let me love you (Murray) Good words about giving God ourselves, our goods, our money. Can be sung either to the set tune by Colin Gibson (TALAVERA TERRACE) which is quite straightforward, or the more well known tune HOLY MANNA. A good offering song. Lyrics.
NCH590 / CH621 Spirit of Jesus, if I love my neighbour. Challenging words of offering help from a position of privilege and seeking to be set free from the entrapment of possessions “If I am hugging safety or possessions, uncurl my spirit as your love prevails, to join my neighbours, work for liberation, and find my freedom at the mark of nails”. Could also be sung to the tune PERFECT LOVE if your congregation woudl have trouble with the newer tune.
Luke 16:19-31
The rich man with Lazarus at his gate.
More suggestions for this passage under "Social Justice Sunday" post (see left).
MV 145 / CP418 / SP&P123 Draw the circle wide (Light) A great song about welcoming all people. “Let the dreams we dream be larger than we’ve ever dreamed before; let the dream of Christ be in us, open every door”.
Traditional Dives and Lazarus (Traditional) Probably not a congregational song unless they're a bunch of folkies. Video of Maddy Prior singing it (and a great guitarist!). Lyrics.
TiS 416 Great God your Spirit like the wind (Gaunt) Excellent words asking for God to shake us out of our complacency and give us compassion. I really wish it was set to a different tune - it is set to JERUSALEM and this seems to suck all the power out of the lyrics for me. It works with MAGNIFICAT (TiS173) which is fairly straightforward so I would try that.
TiS 674 / Iona (Common Ground, Heaven Shall Not Wait) / CH253 Inspired by love and anger Powerful lyrics, simple English folk tune. Lyrics (search for "inspired").
SP&P137 The world is hungry for justice / Sweet Justice (Gilio / Ressman) This song is new to me (as is the book), and the words are very suitable for this reading, so it's nice to list it. It's a ballad and the verses would be best sung by the musicians at first, with the congregation joining in on the chorus until they get to know it.
TiS 689 / ATE 286 / GtB Lord hear my praying, listen to me / Sorrowing song. (Mann) Powerful words of prayer to a simple tune. Words are straightforward about asking difficult questions of God. Lyrics (loads a pdf).
Iona (Love From Below) I sit ouside the rich world's gate / The Beggar (Iona)
TiS 629 / AHB 558 / AoV2-136 / ATA 197 / CH544 / VU600 When I needed a neighbor were you there? (Carter) A classic folk church song. Well known and fits well with this theme. "And the creed and the colour and the name won't matter"... Lyrics.
Oh, and one more thing. It's AFL Grand Final weekend. You might want to sing Drop kick me Jesus through the goal posts of life. Video.
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