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Isaiah 49:1-7
God’s knowledge of Isaiah from before birth. Isaiah’s sense of calling.
Online resource You are the light of the world (Pino) This is a lovely catchy refrain; if you have the CD you could play it. If not, and you have a clever musician, they could work out the chords. I don't think the sheet music is available. It's not directly based on this reading but I think it would be great. Listen. Here's another version. You can purchase from those links too.
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"...
TiS 417 / AoV2-133 / ATW 448 / VU387 / StJ / WoV683 / ELW397 / AA94 / HPP237 / PH323 / CP657 / W&R135 / Cha244 / URW203 Loving Spirit, Loving Spirit (Murray). There are about a zillion tunes set for this. I prefer FELICITY (by Colin Gibson TiS 417), but also like RESTORATION and OMNI DIE. Lyrics.
ATOK 320 / NCH351 / VU645 / StJ / WoV770 / ELW732 / SFFS 2051 / HPP516 / W&R680 / Cha075 I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry. A song of God’s presence in all stages of life. Very simple tune to sing. Lyrics, and a nice (slow) sound sample.
Worldmaking.net God of My Breathing (Bruxvoort-Colligan). Excellent words to a well-known hymn tune. Sample and lyrics.
AoV2-031 / ATW 424 / CH97 / GC(II)509 / SP301 O God, you search me and you know me (Farrell). My favourite version of Psalm 139, which would also fit today. The tune flows effortlessly and it has a nice little hook at the end of each verse. Sample music and lyrics. Slow sound sample.
Psalm 40:1-11
God hears and helps.
Emergent Psalter You are my help and my rescuer (Everett) A simple and lovely Psalm refrain. Sheet music.
Iona (Common Ground, Ps PPP) / CH31 / URW266 I waited patiently for God (Bell) Surprisingly good for such a gloomy Psalm. Lyrics. Can be sung to NEW BRITAIN / AMAZING GRACE as well.
Tune In: God’s Mercy (Anderson) A beautiful ballad about recognising God's mercy in the everyday. Lyrics, sound sample, songbook.
Iona (M&G) / CH267 Blest be God blest be God for ever (Martinez / DANDASOY) Beautiful words to a beautiful, but tricky Philippino melody (unless you have a Philippino congregation, in which case it's just a familiar folk tune). This would be great to ask a small group to sing if you have some good singers in your congregation. Works especially nicely with a guitar.
Cha740a God your mercy is upon us as we place our trust in you Responsive psalm with joyous sung refrain to a familiar hymn tune.
VU888 / LBW558 / ELW731 / PH458 / RS681 / CP358 / W&R642 / 82Hml-412 Earth and All Stars (Dexter) Fun words of cosmic praise. An easy hymn-like tune. I really like the "loud boiling test tubes" bit, although this verse is not in all hymnals. Sheet music and lyrics. Keyboard sound sample.
NCH565 / LBW408 / ELW678 / PH422 / CP601 / W&R572 / Cha606 / URW091 God whose giving knows no ending (Edwards) Excellent more formal words of thanks for God's many good gifts to us. Can be sung to a range of tunes including BEACH SPRING, HYFRYDOL, AUSTRIAN HYMN, RUSTINGTON. Lyrics.
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.
GA445 / G(II)421 / GC597 / GC(II)581 I Say "Yes," Lord / Digo "Sí," Señor (Pena) A simple song which speaks of sticking with God through good times and bad. Lyrics and sample sheet music. Sound sample.
TiS 741 / AoV1-017 / ATE 282 / LBW368 / ELW407 / GA431 / SFFS 2200 / G(II)410 / GC586 / GC(II)566 / Taize / W&R484 / Srce519 O Lord hear my prayer (Berthier) A simple and very well known Taize chant
CH573 / UMH523 Jesus Savior Lord lo to thee I fly / Saranam Saranam (Sri Lankan) I think this would be an excellent song to sing, not only because the words are good (although language is old-fashioned), and because the tune is simple and beautiful, but because we need to keep praying for the people of Sri Lanka. Lyrics (scroll down).
CH541 Lord I pray if today (Keegstra-DeBoer) Very simple words, quite child like, but memorable.
TiS 23 O Lord do not withold your mercy (Saliers) A really lovely and simple refrain.
ATW 480 On the day I called (Farrell) A simple song. Sound sample.
CH276 / VU22 / ELW262 / GA283 / G(II)256 / GC332 / GC(II)340 / CP094 / W&R166 / URW396 Wait for the Lord (Berthier) Very well known Taize chant. This might be a bit peculiar so soon after Advent... Sound samples and sheet music.
TiS 754 / HPP457 / Cha554 You are my hiding-place (Ledner) Very mushy, but somehow very satisfying and soothing. Sound sample and lyrics.
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Greetings and Thanks to God for the people of Corinth. No suggestions for this one.
John 1:29-42
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The dove’s descent at Christ’s baptism. Simon, Peter and Andrew follow Jesus.
See also suggestions from Baptism of Christ (last week).
TiS 545 / Iona (LFB) / CH676 / VU482 Shout for joy! The Lord has let us feast. A very joyous communion song. Lyrics can be viewed here.
TiS 242 / AHB 183 / AoV1-018 / ATN 27 / CH404 / UMH261 / VU352 / HPP163 / PH302 / G(II)481 / GC708 / GC(II)689 / CP(E) 468 / W&R118 I danced in the morning / Lord of the Dance (Carter / SIMPLE GIFTS). Lyrics and tune sample.
TiS 419 / AHB 596 / NCH270 / CH592 / UMH544 / VU205 / WoV685 / ELW403 / HPP222 / PH314 / CP635 / CP(E) 185 / W&R327 Like the murmur of the dove's song Excellent words and a simple tune. Each verse ends with "Come holy spirit, come". Lyrics and organ sample.
TiS 210 / AHB 141 / NCH42 / CH352 / UMH57 / VU326 / LBW42 / ELW295 / HPP74 / HPSS466 / CP306 / 82Hml-493 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.
Songs about following (I will suggest these next week too, so this may be a good time to introduce a new song):
ATOK 348 / Iona (HSNW) / G(II)496 / GC692 / GC(II)697 Come with me / Sing hey for the carpenter (Iona) Excellent. I love this one. Very joyous, and a big favourite in our congregation. Lyrics. I think its strange that some have changed it to "sing yes for the carpenter".
ATOK 413 / Iona (HSNW) / CH533 / VU567 / StS039 / R276 / ELW798 / GA502 / SFFS 2130 / HPP317 / G(II)510 / GC700 / GC(II)687 / CP430 / CP(E) 622 / W&R350 / URW060 Will you come and follow me / The Summons (Iona / KELVINGROVE) A classic. Don't sing it too slowly or it really drags and takes forever! Lyrics and tune sample.
ATOK 412 / Iona (SBL, Common Ground) / CH250 / MV212 / SFFS 2184 Sent by the Lord am I / Sent out in Jesus name / Enviado soy de Dios (Traditional Cuban) / Great rhythm, good words and not too hard to sing (provided you sing it a little slowly the first time!) I prefer the MV translation "Sent out in Jesus' name". Lyrics.
Tune In: Hail the fisherfolk. A bluesy litany of the saints, including the fishermen of yesterday and the fisherfolk of today. Sound sample and lyrics.
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
NCH173 / CH532 / UMH344 / VU563 / WoV784 / ELW817 / HPP324 / HPSS377 / G(II)500 / GC696 / GC(II)678 / W&R347 / Cha342 Lord, you have come to the seashore / You have come down to the lakeshore / Pescador de Hombres There are many translations of this song. I like the NCH version best as it's most inclusive. The song can get a bit shmaltzy, but the tune is a nice lilting one and the words are great. “On the sand I have abandoned my small boat; now with you I will seek other seas”. Sound sample. Lyrics and sheet music.
SFFS 2101 / G(II)301 / GC688 / GC(II)693 Two Fishermen (Toolan) A nice medieval / minstrelly sounding tune and good words. This would be fun. Sound sample and sheet music sample here (search for fishermen)
NCH504 / StJ / HPP545 / GC(II)679 You Walk along Our Shoreline (Dunstan) Good words to a very familiar hymn tune (AURELIA). Lyrics. Sound sample.
Agnus Dei:
TiS 705 / Iona (Common Ground, EoA) / W&R282 / SP320 Behold the Lamb of God (Bell) A simple AgnusDei. Best if you can manage to get all four parts involved.
AoV1-196 / GC171 / GC(II)152 / RS 329 Jesus, Lamb of God (Agnus Dei) from Haugen’s Mass of Creation. My favourite “Jesus Lamb of God”, I think. Sheet music sample and (slow) sound sample here.
GC213 / GC(II)319 / RS 469 / URW414 Jesus Lamb of God from Joncas’ Psallite Mass. Okay, this one is my favourites too, but I think I like it twice the speed of the sample at Hymnprint.net. Sheet music sample and (slow) sound sample here.
Sing Alleluia Jesus Lamb of God have mercy on us This might be written by Betty Polkinghorne. A very melodic and lovely Agnus Dei. I’m quite sure this is in the Sing Alleluia book, but I’m not sure where else. This probably isn't very helpful, but I will try to track this song down.
GC(II)174 Jesus Lamb of God (Proulx) A simple chant. Cantor and response. Sound sample (slow). Sheet music.
Worldmaking.net O Christ, Lamb of God (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A more modern Agnus Dei. Lyrics and sound sample.
WoV621 Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world (Haugen) A canon. In 3/4. Seems quite nice and simple.
Iona / SP228 / URW413 Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world (Bell) A simple overlapping cantor and response. It will need to be taught, but it will not take long for people to pick it up. ( ST BRIDE).
CH778 Lamb of God (Gustafsson) A very simple Agnus dei. Easy to sing.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Songs and Hymns for the Baptism of Christ / First Sunday of Epiphany (9 January 2011)
Isaiah 42:1-9
God's servant who brings sight to the blind and release to the captives
ATOK 389 Light of the nations (Mann) A simple prayer response - would work very well during the prayers of intercession. Lyrics.
TiS 657 / CH263 / VU700 / AA50 / CP(E) 447 / Cha656 God of freedom God of justice (Murray / Guthrie Foote) Powerful lyrics. Can also be sung to PICARDY if you have trouble with the unfamiliar tune. Lyrics and midi.
VU699 / PH332 Live into hope of captives freed (Parker Huber) Isa 61; Lk 4:16-21; Excellent words of justice, sung to the very familiar tune TRURO. Lyrics here (scroll down to the comments below this blog entry).
CH484 / WoV666 / ELW358 / PH353 / CP442 / CP(E) 133 / W&R55 / SP57 / URW087 Great God Your Love Has Called Us Here (Wren) Good words to a standard hymn tune (MELITA or ST PETERSBURG). Gathering, confession, response and sending out all in one hymn. This is a good all-rounder for a communion sunday. Lyrics and tune sample.
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 suggest this a lot, and I don't think my congregation has sung it yet! Free sheet music!
TiS 256 / AoV2-077 / ATE 261 / CH374 / CP(E) 432 / SP153 / Srce160 From heaven you came helpless babe / Servant King (Kendrick) Schmaltzy and I'm not a big fan, but I know this is very meaningful for a lot of people - and it's easy. Lyrics and chords.
CP517 / W&R503 O God your constant care and love (Lanier) Quite good words about God's presence with us through our lives. Sung to a standard hymn tune. Lyrics and tune sample.
Psalm 29
Quite a thunderous Psalm! Wind and flame, earthquakes and floods.
NCH Psalter 29: The voice of God is full of majesty (Hurd). A very simple and beautiful refrain with a paraphrase of the Psalm that is inclusive without losing any of the majesty of this Psalm. Can be used with a reader or cantor. Highly recommended.
AoVK-123 / NCH3 / Iona (M&G) / UMH148 / VU308 / WoV794 / ELW837 / PH271 / G(II)338 / GC499 / CP407 / W&R26 / Cha58 / URW232 / 82Hml-385 Many and Great O God are your works / Wakantanka Taku Nitawa (Lacquiparle) Good words. Simple tune. Needs a good Native American-style drum beat. Lyrics.
TiS 447 / AHB 61 / CH112 / VU313 / LBW400 / ELW673 / CP560 / CP(E)267 Lord your almighty word chaos and darkness heard / Thou, whose almighty word A good hymny hymn, very familiar, with the memorable “Let there be light” line at the end of each verse. TiS lyrics are also very inclusive especially if you change Lord to God. Lyrics.
TiS 392 At the dawning of salvation Good hymn words of Easter theology and Christ’s presence at Creation to a fun standard American folk tune (NETTLETON).
TiS 753 / StS034 / R185 / ELW525 You are holy you are whole A fun and joyous latin-rhythmed song; can also be sung with two parts at the same time. Lyrics in English, Spanish, Swedish and a sound sample.
NCH462 / UMH109 / VU265 / WoV757 / ELW684 / HPSS134 / GC580 / RS711 / CP410 / W&R32 / Cha335 Creating God Your Fingers Trace A good Trinitarian hymn about Creating, Sustaining and Redeeming God. There are many possible tunes. I like the Presence tune better. Lyrics and a sound 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).
AoV1-190 / UMH431 / HPP308 / G(II)529 / GC731 / GC(II)723 / W&R614 / Cha677 Let There Be Peace on Earth and let it begin with me (Miller/Jackson) Well known, and great for older kids. AoV changes "Brothers all are we, let me walk with my brother" to "We are family. Let us walk with each other". Lyrics.
UMH729 / VU682 / LBW161 / WoV762 ELW627 / HPSS450 / CP573 / W&R539 / Cha711 / URW140 O day of peace that dimly shines (Daw) A song of hoped-for peace. The tune in Chalice hymnal is really nice (CANDLER) or O WALY WALY which is used in URW. Other sources use JERUSALEM, which is a bit too militaristic for me. Lyrics and JERUSALEM sample.
TiS 210 / AHB 141 / NCH42 / CH352 / UMH57 / VU326 / LBW42 / ELW295 / HPP74 / HPSS466 / CP306 / 82Hml-493 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 569 / AHB 478 / NCH18/19 / CH167 / UMH127 / VU651 / LBW343 ELW618 / HPP432 / HPSS281 / CP565 / CP(E) 455 / W&R501 / Cha622 / 82Hml690 Guide me O thou great Jehovah / Redeemer (Williams) A rousing hymn of God’s presence and strength and making it to the other side. Sound sample and lyrics.
Acts 10:34-43
Simple gospel summary: Christ crucified, risen, the call to follow and forgive.
Tune In: A grain of wheat (Sheree Anderson) Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground, it won't form roots and grow. A boppy song with deeply meaningful lyrics. Reference recording, lyrics and songbook.
Worldmaking.net Christ is Coming Ever Coming (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A modern hymn of salvation history. Lyrics and sound sample. Music available online.
In Every Corner Sing / AA039 / GA192 For the bread and wine and blessing (Murray) Very straightforward tune. Good eucharist song. Really good song of healing.
TiS 720 / AHB 295 / AoVK-85 / AoV2-046 / ATOK 319 / NCH236 / Iona (M&G, T1AU) / CH345 / VU958 / StJ / WoV612 / GA107 / SFFS 2026 / HPP571 / GC(II)261 / RS 396 / W&R5 / Cha041 / ZSS76 / SP324 / URW370 Halle halle hallelujah (Caribbean) It would be good to sing a Hallelujah. I think this is the most popular one, in just about every hymnbook. Excellent! GA and CH have verses too.
ATOK 413 / Iona (HSNW) / CH533 / VU567 / StS039 / R276 / ELW798 / GA502 / SFFS 2130 / HPP317 / G(II)510 / GC700 / GC(II)687 / CP430 / CP(E) 622 / W&R350 / URW060 Will you come and follow me / The Summons (Iona / KELVINGROVE) A classic. Don't sing it too slowly or it really drags and takes forever!
ATOK 412 / Iona (SBL, Common Ground) / CH250 / MV212 / SFFS 2184 Sent by the Lord am I / Sent out in Jesus name / Enviado soy de Dios (Traditional Cuban) / Great rhythm, good words and not too hard to sing (provided you sing it a little slowly the first time!) I prefer the MV translation "Sent out in Jesus' name".
NCH357 / CH680 / G(II)487 / GC680 / GC(II)675 You are called to tell the story (Duck) Excellent words. The simplest tune would be REGENT SQUARE. Different sources use a range of tunes.
Matthew 3:13-17
The baptism of Christ. Note that songs about the descent of the dove may also be used next week, so this could be a good time to introduce something new.
*URW106 Here at Jordan's river (Duck) Sung to NOEL NOUVELET, this song is just perfect for our congregation. I really love this. Great for Baptism of Christ or any baptism.
TiS 270 / AHB 199 / NCH115 / CH334 / VU20 / LBW548 / ELW842 / PH010 / G(II)260 / GC321 / 322 / GC(II)344 / CP103 / CP(E) 34 / W&R156 / 82Hml-076 On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry. If you would like inclusive lyrics, 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).
Online resource Down by the Jordan (Winfrey Gillette) Good words based on this reading, set to the well known hymn tune LOBE DEN HERREN or could be sung to AURELIA (Thanks, Ben!). Free sheet music (loads a pdf)
PH071 Lord When You Came to Jordan (Wren) I like the questioning words which ask what it might have been like. Would sing it to Llangllofan or ELLACOMBE (TiS 361) “Lord, bring us to our Jordan Of newly opened eyes, Through love, immersed in living, As You were once baptized. Lyrics (scroll down)
NCH355 / UMH648 / VU514 / HPSS523 / W&R149 / Cha450 God the Spirit guide and guardian (Daw) Excellent, inclusive Trinitarian lyrics of God's guidance and blessing on leaders in the church community. Set to a variety of well known hymn tunes including HYFRYDOL (my favourite!), JEFFERSON, BLAENWERN and BETHANY. Lyrics.
TiS 710 / CH758 / Iona (Enemy of Apathy) Come Holy Spirit gracious heavenly dove A beautiful and simple chant.
TiS 419 / AHB 596 / NCH270 / CH592 / UMH544 / VU205 / WoV685 / ELW403 / HPP222 / PH314 / CP635 / CP(E) 185 / W&R327 Like the murmur of the dove's song Excellent words and a simple tune. Each verse ends with "Come holy spirit, come". Lyrics and organ sample.
TiS 253 / AoV2-119 / AoVK-103 / GA419 O Lord Jesus Marrkapmirr This simple song from an Aboriginal community in Arnhem land is easy to sing and talks of the timelessness of God’s love. “O Lord Jesus Marrkapmirr, all the power belongs to you”. There is some king and power language in this which may not work for some. Lyrics are here (scroll down)
NCH462 / UMH109 / VU265 / WoV757 / ELW684 / PH134 / GC580 / RS711 / CP410 / W&R32 / Cha335 / URW067 Creating God Your Fingers Trace A good Trinitarian hymn about Creating, Sustaining and Redeeming God. There are many possible tunes. I like the Presence tune better. Lyrics and a sound sample.
NCH285 / CH591 / SFFS 2123 / URW164 O Holy Dove of God descending / Spirit now live in me (Leech) Lovely simple tune, and beautiful words. Lyrics.
NCH168 / VU084 O radiant christ incarnate word (Duck) Good words; a little formal. WAREHAM is the easier tune.
VU384 / SFFS 2052 / HPP229 / HPSS320 The Lone Wild Bird in lofty flight (Haugen / PROSPECT) Familiar tune and excellent words. First 3 verses and tune sample.
UMH252 / WoV647 / LBW647 / ELW305 / PH072 / CP(E) 93 / W&R241 When Jesus Came to Jordan (Pratt Green) Good words to a simple English folk tune. A bit formal.
StS008 / SFFS 2089 / HPSS409 Wild and Lone the Prophet's Voice (Daw) Excellent, challenging words. I prefer this sung to ABERYSTWYTH which is well known and easily accessible. Lyrics
ATOK 344 You who puzzle on the Saviour's deeds (Beavis) A good song for older kids. Especially for Australian older kids. Lyrics (scroll down - maybe more verses than you need!).
VU380 / SFFS 2122 / CP656 / SP&P006 She Comes Sailing on the Wind (Light) Of course. Excellent feminine imagery. The verses are quite tricky if your congregation is not familiar with them."As he rose up from the water, she swept down from the sky, and she carried him away in her embrace".
God's servant who brings sight to the blind and release to the captives
ATOK 389 Light of the nations (Mann) A simple prayer response - would work very well during the prayers of intercession. Lyrics.
TiS 657 / CH263 / VU700 / AA50 / CP(E) 447 / Cha656 God of freedom God of justice (Murray / Guthrie Foote) Powerful lyrics. Can also be sung to PICARDY if you have trouble with the unfamiliar tune. Lyrics and midi.
VU699 / PH332 Live into hope of captives freed (Parker Huber) Isa 61; Lk 4:16-21; Excellent words of justice, sung to the very familiar tune TRURO. Lyrics here (scroll down to the comments below this blog entry).
CH484 / WoV666 / ELW358 / PH353 / CP442 / CP(E) 133 / W&R55 / SP57 / URW087 Great God Your Love Has Called Us Here (Wren) Good words to a standard hymn tune (MELITA or ST PETERSBURG). Gathering, confession, response and sending out all in one hymn. This is a good all-rounder for a communion sunday. Lyrics and tune sample.
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 suggest this a lot, and I don't think my congregation has sung it yet! Free sheet music!
TiS 256 / AoV2-077 / ATE 261 / CH374 / CP(E) 432 / SP153 / Srce160 From heaven you came helpless babe / Servant King (Kendrick) Schmaltzy and I'm not a big fan, but I know this is very meaningful for a lot of people - and it's easy. Lyrics and chords.
CP517 / W&R503 O God your constant care and love (Lanier) Quite good words about God's presence with us through our lives. Sung to a standard hymn tune. Lyrics and tune sample.
Psalm 29
Quite a thunderous Psalm! Wind and flame, earthquakes and floods.
NCH Psalter 29: The voice of God is full of majesty (Hurd). A very simple and beautiful refrain with a paraphrase of the Psalm that is inclusive without losing any of the majesty of this Psalm. Can be used with a reader or cantor. Highly recommended.
AoVK-123 / NCH3 / Iona (M&G) / UMH148 / VU308 / WoV794 / ELW837 / PH271 / G(II)338 / GC499 / CP407 / W&R26 / Cha58 / URW232 / 82Hml-385 Many and Great O God are your works / Wakantanka Taku Nitawa (Lacquiparle) Good words. Simple tune. Needs a good Native American-style drum beat. Lyrics.
TiS 447 / AHB 61 / CH112 / VU313 / LBW400 / ELW673 / CP560 / CP(E)267 Lord your almighty word chaos and darkness heard / Thou, whose almighty word A good hymny hymn, very familiar, with the memorable “Let there be light” line at the end of each verse. TiS lyrics are also very inclusive especially if you change Lord to God. Lyrics.
TiS 392 At the dawning of salvation Good hymn words of Easter theology and Christ’s presence at Creation to a fun standard American folk tune (NETTLETON).
TiS 753 / StS034 / R185 / ELW525 You are holy you are whole A fun and joyous latin-rhythmed song; can also be sung with two parts at the same time. Lyrics in English, Spanish, Swedish and a sound sample.
NCH462 / UMH109 / VU265 / WoV757 / ELW684 / HPSS134 / GC580 / RS711 / CP410 / W&R32 / Cha335 Creating God Your Fingers Trace A good Trinitarian hymn about Creating, Sustaining and Redeeming God. There are many possible tunes. I like the Presence tune better. Lyrics and a sound 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).
AoV1-190 / UMH431 / HPP308 / G(II)529 / GC731 / GC(II)723 / W&R614 / Cha677 Let There Be Peace on Earth and let it begin with me (Miller/Jackson) Well known, and great for older kids. AoV changes "Brothers all are we, let me walk with my brother" to "We are family. Let us walk with each other". Lyrics.
UMH729 / VU682 / LBW161 / WoV762 ELW627 / HPSS450 / CP573 / W&R539 / Cha711 / URW140 O day of peace that dimly shines (Daw) A song of hoped-for peace. The tune in Chalice hymnal is really nice (CANDLER) or O WALY WALY which is used in URW. Other sources use JERUSALEM, which is a bit too militaristic for me. Lyrics and JERUSALEM sample.
TiS 210 / AHB 141 / NCH42 / CH352 / UMH57 / VU326 / LBW42 / ELW295 / HPP74 / HPSS466 / CP306 / 82Hml-493 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 569 / AHB 478 / NCH18/19 / CH167 / UMH127 / VU651 / LBW343 ELW618 / HPP432 / HPSS281 / CP565 / CP(E) 455 / W&R501 / Cha622 / 82Hml690 Guide me O thou great Jehovah / Redeemer (Williams) A rousing hymn of God’s presence and strength and making it to the other side. Sound sample and lyrics.
Acts 10:34-43
Simple gospel summary: Christ crucified, risen, the call to follow and forgive.
Tune In: A grain of wheat (Sheree Anderson) Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground, it won't form roots and grow. A boppy song with deeply meaningful lyrics. Reference recording, lyrics and songbook.
Worldmaking.net Christ is Coming Ever Coming (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A modern hymn of salvation history. Lyrics and sound sample. Music available online.
In Every Corner Sing / AA039 / GA192 For the bread and wine and blessing (Murray) Very straightforward tune. Good eucharist song. Really good song of healing.
TiS 720 / AHB 295 / AoVK-85 / AoV2-046 / ATOK 319 / NCH236 / Iona (M&G, T1AU) / CH345 / VU958 / StJ / WoV612 / GA107 / SFFS 2026 / HPP571 / GC(II)261 / RS 396 / W&R5 / Cha041 / ZSS76 / SP324 / URW370 Halle halle hallelujah (Caribbean) It would be good to sing a Hallelujah. I think this is the most popular one, in just about every hymnbook. Excellent! GA and CH have verses too.
ATOK 413 / Iona (HSNW) / CH533 / VU567 / StS039 / R276 / ELW798 / GA502 / SFFS 2130 / HPP317 / G(II)510 / GC700 / GC(II)687 / CP430 / CP(E) 622 / W&R350 / URW060 Will you come and follow me / The Summons (Iona / KELVINGROVE) A classic. Don't sing it too slowly or it really drags and takes forever!
ATOK 412 / Iona (SBL, Common Ground) / CH250 / MV212 / SFFS 2184 Sent by the Lord am I / Sent out in Jesus name / Enviado soy de Dios (Traditional Cuban) / Great rhythm, good words and not too hard to sing (provided you sing it a little slowly the first time!) I prefer the MV translation "Sent out in Jesus' name".
NCH357 / CH680 / G(II)487 / GC680 / GC(II)675 You are called to tell the story (Duck) Excellent words. The simplest tune would be REGENT SQUARE. Different sources use a range of tunes.
Matthew 3:13-17
The baptism of Christ. Note that songs about the descent of the dove may also be used next week, so this could be a good time to introduce something new.
*URW106 Here at Jordan's river (Duck) Sung to NOEL NOUVELET, this song is just perfect for our congregation. I really love this. Great for Baptism of Christ or any baptism.
TiS 270 / AHB 199 / NCH115 / CH334 / VU20 / LBW548 / ELW842 / PH010 / G(II)260 / GC321 / 322 / GC(II)344 / CP103 / CP(E) 34 / W&R156 / 82Hml-076 On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry. If you would like inclusive lyrics, 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).
Online resource Down by the Jordan (Winfrey Gillette) Good words based on this reading, set to the well known hymn tune LOBE DEN HERREN or could be sung to AURELIA (Thanks, Ben!). Free sheet music (loads a pdf)
PH071 Lord When You Came to Jordan (Wren) I like the questioning words which ask what it might have been like. Would sing it to Llangllofan or ELLACOMBE (TiS 361) “Lord, bring us to our Jordan Of newly opened eyes, Through love, immersed in living, As You were once baptized. Lyrics (scroll down)
NCH355 / UMH648 / VU514 / HPSS523 / W&R149 / Cha450 God the Spirit guide and guardian (Daw) Excellent, inclusive Trinitarian lyrics of God's guidance and blessing on leaders in the church community. Set to a variety of well known hymn tunes including HYFRYDOL (my favourite!), JEFFERSON, BLAENWERN and BETHANY. Lyrics.
TiS 710 / CH758 / Iona (Enemy of Apathy) Come Holy Spirit gracious heavenly dove A beautiful and simple chant.
TiS 419 / AHB 596 / NCH270 / CH592 / UMH544 / VU205 / WoV685 / ELW403 / HPP222 / PH314 / CP635 / CP(E) 185 / W&R327 Like the murmur of the dove's song Excellent words and a simple tune. Each verse ends with "Come holy spirit, come". Lyrics and organ sample.
TiS 253 / AoV2-119 / AoVK-103 / GA419 O Lord Jesus Marrkapmirr This simple song from an Aboriginal community in Arnhem land is easy to sing and talks of the timelessness of God’s love. “O Lord Jesus Marrkapmirr, all the power belongs to you”. There is some king and power language in this which may not work for some. Lyrics are here (scroll down)
NCH462 / UMH109 / VU265 / WoV757 / ELW684 / PH134 / GC580 / RS711 / CP410 / W&R32 / Cha335 / URW067 Creating God Your Fingers Trace A good Trinitarian hymn about Creating, Sustaining and Redeeming God. There are many possible tunes. I like the Presence tune better. Lyrics and a sound sample.
NCH285 / CH591 / SFFS 2123 / URW164 O Holy Dove of God descending / Spirit now live in me (Leech) Lovely simple tune, and beautiful words. Lyrics.
NCH168 / VU084 O radiant christ incarnate word (Duck) Good words; a little formal. WAREHAM is the easier tune.
VU384 / SFFS 2052 / HPP229 / HPSS320 The Lone Wild Bird in lofty flight (Haugen / PROSPECT) Familiar tune and excellent words. First 3 verses and tune sample.
UMH252 / WoV647 / LBW647 / ELW305 / PH072 / CP(E) 93 / W&R241 When Jesus Came to Jordan (Pratt Green) Good words to a simple English folk tune. A bit formal.
StS008 / SFFS 2089 / HPSS409 Wild and Lone the Prophet's Voice (Daw) Excellent, challenging words. I prefer this sung to ABERYSTWYTH which is well known and easily accessible. Lyrics
ATOK 344 You who puzzle on the Saviour's deeds (Beavis) A good song for older kids. Especially for Australian older kids. Lyrics (scroll down - maybe more verses than you need!).
VU380 / SFFS 2122 / CP656 / SP&P006 She Comes Sailing on the Wind (Light) Of course. Excellent feminine imagery. The verses are quite tricky if your congregation is not familiar with them."As he rose up from the water, she swept down from the sky, and she carried him away in her embrace".
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Alleluia! Hallelujah! Heleluya! Heleluyan!
Here's a big list of favourite Alleluias! Well, it's little right now, but it will get bigger.
TiS 701 Alleluia (Iona) A simple Alleluia
Taize / TiS 702 / SFFS 2014 / GC257 / GC(II)263 / RS 401 Alleluia 7 (Taize) Of course. Very straightforward and joyous. Sound and sheet music samples.
Taize Alleluia 8 (Berthier) This is my favourite Taize Alleluia. It will work well with a cantored Psalm reading. Sound and sheet music samples.
Taize Alleluia 18 (Berthier) A lovely simple Alleluia which will work well with a Psalm reading. Sound and sheet music samples.
Taize Alleluia 20 (Berthier) Another lovely Alleluia which will work well with a Psalm reading. Sound and sheet music samples.
*NCH766 / CH767 / PfAS148G Hallelujah hallelujah (Maraire) A simple and joyful Alleluia in 3/4 in 3 parts. This one is particularly good if you can get all three parts going. It's pretty straight forward, and catcy. PfAS uses it as a Psalm refrain for Psalm 148, or you can just continue the joy of the Easter season and sing some Alleluias. Good for kids
WoV609 / W&R735 Hallelujah / Heleluyan (Muscogee / Webb) Native American Hallelujah. I like it. It's simple and straightforward
*TiS 720 / AHB 295 / aoVK-85 / AoV2-046 / ATOK 319 / NCH236 / Iona (Many & Great, There is one among us) / CH345 / VU958 / StJ / SFFS 2026 / HPP571 / RS 396 Halle halle hallelujah (Traditional Caribbean) Excellent – simple, great for kids, good rhythm. Good for kids Sound sample.
*ATW 457 / Iona (T1AU) / CH751 / MV050 / StS017 / GC(II)260 / G(3)328 / URW402 Alleluia (Duncan) A simple Alleluia. Gather version has a descant cantor part. Here are some nice notes on how to teach it to your congregation. Sound sample.
*ATW 460 / Iona (M&G) / CH752 / VU717 / WoV610 Alleluia (South Africa) (Mxadana) Beautiful and peaceful, especially if you can work all the harmonies in.
TiS 257 / WoV613 / W&R736 / G(3)334 / SP233 Alleluia (O'Carroll / Walker) Also known as "Celtic Alleluia". Sources have different lyrics for the verses. Some more inclusive than others. The chorus is great just on its own. Good for kids
GC260 Alleluia (Gouin) Simple.
GC262 / GC(II)267 / RS 400 Alleluia (Hughes) Joyful Alleluia Fun call and response in 7/8.
GC198 / GC(II)211 / RS 343 Alleluia (Mass of Remembrance) (Haugen) Simple round
MV054 Alleluia (Monteiro) A Brazilian Alleluia; easy to harmonise. Can start slowly and simply, and build up and speed up! Good for kids
MV052 Alleluia (Afro-Uraguayan) Good new alleluia, which would work well with plenty of percussion and guitar. Good for kids
GC256 / RS 394 Alleluia (Wise) A joyful, simple alleluia
CH753 Alleluia alleluia (Honduras) Simple and fun.
TiS 701 Alleluia (Iona) A simple Alleluia
Taize / TiS 702 / SFFS 2014 / GC257 / GC(II)263 / RS 401 Alleluia 7 (Taize) Of course. Very straightforward and joyous. Sound and sheet music samples.
Taize Alleluia 8 (Berthier) This is my favourite Taize Alleluia. It will work well with a cantored Psalm reading. Sound and sheet music samples.
Taize Alleluia 18 (Berthier) A lovely simple Alleluia which will work well with a Psalm reading. Sound and sheet music samples.
Taize Alleluia 20 (Berthier) Another lovely Alleluia which will work well with a Psalm reading. Sound and sheet music samples.
*NCH766 / CH767 / PfAS148G Hallelujah hallelujah (Maraire) A simple and joyful Alleluia in 3/4 in 3 parts. This one is particularly good if you can get all three parts going. It's pretty straight forward, and catcy. PfAS uses it as a Psalm refrain for Psalm 148, or you can just continue the joy of the Easter season and sing some Alleluias. Good for kids
WoV609 / W&R735 Hallelujah / Heleluyan (Muscogee / Webb) Native American Hallelujah. I like it. It's simple and straightforward
*TiS 720 / AHB 295 / aoVK-85 / AoV2-046 / ATOK 319 / NCH236 / Iona (Many & Great, There is one among us) / CH345 / VU958 / StJ / SFFS 2026 / HPP571 / RS 396 Halle halle hallelujah (Traditional Caribbean) Excellent – simple, great for kids, good rhythm. Good for kids Sound sample.
*ATW 457 / Iona (T1AU) / CH751 / MV050 / StS017 / GC(II)260 / G(3)328 / URW402 Alleluia (Duncan) A simple Alleluia. Gather version has a descant cantor part. Here are some nice notes on how to teach it to your congregation. Sound sample.
*ATW 460 / Iona (M&G) / CH752 / VU717 / WoV610 Alleluia (South Africa) (Mxadana) Beautiful and peaceful, especially if you can work all the harmonies in.
TiS 257 / WoV613 / W&R736 / G(3)334 / SP233 Alleluia (O'Carroll / Walker) Also known as "Celtic Alleluia". Sources have different lyrics for the verses. Some more inclusive than others. The chorus is great just on its own. Good for kids
GC260 Alleluia (Gouin) Simple.
GC262 / GC(II)267 / RS 400 Alleluia (Hughes) Joyful Alleluia Fun call and response in 7/8.
GC198 / GC(II)211 / RS 343 Alleluia (Mass of Remembrance) (Haugen) Simple round
MV054 Alleluia (Monteiro) A Brazilian Alleluia; easy to harmonise. Can start slowly and simply, and build up and speed up! Good for kids
MV052 Alleluia (Afro-Uraguayan) Good new alleluia, which would work well with plenty of percussion and guitar. Good for kids
GC256 / RS 394 Alleluia (Wise) A joyful, simple alleluia
Good for kids
MV032 Hallelujah (Pattison) Fun 5/4 hallelujah with a percussion part that would be good for kids (wood block, conga), or for working on at a church camp. Good for kids
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Songs for Epiphany (January 6th)
VU94 / Cha175 Lovely star in the sky (Korean text) Good words. Lovely simple Korean tune. The peoples of Korea could certainly do with some songs from us.
AoVK-60 / AA04 / CoC05 And did you see him little star? (Clyde / Gibson) I quite like this song. It's very imaginative and good for kids.
NCH164 / VU79 / StS030 / WoV652 / LBW652 / ELW314 / PH411 / W&R231 / URW138 Arise your light is come! (Duck) Good general words of Christ coming to bring justice to the familiar tune ST. THOMAS (TiS 271).
TiS 314 / AHB 239 / NCH159 / CH326 / VU81 / LBW082 / ELW302 / HPP144 / PH063 / GC374 / GC(II)384 / CP160 / CP(E) 83 / W&R236 / Cha173 / Srce2-39 / 82Hml-119 As with gladness men of old / those of old / sages bold (Dix) A well known traditional Epiphany carol. Lyrics and tune.
GC(II)386 Every nation sees the glory (O'Brien) BEACH SPRING (TiS 493) Beautiful words and very familiar tune. “Every nation sees the glory of a star that pierced the night. As we tell the wondrous story we are bathed in radiant light. Star sent forth from highest heaven, dancing light of God’s design, Shine upon the gift that’s given; Word made flesh now born in time.” Highly recommended! Lyrics, sample sheet music and nice sound sample.
TiS 281 / AHB 214 When God Almighty came to be one of us This is a great Christmas and Epiphany song. It’s also set to a very easy (and fun) tune to sing (URQUHART). I especially love verse 3 "Wise men, they called them, earnest astrologers, watching for meaning in the moving stars, science or fancy, learned or laughable, theirs was a vision that was brought to pass. Sing all you wise men, dance all the scientists whether your theories are false or true. God uses knowledge, God uses ignorance. God at his coming had a need of you". Lyrics.
SFFS 2094 I sought him dressed in finest clothes (Bell) Excellent words that speak of the search for a king in high places, and finding him among the poor. Sung to a celtic folkish tune. Lyrics.
LBW648 / ELW312 / CP437 / W&R669 Jesus come for we invite you (Idle) Excellent words to a well known hymn tune. This picks up themes of the Wedding at Cana, the transformative power of Christ to energise our faith. "Jesus,come! surprise our dullness; Make us willing to receive More than we can yet imagine, All the best you have to give: Let us find your hidden riches, Taste your love,believe,and live!". It's set to the tune UNION SEMINARY, which is not in that many hymnals. You could also sing it to WESTMINSTER ABBEY (TiS 432). Lyrics (loads a pdf)
TiS 307 / AHB 232 / CH300 / VU73 / SFFS 2098 / G(II)264 / GC345 / GC(II)378 The Virgin Mary had a baby boy This carol includes those wise men.
NCH370 / W&R685 / URW127 What gift can we bring? A good offering song. Also good for a church anniversary. Lyrics. This song has great words for the offering, and seems appropriate to both Epiphany and New Year
Recorded Music Heavenly Child (Mayer) This is a great song from the viewpoint of one of the wise men. A great song for those who have travelled far in their spiritual journey but hold on to the image of the heavenly child. Lyrics and sound sample
AA014 / CoC09 Child of joy and peace (Murray) Excellent words for Christmas and Epiphany; recognises the poverty of Christ and constrasts it with the greed of Christmas - without being too heavy handed. I like the Ian Render tune (JENNIFER'S GIFT) best, even though it's a little tricky.
UMH243 / VU089 / PH064 / W&R238 From a Distant Home / De Tierra Lejana Venimos (Puerto Rican) Nice tune and pretty standard words. Would be a good change for epiphany
VU92 In the darkness shines the splendour (Gasslein) Good new words sung to the tune IRBY (Once in Royal David's City)
Tune In II Jesus Was a Carpenter (Lees) A slightly daggy but cool song for kids. Brunswick UCA only, as it's not published yet.
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 / Cha442 / SP235 / Srce737 We are marching in the light of God / Siyahamba / Caminando
UMH254 / WoV646 / GA299 / HPP148 / PH066 / GC373 / GC(II)382 / CP(E) 91 / W&R233 / Cha172 We Three Kings of Orient Are (Hopkins) I used to think this carol was silly until I read the lyrics properly.
VU93 When heaven's bright with mystery (Johns) Good new words to the tune SUSSEX CAROL.
VU96 Will you come and see the light? (Wren) Excellent Christmas / Epiphany words to the tune KELVINGROVE (The Summons) "Will you hide, or decide to meet the light?"
Online Resource A Star Shone Bright (Garland) Sung to the familiar tune O WALY WALY, this new set of words sing of the star of long ago, still leading us today. Free sheet music.
AoVK-60 / AA04 / CoC05 And did you see him little star? (Clyde / Gibson) I quite like this song. It's very imaginative and good for kids.
NCH164 / VU79 / StS030 / WoV652 / LBW652 / ELW314 / PH411 / W&R231 / URW138 Arise your light is come! (Duck) Good general words of Christ coming to bring justice to the familiar tune ST. THOMAS (TiS 271).
TiS 314 / AHB 239 / NCH159 / CH326 / VU81 / LBW082 / ELW302 / HPP144 / PH063 / GC374 / GC(II)384 / CP160 / CP(E) 83 / W&R236 / Cha173 / Srce2-39 / 82Hml-119 As with gladness men of old / those of old / sages bold (Dix) A well known traditional Epiphany carol. Lyrics and tune.
GC(II)386 Every nation sees the glory (O'Brien) BEACH SPRING (TiS 493) Beautiful words and very familiar tune. “Every nation sees the glory of a star that pierced the night. As we tell the wondrous story we are bathed in radiant light. Star sent forth from highest heaven, dancing light of God’s design, Shine upon the gift that’s given; Word made flesh now born in time.” Highly recommended! Lyrics, sample sheet music and nice sound sample.
TiS 281 / AHB 214 When God Almighty came to be one of us This is a great Christmas and Epiphany song. It’s also set to a very easy (and fun) tune to sing (URQUHART). I especially love verse 3 "Wise men, they called them, earnest astrologers, watching for meaning in the moving stars, science or fancy, learned or laughable, theirs was a vision that was brought to pass. Sing all you wise men, dance all the scientists whether your theories are false or true. God uses knowledge, God uses ignorance. God at his coming had a need of you". Lyrics.
SFFS 2094 I sought him dressed in finest clothes (Bell) Excellent words that speak of the search for a king in high places, and finding him among the poor. Sung to a celtic folkish tune. Lyrics.
LBW648 / ELW312 / CP437 / W&R669 Jesus come for we invite you (Idle) Excellent words to a well known hymn tune. This picks up themes of the Wedding at Cana, the transformative power of Christ to energise our faith. "Jesus,come! surprise our dullness; Make us willing to receive More than we can yet imagine, All the best you have to give: Let us find your hidden riches, Taste your love,believe,and live!". It's set to the tune UNION SEMINARY, which is not in that many hymnals. You could also sing it to WESTMINSTER ABBEY (TiS 432). Lyrics (loads a pdf)
TiS 307 / AHB 232 / CH300 / VU73 / SFFS 2098 / G(II)264 / GC345 / GC(II)378 The Virgin Mary had a baby boy This carol includes those wise men.
NCH370 / W&R685 / URW127 What gift can we bring? A good offering song. Also good for a church anniversary. Lyrics. This song has great words for the offering, and seems appropriate to both Epiphany and New Year
Recorded Music Heavenly Child (Mayer) This is a great song from the viewpoint of one of the wise men. A great song for those who have travelled far in their spiritual journey but hold on to the image of the heavenly child. Lyrics and sound sample
AA014 / CoC09 Child of joy and peace (Murray) Excellent words for Christmas and Epiphany; recognises the poverty of Christ and constrasts it with the greed of Christmas - without being too heavy handed. I like the Ian Render tune (JENNIFER'S GIFT) best, even though it's a little tricky.
UMH243 / VU089 / PH064 / W&R238 From a Distant Home / De Tierra Lejana Venimos (Puerto Rican) Nice tune and pretty standard words. Would be a good change for epiphany
VU92 In the darkness shines the splendour (Gasslein) Good new words sung to the tune IRBY (Once in Royal David's City)
Tune In II Jesus Was a Carpenter (Lees) A slightly daggy but cool song for kids. Brunswick UCA only, as it's not published yet.
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 / Cha442 / SP235 / Srce737 We are marching in the light of God / Siyahamba / Caminando
UMH254 / WoV646 / GA299 / HPP148 / PH066 / GC373 / GC(II)382 / CP(E) 91 / W&R233 / Cha172 We Three Kings of Orient Are (Hopkins) I used to think this carol was silly until I read the lyrics properly.
VU93 When heaven's bright with mystery (Johns) Good new words to the tune SUSSEX CAROL.
VU96 Will you come and see the light? (Wren) Excellent Christmas / Epiphany words to the tune KELVINGROVE (The Summons) "Will you hide, or decide to meet the light?"
Online Resource A Star Shone Bright (Garland) Sung to the familiar tune O WALY WALY, this new set of words sing of the star of long ago, still leading us today. Free sheet music.
Songs and Hymns for Christmas 2A (January 2nd 2011)
Jeremiah 31:7-14
Gathering the flock of Israel, redeeming them, and the celebration afterwards
A good time to sing some favourite Christmas carols, or some less familiar ones.
TiS 474 / AoV1-012 / ATE 295 / CH623 / SFFS 2236 / HPP553 / G(II)539 / GC839 / GC(II)743 / CP465 / W&R649 / Cha284 / G(3)848 / URW054 / SP175 Here in this place new light is streaming / Gather us in (Haugen) This is a very joyful and well known contemporary song with great words. Lyrics and sound sample.
MV007 Gather us in ground us in you (Hann) A simple chant which would be great for an invitation to worship.
AoV1-071 / GA530 / GC(II)742 / G(3)837 Gather Your People (Hurd) Excellent eucharistic theology. Sound sample. Lyric and sheet music sample.
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”. Lyrics and mp3.
AoVK-125 / ATW 489 Turn our sadness upside down (Newton) Good for kids, and adults too. Simple tune, but not so simple that it’s boring. Lyrics (search in the page for "sadness").
Iona (There is one among us) Lord you can turn all mourning into dancing (Bell) An excellent simple refrain “Lord you can turn all mourning into dancing, evenings of grief to mornings of great joy”.
Tune In You in all our worries / All will finish well (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 songbook available 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. Good for kids.
MV221 I am walking a path of peace (Tissandier) A simple song for the end of the service; words can be altered to paths of love, grace, hope, joy etc.
Psalm 147:12-20
God who grants peace and controls the wind and snow and rain
ATE 216 / Iona (SBL) / CH126 / StJ / ELW555 / PH472 / G(II)365 / GC527 / RS 671 O sing to the Lord / Cantai ao Senhor / Cantad al Señor (Traditional Brazilian) A good, fun and simple song that is easy to learn in Portuguese or Spanish too. Good for a call to worship. Good for kids.
Taize / AoV2-142 / SFFS 2013 / GC(II)576 / G(3)620 / CP360 / SP194 / Srce79 / URW377 Bless the Lord my soul (Berthier) A beautiful and very well known Taize chant. Sound samples, sheet music. Good for kids.
TiS 181 / AoV2-032 / GC(II)497 / G(3)577 / CP589 Come O God of all the earth / Sing Out Earth and Skies (Haugen) A very joyful song for cantor and congregation, or small group and congregation; this is a big favourite in our church. Sheet music, lyrics and sound sample.
AoVK-24 / Iona (T1AU) / CH756 / GC141 / GC(II)77 Bless the Lord / My sisters (Kenyan) Simple and fun Kenyan call and response. "Bless the Lord there is no other God" Kids would really enjoy this, and with some African drumming, it would really be excellent.
MV037 Each blade of grass / Circle of God (Wehlander) Lovely words set to a familiar-feeling folk tune. Lyrics (downloads a pdf).
Iona (SBL) / CH140 / MV181 / WoV727 / ELW554 / G(II)341 / GC495 Lord Your Hands Have Formed This World / The Earth is the Lord's (Oliano) Good words of creation to a lovely, and not too difficult, Philippino melody. This would be a nice song for a children's choir or for the offering. Sound sample. Lyrics and sample sheet music.
VU888 / LBW558 / ELW731 / PH458 / RS681 / CP358 / W&R642 / 82Hml-412 Earth and All Stars (Dexter) Fun words of cosmic praise. An easy hymn-like tune. I really like the "loud boiling test tubes" bit, although this verse is not in all hymnals. Sheet music and lyrics. Keyboard sound sample.
MV095 How deep the peace (Bauman / Good) Simple song. Would work particularly well as words of assurance after the prayers of confession. Lyrics (downloads a pdf - go to the words of assurance!)
Ephesians 1:3-14
God as our loving adoptive parent and our new inheritance
A good time to sing some favourite Christmas carols, or some less familiar ones.
Online resource Children of God (Harding) A simple two part chant. Will need to be taught. Sheet music sample (note that the sound sample on this site is for a different song!)
AoV2-037 Children Of God in one family (Walker) Great for kids. Sometimes we mess up, but God forgives. Good for kids.
AoVK-119 We're God's family God's children (Watts/O'Brien) Good words. Catchy tune. Good for kids.
*TiS 465 / AHB 399 / ATA 115 / NCH279 / Iona (SBL) / CH116 / GA381 Our God in heaven / Father in heaven / Loving Creator grant to your children (Maquiso / Niles) I really like this hymn, especially the Philippino folk melody to which it's set. Newer versions of the hymn from the Christian Conference of Asia have altered the lyrics to "Our God in heaven / Creator God" in the first verse. Other versions, such as CH4 have "Loving Creator / Parent and God".
*MV157 I am a child of God (Harding) A simple song with powerful words. Good for kids and adults alike. Very easy to learn. Good for kids (just the first verse probably).
*TiS 417 / AoV2-133 / ATW 448 / VU387 / StJ / WoV683 / ELW397 / AA94 / HPP237 / HPPS323 / URW203 Loving Spirit, Loving Spirit (Murray). There are about a zillion tunes set for this. I prefer FELICITY (by Colin Gibson TiS 417), but also like RESTORATION. Lyrics are here.
ATE 284 / VU395 Come in come in and sit down A good welcoming song for kids. Good for kids
*TiS 163 / AHB 112 / NCH556 / UMH150 / LBW463 / ELW771 / HPPS268 / W&R644 / Cha651 / URW084 / 82Hml-580 God who stretched the spangled heavens (Cameron) Good words of creation of nature and cities and creative possibilities for the future. Some sources do not have inclusive language. There are many possible tunes. I like it best to HOLY MANNA as in the link. Lyrics and sound sample.
TiS 180 / UMH105 / W&R58 / Cha013 God of many names (Wren) If this is new it will need to be taught to your congregation as the tune is not intuitive, but it is worth knowing. The chorus is particularly appealing to kids. Lyrics
NCH072 / UMH552 / VU362 / ELW530 / PH465 / CP534 / W&R597 / Cha278 Here O Lord Your Servants Gather / Sekai no Tomo (Yamaguchi) Beautiful song about being a community of faith seeking strength and courage. Lovely simple Japanese tune. Sound sample and lyrics.
TiS 428 / AHB 340 Help us O Lord to learn Great challenging (but quite formal) words about being committed to learning the faith. Good for a New Year message. Boring tune though. I would sing it to ST THOMAS (TiS 271 / AHB 198) Lyrics (with thees and thys, which are not in TiS).
Tune In: Community (Brown) A great and very easy-to-sing contemporary song about being welcomed and part of a community. Sound sample and lyrics here.
TiS 417 / AoV2-133 / ATW 448 / CH597 / VU387 / StJ / WoV683 / ELW397 / AA94 / HPP237 / PH323 / CP657 / W&R135 / Cha244 / URW203 Loving Spirit loving Spirit There are about a zillion tunes set for this. I prefer FELICITY (by Colin Gibson TiS 417), but also like RESTORATION. Lyrics are here.
John 1:(1-9), 10-18
The Word made flesh.
Again, Christmas carols (new or old) and Epiphany songs would fit well for this.
NCH164 / VU79 / StS030 / WoV652 / LBW652 / ELW314 / PH411 / W&R231 / URW138 Arise your light is come! (Duck) Good general words of Christ coming to bring justice to the familiar tune ST. THOMAS (TiS 271).
VU886 / SFFS 2005 Arise Shine for your light has come (Smith) A simple call and response. Good for an intro to worship. This would be great for the whole Christmas season.
Tune in II We are love (Anderson) This is one of the new songs collated in 2009 at Brunswick Uniting. It's got a quite anthemic chorus "We are love, made in the image"....
TiS 156 / AHB 91 / AoV1-135 / ATA 123 / CH212 / UMH145 / VU409 / ELW556 / HPP267 / PH469 / G(II)546 / GC756 / GC(II)748 / G(3)855 / CP003 / W&R35 / Cha053 / URW186 / 82Hml-008 Morning has broken (Farjeon) This song makes me smile every time. Made famous by Cat Stevens, and still very much loved. Here he is, in 1976 (love those green boots).
TiS 447 / AHB 61 / CH112 / VU313 / LBW400 / ELW673 / CP560 / CP(E) 267 God your almighty word chaos and darkness heard (Marriott) 2nd verse is about the coming of Chirst to give healing and sight. An excellent hymn tune too. Lyrics. Some books have "Lord, your almighty word, chaos and darkness heard".
TiS 477 / Iona (LFB, Common Ground) / CH510 / StJ / URW056 Jesus calls us here to meet him (Bell) Good words and a rollicking or gentle Celtic tune (depending on how you play it!). Lyrics. 4th verse (not in TiS, but in Iona sources) leads to communion.
G(II)445 / GC629 / GC(II)608 / G(3)699 God Is Love and all who live in love live in God (Haas) This is a nice cantor and refrain piece. The refrain is very simple and the cantor part is inclusive. The words are really good. Slowish sound sample.
Iona (M&G) / CH359 / StJ / TF37 / ELW253 / GA293 / SFFS 2085 / G(II)276 / GC370 / GC(II)364 / G(3)429 / CP368 / W&R402 / ZSS54 He came down that we may have love (Cameroon) A simple, repetitive song. Good for kids and for some drumming, too. Sound sample. Sheet music sample.
WoV768 / ELW737 / CP456 / W&R412 He comes to us as one unknown (Dudley-Smith) Great words to a very familiar hymn tune (REPTON).
W&R104 / URW102 Hidden Christ Alive for Ever (Wren) Wonderful and inspiring words of Christ in all things. Can be sung to HYFRYDOL or HOLY MANNA, so would be easily sung by most congregations. A good song for just after the sermon. Lyrics in this article (downloads a pdf) - search for "orbits" to find the lyrics.
StS028 / WoV638 / G(II)275 / GC369 / GC(II)354 / G(3)443 / W&R199 Holy Child within the Manger (Haugen) Lovely words and a simple gentle tune.
*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 / G(3)594 / Cha442 / SP235 / Srce737 We are marching in the light of God / Siyahamba / Caminando (South African) A very popular chorus, with possible alternate verses, depending on your source. Sometimes people get anxious about the word "marching", but remember that this song comes from apartheid-era South Africa, where people were protesting so that they could vote in their own country. And the marching is toi-toing, much less militaristic than what Westerners imagine.
Iona / CH317 / CP621 Before the world began (Bell/Maule) Excellent words from John Bell.
AoV2-060 / SFFS 2172 / HPP307 / G(II)518 / GC718 / GC(II)710 / G(3)807 Come live in the light / We Are Called (Haas) Joyful song of mission. I love this. Lyrics, sheet music sample and slowish sound sample here. I would double the speed of this (almost).
*TiS 242 / AHB 183 / AoV1-018 / ATN 27 / CH404 / UMH261 / VU352 / HPP163 / HPSS302 / G(II)481 / GC708 / GC(II)689/ G(3)796 / W&R118 / CP(E) 468 I danced in the morning (Carter / SIMPLE GIFTS) Well known and very easy to sing. Lyrics and tune sample. Good for kids.
AoVK-123 / NCH3 / Iona (M&G) / UMH148 / VU308 / WoV794 / ELW837 / HPSS271 / G(II)338 / GC499 / G(3)911 / CP407 / W&R26 / Cha58 / URW232 / 82Hml-385 Many and Great O God are your works / Wakantanka Taku Nitawa (Lacquiparle) Good words. Simple tune. Sounds great accompanied by a good Native American-style drum beat, which is a great way to get people involved in music-making. Lyrics here.
AA016 Christ is our peace (Murray) Wow. This one is excellent. Would also be good for the offering. Very simple Irish traditional tune.
NCH401 / W&R388 O god in whom all life begins (Daw) Excellent words of living as a community of faith. Sung to a simple English melody.
NCH111 O loving founder of the stars (Latin 9th Century) Lovely words, to a plainsong-like tune. Plainsong is not as hard as people think....
CH348 / StS001 / LBW196 / ELW544 / CP397 / W&R93 / SP304 / URW090 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness (Edwards) Good words of Christ's ministry to all. Can be sung to the familiar tune NETTLETON, or the less familiar and very lovely tune JOEL. Lyrics.
Gathering the flock of Israel, redeeming them, and the celebration afterwards
A good time to sing some favourite Christmas carols, or some less familiar ones.
TiS 474 / AoV1-012 / ATE 295 / CH623 / SFFS 2236 / HPP553 / G(II)539 / GC839 / GC(II)743 / CP465 / W&R649 / Cha284 / G(3)848 / URW054 / SP175 Here in this place new light is streaming / Gather us in (Haugen) This is a very joyful and well known contemporary song with great words. Lyrics and sound sample.
MV007 Gather us in ground us in you (Hann) A simple chant which would be great for an invitation to worship.
AoV1-071 / GA530 / GC(II)742 / G(3)837 Gather Your People (Hurd) Excellent eucharistic theology. Sound sample. Lyric and sheet music sample.
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”. Lyrics and mp3.
AoVK-125 / ATW 489 Turn our sadness upside down (Newton) Good for kids, and adults too. Simple tune, but not so simple that it’s boring. Lyrics (search in the page for "sadness").
Iona (There is one among us) Lord you can turn all mourning into dancing (Bell) An excellent simple refrain “Lord you can turn all mourning into dancing, evenings of grief to mornings of great joy”.
Tune In You in all our worries / All will finish well (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 songbook available 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. Good for kids.
MV221 I am walking a path of peace (Tissandier) A simple song for the end of the service; words can be altered to paths of love, grace, hope, joy etc.
Psalm 147:12-20
God who grants peace and controls the wind and snow and rain
ATE 216 / Iona (SBL) / CH126 / StJ / ELW555 / PH472 / G(II)365 / GC527 / RS 671 O sing to the Lord / Cantai ao Senhor / Cantad al Señor (Traditional Brazilian) A good, fun and simple song that is easy to learn in Portuguese or Spanish too. Good for a call to worship. Good for kids.
Taize / AoV2-142 / SFFS 2013 / GC(II)576 / G(3)620 / CP360 / SP194 / Srce79 / URW377 Bless the Lord my soul (Berthier) A beautiful and very well known Taize chant. Sound samples, sheet music. Good for kids.
TiS 181 / AoV2-032 / GC(II)497 / G(3)577 / CP589 Come O God of all the earth / Sing Out Earth and Skies (Haugen) A very joyful song for cantor and congregation, or small group and congregation; this is a big favourite in our church. Sheet music, lyrics and sound sample.
AoVK-24 / Iona (T1AU) / CH756 / GC141 / GC(II)77 Bless the Lord / My sisters (Kenyan) Simple and fun Kenyan call and response. "Bless the Lord there is no other God" Kids would really enjoy this, and with some African drumming, it would really be excellent.
MV037 Each blade of grass / Circle of God (Wehlander) Lovely words set to a familiar-feeling folk tune. Lyrics (downloads a pdf).
Iona (SBL) / CH140 / MV181 / WoV727 / ELW554 / G(II)341 / GC495 Lord Your Hands Have Formed This World / The Earth is the Lord's (Oliano) Good words of creation to a lovely, and not too difficult, Philippino melody. This would be a nice song for a children's choir or for the offering. Sound sample. Lyrics and sample sheet music.
VU888 / LBW558 / ELW731 / PH458 / RS681 / CP358 / W&R642 / 82Hml-412 Earth and All Stars (Dexter) Fun words of cosmic praise. An easy hymn-like tune. I really like the "loud boiling test tubes" bit, although this verse is not in all hymnals. Sheet music and lyrics. Keyboard sound sample.
MV095 How deep the peace (Bauman / Good) Simple song. Would work particularly well as words of assurance after the prayers of confession. Lyrics (downloads a pdf - go to the words of assurance!)
Ephesians 1:3-14
God as our loving adoptive parent and our new inheritance
A good time to sing some favourite Christmas carols, or some less familiar ones.
Online resource Children of God (Harding) A simple two part chant. Will need to be taught. Sheet music sample (note that the sound sample on this site is for a different song!)
AoV2-037 Children Of God in one family (Walker) Great for kids. Sometimes we mess up, but God forgives. Good for kids.
AoVK-119 We're God's family God's children (Watts/O'Brien) Good words. Catchy tune. Good for kids.
*TiS 465 / AHB 399 / ATA 115 / NCH279 / Iona (SBL) / CH116 / GA381 Our God in heaven / Father in heaven / Loving Creator grant to your children (Maquiso / Niles) I really like this hymn, especially the Philippino folk melody to which it's set. Newer versions of the hymn from the Christian Conference of Asia have altered the lyrics to "Our God in heaven / Creator God" in the first verse. Other versions, such as CH4 have "Loving Creator / Parent and God".
*MV157 I am a child of God (Harding) A simple song with powerful words. Good for kids and adults alike. Very easy to learn. Good for kids (just the first verse probably).
*TiS 417 / AoV2-133 / ATW 448 / VU387 / StJ / WoV683 / ELW397 / AA94 / HPP237 / HPPS323 / URW203 Loving Spirit, Loving Spirit (Murray). There are about a zillion tunes set for this. I prefer FELICITY (by Colin Gibson TiS 417), but also like RESTORATION. Lyrics are here.
ATE 284 / VU395 Come in come in and sit down A good welcoming song for kids. Good for kids
*TiS 163 / AHB 112 / NCH556 / UMH150 / LBW463 / ELW771 / HPPS268 / W&R644 / Cha651 / URW084 / 82Hml-580 God who stretched the spangled heavens (Cameron) Good words of creation of nature and cities and creative possibilities for the future. Some sources do not have inclusive language. There are many possible tunes. I like it best to HOLY MANNA as in the link. Lyrics and sound sample.
TiS 180 / UMH105 / W&R58 / Cha013 God of many names (Wren) If this is new it will need to be taught to your congregation as the tune is not intuitive, but it is worth knowing. The chorus is particularly appealing to kids. Lyrics
NCH072 / UMH552 / VU362 / ELW530 / PH465 / CP534 / W&R597 / Cha278 Here O Lord Your Servants Gather / Sekai no Tomo (Yamaguchi) Beautiful song about being a community of faith seeking strength and courage. Lovely simple Japanese tune. Sound sample and lyrics.
TiS 428 / AHB 340 Help us O Lord to learn Great challenging (but quite formal) words about being committed to learning the faith. Good for a New Year message. Boring tune though. I would sing it to ST THOMAS (TiS 271 / AHB 198) Lyrics (with thees and thys, which are not in TiS).
Tune In: Community (Brown) A great and very easy-to-sing contemporary song about being welcomed and part of a community. Sound sample and lyrics here.
TiS 417 / AoV2-133 / ATW 448 / CH597 / VU387 / StJ / WoV683 / ELW397 / AA94 / HPP237 / PH323 / CP657 / W&R135 / Cha244 / URW203 Loving Spirit loving Spirit There are about a zillion tunes set for this. I prefer FELICITY (by Colin Gibson TiS 417), but also like RESTORATION. Lyrics are here.
John 1:(1-9), 10-18
The Word made flesh.
Again, Christmas carols (new or old) and Epiphany songs would fit well for this.
NCH164 / VU79 / StS030 / WoV652 / LBW652 / ELW314 / PH411 / W&R231 / URW138 Arise your light is come! (Duck) Good general words of Christ coming to bring justice to the familiar tune ST. THOMAS (TiS 271).
VU886 / SFFS 2005 Arise Shine for your light has come (Smith) A simple call and response. Good for an intro to worship. This would be great for the whole Christmas season.
Tune in II We are love (Anderson) This is one of the new songs collated in 2009 at Brunswick Uniting. It's got a quite anthemic chorus "We are love, made in the image"....
TiS 156 / AHB 91 / AoV1-135 / ATA 123 / CH212 / UMH145 / VU409 / ELW556 / HPP267 / PH469 / G(II)546 / GC756 / GC(II)748 / G(3)855 / CP003 / W&R35 / Cha053 / URW186 / 82Hml-008 Morning has broken (Farjeon) This song makes me smile every time. Made famous by Cat Stevens, and still very much loved. Here he is, in 1976 (love those green boots).
TiS 447 / AHB 61 / CH112 / VU313 / LBW400 / ELW673 / CP560 / CP(E) 267 God your almighty word chaos and darkness heard (Marriott) 2nd verse is about the coming of Chirst to give healing and sight. An excellent hymn tune too. Lyrics. Some books have "Lord, your almighty word, chaos and darkness heard".
TiS 477 / Iona (LFB, Common Ground) / CH510 / StJ / URW056 Jesus calls us here to meet him (Bell) Good words and a rollicking or gentle Celtic tune (depending on how you play it!). Lyrics. 4th verse (not in TiS, but in Iona sources) leads to communion.
G(II)445 / GC629 / GC(II)608 / G(3)699 God Is Love and all who live in love live in God (Haas) This is a nice cantor and refrain piece. The refrain is very simple and the cantor part is inclusive. The words are really good. Slowish sound sample.
Iona (M&G) / CH359 / StJ / TF37 / ELW253 / GA293 / SFFS 2085 / G(II)276 / GC370 / GC(II)364 / G(3)429 / CP368 / W&R402 / ZSS54 He came down that we may have love (Cameroon) A simple, repetitive song. Good for kids and for some drumming, too. Sound sample. Sheet music sample.
WoV768 / ELW737 / CP456 / W&R412 He comes to us as one unknown (Dudley-Smith) Great words to a very familiar hymn tune (REPTON).
W&R104 / URW102 Hidden Christ Alive for Ever (Wren) Wonderful and inspiring words of Christ in all things. Can be sung to HYFRYDOL or HOLY MANNA, so would be easily sung by most congregations. A good song for just after the sermon. Lyrics in this article (downloads a pdf) - search for "orbits" to find the lyrics.
StS028 / WoV638 / G(II)275 / GC369 / GC(II)354 / G(3)443 / W&R199 Holy Child within the Manger (Haugen) Lovely words and a simple gentle tune.
*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 / G(3)594 / Cha442 / SP235 / Srce737 We are marching in the light of God / Siyahamba / Caminando (South African) A very popular chorus, with possible alternate verses, depending on your source. Sometimes people get anxious about the word "marching", but remember that this song comes from apartheid-era South Africa, where people were protesting so that they could vote in their own country. And the marching is toi-toing, much less militaristic than what Westerners imagine.
Iona / CH317 / CP621 Before the world began (Bell/Maule) Excellent words from John Bell.
AoV2-060 / SFFS 2172 / HPP307 / G(II)518 / GC718 / GC(II)710 / G(3)807 Come live in the light / We Are Called (Haas) Joyful song of mission. I love this. Lyrics, sheet music sample and slowish sound sample here. I would double the speed of this (almost).
*TiS 242 / AHB 183 / AoV1-018 / ATN 27 / CH404 / UMH261 / VU352 / HPP163 / HPSS302 / G(II)481 / GC708 / GC(II)689/ G(3)796 / W&R118 / CP(E) 468 I danced in the morning (Carter / SIMPLE GIFTS) Well known and very easy to sing. Lyrics and tune sample. Good for kids.
AoVK-123 / NCH3 / Iona (M&G) / UMH148 / VU308 / WoV794 / ELW837 / HPSS271 / G(II)338 / GC499 / G(3)911 / CP407 / W&R26 / Cha58 / URW232 / 82Hml-385 Many and Great O God are your works / Wakantanka Taku Nitawa (Lacquiparle) Good words. Simple tune. Sounds great accompanied by a good Native American-style drum beat, which is a great way to get people involved in music-making. Lyrics here.
AA016 Christ is our peace (Murray) Wow. This one is excellent. Would also be good for the offering. Very simple Irish traditional tune.
NCH401 / W&R388 O god in whom all life begins (Daw) Excellent words of living as a community of faith. Sung to a simple English melody.
NCH111 O loving founder of the stars (Latin 9th Century) Lovely words, to a plainsong-like tune. Plainsong is not as hard as people think....
CH348 / StS001 / LBW196 / ELW544 / CP397 / W&R93 / SP304 / URW090 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness (Edwards) Good words of Christ's ministry to all. Can be sung to the familiar tune NETTLETON, or the less familiar and very lovely tune JOEL. Lyrics.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Big List of Christmas Carols (updated for 2012)
I decided this would probably be helpful.... I've just listed a lot of carols in alphabetical order, but in categories, so you can find the ones you want fairly easily. I hate labelling things as "kid's songs" because I find that kids really like the traditional carols if they get a chance to, so I've called one category "Child-focussed". These might be particularly helpful if you are planning a pageant!
Traditional Anglo-European Carols
VU068 / CP151 All poor ones and humble (Roberts) Lyrics.
*TiS 309 / AHB 235 / NCH126 / CH324 / UMH220 / VU036 / LBW050 / ELW275 / CP143 / G(3)438 / CP(E) 44 / W&R189 / Cha149 / Srce2-29 / 82Hml-093 / Lau131 Angels From the realms of glory (Montgomery) Lyrics and one possible tune.
AoVK-64 / HPP121 / PH023 / GC347 / GC(II)361 Angels sing their praises ring (Newton)
AoV2-140 / NCH125 / UMH238 / VU038 / LBW071 / ELW289 / GA286 / HPP125 / PH022 / GC358 / GC(II)369 / G(3)430 / W&R188 / Cha155 / 82Hml-096 / Lau130 Angels we have heard on high (French traditional)
*TiS 318 / AHB 242 / NCH124 / CH312 / UMH217 / VU069 / WoV644 / LBW067 / ELW278 / GA289 / HPP132 / PH025 / GC353 / GC(II)365 / G(3)448 / CP126 / CP(E) 45 / W&R203 / W&R205 / Cha147 / Srce51 / 82Hml-101 / Lau137 Away in a Manger (Mueller) I'm not wild about this carol. A non-crying baby. Doesn't sound fully human to me.
VU40 / WoV636 Before the marvel of this night (Vajda) Excellent, otherworldly words, and a beautiful tune. "Sing bliss, sing bliss, sing endless bliss!"
*TiS 323 / AoV2-101 /ATA 141 / NCH152 / VU095 / PH030 / CP130 / W&R194 Born in the night Mary's child (Ainger)
*TiS 319 / AHB 241 / CH314 / Lau141 Child in the manger infant of Mary (Macdonald) Words of the outcast, infant Christ who becomes the victorious Redeemer. Sung to the well known tune BUNESSAN. CH has the original Gaelic text.
TiS 306 / AHB 231 / CP(E)48 / Srce2-73 / 82Hml-106 Christians awake salute the happy morn
*TiS 321 / AHB 245 Coldly the night winds winging I think this is one of the most beautiful carols in existence.
AHB 233 / HPP140 / GC366 / GC(II)366 / 82Hml-105 God rest you merry gentlemen / people all
*TiS 313 / AHB 238 / NCH129 / CH322 / UMH224 / VU035 / LBW055 / ELW288 / HPP97 / PH028 / GC(II)367 / G(3)435 / CP153 / W&R198 / Cha164 / 82Hml-107 / Lau139 Good Christian friends / Good Christians all rejoice (Latin) Some versions have that odd bar "News! News!" in the middle. I wonder where that came from?
*TiS 303 / AHB 227 / AoV1-171 / NCH144 / CH301 / UMH240 / VU048 / LBW060 / ELW270 / GA294 / HPP123 / PH031 / GC348 / GC(II)356 / G(3)424 / CP138 / CP(E) 53 / W&R185 / Cha150 / ZSS62 / Srce202 / 82Hml-087 / Lau155 Hark the herald angels sing (Wesley) One of those carols that we sing pretty much every year at Brunswick.
PH034 CP580 In Bethlehem a Babe Was Born Joyful, and good words.
VU77 / PH035 / 82Hml-246 In Bethlehem a Newborn Boy (Herklots) Great words acknowledging the danger Christ was born into, and the danger that still exists today, and Christ's redemptive power over it.
NCH128 / CH305 / UMH221 / VU055 / R044 / ELW294 / HPP115 / PH036 / CP122 / CP(E) 55 / W&R196 / Srce2-275 / 82Hml-112 / Lau144 In the bleak midwinter (Rossetti) Beautiful. Very Northern-hemispherific though. Lyrics and warbly sound sample.
TiS 327 In the fields near Bethlehem
*TiS 292 / AHB 225 / UMH229 / VU58 / LBW044 / ELW276 / HPP130 / PH037 / GC354 / GC(II)377 / G(3)445 / CP125 / W&R221 / Cha163 / Lau138 Infant holy Infant lowly (Polish carol) One of my favourites; I'm profoundly shocked that we have not sung this recently at Brunswick. Lyrics and sound sample.
NCH131 / CH303 / UMH218 / VU44 / LBW054 / ELW282 / HPP128 / PH038 / GC367 / GC(II)379 / G(3)433 / CP140/1 CP(E) 56 / W&R191 / Cha153 / Srce2-289 / 82Hml-089 / Lau135 It came upon the midnight clear (Sears)
*TiS 268 / AHB 224 / AoV1-170 / NCH132 / CH320 / UMH246 / VU59 / LBW039 / ELW267 / GA295 / HPP107 / PH040 / GC343 / GC(II)353 / G(3)437 / CP154 / CP(E) 57 / W&R179 / Cha143 / Srce399 / 82Hml-100 / Lau156 Joy to the world The Lord is come (Watts)
*TiS 317 / AHB 243 / NCH165 / CH316 / UMH242 / HPP95 / CP131 / CP(E) 59 / W&R210 / 82Hml-084 Love came down at Christmas (Rossetti) Needs one small change in AHB to make it gender inclusive for people. NCH does this by replacing "all men" with "neighbour" in the last verse. I prefer the tune in TiS / AHB. Lyrics and odd-looking angels.
*TiS 304 / AHB 228 / AoV1-167 / NCH135 / CH306 / UMH234 / VU060 / LBW045 / ELW722 / GA287 / HPP100 / PH041 / GC341 / GC(II)357 / G(3)439 / CP118 / / CP(E) 61/62 / W&R182 / Cha148 / Srce502 / 82Hml-083 / Lau159 O come all ye faithful (Oakeley)
*TiS 316 / AHB 240 / NCH133 / CH304 / UMH230 / VU064 / LBW041 / ELW563 / GA296 / HPP112 / PH043 / GC363 / GC(II)359 / G(3)446 / CP120 / CP(E) 63 / W&R180 / Cha144 / Srce518 82Hml-078 / Lau127 O little town of Bethlehem (Brooks / Redner)
*TiS 300 / NCH143 / CH294 / R112 / ELW274 / HPP118 / W&R222 / Lau134 On Christmas night all Christians sing (Traditional English)
*TiS 312 / AHB 237 / NCH145 / CH315 / UMH250 / VU062 / WoV643 / LBW261 / ELW550 GA297 / HPP137 / PH049 / GC372 / GC(II)380 / G(3)455 / CP123 / CP(E) 66 / W&R183 / Cha165 / Srce530 / 82Hml-102 / Lau148 Once in royal David's city (Alexander)
*TiS 311 / AHB 236 / AoV1-168 / NCH134 / CH309 / UMH239 / VU067 / LBW065 / ELW821 GA290 / HPP135/ 136 PH060 / G(II)262 / GC352 / GC(II)371 / G(3)441 / CP119 / CP(E) 69 / W&R186 / Cha145 / Srce610 / 82Hml-111 / Lau136 Silent night Holy night! (Gruber)
VU047 / HPP124 / PH047 / W&R214 Still Still Still (Austrian) Lovely mushy baby Jesus song.
*TiS 301 / AHB 221 / AoV1-169 / NCH139 / CH323 / UMH245 / VU90 / 91 LBW056 / ELW300 GA298 HPP108 / PH056 / GC377 / GC(II)388 / G(3)460 / CP139 / W&R229 / Cha151 / Srce2-550 / 82Hml-109 / Lau150 The first Nowell the angel did say (English carol)
*TiS 293 / AHB 218 / CH331 / VU054 / CP(E) 73 / 82Hml-098 Unto us a boy is born (German carol)
AoV1-165 / NCH148 / UMH219 / VU074 / LBW040 / ELW296 / HPP138 / PH053 / GC380 / GC(II)387 / G(3)466 / CP137 / CP(E) 74 / W&R184 / Cha162 / 82Hml-115 / Lau145 What child is this? (Dix)
*TiS 299 / AHB 223 / AoV1-172 / CH296 / UMH236 / VU075 / GA288 / HPP114 / PH058 / CP136 CP(E) 76 / W&R228 / Cha154 / Srce2-662 / 82Hml-094 / Lau133 While shepherds watched their flocks by night (Tate) I really like the CH translation.
Newer Christmas Songs
*CoC03 All over creation (Murray) These words will wake up your congregation. Particularly good for Christmas Eve or a Christmas night service. Challenging words. Nice lilting tune.
*CoC04 All who would see God's greatnes (Barrell) I prefer tune (ii) by Colin Gibson. These words are lovely and gentle, but still challenging. I like the call to "draw near".
*AA012 / CoC08 Child of Christmas story (Murray) A lovely Christmas song; very focussed on the Christ child. Simple tune.
*AA014 / CoC09 Child of joy and peace (Murray) Excellent words for Christmas and Epiphany; recognises the poverty of Christ and constrasts it with the greed of Christmas - without being too heavy handed. I like the Ian Render tune (JENNIFER'S GIFT) best, even though it's a little tricky.
*CoC15 Come now where we least expect you (Barrell) Challenging words and a tune that could be pretty groovy. "Christ is found far beyond our sacred ground". Indeed!
AA028 / CoC16 Come to this Christmas singing (Murray) Joyous sheep-farming, beach-loving Christmas song. New Zealand specific because of the word "aroha", unless it fits your congregation.
*GC(II)362 / G(3)434 / SP69 Dark is the night / Sing Alleluia (O'Brien) Excellent and simple Christmas song which reflects the magnificat and the happiness of Jesus’ parents. I especially like the last verse “Hope for the poor, release for the captive, Love for the outcast, light for weary eyes; Word that brings life, embracing humanity, Jesus, companion be born into our lives”. It would be particularly good for a Christmas eve service. The chorus would also work very nicely on its own. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Mushy sound sample. Available for purchase online.
*MV158 / FFS12 Dream a dream (Shirley Murray) Broad words of hope for the future of creation and the world's people. I think the first tune in Faith Forever Singing (by Nigel Eastgate) is the most intuitive and interesting. GIA music also have a tune by Lori True which fits together with Dona Nobis Pacem which could be really lovely if you have a choir, especially a children's choir (sound sample). Lyrics only (scroll or search down) Sheet music sample. This can be purchased online from GIA.
*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 (Cameroon traditional) A simple, repetitive song. Great for kids and for some drumming, too. Sound sample. Sheet music sample.
*Cha158 Her baby newly breathing (Wren) Realistic words of Mary's motherhood of a real life type of infant, to the familiar tune MERLE'S TUNE. The final verse sings of creating Wisdom "constricted into maleness, and of a woman born". Lyrics (scroll through)
*StS028 / WoV638 / G(II)275 / GC369 / GC(II)354 / G(3)443 / W&R199 Holy Child within the Manger (Haugen) Lovely words and a simple gentle tune.
*CoC28 I didn't hear the angels sing (McCoy) Lovely statement of faith despite not having witnessed the Christmas events. Simple tune.
*TiS 287 / CH287 / StS011 / GC(II)768 No wind at the window (Bell) Wonderful words to the familiar Celtic tune COLUMCILLE that focus on Mary's decision to say "Yes" to God. Very easy to sing. Works well for Advent and Christmas. Lyrics. Sound sample.
*TiS 288 / Iona Not the powerful not the privileged (Bell)
*CH329 / AA108 / CoC33 O little Love who comes again (Murray) A lovely gentle and thoughtful Christmas song, which would also work for Epiphany.
*CoC35 Peace for our children (Lankshear-Smith) A simple and quite repetitive (in a nice way) song that prays for peace for children, women, men, families, nations… and the soul.
G(II)274 / GC365 / GC(II)360 / G(3)432 Silent in the Chill of Midnight (O'Brien) Quite nice Christmas lullaby. Northern Hemisphere specific.
*AoV2-043 / ATFG520 / CoC40 / NCH538 / SFFS 2095 / GC(II)355 / G(3)449 / SP&P174 / W&R223 / ZSS63 Star-Child (Murray) A lovely lovely carol. Very easy to sing. A big favourite! Lyrics and sample sheet music.
TiS 322 / AHB 246 The north wind is tossing the leaves Dusty Australian carol.
Songs from the Still Strange Land The stillness of anticipation (Simper) I really love this Australian carol. It's not easy for a congregation, so will need to be taught.
*G(II)268 / GC355 The Tiny Child to Bethlehem Came (Haugen) Good words of hope for peace sung to a sort of Celtic tune, which is not too hard. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Sound sample
**AA141 / CoC44 The wind blew keen (Gibson) A beautiful carol, with simple straightforward Celtic type tune. I hope this becomes popular, because it's really lovely.
VU97 / GC(II)376 / G(3)450 When a star Is shining (Where the Promise Shines) (Dunstan) would also be good for Epiphany.
Unknown source When our God came to earth (Mayhew) These words are to the same tune as “Long ago, prophets new” (THEODORIC). Lyrics can be found here and you could use TiS 283 or HPP 87 for the tune. "Let the poor rejoice! Let the mute give voice! Love is shown, God is known, Christ is born of Mary"
*AA154 / CoC48 Where is the room? (Murray/David Dell) More beautiful words of hope and peace and hospitality. Simple tune to sing.
*Iona / NCH153 / CH295 / G(II)267 / GC350 / SP22 Who would think that what was needed (God's surprise) (Iona community) I love the challenge to our priorities in this song. The lyrics are to the traditional tune SCARLET RIBBONS. Lyrics and sample sheet music. Keyboard sound sample.
*Iona / TiS 325 / G(II)277 / GC(II)381 Who is the baby an hour or two old / AYE CAROL Very simple flowing tune and good challenging words “Will you come with me, e’vn though I feel shy?” seems perfect for those who rarely step into a church. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Slow sound sample. Your congregation will expire if you try to sing it this slowly, even though it sounds very pretty with a soloist....
*AA159 / CoC50 Who is the child that is to be born? (Murray) Lovely lilting melody and beautiful words. Maybe more Adventy?
*Online Resource I have a song to sing (Ferguson) New words to the folk tune "10 guitars". This is so joyful and encourages some dancing, perhaps in a circle, or in lines, depending on your congregation. Lyrics. Tune sample and chords (and original lyrics)
*Online Resource Within a stall a baby lies cradled (Wood) Inspiring words for Christmas Eve full of hope for a better world. Free sheet music.
Glorias
*ATOK 318 / Iona (SBL) / CH762 / MV036 / WoV788 / SFFS 2033 / SP&P078 / URW403 Glory to God / Gloria di dios (Peru) Good fun. Great for kids - call and response. SFFS has a good Trinitarian formula for it. midi
*TiS 773 / ATW 431 / NCH756 / CH760 / UMH072 / VU37 / WoV640 / GA291 / G(II)199 / GC(II)253 / G(3)426 / W&R240 / Cha034 URW380 Glory to God / Gloria Gloria (Taize) The refrain is excellent - joyous, simple, a round. Everything. The verses are not great.
Iona (TI1AU) / MV038 Glory to God / Nzamuranza (Mozambique / Matsikenyiri) Simple African call and response song. Great harmonies.
CoC20 Gloria (Bray) A pretty majestic gloria in 4 part harmony.
CoC21 Gloria (Gibson) This Latin gloria could be sung as a simple chant, a 3- part canon or a four part chorale!
GC(II)190 Glory to God in the highest (Beneath the Tree of Life) (Haugen) Communion response A good joyful Gloria. Just needs a word substituion for "his people" to "God's people". The sound sample actually does that and it still works well.
Folk / World Songs
*NCH154 / UMH251 / VU43 / LBW070 / ELW290 / HPP110 / PH029 / GC359 / GC(II)363 / G(3)428 / W&R218 / Cha167 / ZSS59 / 82Hml-099 / Lau164 Go tell it on the mountain (Work) There is a simple and slightly groovy choral version available here.
NCH136 / StS019 / R110 / ELW297 W&R219 Jesus Jesus O what a wonderful child (African-American)
CH310 / CP(E) 68 / W&R227 See him lying on a bed of straw (Perry) This song (Calypso Carol) is cool, especially if you get some crazy bass singing action happening. I have a 3 part a capella arrangement that I did of this a very long time ago which uses that approach.
NCH137 / VU52 / PH052 Sheep fast asleep / Hitsuji Wa Nemure Ri (Miwa) Japanese carol. Very peaceful.
*TiS 307 / AHB 232 / CH300 / VU73 / SFFS 2098 / G(II)264 / GC345 / GC(II)378 / G(3)454 / CP128 / ZSS60 The Virgin Mary had a baby boy (West Indian Traditional) Love it. Make sure you note the timing of the music - it's not quite what most people anticipate.
*VU70 / WoV645 / SFFS 2096 / HPP105 / PH050 / G(II)271 / GC360 / GC(II)375 / G(3)453 / W&R209 There's a star in the east on Christmas morn (African American traditional) I like this one. Calling people while celebrating Christmas
NCH151 / Iona (SBL) / UMH244 / VU071 / LBW072 / ELW284 / HPP119 / PH061 / G(II)272 / GC361 / CP146 / W&R213 / Cha166 / 82Hml-114 Twas in the moon of wintertime (de Brebeuf) I love this one, and it does a good job of making the Christmas story Native American.
Child-focussed
*AoVK-60 / AA004 / CoC05 And did you see him little star? (Clyde / Gibson) Good words. Simple to sing and great for children. I like the idea of the star being the observer and guider.
*?AoV2-168 / ATA 134 / GGives2 At Christmas time the birds all sing / Christmas in the scrub (Newton) Silly and fun Christmas song for Australian kids.
NCH141 / AA009/ CoC07 Carol our Christmas (Murray) A fun Southern Hemisphere Christmas song.
Online resource Celebrate Emmanuel (MacGregor) This is a simple song, which you could use with the verses, or just sing the chorus. Available online. (search for "celebrate")
*Online resource Christmas time - we celebrate! (MacGregor) A good song for kids. I don't think the sound sample shows how cool this song could be... use some imagination and have fun with it! CoC12 Clippety-clop clippety clop (Wise) A fun kids' song about the donkey ride and the lack of room in the inn. Good for a pageant!
CoC17 Don't tell anyone (SHHH! Not anyone) (Gibson) This song would be just perfect for a leader + kids to sing at the start of a Christmas Pageant.
*CoC19 Get up get up no time to yawn (Gibson) A very fun song for Christmas morning. I think it would be pretty straightforward to sing, but given the number of visitors on Christmas day, it might be good to get a group to sing it. "Come friend, come stranger, here's no danger, follow shepherds and kings to the manger where Christ, the Christ is born".
ATOK 338 In a dusty old place called Bethlehem / God in human shoes (Thiele)
NCH138 / UMH227 / VU056 / HPP98 Jesus our brother strong and good / kind and good (French carol) Good for kids especially.
*AoV2-043 / ATFG520 / CoC40 / NCH538 / SFFS 2095 / GC(II)355 / G(3)449 / SP&P174 / W&R223 / ZSS63 Star-Child (Murray) A lovely lovely carol. Very easy to sing. A big favourite! Lyrics and sample sheet music.
CoC42 The jersey cow came mooing (Gibson) Fun song for little kids with lots of animal sounds at the stable. Good for a pageant, too.
*CoC46 Two tired people asked for rest (Tayler / Sheehy) Good song for a Christmas Eve pageant. I suggest getting the congregation to just join in on the chorus "No room, no room, you can't stay here, we can't take any more, but in the stable you can make a bed upon the straw."
*CoC47 When Joseph and Mary (Gibson) Another good song for kids and adults too. The words are strong enough to shake adults up a bit, but fun enough for kids to enjoy as well.
*TiS 325 / G(II)277 / GC371 / GC(II)381 / G(3)456 / Lau153 Who is the baby an hour or two old?
Online resource Bethlehem Night (Taylor) A lovely song for a children's choir; would be great at the end of a pageant. Sound sample and sheet music.
Traditional Anglo-European Carols
VU068 / CP151 All poor ones and humble (Roberts) Lyrics.
*TiS 309 / AHB 235 / NCH126 / CH324 / UMH220 / VU036 / LBW050 / ELW275 / CP143 / G(3)438 / CP(E) 44 / W&R189 / Cha149 / Srce2-29 / 82Hml-093 / Lau131 Angels From the realms of glory (Montgomery) Lyrics and one possible tune.
AoVK-64 / HPP121 / PH023 / GC347 / GC(II)361 Angels sing their praises ring (Newton)
AoV2-140 / NCH125 / UMH238 / VU038 / LBW071 / ELW289 / GA286 / HPP125 / PH022 / GC358 / GC(II)369 / G(3)430 / W&R188 / Cha155 / 82Hml-096 / Lau130 Angels we have heard on high (French traditional)
*TiS 318 / AHB 242 / NCH124 / CH312 / UMH217 / VU069 / WoV644 / LBW067 / ELW278 / GA289 / HPP132 / PH025 / GC353 / GC(II)365 / G(3)448 / CP126 / CP(E) 45 / W&R203 / W&R205 / Cha147 / Srce51 / 82Hml-101 / Lau137 Away in a Manger (Mueller) I'm not wild about this carol. A non-crying baby. Doesn't sound fully human to me.
VU40 / WoV636 Before the marvel of this night (Vajda) Excellent, otherworldly words, and a beautiful tune. "Sing bliss, sing bliss, sing endless bliss!"
*TiS 323 / AoV2-101 /ATA 141 / NCH152 / VU095 / PH030 / CP130 / W&R194 Born in the night Mary's child (Ainger)
*TiS 319 / AHB 241 / CH314 / Lau141 Child in the manger infant of Mary (Macdonald) Words of the outcast, infant Christ who becomes the victorious Redeemer. Sung to the well known tune BUNESSAN. CH has the original Gaelic text.
TiS 306 / AHB 231 / CP(E)48 / Srce2-73 / 82Hml-106 Christians awake salute the happy morn
*TiS 321 / AHB 245 Coldly the night winds winging I think this is one of the most beautiful carols in existence.
AHB 233 / HPP140 / GC366 / GC(II)366 / 82Hml-105 God rest you merry gentlemen / people all
*TiS 313 / AHB 238 / NCH129 / CH322 / UMH224 / VU035 / LBW055 / ELW288 / HPP97 / PH028 / GC(II)367 / G(3)435 / CP153 / W&R198 / Cha164 / 82Hml-107 / Lau139 Good Christian friends / Good Christians all rejoice (Latin) Some versions have that odd bar "News! News!" in the middle. I wonder where that came from?
*TiS 303 / AHB 227 / AoV1-171 / NCH144 / CH301 / UMH240 / VU048 / LBW060 / ELW270 / GA294 / HPP123 / PH031 / GC348 / GC(II)356 / G(3)424 / CP138 / CP(E) 53 / W&R185 / Cha150 / ZSS62 / Srce202 / 82Hml-087 / Lau155 Hark the herald angels sing (Wesley) One of those carols that we sing pretty much every year at Brunswick.
PH034 CP580 In Bethlehem a Babe Was Born Joyful, and good words.
VU77 / PH035 / 82Hml-246 In Bethlehem a Newborn Boy (Herklots) Great words acknowledging the danger Christ was born into, and the danger that still exists today, and Christ's redemptive power over it.
NCH128 / CH305 / UMH221 / VU055 / R044 / ELW294 / HPP115 / PH036 / CP122 / CP(E) 55 / W&R196 / Srce2-275 / 82Hml-112 / Lau144 In the bleak midwinter (Rossetti) Beautiful. Very Northern-hemispherific though. Lyrics and warbly sound sample.
TiS 327 In the fields near Bethlehem
*TiS 292 / AHB 225 / UMH229 / VU58 / LBW044 / ELW276 / HPP130 / PH037 / GC354 / GC(II)377 / G(3)445 / CP125 / W&R221 / Cha163 / Lau138 Infant holy Infant lowly (Polish carol) One of my favourites; I'm profoundly shocked that we have not sung this recently at Brunswick. Lyrics and sound sample.
NCH131 / CH303 / UMH218 / VU44 / LBW054 / ELW282 / HPP128 / PH038 / GC367 / GC(II)379 / G(3)433 / CP140/1 CP(E) 56 / W&R191 / Cha153 / Srce2-289 / 82Hml-089 / Lau135 It came upon the midnight clear (Sears)
*TiS 268 / AHB 224 / AoV1-170 / NCH132 / CH320 / UMH246 / VU59 / LBW039 / ELW267 / GA295 / HPP107 / PH040 / GC343 / GC(II)353 / G(3)437 / CP154 / CP(E) 57 / W&R179 / Cha143 / Srce399 / 82Hml-100 / Lau156 Joy to the world The Lord is come (Watts)
*TiS 317 / AHB 243 / NCH165 / CH316 / UMH242 / HPP95 / CP131 / CP(E) 59 / W&R210 / 82Hml-084 Love came down at Christmas (Rossetti) Needs one small change in AHB to make it gender inclusive for people. NCH does this by replacing "all men" with "neighbour" in the last verse. I prefer the tune in TiS / AHB. Lyrics and odd-looking angels.
*TiS 304 / AHB 228 / AoV1-167 / NCH135 / CH306 / UMH234 / VU060 / LBW045 / ELW722 / GA287 / HPP100 / PH041 / GC341 / GC(II)357 / G(3)439 / CP118 / / CP(E) 61/62 / W&R182 / Cha148 / Srce502 / 82Hml-083 / Lau159 O come all ye faithful (Oakeley)
*TiS 316 / AHB 240 / NCH133 / CH304 / UMH230 / VU064 / LBW041 / ELW563 / GA296 / HPP112 / PH043 / GC363 / GC(II)359 / G(3)446 / CP120 / CP(E) 63 / W&R180 / Cha144 / Srce518 82Hml-078 / Lau127 O little town of Bethlehem (Brooks / Redner)
*TiS 300 / NCH143 / CH294 / R112 / ELW274 / HPP118 / W&R222 / Lau134 On Christmas night all Christians sing (Traditional English)
*TiS 312 / AHB 237 / NCH145 / CH315 / UMH250 / VU062 / WoV643 / LBW261 / ELW550 GA297 / HPP137 / PH049 / GC372 / GC(II)380 / G(3)455 / CP123 / CP(E) 66 / W&R183 / Cha165 / Srce530 / 82Hml-102 / Lau148 Once in royal David's city (Alexander)
*TiS 311 / AHB 236 / AoV1-168 / NCH134 / CH309 / UMH239 / VU067 / LBW065 / ELW821 GA290 / HPP135/ 136 PH060 / G(II)262 / GC352 / GC(II)371 / G(3)441 / CP119 / CP(E) 69 / W&R186 / Cha145 / Srce610 / 82Hml-111 / Lau136 Silent night Holy night! (Gruber)
VU047 / HPP124 / PH047 / W&R214 Still Still Still (Austrian) Lovely mushy baby Jesus song.
*TiS 301 / AHB 221 / AoV1-169 / NCH139 / CH323 / UMH245 / VU90 / 91 LBW056 / ELW300 GA298 HPP108 / PH056 / GC377 / GC(II)388 / G(3)460 / CP139 / W&R229 / Cha151 / Srce2-550 / 82Hml-109 / Lau150 The first Nowell the angel did say (English carol)
*TiS 293 / AHB 218 / CH331 / VU054 / CP(E) 73 / 82Hml-098 Unto us a boy is born (German carol)
AoV1-165 / NCH148 / UMH219 / VU074 / LBW040 / ELW296 / HPP138 / PH053 / GC380 / GC(II)387 / G(3)466 / CP137 / CP(E) 74 / W&R184 / Cha162 / 82Hml-115 / Lau145 What child is this? (Dix)
*TiS 299 / AHB 223 / AoV1-172 / CH296 / UMH236 / VU075 / GA288 / HPP114 / PH058 / CP136 CP(E) 76 / W&R228 / Cha154 / Srce2-662 / 82Hml-094 / Lau133 While shepherds watched their flocks by night (Tate) I really like the CH translation.
Newer Christmas Songs
*CoC03 All over creation (Murray) These words will wake up your congregation. Particularly good for Christmas Eve or a Christmas night service. Challenging words. Nice lilting tune.
*CoC04 All who would see God's greatnes (Barrell) I prefer tune (ii) by Colin Gibson. These words are lovely and gentle, but still challenging. I like the call to "draw near".
*AA012 / CoC08 Child of Christmas story (Murray) A lovely Christmas song; very focussed on the Christ child. Simple tune.
*AA014 / CoC09 Child of joy and peace (Murray) Excellent words for Christmas and Epiphany; recognises the poverty of Christ and constrasts it with the greed of Christmas - without being too heavy handed. I like the Ian Render tune (JENNIFER'S GIFT) best, even though it's a little tricky.
*CoC15 Come now where we least expect you (Barrell) Challenging words and a tune that could be pretty groovy. "Christ is found far beyond our sacred ground". Indeed!
AA028 / CoC16 Come to this Christmas singing (Murray) Joyous sheep-farming, beach-loving Christmas song. New Zealand specific because of the word "aroha", unless it fits your congregation.
*GC(II)362 / G(3)434 / SP69 Dark is the night / Sing Alleluia (O'Brien) Excellent and simple Christmas song which reflects the magnificat and the happiness of Jesus’ parents. I especially like the last verse “Hope for the poor, release for the captive, Love for the outcast, light for weary eyes; Word that brings life, embracing humanity, Jesus, companion be born into our lives”. It would be particularly good for a Christmas eve service. The chorus would also work very nicely on its own. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Mushy sound sample. Available for purchase online.
*MV158 / FFS12 Dream a dream (Shirley Murray) Broad words of hope for the future of creation and the world's people. I think the first tune in Faith Forever Singing (by Nigel Eastgate) is the most intuitive and interesting. GIA music also have a tune by Lori True which fits together with Dona Nobis Pacem which could be really lovely if you have a choir, especially a children's choir (sound sample). Lyrics only (scroll or search down) Sheet music sample. This can be purchased online from GIA.
*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 (Cameroon traditional) A simple, repetitive song. Great for kids and for some drumming, too. Sound sample. Sheet music sample.
*Cha158 Her baby newly breathing (Wren) Realistic words of Mary's motherhood of a real life type of infant, to the familiar tune MERLE'S TUNE. The final verse sings of creating Wisdom "constricted into maleness, and of a woman born". Lyrics (scroll through)
*StS028 / WoV638 / G(II)275 / GC369 / GC(II)354 / G(3)443 / W&R199 Holy Child within the Manger (Haugen) Lovely words and a simple gentle tune.
*CoC28 I didn't hear the angels sing (McCoy) Lovely statement of faith despite not having witnessed the Christmas events. Simple tune.
*TiS 287 / CH287 / StS011 / GC(II)768 No wind at the window (Bell) Wonderful words to the familiar Celtic tune COLUMCILLE that focus on Mary's decision to say "Yes" to God. Very easy to sing. Works well for Advent and Christmas. Lyrics. Sound sample.
*TiS 288 / Iona Not the powerful not the privileged (Bell)
*CH329 / AA108 / CoC33 O little Love who comes again (Murray) A lovely gentle and thoughtful Christmas song, which would also work for Epiphany.
*CoC35 Peace for our children (Lankshear-Smith) A simple and quite repetitive (in a nice way) song that prays for peace for children, women, men, families, nations… and the soul.
G(II)274 / GC365 / GC(II)360 / G(3)432 Silent in the Chill of Midnight (O'Brien) Quite nice Christmas lullaby. Northern Hemisphere specific.
*AoV2-043 / ATFG520 / CoC40 / NCH538 / SFFS 2095 / GC(II)355 / G(3)449 / SP&P174 / W&R223 / ZSS63 Star-Child (Murray) A lovely lovely carol. Very easy to sing. A big favourite! Lyrics and sample sheet music.
TiS 322 / AHB 246 The north wind is tossing the leaves Dusty Australian carol.
Songs from the Still Strange Land The stillness of anticipation (Simper) I really love this Australian carol. It's not easy for a congregation, so will need to be taught.
*G(II)268 / GC355 The Tiny Child to Bethlehem Came (Haugen) Good words of hope for peace sung to a sort of Celtic tune, which is not too hard. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Sound sample
**AA141 / CoC44 The wind blew keen (Gibson) A beautiful carol, with simple straightforward Celtic type tune. I hope this becomes popular, because it's really lovely.
VU97 / GC(II)376 / G(3)450 When a star Is shining (Where the Promise Shines) (Dunstan) would also be good for Epiphany.
Unknown source When our God came to earth (Mayhew) These words are to the same tune as “Long ago, prophets new” (THEODORIC). Lyrics can be found here and you could use TiS 283 or HPP 87 for the tune. "Let the poor rejoice! Let the mute give voice! Love is shown, God is known, Christ is born of Mary"
*AA154 / CoC48 Where is the room? (Murray/David Dell) More beautiful words of hope and peace and hospitality. Simple tune to sing.
*Iona / NCH153 / CH295 / G(II)267 / GC350 / SP22 Who would think that what was needed (God's surprise) (Iona community) I love the challenge to our priorities in this song. The lyrics are to the traditional tune SCARLET RIBBONS. Lyrics and sample sheet music. Keyboard sound sample.
*Iona / TiS 325 / G(II)277 / GC(II)381 Who is the baby an hour or two old / AYE CAROL Very simple flowing tune and good challenging words “Will you come with me, e’vn though I feel shy?” seems perfect for those who rarely step into a church. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Slow sound sample. Your congregation will expire if you try to sing it this slowly, even though it sounds very pretty with a soloist....
*AA159 / CoC50 Who is the child that is to be born? (Murray) Lovely lilting melody and beautiful words. Maybe more Adventy?
*Online Resource I have a song to sing (Ferguson) New words to the folk tune "10 guitars". This is so joyful and encourages some dancing, perhaps in a circle, or in lines, depending on your congregation. Lyrics. Tune sample and chords (and original lyrics)
*Online Resource Within a stall a baby lies cradled (Wood) Inspiring words for Christmas Eve full of hope for a better world. Free sheet music.
Glorias
*ATOK 318 / Iona (SBL) / CH762 / MV036 / WoV788 / SFFS 2033 / SP&P078 / URW403 Glory to God / Gloria di dios (Peru) Good fun. Great for kids - call and response. SFFS has a good Trinitarian formula for it. midi
*TiS 773 / ATW 431 / NCH756 / CH760 / UMH072 / VU37 / WoV640 / GA291 / G(II)199 / GC(II)253 / G(3)426 / W&R240 / Cha034 URW380 Glory to God / Gloria Gloria (Taize) The refrain is excellent - joyous, simple, a round. Everything. The verses are not great.
Iona (TI1AU) / MV038 Glory to God / Nzamuranza (Mozambique / Matsikenyiri) Simple African call and response song. Great harmonies.
CoC20 Gloria (Bray) A pretty majestic gloria in 4 part harmony.
CoC21 Gloria (Gibson) This Latin gloria could be sung as a simple chant, a 3- part canon or a four part chorale!
GC(II)190 Glory to God in the highest (Beneath the Tree of Life) (Haugen) Communion response A good joyful Gloria. Just needs a word substituion for "his people" to "God's people". The sound sample actually does that and it still works well.
Folk / World Songs
*NCH154 / UMH251 / VU43 / LBW070 / ELW290 / HPP110 / PH029 / GC359 / GC(II)363 / G(3)428 / W&R218 / Cha167 / ZSS59 / 82Hml-099 / Lau164 Go tell it on the mountain (Work) There is a simple and slightly groovy choral version available here.
NCH136 / StS019 / R110 / ELW297 W&R219 Jesus Jesus O what a wonderful child (African-American)
CH310 / CP(E) 68 / W&R227 See him lying on a bed of straw (Perry) This song (Calypso Carol) is cool, especially if you get some crazy bass singing action happening. I have a 3 part a capella arrangement that I did of this a very long time ago which uses that approach.
NCH137 / VU52 / PH052 Sheep fast asleep / Hitsuji Wa Nemure Ri (Miwa) Japanese carol. Very peaceful.
*TiS 307 / AHB 232 / CH300 / VU73 / SFFS 2098 / G(II)264 / GC345 / GC(II)378 / G(3)454 / CP128 / ZSS60 The Virgin Mary had a baby boy (West Indian Traditional) Love it. Make sure you note the timing of the music - it's not quite what most people anticipate.
*VU70 / WoV645 / SFFS 2096 / HPP105 / PH050 / G(II)271 / GC360 / GC(II)375 / G(3)453 / W&R209 There's a star in the east on Christmas morn (African American traditional) I like this one. Calling people while celebrating Christmas
NCH151 / Iona (SBL) / UMH244 / VU071 / LBW072 / ELW284 / HPP119 / PH061 / G(II)272 / GC361 / CP146 / W&R213 / Cha166 / 82Hml-114 Twas in the moon of wintertime (de Brebeuf) I love this one, and it does a good job of making the Christmas story Native American.
Child-focussed
*AoVK-60 / AA004 / CoC05 And did you see him little star? (Clyde / Gibson) Good words. Simple to sing and great for children. I like the idea of the star being the observer and guider.
*?AoV2-168 / ATA 134 / GGives2 At Christmas time the birds all sing / Christmas in the scrub (Newton) Silly and fun Christmas song for Australian kids.
NCH141 / AA009/ CoC07 Carol our Christmas (Murray) A fun Southern Hemisphere Christmas song.
Online resource Celebrate Emmanuel (MacGregor) This is a simple song, which you could use with the verses, or just sing the chorus. Available online. (search for "celebrate")
*Online resource Christmas time - we celebrate! (MacGregor) A good song for kids. I don't think the sound sample shows how cool this song could be... use some imagination and have fun with it! CoC12 Clippety-clop clippety clop (Wise) A fun kids' song about the donkey ride and the lack of room in the inn. Good for a pageant!
CoC17 Don't tell anyone (SHHH! Not anyone) (Gibson) This song would be just perfect for a leader + kids to sing at the start of a Christmas Pageant.
*CoC19 Get up get up no time to yawn (Gibson) A very fun song for Christmas morning. I think it would be pretty straightforward to sing, but given the number of visitors on Christmas day, it might be good to get a group to sing it. "Come friend, come stranger, here's no danger, follow shepherds and kings to the manger where Christ, the Christ is born".
ATOK 338 In a dusty old place called Bethlehem / God in human shoes (Thiele)
NCH138 / UMH227 / VU056 / HPP98 Jesus our brother strong and good / kind and good (French carol) Good for kids especially.
*AoV2-043 / ATFG520 / CoC40 / NCH538 / SFFS 2095 / GC(II)355 / G(3)449 / SP&P174 / W&R223 / ZSS63 Star-Child (Murray) A lovely lovely carol. Very easy to sing. A big favourite! Lyrics and sample sheet music.
CoC42 The jersey cow came mooing (Gibson) Fun song for little kids with lots of animal sounds at the stable. Good for a pageant, too.
*CoC46 Two tired people asked for rest (Tayler / Sheehy) Good song for a Christmas Eve pageant. I suggest getting the congregation to just join in on the chorus "No room, no room, you can't stay here, we can't take any more, but in the stable you can make a bed upon the straw."
*CoC47 When Joseph and Mary (Gibson) Another good song for kids and adults too. The words are strong enough to shake adults up a bit, but fun enough for kids to enjoy as well.
*TiS 325 / G(II)277 / GC371 / GC(II)381 / G(3)456 / Lau153 Who is the baby an hour or two old?
Online resource Bethlehem Night (Taylor) A lovely song for a children's choir; would be great at the end of a pageant. Sound sample and sheet music.
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