Trinity Sunday A (June 19, 2011)

General Trinitarian hymns (reading-based selections follow)
*TiS 179 / NCH273 / VU312 / Iona (Heaven Shall Not Wait) / StJ / GA379 / URW073 Praise with joy the world's Creator My all time favourite Trinitarian hymn. Simple well known tune (Praise my soul the king of heaven), wonderful imagery in the words. I particularly love the “One God in community” phrase. Some versions change "Son" to "Christ" to make it more inclusive. Lyrics (scroll down).
NCH278 / Cha062 / URW198 Creator God creating still (Parker Huber) Excellent hymn of hope for the future sung to a well known tune. ST ANNE
*ATW 459 I don't believe in a God up in the sky / God Version 1.0 An excellent rock song about how we think about God, or not! Lyrics and mp3.
*TiS 182 / AoV2-010 / NCH11 / CH134 / VU268 / SFFS 2047 / HPP13 / CP395 Bring many names beautiful and good (Wren) This is a beautiful song, but it's very long (especially if sung too slowly). Try singing one verse unison, then one women, one men, then all together again, to keep people interested in what they are singing. Lyrics.
PH135 / G(II)333 / GC476 / W&R139 God Is One Unique and Holy (Wren) Good words focussed on God's unity although many-faceted. Inclusive and great imagery. The tune is quite simple. Lyrics, sheet music sample and tune sample.
PH132 / W&R548 Come Great God of All the Ages Excellent words. Familiar tune. Lyrics (you'll need to search through the pdf that loads).
AoV2-084 Father and Mother Creator And Poet Trinitarian, Creation focus.
*NCH355 / UMH648 / VU514 / HPSS523 / W&R149 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.
CP(E) 463 Holy Trinity of Love (Gaunt) Good solid words. Lyrics.
*G(II)331 / GC472 / GC(II)488 How Wonderful the Three-in-One (Wren) Stunning words sung to an old American Shape Note melody. Melody line, chords and lyrics.
*FFS47 Maker of mystery (Marnie Barrell/Gibson) Feminine trinitarian imagery. Tune is not hard, but can also be sung to the more familiar DOWN AMPNEY.
NCH467 / CH117 / VU320 / WoV769 / ELW735 / HPP242 Mothering God you gave me birth (Janzen) Feminine trinitarian imagery. I like the tune MOTHER JULIAN (CH4 117(I)) best. Lyrics (posted by someone who found it all a bit too much, apparently - the comments that follow the post are also interesting if you have time to read through).
*CH114 / AA110 O threefold God of tender unity (Wallace) Excellent inclusive Trinitarian words to a simple Celtic air. Lyrics (scroll down).
*MV043 / GC(II)484 The play of the godhead (Bringle / Batastini) Lovely words and a very simple, intuitive tune. "The play of the Godhead, the Trinity's dance, embraces the earth in a sacred romance". Lyrics, sheet music sample and fairly plain and slow tune sample.
*NCH274 / CH118 / SFFS 2046 / CP390 / Cha014 Womb of Life and source of being (Duck / LADUE CHAPEL) Feminine trinitarian imagery. An easier tune, listed in some hymnals is IN BABILONE. Others have LADUE CHAPEL which is a little less intuitive. Lyrics.
PH136 Sovereign Lord of All Creation (Cross) Good standard words to a good standard tune. Nice images.
*AoVK-30 / ATW 419 / Iona (Common Ground, CAYP) / CH757 / MV002 / WoV717 / ELW819 / SFFS 2274 / HPP551 / GC(II)744 / SP&P022 / SP179 Come all you people (Uyai mose) Joyful and pretty easy really for the congregation. If you have WoV or SP&P, they each have a nice Trinitarian version of this. Come and praise the "Most high" / "Saviour" / "Spirit".
*URW126 Give thanks to the Source (Duck) Excellent words to a lovely lilting tune.
MV056 O Come let us praise (Shwe) A good song From Burma. Quite beautiful - will need to be carefully taught to Western ears.

Genesis 1:1-2:4a
The first creation story
*CH809 Praise God the Source of life and birth (Duck) Excellent inclusive doxology which can be sung instead of "Praise God from whom all blessings flow" to Old Hundredth. Highly recommended!
*CH242 Is this the way you made the world (Gay) Wow! This song has a great tune, and wonderful wondering words. Highly recommended.
Seeds of Faith Breath of Life (a creation story) (Bruxvoort-Colligan). A simple chant, with a narration of the creation story. The chant could be used on its own, but the creation story is also very beautiful. “Breath of life, breathe in me, you have created all I see… you have created even me”. Take a look at the website and listen to the sample to see what it’s like. Click on Music, then Seeds of Faith.
*TiS 447 / AHB 61 / CH112 / VU313 / LBW400 / ELW673 / CP560 / CP(E) 267 God whose almighty word / 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 fairly inclusive, but VU is better. Lyrics here.
*NCH462 / UMH109 / VU265 / WoV757 / ELW684 / HPSS134 / GC580 / RS711 / CP410 / W&R32 / Cha335 Creating God Your Fingers Trace (Rowthorn) 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.
*TiS 156 / AHB 91 / AoV1-135 / ATA 123 / CH212 / UMH145 / VU409 / ELW556 / HPP267 / HPSS469 / G(II)546 / GC756 / GC(II)748 / CP003 Morning has broken (BUNESSAN)
*TiS 418 / AoV2-075 / Iona (EoA, Common Ground) / CH593 She sits like a bird brooding on the waters / Enemy of Apathy (Thainaky) One of my all time favourite hymns. If you do not know this, you should really take a look at it! Very easy to sing if it is not sung too fast. Lyrics can be found here (scroll down).
CP256 Yours the hand that made creation (Rose)
*VU380 / SFFS 2122 / CP656 She Comes Sailing on the Wind (Light) Excellent feminine imagery. The verses are quite tricky if your congregation is not familiar with them. This is a big favourite at our church. Lyrics here (with lots of other good feminine songs - scroll down).
*SSSL31 (Songs from the Still Strange Land) From the beginning / Let the light shine (Quintrell/Simper) Good song, tricky accompaniment, but once you get it it's okay. Will need to be taught to most congregations, or could be presented by the musicians at some point in the service.
*ATW 469 Wind is moving on the waters (Holmes) Nice earthy round. Very simple.
*Online Resource Let There Be Light (Harding) A simple Taize-style chant "God said let there be light, and there was light, and there was light". Very easy and available for download (with free sample) here.
*CP408 Wind upon the waters (Haugen) I really love the words to this song. “Wind upon the waters, voice upon the deep, rouse your sons and daughters, wake us from our sleep, breathing life into all flesh, breathing love into all hearts, living wind upon the waters of my soul.” Note to our liturgists, I have a copy of this at home if you would like to use it.
*TiS 392 / NCH308 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 135 / AHB 70 / AoVK-110 / NCH31 / CH137 / UMH147 / VU291 / WoV767 / HPP35 / HPSS267 / RS 635 / CP415/6 / CP(E) 251 / W&R30 / Cha61 / Srce21 All things bright and beautiful Royal Oak The TiS version has beautiful Australian imagery. If your congregation only has the AHB or other versions of the music, it is worth making copies of the TiS lyrics; the congregation will know the tune. Verse 2 and 5 have masculine language for God.
*TiS 671 / AoV2-121 Made in God's Likeness (Lewis/Spence) "Called to create a new world for the Lord". Excellent Australian imagery. This is one of my very favourite songs and it also picks up the Great Commissioning in Matthew. It is not difficult if you have a good musician at the helm. If it is new to your congregation, they will be able to join in on the verses by the time you get to the 3rd one. The change in tone with the verse really lifts this song. Lyrics (search for "Made in").
*TiS 187 / AoV2-130 / CH149 / StS122 Let all creation dance I just love the imagery of this one, and it's a very joyous and familiar hymn tune too. Lyrics (downloads pdf).
*TiS 182 / AoV2-010 / NCH11 / CH134 / VU268 / SFFS 2047 / HPP13 / CP395 Bring many names beautiful and good (Wren) This is a beautiful song, but it's very long (especially if sung too slowly). Try singing one verse unison, then one women, one men, then all together again, to keep people interested in what they are singing. Lyrics.*TiS 179 / NCH273 / VU312 / StJ / URW073 Praise with Joy the World's Creator One of my favourite hymns - strongly Trinitarian lyrics and excellent imagery. Lyrics (scroll down or search).
*Online resource Creator of this great land we adore you / Doxology (Langmead) A strong favourite in our congregation. Sheet music and sound sample.
*TiS 242 / AHB 183 / AoV1-018 / ATN 27 / CH404 / UMH261 / VU352 / HPP163 / HPSS302 / G(II)481 / GC708 / GC(II)689 I danced in the morning (Carter / SIMPLE GIFTS) Well known and very easy to sing. Lyrics and tune sample.
*L4tWC100 Creation (Bock) A poem with drum beat and occasional responses.
L4tWC102 Creation (Bock) A responsive reading.
CH144 I love the sun Very simple kid's song, that somehow avoids being tacky despite being really really simple. Little kids would especially like this.
*NCH467 / CH117 / VU320 / WoV769 / ELW735 / SFFS 2050 / HPP242 / Cha083 Mothering God you gave me birth (Janzen) Lovely words to the well known tune MARYTON. Feminine trinitarian imagery. I like the tune MOTHER JULIAN (CH4 117(I)) best.
*NCH058 / CH618 / AA125 Spirit of love you move within creation (Murray) Good words with a theme of the Spirit working a loom. A range of tunes for this, both familiar and new. I like the Colin Gibson tune (WEAVER), but it can also be sung to PERFECT LOVE.
*TiS 668 / AoVK-34 / ATFG587 / NCH569 / CH243 / VU307 / R254 / ELW739 / AA143 / W&R38 / Cha693 / URW189 Touch the earth lightly (Murray) Sings of the redemption of creation and our complicity in its destruction. Sources vary in their set tunes. TiS has a good tune (TENDERNESS) with a nice minor key change to the relative minor for the second verse. Can also be sung to BUNESSAN, if you need a familiar tune. Youtube video with all lyrics.
*NCH274 / SFFS 2046 / CP390 Womb of Life and source of being (Duck / LADUE CHAPEL) Excellent words. The tune is unlikely to be familiar, and is just a little bit tricky.
*SP81 Word that formed creation (Haugen) Really lovely words of creation to the familiar tune NOEL NOUVELET. Note to BUC: I have a copy of this.
Online Resource God made it so! (Taylor) A lovely song for a children's choir. Available here.

Psalm 8
How majestic! The songs listed above will also fit this Psalm
*Emergent Psalter O God our sovreign (Everett) A lovely simple Psalm response and read Psalm over an instrumental backing. Sheet music (refrain only)
*AoVK-50 / ATW 430 Come let us praise our God / A voice is heard (Trisha Watts) Excellent and energetic.
VU730 / URW229 God our God your glorious name (Psalter / Sherwin) Inclusive paraphrase of the Psalm with a joyous chorus.
*TiS 163 / AHB 112 / NCH556 / UMH150 / LBW463 / ELW771 / HPPS268 / W&R644 / Cha651 God who stretched the spangled heavens Good words of creation of nature and cities and creative possibilities for the future. AHB has a Father and old language, but it works okay; TiS and other sources are better. There are many possible tunes. I like it best to HOLY MANNA as in the link. Lyrics and sound sample.
*AoV1-003 / HPP258 / GA394 / G(II)342 / GC497 / GC(II)495 / RS638 The heavens are telling the glory of God (Canticle of the Sun) (Haugen) Energetic waltz of cosmic praise. For some reason the sun is male, but it would be easy to make the lyrics more inclusive. Sound and sheet music sample.
ATW 462 When I consider God's design (Hand in hand) Good words of all creation celebrating together. Tune is good, too. Lyrics.
*TiS 187 / AoV2-130 / CH149 / StS122 Let all creation dance I just love the imagery of this one, and it's a very joyous and familiar hymn tune too. Lyrics (downloads pdf).
HPP28 / PH285 / W&R24 God You Spin the Whirling Planets (Jane Parker Huber / AUSTRIAN HYMN) Excellent words to a very familiar tune (TiS 772). Really good for the final hymn or response to the sermon. Lyrics.
VU732 O God our God how glorious is your name (Guimont) Inclusive responsive paraphrase of the Psalm with a simple refrain.
*TiS 90 / AHB 44 / UMH60 / VU867 / HPSS253 / CP346 / CP(E) 473 / W&R79 / Cha20 I'll praise my Maker while I've breath (Watts) A great classic hymn. Most sources are not inclusive; Voices United is!

2 Corinthians 13:11-13
What a great benediction; the OCD people among us (me included) must like the "Put things in order" bit.... *AoV1-043 Breathing now the life of God / Warm Our Hearts (Marshall) Simple round. "Breathing now the life of God the Spirit in us singing, come light up our hearts with joy! Heal and clear our eyes to see! Warm our hearts with peace. Warm our hearts with peace.” Short songs like this are great for kids. When teaching a song that breaks into a round, it’s best to work with as little accompaniment as possible; no accompaniment is best.
*NCH249 / GA517 Peace I leave with you my friends (Norbert) Slow, simple and excellent words. A congregation will pick this up the first time through, I think.
FFS07 Bring peace to us (John Murray) A simple chant with two possible tunes. Both are good. The first is a round. "Bring peace to us, bring peace through us, O God bring peace"
*Iona (LFB) / G(II)407 / GC583 God give us peace that lasts (Bell) Lovely words and a simple hymn tune. Prayer for peace, hope and love. This can also be sung to LOVE UNKNOWN. "God give us peace that lasts, not through the fear of might, but through the force of love, and love of life and right. Where costly wars and weapons lure, Show us our Lord among the poor". Lyrics, sound sample and sheet music (search for "Gifts that Last")
GC(II)722 Jesus give us your peace (Mahler) Gospel song. It kind of merges personal peace with global peace. "Jesus bring us your peace, bring us together, let all the fighting cease…" Lyrics, sound sample and sheet music (search for "Give us your peace")
*AoV1-091 / AoVK-68 / StS016 / G(II)527 / GC(II)720 Peace before us peace behind us (Haas) love this one. Reflective. Careful not too get too schmaltzy because it's long. Less is more. Lyrics, sound sample, and melody line sheet music here (search for "prayer of peace").
*CH786 May the God of peace go with us (Jamieson) A lovely benediction to a traditional Scottish tune. "May the God of peace go with us as we travel from this place; may the love of Jesus keep us firm in hope and full of grace".
*GGives2 What does peace look like to you (Dyson) A really nice simple song for kids about peace. Lots of questions about what peace might mean from images of nature, to an end to war. The last verse talks about a "bridge from God to man" which could be changed to "bridge from God to us".
*Seeds of Faith Peace Be With You (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A very simple kids song about peace, and sharing peace. Sound sample and lyrics.
*Tune In Peace In Our Time (Brown) A groovy bossa nova song of peace and action for peace. Lyrics. Sound sample. Songbook.
TiS 782 / UMH665 / VU964 / Cha437 Go now in peace (Sleeth) A good simple benediction that can be sung as a round. If you have xylophones or marimbas, kids could be involved in playing the accompaniment in TiS. Careful because it can end up really clunky on piano alone.
MV211 Go now in peace guided by the light (Rubalcava) Lovely English / Spanish benediction or comissioning prayer with an excellent rhythm. "Go now in peace guided by hte light of Christ, so you may be nourished by the Word of Life".
TiS 623 Lord Christ true peace of all above (Moore) A lovely, simple, inclusive, and slightly old fashioned song for the end of the service.
*CH114 / AA110 O threefold God of tender unity (Wallace) Excellent inclusive Trinitarian words to a simple Celtic air. Lyrics (scroll down).

Matthew 28:16-20
The great commissioning
*Tune In: We will sing a new song to the world An energetic song about the gospel, about singing all the new tunes and rhythms that God provides and creating a new earth. A good sending-out song. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook “Now’s the time and now’s the day, we can sing our life again”.
*Tune In: Hail the fisherfolk (Brown) A bluesy litany of the saints, that celebrates the saints of history and encourages us to “hear the call, and live the way, beside God to make a stand for truth and mercy in this land”. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook.
TiS 617 / NCH413 / UMH517 / WoV736 / ELW626 / HPSS342 / W&R75 / SP164 By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered Wonderful words by Bonhoeffer. A range of tunes. The tunes BONHOEFFER (NCH) and O PERFECT LOVE work well. I'm not a big fan of the tune in TiS (HIGHWOOD). Lyrics. The 5th verse is omitted in some hymnals.
*TiS 387 / CH416 / UMH318 / VU158 / LBW363 / ELW389 / RS601 / CP(E) 140 / W&R312 / 82Hml-182 Christ is alive Let Christians sing (Wren) Excellent words of Christ's saving, and still relevant grace. A couple of tunes are offered in different hymn books. I prefer TRURO. Lyrics and sound sample.*TiS 411 / AHB 328 / NCH266 / UMH537 / VU194 / CP658 / CP(E) 425 / W&R331 Filled with the Spirit's power Excellent inclusive words to a very well known hymn tune.
*CH646 / GA495 / CP(E) 429 Forth in the peace of Christ we go (Quinn) Lovely words. A nice reworking of "Forth in thy name O Lord I go" It even melds Kingship and servanthood well. Masculine christ.
*NCH154 / UMH251 / VU43 / LBW070 / ELW290 / HPP110 / PH029 / GC359 / GC(II)363 / W&R218 / Cha167 / ZSS59 / 82Hml-099 Go tell it on the mountain (Work) Lots of fun!
*Tune in: We are the dream that's longing / 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.
*CH683 / VU420 / GC(II)469 / CP598 / W&R553 / URW132 Go to the world Go into all the earth (Dunstan) Great words of sending out. Can be sung to a couple of different tunes. SINE NOMINE is the easiest and best known. Sound sample. Sheet music sample.
AoVNG53 Go Out! (Watts) Go out and spread the good news! Great words and a groovy tune. Sound sample (scroll down)
MV172 God says (Bittner) A nice simple song about God asking us to be still, to look up, to speak out for God, and reach out to those in need".*TiS 541 / CH674 / WoV722 / ELW535 / G(II)394 / GC562 / GC(II)529 / CP082 Hallelujah we sing your praises / Haleluyah! Pelo Tsa Rona. Joyous and simple song.
*TiS 477 / Iona (LFB, Common Ground) / CH510 / StJ Jesus calls us here to meet him. 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.
*ATOK 321 / Iona (T1AU) Lord draw near Simple chant "Lord draw near (x2) Draw near (x2) and stay"
UMH584 / VU512 / StJ / WoV756 / ELW579 / GA313 / HPP542 / PH429 / GC456 / GC(II)466 / CP433 / W&R592 / Cha459 / SP162 / 82Hml-528 Lord You Give the Great Commission (Rowthorn) Good traditional hymn which is quite inclusive.
*TiS 749 / AoV1-154 / AoVK-131 / ATE 305 / NCH360 / Iona (SBL, Freedom is coming) / CH800 / UMH497 / VU572 / WoV773 / ELW809 / HPP340 / G(II)484 / GC677 / GC(II)674 Send me Jesus / Thuma mina
*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".
TiS 531 / NCH76 / UMH664 / VU481 / R171 / ELW330 / HPP578 Sent forth by God's blessing (Westendorf) Lovely joyful folk tune (THE ASH GROVE). NCH has a descant part written in, so look at that if you have some good high singers.
WoV755 / ELW576 / SFFS 2243 / PH435 / W&R552 / ZSS99 We all are one in mission (Edwards / Finnish Folk Melody) Good solid words to a well known hymn tune (KUORTANE). Lyrics. Can also be sung to AURELIA (The Church's one foundation).