Isaiah 52:13-53:12
The despised suffering one
*TiS 356 / CH385 / Cha 203 Here hangs a man discarded (Wren). Beautiful and powerful words. Also works very well with TiS 339 (Passion Chorale) if your congregation is scared of new tunes, but SHRUB END is not hard. Lyrics (first verse only)
*TiS 345 / AHB 261 / AoV1-103 / NCH229 / UMH288 / VU144 / LBW81 / ELW353 / HPP185 / HPSS102 / G(II)302 / GC416 / GC(II)438 / CP192 Were you there when they crucified my Lord? A classic - well known, beautiful to sing and listen to. Lyrics and sound sample. And a youtube of Paul Robeson.
CH389 Behold the holy Lamb of God! (Malawi hymn) This will take some practice, I think. A song with a Cantor and response; you will need a small group to lead the congregation in the response. MWANA MWERERE
*Tune In: A grain of wheat (Sheree Anderson) Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it won't form roots and grow. A boppy song with deeply meaningful lyrics. Reference recording, lyrics and songbook.
*Tune In: In the shape of a cross (Dave Brown) A cry to God for help and a call for God to enter our world. Reference recording, lyrics and songbook available here.
*Tune In: See our God with the tear-streaked face / Our God who weeps (Kate Scull) Very simple folk tune and challenging and hopeful lyrics. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook.
Psalm 22
Crying out to God. A Psalm of suffering.
*Emergent Psalter My god, my god (Everett) A simple refrain, and well-written spoken words for the Psalm itself. Piano music for refrain.
*NCH192 / VU146 / SFFS 2106 / HPP183 / PH312 / Cha199 / 82Hml-715 When Jesus wept (Billings) I like this simple round. Partly because it's by a Sacred Harp composer - William Billings! It's also very restful and beautiful. I quite like this video sound sample. This might be a good song for the musicians to sing during the offering, or in a prayer of confession.
*Tune In: Save us in the time of trial Reflective Taize-style chorus and verses. Reference recording, lyrics and songbook available here.
*VU745 In the presence of your people (Chambers) Refrain only for Psalm reading. Normally, we sing this as a very upbeat, slightly crazy celebration song, but I like the way the VU has used this as a refrain for this quite sad, but still hopeful Psalm. I think this could work extremely well. Yiddish melodies are very good at being sad and happy at the same time.
*MV073 / LBW320 / ELW632 / GC(II)570 O God Why Are You Silent? (Haugen) Excellent seeking words expressing grief and fear and the absence of God. Sung to the familiar PASSION CHORALE. Lyrics, sample sheet music. Music sample.
PH168 Lord Why Have You Forsaken Me (Conditor Alme Siderum) Simple and honest lyrics. A paraphrase of the psalm to a modified Gregorian chant tune.
Online resource All the ends of the earth (Harding) A simple Psalm refrain. Sample sheet music, and site for purchase.
*VU744 / G(II)28 / GC29 / GC(II)22 My God My God O why have you abandoned me? (Haugen) Simple chant and good cantor lines. Sample sheet music. Sound sample.
*CH537 / AA147 / SP256 We do not hope to ease our minds (Barrell) Excellent words of standing with the crucified Christ against injustice. A number of different tunes are offered. I do not have a copy of Alleluia Aotearoa which has two possible tunes. MARY MORISON is the tune in Church Hymnary 4, and it is very straightforward.
*Online resource Why my God? (Harding) A lovely haunting round with an optional descant part. Sample sheet music. Purchase here.
Hebrews 10:16-25 or Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
God’s new covenant, our new confidence, Christ as high priest.
TiS 529 / AHB 598 By your priestly power O risen Lord Formal and beautiful words from James McAuley. This would work well if some of the bread from Thursday remains on the communion table. The responsive chant could also be used on its own “By your priestly power O risen Lord, All we lost and needed is restored. God in our communion be adored”
*Worldmaking.net O Christ, Lamb of God An updated Kyrie. Lyrics and sound sample here.
*TiS 259 / Iona (Love From Below) Among us and before us Lord you stand (Bell). Good words. The set tune (GATEHOUSE) will need to be taught. It can also be sung to SURSUM CORDA. Lyrics (downloads a word document).
*TIS 624 / W&R453 Christ be my leader by night as by day. Excellent words of following Christ in times of struggle to a traditional Scottish melody. Lyrics
TiS 542 Far beyond our mind's grasp (Feliciano). These beautiful devotional words are sung to a traditional Filipino tune. The tune is not easy, but is very haunting once you get to know it. If it is new to your congregation, it would be good to ask a soloist to sing it.
John 18:1-19:42
The long story of Jesus’ arrest, betrayal and crucifixion
*Unpublished Empty empty I come empty to the bleeding Lord (Dutney) Thanks to Paul Walton for finding this simple and beautiful chant. I am finding out about permissions for this song, so will keep you posted.
*VU610 / StJ / GC(II)572 God remembers pain (Wren) Pretty full on in the first verse, but these words seem somehow much more helpful in this year that has seen so much pain so far. Lyrics and sheet music. Slightly odd sound sample.
TiS 340 / AHB 256 Before the cock crew twice This storytelling song uses words from the 17th century. The tune is a little tricky, but it could work very well if sung by a soloist (even unaccompanied if you have a brave soloist!).
*ATA 135 / VU132 Bitter was the night (Carter) Lyrics based on Peter's denial of Christ. Lyrics (scroll down).
*Online resource: I will drink the cup (Harding) A simple 4 part chant; best if you have all 4 parts - the tenor part rocks. Available here.
*Iona (Common Ground, M&G, T1AU) / CH805 / MV151 / StJ / R257 / ELW741 / G(II)416 / GC592 / URW440 Your will be done on earth, O Lord / Mayenziwe 'ntando yakho (South African - Xhosa) This is a really good South African song, simple to sing, beautiful harmonies and would work well for reflection for Good Friday, sung slowly. Maybe it could even be sung in a minor key? Sound sample.
*TiS 730 / AoV1-152 / ATOK 387 / CH775 / UMH488 / WoV740 / ELW616 / HPP214 / HPSS599 / G(II)293 / GC404 / GC(II)422 Jesus remember me (Berthier)
Taizé / GA331 / GC421 / RS 567 All You Who Pass this Way (Taizé) Simple chant and cantored verses. Keyboard sound ample, lyrics and sample sheet music.
AoV2-048 See His Hands (Sears) Excellent. Simple. Crucifixion focus, but not morbid.
*FFS08 Broken the body (Murray / Bray). Good words of a broken body of Christ and a broken Church seeking healing, unity and courage.
*GA511 I walked through the lonely streets (Bell) Contemporary reproaches. Very challenging words.
FFS70 What have we done to you? (Murray) Tricky tune. Would be good to have musicians present this the first time.
*FFS79 Who will carry the cross for me? (Bennett) Simple tune, and good questioning words about who will walk the hard road with Christ.
*ATA 171 Dying you destroyed our death (Boucher) Simple chant for Good Friday.
*Iona / VU881 / GA510 When the son of God was dying (Bell) This song has lots of words, which I don't generally like during a more reflective service, but maybe you like that, and these words are quite good. Tune is pretty straightforward.
*AoVNG108 See Him (Duke) Quiet reflective and challenging chant, would work well for a soloist. Sound sample (search for "See him").
*NCH192 / VU146 / SFFS 2106 / HPP183 / PH312 / Cha199 / 82Hml-715 When Jesus wept (Billings) I like this simple round. Partly because it's by a Sacred Harp composer - William Billings! It's also very restful and beautiful. I quite like this video sound sample. This might be a good song for the musicians to sing during the offering, or in a prayer of confession, particularly if you also sang it on Lent 5A.
*TiS 590 / AHB 165 / AoVK-117 / NCH506 / UMH526 / VU663 / LBW439 / ELW742 / HPP408 / PH403 / CP532 / W&R473 / Cha585 / Srce 776 What a Friend we have in Jesus There is a bit of masculine language, but the song has so many other good things about it. I like both tunes. AOVK has different lyrics, written specifically for kids, which I think are worth singing.
*WoV663 / ELW566 / PH547 When Twilight Comes / Awit Sa Dapit Hapon (Andrade) Beautiful words for Good Friday, and for evening. Unusual Asian tune, but it's not hard.
Adoration of the Cross
If this is a tradition in your congregation, here are some songs that could work well.
*Unpublished Empty empty I come empty to the bleeding Lord (Dutney) Thanks to Paul Walton for finding this simple and beautiful chant. I am finding out about permissions for this song, so will keep you posted.
*GA305 / GC396 / GC(II)400 / RS542 / CP338 Adoramus Te Christe (Haugen) It's really nice. Might be good to some musicians singing this quietly on Good Friday. The Refrain is a canon which could work on its own. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Sound sample (maybe a little energetic for my liking).
CH750 Adoramus te Domine Deus (Rizza) A fairly simple chant which would be good for an entire congregation to sing.
*Taizé / URW389 O Christe domine Jesu (Berthier) The very simplest, and best known song for this purpose. Very simple, haunting chant. Cantor verses over the top add more beauty, but are not neccessary. Sheet music and lyrics.
GA329 O my people what have I done? (Lundy) This song is pretty incredible. The tune is very straightforward, but I'm not sure how you would use it. It's really about the veneration of the cross and Christ's suffering. Not a very popular theme, but important and I think this would work well if you choose to focus on that.
Weekly song, hymn and recorded music suggestions and resources for worship - based on the Revised Common Lectionary. Suggestions are posted on Wednesday nights, usually a few weeks in advance of each Sunday.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Songs and Hymns for Good Friday (April 22 2011)
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Songs for Maundy Thursday (April 21 2011)
Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14
The sacrifice and eating of the Passover lamb
*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 and sound sample.
*GC213 / GC(II)319 / RS 469 / URW414 Jesus Lamb of God from Joncas’ Psallite Mass. Okay, this one is my favourite too, but I think I like it twice the speed of the sample at Hymnprint.net. Sheet music and slow sound sample.
*Sing Alleluia Jesus Lamb of God 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 (Agnus Dei) (Proulx) A simple chant. Cantor and response. Sound sample (slow). Sheet music.
TiS 545 / Iona (LFB) / CH676 / VU482 Shout for joy! The Lord has let us feast. A very joyous communion song. Lyrics
*Worldmaking.net O Christ, Lamb of God An updated Kyrie. Lyrics and sound sample.
Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19
A vow to the Lord, and lifting the cup of salvation…?
GC109 I Will Walk in the Presence of God (Daigle) A simple lilting refrain. Inclusive verses. This could maybe be used as a chant on its own. Sheet music & lyrics. Sound sample.
TiS 71 / VU617 / HPSS362 / G(II)97 / GC108 I will walk in the presence of the Lord (Proulx) A beautiful cantored Psalm. The refrain is very simple. Doesn’t make sense without the cantor.
*TiS 741 / AoV1-017 / ATE 282 / LBW368 / ELW407 / GA431 / SFFS 2200 / G(II)410 / GC586 / GC(II)566 / Taize / W&R484 / Srce519 / URW390 O Lord hear my prayer (Berthier) A simple and very well known Taize chant.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35
The words of institution; You might also like to look at the Communion songs page.
*Tune In II (BUC only) I Remember (Brown) A song Dave wrote last year; it would be good for the musicians to sing it while people are moving in to the space for communion "I remember a man who came for his last meal, ate it with a group of friends and it changed the world".
*NCH344 / Iona (Enemy of Apathy) / GA385 / G(II)611 The time was early evening (Bell) Great words to a familiar Celtic folk tune. We sing this one often on Maundy Thursday. "Oh the food comes from the baker, the drink comes from the vine..." Lyrics.
*TiS 538 / AoV2-093 Feed us now Bread of life (Mann) One of my favourite communion songs. Simple to sing, and beautiful simple theology. “Piece of bread, cup of wine, Lord this food is good”. Lyrics (search for "feed us now"). I love how the liturgy in the link intersperses the words of institution with the singing of the song. I think it's so great that there are so many orders of worship on the Internet!
*TiS 707 / Iona (Common Ground, LFB) Bread is blessed and broken (GRACE IN ESSENCE) Very simple. Good for distribution of communion. Lyrics.
*ELW466 / FFS38 / SFFS 2255 In the singing in the silence (Murray) Lovely words, simple tune in FFS; there are quite a few tunes to this. Sheet music and sound sample of a choral version (not the tune in FFS). Lyrics (downloads a pdf).
*TiS 536 / AHB 453 / VU130 / HPSS094 / W&R275 / Cha385 An upper room did our Lord prepare (O Waly Waly) I really love this song. Lyrics.
*TiS 357 / ATA 147 When his time was over the palms lay where they fell (Mann) Beautiful and mournful. Lyrics.
*Tune In II (BUC only) Harvest our love (Brown). This song is just perfect for every communion service ever.
*Linnea Good Psalm 166 is particularly beautiful and simple “I love you God; I know you listen. You listened on the day I cried. When I called out to you in anguish, you were my presence and my guide”.
*TiS 737 / Iona (Common Ground, HSNW, T1AU) Lord Jesus Christ lover of all (Bell) I don't know why this chant works so well for Maundy Thursday, but it does. Note that some versions (T1AU at least) has a beautiful 4 part harmony arrangement with excellent moving parts in the lower registers.
ATA 135 / VU132 Bitter was the night (Carter) Lyrics based on Peter's denial of Christ. Lyrics (scroll down).
Iona (T1AU) / Cha430 Lo I Am With You to the end of the world (Iona / Bell) Simple repetitive verses, in a nice minor key. Sound sample.
*ATW 472 As we take this bread (Dyson) A lovely simple communion chant.
ATOK 397 / Iona (LFB) / CH658 / VU462 / CP610 / Cha391 Before I take the body of my Lord / These I lay down A pre-communion confession. Lovely tune which is easy to sing. Lyrics.
*TiS 714 / AoV1-125 /ATE 270 / CH661 / UMH628 / VU466 / WoV709 / ELW472 / GA205 / G(II)588 / GC838 / GC(II)806 / RS928 / CP063 / W&R697 / Cha414 Eat this bread drink this cup (Batastini / Taize) Excellent, particularly if you have a capable cantor. Some resources say "Come to him and never be hungry", but that can easily be changed to "come to me / trust in me".
*ATW 478 / Iona (T1AU) / CH799 / URW420 This is the body of Christ (Bell) A very simple and gentle chant for distribution of communion "This is the body of Christ, broken that we may be whole; This cup, as promised by God, true to God's word, cradles our Lord: food for the good of the soul." Note, I did a sneaky little lyric change there... see if you can find it.
*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). Gathering, confession, response, communion, and sending out all in one hymn. This is a good all-rounder.
Songs for foot-washing:
G(II)297 In a Spirit of Thankfulness (Guimont) The verses are kind of wordy, but the chorus would be good to use during foot-washing, especially if you have a good cantor or soloist who can sing the verses while others move about. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Sound sample.
*TiS 640 / AHB 561 / ATE 310 / NCH498 / UMH432 / VU593 / WoV765 / ELW708 / HPP446 / HPSS367 / G(II)296 / GC409 / GC(II)429 / CP504 Jesu Jesu fill us with your love / Kneels at the feet of his friends (Colvin & people of Ghana) Lyrics.
End of service:
*Iona (The courage to say no) / CH371 / StS085 Lay down your head Lord Jesus Christ (Bell / Maule) This song would be good for the end of a Maundy Thursday service, particularly if sung simply by a soloist if it is not familiar to your congregation. "What lies ahead we fear to guess… Lay down your head and, by your side, we'll sleep and stay".
Iona (T1AU) / Cha430 Lo I Am With You to the end of the world (Iona / Bell) Simple repetitive verses, in a nice minor key.
*Taize / AoV2-088 / ATOK 395 / CH793 / VU950 / ELW348 Stay with me / Bleibet hier (Berthier) A very well known chant. Sheet music and sound samples.
*Tune In II (BUC only) Silence, we walk the journey saying nothing / Stay Awake (Lees) This new song from Chris Lees would be a more modern way to end the service, and more upbeat. It could also be prety laid back.
Iona / VU33 Watch, watch and pray (Iona) This Advent chant also has lyrics for Maundy Thursday
Exclusive BUC code: *, we've sung it in the last 5 years; *, we haven't, but it suits us well.
The sacrifice and eating of the Passover lamb
*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 and sound sample.
*GC213 / GC(II)319 / RS 469 / URW414 Jesus Lamb of God from Joncas’ Psallite Mass. Okay, this one is my favourite too, but I think I like it twice the speed of the sample at Hymnprint.net. Sheet music and slow sound sample.
*Sing Alleluia Jesus Lamb of God 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 (Agnus Dei) (Proulx) A simple chant. Cantor and response. Sound sample (slow). Sheet music.
TiS 545 / Iona (LFB) / CH676 / VU482 Shout for joy! The Lord has let us feast. A very joyous communion song. Lyrics
*Worldmaking.net O Christ, Lamb of God An updated Kyrie. Lyrics and sound sample.
Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19
A vow to the Lord, and lifting the cup of salvation…?
GC109 I Will Walk in the Presence of God (Daigle) A simple lilting refrain. Inclusive verses. This could maybe be used as a chant on its own. Sheet music & lyrics. Sound sample.
TiS 71 / VU617 / HPSS362 / G(II)97 / GC108 I will walk in the presence of the Lord (Proulx) A beautiful cantored Psalm. The refrain is very simple. Doesn’t make sense without the cantor.
*TiS 741 / AoV1-017 / ATE 282 / LBW368 / ELW407 / GA431 / SFFS 2200 / G(II)410 / GC586 / GC(II)566 / Taize / W&R484 / Srce519 / URW390 O Lord hear my prayer (Berthier) A simple and very well known Taize chant.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35
The words of institution; You might also like to look at the Communion songs page.
*Tune In II (BUC only) I Remember (Brown) A song Dave wrote last year; it would be good for the musicians to sing it while people are moving in to the space for communion "I remember a man who came for his last meal, ate it with a group of friends and it changed the world".
*NCH344 / Iona (Enemy of Apathy) / GA385 / G(II)611 The time was early evening (Bell) Great words to a familiar Celtic folk tune. We sing this one often on Maundy Thursday. "Oh the food comes from the baker, the drink comes from the vine..." Lyrics.
*TiS 538 / AoV2-093 Feed us now Bread of life (Mann) One of my favourite communion songs. Simple to sing, and beautiful simple theology. “Piece of bread, cup of wine, Lord this food is good”. Lyrics (search for "feed us now"). I love how the liturgy in the link intersperses the words of institution with the singing of the song. I think it's so great that there are so many orders of worship on the Internet!
*TiS 707 / Iona (Common Ground, LFB) Bread is blessed and broken (GRACE IN ESSENCE) Very simple. Good for distribution of communion. Lyrics.
*ELW466 / FFS38 / SFFS 2255 In the singing in the silence (Murray) Lovely words, simple tune in FFS; there are quite a few tunes to this. Sheet music and sound sample of a choral version (not the tune in FFS). Lyrics (downloads a pdf).
*TiS 536 / AHB 453 / VU130 / HPSS094 / W&R275 / Cha385 An upper room did our Lord prepare (O Waly Waly) I really love this song. Lyrics.
*TiS 357 / ATA 147 When his time was over the palms lay where they fell (Mann) Beautiful and mournful. Lyrics.
*Tune In II (BUC only) Harvest our love (Brown). This song is just perfect for every communion service ever.
*Linnea Good Psalm 166 is particularly beautiful and simple “I love you God; I know you listen. You listened on the day I cried. When I called out to you in anguish, you were my presence and my guide”.
*TiS 737 / Iona (Common Ground, HSNW, T1AU) Lord Jesus Christ lover of all (Bell) I don't know why this chant works so well for Maundy Thursday, but it does. Note that some versions (T1AU at least) has a beautiful 4 part harmony arrangement with excellent moving parts in the lower registers.
ATA 135 / VU132 Bitter was the night (Carter) Lyrics based on Peter's denial of Christ. Lyrics (scroll down).
Iona (T1AU) / Cha430 Lo I Am With You to the end of the world (Iona / Bell) Simple repetitive verses, in a nice minor key. Sound sample.
*ATW 472 As we take this bread (Dyson) A lovely simple communion chant.
ATOK 397 / Iona (LFB) / CH658 / VU462 / CP610 / Cha391 Before I take the body of my Lord / These I lay down A pre-communion confession. Lovely tune which is easy to sing. Lyrics.
*TiS 714 / AoV1-125 /ATE 270 / CH661 / UMH628 / VU466 / WoV709 / ELW472 / GA205 / G(II)588 / GC838 / GC(II)806 / RS928 / CP063 / W&R697 / Cha414 Eat this bread drink this cup (Batastini / Taize) Excellent, particularly if you have a capable cantor. Some resources say "Come to him and never be hungry", but that can easily be changed to "come to me / trust in me".
*ATW 478 / Iona (T1AU) / CH799 / URW420 This is the body of Christ (Bell) A very simple and gentle chant for distribution of communion "This is the body of Christ, broken that we may be whole; This cup, as promised by God, true to God's word, cradles our Lord: food for the good of the soul." Note, I did a sneaky little lyric change there... see if you can find it.
*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). Gathering, confession, response, communion, and sending out all in one hymn. This is a good all-rounder.
Songs for foot-washing:
G(II)297 In a Spirit of Thankfulness (Guimont) The verses are kind of wordy, but the chorus would be good to use during foot-washing, especially if you have a good cantor or soloist who can sing the verses while others move about. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Sound sample.
*TiS 640 / AHB 561 / ATE 310 / NCH498 / UMH432 / VU593 / WoV765 / ELW708 / HPP446 / HPSS367 / G(II)296 / GC409 / GC(II)429 / CP504 Jesu Jesu fill us with your love / Kneels at the feet of his friends (Colvin & people of Ghana) Lyrics.
End of service:
*Iona (The courage to say no) / CH371 / StS085 Lay down your head Lord Jesus Christ (Bell / Maule) This song would be good for the end of a Maundy Thursday service, particularly if sung simply by a soloist if it is not familiar to your congregation. "What lies ahead we fear to guess… Lay down your head and, by your side, we'll sleep and stay".
Iona (T1AU) / Cha430 Lo I Am With You to the end of the world (Iona / Bell) Simple repetitive verses, in a nice minor key.
*Taize / AoV2-088 / ATOK 395 / CH793 / VU950 / ELW348 Stay with me / Bleibet hier (Berthier) A very well known chant. Sheet music and sound samples.
*Tune In II (BUC only) Silence, we walk the journey saying nothing / Stay Awake (Lees) This new song from Chris Lees would be a more modern way to end the service, and more upbeat. It could also be prety laid back.
Iona / VU33 Watch, watch and pray (Iona) This Advent chant also has lyrics for Maundy Thursday
Exclusive BUC code: *, we've sung it in the last 5 years; *, we haven't, but it suits us well.
Songs and Hymns for Palm Sunday (April 17th 2011)
You might also like to sing songs on the theme of Peace.
Luke 19:28-40
Christ’s entry into Jerusalem
*TiS 279 / AHB 212 / SFFS 2091 / HPP158 / GC487 / GC(II)494 / CP632 The King of glory comes the nation rejoices (Jabusch) Fun and energetic song to a traditional Israeli folk melody. A good processional. Lyrics (and sign language) .
StS025 / LBW074 / G(II)269 / GC356 / CP(E) 42 / W&R206 / Cha141 / 82Hml-104 A Stable Lamp Is Lighted (Wilbur) Starting From the stable, ending on the cross. This has a nice celticish tune, which is simple to sing, and a refrain of "and every stone shall cry". I like it. TOLLEFSON. Lyrics.
*CH366 / AA022 Come into the streets with me! (Murray) Simple folk tune which is great for kids; chorus is "Come and follow my leader". A good fun choice for Palm Sunday. Especially for BUC people, as we walk up the street to St. Ambrose.
*StS073 / SP&P132 Jesus is coming / Pave the way with branches (Hesla) Palm Sunday this song has a great rhythm; in SP&P they suggest singing "Pave the way with branches" rather than "Pave the way wth justice", but I would stick with the year-long version. It would be great for kids, and good for drumming. It's very repetitive so good for kids and non-readers. Other verses include "Hope for the downtrod / Pave the way with justice" and "Debts are forgiven / Pave the way with justice".
*Cha193 A Cheering Chanting Dizzy Crowd (Troeger) Lyrics are great. Usually sung to the well known folk melody MORNING SONG (TiS 172). Lyrics (scroll to the bottom). Tune sample.
*VU128 / World Council of Churches Assembly 1991 Canberra Sanna sannanina An excellent African processional, which simply means "Hosanna". Great for drumming down the street (if you like to do that sort of thing - we do!). Sound sample (scroll to the 2nd album). Sheet music (downloads a handy little book).
SFFS 2109 Jesus rode into Jerusalem (Townley) Fun call-and-response song.
Iona (Enemy of Apathy) / CH370 / VU126 Ride on ride on the time is right (Iona) A different version of “Ride on Ride on in Majesty”. Lyrics.
Iona (Enemy of Apathy) Travelling the Road to Freedom Easy tune and excellent words. Who wants to travel the road with me? Lyrics (search for "travelling". The liturgy is also really good!).
TiS 348 / AHB 264 / NCH215 / CH365 / VU127 / R133 / ELW328 / HPP186 / HPSS090 / CP182 Ride on ride on in majesty The lyrics to this hymn contain some amazing imagery, but it is very inaccessible for young people, people who are new to the church, or people who don't like masculine God-talk. The NCH has excellent traditional, yet inclusive, lyrics for this hymn. I encourage you to seek them out if you would like to sing something more traditional and still accessible.
TiS 333 / AHB 250 / NCH216 / CH364 / UMH280 / VU122 / LBW108 / ELW344 / HPP179 / HPSS088 / GC402 / GC(II)421 / RS 563 / CP181 All Glory Laud and Honor / All Glory Laud and Honour Most hymnals have very non-inclusive language for this hymn. If you would like an alternative, the NCH has excellent lyrics, which are still poetic.
StS025 / G(II)269 / GC356 A Stable Lamp Is Lighted (Wilbur) Starting from the stable, ending on the cross. This has a nice celticish tune, which is simple to sing, and a refrain of "and every stone shall cry". I like it. Lyrics, sample sheet music and a keyboard music sample (search for "stable")
ATW 444 Hey King (Grant) Good for kids. What sort of King was Jesus, anyway? My niece was obsessed with this when she was 7.
*MV 128 / GC(II)420 When they heard that Jesus was coming (Cooney) A simple and excellent antiphon (led by one singer, and a simple repeated chorus by the congregation). It has 11 verses, so you may want to just chose the ones that fit for your service. Just the first 3 would do the trick for Palm Sunday really. It would work really well to help the whole congregation tell the story, and fun for kids. Lyrics and sample sheet music. Sound sample. It could be sung much more energetically than the sound sample.
FFS18 For the crowd another busy day (Gibson) Tune might be a little tricky, but the words are really excellent.
GA312 Hosanna to the son of David (Wood) A simple and energetic Hosanna.
TiS 357 / ATA 147 When his time was over the palms lay where they fell A quiet and mournful song that would lead well into Holy Week if you wish to end your Palm Sunday service on a more sombre tone.
TiS 244 / AHB 187 Trotting trotting through Jerusalem (Reid) An old favourite.
Iona (The Courage to Say No) Travelling the road to freedom (Bell) Excellent words. I don't have a copy of the book, so can't comment on the tune. Lyrics.
Unknown source No tramp of soldiers marching feet (Dudley-Smith) Pretty good words, and sung to a familiar folk tune (STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN). Lyrics and melody line.
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
*Linnea Good / MV008 And on this path (Good) An energetic gospel style song.
TiS 74 / GA070 This is the day the Lord has made (Willcock) Unusual timing in this refrain, but once you've nailed it, it will be stuck in your head for the rest of the week, which is what I like about Psalm refrains.
*MV122 This is the day (Harding) This is a really simple nice jazzy song. Sound sample. Sample sheet music.
GA071 / G(II)320 / GC449 This is the day the Lord has made (Haugen) Quite a groovy refrain and cantored verses OK too. Refrain could be sung to read verses. I wouldn't let the congregation sing the verses though. Lyrics and sheet music. Sound sample.
Taize / MV016 / StJ / R180 / ELW528 / GA430 / SFFS 2157 / HPP410 / G(II)398 / GC570 / GC(II)550 / RS710 / CP402 Come and Fill our hearts/ Confitemini Domino Can be sun in English as "Come and fill our hearts with your peace, you alone O God are holy. Come and fill our hearts with your peace, Alleluia". Sound samples and sheet music.
*NCH387 / HPSS443 / GC(II)646 / RS782 / CP524 O christ the great foundation (Lew) Excellent words of salvation and justice from Timothy Tingfang Lew, sung to the tune of "The church's one foundation" (AURELIA). Lyrics can be viewed here (search for "Foundation")
*MV187 We give our thanks / Reamo leboga (Traditional Botswana) A great song to sing for the offering. Sound sample (scroll to the 3rd album). We usually sing it much more quickly than this sample.
*TiS 48 / AoV1-153 / ATOK 411 / VU808 / WoV779 / ELW787 / GA452 / HPP385 / G(II)433 / GC611 / GC(II)593 / CP531 / W&R438 You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord / On Eagle's Wings A familiar song to many congregations. It's based on a different Psalm, but would work for this one too. It has masculine imagery for God; some subtle changes will make it less grating.
Any Holy, holy, holy / Sanctus will work well.
Exclusive BUC code: *, we've sung it in the last 5 years; *, we haven't, but it suits us well.
Luke 19:28-40
Christ’s entry into Jerusalem
*TiS 279 / AHB 212 / SFFS 2091 / HPP158 / GC487 / GC(II)494 / CP632 The King of glory comes the nation rejoices (Jabusch) Fun and energetic song to a traditional Israeli folk melody. A good processional. Lyrics (and sign language) .
StS025 / LBW074 / G(II)269 / GC356 / CP(E) 42 / W&R206 / Cha141 / 82Hml-104 A Stable Lamp Is Lighted (Wilbur) Starting From the stable, ending on the cross. This has a nice celticish tune, which is simple to sing, and a refrain of "and every stone shall cry". I like it. TOLLEFSON. Lyrics.
*CH366 / AA022 Come into the streets with me! (Murray) Simple folk tune which is great for kids; chorus is "Come and follow my leader". A good fun choice for Palm Sunday. Especially for BUC people, as we walk up the street to St. Ambrose.
*StS073 / SP&P132 Jesus is coming / Pave the way with branches (Hesla) Palm Sunday this song has a great rhythm; in SP&P they suggest singing "Pave the way with branches" rather than "Pave the way wth justice", but I would stick with the year-long version. It would be great for kids, and good for drumming. It's very repetitive so good for kids and non-readers. Other verses include "Hope for the downtrod / Pave the way with justice" and "Debts are forgiven / Pave the way with justice".
*Cha193 A Cheering Chanting Dizzy Crowd (Troeger) Lyrics are great. Usually sung to the well known folk melody MORNING SONG (TiS 172). Lyrics (scroll to the bottom). Tune sample.
*VU128 / World Council of Churches Assembly 1991 Canberra Sanna sannanina An excellent African processional, which simply means "Hosanna". Great for drumming down the street (if you like to do that sort of thing - we do!). Sound sample (scroll to the 2nd album). Sheet music (downloads a handy little book).
SFFS 2109 Jesus rode into Jerusalem (Townley) Fun call-and-response song.
Iona (Enemy of Apathy) / CH370 / VU126 Ride on ride on the time is right (Iona) A different version of “Ride on Ride on in Majesty”. Lyrics.
Iona (Enemy of Apathy) Travelling the Road to Freedom Easy tune and excellent words. Who wants to travel the road with me? Lyrics (search for "travelling". The liturgy is also really good!).
TiS 348 / AHB 264 / NCH215 / CH365 / VU127 / R133 / ELW328 / HPP186 / HPSS090 / CP182 Ride on ride on in majesty The lyrics to this hymn contain some amazing imagery, but it is very inaccessible for young people, people who are new to the church, or people who don't like masculine God-talk. The NCH has excellent traditional, yet inclusive, lyrics for this hymn. I encourage you to seek them out if you would like to sing something more traditional and still accessible.
TiS 333 / AHB 250 / NCH216 / CH364 / UMH280 / VU122 / LBW108 / ELW344 / HPP179 / HPSS088 / GC402 / GC(II)421 / RS 563 / CP181 All Glory Laud and Honor / All Glory Laud and Honour Most hymnals have very non-inclusive language for this hymn. If you would like an alternative, the NCH has excellent lyrics, which are still poetic.
StS025 / G(II)269 / GC356 A Stable Lamp Is Lighted (Wilbur) Starting from the stable, ending on the cross. This has a nice celticish tune, which is simple to sing, and a refrain of "and every stone shall cry". I like it. Lyrics, sample sheet music and a keyboard music sample (search for "stable")
ATW 444 Hey King (Grant) Good for kids. What sort of King was Jesus, anyway? My niece was obsessed with this when she was 7.
*MV 128 / GC(II)420 When they heard that Jesus was coming (Cooney) A simple and excellent antiphon (led by one singer, and a simple repeated chorus by the congregation). It has 11 verses, so you may want to just chose the ones that fit for your service. Just the first 3 would do the trick for Palm Sunday really. It would work really well to help the whole congregation tell the story, and fun for kids. Lyrics and sample sheet music. Sound sample. It could be sung much more energetically than the sound sample.
FFS18 For the crowd another busy day (Gibson) Tune might be a little tricky, but the words are really excellent.
GA312 Hosanna to the son of David (Wood) A simple and energetic Hosanna.
TiS 357 / ATA 147 When his time was over the palms lay where they fell A quiet and mournful song that would lead well into Holy Week if you wish to end your Palm Sunday service on a more sombre tone.
TiS 244 / AHB 187 Trotting trotting through Jerusalem (Reid) An old favourite.
Iona (The Courage to Say No) Travelling the road to freedom (Bell) Excellent words. I don't have a copy of the book, so can't comment on the tune. Lyrics.
Unknown source No tramp of soldiers marching feet (Dudley-Smith) Pretty good words, and sung to a familiar folk tune (STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN). Lyrics and melody line.
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
*Linnea Good / MV008 And on this path (Good) An energetic gospel style song.
TiS 74 / GA070 This is the day the Lord has made (Willcock) Unusual timing in this refrain, but once you've nailed it, it will be stuck in your head for the rest of the week, which is what I like about Psalm refrains.
*MV122 This is the day (Harding) This is a really simple nice jazzy song. Sound sample. Sample sheet music.
GA071 / G(II)320 / GC449 This is the day the Lord has made (Haugen) Quite a groovy refrain and cantored verses OK too. Refrain could be sung to read verses. I wouldn't let the congregation sing the verses though. Lyrics and sheet music. Sound sample.
Taize / MV016 / StJ / R180 / ELW528 / GA430 / SFFS 2157 / HPP410 / G(II)398 / GC570 / GC(II)550 / RS710 / CP402 Come and Fill our hearts/ Confitemini Domino Can be sun in English as "Come and fill our hearts with your peace, you alone O God are holy. Come and fill our hearts with your peace, Alleluia". Sound samples and sheet music.
*NCH387 / HPSS443 / GC(II)646 / RS782 / CP524 O christ the great foundation (Lew) Excellent words of salvation and justice from Timothy Tingfang Lew, sung to the tune of "The church's one foundation" (AURELIA). Lyrics can be viewed here (search for "Foundation")
*MV187 We give our thanks / Reamo leboga (Traditional Botswana) A great song to sing for the offering. Sound sample (scroll to the 3rd album). We usually sing it much more quickly than this sample.
*TiS 48 / AoV1-153 / ATOK 411 / VU808 / WoV779 / ELW787 / GA452 / HPP385 / G(II)433 / GC611 / GC(II)593 / CP531 / W&R438 You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord / On Eagle's Wings A familiar song to many congregations. It's based on a different Psalm, but would work for this one too. It has masculine imagery for God; some subtle changes will make it less grating.
Any Holy, holy, holy / Sanctus will work well.
Exclusive BUC code: *, we've sung it in the last 5 years; *, we haven't, but it suits us well.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Songs and Hymns for Lent 5A (April 10, 2011)
Ezekiel 37:1-14
*Traditional Ezekiel connected them dry bones (Dem Bones) (Traditional) Would be great for the kid’s song. BUCkets of Love could sing it (at BUC). Here's the Delta Rhythm Boys
*WoV658 / ELW506 The word of God is source and seed "The Word of God is breath and life; It comes to heal and wake and save. So let the Spirit touch and mend and rouse your dry bones from their grave". There's a very helpful commentary including the lyrics of the hymn here.
*TiS 181 / AoV2-032 / GC(II)497 / CP589 Come O God of all the earth / Sing Out Earth and Skies (Haugen). Another big favourite. Sheet music, lyrics. Sound sample.
*TiS 409 / AHB 322 / CH595 / UMH543 / VU202 / StJ / Cha250 O Breath of life come sweeping through us (Elizabeth Porter Head) A fairly traditional tune, with good words of revival. Some hymnals have quite old style lyrics, others more modern. Lyrics.
*AoV2-061 / ATE 249 As a dream receive your hist'ry (Tanner) A big favourite by a South Australian guy. There are actions too! I think this would work well with this reading because of its focus on rising up from nothing. Lyrics
*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.
Psalm 130
Out of the depths I cry to you O Lord
*Iona (Sent By the Lord) / MV066 Senzenina? / What have we done? (South African) This beautiful chant from South Africa asks the question that we often ask when things go wrong beyond belief. It's important to know what the song means when singing it. If you have some part-singers in your congregation, this would be particular good. It's good to let people ask this question. It is also on the soundtrack for "The Power of One" so you could also play the recorded music if appropriate. Free sheet music (loads a pdf).
*TiS 683 / WoV735 / ELW603 / W&R416 God when human bonds are broken (Kaan) These words pick up an unusual theme, and fit really well with this reading. There are a couple of possible tunes, none of which are immediately familiar, but they are not difficult either.
*SFFS 2136 / NCH554 / GA227 / VU611 / G(II)636 / GC877 Out of the Depths O God we call to you (Duck) FENNVILLE A simple and honest hymn, which sings this Psalm from the perspective of a community trying to work out its faith together. Excellent words and the tune is quite straightforward. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Video with lyrics (click on "more info" near the Subscribe button for the lyrics).*
*Taize / CH276 / VU22 / ELW262 / GA283 / G(II)256 / GC332 / GC(II)340 / CP094 / W&R166 Wait for the Lord (Berthier) Wait for the Lord whose day is near, wait for the lord, keep watch, take heart. A lovely simple Taize chant. Sheet music, translations and sound samples.
*AoVK-58 We wait in hope for the Lord (Ford) Simple a cappella round; also good for kids "We wait in hope for the Lord, God is our help and our shield. And so our hearts rejoice, for we trust in God's holy name"
Online resource Out of the Depths (Harding) A simple four part arrangement which would be nice if you have a choir or quartet that could sing this. Available for purchase, and you can view a sample PDF here. Note that the sound sample is for a different song, so that's a bit confusing, really.
G(II)112 / GC126 Out of the depths / If You O God Laid Bare Our Guilt (Foley) A cantored Psalm with a simple reponse "If you O God laid bare our guilt, who could endure it, who could endure it". Sound sample and sheet music here (search for "If you O God laid bare").
NCH472 / UMH474 / VU670 / R297 / ELW875 / HPP434 / HPSS404 / G(II)637 / GC874 / GC(II)847 / CP509 / W&R500 Precious Lord take my hand A classic gospel song.
TiS 667 / G(II)415 / GC591 How shall I sing to God (Wren) The words are excellent, but neither the tune in TiS or Gather hymnals is straightforward because of the difficult meter; this might be a good song for your musicians to present to start teaching the congregation so they can remember it in more difficult times. All lyrics and sheet music sample of the Gather hymnal melody (HOPE) here.
The next 3 are all variations of the same Gelineau (cantored) Psalm, but with different responses. They are all pretty good, so I'm listing them all! There is just one change needed to make the Psalm incluisve (just change "his word" to "God's word" and it will be fine).
GC128 Out of the depths / I place all my trust in you O God (Gelineau) The original response from Gelineau. Very simple. Words to the response are "I place all my trust in you O God, all my hope is in your saving word". Sound sample and sheet music here (search for "I place all my trust"). Note this one also has a (non-inclusve) Trinitarian formula at the end.
G(II)113 / GC127 Out of the Depths / With the Lord There Is Mercy (Gelineau / Haugen) This response is also quite simple, but a slightly different emphasis. "With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption". Sound sample and sheet music here (search for "With the Lord there is mercy").
*TiS 81 Out of the depths / With the Lord there is Mercy (Gelineau / Carroll) Simple response is "With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption". We have used this at Brunswick Uniting and it went quite well.
Romans 8:6-11
flesh vs. spirit
*Tune In: Spirit of the Father / Alive in me Catchy song about God’s spirit living in us. Lyrics and sound sample here.
*TiS 410 / AHB 323 / LBW523 / ELW582 / NCH59 / CP655 / 82Hml-511 Holy Spirit, ever dwelling I like these words, but prefer to sing it to NETTLETON (TiS 392). Lyrics and sound sample.
VU379 / LBW459 / ELW786 / SFFS 2121 O Holy Spirit root of life Good words from Hildegard of Bingen. Simple known tune. You can see the sheet music here (doesn't always work)
*TiS 421 Where the Spirit is there's freedom (Harling) Fun and good. Lyrics.
*NCH060 O Spirit of God (Niedling) Good words of the many facets of the Spirit. The first verse is particularly appropriate for times when there seems to be more suffering in the world than usual. The tune (O HELIGER GEIST - TiS 401) is quite simple and familiar. This is a new translation of the hymn "O Spirit of Life, O Spirit of God".
John 11:1-45
Healing of Lazarus
**Tune In: See our God with the tear-streaked face / Our God who weeps (Kate Scull) Very simple folk tune and challenging and hopeful lyrics. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook.
*NCH192 / VU146 / SFFS 2106 / HPP183 / PH312 / Cha199 / 82Hml-715 When Jesus wept (Billings) I like this simple round. Partly because it's by a Sacred Harp composer - William Billings! It's also very restful and beautiful. I quite like this video sound sample. This might be a good song for the musicians to sing during the offering, or in a prayer of confession.
FFS09 Christ of the sad face (Murray) Christ weeps for the city, the earth. A longing for peace.
VU471 / W&R692 / URW122 Eat this bread and never hunger (Damon) Very simple tune. The third verse refers to this passage. Particularly good if you are celebrating communion this week, but will be fine if you are not.
*TiS 382 / AoV2-131 / ATN 15 / NCH238 / CH417 / UMH311 / VU186 / LBW148 / ELW570 / GA364 / HPP210 / G(II)318 / GC444 / GC(II)456 / CP237 / CP(E) 153 / W&R311 / Cha230 / 82Hml-204 Now the green blade riseth (Crum) This is a beautiful song to a familiar folk tune. Especially nice if you have a flute or recorder and guitar... Lyrics and FAST sound 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.
*WoV658 / ELW506 The word of God is source and seed "The Word of God is flesh and grace, Who comes to sing, to laugh and cry. So dare to be as Jesus was, Who came to live and love and die.". This song also fits with the Ezekiel reading. There's a very helpful commentary including the lyrics of the hymn here.
*AoVK-125 / ATW 489 Turn our sadness upside down (Leigh Newton) Good for kids, and adults too. Simple tune, but not so simple that it’s boring. Lyrics (search in the page for "sadness").
*TiS 682 / ATW 490 / GA236 / AA151 When human voices cannot sing (Murray) Lovely words of healing in the face of grief. I prefer this sung to ST COLUMBA, which is the tune in GA and TiS. Lyrics (loads a word document)
*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.
Exclusive BUC code: *, we've sung it in the last 5 years; *, we haven't, but it suits us well.
*Traditional Ezekiel connected them dry bones (Dem Bones) (Traditional) Would be great for the kid’s song. BUCkets of Love could sing it (at BUC). Here's the Delta Rhythm Boys
*WoV658 / ELW506 The word of God is source and seed "The Word of God is breath and life; It comes to heal and wake and save. So let the Spirit touch and mend and rouse your dry bones from their grave". There's a very helpful commentary including the lyrics of the hymn here.
*TiS 181 / AoV2-032 / GC(II)497 / CP589 Come O God of all the earth / Sing Out Earth and Skies (Haugen). Another big favourite. Sheet music, lyrics. Sound sample.
*TiS 409 / AHB 322 / CH595 / UMH543 / VU202 / StJ / Cha250 O Breath of life come sweeping through us (Elizabeth Porter Head) A fairly traditional tune, with good words of revival. Some hymnals have quite old style lyrics, others more modern. Lyrics.
*AoV2-061 / ATE 249 As a dream receive your hist'ry (Tanner) A big favourite by a South Australian guy. There are actions too! I think this would work well with this reading because of its focus on rising up from nothing. Lyrics
*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.
Psalm 130
Out of the depths I cry to you O Lord
*Iona (Sent By the Lord) / MV066 Senzenina? / What have we done? (South African) This beautiful chant from South Africa asks the question that we often ask when things go wrong beyond belief. It's important to know what the song means when singing it. If you have some part-singers in your congregation, this would be particular good. It's good to let people ask this question. It is also on the soundtrack for "The Power of One" so you could also play the recorded music if appropriate. Free sheet music (loads a pdf).
*TiS 683 / WoV735 / ELW603 / W&R416 God when human bonds are broken (Kaan) These words pick up an unusual theme, and fit really well with this reading. There are a couple of possible tunes, none of which are immediately familiar, but they are not difficult either.
*SFFS 2136 / NCH554 / GA227 / VU611 / G(II)636 / GC877 Out of the Depths O God we call to you (Duck) FENNVILLE A simple and honest hymn, which sings this Psalm from the perspective of a community trying to work out its faith together. Excellent words and the tune is quite straightforward. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Video with lyrics (click on "more info" near the Subscribe button for the lyrics).*
*Taize / CH276 / VU22 / ELW262 / GA283 / G(II)256 / GC332 / GC(II)340 / CP094 / W&R166 Wait for the Lord (Berthier) Wait for the Lord whose day is near, wait for the lord, keep watch, take heart. A lovely simple Taize chant. Sheet music, translations and sound samples.
*AoVK-58 We wait in hope for the Lord (Ford) Simple a cappella round; also good for kids "We wait in hope for the Lord, God is our help and our shield. And so our hearts rejoice, for we trust in God's holy name"
Online resource Out of the Depths (Harding) A simple four part arrangement which would be nice if you have a choir or quartet that could sing this. Available for purchase, and you can view a sample PDF here. Note that the sound sample is for a different song, so that's a bit confusing, really.
G(II)112 / GC126 Out of the depths / If You O God Laid Bare Our Guilt (Foley) A cantored Psalm with a simple reponse "If you O God laid bare our guilt, who could endure it, who could endure it". Sound sample and sheet music here (search for "If you O God laid bare").
NCH472 / UMH474 / VU670 / R297 / ELW875 / HPP434 / HPSS404 / G(II)637 / GC874 / GC(II)847 / CP509 / W&R500 Precious Lord take my hand A classic gospel song.
TiS 667 / G(II)415 / GC591 How shall I sing to God (Wren) The words are excellent, but neither the tune in TiS or Gather hymnals is straightforward because of the difficult meter; this might be a good song for your musicians to present to start teaching the congregation so they can remember it in more difficult times. All lyrics and sheet music sample of the Gather hymnal melody (HOPE) here.
The next 3 are all variations of the same Gelineau (cantored) Psalm, but with different responses. They are all pretty good, so I'm listing them all! There is just one change needed to make the Psalm incluisve (just change "his word" to "God's word" and it will be fine).
GC128 Out of the depths / I place all my trust in you O God (Gelineau) The original response from Gelineau. Very simple. Words to the response are "I place all my trust in you O God, all my hope is in your saving word". Sound sample and sheet music here (search for "I place all my trust"). Note this one also has a (non-inclusve) Trinitarian formula at the end.
G(II)113 / GC127 Out of the Depths / With the Lord There Is Mercy (Gelineau / Haugen) This response is also quite simple, but a slightly different emphasis. "With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption". Sound sample and sheet music here (search for "With the Lord there is mercy").
*TiS 81 Out of the depths / With the Lord there is Mercy (Gelineau / Carroll) Simple response is "With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption". We have used this at Brunswick Uniting and it went quite well.
Romans 8:6-11
flesh vs. spirit
*Tune In: Spirit of the Father / Alive in me Catchy song about God’s spirit living in us. Lyrics and sound sample here.
*TiS 410 / AHB 323 / LBW523 / ELW582 / NCH59 / CP655 / 82Hml-511 Holy Spirit, ever dwelling I like these words, but prefer to sing it to NETTLETON (TiS 392). Lyrics and sound sample.
VU379 / LBW459 / ELW786 / SFFS 2121 O Holy Spirit root of life Good words from Hildegard of Bingen. Simple known tune. You can see the sheet music here (doesn't always work)
*TiS 421 Where the Spirit is there's freedom (Harling) Fun and good. Lyrics.
*NCH060 O Spirit of God (Niedling) Good words of the many facets of the Spirit. The first verse is particularly appropriate for times when there seems to be more suffering in the world than usual. The tune (O HELIGER GEIST - TiS 401) is quite simple and familiar. This is a new translation of the hymn "O Spirit of Life, O Spirit of God".
John 11:1-45
Healing of Lazarus
**Tune In: See our God with the tear-streaked face / Our God who weeps (Kate Scull) Very simple folk tune and challenging and hopeful lyrics. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook.
*NCH192 / VU146 / SFFS 2106 / HPP183 / PH312 / Cha199 / 82Hml-715 When Jesus wept (Billings) I like this simple round. Partly because it's by a Sacred Harp composer - William Billings! It's also very restful and beautiful. I quite like this video sound sample. This might be a good song for the musicians to sing during the offering, or in a prayer of confession.
FFS09 Christ of the sad face (Murray) Christ weeps for the city, the earth. A longing for peace.
VU471 / W&R692 / URW122 Eat this bread and never hunger (Damon) Very simple tune. The third verse refers to this passage. Particularly good if you are celebrating communion this week, but will be fine if you are not.
*TiS 382 / AoV2-131 / ATN 15 / NCH238 / CH417 / UMH311 / VU186 / LBW148 / ELW570 / GA364 / HPP210 / G(II)318 / GC444 / GC(II)456 / CP237 / CP(E) 153 / W&R311 / Cha230 / 82Hml-204 Now the green blade riseth (Crum) This is a beautiful song to a familiar folk tune. Especially nice if you have a flute or recorder and guitar... Lyrics and FAST sound 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.
*WoV658 / ELW506 The word of God is source and seed "The Word of God is flesh and grace, Who comes to sing, to laugh and cry. So dare to be as Jesus was, Who came to live and love and die.". This song also fits with the Ezekiel reading. There's a very helpful commentary including the lyrics of the hymn here.
*AoVK-125 / ATW 489 Turn our sadness upside down (Leigh Newton) Good for kids, and adults too. Simple tune, but not so simple that it’s boring. Lyrics (search in the page for "sadness").
*TiS 682 / ATW 490 / GA236 / AA151 When human voices cannot sing (Murray) Lovely words of healing in the face of grief. I prefer this sung to ST COLUMBA, which is the tune in GA and TiS. Lyrics (loads a word document)
*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.
Exclusive BUC code: *, we've sung it in the last 5 years; *, we haven't, but it suits us well.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Songs and Hymns for Lent 4A (April 3, 2011)
1 Samuel 16:1-13
David as the anointed leader. The person God calls to lead may not be the person we would expect.
*Tune In: Kingdom Come (Lees) A song about how things are not what we expect in God’s kingdom. Lots of words and good images including "when forced to carry one mile, go two" Sound sample and lyrics
*TiS 681 Lord let me see see more and more (Langmead) A prayer to see, hear, care, learn and love with God. Very straightforward to sing. It can get a bit "ploddy". Might be a good idea to use different instrumentation, alternate women and men for a verse or two and definitely use an a cappella verse! If you don't do this often, I can't recommend highly enough the odd verse without accompaniment in a hymn with more than 4 vereses. It helps the congregation to hear each other.
*AoV1-021 / ATOK 402 / StS114 / G(II)488 / GC682 / GC(II)669 God Has Chosen Me (Farrell) Energetic, and great words of justice. Can be rocky or smooth, however you like it. Sample sheet music, words and keyboard only sound sample here.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd
*Tune In: Like the sun upon my skin / God’s Mercy A beautiful ballad about identifying God's mercy in the beauty of creation. Lyrics, sound sample and songbook available here.
*Tune In: The God that I know. A ballad drawing on God’s strength and comfort; not easy if unfamiliar. Lyrics and sample available here.
*NCYC2007 Lead me on (Gioia) A pretty cool gospel rock song from the NCYC before last.
*TiS 10 / AHB 16 / AoV1-144 / NCH479 / Iona (Common Ground) / CH14/16 / UMH136 / VU747/8 / StS099 / LBW451 / ELW778 / GA473 / HPP55 / HPSS170 / CP519 / CP(E) 594 / W&R86 / Cha0789 / Srce662 The Lord's my Shepherd I'll not want / God is my shepherd It's not inclusive, but I think it's more than a sentimental favourite. Good to sing to a different tune every now and then, e.g. Brother James' Air. NCH, VU and Chalice all have an inclusive language version. You know, we've only sung this twice at Brunswick in the last 5 years.
*Recorded Music 23rd Psalm (Bobby McFerrin) A beautiful feminine rendering of the Psalm. From the album Medicine Man. Listen to it here on Youtube. Gave people some challenging images of God last year when we played it. If you'd like to sing it, it's also in the Unitarian Universalist book "Singing the Journey" and "Music for Liturgy" from St. Gregory of Nyssa.
*Recorded music I am your true shepherd (Meet me in the middle of the air) - Paul Kelly. A beautiful song mainly based on Psalm 23 except for that "middle of the air" bit. Listen to a nice a cappella rendition here. Lyrics are here. It's on Paul Kelly's 2005 album "Foggy Highway".
*ATN 84 / NCH490 / CH539 / UMH521 / LBW660 / WoV660 / ELW325 / HPP433 / HPSS363 / CP512 / W&R506 / Cha627 / ZSS69 / URW110 I want Jesus to walk with me An excellent simple song. There are also many good recordings of this song. A few years ago we listened to an Eric Bibb recording of this song (from his album Roadworks) during the distribution of communion. I think it worked very well.
TiS 233 / AHB 173 I will sing the wondrous story A good old fashioned sing (HYFRYDOL). Note that it uses masculine language for Christ, which may bother some. “I was lost but Jesus found me, found the sheep that went astray, raised me up and gently led me back into the narrow way”.
AoV1-033 / WoV690 / ELW423 / SFFS 2058 / G(II)29 / GC31 / GC(II)23 Shepherd Me O God (Haugen) A nice reworking of the 23rd Psalm. The chant could also be used on its own: “Shepherd me O God beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life”. Sheet music, lyrics and a fairly unhelpful sound sample here.
G(II)458 / GC654 / GC(II)628 With a Shepherd's Care (Chepponis) Very nice words with feminine and masculine images for God. Would be very straightforward to sing. Painfully slow sound sample, lyrics and sheet music sample here.
*CH355 / VU210 / HPP81 / GC(II)525 / RS699 / CP630 You Lord Are Both Lamb and Shepherd (Dunstan) Beautiful words. Can be sung to many tunes. I like it to PICARDY or WESTMINSTER ABBEY. Sound sample, lyrics and sheet music sample here.
*Taize / CP563 In God alone my soul can find rest and peace / Mon Ame Se Repose (Berthier) A very beautiful chant from Taize. Music and sound samples for practice here.
FFS39 It all depends on where I'm going (Gibson) Good words of God's constant presence through all of life's travels, sung to a simple Celtic-style tune (TE HORO). Full music and lyrics here.
*CH716 / VU374 / FFS10 / SFFS 2128 / W&R477 / Cha575 Come and find the quiet centre (Murray) A good song for the beginning of worship. I would prefer to sing this to one of the more traditional melodies offered (Tune 1 in FFS) or BEACH SPRING (TiS 493).
*W&R655 / URW202 Come Away from Rush and Hurry (Dawn) Excellent words of resting in a sacred space to the familiar tune BEACH SPRING (TiS 493).
*Cha734 (I) / URW244 My shepherd you supply my need and holy is your name Responsive psalm with sung refrain to the tune of the first line of Brother James' Air.
Ephesians 5:8-14
Living in the light. “Sleepers awake! Rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you”
*Tune In Light transcendent / Peace In Our Time (Brown) A groovy bossa nova song of peace and action for peace. Lyrics. Sound sample. Songbook.
*AoV2-003 / ATOK 313 / CH543 / StJ / R127 / ELW715 / GC(II)512 Longing for light we wait in darkness (Christ be our light) (Farrell). This song is just excellent.
*TiS 129 / AHB 56 / AoV1-029 / ATA 131 / NCH547 / CH555 / UMH378 / VU266 / LBW448 / ELW779 / GA437 / HPP334 / PH280 / G(II)434 / GC612 / GC(II)586 / CP352 / CP(E) 375 / W&R422 / Cha546 / ZSS202 / Srce25 Amazing grace how sweet the sound (NEW BRITAIN/Newton) I once was lost... I think you all know this one. Nice youtube of some Sacred Harp singing, and a story.
*Taize / AoV2-005 / GC(II)510 / SP327 / URW386 Jesus Your Light / Jesus le Christ (Berthier) “Jesus your light is shining within us, let not my doubts and my darkness speak to me; Jesus your light is shining within us, let my heart always welcome your love”. One of the slightly more upbeat Taize chants. Sheet music, samples and translations.
UMH551 / VU566 / WoV745 / ELW452 / CP115 / 82Hml-547 Awake O sleeper rise from death (Tucker) Quite good; lyrics vary across hymnals. I like the hymn tune AZMON best. "Awake O sleeper rise from death and Christ shall give you light; so learn his love, its length and breadth, its fullness, depth, and height."
*GA173 / G(II)577 / GC803 Awake O sleeper arise from death (Haugen) Bright and joyful. I like these lyrics a little more than the Tucker version. Lyrics. Sound sample.
W&R543 Come Build a Church (Medema) Excellent words ("Come build a church of human frailty, come build a church of flesh and blood"). Not great for the congregation, but excellent for a choir or musicians. Lyrics. Sound sample and sheet music.
*MV31 / Linnea Good Pure love A simple two-part chant “Pure love, pure truth, pure justice, God”. Would be great if you can teach it to some of the congregation before worship starts.
GA406 / G(II)356 / GC511 The Light of Christ surrounds us (Haugen) The chorus is a lovely universal prayer, and the verses would be best sung by a soloist or Cantor. Sound sample. Lyrics and sheet music.
*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. A very well known South African protest song.
*TiS 548 / VU629 / HPSS340 / CP(E) 415 / W&R418 Eternal light shine in my heart I really love this beautiful inclusive and ancient prayer. It is not familiar, but would be beautiful sung by a soloist until your congregation grows to know it.
John 9:1-41
Jesus heals the blind man on the Sabbath. Lots of stuff about blindness and seeing.
*TiS 547 / AHB 455 / AoV1-009 / NCH451 / CH465 / UMH451 / VU642 / WoV776 / ELW793 / HPP353 / PH339 / CP505 / CP(E) 386 / W&R502 / Cha595 / Srce70 / URW180 / 82Hml-488 Be thou my vision O Lord of my heart (8th century Irish) Most recent hymnals are fairly inclusive in their language for this. Please note that the High King imagery is quite important in terms of Irish history. This has been changed in some hymnals because it is masculine, but the hymn is based on an ancient story of St. Patrick refusing to follow the High King Logaire, but choosing instead the "High King of Heaven". Probably worth telling this story to your congregation if you choose this song. Lyrics, tune and a little of the story.
Taize / MV164 Christe lux mundi (Taize) A slower, and very simple Taize chant. Only works in Latin. Sound samples, sheet music.
VU471 / W&R692 / URW122 Eat this bread and never hunger (Damon) Very simple tune. The second verse refers to this passage. Particularly good if you are celebrating communion this week, but will be fine if you are not. The third verse refers to the passage for next week, so this is a really good week to introduce this song!
*G(II)639 / GC876 / GC(II)844 He Healed the Darkness of My Mind (Pratt Green) Quite powerful words and a simple minor tune. This would be best, I think, sung by a soloist until your congregation knows it, but there would be power in each person thinking about these words as they sing. It doesn't have to sound like a solo from a musical, but if you want to act out the scene, I guess that could work. Sheet music and lyrics. Musical theatre style sound sample.
*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.
CH401 / VU121 / R139 / ELW334 / GA307 / HPP174 / G(II)288 / GC397 / GC(II)401 / CP179 Tree of life and awesome mystery (Haugen) Great words about the suffering of Chirst, that is really very positive. "Tree of life and awesome mystery, in your death we are reborn; though you die in all of history, still you rise with every morn". Lyrics, slow sound sample and sheet music (search for Tree of Life then scroll down!).
TiS 633 / AHB 563 Lord we are blind; the world of sight (Edge) Beautiful formal words. The tune is not immediately singable, but is very beautiful. If you have musicians who could sing this for the congregation, that would be excellent.
*TiS 638 / NCH175 / CH717 / UMH265 / LBW380 / ELW675 / HPSS380 / CP291 / CP(E) 346 / W&R638 / Cha503 O Christ the healer we have come Beautiful words and simple to sing. Good to sing during intercessions. I like the tune INVERCARRY best. Lyrics and sound sample (of an alternative tune)
*TiS 579 / ATN 23 / GtB The blind man sat by the road and he cried / The Blind Man (Anon) "O-o-o-o-o Show me the wa-a-a-ay! Show me the wa-a-a-ay! Show me the wa-a-a-ay, the way to go home". A good one for kids.
*Online resource The Blind Man (Harding) An excellent, relaxed, gospel-blues rendition of this passage. Mp3 sound sample. Sheet music PDF sample and available for purchase.
*TiS 242 / AHB 183 / AoV1-018 / ATN 27 / CH404 / UMH261 / VU352 / HPP163 / HPSS302 / G(II)481 / GC708 / GC(II)689 / CP(E) 468 / W&R118 I danced in the morning (Carter / SIMPLE GIFTS) I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame, the holy people said it was a shame. Lyrics and sound sample.
Exclusive BUC code: *, we've sung it in the last 5 years; *, we haven't, but it suits us well.
David as the anointed leader. The person God calls to lead may not be the person we would expect.
*Tune In: Kingdom Come (Lees) A song about how things are not what we expect in God’s kingdom. Lots of words and good images including "when forced to carry one mile, go two" Sound sample and lyrics
*TiS 681 Lord let me see see more and more (Langmead) A prayer to see, hear, care, learn and love with God. Very straightforward to sing. It can get a bit "ploddy". Might be a good idea to use different instrumentation, alternate women and men for a verse or two and definitely use an a cappella verse! If you don't do this often, I can't recommend highly enough the odd verse without accompaniment in a hymn with more than 4 vereses. It helps the congregation to hear each other.
*AoV1-021 / ATOK 402 / StS114 / G(II)488 / GC682 / GC(II)669 God Has Chosen Me (Farrell) Energetic, and great words of justice. Can be rocky or smooth, however you like it. Sample sheet music, words and keyboard only sound sample here.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd
*Tune In: Like the sun upon my skin / God’s Mercy A beautiful ballad about identifying God's mercy in the beauty of creation. Lyrics, sound sample and songbook available here.
*Tune In: The God that I know. A ballad drawing on God’s strength and comfort; not easy if unfamiliar. Lyrics and sample available here.
*NCYC2007 Lead me on (Gioia) A pretty cool gospel rock song from the NCYC before last.
*TiS 10 / AHB 16 / AoV1-144 / NCH479 / Iona (Common Ground) / CH14/16 / UMH136 / VU747/8 / StS099 / LBW451 / ELW778 / GA473 / HPP55 / HPSS170 / CP519 / CP(E) 594 / W&R86 / Cha0789 / Srce662 The Lord's my Shepherd I'll not want / God is my shepherd It's not inclusive, but I think it's more than a sentimental favourite. Good to sing to a different tune every now and then, e.g. Brother James' Air. NCH, VU and Chalice all have an inclusive language version. You know, we've only sung this twice at Brunswick in the last 5 years.
*Recorded Music 23rd Psalm (Bobby McFerrin) A beautiful feminine rendering of the Psalm. From the album Medicine Man. Listen to it here on Youtube. Gave people some challenging images of God last year when we played it. If you'd like to sing it, it's also in the Unitarian Universalist book "Singing the Journey" and "Music for Liturgy" from St. Gregory of Nyssa.
*Recorded music I am your true shepherd (Meet me in the middle of the air) - Paul Kelly. A beautiful song mainly based on Psalm 23 except for that "middle of the air" bit. Listen to a nice a cappella rendition here. Lyrics are here. It's on Paul Kelly's 2005 album "Foggy Highway".
*ATN 84 / NCH490 / CH539 / UMH521 / LBW660 / WoV660 / ELW325 / HPP433 / HPSS363 / CP512 / W&R506 / Cha627 / ZSS69 / URW110 I want Jesus to walk with me An excellent simple song. There are also many good recordings of this song. A few years ago we listened to an Eric Bibb recording of this song (from his album Roadworks) during the distribution of communion. I think it worked very well.
TiS 233 / AHB 173 I will sing the wondrous story A good old fashioned sing (HYFRYDOL). Note that it uses masculine language for Christ, which may bother some. “I was lost but Jesus found me, found the sheep that went astray, raised me up and gently led me back into the narrow way”.
AoV1-033 / WoV690 / ELW423 / SFFS 2058 / G(II)29 / GC31 / GC(II)23 Shepherd Me O God (Haugen) A nice reworking of the 23rd Psalm. The chant could also be used on its own: “Shepherd me O God beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life”. Sheet music, lyrics and a fairly unhelpful sound sample here.
G(II)458 / GC654 / GC(II)628 With a Shepherd's Care (Chepponis) Very nice words with feminine and masculine images for God. Would be very straightforward to sing. Painfully slow sound sample, lyrics and sheet music sample here.
*CH355 / VU210 / HPP81 / GC(II)525 / RS699 / CP630 You Lord Are Both Lamb and Shepherd (Dunstan) Beautiful words. Can be sung to many tunes. I like it to PICARDY or WESTMINSTER ABBEY. Sound sample, lyrics and sheet music sample here.
*Taize / CP563 In God alone my soul can find rest and peace / Mon Ame Se Repose (Berthier) A very beautiful chant from Taize. Music and sound samples for practice here.
FFS39 It all depends on where I'm going (Gibson) Good words of God's constant presence through all of life's travels, sung to a simple Celtic-style tune (TE HORO). Full music and lyrics here.
*CH716 / VU374 / FFS10 / SFFS 2128 / W&R477 / Cha575 Come and find the quiet centre (Murray) A good song for the beginning of worship. I would prefer to sing this to one of the more traditional melodies offered (Tune 1 in FFS) or BEACH SPRING (TiS 493).
*W&R655 / URW202 Come Away from Rush and Hurry (Dawn) Excellent words of resting in a sacred space to the familiar tune BEACH SPRING (TiS 493).
*Cha734 (I) / URW244 My shepherd you supply my need and holy is your name Responsive psalm with sung refrain to the tune of the first line of Brother James' Air.
Ephesians 5:8-14
Living in the light. “Sleepers awake! Rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you”
*Tune In Light transcendent / Peace In Our Time (Brown) A groovy bossa nova song of peace and action for peace. Lyrics. Sound sample. Songbook.
*AoV2-003 / ATOK 313 / CH543 / StJ / R127 / ELW715 / GC(II)512 Longing for light we wait in darkness (Christ be our light) (Farrell). This song is just excellent.
*TiS 129 / AHB 56 / AoV1-029 / ATA 131 / NCH547 / CH555 / UMH378 / VU266 / LBW448 / ELW779 / GA437 / HPP334 / PH280 / G(II)434 / GC612 / GC(II)586 / CP352 / CP(E) 375 / W&R422 / Cha546 / ZSS202 / Srce25 Amazing grace how sweet the sound (NEW BRITAIN/Newton) I once was lost... I think you all know this one. Nice youtube of some Sacred Harp singing, and a story.
*Taize / AoV2-005 / GC(II)510 / SP327 / URW386 Jesus Your Light / Jesus le Christ (Berthier) “Jesus your light is shining within us, let not my doubts and my darkness speak to me; Jesus your light is shining within us, let my heart always welcome your love”. One of the slightly more upbeat Taize chants. Sheet music, samples and translations.
UMH551 / VU566 / WoV745 / ELW452 / CP115 / 82Hml-547 Awake O sleeper rise from death (Tucker) Quite good; lyrics vary across hymnals. I like the hymn tune AZMON best. "Awake O sleeper rise from death and Christ shall give you light; so learn his love, its length and breadth, its fullness, depth, and height."
*GA173 / G(II)577 / GC803 Awake O sleeper arise from death (Haugen) Bright and joyful. I like these lyrics a little more than the Tucker version. Lyrics. Sound sample.
W&R543 Come Build a Church (Medema) Excellent words ("Come build a church of human frailty, come build a church of flesh and blood"). Not great for the congregation, but excellent for a choir or musicians. Lyrics. Sound sample and sheet music.
*MV31 / Linnea Good Pure love A simple two-part chant “Pure love, pure truth, pure justice, God”. Would be great if you can teach it to some of the congregation before worship starts.
GA406 / G(II)356 / GC511 The Light of Christ surrounds us (Haugen) The chorus is a lovely universal prayer, and the verses would be best sung by a soloist or Cantor. Sound sample. Lyrics and sheet music.
*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. A very well known South African protest song.
*TiS 548 / VU629 / HPSS340 / CP(E) 415 / W&R418 Eternal light shine in my heart I really love this beautiful inclusive and ancient prayer. It is not familiar, but would be beautiful sung by a soloist until your congregation grows to know it.
John 9:1-41
Jesus heals the blind man on the Sabbath. Lots of stuff about blindness and seeing.
*TiS 547 / AHB 455 / AoV1-009 / NCH451 / CH465 / UMH451 / VU642 / WoV776 / ELW793 / HPP353 / PH339 / CP505 / CP(E) 386 / W&R502 / Cha595 / Srce70 / URW180 / 82Hml-488 Be thou my vision O Lord of my heart (8th century Irish) Most recent hymnals are fairly inclusive in their language for this. Please note that the High King imagery is quite important in terms of Irish history. This has been changed in some hymnals because it is masculine, but the hymn is based on an ancient story of St. Patrick refusing to follow the High King Logaire, but choosing instead the "High King of Heaven". Probably worth telling this story to your congregation if you choose this song. Lyrics, tune and a little of the story.
Taize / MV164 Christe lux mundi (Taize) A slower, and very simple Taize chant. Only works in Latin. Sound samples, sheet music.
VU471 / W&R692 / URW122 Eat this bread and never hunger (Damon) Very simple tune. The second verse refers to this passage. Particularly good if you are celebrating communion this week, but will be fine if you are not. The third verse refers to the passage for next week, so this is a really good week to introduce this song!
*G(II)639 / GC876 / GC(II)844 He Healed the Darkness of My Mind (Pratt Green) Quite powerful words and a simple minor tune. This would be best, I think, sung by a soloist until your congregation knows it, but there would be power in each person thinking about these words as they sing. It doesn't have to sound like a solo from a musical, but if you want to act out the scene, I guess that could work. Sheet music and lyrics. Musical theatre style sound sample.
*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.
CH401 / VU121 / R139 / ELW334 / GA307 / HPP174 / G(II)288 / GC397 / GC(II)401 / CP179 Tree of life and awesome mystery (Haugen) Great words about the suffering of Chirst, that is really very positive. "Tree of life and awesome mystery, in your death we are reborn; though you die in all of history, still you rise with every morn". Lyrics, slow sound sample and sheet music (search for Tree of Life then scroll down!).
TiS 633 / AHB 563 Lord we are blind; the world of sight (Edge) Beautiful formal words. The tune is not immediately singable, but is very beautiful. If you have musicians who could sing this for the congregation, that would be excellent.
*TiS 638 / NCH175 / CH717 / UMH265 / LBW380 / ELW675 / HPSS380 / CP291 / CP(E) 346 / W&R638 / Cha503 O Christ the healer we have come Beautiful words and simple to sing. Good to sing during intercessions. I like the tune INVERCARRY best. Lyrics and sound sample (of an alternative tune)
*TiS 579 / ATN 23 / GtB The blind man sat by the road and he cried / The Blind Man (Anon) "O-o-o-o-o Show me the wa-a-a-ay! Show me the wa-a-a-ay! Show me the wa-a-a-ay, the way to go home". A good one for kids.
*Online resource The Blind Man (Harding) An excellent, relaxed, gospel-blues rendition of this passage. Mp3 sound sample. Sheet music PDF sample and available for purchase.
*TiS 242 / AHB 183 / AoV1-018 / ATN 27 / CH404 / UMH261 / VU352 / HPP163 / HPSS302 / G(II)481 / GC708 / GC(II)689 / CP(E) 468 / W&R118 I danced in the morning (Carter / SIMPLE GIFTS) I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame, the holy people said it was a shame. Lyrics and sound sample.
Exclusive BUC code: *, we've sung it in the last 5 years; *, we haven't, but it suits us well.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Songs and Hymns for Lent 3A (March 27, 2011)
Exodus 17:1-7
God provides water from the rock.
*Tune in: Save us in the time of trial (Whelan) A quiet reflective song with a chant-like chorus. Also written for our Lenten Art Project last year. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook
*AoV2-006 / The tide has turned Deeper River / There's a river running deep within the silence of our souls (Digby Hannah). An excellent song of restoration for tired desert-like souls.
*ATW 435 Wellsprings / Like the woman of old. Another song of seeking water in the desert. A favourite of our congregation.
*NCH 45 Christ is the Mountain of Horeb which is flowing Puerto Rican pasodoble folk melody. Very repetitive and easy. Can start slow and get fast, which is always a winner move.
*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.
*Tune In: We will sing a new song to the world (Brown) It makes me think of being joyous when everyone around you sounds like a grumling Israelite in the desert. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook.
*AoV1-114 / HPP376 / G(II)430 / GC608 / GC(II)596 / RS 734 / W&R430 You shall cross the barren desert / Be not afraid (Dufford) Beautiful words. Well known (at least, the chorus). Verses may be tricky. Lyrics. Sheet music
Psalm 95
*Linnea Good Stand on the rock Simple gospel chorus. This would be a good intro to worship, or be sung by a small vocal group as the Bible is brought forward and the candle lit. The congregation could join in once it has been sung a couple of times.
*Psalm Project Let us shout for joy (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A fun, joyous, pop song. Good lyrics and easy tune. Lots of fun. Sound sample, lyrics and downloadable songbook
*Taize / AoV2-109 / CH772 / GA429 / SFFS 2195 / G(II)396 / GC566 / GC(II)546 / SP128 / W&R448 / URW381 In the Lord I'll Be Ever Thankful / El Senyor (Berthier) A joyful and bouncy Taize song. Works well in English, German and Spanish at least. Good for kids. Sheet music, translations into many other languages, sound samples.
*MV092 Like a Rock (Good) A lovely simple song (with actions!) from Linnea Good. Great for kids.
PH215 / URW292 Come Sing with Joy to God (Duba) Good lyrics to the well known tune DARWALL'S 148th. Lyrics.
*Iona (SBL) / CH140 / MV181 / WoV727 / ELW554 / G(II)341 / GC495 Lord Your Hands Have Formed This World / The Earth is the Lord's / Imegmoy pitak ay yay (Oliano) Good words of creation and our role in it, sung to a lovely, and not too difficult, Philippino melody. A good song to sing during the offering. Some lyrics and link to a very slow version on youtube.
Emergent Psalter Come let us sing (Everett) Very simple refrain. Sheet music (refrain only).
*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.
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.
Cha747 Come into God's presence with a joyful song (Sivis) Joyful sung response, and responsively read passage.
Taize / MV009 O Come and let us sing to God our hope (Taize) Joyful gathering chant. Sound samples, sheet music.
*AoVK-47 / HPP51 / W&R80 He's Got the Whole World in His Hand / God's Got the whole world in safe hands (Traditional) It’s hard to make this inclusive. I’ve seen “God’s got the whole world in safe hands”, which is a little clumsy. AoVK has "The whole world is in God's hands" which works really well. Good for kids.
*TiS 119 / AHB 40 / NCH012 / UMH152 / VU231 / HPP39 / PH288 / W&R31 / Cha064 / 82Hml-398 I sing the almighty power of God (Watts) I really like this old hymn, especially sung to ELLACOMBE. VU, NCH and Chalice have inclusive language, but other hymnals (like TiS and AHB, are not).
*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.
Romans 5:1-11
Justified by faith, gives us peace and reconciliation; suffering.
Unknown source Therefore being justified by faith I think this was in a Scripture in Song book. I like the first verse and chorus. I used to always play this in 3/4 for some reason, which makes it sound kind of like The Housemartins (a band I really liked last century). Lyrics and sound sample (in 4/4).
*TiS 129 / AHB 56 / AoV1-029 / ATA 131 / NCH547 / CH555 / UMH378 / VU266 / LBW448 / ELW779 / GA437 / HPP334 / PH280 / G(II)434 / GC612 / GC(II)586 / CP352 / CP(E) 375 / W&R422 / Cha546 / ZSS202 / Srce25 Amazing grace how sweet the sound (NEW BRITAIN/Newton) I once was lost... I think you all know this one. I don't think we have sung this at BUC for a long time! Nice youtube of some Sacred Harp singing, and a story.
TiS 710 / CH758 / Iona (Enemy of Apathy) Come Holy Spirit gracious heavenly dove A beautiful and simple chant.
*AoVK-28 / ATOK 376 Faith hope and love (Watts) This is so easy, and so cool. If you have some groovy musicians, this can even be a very funky rock song. Very easy, and great for kids and non-readers.
*TiS 683 / WoV735 / ELW603 / W&R416 God when human bonds are broken (Kaan) These words pick up an unusual theme, and fit really well with this reading. There are a couple of possible tunes, none of which are immediately familiar, but they are not difficult either. Lyrics (and a nice, but different tune).
*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").
John 4:5-42
Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the well
*ATW 435 Wellsprings / Like the woman of old. Another song of seeking water in the desert.
*MV117 By the well a thirsty woman (Stilborn) An excellent song that brings this story to us, with words of Christ being our source of living water. The tune will probably need to be taught.
*TiS 693 / AoV1-031 / GA212 Come as you are that's how I want you (Browne) This song is beautiful, gentle, simple, and very well known. Lyrics here (search for "come as you are"). Slow and mushy sound sample. I'm trying to track down a USA distributor for this song, but no luck yet.
*W&R655 / URW202 Come Away from Rush and Hurry (Dawn) Excellent words of resting in a sacred space to the familiar tune BEACH SPRING (TiS 493)
VU471 / W&R692 / URW122 Eat this bread and never hunger (Damon) Very simple tune. The first verse refers to this passage. Particularly good if you are celebrating communion this week, but will be fine if you are not.
ATW 451 Jesus Saviour of the world (Schubert) Simple chant-like song.
Taize / MV102 / GC(II)648 / Jesus your spirit in us (Taize) "Jesus your spirit in us is a wellspring of life everlasting" Lyrics in English and German. Sheet music sample. Very very slow sound sample. You know, Taize music is not necessarily slow. When one of the brothers visited here, he strongly encouraged us not to be so slow!
*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.
*StJ / GC(II)505 / W&R444 / URW144 / Srce2-502 Rain Down (Cortez) A good simple gospel song. A very easy chorus, and good verses too. Lyrics and sheet music. Sound sample.
AoV1-027 / AoVK-102 / G(II)613 / GC847 / GC(II)807 We come to share our story / Song of the Body of Christ (Traditional Hawaiian / Haas) Simple tune and good words. Hymnprint sample is painfully slow. Sheet music and sound sample here (search for "song of the body")
TiS 661 / UMH274 / W&R364 Woman in the night (Wren) A song about many women in the Bible and the women that we meet every day. Tune will be fine if you give the congregation a chance to join in only on the chorus until they are confident (8 verses, but they are short ones). Might be good used a few times with a few verses each time through the service.
*Folk song Jesus met the woman at the well (Traditional) An old folk song - a storytelling song. Here's an old movie of Ian and Sylvia Tyson doing a good old version of it. And here's Nick Cave, which I like better, except the ending. Oh, and how about Rev Cleophus Robinson? I think that's the best one! It would be cool to play this.
God provides water from the rock.
*Tune in: Save us in the time of trial (Whelan) A quiet reflective song with a chant-like chorus. Also written for our Lenten Art Project last year. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook
*AoV2-006 / The tide has turned Deeper River / There's a river running deep within the silence of our souls (Digby Hannah). An excellent song of restoration for tired desert-like souls.
*ATW 435 Wellsprings / Like the woman of old. Another song of seeking water in the desert. A favourite of our congregation.
*NCH 45 Christ is the Mountain of Horeb which is flowing Puerto Rican pasodoble folk melody. Very repetitive and easy. Can start slow and get fast, which is always a winner move.
*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.
*Tune In: We will sing a new song to the world (Brown) It makes me think of being joyous when everyone around you sounds like a grumling Israelite in the desert. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook.
*AoV1-114 / HPP376 / G(II)430 / GC608 / GC(II)596 / RS 734 / W&R430 You shall cross the barren desert / Be not afraid (Dufford) Beautiful words. Well known (at least, the chorus). Verses may be tricky. Lyrics. Sheet music
Psalm 95
*Linnea Good Stand on the rock Simple gospel chorus. This would be a good intro to worship, or be sung by a small vocal group as the Bible is brought forward and the candle lit. The congregation could join in once it has been sung a couple of times.
*Psalm Project Let us shout for joy (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A fun, joyous, pop song. Good lyrics and easy tune. Lots of fun. Sound sample, lyrics and downloadable songbook
*Taize / AoV2-109 / CH772 / GA429 / SFFS 2195 / G(II)396 / GC566 / GC(II)546 / SP128 / W&R448 / URW381 In the Lord I'll Be Ever Thankful / El Senyor (Berthier) A joyful and bouncy Taize song. Works well in English, German and Spanish at least. Good for kids. Sheet music, translations into many other languages, sound samples.
*MV092 Like a Rock (Good) A lovely simple song (with actions!) from Linnea Good. Great for kids.
PH215 / URW292 Come Sing with Joy to God (Duba) Good lyrics to the well known tune DARWALL'S 148th. Lyrics.
*Iona (SBL) / CH140 / MV181 / WoV727 / ELW554 / G(II)341 / GC495 Lord Your Hands Have Formed This World / The Earth is the Lord's / Imegmoy pitak ay yay (Oliano) Good words of creation and our role in it, sung to a lovely, and not too difficult, Philippino melody. A good song to sing during the offering. Some lyrics and link to a very slow version on youtube.
Emergent Psalter Come let us sing (Everett) Very simple refrain. Sheet music (refrain only).
*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.
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.
Cha747 Come into God's presence with a joyful song (Sivis) Joyful sung response, and responsively read passage.
Taize / MV009 O Come and let us sing to God our hope (Taize) Joyful gathering chant. Sound samples, sheet music.
*AoVK-47 / HPP51 / W&R80 He's Got the Whole World in His Hand / God's Got the whole world in safe hands (Traditional) It’s hard to make this inclusive. I’ve seen “God’s got the whole world in safe hands”, which is a little clumsy. AoVK has "The whole world is in God's hands" which works really well. Good for kids.
*TiS 119 / AHB 40 / NCH012 / UMH152 / VU231 / HPP39 / PH288 / W&R31 / Cha064 / 82Hml-398 I sing the almighty power of God (Watts) I really like this old hymn, especially sung to ELLACOMBE. VU, NCH and Chalice have inclusive language, but other hymnals (like TiS and AHB, are not).
*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.
Romans 5:1-11
Justified by faith, gives us peace and reconciliation; suffering.
Unknown source Therefore being justified by faith I think this was in a Scripture in Song book. I like the first verse and chorus. I used to always play this in 3/4 for some reason, which makes it sound kind of like The Housemartins (a band I really liked last century). Lyrics and sound sample (in 4/4).
*TiS 129 / AHB 56 / AoV1-029 / ATA 131 / NCH547 / CH555 / UMH378 / VU266 / LBW448 / ELW779 / GA437 / HPP334 / PH280 / G(II)434 / GC612 / GC(II)586 / CP352 / CP(E) 375 / W&R422 / Cha546 / ZSS202 / Srce25 Amazing grace how sweet the sound (NEW BRITAIN/Newton) I once was lost... I think you all know this one. I don't think we have sung this at BUC for a long time! Nice youtube of some Sacred Harp singing, and a story.
TiS 710 / CH758 / Iona (Enemy of Apathy) Come Holy Spirit gracious heavenly dove A beautiful and simple chant.
*AoVK-28 / ATOK 376 Faith hope and love (Watts) This is so easy, and so cool. If you have some groovy musicians, this can even be a very funky rock song. Very easy, and great for kids and non-readers.
*TiS 683 / WoV735 / ELW603 / W&R416 God when human bonds are broken (Kaan) These words pick up an unusual theme, and fit really well with this reading. There are a couple of possible tunes, none of which are immediately familiar, but they are not difficult either. Lyrics (and a nice, but different tune).
*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").
John 4:5-42
Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the well
*ATW 435 Wellsprings / Like the woman of old. Another song of seeking water in the desert.
*MV117 By the well a thirsty woman (Stilborn) An excellent song that brings this story to us, with words of Christ being our source of living water. The tune will probably need to be taught.
*TiS 693 / AoV1-031 / GA212 Come as you are that's how I want you (Browne) This song is beautiful, gentle, simple, and very well known. Lyrics here (search for "come as you are"). Slow and mushy sound sample. I'm trying to track down a USA distributor for this song, but no luck yet.
*W&R655 / URW202 Come Away from Rush and Hurry (Dawn) Excellent words of resting in a sacred space to the familiar tune BEACH SPRING (TiS 493)
VU471 / W&R692 / URW122 Eat this bread and never hunger (Damon) Very simple tune. The first verse refers to this passage. Particularly good if you are celebrating communion this week, but will be fine if you are not.
ATW 451 Jesus Saviour of the world (Schubert) Simple chant-like song.
Taize / MV102 / GC(II)648 / Jesus your spirit in us (Taize) "Jesus your spirit in us is a wellspring of life everlasting" Lyrics in English and German. Sheet music sample. Very very slow sound sample. You know, Taize music is not necessarily slow. When one of the brothers visited here, he strongly encouraged us not to be so slow!
*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.
*StJ / GC(II)505 / W&R444 / URW144 / Srce2-502 Rain Down (Cortez) A good simple gospel song. A very easy chorus, and good verses too. Lyrics and sheet music. Sound sample.
AoV1-027 / AoVK-102 / G(II)613 / GC847 / GC(II)807 We come to share our story / Song of the Body of Christ (Traditional Hawaiian / Haas) Simple tune and good words. Hymnprint sample is painfully slow. Sheet music and sound sample here (search for "song of the body")
TiS 661 / UMH274 / W&R364 Woman in the night (Wren) A song about many women in the Bible and the women that we meet every day. Tune will be fine if you give the congregation a chance to join in only on the chorus until they are confident (8 verses, but they are short ones). Might be good used a few times with a few verses each time through the service.
*Folk song Jesus met the woman at the well (Traditional) An old folk song - a storytelling song. Here's an old movie of Ian and Sylvia Tyson doing a good old version of it. And here's Nick Cave, which I like better, except the ending. Oh, and how about Rev Cleophus Robinson? I think that's the best one! It would be cool to play this.
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