Exodus 3:1-15
Moses meets God in the burning bush
*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.
*SFFS 2010 I am who I am, I will be who I will. Excellent words form Jane Parker Huber to the familiar tune ST DENIO (Immortal Invisible God only wise). “I am who I am, I will be who I will, Unfetter Creator and creating still! In such words of freedom our God’s clarion voice speaks loudly or softly and our hearts rejoice”. Music and lyrics.
*TiS 143 / AHB 80 / NCH1 / CH132 / UMH103 / VU264 / LBW526 / ELW834 / HPP37 / HPSS263 / GC507 / CP(E) 474 / W&R48 / 82Hml-423 Immortal invisible God only wise (Smith) Words are mostly inclusive apart for the last verse which our congregation usually sings as "Great Father of glory, pure Mother of light". Lyrics and sound sample.
*TiS 125 / AHB 53 / NCH24 / HPP24 / GC544 / CH162 / UMH116 / LBW544 / ELW831 / HPP24 / HPSS488 / GC544 / CP347 / HPPS 488 The God of Abr’am praise / The God of Abraham Praise (ben Judah) A very well known hymn to an ancient Jewish Synagogue melody. The lyrics are quite masculine in most hymnals, which vary widely in which verses they include. The words are inclusive, yet still old-fashioned and poetic in the NCH. Lyrics and sound sample.
*VU255 / CP348 The living God be praised (ben Judah) A new translation of "The God of Abraham praise". Excellent words, and of course, a familiar tune (LEONI).
*TiS 658 / AoV1-090 / ATE 296 / CH251 / UMH593 / VU509 / WoV752 / ELW574 / HPP541 / HPSS525 / G(II)492 / GC(II)671 / CP(E) 470 / W&R559 / Cha452 / Srce328 I the Lord of sea and sky / Here I am Lord (Schutte). Song of God searching for us and our response. Very slow sound sample. Lyrics and sample sheet music.
*AoV2-103 / AoVK-115 / G(II)514 / GC712 / GC(II)715 Holy Ground (Brenda Pena) I love the energy and passion in this song and the vision of the heavens embracing the earth. I especially like the “Do you believe in freedom? Yes we do Lord! Do you believe in justice? Justice for all!” call in the middle. Bilingual English/Spanish song. Sample here.
*TiS 651 Take, take off your shoes A fun song for kids; this song is focussed on caring for the earth and creation more than the story of Moses, but it picks up the shoe removal theme.
*AoV2-023 / GA393 / G(II)339 / GC492 God beyond all names (Farrell). Excellent words. The verse can be tricky – lots of words to fit in, so don’t take it too fast. You may like to use a cantor, soloist or small group for the verses and ask the congregation to join in the chorus “All around us we have known you, all creation longs to hold you, in our living and our dying we are bringing you to birth”. Lyrics.
*Traditional / NCH572 / UMH448 / WoV670 / HPP453 / PH334 / G(II)515 / GC715 / W&R618 / Cha663 / 82Hml-648 When Israel was in Egypt's land / Go down, Moses (African-American) A great old traditional anti-slavery song. Lots of recorded versions of this too. If you have a gospel choir, they can have a lot of fun with this. Kids would like it too.
G(II)506 / GC(II)676 There Is a Mountain / I am for you (Cooney) Good words about God speaking through the flame with the words "I am for you". Could be sung with a few less verses than written, if you like.
*AoVK-36 / VU649 / SFFS 2242 / URW118 Walk with me I will Walk with you (Rice) Nice simple words about being sent to do God's work and Moses' call. Good for kids I think.
Recorded music Moses thought it Odd (Justin Roberts) This song is a bit silly, but lots of fun for kids and might be good for your Sunday School class to listen to. Listen here.
Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b
Story of the Exodus The readings above will also fit.
You might like to sing an Alleluia!
TiS 66 Sing to God, sing praises. A good cantor and refrain. The refrain will also work well with the Psalm being read from the verses.
*NCH Psalter Let the hearts of those who seek God rejoice! Good joyous refrain, which could be used with the sung or read Psalm.
*AoVK-24 / Iona (T1AU) / CH756 Bless the Lord (Kenyan). A good call and response chant – would make a good processional. Words are: Bless the Lord (my sisters), Bless the Lord (my brothers) Bless the Lord there is no other God. I think our congregation would really enjoy this. The tune is identical to Reamo Leboga. Sound sample of Reamo leboga (scroll to the 3rd album).
*Iona / MV104 Know that God is good (Mungu ni mwema). A simple joyous chant from Africa. It’s been a while since we’ve sung this. Sheet music and melody line sample.
*ATW 457 / Iona (T1AU) / CH751 / MV050 / StS017 / GC(II)260 / URW402 Alleluia (Duncan) A simple Alleluia. Gather version has a descant cantor part. Here are some nice notes on how to teach it to your congregation. Sound sample.
*ATW 460 / Iona (M&G) / CH752 / VU717 / WoV610 Alleluia (South Africa) (Mxadana) Beautiful and peaceful, especially if you can work all the harmonies in.
*ATN 51 / SFFS 2258 / SiS Sing alleluia to the Lord A simple and familiar song to many. It has nice soaring Alleluias and is not too hard. Substitute “Our God” if you like, as some hymnals do.
*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.
*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.
*This may seem a strange suggestion, but the image of a slave becoming the ruler is picked up in the Magnificat. If it seems appropriate, you could sing a favourite setting of the Magnificat. The simplest approach would be to sing the Taize Magnificat either in unison or as a round as a reminder of the upside-down world of God. Sample sheet music here.
Alternative Hebrew Scriptures Jeremiah 15:15-21
Jeremiah seeks God, and will speak God's words, and these will get him in trouble.
*AoV2-102 / GA509 Who will speak if we don't (Haugen) Excellent challenging words.
NCH531 / CH542 / UMH463 / VU589 / LBW403 / ELW676 / HPP372 / PH426 / CP(E) 512 / W&R593 Lord speak to me that I may speak / God speak to me that I may speak (Havergal) Old fashioned hymn. Easy to sing and good, only slightly dated, words of evangelism, depending on the hymnal. Lutheran sources have "Speak to us"
Alternative Psalm: Psalm 26:1-8
Test me God, and I'll be faithful
ATW 423 Lord of every mystery / Examine my heart (Mann) This is a bit tricky, but if familiar to your congregation would be great to sing. Lyrics (loads a pdf)
*NCH Psalter Your steadfast love is before my eyes (Kirkland) A beautiful and simple refrain to a cantored or read Psalm.
*ATOK 414 / Iona (LFB, Common Ground) / CH501 / GA485 / G(II)480 / GC673 / GC(II)655 Take this moment, sign and space (Bell) A fairly well known favourite. Simple melody and beautiful words. Lyrics (includes a very skinny picture of Jesus).
NCH312 We love your realm O God (Dwight) A fairly traditional style hymn with good lyrics.
Romans 12:9-21
a bunch of wise instructions for living a peaceful life
*TiS 607 / AoV2-126 / ATN 95 / CH528 / VU684 / StJ / SFFS 2171 / HPP406 / G(II)524 / GC726 / GC(II)721 / CP(E)519/ W&R587 / Srce 462 Make me a channel of your peace (Temple) Youtube video of Sinead O'Connor singing it and lyrics and MIDI file.
*TiS 650 / AoV2-169 / ATA 191 / CH694 / NCH539 / VU595 / ELW659 / AA08 / SFFS 2222 / HPP442 / G(II)476 / GC683 / GC(II)661 / CP500 / CP(E) 393 / W&R391 / Cha490 / SP263 / URW117 Brother, sister, let me serve you / Won't you let me be your servant? (Gillard) I think you all know this one. Lyrics. NCH has a nice turn on the lyrics with "Won't you let me be your servant?" as the first line.
*ATW 463 / Iona (T1AU) / R239 / ELW721 / SFFS 2219 Goodness is stronger than evil (Tutu / Iona) Words from Archbishop Desmond Tutu. "Victory is ours, victory is ours, through him who loves us". Some congregations change the last line to "Compassion is ours, compassion is ours...". It depends on the context in which you sing it, I suppose. Sound sample.
NCH287 / FFS11 Come teach us Spirit of our God (Murray) Excellent words and a good tune.
*TiS 648 / NCH388 / UMH560 / HPP289 / HPSS358 / W&R596 / Cha487 Help us accept each other (Kaan) Very nice simple words about acceptance and love for all people. The tune varies in each hymn book. I like the lilting tune RUNNYMEDE in TiS, but if a more standard hymn is needed for your congregation, it can also be sung to AURELIA (The church's one foundation). Lyrics.
*TiS 672 / GA554 Lord of earth and all creation (Thwaites) A call for renewal of creation and all God's created people in Australia. Two possible tunes. The newer tune is very good, but if your congregation can't do a new tune this week, it can also be sung to WESTMINSTER ABBEY which is very well known. Lyrics (split by words of mission and blessing).
TiS 599 / AHB 520 / NCH448 / CH502 / UMH399 / VU506 / LBW406 / ELW685 / HPP349 / HPSS391 / CP435 / CP(E) 581 / W&R466 / Cha609 / Srce633 / Take my life and let it be (Havergal) An oldy but a goody. Lyrics and tune sample.
Matthew 16:21-28
*TiS 749 / AoV1-154 / AoVK-131 / ATE 305 / NCH360 / Iona (SBL, Freedom is coming) / CH800 / UMH497 / VU572 / WoV773 / ELW809 / HPP340 / G(II)484 / GC677 / GC(II)674 Send me Jesus / Thuma mina A good African song, simple enough in English or the original language.
*ATW 498 / Iona (T1AU) / MV 196 / SP&P182 / URW438 We will take what you offer (Iona) An excellent simple short song that works well either as an upbeat chorus or as a reflective chant. "We will take what you offer. We will live by your word. We will love one another. And be fed by you Lord". Sound sample. Works especially well if you can teach the parts to your congregation, or have a small core group who can add in at least the bass part.
*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) Lyrics.
*TiS 473 / NCH314 / W&R615 / Cha655 Community of Christ (Murray) Beautiful words to a traditional Hebrew synagogue melody (LEONI). Easy to sing. Lyrics (downloads a pdf of an excellent service of lamentation - scroll to the end).
*SFFS 2129 / HPP322 / W&R344 / Cha344 / Srce2-244 I Have Decided to Follow Jesus (Traditional) Good simple traditional chorus. This Australian video from Perth has some nice chords. Maybe that gospel choir could sing this too (but not like the video).
*ATOK 413 / Iona (HSNW) / CH533 / VU567 / StS039 / R276 / ELW798 / GA502 / SFFS 2130 / HPP317 / G(II)510 / GC700 / GC(II)687 / CP430 / CP(E) 622 / W&R350 Will you come and follow me / The Summons (Iona / KELVINGROVE) A classic, but it has been overdone sometimes. Don't sing it too slowly or it really drags and takes forever!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Songs and Hymns for Proper 16A / Pentecost 21A / 10th after Pentecost (August 21, 2011)
Exodus 1:8-2:10
The oppression and attempted genocide of the Israelites. The birth of Moses, his hiding and his adoption.
*MV78 / CH168 / FFS30 / SFFS 2048 / SP&P069 God weeps at love withheld (Murray) Pretty full-on lyrics of lamentation, that some may find difficult to sing simply because of the horrors it names. In the context of this story, I think this is okay. This is a really powerful story, let’s not water it down. Lyrics (search for "God weeps"). For the service this links to, they used the words as a responsive prayer.
*SFFS 2189 A mother lined a basket (Keithahn) Quite a remarkable song about the risks we take in letting children go. "A mother lined a basket to keep her baby dry, then rocked him on a river lest he awake and cry, She let a princess name him, her son, that he might live, God's people had a leader, she had such hope to give". Lyrics.
*TiS 674 / Iona (Common Ground, HSNW) / CH253 / SP245 Inspired by love and anger (Bell / Maule) Strong song to a very familiar Celtic air (Salley Gardens). A big favourite. Lyrics (scroll down).
*TiS 689 / ATE 286 / GtB Lord hear my praying, listen to me / Sorrowing song (Mann) Powerful words of lamentation to a simple tune. Words are straightforward about asking difficult questions of God. Lyrics.
*ATA 192 When people despair we would bring hope A good song looking positively at how we can encourage others in times of difficulty, and a prayer to the Spirit.
NCH 574 In Egypt under Pharaoh Second verse is focussed on African slavery overseas, so may not be particularly meaningful for Australian congregations. Would work okay without the 2nd verse. THORNBURY would be a better tune.
*TiS 621 / UMH435 / VU677 / R260 / ELW748 / HPSS289 / GC(II)717 / CP593 / W&R626 / Cha680 O God of Every Nation (Reid) Powerful words seeking God's redemption of the world. Can be sung to LLANGLOFFAN or PASSION CHORALE, both very familiar hymn tunes. Lyrics and a tune sample. Highly recommended. Go look at the lyrics just to bring a smile to your face. So much hope!
Recorded music Pharoah (Richard Thompson) This song is about the modern Pharoah, and our slavery to money. The recording I have of this is by June Tabor, which is quite menacing. Richard Thompson wrote it. Oh, one more version, very celtic, from The House Band.
Psalm 124
Strength in the face of oppression.
*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.
*Tune In: Come O God and visit us sick we pray / Your abundant life (Brown) A joyful song "Lead us into your abundant life". This has been sung frequently by the musicians at BUC, but not by the congregation! Lyrics and sound sample.
AoV2-149 / NCH570 / UMH533 / HPP311 / G(II)522 / GC724 / GC(II)711 / W&R512 / Cha630 / ZSS106 We shall overcome (Horton/Hamilton/Carawan/Seeger) Particularly good if your congregation is facing struggle. Other songs from the Civil Rights era would also fit well with this Psalm. Here's the sound of Martin Luther King Jr talking about the power of this song.
*NCH497 / SFFS 2208 / HPPS354 / G(II)508 / GC707 / GC(II)684 Guide my feet while I run this race An excellent civil rights song. Would work well as a meditative prayer for guidance or as an uplifting call to action at the end of the service. Lyrics and clunky sound sample.
*ATW 463 / Iona (T1AU) / R239 / ELW721 / SFFS 2219 Goodness is stronger than evil (Tutu / Iona) Words from Archbishop Desmond Tutu. "Victory is ours, victory is ours, through him who loves us". Some congregations change the last line to "Compassion is ours, compassion is ours...". It depends on the context in which you sing it, I suppose. Sound sample.
*NCH Psalter Our help is in the name of God (Marshall) Simple refrain and good paraphrase of the Psalm for a cantor, chanting, or to be read with a response.
TiS 79 / AHB 23 / CH84 / PH236 Now Israel may say and that in truth (Old 124th / Scottish Psalter) This paraphrase is very beautiful, and the language reads well even though it is so old. It may be best if you musicians can sing it to the congregation as a prayer. The tune is not difficult if you would like to use it for the whole congregation. The words are not entirely inclusive, but very close. Here is a less inclusive set of the lyrics.
TiS 123 / AHB 48 / NCH488 / CH691 / UMH534 / VU652 / CP(E) 384 / W&R451 / Cha 566 Be still my soul Sometimes this can be a bit mushy, but the words are really very strong and helpful. It’s a more a prayer for personal strength than the ideas in the Psalm. Lyrics and sound sample.
Alternative Hebrew Scripture: Isaiah 51:1-6
Listen to God, salvation is coming, and is forever
*AoV1-061 / ATOK 355 / SFFS 2194 / G(II)521 / GC723 / GC(II)707 / ZSS110 / SgTJ1035 Freedom is coming (South African) Excellent and lots of fun, especially if you have a keen African-style drummer in your congregation. It's really worth teaching the parts to your congregation before the service. It can get a bit boring if the congregation don't know they get to listen to the other parts! Partial sheet music, sound sample (search for Freedom)
*Tune In: Come O God and visit us sick we pray / Your abundant life (Brown) A joyful song "Lead us into your abundant life". This has been sung frequently by the musicians at BUC, but not by the congregation! Lyrics and sound sample.
*TiS 657 / CH263 / VU700 / AA50 / CP(E) 447 / Cha656 God of freedom God of justice (Murray / Guthrie Foote) Powerful lyrics. Can be sung to either TREDEGAR (new, but not too hard) or PICARDY (very familiar). Lyrics and midi.
*URW357 Praise to the One who sets prisoners free (Eslinger) This is written as a refrain for Psalm 146, but I think that refrain alone as a round would be good for the kids' song.
Alternative Psalm Psalm 138
God is great, strengthens us, protects us, God regards the lowly
*Linnea Good I lifted my voice and spoke your name, your word of answer swiftly came a very simple congregational response to the Psalm being spoken. It would be great to do this. Need a confident reader who can preferably lead the singing, or an attentive musician to come in at the right spot.
*Emergent Psalter They shall sing of the ways of the Lord (Everett) Simple psalm refrain and Psalm spoken over music in between the refrains. Sheet music (antiphon only).
GC(II)700 Lord you lead through sea and desert / You Are Strong You Are Holy (Dunstan) Simple version of this psalm with a strong chorus. I don't know if our congregation would like it though. Sheet music and sound sample (search for "you are strong")
AoV2-002 / AoVK-5 / StS049 / SFFS 2218 / G(II)461 / GC649 / GC(II)627 / URW158 I will come to you in the silence / You are mine (Haas) Tune is a bit mushy, but the lyrics are excellent and full of strength. Easy to sing. Keyboard sample. Lyrics. Sample sheet music (search for "you are mine")
Iona (SBL) / CH140 / MV181 / WoV727 / ELW554 / G(II)341 / GC495 Lord Your Hands Have Formed This World / The Earth is the Lord's (Oliano) Good words of creation to a lovely, and not too difficult, Phillippino melody. Lyrics (first verse only) Tune.
*SFFS 2082 / Cha623 / ZSS105 Woke Up This Morning (African-American Spiritual) A great Spiritual. If you don't have one of these sources, you can just make it up from this video.... This could be a good Sunday to make use of those choir stalls...
ATW 480 On the day I called (Farrell)
GC(II)700 Lord you lead through sea and desert / You Are Strong You Are Holy (Dunstan) Simple version of this psalm with a strong chorus.
Romans 12:1-8
Holy bodies, the church as one body.
*ATFG561 / Tune In: Community (Brown) A song about being welcomed and how to work together as part of a community. "Part of a family interconnected, this is community; Welcoming strangers, visiting neighbours, this gives us dignity". Very singable song about building community. A big favourite at Brunswick Uniting. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook.
MV 18 / SFFS 2164 / HPP555 Lord Prepare me to be a sanctuary / God prepare me to be a sanctuary. A simple chorus, could get mushy. I thought it was a chant when I looked at it, but there are some groovy gospel recordings of this (some listed sources also have verses, but the version in MV is only the chorus). It would work either way.
AoV1-086 / G(II)530 / GC733 / GC(II)727 We are many parts, we are all one body (Haugen) I like the chorus much better than the verses, but they are really okay too. The sound sample at Hymnprint is horrifically slow, but look at the sheet music there.
*AoV1-129 / CH665 / UMH62o / VU467 / ELW701 / HPP525 / G(II)599 / GC830 / GC(II)813 One bread, one body. A classic. Don't play it too slow or it takes forever!! Particularly appropriate if you are celebrating communion.
*AoVK-148 / ATOK 388 We are one body (Trish Watts / Monica O'Brien). A good boppy song. Excellent words; good for kids especially.
StJ / GC(II)645 We Are the Body of Christ / Somos el Cuerpo de Cristo Bilingual verses and choruses. Will be good for a congregation where both languages are spoken. Sound sample and Sheet music sample.
*MV153 Body, mind and spirit “Body, mind and spirit, in god’s image born to be. Sing, rejoice in life most sacred. Revel in mystery”. A simple 4 verse chant-like song. Simple enough for the congregation after playing it through once. Really good words.
*TiS 571 / AHB 480 / CH529 / UMH438 / VU416 / CP467 / CP(E) 430 / W&R718 Forth in thy name O Lord I go A nice old minstrelly tune, and timeless words about committing all our works to God. Lyrics.
AoVNG102 We are One Body in Christ (McKenna) Good words, and I can't remember why I liked this because I can't find the sound sample online anymore. Here are the lyrics.
*TiS 468 / NCH309 / PH436 We are your people Spirit of grace (Wren) I really like the lyrics to this one. The tune is a bit funny and the hymn is quite long - needs something to stop people plodding through it; maybe split the singing into male/female or different sides of the congregation. Lyrics.
NCH271 / UMH538 / VU196 / HPSS131 / CP249 / W&R333 Wind who makes all winds blow Excellent words. Familiar tune (ABERYSTWYTH).
Matthew 16:13-20
Who do you say I am? Declaration of Christ as Messiah, and Peter as the rock. Strange words about binding and loosening on earth and in Heaven.
“Who is this man who gathers people to him?” Thanks to everyone who has emailed to help me find these words. They are by Mary Pearson from New Zealand. It’s to the tune Londonderry Air. I am now trying to get in touch with Mary. Hopefully I'll be able to obtain her permission to post them online in the next couple of days.
ATFG532 Jesus asks (Park) Lovely words of Christ as "blossom of freedom", "beam of hope" and "maker of peace". From the Korean "Jesu neem un nu gu shin ga".
*ATW 459 God Version 1.0 An excellent rock song about how we name God. Lyrics here.
StS051 Quién Dicen que Soy Yo/Who Do You Say that I Am? (Cortez). A quiet and reflective bilingual song (Spanish / English). Also available from OCP website. Sound sample here.
*AoVK-36 / VU649 / SFFS 2242 / URW118 Walk with me I will Walk with you (Rice) Nice simple words about being sent to do God's work. Good for kids I think. Also mentions Moses' call which will feature next week.
The oppression and attempted genocide of the Israelites. The birth of Moses, his hiding and his adoption.
*MV78 / CH168 / FFS30 / SFFS 2048 / SP&P069 God weeps at love withheld (Murray) Pretty full-on lyrics of lamentation, that some may find difficult to sing simply because of the horrors it names. In the context of this story, I think this is okay. This is a really powerful story, let’s not water it down. Lyrics (search for "God weeps"). For the service this links to, they used the words as a responsive prayer.
*SFFS 2189 A mother lined a basket (Keithahn) Quite a remarkable song about the risks we take in letting children go. "A mother lined a basket to keep her baby dry, then rocked him on a river lest he awake and cry, She let a princess name him, her son, that he might live, God's people had a leader, she had such hope to give". Lyrics.
*TiS 674 / Iona (Common Ground, HSNW) / CH253 / SP245 Inspired by love and anger (Bell / Maule) Strong song to a very familiar Celtic air (Salley Gardens). A big favourite. Lyrics (scroll down).
*TiS 689 / ATE 286 / GtB Lord hear my praying, listen to me / Sorrowing song (Mann) Powerful words of lamentation to a simple tune. Words are straightforward about asking difficult questions of God. Lyrics.
*ATA 192 When people despair we would bring hope A good song looking positively at how we can encourage others in times of difficulty, and a prayer to the Spirit.
NCH 574 In Egypt under Pharaoh Second verse is focussed on African slavery overseas, so may not be particularly meaningful for Australian congregations. Would work okay without the 2nd verse. THORNBURY would be a better tune.
*TiS 621 / UMH435 / VU677 / R260 / ELW748 / HPSS289 / GC(II)717 / CP593 / W&R626 / Cha680 O God of Every Nation (Reid) Powerful words seeking God's redemption of the world. Can be sung to LLANGLOFFAN or PASSION CHORALE, both very familiar hymn tunes. Lyrics and a tune sample. Highly recommended. Go look at the lyrics just to bring a smile to your face. So much hope!
Recorded music Pharoah (Richard Thompson) This song is about the modern Pharoah, and our slavery to money. The recording I have of this is by June Tabor, which is quite menacing. Richard Thompson wrote it. Oh, one more version, very celtic, from The House Band.
Psalm 124
Strength in the face of oppression.
*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.
*Tune In: Come O God and visit us sick we pray / Your abundant life (Brown) A joyful song "Lead us into your abundant life". This has been sung frequently by the musicians at BUC, but not by the congregation! Lyrics and sound sample.
AoV2-149 / NCH570 / UMH533 / HPP311 / G(II)522 / GC724 / GC(II)711 / W&R512 / Cha630 / ZSS106 We shall overcome (Horton/Hamilton/Carawan/Seeger) Particularly good if your congregation is facing struggle. Other songs from the Civil Rights era would also fit well with this Psalm. Here's the sound of Martin Luther King Jr talking about the power of this song.
*NCH497 / SFFS 2208 / HPPS354 / G(II)508 / GC707 / GC(II)684 Guide my feet while I run this race An excellent civil rights song. Would work well as a meditative prayer for guidance or as an uplifting call to action at the end of the service. Lyrics and clunky sound sample.
*ATW 463 / Iona (T1AU) / R239 / ELW721 / SFFS 2219 Goodness is stronger than evil (Tutu / Iona) Words from Archbishop Desmond Tutu. "Victory is ours, victory is ours, through him who loves us". Some congregations change the last line to "Compassion is ours, compassion is ours...". It depends on the context in which you sing it, I suppose. Sound sample.
*NCH Psalter Our help is in the name of God (Marshall) Simple refrain and good paraphrase of the Psalm for a cantor, chanting, or to be read with a response.
TiS 79 / AHB 23 / CH84 / PH236 Now Israel may say and that in truth (Old 124th / Scottish Psalter) This paraphrase is very beautiful, and the language reads well even though it is so old. It may be best if you musicians can sing it to the congregation as a prayer. The tune is not difficult if you would like to use it for the whole congregation. The words are not entirely inclusive, but very close. Here is a less inclusive set of the lyrics.
TiS 123 / AHB 48 / NCH488 / CH691 / UMH534 / VU652 / CP(E) 384 / W&R451 / Cha 566 Be still my soul Sometimes this can be a bit mushy, but the words are really very strong and helpful. It’s a more a prayer for personal strength than the ideas in the Psalm. Lyrics and sound sample.
Alternative Hebrew Scripture: Isaiah 51:1-6
Listen to God, salvation is coming, and is forever
*AoV1-061 / ATOK 355 / SFFS 2194 / G(II)521 / GC723 / GC(II)707 / ZSS110 / SgTJ1035 Freedom is coming (South African) Excellent and lots of fun, especially if you have a keen African-style drummer in your congregation. It's really worth teaching the parts to your congregation before the service. It can get a bit boring if the congregation don't know they get to listen to the other parts! Partial sheet music, sound sample (search for Freedom)
*Tune In: Come O God and visit us sick we pray / Your abundant life (Brown) A joyful song "Lead us into your abundant life". This has been sung frequently by the musicians at BUC, but not by the congregation! Lyrics and sound sample.
*TiS 657 / CH263 / VU700 / AA50 / CP(E) 447 / Cha656 God of freedom God of justice (Murray / Guthrie Foote) Powerful lyrics. Can be sung to either TREDEGAR (new, but not too hard) or PICARDY (very familiar). Lyrics and midi.
*URW357 Praise to the One who sets prisoners free (Eslinger) This is written as a refrain for Psalm 146, but I think that refrain alone as a round would be good for the kids' song.
Alternative Psalm Psalm 138
God is great, strengthens us, protects us, God regards the lowly
*Linnea Good I lifted my voice and spoke your name, your word of answer swiftly came a very simple congregational response to the Psalm being spoken. It would be great to do this. Need a confident reader who can preferably lead the singing, or an attentive musician to come in at the right spot.
*Emergent Psalter They shall sing of the ways of the Lord (Everett) Simple psalm refrain and Psalm spoken over music in between the refrains. Sheet music (antiphon only).
GC(II)700 Lord you lead through sea and desert / You Are Strong You Are Holy (Dunstan) Simple version of this psalm with a strong chorus. I don't know if our congregation would like it though. Sheet music and sound sample (search for "you are strong")
AoV2-002 / AoVK-5 / StS049 / SFFS 2218 / G(II)461 / GC649 / GC(II)627 / URW158 I will come to you in the silence / You are mine (Haas) Tune is a bit mushy, but the lyrics are excellent and full of strength. Easy to sing. Keyboard sample. Lyrics. Sample sheet music (search for "you are mine")
Iona (SBL) / CH140 / MV181 / WoV727 / ELW554 / G(II)341 / GC495 Lord Your Hands Have Formed This World / The Earth is the Lord's (Oliano) Good words of creation to a lovely, and not too difficult, Phillippino melody. Lyrics (first verse only) Tune.
*SFFS 2082 / Cha623 / ZSS105 Woke Up This Morning (African-American Spiritual) A great Spiritual. If you don't have one of these sources, you can just make it up from this video.... This could be a good Sunday to make use of those choir stalls...
ATW 480 On the day I called (Farrell)
GC(II)700 Lord you lead through sea and desert / You Are Strong You Are Holy (Dunstan) Simple version of this psalm with a strong chorus.
Romans 12:1-8
Holy bodies, the church as one body.
*ATFG561 / Tune In: Community (Brown) A song about being welcomed and how to work together as part of a community. "Part of a family interconnected, this is community; Welcoming strangers, visiting neighbours, this gives us dignity". Very singable song about building community. A big favourite at Brunswick Uniting. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook.
MV 18 / SFFS 2164 / HPP555 Lord Prepare me to be a sanctuary / God prepare me to be a sanctuary. A simple chorus, could get mushy. I thought it was a chant when I looked at it, but there are some groovy gospel recordings of this (some listed sources also have verses, but the version in MV is only the chorus). It would work either way.
AoV1-086 / G(II)530 / GC733 / GC(II)727 We are many parts, we are all one body (Haugen) I like the chorus much better than the verses, but they are really okay too. The sound sample at Hymnprint is horrifically slow, but look at the sheet music there.
*AoV1-129 / CH665 / UMH62o / VU467 / ELW701 / HPP525 / G(II)599 / GC830 / GC(II)813 One bread, one body. A classic. Don't play it too slow or it takes forever!! Particularly appropriate if you are celebrating communion.
*AoVK-148 / ATOK 388 We are one body (Trish Watts / Monica O'Brien). A good boppy song. Excellent words; good for kids especially.
StJ / GC(II)645 We Are the Body of Christ / Somos el Cuerpo de Cristo Bilingual verses and choruses. Will be good for a congregation where both languages are spoken. Sound sample and Sheet music sample.
*MV153 Body, mind and spirit “Body, mind and spirit, in god’s image born to be. Sing, rejoice in life most sacred. Revel in mystery”. A simple 4 verse chant-like song. Simple enough for the congregation after playing it through once. Really good words.
*TiS 571 / AHB 480 / CH529 / UMH438 / VU416 / CP467 / CP(E) 430 / W&R718 Forth in thy name O Lord I go A nice old minstrelly tune, and timeless words about committing all our works to God. Lyrics.
AoVNG102 We are One Body in Christ (McKenna) Good words, and I can't remember why I liked this because I can't find the sound sample online anymore. Here are the lyrics.
*TiS 468 / NCH309 / PH436 We are your people Spirit of grace (Wren) I really like the lyrics to this one. The tune is a bit funny and the hymn is quite long - needs something to stop people plodding through it; maybe split the singing into male/female or different sides of the congregation. Lyrics.
NCH271 / UMH538 / VU196 / HPSS131 / CP249 / W&R333 Wind who makes all winds blow Excellent words. Familiar tune (ABERYSTWYTH).
Matthew 16:13-20
Who do you say I am? Declaration of Christ as Messiah, and Peter as the rock. Strange words about binding and loosening on earth and in Heaven.
“Who is this man who gathers people to him?” Thanks to everyone who has emailed to help me find these words. They are by Mary Pearson from New Zealand. It’s to the tune Londonderry Air. I am now trying to get in touch with Mary. Hopefully I'll be able to obtain her permission to post them online in the next couple of days.
ATFG532 Jesus asks (Park) Lovely words of Christ as "blossom of freedom", "beam of hope" and "maker of peace". From the Korean "Jesu neem un nu gu shin ga".
*ATW 459 God Version 1.0 An excellent rock song about how we name God. Lyrics here.
StS051 Quién Dicen que Soy Yo/Who Do You Say that I Am? (Cortez). A quiet and reflective bilingual song (Spanish / English). Also available from OCP website. Sound sample here.
*AoVK-36 / VU649 / SFFS 2242 / URW118 Walk with me I will Walk with you (Rice) Nice simple words about being sent to do God's work. Good for kids I think. Also mentions Moses' call which will feature next week.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Songs and Hymns for Proper 15A / Pentecost 20A / 9th after Pentecost (August 14, 2011)
Genesis 45:1-15
Joseph and his brothers are reconciled. *TiS 653 / NCH417 / CH526 / UMH383 / GC(II)453 / W&R355 / Cha518 This is a day of new beginnings. Excellent words of reconciliation from Brian Wren. There are two possible tunes. I prefer the more simple hymn-like Carlton Young tune which is in TiS. There is an optional final verse that can be used for Communion. "This is a day of new beginnings, time to remember and move on, time to believe what love is bringing, laying to rest the pain that's gone." Lyrics. *NCH429 God bless our homes (von Christierson) A song to the easy tune CHARTERHOUSE seeking harmoniuos relationships and forgiveness within our households. 3rd verse "Forgive the hurts our selfishness inflicted on those we love and those who love us best. Christ, heal the scars, and draw us all together in God whose will is peace and joy and rest."
SFFS 2169 God How Can We Forgive? (Duck) Good words of healing broken relationships that once were loving to the tune of LEONI. It references the story of the woman caught in adultery, but could also be useful for this passage. Lyrics.
*TIS 683 / WoV735 / ELW603 / W&R416 God! When human bonds are broken. Words focussed on the healing of relationships. The tune is quite beautiful, simple, and should not be too difficult if a little time is taken to introduce it to your congregation.
VU619 / WoV738 / ELW612 / SFFS 2213 / G(II)642 / GC882 / GC(II)854 / RS 958 / CP612 / W&R630 / Cha506 / URW161 Healer of Our Every Ill (Haugen) Good straightforward words of healing and simple tune. "Give us strength to love each other, every sister, every brother". Can get overly mushy. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Sound sample.
*CH198 / MV001 / GC753 / GC(II)741 / RS 846 Let Us Build a House / All are welcome (Haugen / TWO OAKS) This song has wonderful lyrics of hope for what a Christian community can be like, and a chorus that joyfully says “All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place”. Sheet music sample. Sound sample. Lyrics (scroll down a little).
Psalm 133
How good it is when kindred live in unity. Images of oil running from the head down the beard and dew on mountains*Singing from the Lectionary Exclusive! Behold how good and Oh how pleasant (Noelle Damico) A beautiful chant that I remember every time I read this Psalm; I have an old photocopy of it and Noelle has given me permission to post it here, complete with my husband's guitarist scribbles. It can be sung as a simple chant, or sung with a responsive bilingual reading of the Psalm (Spanish/English) or really any way you like. You can access the file here. Please let Noelle know if you use this (revdamico_at_gmail.com).
*Emergent Psalter How good it is (Everett) A good 3/4 swung Psalm refrain to a read Psalm. Sheet music (response) here.
*NCH Psalter How pleasant to live in unity (Jeong) A simple Psalm refrain for a chanted or read Psalm.*VU856 / CH90 / StJ / R212 / ELW649 / SFFS 2231 / Cha292 / Cha764b O Look and Wonder / Miren que bueno (Pablo Sosa). An energetic refrain, and verses are a paraphrase of the psalm. Lots of fun. Chalice also has it arranged as a Psalm response with reading if you prefer. Sample sheet music of melody here (bilingual) - search for "miren que bueno". Sound sample here.
Cha764a Unite us God unite us in your everlasting love (Anon) Simple sung response, and responsive reading.*CH198 / MV001 / GC753 / GC(II)741 / RS 846 Let Us Build a House / All are welcome (Haugen / TWO OAKS) This song has wonderful lyrics of hope for what a Christian community can be like, and a chorus that joyfully says “All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place”. Sheet music sample. Sound sample. Lyrics (scroll down a little).
AoVK-113 Thank you O Lord for this world of ours (Barr) Gen 1; Ps 19; Ps 104; Ps 133 A good kids song in two parts. Psalm Project: Sharing the Road (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A cool rock song based on the Psalm with an excellent chorus. Sound sample, lyrics, theology and songbook available here.
*G(II)525 / GC727 / SP244 / URW335 How Good It Is, what pleasure comes (Duck) Good words celebrating the joy of a faithful community. Sung to a familiar shape note tune. Lyrics and sample sheet music. Midi file of tune.
Alternative Hebrew Scripture: Isaiah 56:1, 6-8
Maintain justice, and do what is right; Welcome the foreigner and the outcast.
*AoV1-050 Act Justly (O'Brien/Watts) Simple chant-like chorus, and strong verses. I love this one. It's based on Micah 6:8, but works very well for this reading too.
AoV2-055 / G(II)513 / GC711 / GC(II)716 May we find richness / Harvest of Justice (Haas) Easy to sing and excellent words. “Gather with patience for those who have nothing. Leave them your riches, and you will receive.” Sheet music and lyrics. Slow sound sample.
*TiS 657 / CH263 / VU700 / AA50 / CP(E) 447 / Cha656 God of freedom God of justice (Murray / Guthrie Foote) Powerful lyrics. Can be sung to either TREDEGAR (new, but not too hard) or PICARDY (very familiar). Lyrics and midi.
*WCC website: Hear the message we now are proclaiming / El mensaje que hoy proclamamos. This jubilant Colombian song of liberty and new life for the poor and suffering would fit well with this reading. We have only recently introduced this at Brunswick, and it would be good to do it again. Free sheet music
*FFS60 Stranger standing at my door Amazing words, but a tricky tune. Would be good if you have a good soloist in your congregation who would sing this and the congregation listen to the very meaningful words. Last verse is "I am fearful of your claim, yet I cannot turn away. Stranger with a foreign name, are you angel here to stay? You are messenger and guest, you the Christ I can't ignore, you my own compassion's test, stranger standing at my door; you the Christ I can't ignore."
*ATFG561 / Tune In: Community (Brown) A song about being welcomed and how to work together as part of a community. "Part of a family interconnected, this is community; Welcoming strangers, visiting neighbours, this gives us dignity". Very singable song about building community. A big favourite at Brunswick Uniting. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook.
FFS78 Who are these strangers? (Gibson) Good words of questioning faith; quite sad and challenging. The tune is new, but it quite intuitive. "Who are these strangers? Why do they throng, crowding the place where we belong? Why do they haunt us with their pain, eyes that have seen so many slain? We do not know them, yet we kneel and bring them to this holy place, where bread is broken, wine is shared, suffering met by love and grace".
Alternative Psalm: Psalm 67
It could be good to use an Aaronic blessing in your service. I'm not sure why we always save it for baptisms. Here's my list of Aaronic blessings (scroll down).
*Taizé / TiS 731 / SFFS 2017 / G(II)377 / GC557 / GC(II)535 / W&R212 / URW383 Raise a song of gladness / Come rejoice in God / Jubilate Deo omnis terra / Jubilate servite (Berthier) Glorious, fun round. If your congregation balks at singing in Latin, it can be sung in English as "Raise a song of gladness, people of the earth, Christ has come, bringing peace, joy to every heart, Alleluia Alleluia, Joy to every heart (x2)" When I first learned this Taize song, I had it stuck in my head for weeks and weeks, which was a good thing! The singing group at our church recently learned this. Sheet music sample. Short sound sample.
*Linnea Good May every person, every creature, be an instrument of praise. A very simple and quite lovely Psalm refrain.
Cha744 O God be gracious come and bless us (Daw) Very simple refrain and responsively read setting of this Psalm.
TiS 37 / AHB 117 Our God be gracious unto us (Blake) A simple hymn setting of this Psalm. I would prefer to sing it to RICHMOND (TiS 425).
NCH421 / UMH131 / HPP552 / HPSS559 / GC571 / GC(II)549 / W&R81 / Cha276 We gather together to ask for God's blessing (Traditional Dutch) A good song about living together as a community of faith, sung to a very familiar tune (KREMSER). Sources vary, and some are very masculine and old fashioned. Seek out the lyrics in the NCH, or you may be left with these lyrics (the tune is the same though). Here are some more inclusive lyrics (search for "god's blessing")
TiS 106 / AHB 14 / AoV1-189 / NCH419 / CH182 / UMH102 / VU236 / LBW534 / ELW840 / HPP283 / HPSS555 / GC565 / GC(II)545 / CP399 / CP(E) 530 / W&R14 / Cha715 Now thank we all our God / Nun Danket Alle Gott A classic song of thanks. The language is not entirely inclusive in all versions. Chalice has great inclusive words. It's in the public domain, so changing the older English translation is quite acceptable. Older style lyrics and sound sample.
NCH Psalter Let the peoples praise you O God (Niedmann) A simple Psalm refrain.
Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
God is merciful to all. Some of the suggestions for the Matthew reading also fit with this reading. You might like to sing a Kyrie during the prayer of confession if it is not already your practice.
*Tune In: Like the sun upon my skin / God’s Mercy (Anderson) A beautiful ballad about identifying God's mercy in the beauty of creation. Lyrics, sound sample and songbook available here.*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.
Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28
Jesus heals the Caananite woman's daughter. Again, you might like to sing a Kyrie during the prayer of confession if it is not already your practice.
*online resource She came to Jesus from outside the fold Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. Excellent words based on this reading to the well known Irish tune SLANE (Be thou my vision). Lyrics.
*Tune In: Like the sun upon my skin / God’s Mercy (Anderson) A beautiful ballad about identifying God's mercy in the beauty of creation. Lyrics, sound sample and songbook available here.
*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 736 / AoV2-095 /ATOK 392 / CH776 / Iona (M&G) / UMH483 / VU946 / WoV602 / GA133 / G(II)272 / GC272 / GC(II)249 / RS 385 / SP184 / Cha298 / URW412 Kyrie Eleison (Russian / Ukrainian) Very simple and beautiful Kyrie. Often used. It is very easy to teach the bass part to the men in your congregaton (even those who think they can't sing!). Lovely sound sample. Sheet music sample.
*TiS 734 / ATOK 379 / Iona (M&G) / MV070 / GA134 / SP183 / URW410 Kyrie Eleison (Ghana / Reindorf) Another common favourite. Again, easy to teach your men the bass drone.
*Taize / TiS 735 / AoV1-002 / ATE 238 / UMH484 / VU945 / HPP573 Kyrie kyrie eleison / Kyrie 1 (Taize / Berthier) Probably the simplist Kyrie out there. There are cantored verses; it's also nice as a repetitive chant on its own. Sheet music and sound samples.
*AoVK-28 / ATOK 376 Faith, hope and love (Trisha Watts). "Faith, hope and love, this is what we long for. Faith, hope and love, this is what we need". Can be very funky. Great for kids.
*ATW 463 / Iona (T1AU) / R239 / ELW721 / SFFS 2219 Goodness is stronger than evil (Tutu / Iona) Words from Archbishop Desmond Tutu. "Victory is ours, victory is ours, through him who loves us". Some congregations change the last line to "Compassion is ours, compassion is ours...". It depends on the context in which you sing it, I suppose. Sound sample.
VU619 / WoV738 / ELW612 / SFFS 2213 / G(II)642 / GC882 / GC(II)854 / RS 958 / CP612 / W&R630 / Cha506 / URW161 Healer of Our Every Ill (Haugen) Good straightforward words of healing and simple tune. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Sound sample.
*MV169 When hands reach out beyond divides. Can be sung to a range of tunes. "When fear no longer guides our steps and days of war are done, God's dream for all shall live anew; our hearts will heal as one".*TiS 728 Jesu christo reina reina ya! A fun Latin American song. It's particularly fun if someone is brave enough to yell out a "call" at the start of each verse.
*CH198 / MV001 / GC753 / GC(II)741 / RS 846 Let Us Build a House / All are welcome (Haugen / TWO OAKS) This song has wonderful lyrics of hope for what a Christian community can be like, and a chorus that joyfully says “All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place”. Sheet music sample. Sound sample. Lyrics (scroll down a little).
*TiS 90 / AHB 44 / UMH60 / VU867 / HPSS253 / CP346 / CP(E) 473 / W&R79 / Cha20 / 82Hml-429 I'll praise my Maker while I've breath (Watts) A great classic hymn. Most sources are not inclusive; Voices United is!
*Music by Heart 38 Kyrie Eleison / Mercer Kyrie eleison (Haskel) A lovely layered Kyrie that can be taught during the worship service (3 layers).
*Music by Heart 39 Kyrie eleison / on five notes (Haskel) Another lovely layered Kyrie that can be taught during the worship service. I think I like this one just a little better (4 layers).
Joseph and his brothers are reconciled. *TiS 653 / NCH417 / CH526 / UMH383 / GC(II)453 / W&R355 / Cha518 This is a day of new beginnings. Excellent words of reconciliation from Brian Wren. There are two possible tunes. I prefer the more simple hymn-like Carlton Young tune which is in TiS. There is an optional final verse that can be used for Communion. "This is a day of new beginnings, time to remember and move on, time to believe what love is bringing, laying to rest the pain that's gone." Lyrics. *NCH429 God bless our homes (von Christierson) A song to the easy tune CHARTERHOUSE seeking harmoniuos relationships and forgiveness within our households. 3rd verse "Forgive the hurts our selfishness inflicted on those we love and those who love us best. Christ, heal the scars, and draw us all together in God whose will is peace and joy and rest."
SFFS 2169 God How Can We Forgive? (Duck) Good words of healing broken relationships that once were loving to the tune of LEONI. It references the story of the woman caught in adultery, but could also be useful for this passage. Lyrics.
*TIS 683 / WoV735 / ELW603 / W&R416 God! When human bonds are broken. Words focussed on the healing of relationships. The tune is quite beautiful, simple, and should not be too difficult if a little time is taken to introduce it to your congregation.
VU619 / WoV738 / ELW612 / SFFS 2213 / G(II)642 / GC882 / GC(II)854 / RS 958 / CP612 / W&R630 / Cha506 / URW161 Healer of Our Every Ill (Haugen) Good straightforward words of healing and simple tune. "Give us strength to love each other, every sister, every brother". Can get overly mushy. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Sound sample.
*CH198 / MV001 / GC753 / GC(II)741 / RS 846 Let Us Build a House / All are welcome (Haugen / TWO OAKS) This song has wonderful lyrics of hope for what a Christian community can be like, and a chorus that joyfully says “All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place”. Sheet music sample. Sound sample. Lyrics (scroll down a little).
Psalm 133
How good it is when kindred live in unity. Images of oil running from the head down the beard and dew on mountains*Singing from the Lectionary Exclusive! Behold how good and Oh how pleasant (Noelle Damico) A beautiful chant that I remember every time I read this Psalm; I have an old photocopy of it and Noelle has given me permission to post it here, complete with my husband's guitarist scribbles. It can be sung as a simple chant, or sung with a responsive bilingual reading of the Psalm (Spanish/English) or really any way you like. You can access the file here. Please let Noelle know if you use this (revdamico_at_gmail.com).
*Emergent Psalter How good it is (Everett) A good 3/4 swung Psalm refrain to a read Psalm. Sheet music (response) here.
*NCH Psalter How pleasant to live in unity (Jeong) A simple Psalm refrain for a chanted or read Psalm.*VU856 / CH90 / StJ / R212 / ELW649 / SFFS 2231 / Cha292 / Cha764b O Look and Wonder / Miren que bueno (Pablo Sosa). An energetic refrain, and verses are a paraphrase of the psalm. Lots of fun. Chalice also has it arranged as a Psalm response with reading if you prefer. Sample sheet music of melody here (bilingual) - search for "miren que bueno". Sound sample here.
Cha764a Unite us God unite us in your everlasting love (Anon) Simple sung response, and responsive reading.*CH198 / MV001 / GC753 / GC(II)741 / RS 846 Let Us Build a House / All are welcome (Haugen / TWO OAKS) This song has wonderful lyrics of hope for what a Christian community can be like, and a chorus that joyfully says “All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place”. Sheet music sample. Sound sample. Lyrics (scroll down a little).
AoVK-113 Thank you O Lord for this world of ours (Barr) Gen 1; Ps 19; Ps 104; Ps 133 A good kids song in two parts. Psalm Project: Sharing the Road (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A cool rock song based on the Psalm with an excellent chorus. Sound sample, lyrics, theology and songbook available here.
*G(II)525 / GC727 / SP244 / URW335 How Good It Is, what pleasure comes (Duck) Good words celebrating the joy of a faithful community. Sung to a familiar shape note tune. Lyrics and sample sheet music. Midi file of tune.
Alternative Hebrew Scripture: Isaiah 56:1, 6-8
Maintain justice, and do what is right; Welcome the foreigner and the outcast.
*AoV1-050 Act Justly (O'Brien/Watts) Simple chant-like chorus, and strong verses. I love this one. It's based on Micah 6:8, but works very well for this reading too.
AoV2-055 / G(II)513 / GC711 / GC(II)716 May we find richness / Harvest of Justice (Haas) Easy to sing and excellent words. “Gather with patience for those who have nothing. Leave them your riches, and you will receive.” Sheet music and lyrics. Slow sound sample.
*TiS 657 / CH263 / VU700 / AA50 / CP(E) 447 / Cha656 God of freedom God of justice (Murray / Guthrie Foote) Powerful lyrics. Can be sung to either TREDEGAR (new, but not too hard) or PICARDY (very familiar). Lyrics and midi.
*WCC website: Hear the message we now are proclaiming / El mensaje que hoy proclamamos. This jubilant Colombian song of liberty and new life for the poor and suffering would fit well with this reading. We have only recently introduced this at Brunswick, and it would be good to do it again. Free sheet music
*FFS60 Stranger standing at my door Amazing words, but a tricky tune. Would be good if you have a good soloist in your congregation who would sing this and the congregation listen to the very meaningful words. Last verse is "I am fearful of your claim, yet I cannot turn away. Stranger with a foreign name, are you angel here to stay? You are messenger and guest, you the Christ I can't ignore, you my own compassion's test, stranger standing at my door; you the Christ I can't ignore."
*ATFG561 / Tune In: Community (Brown) A song about being welcomed and how to work together as part of a community. "Part of a family interconnected, this is community; Welcoming strangers, visiting neighbours, this gives us dignity". Very singable song about building community. A big favourite at Brunswick Uniting. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook.
FFS78 Who are these strangers? (Gibson) Good words of questioning faith; quite sad and challenging. The tune is new, but it quite intuitive. "Who are these strangers? Why do they throng, crowding the place where we belong? Why do they haunt us with their pain, eyes that have seen so many slain? We do not know them, yet we kneel and bring them to this holy place, where bread is broken, wine is shared, suffering met by love and grace".
Alternative Psalm: Psalm 67
It could be good to use an Aaronic blessing in your service. I'm not sure why we always save it for baptisms. Here's my list of Aaronic blessings (scroll down).
*Taizé / TiS 731 / SFFS 2017 / G(II)377 / GC557 / GC(II)535 / W&R212 / URW383 Raise a song of gladness / Come rejoice in God / Jubilate Deo omnis terra / Jubilate servite (Berthier) Glorious, fun round. If your congregation balks at singing in Latin, it can be sung in English as "Raise a song of gladness, people of the earth, Christ has come, bringing peace, joy to every heart, Alleluia Alleluia, Joy to every heart (x2)" When I first learned this Taize song, I had it stuck in my head for weeks and weeks, which was a good thing! The singing group at our church recently learned this. Sheet music sample. Short sound sample.
*Linnea Good May every person, every creature, be an instrument of praise. A very simple and quite lovely Psalm refrain.
Cha744 O God be gracious come and bless us (Daw) Very simple refrain and responsively read setting of this Psalm.
TiS 37 / AHB 117 Our God be gracious unto us (Blake) A simple hymn setting of this Psalm. I would prefer to sing it to RICHMOND (TiS 425).
NCH421 / UMH131 / HPP552 / HPSS559 / GC571 / GC(II)549 / W&R81 / Cha276 We gather together to ask for God's blessing (Traditional Dutch) A good song about living together as a community of faith, sung to a very familiar tune (KREMSER). Sources vary, and some are very masculine and old fashioned. Seek out the lyrics in the NCH, or you may be left with these lyrics (the tune is the same though). Here are some more inclusive lyrics (search for "god's blessing")
TiS 106 / AHB 14 / AoV1-189 / NCH419 / CH182 / UMH102 / VU236 / LBW534 / ELW840 / HPP283 / HPSS555 / GC565 / GC(II)545 / CP399 / CP(E) 530 / W&R14 / Cha715 Now thank we all our God / Nun Danket Alle Gott A classic song of thanks. The language is not entirely inclusive in all versions. Chalice has great inclusive words. It's in the public domain, so changing the older English translation is quite acceptable. Older style lyrics and sound sample.
NCH Psalter Let the peoples praise you O God (Niedmann) A simple Psalm refrain.
Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
God is merciful to all. Some of the suggestions for the Matthew reading also fit with this reading. You might like to sing a Kyrie during the prayer of confession if it is not already your practice.
*Tune In: Like the sun upon my skin / God’s Mercy (Anderson) A beautiful ballad about identifying God's mercy in the beauty of creation. Lyrics, sound sample and songbook available here.*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.
Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28
Jesus heals the Caananite woman's daughter. Again, you might like to sing a Kyrie during the prayer of confession if it is not already your practice.
*online resource She came to Jesus from outside the fold Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. Excellent words based on this reading to the well known Irish tune SLANE (Be thou my vision). Lyrics.
*Tune In: Like the sun upon my skin / God’s Mercy (Anderson) A beautiful ballad about identifying God's mercy in the beauty of creation. Lyrics, sound sample and songbook available here.
*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 736 / AoV2-095 /ATOK 392 / CH776 / Iona (M&G) / UMH483 / VU946 / WoV602 / GA133 / G(II)272 / GC272 / GC(II)249 / RS 385 / SP184 / Cha298 / URW412 Kyrie Eleison (Russian / Ukrainian) Very simple and beautiful Kyrie. Often used. It is very easy to teach the bass part to the men in your congregaton (even those who think they can't sing!). Lovely sound sample. Sheet music sample.
*TiS 734 / ATOK 379 / Iona (M&G) / MV070 / GA134 / SP183 / URW410 Kyrie Eleison (Ghana / Reindorf) Another common favourite. Again, easy to teach your men the bass drone.
*Taize / TiS 735 / AoV1-002 / ATE 238 / UMH484 / VU945 / HPP573 Kyrie kyrie eleison / Kyrie 1 (Taize / Berthier) Probably the simplist Kyrie out there. There are cantored verses; it's also nice as a repetitive chant on its own. Sheet music and sound samples.
*AoVK-28 / ATOK 376 Faith, hope and love (Trisha Watts). "Faith, hope and love, this is what we long for. Faith, hope and love, this is what we need". Can be very funky. Great for kids.
*ATW 463 / Iona (T1AU) / R239 / ELW721 / SFFS 2219 Goodness is stronger than evil (Tutu / Iona) Words from Archbishop Desmond Tutu. "Victory is ours, victory is ours, through him who loves us". Some congregations change the last line to "Compassion is ours, compassion is ours...". It depends on the context in which you sing it, I suppose. Sound sample.
VU619 / WoV738 / ELW612 / SFFS 2213 / G(II)642 / GC882 / GC(II)854 / RS 958 / CP612 / W&R630 / Cha506 / URW161 Healer of Our Every Ill (Haugen) Good straightforward words of healing and simple tune. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Sound sample.
*MV169 When hands reach out beyond divides. Can be sung to a range of tunes. "When fear no longer guides our steps and days of war are done, God's dream for all shall live anew; our hearts will heal as one".*TiS 728 Jesu christo reina reina ya! A fun Latin American song. It's particularly fun if someone is brave enough to yell out a "call" at the start of each verse.
*CH198 / MV001 / GC753 / GC(II)741 / RS 846 Let Us Build a House / All are welcome (Haugen / TWO OAKS) This song has wonderful lyrics of hope for what a Christian community can be like, and a chorus that joyfully says “All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place”. Sheet music sample. Sound sample. Lyrics (scroll down a little).
*TiS 90 / AHB 44 / UMH60 / VU867 / HPSS253 / CP346 / CP(E) 473 / W&R79 / Cha20 / 82Hml-429 I'll praise my Maker while I've breath (Watts) A great classic hymn. Most sources are not inclusive; Voices United is!
*Music by Heart 38 Kyrie Eleison / Mercer Kyrie eleison (Haskel) A lovely layered Kyrie that can be taught during the worship service (3 layers).
*Music by Heart 39 Kyrie eleison / on five notes (Haskel) Another lovely layered Kyrie that can be taught during the worship service. I think I like this one just a little better (4 layers).
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Songs and Hymns for Proper 14A / Pentecost 19A / 8th after Pentecost (August 7, 2011)
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Joseph, the favoured son of Jacob is sold off as a slave by his jealous brothers.
I will suggest some of these songs again next week, so if you are tempted to sing something new, you can repeat it next week and it will still fit.
*NCH429 God bless our homes (von Christierson) A song to the easy tune CHARTERHOUSE seeking harmoniuos relationships and forgiveness within our households. 3rd verse "Forgive the hurts our selfishness inflicted on those we love and those who love us best. Christ, heal the scars, and draw us all together in God whose will is peace and joy and rest."
SFFS 2169 God How Can We Forgive? (Duck) Good words of healing broken relationships that once were loving to the tune of LEONI. It references the story of the woman caught in adultery, but could also be useful for this passage. Lyrics.
*TIS 683 / WoV735 / ELW603 God! When human bonds are broken. Words focussed on the healing of relationships. The tune is quite beautiful, simple, and should not be too difficult if a little time is taken to introduce it to your congregation.
MV 74 When painful mem'ries haunt each day / When painful memories haunt each day (Ruth Duck) I suggest singing it to the more familiar Celtic tune KINGSFOLD (TiS 262). "When painful mem'ries haunt each day and dreams disturb the night, when life is washed with shades of grey and phantoms fill our sight, Christ stay beside us and embrace the child who dwells within; come, Healer, touch or lives with grace; restore our lives again."
*TIS 689 / ATE 286 Lord, hear my praying, listen to me (Sorrowing Song). Excellent words of lamentation and a simple rolling tune. Lyrics.
*Iona (HSNW) / CH253 Inspired by love and anger. Powerful words to shake you out of complacency to the beautiful Irish tune Salley Gardens. Needs a few minor alterations to make it gender inclusive for God. Lyrics here.
It might be appropriate to sing some modern songs against slavery.
ELW710 / CP575 Let streams of living justice (Whitla) Awesome words of justice. Sung to the familiar tune THAXTED. Lyrics. It could probably work to a different (less pompous) tune too.
*Online resource Help Us O God to create a new future (Pratt) This song reflects on the slavery of the past, and its continuance, with a call to work until all are "Fully alive". Free sheet music.
Here's a website with some other excellent anti-slavery song suggestions.
Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b
Praise God. A slave becomes a ruler. Might be good to check the Inclusive Bible for this passage.
TiS 66 Sing to God, sing praises. A good cantor and refrain. The refrain will also work well with the Psalm being read from the verses.
*NCH Psalter Let the hearts of those who seek God rejoice! Good joyous refrain, which could be used with the sung or read Psalm.
*AoVK-24 / Iona (T1AU) / CH756 Bless the Lord (Kenyan). A good call and response chant – would make a good processional. Words are: Bless the Lord (my sisters), Bless the Lord (my brothers) Bless the Lord there is no other God. I think our congregation would really enjoy this. The tune is identical to Reamo Leboga. Sound sample of Reamo leboga (scroll to the 3rd album).
*Iona / MV104 Know that God is good (Mungu ni mwema). A simple joyous chant from Africa. It’s been a while since we’ve sung this. Sheet music and melody line sample.
*ATW 457 / Iona (T1AU) / CH751 / MV050 / StS017 / GC(II)260 / URW402 Alleluia (Duncan) A simple Alleluia. Gather version has a descant cantor part. Here are some nice notes on how to teach it to your congregation. Sound sample.
*ATW 460 / Iona (M&G) / CH752 / VU717 / WoV610 Alleluia (South Africa) (Mxadana) Beautiful and peaceful, especially if you can work all the harmonies in.
*ATN 51 / SFFS 2258 / SiS Sing alleluia to the Lord A simple and familiar song to many. It has nice soaring Alleluias and is not too hard. Substitute “Our God” if you like, as some hymnals do.
*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.
*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.
*This may seem a strange suggestion, but the image of a slave becoming the ruler is picked up in the Magnificat. If it seems appropriate, you could sing a favourite setting of the Magnificat. The simplest approach would be to sing the Taize Magnificat either in unison or as a round as a reminder of the upside-down world of God. Sample sheet music here.
Alternate Hebrew Scripture: 1 Kings 19:9-18
Elijah finds God, not in the wind or the earthquake, or the fire, but in the silence
*MV084 In you there is a refuge (Wehlander / Good) A simple quiet song. "In you there is a silence, in you our minds are clear. When all we hear is discord may your quiet draw us near".
*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.
CH609 / CP(E) 403 Come living God when least expected (Gaunt) Good words to a nice tune (SUNSET) of God coming when we are uninspired or God seems hidden. "Come now, as once you came to Moses within the bush alive with flame, or to Elijah on the mountain, by silence pressing home your claim".
*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.
*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).
MV118 Me alone (Jamaican traditional) A very simple repetitive call-and-response song. Could work well as a reflective song.
CH133 / UMH113 / GC(II)563 / Cha012 Source and sovereign rock and cloud (Troeger / ABERYSTWYTH) Excellent words of many names for God / I AM. Can be sung to BIRINUS, but I would sing it to the more familiar ABERYSTWYTH. Sample sheet music (BIRINUS) and lyrics.
*CH716 / VU374 / FFS10 / SFFS 2128 Come and find the quiet centre (Shirley Murray). Also in her other books. Note that Jesus finally made it away from the crowd for some time in solitude. If you’d like to focus on that aspect of the story, you could use this song as a call to worship. Sung to a simple Celtic folk tune.
*Recorded music: Trisha Watts In the stillness This beautiful chant would fit well with the Psalm; from her album "Invokation". "In the stillness, there is a sweet gentle voice, calming the storm in the night". Available here.
*Beneath the noise Beneath the noise (Sanders / Randall) A lovely simple song to open worship. I'm not sure if this book is still available.
Online resource Winter Snow (Audrey Assad) This is a lovely song, more for a soloist than congregation. "But you came like a winter snow quiet and soft and slow Falling from the sky in the night to the earth below". Sound sample, lyrics and sheet music.
and Alternate Psalm: Psalm 85:8-13
God turns from hot anger and forgives. Lots of stuff about faithfulness and righteousness
AoVNG55 / Iona (WWHW) / G(II)74 / CP113 Come O Lord and Set Us Free (Ducote / Daigle/ Balhoff) Good simple, inclusive refrain with a pretty groovy cantor line. Lyrics, sheet music sample, sound sample (search for Daigle and click on the music symbol).
*CH198 / MV001 / GC753 / GC(II)741 / RS 846 Let Us Build a House / All are welcome (Haugen / TWO OAKS) This song has wonderful lyrics of hope for what a Christian community can be like, and a chorus that joyfully says “All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place”. Sheet music sample. Sound sample. Lyrics (scroll down a little).
*TiS 217 / AHB 148 / NCH43 / CH519 / UMH384 / VU333 / LBW315 / ELW631 / GA463 / HPP48 / HPSS376 / GC622 / GC(II)613 / CP485/6 / CP(E) 516 / W&R358 / Cha517 / Srce457 / URW100 Love divine all loves excelling A beautiful classic song and most hymnals use a very inclusive version of this hymn, even the AHB! Lyrics and sound sample.
MV222 May the peace of God be your peace (McLaren) A lovely benediction. Will need to be taught first.
CH659 / MV173 / StJ / W&R389 Put peace into each other’s hands (Kaan) Good words for communion; tune is quite simple and flows nicely. Lyrics (downloads a pdf).
*TiS 690 / CH259 / StS115 Beauty for brokenness hope for despair (Kendrick) Themes of healing from personal and universal suffering and a rousing chorus. Lyrics.
*Emergent Psalter Show us your mercy O God (Everett) A simple refrain and read Psalm.
Romans 10:5-15
A call to evangelism
*TiS 420 Holy Spirit go before us every mind and heart prepare (Elizabeth Smith) Great words of evangelism and justice to a simple lilting melody. If you think your congregation can't cope with a new tune this week, it can be sung to AUSTRIA (TiS 93).
*TiS 411 / AHB 328 / NCH266 / UMH537 / VU194 / CP658 / CP(E) 425 / W&R331 Filled with the Spirit's power Excellent inclusive words to a very well known hymn tune.
*ATOK 348 / Iona (HSNW) / G(II)496 / GC692 / GC(II)697 Come with me / Sing hey for the carpenter (Iona) Excellent. I love this one. Very joyous, and a big favourite in our congregation. Lyrics.
*TiS 749 / AoV1-154 / AoVK-131 / ATE 305 / NCH360 / Iona (SBL, Freedom is coming) / CH800 / UMH497 / VU572 / WoV773 / ELW809 / HPP340 / G(II)484 / GC677 / GC(II)674 Send me Jesus / Thuma mina
*ATOK 412 / Iona (SBL, Common Ground) / CH250 / MV212 / SFFS 2184 Sent by the Lord am I / Sent out in Jesus name / Enviado soy de Dios (Traditional Cuban) / Great rhythm, good words and not too hard to sing (provided you sing it a little slowly the first time!) I prefer the MV translation "Sent out in Jesus' name".
*ATOK 413 / Iona (HSNW) / CH533 / VU567 / StS039 / R276 / ELW798 / GA502 / SFFS 2130 / HPP317 / G(II)510 / GC700 / GC(II)687 / CP430 / CP(E) 622 / W&R350 Will you come and follow me / The Summons (Iona / KELVINGROVE) A classic, but it has been overdone sometimes. Don't sing it too slowly or it really drags and takes forever!
*UMH670 / VU418 / CP(E) 438 / W&R708 Go forth for God go to the world in peace (Peacey)
*NCH357 / CH680 / G(II)487 / GC680 / GC(II)675 You are called to tell the story (Duck) Excellent words. The simplest tune would be REGENT SQUARE. Different sources use a range of tunes.
Matthew 14:22-33
Jesus walks on the water - Peter tries....
*CH716 / VU374 / FFS10 / SFFS 2128 Come and find the quiet centre (Shirley Murray). Also in her other books. Note that Jesus finally made it away from the crowd for some time in solitude. If you’d like to focus on that aspect of the story, you could use this song as a call to worship. Sung to a simple Celtic folk tune.
*Tune In: Hail the fisherfolk (Brown) A bluesy litany of the saints, including the fishermen of yesterday and the fisherfolk of today. Sample and lyrics here.
*Worldmaking.net: Brother Jesus, right beside me (Bruxvoort-Colligan) This is a big kid’s favourite in our congregation. Very catchy. Sample and lyrics here.
*NCYC ’95 We will love / We will walk with you at the edges (Gardiner) This is a good little rock number “We will walk with you at the edges, we will die with you at the cross roads, we will risk with you taking chances, we will love”. Or something like that.
*SP&P003 Come Jesus is calling to you (Strachan) Good song for kids. Very simple to sing.
*NCYC07 Labyrinth (Chalson / Winton) A beautiful song about walking with God through all times. "To the heart of all that's sacred and to the margins we will walk the path with you". Excellent words. Not easy for a congregation, but if you have good musicians, they can sing it as a prayer for the congregation.
*TIS 624 Christ be my leader by night as by day. Excellent words of following Christ in times of struggle to a traditional Scottish melody.
*TiS 589 / AHB 505 / NCH171 / CH509 / UMH398 / VU562 / LBW494 / ELW696 / HPP314 / CP432 / CP(E) 233 / W&R345 / Cha337 / 82Hml-550 Jesus calls us; o'er the tumult (Alexander) Great words. TiS sets it to ST CATHERINE, but it could be sung to other tunes if this is not familiar to your congregation (it’s not hard though).
TiS 578 / AHB 491 / NCH407 / UMH529 / VU659 / LBW507 / ELW796 / HPP248 / HPPS361 / GC606 / GC(II)587 How firm a foundation The lyrics of almost all these versions is quite masculine. NCH has good alternative lyrics that are inclusive. “When through the deep waters I call you to go, the rivers of woe thall not over you flow. For I will be with you, your troubles to bless, delivering you from your deepest distress”.
CH577 Christ be beside me. Excellent lyrics similar to St. Patrick’s breastplate prayer to the tune BUNESSAN (Morning has broken), so very simple to sing. Sound and sheet music samples available here (search for Christ be beside me).
*AoV2-070 / ATW 496 / MV090 / StJ Don't be afraid (Bell) Excellent. I love this song of reassurance. "Don't be afraid, my love is stronger. My love is stronger than your fear". This song can be used as a response to intercessions.
*CH570 / UMH512 / W&R495 When the storms of life are raging (stand by me) (Tindley) A good gospel song. Hymnals have a range of translations. For a more old-style version, lyrics are here.
MV 138 My love colours outside the lines (Gordon Light) Excellent chorus and very singable “We’ll never walk on water if we’re not prepared to drown, body and soul need a soaking from time to time”. Some lyrics here.
Recorded music: Jesus is walking on the lake – Justin Roberts from his album Why Not Sea Monsters? (New Testament). Okay, I don’t know if this would fit in a worship service, but it would be good to use for a Sunday School class. “Jesus is walking on the lake, lake lake, I think he made a mistake, stake, stake, he really should have used a boat, boat boat, ‘cos people don’t float, float, float”. Actually, Justin’s lyrics have very good theology, and if you feel like it, his CDs have lyrics and chords so you can play and sing it yourself. Music sample here.
Joseph, the favoured son of Jacob is sold off as a slave by his jealous brothers.
I will suggest some of these songs again next week, so if you are tempted to sing something new, you can repeat it next week and it will still fit.
*NCH429 God bless our homes (von Christierson) A song to the easy tune CHARTERHOUSE seeking harmoniuos relationships and forgiveness within our households. 3rd verse "Forgive the hurts our selfishness inflicted on those we love and those who love us best. Christ, heal the scars, and draw us all together in God whose will is peace and joy and rest."
SFFS 2169 God How Can We Forgive? (Duck) Good words of healing broken relationships that once were loving to the tune of LEONI. It references the story of the woman caught in adultery, but could also be useful for this passage. Lyrics.
*TIS 683 / WoV735 / ELW603 God! When human bonds are broken. Words focussed on the healing of relationships. The tune is quite beautiful, simple, and should not be too difficult if a little time is taken to introduce it to your congregation.
MV 74 When painful mem'ries haunt each day / When painful memories haunt each day (Ruth Duck) I suggest singing it to the more familiar Celtic tune KINGSFOLD (TiS 262). "When painful mem'ries haunt each day and dreams disturb the night, when life is washed with shades of grey and phantoms fill our sight, Christ stay beside us and embrace the child who dwells within; come, Healer, touch or lives with grace; restore our lives again."
*TIS 689 / ATE 286 Lord, hear my praying, listen to me (Sorrowing Song). Excellent words of lamentation and a simple rolling tune. Lyrics.
*Iona (HSNW) / CH253 Inspired by love and anger. Powerful words to shake you out of complacency to the beautiful Irish tune Salley Gardens. Needs a few minor alterations to make it gender inclusive for God. Lyrics here.
It might be appropriate to sing some modern songs against slavery.
ELW710 / CP575 Let streams of living justice (Whitla) Awesome words of justice. Sung to the familiar tune THAXTED. Lyrics. It could probably work to a different (less pompous) tune too.
*Online resource Help Us O God to create a new future (Pratt) This song reflects on the slavery of the past, and its continuance, with a call to work until all are "Fully alive". Free sheet music.
Here's a website with some other excellent anti-slavery song suggestions.
Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b
Praise God. A slave becomes a ruler. Might be good to check the Inclusive Bible for this passage.
TiS 66 Sing to God, sing praises. A good cantor and refrain. The refrain will also work well with the Psalm being read from the verses.
*NCH Psalter Let the hearts of those who seek God rejoice! Good joyous refrain, which could be used with the sung or read Psalm.
*AoVK-24 / Iona (T1AU) / CH756 Bless the Lord (Kenyan). A good call and response chant – would make a good processional. Words are: Bless the Lord (my sisters), Bless the Lord (my brothers) Bless the Lord there is no other God. I think our congregation would really enjoy this. The tune is identical to Reamo Leboga. Sound sample of Reamo leboga (scroll to the 3rd album).
*Iona / MV104 Know that God is good (Mungu ni mwema). A simple joyous chant from Africa. It’s been a while since we’ve sung this. Sheet music and melody line sample.
*ATW 457 / Iona (T1AU) / CH751 / MV050 / StS017 / GC(II)260 / URW402 Alleluia (Duncan) A simple Alleluia. Gather version has a descant cantor part. Here are some nice notes on how to teach it to your congregation. Sound sample.
*ATW 460 / Iona (M&G) / CH752 / VU717 / WoV610 Alleluia (South Africa) (Mxadana) Beautiful and peaceful, especially if you can work all the harmonies in.
*ATN 51 / SFFS 2258 / SiS Sing alleluia to the Lord A simple and familiar song to many. It has nice soaring Alleluias and is not too hard. Substitute “Our God” if you like, as some hymnals do.
*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.
*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.
*This may seem a strange suggestion, but the image of a slave becoming the ruler is picked up in the Magnificat. If it seems appropriate, you could sing a favourite setting of the Magnificat. The simplest approach would be to sing the Taize Magnificat either in unison or as a round as a reminder of the upside-down world of God. Sample sheet music here.
Alternate Hebrew Scripture: 1 Kings 19:9-18
Elijah finds God, not in the wind or the earthquake, or the fire, but in the silence
*MV084 In you there is a refuge (Wehlander / Good) A simple quiet song. "In you there is a silence, in you our minds are clear. When all we hear is discord may your quiet draw us near".
*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.
CH609 / CP(E) 403 Come living God when least expected (Gaunt) Good words to a nice tune (SUNSET) of God coming when we are uninspired or God seems hidden. "Come now, as once you came to Moses within the bush alive with flame, or to Elijah on the mountain, by silence pressing home your claim".
*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.
*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).
MV118 Me alone (Jamaican traditional) A very simple repetitive call-and-response song. Could work well as a reflective song.
CH133 / UMH113 / GC(II)563 / Cha012 Source and sovereign rock and cloud (Troeger / ABERYSTWYTH) Excellent words of many names for God / I AM. Can be sung to BIRINUS, but I would sing it to the more familiar ABERYSTWYTH. Sample sheet music (BIRINUS) and lyrics.
*CH716 / VU374 / FFS10 / SFFS 2128 Come and find the quiet centre (Shirley Murray). Also in her other books. Note that Jesus finally made it away from the crowd for some time in solitude. If you’d like to focus on that aspect of the story, you could use this song as a call to worship. Sung to a simple Celtic folk tune.
*Recorded music: Trisha Watts In the stillness This beautiful chant would fit well with the Psalm; from her album "Invokation". "In the stillness, there is a sweet gentle voice, calming the storm in the night". Available here.
*Beneath the noise Beneath the noise (Sanders / Randall) A lovely simple song to open worship. I'm not sure if this book is still available.
Online resource Winter Snow (Audrey Assad) This is a lovely song, more for a soloist than congregation. "But you came like a winter snow quiet and soft and slow Falling from the sky in the night to the earth below". Sound sample, lyrics and sheet music.
and Alternate Psalm: Psalm 85:8-13
God turns from hot anger and forgives. Lots of stuff about faithfulness and righteousness
AoVNG55 / Iona (WWHW) / G(II)74 / CP113 Come O Lord and Set Us Free (Ducote / Daigle/ Balhoff) Good simple, inclusive refrain with a pretty groovy cantor line. Lyrics, sheet music sample, sound sample (search for Daigle and click on the music symbol).
*CH198 / MV001 / GC753 / GC(II)741 / RS 846 Let Us Build a House / All are welcome (Haugen / TWO OAKS) This song has wonderful lyrics of hope for what a Christian community can be like, and a chorus that joyfully says “All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place”. Sheet music sample. Sound sample. Lyrics (scroll down a little).
*TiS 217 / AHB 148 / NCH43 / CH519 / UMH384 / VU333 / LBW315 / ELW631 / GA463 / HPP48 / HPSS376 / GC622 / GC(II)613 / CP485/6 / CP(E) 516 / W&R358 / Cha517 / Srce457 / URW100 Love divine all loves excelling A beautiful classic song and most hymnals use a very inclusive version of this hymn, even the AHB! Lyrics and sound sample.
MV222 May the peace of God be your peace (McLaren) A lovely benediction. Will need to be taught first.
CH659 / MV173 / StJ / W&R389 Put peace into each other’s hands (Kaan) Good words for communion; tune is quite simple and flows nicely. Lyrics (downloads a pdf).
*TiS 690 / CH259 / StS115 Beauty for brokenness hope for despair (Kendrick) Themes of healing from personal and universal suffering and a rousing chorus. Lyrics.
*Emergent Psalter Show us your mercy O God (Everett) A simple refrain and read Psalm.
Romans 10:5-15
A call to evangelism
*TiS 420 Holy Spirit go before us every mind and heart prepare (Elizabeth Smith) Great words of evangelism and justice to a simple lilting melody. If you think your congregation can't cope with a new tune this week, it can be sung to AUSTRIA (TiS 93).
*TiS 411 / AHB 328 / NCH266 / UMH537 / VU194 / CP658 / CP(E) 425 / W&R331 Filled with the Spirit's power Excellent inclusive words to a very well known hymn tune.
*ATOK 348 / Iona (HSNW) / G(II)496 / GC692 / GC(II)697 Come with me / Sing hey for the carpenter (Iona) Excellent. I love this one. Very joyous, and a big favourite in our congregation. Lyrics.
*TiS 749 / AoV1-154 / AoVK-131 / ATE 305 / NCH360 / Iona (SBL, Freedom is coming) / CH800 / UMH497 / VU572 / WoV773 / ELW809 / HPP340 / G(II)484 / GC677 / GC(II)674 Send me Jesus / Thuma mina
*ATOK 412 / Iona (SBL, Common Ground) / CH250 / MV212 / SFFS 2184 Sent by the Lord am I / Sent out in Jesus name / Enviado soy de Dios (Traditional Cuban) / Great rhythm, good words and not too hard to sing (provided you sing it a little slowly the first time!) I prefer the MV translation "Sent out in Jesus' name".
*ATOK 413 / Iona (HSNW) / CH533 / VU567 / StS039 / R276 / ELW798 / GA502 / SFFS 2130 / HPP317 / G(II)510 / GC700 / GC(II)687 / CP430 / CP(E) 622 / W&R350 Will you come and follow me / The Summons (Iona / KELVINGROVE) A classic, but it has been overdone sometimes. Don't sing it too slowly or it really drags and takes forever!
*UMH670 / VU418 / CP(E) 438 / W&R708 Go forth for God go to the world in peace (Peacey)
*NCH357 / CH680 / G(II)487 / GC680 / GC(II)675 You are called to tell the story (Duck) Excellent words. The simplest tune would be REGENT SQUARE. Different sources use a range of tunes.
Matthew 14:22-33
Jesus walks on the water - Peter tries....
*CH716 / VU374 / FFS10 / SFFS 2128 Come and find the quiet centre (Shirley Murray). Also in her other books. Note that Jesus finally made it away from the crowd for some time in solitude. If you’d like to focus on that aspect of the story, you could use this song as a call to worship. Sung to a simple Celtic folk tune.
*Tune In: Hail the fisherfolk (Brown) A bluesy litany of the saints, including the fishermen of yesterday and the fisherfolk of today. Sample and lyrics here.
*Worldmaking.net: Brother Jesus, right beside me (Bruxvoort-Colligan) This is a big kid’s favourite in our congregation. Very catchy. Sample and lyrics here.
*NCYC ’95 We will love / We will walk with you at the edges (Gardiner) This is a good little rock number “We will walk with you at the edges, we will die with you at the cross roads, we will risk with you taking chances, we will love”. Or something like that.
*SP&P003 Come Jesus is calling to you (Strachan) Good song for kids. Very simple to sing.
*NCYC07 Labyrinth (Chalson / Winton) A beautiful song about walking with God through all times. "To the heart of all that's sacred and to the margins we will walk the path with you". Excellent words. Not easy for a congregation, but if you have good musicians, they can sing it as a prayer for the congregation.
*TIS 624 Christ be my leader by night as by day. Excellent words of following Christ in times of struggle to a traditional Scottish melody.
*TiS 589 / AHB 505 / NCH171 / CH509 / UMH398 / VU562 / LBW494 / ELW696 / HPP314 / CP432 / CP(E) 233 / W&R345 / Cha337 / 82Hml-550 Jesus calls us; o'er the tumult (Alexander) Great words. TiS sets it to ST CATHERINE, but it could be sung to other tunes if this is not familiar to your congregation (it’s not hard though).
TiS 578 / AHB 491 / NCH407 / UMH529 / VU659 / LBW507 / ELW796 / HPP248 / HPPS361 / GC606 / GC(II)587 How firm a foundation The lyrics of almost all these versions is quite masculine. NCH has good alternative lyrics that are inclusive. “When through the deep waters I call you to go, the rivers of woe thall not over you flow. For I will be with you, your troubles to bless, delivering you from your deepest distress”.
CH577 Christ be beside me. Excellent lyrics similar to St. Patrick’s breastplate prayer to the tune BUNESSAN (Morning has broken), so very simple to sing. Sound and sheet music samples available here (search for Christ be beside me).
*AoV2-070 / ATW 496 / MV090 / StJ Don't be afraid (Bell) Excellent. I love this song of reassurance. "Don't be afraid, my love is stronger. My love is stronger than your fear". This song can be used as a response to intercessions.
*CH570 / UMH512 / W&R495 When the storms of life are raging (stand by me) (Tindley) A good gospel song. Hymnals have a range of translations. For a more old-style version, lyrics are here.
MV 138 My love colours outside the lines (Gordon Light) Excellent chorus and very singable “We’ll never walk on water if we’re not prepared to drown, body and soul need a soaking from time to time”. Some lyrics here.
Recorded music: Jesus is walking on the lake – Justin Roberts from his album Why Not Sea Monsters? (New Testament). Okay, I don’t know if this would fit in a worship service, but it would be good to use for a Sunday School class. “Jesus is walking on the lake, lake lake, I think he made a mistake, stake, stake, he really should have used a boat, boat boat, ‘cos people don’t float, float, float”. Actually, Justin’s lyrics have very good theology, and if you feel like it, his CDs have lyrics and chords so you can play and sing it yourself. Music sample here.
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