Songs and Hymns for Proper 24A / Ordinary 29A / Pentecost +23 (October 16 2011)

Exodus 33:12-23  
Moses seeks assurance of God’s presence. God revealed, but only just!
*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.
*Tune In: Tune in (Sims) A simple kid’s song. “Tune in, tune in, there’s a message coming in.” Encourages kids to look and listen for signs of God’s love. Lyrics, sample and songbook available Lyrics, sample, songbook.
*NCH70 / UMH660 / VU389 / WoV719 / ELW526 / HPP486 / PH461 / GC741 / GC(II)737 / CP(E) 301 / W&R1 / Cha280 God is here as we your people (Pratt Green). Great lyrics, but not inclusive in all sources. A good hymn for the start of the service. It's sung to the familiar tune ABBOT'S LEIGH. Sound sample and less inclusive lyrics. 
*TiS 132 / AHB 65 / NCH277 / CH651 / UMH64 / VU315 / LBW165 / ELW413 / HPP243 / PH138 / G(II)332 / GC475 / GC(II)483 / CP001 / CP(E) 202 / W&R136 / Cha004 / Srce243 / 82Hml-362; Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty (NICAEA) Old other-worldly language, but a surprisingly inclusive (in most hymnals) classic, and a great rousing hymn tune. Different resources may have slightly altered lyrics. It won't work if you have an evening service. A surprisingly non-inclusive sample can be found here.
*TiS 143 / AHB 80 / NCH1 / CH132 / UMH103 / VU264 / LBW526 / ELW834 / HPP37 / PH263 / GC507 / CP(E) 474 / W&R48 / Cha066 / ZSS4 / Srce296 / 82Hml-423 Immortal invisible God only wise (ST DENIO). Another oldy-but-a-goody. "In light inaccessible hid from our eyes". Lyrics, tune sample.
VU304 / URW088 O God beyond all face and form (O'Driscoll) Good lyrics to a very familiar tune.

Psalm 99 
God of justice, God is holy, worship at the mountain. This Psalm has lots of concepts in it, so I've only chosen a couple of particularly pertinent songs.
*Emergent Psalter O mighty God lover of justice (Everett) A catchy refrain, that got stuck in my head for days after I ran through it. Can be sung with the Psalm read over instrumentation. Sample sheet music.
TiS 58 Be exalted O God, above the heavens! Let your glory over all the earth be found. An excellent refrain to the Psalm for this week. The cantor line is not totally inclusive - just a small word substitution will do it.
Cha751 To God all people give thanks (Fox) Joyful latin-rhythmed sung response and responsively read Psalm. I think it would be fun to do a responsive Psalm with a sung response.
Iona (Love From Below) / CP424 Sing praise to God on mountain tops (Bell/Maule) A song of praise to God for the beauty of creation to a traditional English tune (THE VICAR OF BRAY).
*MV 60 God, we give you heartfelt praise. A lively round from Taiwan. “God we give you heartfelt praise, mercy and love you show us daily, blessed always be your name”. While based on Taiwanese harmonic modes, it is not too hard for Western singers to pick up.
*TiS 723 / AoV2-092 / ATOK 381 / Iona (M&G, Common Ground) / CH769 / UMH65 / VU944, VU951 / StJ / R176 / ELW473 / SFFS 2007 / G(II)395 / GC563 / W&R737 / Cha111 / ZSS48 Holy holy holy / Santo santo santo (Argentinian folk song) Better in Spanish. A nice quiet devotional song.

Alternative Hebrew Scripture: Isaiah 45:1-7 
I have called you, and I'm a bit scary sometimes
NCH604 / MV167 Hush hush somebody's calling my name (Traditional African-American) I really like this song. I'm not sure how it would work as a congregational song, though, since I've never been in a congregation that has sung it. I know some musicians who would love to sing it though - especially that deep "Hush" bit. Youtube version from a Ry Cooder album.
*MV161 I have called you by your name (Damon) This is a great song for confirmations, ordinations, commissionings, but also ordinary Sundays. Easy, natural tune and good words about having courage to follow where God leads.

Alternative Psalm for the Isaiah reading Psalm 96:1-9, (10-13)
*Tune In: We will sing a new song to the world. An energetic song about the gospel. Sound sample and lyrics here.   
*TiS 54 O praise the Lord all you nations (Willcock) Cantored version of the Psalm. 
*TiS 704 / AoV2-090 / NCH760 / Iona (M&G) / CH824 / VU431 / WoV786 / ELW846 / SFFS 2067 / G(II)369 / GC536 / W&R741 / ZSS56 / URW398 Amen We Praise Your Name O God / Siakudumisa (South African) A simple and popular Amen. Not wild about the GIA hymnals English version. Video (long) which includes a quite majestic version of this song. Not sure I like it, really.
GC(II)521 For your sun that brightens the day / We praise you (Haas) A nice joyful cantor and response. It's a bit more "praise and worshippy" than I normally like, but it's pretty good. Sheet music sample. Sound sample.
*TiS 156 / AHB 91 / AoV1-135 / ATA 123 / CH212 / UMH145 / VU409 / ELW556 / HPP267 / HPSS469 / G(II)546 / GC756 / GC(II)748 / CP003 / W&R35 / Cha053 / URW186 / 82Hml-008 Morning has broken (Farjeon) This song makes me smile every time. Here's Yusuf Islam (when he was Cat Stevens) in 1976 (love those green boots).
*TiS 166 / AHB 102 / StB 35 Sing a new song sing a new song Excellent inclusive words from Australian poet James McAuley. The last verse annoys me a bit, but the rest is excellent. Lyrics.
*AoV2-050 / GA412 / G(II)381 / GC523 Sing O People Sing Our God Together (Haas) Lovely energetic song. Works well as a call to worship; call and response verses. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Sound sample.
*MV 180 Sing, Sing Out! Sing a new song (Hannah) An excellent two-part round. It’s worth teaching it to your congregation so they can sing it with confidence and break into two parts. Alternately, you could have a small group sing it in canon with the rest of the congregation.
*Taize / GC(II)533 Sing to God with joyful hearts / Singt dem Herrn (Berthier) A joyful round. Works well in English and German, and probably other languages too. / Sound samples, sheet music and lyrics here.
NCH9 / StJ / ELW791 / SFFS 2001 / CP523 / URW293 We Sing to You O God (Proulx) Good hymny hymn with inclusive lyrics. Nice descant part also.

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 
*AoV1-130 / SFFS 2223 / HPP495 / G(II)533 / GC735 / GC(II)728 / W&R595 / Cha494 We are one in the Spirit / They’ll know we are Christians (ST. BRENDAN’S/Scholtes) A classic 60s song of unity and being an example to others. It's still pretty groovy, I reckon. We often syncopate it a bit at Brunswick. Good for kids and non-readers as there are not too many words in it. Slowish sound sample. Sample sheet music.
*AoVK-40 / NCH524 / UMH585 / ELW677 / HPP466 / G(II)358 / GC514 / GC(II)514 This little light of mine The AoVK version has excellent verses that actually make the chorus make sense. Check them out if you have a copy. In the meantime, watch Bruce Springsteen sing it here. It's amazing...

Matthew 22:15-22
Whose image is on the coin? Whose image is on you?
*TiS 686 / ATE 292 Lord Jesus we belong to you / Because we bear your name (Robin Mann). A straightforward and practical song asking God to help us to follow Christ well, with a refrain of "because we bear your name". Lyrics.
*TiS 671 / AoV2-121 Made in God's Likeness (Lewis/Spence) "Called to create a new world for the Lord". Excellent images of rainforest birds praising God. This is one of my very favourite songs. It is not difficult if you have a good musician at the helm. If it is new to your congregation, they will be able to join in on the verses by the time you get to the 3rd one. The change in tone with the verse really lifts this song. Lyrics (search for "Made in").
*ATOK 383 / AoV2-057 May we see Christ's loving face / Icon of grace. A beautiful chant from Australians Trisha Watts and Monica O’Brien. This simple chant would be excellent this week, as it picks up both the theme of bearing Christ’s likeness, and the idea that we cannot see God’s face except in the face of Christ; it also works extremely well with a simple slow drum beat (DUM ta-ka DUM ta-ka).
NCH585 / CH254 / AA106 / HPPS385 O God we bear the imprint of your face. Excellent words from Shirley Erena Murray about the human family, and a plea for an end to racism and divisions. I'm not wild about the tune in the NCH (ROSEBERRY); others are better. Lyrics can be found here.
Iona (LFB) / CP424  Sing praise to God on mountain tops. A song of praise to God for the beauty of creation to a traditional English tune (THE VICAR OF BRAY). Words are simple and good for older kids who can read. Note particularly in the final verse “God’s image in each child of earth shall never pale or perish. So treat with love each human soul and thus God’s goodness cherish”.
*SP&P118 Imago Dei (Warner) This energetic song has a simple groovy chorus about being made in God's image, and good verses about what that might mean.

Songs and Hymns for Proper 23A / Ordinary 28A / Pentecost +22 (October 9, 2011)

Exodus 32:1-14  
The Golden Calf. Who brought the Israelites out of Egypt? A cow? Moses? God?
*Taize / MV016 / StJ / R180 / ELW528 / GA430 / SFFS 2157 / HPP410 / G(II)398 / GC570 / GC(II)550 / RS710 / CP402 / URW378 Come and Fill our hearts/ Confitemini Domino (Taize) 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". A good song of recommitment. Sound samples and sheet music.
*Tune In / NCYC '07: Forgive us now (Brown) I think I’ve been suggesting this one a lot lately, but it also fits well with this reading “Forgive us now, O mother love for all the idols we have built, For all the time we’ve worshipped there in company of dark despair. Forgive us mother of all hope”. Lyrics, sound sample, and songbook.

Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23
See above and...
NCH Psalter: Psalm 106 “Remember me O God, when you show favour to your people”. A like the NCH Psalter a lot because its Psalms are inclusive and the refrains, like this one, are simple.
*Iona (Sent By the Lord) / MV066 Senzenina? / What have we done? (South African) A good song for confession. If you have some part-singers in your congregation, this would be particularly 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).
*MV007 Gather us in ground us in you (Hann) A simple chant which would be great for an invitation to worship.
*UMH729 / VU682 / LBW161 / WoV762 ELW627 / HPSS450 / CP573 / W&R539 / Cha711 / URW140 / 82Hml-597 O day of peace that dimly shines (Daw) A song of hoped-for peace. The tune in Chalice hymnal is really nice (CANDLER) or O WALY WALY which is used in URW. Other sources use JERUSALEM, which is a bit too militaristic for me. Lyrics and JERUSALEM sample
*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.   
AA150 Whakatau mai te Atua Mona Rona Riini Hoki Tawa I don't have this book, or know this Maori song, but if you've got the book, have a look and tell me if it's good!

Alternative Hebrew Scripture: Isaiah 25:1-9 
*TiS 647 / AoV2-012 / ATN 25 Comfort, comfort all my people (Mann) Easy to sing, beautiful lyrics. Chorus is “Comfort, comfort all my people, with the comfort of my word. Speak ye tender to my people, all your sins are taken away”. Lyrics, mp3 sample.
*AoV1-012 / ATE 295 / CH623 / SFFS 2236 / HPP553 / G(II)539 / GC839 / GC(II)743 / CP465 / W&R649 / Cha284 / SP175 / URW054 Here in this place new light is streaming / Gather us in (Haugen). Excellent words, very well known. “Nourish us well and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true”
*TiS 545 / Iona (LFB) / CH676 / VU482 Shout for joy! The Lord has let us feast. A very joyous communion song. Lyrics

Alternative Psalm for the Isaiah reading: Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd. Again.
*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. 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.
Here in this place Breathe in the morning air (Wiltshire) Lovely words for a soloist to sing at the start of a morning service to welcome the congregation. Sung to LOVE UNKNOWN. Free sheet music.

Philippians 4:1-9
This reading has about a thousand different significant theological concepts in it, so I have listed only some possible songs that may not be obvious choices...
*Sound the Bamboo 289 / Sing with the World Now I know / Ey lou nis A beautiful and very simple call and response benediction from Cambodia. “Now I know by God’s own grace all of you are the children of God. So with hope go out in peace, bring good news to all people on earth." A sample in Khmer here.
GC(II)719 Let your gentleness be known / The Peace of God. A quite lovely song that picks up the images of purity without being overly pious. “Let your gentleness be known so that all may know the Lord is near. Do not worry, do not worry. Reach out to God in prayer” Sample sheet music and a fairly tacky sound sample here (look up Gather Comp. 2, number 719). It’s much better than it sounds in the sample.
ATW 485 Praying in the morning Good song for kids about praying all the time.
TiS 596 / AHB 515 Fill my whole life O Lord my God (Bonar) An older style hymn with inclusive language for God and a plea for praise in the whole of life. Verse 4 may be bothersome "poor though I be, and weak".
NCH55 / NCH71 / UMH160 / LBW171 / ELW430 Rejoice you pure in heart (Plumptre) A good solid joyful hymn. I prefer it sung to MARION – somehow it’s easier.
*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.
*Taize / TiS 739 / AoV2-041 / ATOK 404 / VU290 / GA269 / SFFS 2054 / G(II)451 / GC639 / GC(II)626 / CP568 / W&R421 / URW388 Nothing Can Trouble / Nada te turbe (Berthier) Excellent and quite well known Taize chant. Spanish lyrics are not too hard for non-Spanish speakers. Sheet music, sound samples, lyrics and translations.
*Iona (Many & Great, There is One Among Us) /MV99 / GC(II)673 Stand O Stand Firm (Cameroon) I love having an excuse to sing this simple song from Cameroon. Very easy for your congregation. You can make up cantor parts too “Oh my sisters…. Oh my brothers… Oh my children….” or you can name countries you are praying for in your intercessions. Good for kids. Free sheet music.
Here in this place May we love goodness and give praise (Wiltshire) Lovely words for the end of the service. Sung to the tune OMBERSLEY, but will also work with TALLIS CAROL. Download songbook for free here.



Matthew 22:1-14
Who will come to the wedding banquet? God invites everyone!
*Tune In / NCYC 2009: God has laid a feasting table / Invitation (Whelan). Feminine imagery of God gathering her guests to a feasting table. Fun Cuban rhythm. Sample and songbook here.
*MV 145 / CP418 Draw the circle wide (Light) A great song about welcoming all people. Lyrics (downloads a Word document).
TiS 259 / NCH201 / Iona (LFB) Among us and before us Lord you stand Good if you are celebrating communion this week. The tune is simple and the words provide a fully inclusive welcome “Who dare say No, when such is your request that each around your table should be guest?”
*AoV1-012 / ATE 295 / CH623 / SFFS 2236 / HPP553 / G(II)539 / GC839 / GC(II)743 / CP465 / W&R649 / Cha284 / SP175 / URW054 Here in this place new light is streaming / Gather us in (Haugen). Excellent words, very well known. “Nourish us well and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true”
AoV1-071 / GC(II)742 Gather Your People (Hurd) Excellent words and eucharistic theology. Good if you are celebrating communion this week. Lyrics, sheet music and sound sample.
*ATA 138 I cannot come to the banquet / The wedding banquet This song from the Medical Mission Sisters lists all the excuses (I have married a wife! I have bought me a cow!). Lyrics and CD.
*ATW 475 / NCYC'01 / SP&P008 Come to the banquet there’s a place for you. An excellent song by Melbourne singer and songwriter Faye White. "Though you maybe have no money, though you maybe feel unworthy, in your strength and in your weakness you are welcome, come."
*AoV2-020 Come to the feast of Heaven and Earth / Table of Plenty (Schutte) “God will provide for all that you need, here at the table of plenty”. I love this song. It’s very straightforward and has excellent words. 
*ATOK 351 You won't get a letter in the post (Mann) A bit silly with the spelling out the chorus bit, but you could have a lot of fun with it, especially if you have kids in your congregation. Lyrics here and mp3 sample here.
*TiS 544 / AHB 88 / Iona Since the world was young there’s a song that’s been sung / God’s Table. I wish this song wasn’t exclusively masculine for God. “God has a table, and he calls his friends to a feast that never ends. God has a table, and one day we’ll meet him there”. The tune is great though and the images are excellent, so I just sing it as it is, and try to balance it out elsewhere in the service. It’s very awkward to change it.

Songs for St. Francis Day / Blessing of the Animals (October 4th)

*Worldmaking.net All of us belong (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A very simple song, with two parts that can be sung simultaneously about welcoming all creatures into the church. I especially like the second part "We have wings and paws and tails and toes and instincts and souls". Good for kids. Sound sample and lyrics
*HiOS022 Creator God, we give you thanks (Gibson) Fun song for kids and adults. The tune is very simple and joyful. "Creator God we give you thanks for those who live in nest or tank, in basket, kennel, bowl or shed, on sofas, perches, straw for bed." 
*NCH32 / UMH122 / VU229 / HPP32 / HPSS272 / CP414 / W&R29 / Cha070 God of the sparrow, God of the whale (Roeder) I like how this song asks questions about how animals might praise God. Lyrics. Good for kids.
*TiS 100 / AHB 3 / NCH17 / CH147 / UMH62 / VU217 / LBW527 / ELW835 / GA395 / HPP261 / HPSS455 / GC534 / GC(II)523 / G(3)611 / CP(E) / 250 / W&R23 / Cha022 / 82Hml-400 / Lau694 All creatures of our God and King (Francis of Assisi) A good classic sing! Hymnals vary in how inclusive (or not) the lyrics are. Using only Alleluia Alleluia or "Sing your praises" as some hymnals do, eliminates the "Oh praise him" which makes it annoyingly male exclusive. NCH has "To you, O God, all creatures sing" and eliminates all kingly language. ELW has "All creatures worship God most high". Lyrics and sound sample.
*ATN 66 / GGives1 If I were a butterfly (Howard) This is such a cute kid's song; I can't work out how to make it gender-inclusive for God when it gets to "But I just thank you Father for making me me!" Good for kids. Lyrics, chords and sound sample.
Cha697 Creative God You Spread the Earth (Duck) A song asking forgiveness for our disdain for the earth and animals. Sung to the familiar tune KINGSFOLD. The animals are largely European or North American, so maybe not great for Australians. Lyrics.
AoVK-35 O good and almighty Lord (Raimondo) Canticle of St. Francis. Good words of the earth.
*TiS 607 / AoV2-126 / ATN 95 / CH528 / VU684 / StJ / SFFS 2171 / HPP406 / G(II)524 / GC726 / GC(II)721 / G(3)828 / CP(E)519/ W&R587 / Srce 462 / Lau898 Make me a channel of your peace (Temple) An oldy but a very very goody, based on the Prayer of St. Francis. Although it doesn't specifically mention animals, I was really struck by how the words reflect behaviour more like a pet than a human. Youtube video of Sinead O'Connor singing it and lyrics and MIDI file.
CH527 / SP290 / 82Hml-593 Lord make us servants of your peace (Quinn) A nice alternative to "make me a channel of your peace". This is sung to the very familiar tune "O Waly Waly". It is also sung in the plural (us and we rather than Me and I), which is nice too.  
*TiS 135 / AHB 70 / AoVK-110 / NCH31 / CH137 / UMH147 / VU291 / WoV767 / HPP35 / HPSS267 / RS 635 / CP415/6 / CP(E) 251 / W&R30 / Cha61 All things bright and beautiful A traditional favourite. Note to Australians, TiS has Australian imagery (wildflowers, billabongs, gorges, gum trees and waterfalls! Good for kids. English lyrics and ROYAL OAK tune, BRIGHT and BEAUTIFUL midi (this is the tune I know).
*TiS 671 / AoV2-121 Made in God's Likeness (Lewis/Spence) "Called to create a new world for the Lord". Excellent images of rainforest birds praising God. This is one of my very favourite songs. It is not difficult if you have a good musician at the helm. If it is new to your congregation, they will be able to join in on the verses by the time you get to the 3rd one. The change in tone with the verse really lifts this song. Lyrics (search for "Made in").
Cha697 Creative God You Spread the Earth (Duck) KINGSFOLD A song asking forgiveness for our disdain for the earth and animals. 

Recorded music: Sarah McLachlan has a very nice recording of the Prayer of St. Francis. Video here.


I'm sure Norm Habel will have written many songs that would fit. One example, including a whole order of worship for a similar service is here.

Songs for Proper 22A / Ordinary 27A / Pentecost +21 (October 2, 2011)

Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20
The Ten Commandments
*Iona / ATOK 311 / CH754 / GA401 Be still and know that I am God and there is none beside me (Iona) A simple song reflecting on the 1st commandment. Some versions have a 2nd verse.
Seeds of Faith: Ten Commandments (because God loves us) (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A fun song for musicians to lead and for kids to join in the counting. Could be a good way of helping kids learn the 10 commandments in a Sunday School setting. Lyrics and sound sample.
AoVK-41 Moses climbed the mountain high Another good song to help kids learn the 10 commandments, probably better for Sunday School than congregational worship. There are other versions of this out there too, but this one is better.
NCH20 God of Abraham and Sarah. A great newish but very singable hymn tune with words that pick up the history of our faith, as well as some of the Psalm and Gospel themes this week. Excellent words. Could also be sung to NETTLETON if you want a familiar tune.

Psalm 19
Heavenly praise; God's commands are sweeter than honey; Let the words of my mouth...
Cosmic praise. God's laws are perfect.
*TiS 187 / AoV2-130 / CH149 / StS122 / SP247 Let all creation dance I just love the imagery of this one, and it's a very joyous and familiar hymn tune too. Lyrics (downloads pdf).
*CH172 / URW062 Sing for God’s glory that colours the dawn of creation (Galloway) Beautiful poetic words of creation (first verse), release (2nd verse), justice (3rd verse) and saints (4th verse). Would be a good song to open worship. Sung to a very familiar hymn tune, LOBE DEN HERREN (TiS 111). Lyrics (loads a pdf).
GC(II)21 Words of Everlasting Life / Palabras de vida Eterna Simple bilingual (English / Spanish refrain) and cantored verses in either English or Spanish (or I guess you could alternate if you have a bilingual congregation). Sound sample. Sheet music sample.
*TiS 7 The sky tells the glory of God (Hughes) Excellent and simple cantor and refrain. could easily use the refrain with the Psalm being read also. Don't forget that these Psalm refrains are also great for smaller kids - they can join in without reading.
*MV31 / Linnea Good Pure love A simple two-part chant that picks up the Psalmist’s idea of the purity of God’s law “Pure love, pure truth, pure justice, God”. Would be great if you can teach it to some of the congregation before worship starts.
*AoVK-113 Thank you O Lord for this world of ours I like this kid's song. Really fun and interesting with two parts!
*AoV1-003 / HPP258 / GA394 / G(II)342 / GC497 / GC(II)495 / RS638 The heavens are telling the glory of God / Canticle of the Sun (Haugen) Energetic waltz of cosmic praise with great lyrics "Come dance in the forest, come play in the field, and sing, sing to the glory of the Lord". Sound sample. Lyrics and sheet music sample.
ATW 462 When I consider God's design / Hand in hand (Mann) Good words of all creation celebrating together. Tune is good, too. Lyrics.
*TiS 156 / AHB 91 / AoV1-135 / ATA 123 / CH212 / UMH145 / VU409 / ELW556 / HPP267 / HPSS469 / G(II)546 / GC756 / GC(II)748 / CP003 / W&R35 / Cha053 / URW186 / 82Hml-008 Morning has broken (Farjeon) This song makes me smile every time. Here's Yusuf Islam (when he was Cat Stevens) in 1976 (love those green boots).
*TiS 166 / AHB 102 / StB 35 Sing a new song sing a new song Excellent inclusive words from Australian poet James McAuley. The last verse annoys me a bit, but the rest is excellent. Lyrics.
*TiS 163 / AHB 112 / NCH556 / UMH150 / LBW463 / ELW771 / HPPS268 / W&R644 / Cha651 / URW084 / 82Hml-580 God who stretched the spangled heavens Good words of creation of nature and cities and creative possibilities for the future. AHB has a Father and old language, but it works okay; TiS and other sources are better. There are many possible tunes. I like it best to HOLY MANNA as in the link. Lyrics and sound sample.
*AoVK-50 / ATW 430 / NCYC'99 Come let us praise our God / A voice is heard (Trisha Watts) Excellent and energetic.
*HPP28 / HPSS285 / W&R24 God You Spin the Whirling Planets (Jane Parker Huber / AUSTRIAN HYMN) Excellent words to a very familiar tune (TiS 772). Really good for the final hymn or response to the sermon. Lyrics.
AoV1-019 / CH151 / GA397 / G(II)340 / GC493 / GC(II)498 / W&R39 / URW097 All You Works of God (Haugen) Joyful call, response and chorus. This will take a little work to get your congregation into the rhythm of how this song works, but I really think it would be worth it. Lyrics, sound sample and sheet music (search for "all you works").
VU888 / LBW558 / ELW731 / HPSS458 / RS681 / CP358 / W&R642 Earth and All Stars Fun words of cosmic praise. An easy hymn-like tune. I really like the "boiling test tubes" bit, although this verse is not in all hymnals. Sheet music, lyrics and a keyboard tune sample (search for Ritual Song 681)

Alternative Hebrew Scripture: Isaiah 5:1-7
The promising vineyard that gives only wild grapes. God's frustrated.
*Tune In / NCYC '07: Forgive us now (Brown) “As we forgive may we be healed, as we reach out….” An excellent ballad seeking forgiveness in a sinful world. Lyrics and sound sample.
*Recorded Music If you had a vineyard (Sinéad O'Connor) Ray Gormann played this to our congregation three years ago; taken directly from this passage, this protest song is very moving. It's from the album "Theology". Video. Some words from Sinéad about her interpretation of this passage.
SFFS 2169 God How Can We Forgive (Duck) Good words of healing in the midst of broken relationships to the familiar tune LEONI. Lyrics (scroll down).
*HPSS437 / CP591 / W&R586 Our Cities Cry to You O God (Clarkson) Good words of helping to heal injustice in the world. Being the body of Christ. Sung to a very amiliar hymn tune. Lyrics and tune sample.
*Tune In: Our God who weeps (Kate Scull) Very simple folk-like tune and challenging and hopeful lyrics. "When death has taken those held dear"... Reference recording, lyrics and songbook available here.
*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 particularly 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).

Alternative Psalm for Isaiah reading: Psalm 80:7-15
Restore us, let your face shine that we may be saved.
*TiS 42 / GA047 Lord make us turn to you (Boschetti) A simple refrain and mostly inclusive cantor part (just change “man” to “one” in verse 3). Don't forget that you can use these refrains with a reader if you don't have someone confident enough to cantor.
*AoVK-29 Remember we are your people (Barr) Simple three part chant "Remember we are your people, your people O God". This would work really well as a sung refrain during the prayer of confession.
*Tune In: Longing for you (Loukes). A simple chant of longing for God. Sound sample and lyrics here.
Online resource: Prepare, prepare the way of the Lord (Kleinheksel). A simple round, particularly appropriate for kids. Adults might find it a bit simple, but it’s quite effective. Sheet music.
VU239 O great Spirit how I long to hear (Clellamin) Native American song - very simple, would be best with a good hand-clapping rhythm or drumming.
*NCH563 / MV143 / HPP260 / GC710 / GC(II)703 / RS 636 / Cha684 / URW169 We cannot own the sunlit sky / Abundant life (Duck) I like these words full of hope for the future. I would prefer to sing it to the tune of "How can I keep From singing". LA GRANGE is the other option.

Philippians 3:4b-14
Righteousness through faith, striving
*Tune In: A Grain of Wheat (Anderson) Excellent words about Christ's death and what it could mean to us. Lyrics and sound sample here.
*TiS 382 / AoV2-131 / ATN 15 / NCH238 / CH417 / UMH311 / VU186 / LBW280 / ELW570 / HPP210 / G(II)318 / GC444 / GC(II)456 Now the green blade riseth I don't think we need to sing this only at Easter. Some lyrics are more inclusive than others. One version of the lyrics is here.
*AoV2-033 / VU648 Travel on travel on (Sydney Carter). I think this old folk song would work well to pick up the theme of "pressing on". Lyrics and chords here.
*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.
Worldmaking.net O Author of Faith yet at work in our hearts (Bruxvoort-Colligan) New words to an old tune “O Jesus our Christ, lead the way for our faith to give perseverance for running the race. You’ve gone on ahead for to stake out a claim. We trust in the journey and look for your footsteps. O Jesus our Christ, lead the way for our faith!” Lyrics and sound sample here.
*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 We are marching in the light of God / Siyahamba / Caminando Don't forget to jump around a lot when singing this.

Matthew 21:33-46
The murderous tenants and Christ's followers still don’t understand.
*Tune in / NCYC'07 Forgive us now (Brown) I've chosen this because sometimes we are the murderous tenants in the story, but God forgives. This is a beautiful and challenging song of forgiveness. Lyrics and sound sample here.
*NCH387 / HPSS443 / GC(II)646 / 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). There is a second possible tune (ABREU), which is more challenging. Lyrics, and both tunes here (search for "Foundation"). Note that the lyrics in the NCH are slightly different, and more inclusive.