Songs and hymns for Advent 4B (18 December 2011)

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 
David’s house and God’s house. See the suggestions for Psalm 89 (just below)
 *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 89:1-4, 19-26
God’s steadfastness and promise to David
*TiS 46 / AoV2-96 / GA 518 My peace be upon you for ever / I will sing forever of your love, O Lord (Willcock) A very nice paraphrase of the psalm. The refrain is very simple and inclusive and can be used for either a read or cantor-sung Psalm. “My peace be upon you forever, my love be within your heart, my Spirit will keep you safe all your days”. This is also in New Song in an Ancient Land Vol 1 (in the Liturgy Library at BUC).
NCH29 / Iona (SBL) / GC538 / G(II)385 Let heaven your wonders proclaim This simple folk tune style tune has good, inclusive words. NCH and Iona books have a lovely arrangement for the verses, but it can also be sung in unison; especially nice with guitar if you have a guitarist in your congregation.
*AoVK-144 / ATN 87 When the day has begun / Walkin’ down the road (Mann) Great song for kids about God being with us. It's an oldy, and was overdone in my parish at least in the early 80s, but I think I can cope with it again now! Lyrics.
*Emergent Psalter Blessed be God forever Amen and amen (Everett) An excellent simple refrain. Sheet music (refrain only).
*ATE 216 / Iona (SBL) / CH126 / StJ / WoV795 / ELW555 / PH472 / G(II)365 / GC527 / RS 671 / CP417 / W&R15 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. Some versions also have multiple verses (e.g. CH). Sheet music sample. Sound sample (click on the play button).
*TiS 666 / AoV2-113 / AoVK-126 / ATOK 409 / NCH526 / Iona (Common Ground, Freedom is Coming) / CH516 / VU646/647 / WoV650 / ELW866 / SFFS 2235 / HPP153 / G(II)357 / GC513 / GC(II)516 / Cha442 / SP235 / Srce737 We are marching in the light of God / Siyahamba / Caminando. A very well known South African protest song. Lyrics (multiple translations)

Luke 1:46b-55
The Magnificat. See Advent 3B suggestions for this reading.

Romans 16:25-27
A convoluted blessing
Sorry, no particular suggestions for this one.

Luke 1:26-38 
The annunciation. Some of the songs suggested for the magnificat reading for Advent 3B may also be appropriate.
*Seeds of Faith I Bring You Good News This is a great little song for kids “Mary, Mary do not be afraid. I bring you good news, good good news!”. Very simple and fun. Nice sound sample (with kids singing!) and lyrics/theology
*TiS 287 / CH287 / StS011 / GC(II)768 / RS876 No wind at the window (COLUMCILLE /Iona). Highly recommended. This lovely Irish tune and excellent words tell the story in a simple and powerful setting. I especially like the last verse “No payment was promised, no promises made; no wedding was dated, no blueprint displayed. Yet Mary, consenting to what none could guess, replied with conviction “Tell God, I say Yes”. Lyrics
*?GC(II)781 O Mary of Promise (Warner) A lovely song to a gentle tune. This will probably be too Marian for some, but not for me.  Lyrics and leader sheet. Sound sample.
*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.
GA445 / G(II)421 / GC597 / GC(II)581 I Say "Yes," Lord / Digo "Sí," Señor (Pena) A simple song which speaks of sticking with God through good times and bad. Lyrics and sample sheet music. Sound sample. 
G(II)563 / GC781 / GC(II)777 I Sing a Maid This telling of the role of Mary would be good sung by a soloist during part of the service, although some may find it too strongly Marian. The tune will be known to Australians as “with my swag all on my shoulder”. Lyrics, sheet music and (slow!) sound sample.
G(II)506 / GC(II)676 There Is a Mountain / I am for you (Cooney) Lovely words, but probably too tricky for a congregational song. “There was a woman small as a star, full of the patient dreams of her nation. Welcoming in an angel of God, Welcoming in God’s bold invitation”.

*Poem The angel and the girl are met (Edwin Muir) A beautiful transformative poem about the meeting of Mary and Gabriel. Poem

Songs and Hymns for Advent 3B (11 December 2011)

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11  
The spirit of the Lord is on me to bring good news, so rejoice!
*Tune In: The Spirit of the Lord (Loukes) A beautiful and simple chant. Highly recommended. Lyrics, sound sample and songbook available here.
*TiS 690 / CH259 / StS115 Beauty for brokenness hope for despair (Kendrick) Themes of healing from personal and universal suffering and a rousing chorus. Lyrics.
*Online Resource 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. Free sheet music.
*TiS 688 Come to be our hope O Jesus (Marachin) This is a really fun Latin American song from the World Council of Churches Assembly in Canberra. It's not easy the first time, but once you've heard it, it's very catchy and good for kids. The words are really excellent, despite a slightly clunky translation. Use some maracas. It would be worth teaching to your congregation!
*AoV1-021 / ATOK 402 / StS114 / G(II)488 / GC682 / GC(II)669 God Has Chosen Me (Farrell) Energetic, and great words of justice. Can be rocky or smooth, however you like it. Good for kids. Lyrics.
*AoVK-28 / ATOK 376 Faith hope and love (Watts) This is so easy, and so cool. If you have some groovy musicians, this can even be a very funky rock song. Very easy, and great for kids and non-readers.
*TiS 657 / CH263 / VU700 / AA50 / CP(E) 447 / Cha656 / SP242 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.
TiS 269 / AHB 197 / CH277 / VU29 / LBW35 / ELW239 Hark the glad sound the Savior comes A more traditional choice. Can be sung to CREDITON or CHESTERFIELD. Its language is very old fashioned and may irritate some. Lyrics.
*TiS 410 / AHB 323 / LBW523 / ELW582 / NCH59 Holy Spirit, ever dwelling I like these words, about the Spirit working through the church and God's people, but prefer to sing it to NETTLETON (TiS 392). Lyrics and sound sample.  
ATOK 389 Light of the nations (Mann) A simple song. Lyrics.
VU699 / HPSS332 Live into hope of captives freed. Excellent words from Jane Parker Huber to the familiar tune TRURO. Lyrics (scroll down).
*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 is very straightforward. Other sources use JERUSALEM, which is a bit too militaristic for me. Lyrics and JERUSALEM sample
*TiS 210 / AHB 141 / NCH42 / CH352 / UMH57 / VU326 / LBW42 / ELW295 / HPP74 / PH466 / CP306 / CP(E) 534 / W&R96 / Cha005 / Srce506 O for a thousand tongues to sing (Wesley) A classic. I particularly love NATIVITY for these words, and it's such a fun tune. My son, who's almost 8, loves it. In the AHB, Christ is masculine, but I think that's okay. Lyrics and one possible tune.
*TiS 179 / NCH273 / VU312 / Iona (Heaven Shall Not Wait) / StJ / GA379 / URW073 Praise with joy the world's Creator My all time favourite Trinitarian hymn. Simple well known tune (Praise my soul the king of heaven), wonderful imagery in the words. Some versions change "Son" to "Christ" to make it more inclusive. Lyrics (scroll down).

GC(II)662 To bring glad tidings to the lowly / You Have Anointed Me (Balhoff / Daigle / Ducote) This is nice. I like how the congregation responds with “You have anointed me”. I think it could be a very powerful experience to sing that as a congregation. Sheet music and tacky sound sample
*StS038 / G(II)486 / GC679 / GC(II)672 When Jesus Worked here on earth (Olson) Nice simple song, to a Celtic-style tune about bringing good news and setting captives free. Sheet music sample. Sound sample. 

Psalm 126
Those who sow in tears shall reap with joy
*AoV1-021 / ATOK 402 / StS114 / G(II)488 / GC682 / GC(II)669 God Has Chosen Me (Farrell) Energetic, and great words of justice. Can be rocky or smooth, however you like it. Good for kids. Lyrics here.
*G(II)110 / GC124 / GC(II)69 / URW326 God Has Done Great Things for Us (Haugen) Lovely words “God has done great things for us. Filled us with laughter and music”. I really like this. Both the cantor part and the refrain are inclusive. Would work well also with the Psalm being read between the refrains. Sheet music and sound sample.
TiS 177 / VU614 In suffering love the thread of life (Johns / WALSALL) A more sombre choice, but comforting
TiS 670 / AoVK-138 / ATE 258 / CH692 / Srce385 Jesus put this song into our hearts (Kendrick) A fun Yiddish tune that gets even more fun if you get faster and faster as you go. Try teaching your congregation a simple side to side “dance” step. If you teach them and make it clear that it’s okay, you’ll be surprised how many people dance to God. Great for kids, too. Lyrics.
URW325 When God first brought us back from exile (Daw) Good words based on the Psalm, and it's sung to WAYFARING STRANGER, which is a very cool tune. Lyrics (downloads a pdf). I can't resist posting a link to a great video of Tim Eriksen singing and playing Wayfaring Stranger.
Online resource: Those who sow in tears (Harding) A simple, joyful round. Available here.
URW327 Wondrous God bring us back to you (Peacock) A simple Psalm prayer. No music. It's just a beautiful little prayer.
*NCH461 Let us hope when hope seems hopeless (Beebe) A lilting tune and good words of hope in the face of difficulty. A song of a maturing faith. Sound sample (long introduction).

Alternative: Luke 1:46b-55
The magnificat 
*G(II)128 / GC147 / GC(II)83 / RS210 / URW020 And Holy Is Your Name (Haas) Lovely words to a simple Celtic tune (WILD MOUNTAIN THYME). Lyrics. Tune.

*MV120 / StS124 / R245 / ELW723 / HPP88 / G(II)376 / GC556 / GC(II)527 / RS678 / URW018 My soul cries out with a joyful shout (Canticle of the Turning) This is my favourite Magnificat! "Could the world be about to turn?" It's sung to a folk tune (STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN). Lyrics. Very folky version on youtube.
*GC(II)362 Dark is the night / Sing Alleluia (O'Brien) Excellent and simple Christmas song which reflects the magnificat and the happiness of Jesus’ parents. I especially like the last verse “Hope for the poor, release for the captive, Love for the outcast, light for weary eyes; Word that brings life, embracing humanity, Jesus, companion be born into our lives”. It would be particularly good for a Christmas eve service. The chorus would also work very nicely on its own. Lead sheet and lyrics. Sound sample.
*VU323 Maker of the sun and moon and mother of the earth (Sharrocks) Wonderful inclusive words, and a beautiful tune, that for me sounds a lot like "Lord Jesus Christ, Lover of All" so melodically ties Advent in with Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. You may like to sing it this Sunday and leave the last verse until Christmas day. Highly recommended.
Taizé / GC(II)530 Let Us Sing to the Lord / Benissez le Seigneur A joyous chant. Sound samples, sheet music and translations.
Taizé / Iona (T1AU) / StS012 / GC(II)522 Magnificat “Magnificat amina mea dominum” Taize Magnificat. To be honest, I think it’s kind of funny to sing “Magnificat” as a lyric, but maybe that's just me. There are also alternative English lyrics, which are good if your congregation thinks singing in Latin is quirky. A catchy and happy Taize chant. Sheet music, sound samples, and English translation.
Online resource Magnificat (Harding) A fun magnificat, using the Latin phrase “Magnificat amina mea deum” Sound and sheet music sample.
GC788 / G(II)568 / GC(II)773 All that I am sings (Haas) Nice. Simple refrain. Lead sheet and lyrics.  Sound sample.
*TiS 172 / NCH119 / UMH198 / VU899 / Cha130 My soul gives glory to my God my heart (Miriam Therese Winter / MORNING SONG) Simple and beautiful words to a simple and beautiful tune. Inclusive lyrics. Lyrics (plus lyrics to lots of other magnificats). Scroll down and look for "ecumenical".
GC(II)782 My Soul Proclaims the Greatness of God (Haugen) Nice, simple to sing. Sample sheet music and music sample (search for "My soul proclaims").
GA250 My soul rejoices / Canticle of Mary (Alstott) A simple, hymnlike Magnificat.
*W&R172 For Ages Women Hoped and Prayed (Huber) This is one of those "Coming, but already here songs" of Advent, and could be sung at other times of year, too. Thought-provoking words about what it may have been like for Mary to bear Christ. Lyrics (downloads a large pdf). Set to VOX DILECTI, but could be sung to other tunes. It fits New Britain (the tune for Amazing Grace) quite nicely.
WoV730 / LBW180 / ELW573 / CP363 My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness A very simple hymny Magnificat; there are a few translations of this. WoV is good (I don't know about ELW or CP). Sung to the well known tune KINGSFOLD.
Recorded music: Mary did you know? (Lowry/Greene) The lyrics are really good. I'm no Kenny Rogers fan, but I quite like this. Even better if you can have someone from your congregation sing it. Lyrics and chords here.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 
An entire sermon in one reading.
*TiS 420 Holy Spirit go before us every mind and heart prepare (Elizabeth Smith) Excellent words. Can also sing to AUSTRIA (TiS 93).
*TiS 106 / AHB 14 / AoV1-189 / NCH419 / CH182 / UMH102 / VU236 / LBW534 / ELW840 / HPP283 / HPSS555 / GC565 / GC(II)545 Now thank we all our God / Nun Danket Alle Gott A classic song of thanks. No, it's not inclusive for God, but if balanced with feminine imagery in the rest of the service, I'm okay with that. A few simple substitutions can make it inclusive, too.
*TiS 638 / NCH175 / CH717 / UMH265 / LBW380 / ELW675 / HPSS380 O Christ the healer we have come Beautiful words and simple to sing. Good to sing during intercessions.
TiS 642 / AHB 570 This day God gives me the strength of high heaven Based on the prayer of St. Patrick's breastplate and sung to BUNESSAN (Morning has broken). Lyrics and sign language translation here.
TiS 112 / AHB 30 Through all the changing scenes of life
*TiS 590 / AHB 165 / AoVK-117 / NCH506 / UMH526 / VU663 / LBW439 / ELW742 / HPP408 / PH403 / CP532 / W&R473 / Cha585 / Srce 776 What a Friend we have in Jesus There is a bit of masculine language, but the song has so many other good things about it. I like both tunes. AOVK has different lyrics, written specifically for kids, which I think are worth singing.
*TiS 421 Where the Spirit is there's freedom An excellent joyous upbeat song from the World Council of Churches. Lyrics.

John 1:6-8, 19-28
See also last week's John the Baptist suggestions here. 
*TiS 181 / AoV2-032 / GC(II)497 / CP589 Come O God of all the earth / Sing Out Earth and Skies (Haugen). Another big favourite. Sheet music, lyrics. Sound sample. Joyous and a big favourite of our congregation. 
*AoV2-003 / ATOK 313 / CH543 / StJ / R127 / ELW715 / GC(II)512 Longing for light we wait in darkness / Christ, be our light (Farrell). One of my favourites, especially if someone can sing or play the descant line in the later verses. Sound and sheet music sample here.
*Worldmaking.net Christ is Coming Ever Coming (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A modern hymn of salvation history. Lyrics and sound sample. Music available online.

Songs and Hymns for Advent 2B (December 4th, 2011)

Isaiah 40:1-11  
“Comfort my people”. A voice in the wilderness crying out to make a straight path for God. See also the suggestions for Mark at the bottom of this entry.
*BUC unpublished songs: Feed us the bread of your body of love / Harvest our love (Dave Brown). This song is funky and great. The chorus is: “Come and be our feast, harvest our love; Restore our sight again, breath of life and power; Light of the world, shine in this space; In the gracious meal of love, bless us to this age. In the cosmic mystery, show us Jesus' face”.
*TiS 647 / AoV2-012 / ATN 25 Comfort, comfort all my people (Mann) Easy to sing, beautiful lyrics; largely a paraphrase of this passage. 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.
NCH101 / CH274 / VU883 / LBW29 / ELW256 / HPP84 / HPPS003 / GC326 / GC(II)331 / RS488 / CP100 / W&R155 / Cha122 / 82Hml-067 Comfort Comfort O My People (Olearius) A more traditional setting of this passage. I don’t know why this is not popular in Australia. The tune PSALM 42 (Genevan Psalter) also sometimes known as GENEVA is not the GENEVA in TiS. Of course, NCH has the most inclusive lyrics, but the others are mostly okay too. Lyrics. Sound sample. Sheet music for the tune.
Cha123 Comfort Comfort O My People (Scripture passage) A responsive reading and sung response based on the familiar hymn listed above.
*ATOK 337 / The word made flesh The grass withers (Mann) A simple song “The grass withers and the flowers fade but the word of our God lasts forever”. Lyrics.
*Online resource: Comfort comfort my people (Harding) A simple round. Sheet music PDF for purchase and sound sample available here.
*Taizé / CH276 / VU22 / ELW262 / GA283 / G(II)256 / GC332 / GC(II)340 / CP094 / W&R166 / URW396 Wait for the Lord (Berthier) Very well known Taize chant. "Wait for the Lord, whose day is near, Wait for the Lord, keep watch, take heart!" Some sources have good cantor lines. Sound samples and sheet music.
G(II)249 / GC319 / GC(II)325 Close as tomorrow the sun shall appear / Walk in the Reign (Cooney). I really like this one. “Close as tomorrow the sun shall appear. Freedom is coming and healing is near. And I shall be with you in laughter and pain to stand in the wind and walk in the reign”. Nice little lyrics twist there! The 4th verse mentions specific locations (Soweto, Gdansk, Tiannemen Square, The Bronx), which you could retain or change, as you feel appropriate. This sound sample gives it a bit of a gospel feel. Sheet music and lyrics.
AoV1-057 / G(II)485 /  GC678 / GC(II)663 / RS799 Awake from your slumber / City of God (Schutte) I love the joyousness and sense of mission in this one. A really positive song “Let us build the city of God, let us turn our morning to dancing, for the Lord, our light and our love, has turned the night into day”. You might like to break copyright laws and change the chorus so it’s “will turn the night into day” which would be more Adventy. Sound and print samples here. There is a little bit of non-inclusiveness in the middle. Sample sheet music & lyrics. Sound sample.
Online resource: In the still of winter These beautiful words to the well-known tune FOUNDATION would be particularly good for a quieter, more reflective Advent service in the Northern Hemisphere. "From the silence of evening, from shadow and sleep, comes a numinous star like a voice from the deep. How long must I wander, how far must I roam? I am here, I am with you, and I'll lead you home." Available here.
Online resource: Gather your people to comfort and love (Garland). New words to the well-known hymn tune SLANE. Verse two: "Salvation comes now to those who will hear, Righteousness shines forth, forgiveness draws near. Call forth repentence, O Covenant Lord, that justice and peace may to us be restored". Available here.
NCH121 / UMH210 / VU005 / WoV629 / ELW266 / W&R163 / Cha139 All earth is waiting / All earth is hopeful / Toda la tierra espera al Salvador (Taule) Fun Catalonian tune, good words, although the English translations vary between sources. Could be good for kids. Sound sample and Spanish lyrics.   
*Taizé  / 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. Good for kids. Works well in English, German and Spanish at least. Good for kids. Sheet music, translations into many other languages, sound samples.  

Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
God will speak peace; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. God’s forgiveness and steadfastness.
Taizé / TiS 713 Dona nobis pacem domine / cordium (Berthier) There is a specific cantor line for Psalm 85 to go with this prayer of peace. Sound sample and sheet music for the refrain here.
*TiS 409 / AHB 322 / CH595 / UMH543 / VU202 / StJ / Cha250 O Breath of life come sweeping through us (Elizabeth Porter Head) This is a really wonderful older style hymn with inclusive lyrics. Lyrics and sound sample. Not all verses are in all hymnals
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; could work for the younger set. Sample sheet music. Sound sample.
G(II)254 / GC330 Let Me Taste Your Mercy Like Rain (Cooney) Good words of both personal and communal redemption. Simple contemporary tune. Lyrics & lead sheet. Clunky 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).
*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. Would work for kids. Lyrics (downloads a pdf).
*Emergent Psalter Show us your mercy O God (Everett) A simple refrain and read Psalm.
CH720 / SP204 There is a longing in our hearts O Lord (Quigley) Good words, particularly suitable for Advent. Longing for God's love, justice, wisdom, healing. A good song for before or after intercessions.

2 Peter 3:8-15a 
God has a different timeline to us. Waiting in purity; the day of the Lord will surprise us.
TiS 616 / AHB 547 / NCH611 / UMH730 / VU688 / HPP221 / PH452 / CP092 / CP(E) 33 / Cha700 / 82Hml-600 O day of God draw near / nigh in beauty and in power, come with your timeless judgement now to match our present hour" This older hymn has quite excellent words calling for God’s presence, steadfast faith, justice in our land, peace and light. Can be sung to BELLWOODS or ST. MICHAEL. If neither tune is familiar, ST THOMAS (TiS 271) will work well. Lyrics.
GA281 Gather in hope people of God / Advent Song (Browne / Wood) Joyful refrain, and cantor response verses. "Gather in hope, people of God, sing the Advent song! Song of faith, song of trust, a song to welcome the Christ". The verses seem a bit tricky.
VU718 / PH431 / W&R620 O Lord You Gave Your Servant John (Patterson) Terrific words contrasting the wealth and poverty of earthly cities with the Holy City. Sung to ST. PATRICK'S BREASTPLATE or CANDLER.
Recorded Music In God's Time (Houser) WARNING: this is not my usual style. Masculine God. Country music, and not the type of country music I like. Mushy. Interventionist, blueprint-holding God. But it might be helpful for someone, so I'm listing it anyway. We're all waiting for something, and some of those things are pretty ordinary. Youtube.

Mark 1:1-8
John the Baptist proclaims the coming of Christ
TiS 270 / AHB 199 / NCH115 / CH334 / VU20 / LBW548 / ELW842 / PH010 / G(II)260 / GC321 / 322 / GC(II)344 / CP103 / CP(E) 34 / W&R156 / 82Hml-076 On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry. If you would like inclusive lyrics, have a look at the New Century Hymnal’s version. If you’d like a groovy tune, check out AHB 199(ii) / GC322 – ST JOHN BAPTIST by Gary Lewis Miles and Betty Pulkingham. This is an excellent, fun tune. You can even combine the words of NCH115 with AHB199(ii) for the best of both worlds. But WINCHESTER NEW is also very good, and easy to sing for more staid congregations. Lyrics and tune sample (Winchester New).
Seeds of Faith Prepare the Way For Love (Bruxvoort-Colligan). A good song for kids. Sound sample and lyrics here. BUC people, I have this book.
StS008 / SFFS 2089 / HPSS409 Wild and Lone the Prophet's Voice (Daw) Excellent, challenging words. I prefer this sung to ABERYSTWYTH which is well known and easily accessible. Lyrics
Online resource: Down by the Jordan (Winfrey-Gillette). Good inclusive words to the familiar tune LOBE DEN HERREN. Available here.
*Online Resource:  Prepare the way of the Lord (King / Lowery) An upbeat song, good for kids and teenagers, I think. The verses are kind of wordy, but they're good words. Free sheet music. The verses follow the traditional advent themes of peace, hope, joy and love, so you could also sing it every Sunday of Advent.
Taizé / UMH207 / VU10 / StS014 / GC336 / GC(II)330 Prepare the way of the Lord (Berthier) A lovely simple round. Sheet music and clunky sound sample.  
VU010 Prepare the way of the Lord (Burkhardt) A lovely simple round in 6:8. "Prepare the way of the Lord! X2 Make a straight path for him, make a straight path. Prepare the way of the Lord!" You can split into 6 groups for this one! What fun!
Online Resource Prepare the way of the Lord (Council) A nice setting for a choir. Free sheet music.
*?Recorded Music: Prepare ye the way of the Lord - Godspell (Schwarz / Tebelak) This is still a great call to worship for this Sunday. You know, the movie is really dated, but the scenes seem kind of fresh again, at least, for this song. Get that gospel choir going if you have the sheet music. Track it down! Youtube. 
*?Recorded Music: Prepare ye the way of the Lord (Smith) Love the Aussie accent in the readings for the Intro to this. I wish they had used TaikOz for the drumming.... ah that would have been something amazing.... I really like the excitement of the intro, and the song is just a chorus really. Maybe I just like those jangly U2-esque guitars. "Come on, church". Cracks me up. But it's very inspiring. Youtube.

Songs and Hymns for Advent 1B (November 27 2011)

Isaiah 64:1-9
“Oh that you would tear open the heavens and come down”. A cry to God for restoration. You are the potter, you made us. Come on God, don’t be mad. Remember we’re your people.
Don't forget to look at General Advent Suggestions, many of which will fit this reading.
*NCH112 Keep awake be always ready (Clyde) New words to the tune for "Wake awake for night is flying". I particularly like the second verse of this one. Lyrics. 
Traditional / ATA 124 / UMH494 / PH338 / W&R487 / Cha590 Kumbayah, my Lord. I think this song is really beautiful sometimes. Sometimes it’s really awful too, unfortunately. I was lucky enough to sing this with Trish Watts and our congregation at Paddington Uniting Church many years ago. It was sung as a quiet meditative chant, with improvised descants, which totally transformed this song for me. You can judge whether it will work for your congregation. You could also sing "Come by here, my Lord" too. Wish I could find a nice sample for you, but can't.
*TiS 626 / AHB 557 / CH500 / GA423 Lord of creation to you be all praise! (Winslow) A wonderful traditional and quite inclusive hymn to the familiar tune SLANE. Lyrics.
*ATE 221 They were waiting (Mann) I think this is a great pop song - a little more Christmas than Advent, but the chorus makes it feel like an Advent song to me. "Now the time has come. God is in the world, we have seen his day dawning in the sky". Lyrics.
*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. It would also be good for kids if you can explain the concept.
*Tune In / NCYC '07: Forgive us now (Brown) This is one of the best songs seeking forgiveness that I know. “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.
*Tune In: You in all our worries / All will finish well “In this world where injustice reigns, you are in the midst of pain”. Excellent words of reassurance in a difficult world. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook available here.
CH252 / VU578 / GA481 / SFFS 2237 / G(II)471 / GC663 / GC(II)643 / W&R551 As a Fire Is Meant for Burning (Duck) Excellent lyrics of unity across all nations set to the familiar tune BEACH SPRING. Not terribly Adventish, but great. Lyrics.
Online Resource We are clay (Harding) A simple chorus which could be used prayerfully or in an upbeat style; if you sing it about twice the speed of the sound sample, swung, with some percussion, it would be a great song for kids if you are talking to them about pottery wheels. Sound sample and PDF for download.  I have promised my son to suggest more kid's songs.

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19  
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.
*TiS 265 / AHB 193 / AoV1-174 / NCH116 / CH273 / UMH211 / VU001 / LBW034 / ELW283 / GA285 / HPP92 / PH009 / GC317 / GC(II)323 / CP089 / CP(E) 32 / W&R154 / Cha119 / 82Hml-056 O come O come Emmanuel (Psaleroilum Cantionum Catholicarum) A very well known ancient Advent carol. Most versions are pretty inclusive. Lyrics and sound sample.  Oh, and Sufjan Steven's version.... ahhhh....

1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Words of greeting. Not lacking in spiritual gifts as you wait for Christ. 
*AoVK-28 / ATOK 376 Faith hope and love (Watts) This is so easy, and so cool. If you have some groovy musicians, this can even be a very funky rock song. Very easy, and great for kids and non-readers. 
*ATFG 514 Emmanuel Carol / God of light we are waiting for you This is probably not one we would sing every week, but we sang it a couple of times last year and is definitely worth looking at as a general resource for Advent.
AoVK-58 We wait in hope for the Lord (Ford) Simple a cappella round "We wait in hope for the Lord, God is our help and our shield. And so our hearts rejoice, for we trust in God's holy name"
*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.

Mark 13:24-37
Keep awake. The son of Man is coming in the clouds.
AoV1-057 / G(II)485 /  GC678 / GC(II)663/ RS799 Awake from your slumber / City of God (Schutte) I love the joyousness and sense of mission in this one. We were going to sing this a couple of weeks ago, but had too many other good songs to fit in. It would fit better this week anyway. A really positive song “Let us build the city of God, let us turn our morning to dancing, for the Lord, our light and our love, has turned the night into day”. You might like to change the chorus so it’s “will turn the night into day” which would be more Adventy. Sound and print samples here.
NCH121 / UMH210 / VU005 / WoV629 / ELW266 / W&R163 / Cha139 All earth is waiting / All earth is hopeful / Toda la tierra espera al Salvador (Taule) Fun Catalonian tune, good words, although the English translations vary between sources. 
GC324 / RS 492 Here in this world where darkness surrounds us / Come O Hope of your people/Advent Gathering (Cooney) Excellent questioning words. Cantor and response. Simple to sing, and quite beautiful "Show us your face, O promise of dawn". It's in 7/8 so it immediately appeals to me.... You can see sheet music for it here, but don't worry about the sound sample, it's not really very helpful.
Recorded music: Over the Rhine: The Trumpet Child (from the album The Trumpet Child). We used this song a fair bit in Advents past. For those who have not heard it, it's really worth a couple of listens. You can watch a video and read lyrics of the song here.
Online Resource: Gather your people to comfort and love  (Garland) Sung to a very familiar hymn tune, this song picks up a number of themes in this week's readings. Very straightforward. Sheet music.

GA281 Gather in hope people of God / Advent Song (Browne / Wood) Joyful refrain, and cantor response verses. "Gather in hope, people of God, sing the Advent song! Song of faith, song of trust, a song to welcome the Christ". The verses seem a bit tricky.
*Iona (M&G) / CH359 / MV033 / ZSS54 / StJ / ELW253 / GA293 / SFFS 2085 / G(II)276 / GC370 / GC(II)364 / CP368 / W&R402 He came down that we may have love/ Jesus came bringing us hope (Cameroon) The translation in "More Voices" (Jesus came bringing...) seems particularly appropriate for Advent. Would be more exciting and energetic with some African drums, rather than a quiet reflective candle lighting song. Good for kids especially if with drums.
TiS 309 / AHB 235 / NCH126 / CH324 / UMH220 / VU036 / LBW050 / ELW275 / CP143 / CP(E) 44 / W&R189 / Cha149 / Srce2-29 / 82Hml-093 Angels from the realms of glory (Montgomery) Sometimes I am very hard core about not singing Christmas Carols in Advent, but I'm getting less strict, and this song would fit.
AoV2-140 / NCH125 / UMH238 / VU038 / LBW071 / ELW289 / GA286 / HPP125 / PH022 / GC358 / GC(II)369 / W&R188 / Cha155 / 82Hml-096 Angels we have heard on high (French traditional) See above. Christmas or Advent?!

Songs and Hymns for Reign of Christ A (November 20, 2011)

Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 
God gathers the sheep and will feed them with justice, and then separates them out. David will be the shepherd. Note that songs generally don’t pick up the theme of getting separated…!
AoV1-071 / GC(II)742 Gather Your People (Hurd) Excellent words and eucharistic theology. Good if you are celebrating communion this week, but still works even if you are not. Lyrics, sheet music and sound 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”
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.
*Tune In: Shepherd of the night (Loukes) "Have you ever felt the velvet night wrap you in her warmth". A lovely song with a theme of God’s protection. This is tricky for a congregation, so you might want to ask the musicians to play this. Lyrics, sound sample and songbook.

Psalm 100
ATA 107 / Taizé / VU247 / GC555 / CP308 / W&R303 In the Lord rejoicing / Jubilate Deo (Praetorius) Samples, sheet music.
*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.
*AoVK-33 / W&R119 / URW401 Come into God's presence singing Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia (Anon) Good sung introit. I particularly like the arrangement and lyrics in AoVK.
*TiS 720 / AHB 295 / AoVK-85 / AoV2-046 / ATOK 319 / NCH236 / Iona (M&G, T1AU) / CH345 / VU958 / StJ / GA107 / SFFS 2026 / HPP571 / GC(II)261 / RS 396 / SP324 / W&R5 / Cha41 / ZSS76 / URW370 Halle halle hallelujah (Trad Caribbean) I think this passage deserves a hearty Hallelujah and this is one of my favourites. Note that GA and CH have verses!
*Taizé  / 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.  
VU242 / LBW557 / ELW881 / HPSS554 / GC567 / GC(II)551 / CP403 / W&R22 / Cha717 Let All Things Now Living (Davis) Lovely lyrics to the well known and quite jolly Welsh folk tune ASH GROVE.
URW299 O many people of all lands (Barranda) A good song supporting multicultural harmony at home, at work, and in church. Tune is a little tricky.  
*CP351 / URW300 Rejoice in God all earthly lands (Duck) Really good words for this Psalm, sung to the familiar tune OLD HUNDREDTH. Good to sing after or during the offering.  
*AoVK-31 Praise and thanksgiving let everyone bring A simple round. Note that TiS and many other sources have versions that are not inclusive for God. AoVK has an inclusive version.
*AoVK-124 Shout to the Lord for joy all the earth Fun three part song.
*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).
*AoVK-30 / ATW 419 / Iona (Common Ground, CAYP) / CH757 / MV002 / WoV717 / ELW819 / SFFS 2274 / HPP551 / GC(II)744 / SP&P022 / SP179 Come all you people (Uyai mose) Joyful and pretty easy really for the congregation. If you have WoV or SP&P, they each have a nice Trinitarian version of this. Come and praise the "Most high" / "Saviour" / "Spirit". Sound sample.

Alternative Psalm: Psalm 95:1-7a
*Linnea Good Stand on the rock Simple gospel chorus. This would be a good intro to worship, or be sung by a small vocal group as the Bible is brought forward and the candle lit. The congregation could join in once it has been sung a couple of times.
*Psalm Project Let us shout for joy (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A fun, joyous, pop song. Good lyrics and easy tune. Lots of fun. Sound sample, lyrics and downloadable songbook
*Taizé  / AoV2-109 / CH772 / GA429 / SFFS 2195 / G(II)396 / GC566 / GC(II)546 / SP128 / W&R448 / URW381 In the Lord I'll Be Ever Thankful / El Senyor (Berthier) A joyful and bouncy Taize song. Works well in English, German and Spanish at least. Good for kids. Sheet music, translations into many other languages, sound samples. 
*MV092 Like a Rock (Good) A lovely simple song (with actions!) from Linnea Good. Great for kids.
PH215 / URW292 Come Sing with Joy to God (Duba) Good lyrics to the well known tune DARWALL'S 148th. Lyrics.
*Iona (SBL) / CH140 / MV181 / WoV727 / ELW554 / G(II)341 / GC495 Lord Your Hands Have Formed This World / The Earth is the Lord's / Imegmoy pitak ay yay (Oliano) Good words of creation and our role in it, sung to a lovely, and not too difficult, Philippino melody. A good song to sing during the offering. Some lyrics and link to a very slow version on youtube.
Emergent Psalter Come let us sing (Everett) Very simple refrain. Sheet music (refrain only).
*AoVK-30 / ATW 419 / Iona (Common Ground, CAYP) / CH757 / MV002 / WoV717 / ELW819 / SFFS 2274 / HPP551 / GC(II)744 / SP&P022 / SP179 Come all you people (Uyai mose) Joyful and pretty easy really for the congregation. If you have WoV or SP&P, they each have a nice Trinitarian version of this. Come and praise the "Most high" / "Saviour" / "Spirit". Sound sample.
AoVK-123 / NCH3 / Iona (M&G) / UMH148 / VU308 / WoV794 / ELW837 / PH271 / G(II)338 / GC499 / CP407 / W&R26 / Cha58 / URW232 / 82Hml-385 Many and Great O God are your works / Wakantanka Taku Nitawa (Lacquiparle) Good words. Simple tune. Needs a good Native American-style drum beat. Lyrics.
Cha747 Come into God's presence with a joyful song (Sivis) Joyful sung response, and responsively read passage.
Taizé / MV009 O Come and let us sing to God our hope (Taize) Joyful gathering chant. Sound samples, sheet music.
*AoVK-47 / HPP51 / W&R80 He's Got the Whole World in His Hand / God's Got the whole world in safe hands (Traditional) It’s hard to make this inclusive. I’ve seen “God’s got the whole world in safe hands”, which is a little clumsy. AoVK has "The whole world is in God's hands" which works really well. Good for kids.
*TiS 119 / AHB 40 / NCH012 / UMH152 / VU231 / HPP39 / PH288 / W&R31 / Cha064 / 82Hml-398 I sing the almighty power of God (Watts) I really like this old hymn, especially sung to ELLACOMBE. VU, NCH and Chalice have inclusive language, but other hymnals (like TiS and AHB, are not).
*ATE 216 / Iona (SBL) / CH126 / StJ / ELW555 / PH472 / G(II)365 / GC527 / RS 671 O sing to the Lord / Cantai ao Senhor / Cantad al Señor (Traditional Brazilian) A good, fun and simple song that is easy to learn in Portuguese or Spanish too.

Ephesians 1:15-23
Prayer for wisdom; Christ the king; See also suggestions at the bottom of the list.
*TiS 182 / AoV2-010 / VU268 / SFFS 2047 / HPP13 Bring many names This is a beautiful song, but it's very long. Try singing one verse unison, then one women, one men, then all together again, to keep people interested in what they are singing. Lyrics can be found 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. 
AoV1-166 / UMH454 / VU371 / HPP354 / HPSS324 / GC(II)569 Open My eyes Lord help me to see your face (Manibusan) Very simple devotional song. Sheet music sample. Sound sample.
*TiS 164 / AHB 105 / CH358 The great love of God (Niles) A simple creed song from the Christian Conference of Asia. The tune is really beautiful.
NCH553 / UMH375 / VU612 / WoV737 / ELW614 / HPP379 / PH394 / G(II)460 / GC648 / GC(II)617 / W&R631 / Cha501 / ZSS114 / SgTJ1045 There is a balm in Gilead (African-American Spiritual) This beautiful song, while not steeped in layers of meaning for non-Americans is worth singing wherever you live. Lyrics and sheet music. Sound sample. 
*TiS 653 / NCH417 / CH526 / UMH383 / GC(II)453 / W&R355 / Cha518 This is a day of new beginnings (Wren) Excellent words of reconciliation. 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. Lyrics.
*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. Also fits well with the Hebrew Scriptures for this week. Sound sample. Lyrics
*Taizé / AoVNG125 / MV146 / GC(II)637 The Kingdom of God is justice and peace and joy in the holy spirit. A joyful chant. I normally sing it a bit more bouncy than the sample on the Taize site. Sample and lyrics.

Matthew 25:31-46
Jesus on the throne separating the sheep from the goats. I'm going to wear my special socks.
*MV114 Behold the face of Christ (Farrell) A gentle, chant-like refrain with read scripture verses over instrumental backing. This could be very powerful. Highly recommended.
*TiS 697 All the sleepy should have a place to sleep (Edwards / PITNEY) Great chorus "Make love happen by God's grace and by God's power. Let God move you on this day and in this hour. New creations will then blossom like a flower for together we can be the hands of God".
*VU457 / R183 / ELW522 / SFFS 2268 / HPP528 / GC(II)738 / CP061 / W&R695 As We Gather at Your Table (Daw) Beautiful, honest, encouraging words. Could be sung to HOLY MANNA, BEACH SPRING or NETTLETON, all very popular hymn tunes (did I mention that two of them are Sacred Harp tunes?), particularly good if you are celebrating communion this week. Lyrics. 
NCYC'07 Behold the son of man / Face of the humbled poor (Gioia) Beautiful reflective song of seeing God's face in the poor "When did we see you a broken man?…. The saviour's face in the humble poor". It confuses me that sometimes it's "humbled poor" rather than "humble poor".
MV194 Bread of life feed my soul (Spencer) A simple communion prayer for healing and guidance.
TiS 677 / Iona (LFB,Common Ground) / CH724 / StJ / GA469 / G(II)452 / GC640 / RS 760 / SP136 Christ's is the world in which we move / A touching place (Bell) Christ seeks and saves the lost. Teenagers sometimes giggle about the chorus, so be sensitive to who is in your congregation.
AoV1-056 / CH217 / GA541 / G(II)551 / GC761 / GC(II)750 / URW201 God of Day and God of Darkness (Haugen) Sung to the familiar folk tune BEACH SPRING. This is easy to sing, and an old favourite of mine. I often think this is only good for an evening service, but the image of darkness and night doesn't have to be taken literally. And the call to rest at the end of the last verse would be good for those who take the celebration of Sabbath as a call to rest. Lyrics.

SFFS 2178 / GC(II)713 / Cha654 Here Am I (Wren) Excellent words of God's presence among us in the suffering of all people. Good for a song before the intercessions or when communion is celebrated. Easy to sing. May have too much pathos for some. Lyrics and sheet music. Sound sample.
CH195 / StS053 / AA061 Here to the house of God we come (Murray) Good honest and challenging words and a simple, but unusual tune.
ATW 499 / The tide has turned songbook It was me when you came that extra mile (Hannah) Simple tune and good simple words. Good for older kids.  
ATFG582 / NCYC'97 Like a candle burning wildly (Mitchell) "We are called to live the passion". Good song. Particularly nice on guitar. Note that the NCYC version has good notes on how to play it on guitar.  
*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. 
UMH581 / LBW423 / ELW712 / PH427 / GC681 / GC(II)668 / CP585 / W&R575 / Cha461 / URW204 / 82Hml-610 Lord whose love in humble service / Lord whose love through humble service (Bayly) A more formal hymn of seeing the need in the world and working to change it. It's set to familiar tunes IN BABILONE, BEACH SPRING

*ATW 487 Make your home in me A simple beautiful invitation. Written by Melbourne songwriter and teacher, Fay White. “If you fly to the point of the day’s sunrise or westward across the sea, if you travel to the uttermost ends of the earth, there I will be; Make your home in me as I make my home in you. I am everywhere that you can be. Make your home in me”. This is quite different to the Vineyard / Josh Young version you can find all over the internet. I can't find a sample of this one, unfortunately.
*Tune In: Our God who weeps (Kate Scull) Very simple folk-like tune and challenging and hopeful lyrics. Reference recording, lyrics, songbook.
*ATFG561 / Tune In: Part of a fam'ly interconnected / 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.
TiS 778 / UMH666 / Cha436 Shalom to you (SOMOS DEL SEÑOR) (Eslinger) Sung to a familiar tune to Spanish-speaking congregations  
*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."
*TiS 629 / AHB 558 / AoV2-136 / ATA 197 / CH544 / VU600 When I needed a neighbor were you there? (Carter) A classic folk church song. Well known and fits well with this theme. "And the creed and the colour and the name won't matter"... Lyrics.

Christ the King / Reign of Christ suggestions:
*TiS 721 / Iona (LFB) / URW431 He became poor that we may be rich (Iona) A simple chant. Timing is a little bit tricky, so you will need to take a little time to teach it initially. "He became poor, that we may be rich, loving the world and leaving his throne; King of all kings, and Lord of all Lords, flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone". 
*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.

VU167 Christ is risen From the dead (Anonymous) Great simple round with three sets of words for each of Easter, Pentecost and Reign of Christ.
G(II)249 / GC319 / GC(II)325 Close as tomorrow the sun shall appear / Walk in the Reign (Cooney). I really like this one. “Close as tomorrow the sun shall appear. Freedom is coming and healing is near. And I shall be with you in laughter and pain to stand in the wind and walk in the reign”. Nice little lyrics twist there! The 4th verse mentions specific locations (Soweto, Gdansk, Tiannemen Square, The Bronx), which you could retain or change, as you feel appropriate. This sound sample gives it a bit of a gospel feel. Sheet music and lyrics.

NCH575 / VU697 / PH386 / Cha683 O for a world where everyone respects (Winter) A song with good words sung to a well known hymn tune (AZMON). The words are a prayer for a world of peace and the reign of Christ.