Songs, Hymns and Music for Easter Sunday (March 31 2013)

Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 65:17-25

1 Corinthians 15:19-26or Acts 10:34-43
John 20:1-18 or Luke 24:1-12

*Tune In: God is walking in the garden (Brown) A gentle song perfect for Easter. Reference recording, lyrics and songbook.
*2008Tune In: In the shape of a cross (Dave Brown) A cry to God for help and a call for God to enter our world. Reference recording, lyrics and songbook.
*Tune In: Making things new (Anderson). A groovy one. Great for kids, and lots of fun. Reference recording, lyrics and songbook. Good for kids.
*Iona / CH430 / SFFS2115 / G(II)308 / GC452 / GC(II)465 / G(3)530 Christ has risen while earth slumbers (Bell / Maule) There are a number of tune setting for this. I prefer HOLY MANNA. Lead sheet. Sound Sample.
*CH348 / StS001 / LBW196 / ELW843 / CP397 / W&R93 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness (Edwards) Good words of Christ's ministry to all. Can be sung to the familiar tune NETTLETON, or the less familiar and very lovely tune JOEL. Lyrics. 
**TiS 383 Joyful the morning when Jesus Christ is risen (Traditional Torres Strait Islander) It's beautiful and joyful and Torres Strait Islander! We should sing this! I can't believe I hadn't noticed this song before!
82Hml-713 Christ is arisen / Christ ist erstanden (German hymn) An ancient Easter Day round.
*TiS 242 / AHB 183 / AoV1-018 / ATN 27 / CH404 / UMH261 / VU352 / HPP163 / PH302 / G(II)481 / GC708 / GC(II)689 / G(3)796 / CP(E) 468 / W&R118 / Lau765 I danced in the morning / Lord of the Dance (Carter / SIMPLE GIFTS). Lyrics and tune sample.You all know this one, right? Good for kids
ATW 452 Halle Halle / Why do you look among the dead (Mann) Storytelling Easter song, with catchy hallelujahs. Lyrics.
*TiS 370 / AHB 290 / NCH367 / CH411 / UMH302 / VU157 / LBW128 / ELW369 / G(II)315 / GC437 / GC(II)439 / G(3)523 / CP206 / W&R288 / Lau273 Christ the Lord is risen today (Wesley) (Llanfair) It's not quite Easter without this hymn, but be aware that the lyrics vary widely between hymnals. TiS is good, although some may not like the Kingly language. If you want fully inclusive language, the NCH has good lyrics. An example of lyrics and tune.
*TiS 382 / AoV2-131 / ATN 15 / NCH238 / CH417 / UMH311 / VU186 / LBW280 / ELW570 / HPP210 / G(II)318 / GC444 / GC(II)456 / G(3)534 / CP237 / CP(E) 153 / W&R311 / Cha230 / 82Hml-204 / Lau278 Now the green blade riseth (NOEL NOUVELET) I love these words and this simple French folk tune. I particularly like this played to guitar, but TiS has an excellent piano arrangement too. Lyrics and tune sample. 
*TiS 392 At the dawning of salvation Good hymn words of Easter theology and Christ’s presence at Creation to a fun standard American folk tune (NETTLETON).
*TiS 380 / AHB 303 / NCH253 / CH419 / UMH308 / VU173 / LBW145 / ELW376 / HPP203 / PH122 / CP210 / CP(E)160 / W&R310 / Cha218 / Srce694 / Lau287 Thine be the glory risen conquering Son (Budry) One of the few older hymns that doesn't require updating; trust the SCM... A great classic hymn! Lyrics and tune.
*2007TiS 367 / AHB 287 / NCH242 / CH412 / UMH306 / VU159 / LBW135 / ELW366 / PH119 / GC446 / GC(II)459 / G(3)525 / CP212 / CP(E)159 / W&R290 / Cha221 / 82Hml-208 / Lau275 The strife is o'er the battle done There are two possible tunes for this hymn. I prefer to sing it to the tune by James Minchin (THE STRIFE IS O’ER), which is found in the Australian Hymn Book, rather than the more traditional minstrellish VULPIUS. The newer tune is pretty groovy (I loved it as a kid!), and has lots and lots of alleluias. The words also vary a lot between hymnals. So, the best would be a combination of the TiS words and the AHB tune 287 (ii).
ATA 160 The Son is up the Word is out / Resurrection shout (Mann) A bit silly, but could be fun on Easter day with lots of kids. Good for kids.
*GC(II)464 / CP230 The Tomb Is Empty (Dunstan) This one is so joyful it gives me goosebumps!! It would be a great start to worship on Easter Day. The verses say "Come and see", "Come and hear", "Come and touch", "Come and meet", "Come and serve". Lyrics and sample sheet music. Sound sample.
*ATW 445 Roll the rock It’s a bit silly, but very joyous, catchy and Good for kids.
*2010AHB 281 / NCH244 / CH431 / UMH317 / VU170 / LBW514 / ELW820 / PH116 / GC423 / GC(II)446 / G(3)532 / CP228 / CP(E)154 / W&R313 / Cha220 / 82Hml-203 / Lau280 O sons and daughters let us sing (O FILII ET FILIAE) Many versions and many verses. AHB has emphasis on Thomas verses, but Gather hymnals have some nice verses about the women finding Christ risen. This tune can be really pretty cool - either as plainchant, hymn or fairly majestic contemporary mass music. Listen to the sample of an altogether different version (with different words); search for GC(II)447 here.  
CH422 / AA015 Christ is alive and the universe must celebrate (Murray) Good celebratory Easter words. The tune will need to be taught in CH and AA will need to be taught. Lyrics. 

*2010TiS 387 / CH416 / UMH318 / VU158 / PH108 / LBW363 / ELW389 / RS601 / CP(E) 140 / W&R312 / 82Hml-182 / Lau272 Christ is alive Let Christians sing (Wren) Excellent words of Christ's saving, and still relevant grace. A couple of tunes are offered in different hymn books. I prefer TRURO. Lyrics, sound sample and sheet music.
TiS 393 / GA365 / Lau270 Christ is alive with joy we sing (Stotter) Joyful alleluias, and Easter images of Christ as grain of wheat, rising sun, vine and bread. Sung to the familiar tune VULPIUS. 
*Iona (TI1AU) / MV038 Glory to God / Nzamuranza (Mozambique / Matsikenyiri) Simple African call and response song. Great harmonies and particularly good for Easter Day. Thanks to the soon-to-be-wed Noodle Thrower for this suggestion.
FFS55 Relentless lover God in Christ (Barrell/Gibson) Great words! Can also be sung to KINGSFOLD if you don't want to explore a new tune.
Online resource Sing out with joy! (Patterson) A lovely energetic song for a children's choir. Sound sample and available here. Sample sheet music.

Shorter songs  
Alleluias listed here.
*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.  Good for kids.
*2009Iona (Love From Below) / CH434 / CP232 Jesus is risen from the grave (CHILDER) Good, simple rhythm and tune. You can even make up some verses if you like. Good for kids.
Music by heart 43 Dying you destroyed our death (Haskel) A very simple round of Christ's death and resurrection. 
*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) Note that GA and CH have verses! Easter Day deserves many Hallelujahs! Sound sample. Good for kids.
SFFS 2078 / GC(II)271 Alleluia / Praise Praise God in the Temple (Glover / Honduras) I would just sing the refrain of this. It would make a great introit or postlude for Easter Day. Sheet music and lyrics (chorus only). I'm not wild about the sound sample, but it gives you some ideas.
*ATW 463 / Iona (T1AU) / ELW721 / SFFS 2219 / GC(II)451 / G(3)528 / W&R296 / URW436 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. Good for kids.
*TiS 541 / CH674 / WoV722 / ELW535 / G(II)394 / GC562 / GC(II)529 / G(3)626 / CP082 / SP&P190 / W&R709 / ZSS198 / URW400 Hallelujah we sing your praises / Haleluyah! Pelo Tsa Rona. Joyous and simple song. Sound sample. Sheet music sample. Good for kids.
GA338 People of God O welcome the light (Wood) Quite good simple refrain for the start of an Easter celebration 
*CH797 The Lord is risen from the dead (Halleyi) Simple chant for Easter day.

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
Any Holy, holy, holy / Sanctus will work well.
*Linnea Good / MV008 And on this path (Good) An energetic gospel style song. Here's a youtube video. We sing it much slower than this and as a gospel style song with big chords and a groovy bass part. I thought I'd never say that we sing something slower than anyone! Good for kids.
*TiS 74 / GA070 This is the day the Lord has made (Willcock) Unusual timing in this refrain, but once you've nailed it, it will be stuck in your head for the rest of the week, which is what I like about Psalm refrains.
VU175 This is the day that God has made (Sleeth) Good for kids especially
*MV122 / Online Resource This is the day (Harding) This is a really simple nice jazzy song. Sound sample. Sample sheet music. Good for kids.
PfAS118G This is the day the lord has made (Roberts) A bright and cheerful refrain for the Psalm.
*Taize / MV016 / StJ / ELW528 / GA430 / SFFS 2157 / HPP410 / G(II)398 / GC570 / GC(II)550 / RS710 / CP402 / URW378 Come and Fill our hearts/ Confitemini Domino Can be sun in English as "Come and fill our hearts with your peace, you alone O God are holy. Come and fill our hearts with your peace, Alleluia". Sound samples and sheet music.
*2009NCH387 / HPSS443 / GC(II)646 / RS782 / CP524 / Lau829 O christ the great foundation (Lew) Excellent words of salvation and justice from Timothy Tingfang Lew, sung to the tune of "The church's one foundation" (AURELIA). Lyrics
*MV187 / ELW682 We give our thanks / Reamo leboga (Traditional Botswana) A great song to sing for the offering. Video of some guys and a keyboard having fun with it. Good for kids.
*TiS 48 / AoV1-153 / ATOK 411 / VU808 / WoV779 / ELW787 / GA452 / HPP385 / G(II)433 / GC611 / GC(II)593 / G(3)691 / CP531 / W&R438 / PfAS091E / Cha077 / Lau952 You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord / On Eagle's Wings (Joncas) This is a big favourite all over the place. It has masculine imagery for God. This doesn't have to be sung slowly and meditatively - it also works very well as a more upbeat song. If it is not familiar to you, a cantor can be used for the verses. It is not inclusive in all sources.
PfAS118D This is the day the lord has made (Patterson) A good 7/8 setting of the Psalm. It will need to be taught, but will be enjoyed.

*Cry Hosanna 14 This, this is the day (Brian Howard) I really like this song. Here are the lyrics, but I can't even share a tune with you. If anyone out there recognises the lyrics, I'd love it if you could share the source.
*TiS 653 / NCH417 / CH526 / UMH383 / GC(II)453 / W&R355 / Cha518 This is a day of new beginnings "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." Excellent words of reconciliation from Brian Wren. A good start to the Easter season. There are two possible tunes. I prefer the more simple hymn-like tune by Carlton Young which is in most resources (including TiS). There is an optional final verse that can be used for Communion. Lyrics.
*2009TiS 156 / AHB 91 / AoV1-135 / ATA 123 / CH212 / UMH145 / VU409 / ELW556 / HPP267 / HPSS469 / G(II)546 / GC756 / GC(II)748 / G(3)855 / CP003 / W&R35 / Cha053 / URW186 / 82Hml-008 / Lau671 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).