2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
The death of Absalom and David's grief
Funeral song suggestions here may be helpful.
*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.
*TiS 682 / ATW 490 / GA236 / AA151 When human voices cannot sing (Murray) Lovely words of healing in the face of grief. I prefer this sung to ST COLUMBA, which is the tune in GA and TiS. Lyrics (loads a word document)
The Sacred Harp 268 David's Lamentation One of our Sacred Harp group's favourite songs. You can listen to a field recording here (turn it up LOUD). This is not a serious suggestion for your congregation, unless you can invite some singers to join your congregation for the day, but I think this song captures the depth of David's feelings. Lyrics are Lyrics.
Iona (Courage to say no / When grief is raw / Enemy of Apathy) / SP307 Sing my soul when hope is sleeping "Sing, my soul, when hope is sleeping. Sing when faith gives way to fears; Sing to melt the ice of sadness Making way for joy through tears." This is not so easy to sing, so will need to be sung by a soloist or small group the first time.
Psalm 130
Out of the depths I cry to you O Lord
*Iona (Sent By the Lord) / MV066 Senzenina? / What have we done? (South African) This beautiful chant from South Africa asks the question that we often ask when things go wrong beyond belief. It's important to know what the song means when singing it. If you have some part-singers in your congregation, this would be particular good. It's good to let people ask this question. It is also on the soundtrack for "The Power of One" so you could also play the recorded music if appropriate. Free sheet music (loads a pdf).
*TiS 683 / WoV735 / ELW603 / W&R416 God when human bonds are broken (Kaan) These words pick up an unusual theme, and fit really well with this reading. There are a couple of possible tunes, none of which are immediately familiar, but they are not difficult either.
*SFFS 2136 / NCH554 / GA227 / VU611 / G(II)636 / GC877 / Cha510 Out of the Depths O God we call to you (Duck) FENNVILLE A simple and honest hymn, which sings this Psalm from the perspective of a community trying to work out its faith together. Excellent words and the tune is quite straightforward. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Video with lyrics (click on "more info" near the Subscribe button for the lyrics).*
*Taize / CH276 / VU22 / ELW262 / GA283 / G(II)256 / GC332 / GC(II)340 / G(3)406 / CP094 / W&R166 / SP28 / URW396 / Lau88 Wait for the Lord (Berthier) Wait for the Lord whose day is near, wait for the lord, keep watch, take heart. A lovely simple Taize chant. Sheet music, translations and sound samples.
*AoVK-58 We wait in hope for the Lord (Ford) Simple a cappella round; also good for kids "We wait in hope for the Lord, God is our help and our shield. And so our hearts rejoice, for we trust in God's holy name". Good for kids.
G(3)143 With the Lord there is Mercy (Guimont) A simple refrain to a cantor- or reader-lead reading.
Cha762 From the depths I cry to you God listen hear my voice (Goodrich) Simple sung response, and responsive reading
*Linnea Good Out of the depths I cry (Bauman / Good) Simple refrain.
Online resource Out of the Depths (Harding) A simple four part arrangement which would be nice if you have a choir or quartet that could sing this. Available for purchase, and you can view a sample PDF here. Note that the sound sample is for a different song, so that's a bit confusing, really.
NCH472 / UMH474 / VU670 / R297 / ELW875 / HPP434 / HPSS404 / G(II)637 / GC874 / GC(II)847 / G(3)955 / CP509 / W&R500 / Cha628 Precious Lord take my hand A classic gospel song.
TiS 667 / G(II)415 / GC591 How shall I sing to God (Wren) The words are excellent, but neither the tune in TiS or Gather hymnals is straightforward because of the difficult meter; this might be a good song for your musicians to present to start teaching the congregation so they can remember it in more difficult times. All lyrics and sheet music sample of the Gather hymnal melody (HOPE) here.
The next 3 are all variations of the same Gelineau (cantored) Psalm, but with different responses. They are all pretty good, so I'm listing them all! There is just one change needed to make the Psalm inclusive (just change "his word" to "God's word" and it will be fine).
GA077 / GC128 Out of the depths / I place all my trust in you O God (Gelineau) The original response from Gelineau. Very simple. Words to the response are "I place all my trust in you O God, all my hope is in your saving word". Sound sample and sheet music here (search for "I place all my trust"). Note this one also has a (non-inclusve) Trinitarian formula at the end.
G(II)113 / GC127 / GC(II)71 / G(3)87 Out of the Depths / With the Lord There Is Mercy (Gelineau / Haugen) This response is also quite simple, but a slightly different emphasis. "With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption". Not all versions are inclusive Sound sample and sheet music.
*TiS 81 Out of the depths / With the Lord there is Mercy (Gelineau / Carroll) Simple response is "With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption". We have used this at Brunswick Uniting and it went quite well.
Alternative Hebrew Scripture 1 Kings 19:4-8
Elijah flees the threat of death; food provided by an angel;
*ATW 435 Like the woman of old / Wellsprings A favourite song in our congregation about going to the "Wellsprings of life"and finding Jesus there. Picks up themes of tiredness, broken hearts and weariness, but makes the point that it's worth the effort.
*ATW 474 You're like the sun that warms me / Bread of angels (Mann) This is a nice ballad, a favourite of many in our congregation. It may not be easy for a congregation without some introduction because the structure is a little tricky. Lyrics.
*Tune In Save us in the time of trial (Whelan) A song with a reflective almost-Taize-like chorus. We have sung this a couple of different ways, it's quite flexible. Lyrics, sound sample and songbook available.
MV118 Me alone (Jamaican traditional) A very simple repetitive call-and-response song. Could work well as a reflective song.
*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.
*GC(II)651 / Online Resource You must never give up / Sizo Bambelela (South African) An excellent song! Would be fun to get a few singers together to sing the parts to this, though maybe not as many times through as in the sound sample. Free sheet music. Sound sample. Good for kids.
SP&P210 There's bread for the journey (Strathdee) Simple song; good for kids.
*MV 202 Bread for the Journey / Pain pour la route (Harding) A simple chant for the distribution of communion.
*AoV2-033 / VU648 Travel on travel on (Sydney Carter). I think this old folk song would work well to pick up the theme of persistence. Lyrics and chords here.
Psalm for the 1 Kings reading Psalm 34:1-8
I will bless the Lord at all times; this reading doesn't go on to the "taste and see" part of the Psalm.
*AoVK-24 / Iona (T1AU) / CH756 Bless the Lord (Kenyan) Simple and fun Kenyan call and response. "Bless the Lord there is no other God" Kids would really enjoy this, and with some African drumming, it would really be excellent. The tune is identical to Reamo Leboga. Sound sample of Reamo leboga (scroll to the 3rd album). Good for kids.
*Taize / AoV2-142 / SFFS 2013 / PH224 / GC(II)576 / G(3)620 / CP360 / SP194 / Src79 / URW377 / Lau813 Bless the Lord my soul (Berthier) A beautiful and very well known Taize chant. Sound samples, sheet music. Good for kids.
Iona / CH788 / MV104 Know that God is Good / Mungu ni mwema (Traditional Congo) This traditional African refrain is just lots of fun and very simple to sing. Good for kids and adults! Sound sample (a bit "white", but it gives you an idea).
G(II)44 / GC46 I Will Bless the Lord (Gouin) A nice contemporary cantored Psalm with inclusive lyrics. Sound sample. Sheet music.
*TiS 73 / Taize / CH77 / GA418 / G(II)364 / GC526 / GC(II)528 / G(3)623 / CP313 / Srce614 / URW384 / Lau698 Laudate Dominum / Sing Praise And Bless The Lord (Berthier) One of the more jolly Taize chants. I prefer it in Latin, but for kids, this one is quite good fun in English. Good for kids. Sound sample and parts for learning.
*Taize / TiS 739 / AoV2-041 / ATOK 404 / VU290 / GA269 / SFFS 2054 / G(II)451 / GC639 / GC(II)626 / G(3)733 / 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.
Ephesians 4:25-5:2
Some good solid advice on living well as God's people
Sacred Harp 178 Africa (Billings) You know, if you do happen to have some Sacred Harp Singers in your congregation, who sang "David's Lamentation", you could also ask them to sing Africa. You can listen to it here. Lyrics are here.
*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. Works well for kids as well. A big favourite at Brunswick Uniting. Good for kids. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook.
*Tune In: Kingdom Come: A song about God’s kingdom. Lots of words and good images. Sound sample and lyrics here. “But this community’s where God reigns. The kingdom’s in you, the kingdom’s in me. The kingdoms among us, it’s not yet to be”.
*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.
*TiS 417 / AoV2-133 / ATW 448 / VU387 / StJ / WoV683 / ELW397 / AA94 / HPP237 / HPPS323 / URW203 Loving Spirit, Loving Spirit (Murray). There are about a zillion tunes set for this. I prefer FELICITY (by Colin Gibson TiS 417), but also like RESTORATION. Lyrics are here.
*TiS 411 / AHB 328 / NCH266 / UMH537 / VU194 / LBW160 / CP658 / CP(E) 425 / W&R331 Filled with the Spirit's power (Peacey) A rollicking hymn; a classic and the lyrics are still good to sing today. I prefer the tune WOODLANDS for this hymn.
*TiS 674 / Iona (Common Ground, Heaven Shall Not Wait) / CH253 Inspired by love and anger Powerful lyrics, simple English folk tune. Lyrics (search for "inspired").
*ATOK 390 Put on love every day, never hide your love away (Walker) A fun song for kids! Good for kids.
John 6:35, 41-51
More about Jesus being the bread of life. Note that many of these songs will be suggested again next week because John just keeps going on about the bread of life. This means that you could introduce a new song this week, and sing it with more confidence next week when you repeat it!
*New Brunswick UC songs In Spirit we rise (Anderson) It would be great to sing this song about God's spirit working in and through us. "In Spirit we rise, rise, rise, to be bread for the world". Sorry, this isn't available yet online or in a songbook. I think it would be good to do this at BUC for the next couple of weeks.
*TiS 541 / CH674 / WoV722 / ELW535 / G(II)394 / GC562 / GC(II)529 / CP082 Hallelujah we sing your praises / Haleluyah! Pelo Tsa Rona. Joyous and simple song; "Christ the Lord to us said "I am wine I am bread" ". Good for kids.
*TiS 714 / AoV1-125 /ATE 270 / CH661 / UMH628 / VU466 / WoV709 / ELW472 / GA205 / G(II)588 / GC838 / GC(II)806 / RS928 / CP063 / W&R697 / Cha414 Eat this bread drink this cup (Batastini / Taize) Excellent, particularly if you have a capable cantor. Some resources say "Come to him and never be hungry", but other have "come to me / trust in me".
*ATW 474 You're like the sun that warms me / Bread of angels (Mann) This is a nice ballad, a favourite of many in our congregation. It may not be easy for a congregation without some introduction because the structure is a little tricky. Lyrics.
*TiS 569 / AHB 478 / NCH18/19 / CH167 / UMH127 / VU651 / LBW343 ELW618 / HPP432 / HPSS281 / CP565 / CP(E) 455 / W&R501 / Cha622 / 82Hml690 Guide me O thou great Jehovah / Redeemer (Williams) A rousing hymn of God’s presence and strength and making it to the other side. "Bread of heaven, feed me now and evermore." Sound sample and lyrics.
*TiS474 / AoV1-012 / ATE 295 / CH623 / SFFS 2236 / HPP553 / G(II)539 / GC839 / GC(II)743 / G(3)848 / CP465 / W&R649 / Cha284 / SP175 / URW054 / Lau475 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”. Lyrics and sound sample.
*TiS 535 / AoV1-049 / GA204 / G(II)597 / GC828 / GC(II)822 / G(3)945 I Am The Bread Of Life, you who come to me shall not hunger Different sources are very variable in how inclusive it is (earlier versions have "he who comes to me shall not hunger"), so check out your own source. Newer sources also have "And I will raise you up" rather than "I will raise him up". Spanish language sound sample. Lyrics and sheet music sample.
*TiS 239 / AHB 185 / ATE 236 / NCH48 / Lau746 Jesus the Christ said "I am the bread" / Jesus the Lord said "I am the bread" (Urdu) Good for kids and non-readers as it is very repetitive.
TiS 539 / CH671 / UMH629 / VU478 / WoV711 / ELW484 / GA191 / HPP531 / HPSS521 / GC815 / GC(II)816 / W&R705 / Cha429 You satisfy the hungry heart BICENTENNIAL This is quite nice, although I don't know it well. Sources vary in which verses they use, so feel free to pick and choose. You may prefer to use a soloist for the verses when you bring this to your congregation for the first time. Lyrics, music and quite nice sound sample here.
FFS03 As we Walk along beside you (Murray) Excellent words or recognising Christ in the word, the bread, the resurrection. A simple tune.
*AoVNG15 Bread of Life (Poirier) A nice gentle song. Would be good for distribution of communion. This was sung by the musicians on Maundy Thursday, and it would be good to sing it again.
*TiS 538 / AoV2-093 Feed us now Bread of life (Mann) One of my favourite communion songs. Simple to sing, and beautiful simple theology. “Piece of bread, cup of wine, Lord this food is good”. Lyrics (search for "feed us now"). Good for kids. I love how the liturgy in the link intersperses the words of institution with the singing of the song. I think it's so great that there are so many orders of worship on the Internet!
ATW 473 Bread for the world a world of hunger (Farrell) Very nice words. Tune a bit schmaltzy, but the words save it. A bit gutsy really. Good for a soloist during distribution of communion.
MV197 Bread of life broken and shared (Gagnon) Quite nice verses and catchy chorus, which refers to this, and other famous bread-like readings. For communion.
The death of Absalom and David's grief
Funeral song suggestions here may be helpful.
*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.
*TiS 682 / ATW 490 / GA236 / AA151 When human voices cannot sing (Murray) Lovely words of healing in the face of grief. I prefer this sung to ST COLUMBA, which is the tune in GA and TiS. Lyrics (loads a word document)
The Sacred Harp 268 David's Lamentation One of our Sacred Harp group's favourite songs. You can listen to a field recording here (turn it up LOUD). This is not a serious suggestion for your congregation, unless you can invite some singers to join your congregation for the day, but I think this song captures the depth of David's feelings. Lyrics are Lyrics.
Iona (Courage to say no / When grief is raw / Enemy of Apathy) / SP307 Sing my soul when hope is sleeping "Sing, my soul, when hope is sleeping. Sing when faith gives way to fears; Sing to melt the ice of sadness Making way for joy through tears." This is not so easy to sing, so will need to be sung by a soloist or small group the first time.
Psalm 130
Out of the depths I cry to you O Lord
*Iona (Sent By the Lord) / MV066 Senzenina? / What have we done? (South African) This beautiful chant from South Africa asks the question that we often ask when things go wrong beyond belief. It's important to know what the song means when singing it. If you have some part-singers in your congregation, this would be particular good. It's good to let people ask this question. It is also on the soundtrack for "The Power of One" so you could also play the recorded music if appropriate. Free sheet music (loads a pdf).
*TiS 683 / WoV735 / ELW603 / W&R416 God when human bonds are broken (Kaan) These words pick up an unusual theme, and fit really well with this reading. There are a couple of possible tunes, none of which are immediately familiar, but they are not difficult either.
*SFFS 2136 / NCH554 / GA227 / VU611 / G(II)636 / GC877 / Cha510 Out of the Depths O God we call to you (Duck) FENNVILLE A simple and honest hymn, which sings this Psalm from the perspective of a community trying to work out its faith together. Excellent words and the tune is quite straightforward. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Video with lyrics (click on "more info" near the Subscribe button for the lyrics).*
*Taize / CH276 / VU22 / ELW262 / GA283 / G(II)256 / GC332 / GC(II)340 / G(3)406 / CP094 / W&R166 / SP28 / URW396 / Lau88 Wait for the Lord (Berthier) Wait for the Lord whose day is near, wait for the lord, keep watch, take heart. A lovely simple Taize chant. Sheet music, translations and sound samples.
*AoVK-58 We wait in hope for the Lord (Ford) Simple a cappella round; also good for kids "We wait in hope for the Lord, God is our help and our shield. And so our hearts rejoice, for we trust in God's holy name". Good for kids.
G(3)143 With the Lord there is Mercy (Guimont) A simple refrain to a cantor- or reader-lead reading.
Cha762 From the depths I cry to you God listen hear my voice (Goodrich) Simple sung response, and responsive reading
*Linnea Good Out of the depths I cry (Bauman / Good) Simple refrain.
Online resource Out of the Depths (Harding) A simple four part arrangement which would be nice if you have a choir or quartet that could sing this. Available for purchase, and you can view a sample PDF here. Note that the sound sample is for a different song, so that's a bit confusing, really.
NCH472 / UMH474 / VU670 / R297 / ELW875 / HPP434 / HPSS404 / G(II)637 / GC874 / GC(II)847 / G(3)955 / CP509 / W&R500 / Cha628 Precious Lord take my hand A classic gospel song.
TiS 667 / G(II)415 / GC591 How shall I sing to God (Wren) The words are excellent, but neither the tune in TiS or Gather hymnals is straightforward because of the difficult meter; this might be a good song for your musicians to present to start teaching the congregation so they can remember it in more difficult times. All lyrics and sheet music sample of the Gather hymnal melody (HOPE) here.
The next 3 are all variations of the same Gelineau (cantored) Psalm, but with different responses. They are all pretty good, so I'm listing them all! There is just one change needed to make the Psalm inclusive (just change "his word" to "God's word" and it will be fine).
GA077 / GC128 Out of the depths / I place all my trust in you O God (Gelineau) The original response from Gelineau. Very simple. Words to the response are "I place all my trust in you O God, all my hope is in your saving word". Sound sample and sheet music here (search for "I place all my trust"). Note this one also has a (non-inclusve) Trinitarian formula at the end.
G(II)113 / GC127 / GC(II)71 / G(3)87 Out of the Depths / With the Lord There Is Mercy (Gelineau / Haugen) This response is also quite simple, but a slightly different emphasis. "With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption". Not all versions are inclusive Sound sample and sheet music.
*TiS 81 Out of the depths / With the Lord there is Mercy (Gelineau / Carroll) Simple response is "With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption". We have used this at Brunswick Uniting and it went quite well.
Alternative Hebrew Scripture 1 Kings 19:4-8
Elijah flees the threat of death; food provided by an angel;
*ATW 435 Like the woman of old / Wellsprings A favourite song in our congregation about going to the "Wellsprings of life"and finding Jesus there. Picks up themes of tiredness, broken hearts and weariness, but makes the point that it's worth the effort.
*ATW 474 You're like the sun that warms me / Bread of angels (Mann) This is a nice ballad, a favourite of many in our congregation. It may not be easy for a congregation without some introduction because the structure is a little tricky. Lyrics.
*Tune In Save us in the time of trial (Whelan) A song with a reflective almost-Taize-like chorus. We have sung this a couple of different ways, it's quite flexible. Lyrics, sound sample and songbook available.
MV118 Me alone (Jamaican traditional) A very simple repetitive call-and-response song. Could work well as a reflective song.
*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.
*GC(II)651 / Online Resource You must never give up / Sizo Bambelela (South African) An excellent song! Would be fun to get a few singers together to sing the parts to this, though maybe not as many times through as in the sound sample. Free sheet music. Sound sample. Good for kids.
SP&P210 There's bread for the journey (Strathdee) Simple song; good for kids.
*MV 202 Bread for the Journey / Pain pour la route (Harding) A simple chant for the distribution of communion.
*AoV2-033 / VU648 Travel on travel on (Sydney Carter). I think this old folk song would work well to pick up the theme of persistence. Lyrics and chords here.
Psalm for the 1 Kings reading Psalm 34:1-8
I will bless the Lord at all times; this reading doesn't go on to the "taste and see" part of the Psalm.
*AoVK-24 / Iona (T1AU) / CH756 Bless the Lord (Kenyan) Simple and fun Kenyan call and response. "Bless the Lord there is no other God" Kids would really enjoy this, and with some African drumming, it would really be excellent. The tune is identical to Reamo Leboga. Sound sample of Reamo leboga (scroll to the 3rd album). Good for kids.
*Taize / AoV2-142 / SFFS 2013 / PH224 / GC(II)576 / G(3)620 / CP360 / SP194 / Src79 / URW377 / Lau813 Bless the Lord my soul (Berthier) A beautiful and very well known Taize chant. Sound samples, sheet music. Good for kids.
Iona / CH788 / MV104 Know that God is Good / Mungu ni mwema (Traditional Congo) This traditional African refrain is just lots of fun and very simple to sing. Good for kids and adults! Sound sample (a bit "white", but it gives you an idea).
G(II)44 / GC46 I Will Bless the Lord (Gouin) A nice contemporary cantored Psalm with inclusive lyrics. Sound sample. Sheet music.
*TiS 73 / Taize / CH77 / GA418 / G(II)364 / GC526 / GC(II)528 / G(3)623 / CP313 / Srce614 / URW384 / Lau698 Laudate Dominum / Sing Praise And Bless The Lord (Berthier) One of the more jolly Taize chants. I prefer it in Latin, but for kids, this one is quite good fun in English. Good for kids. Sound sample and parts for learning.
*Taize / TiS 739 / AoV2-041 / ATOK 404 / VU290 / GA269 / SFFS 2054 / G(II)451 / GC639 / GC(II)626 / G(3)733 / 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.
Ephesians 4:25-5:2
Some good solid advice on living well as God's people
Sacred Harp 178 Africa (Billings) You know, if you do happen to have some Sacred Harp Singers in your congregation, who sang "David's Lamentation", you could also ask them to sing Africa. You can listen to it here. Lyrics are here.
*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. Works well for kids as well. A big favourite at Brunswick Uniting. Good for kids. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook.
*Tune In: Kingdom Come: A song about God’s kingdom. Lots of words and good images. Sound sample and lyrics here. “But this community’s where God reigns. The kingdom’s in you, the kingdom’s in me. The kingdoms among us, it’s not yet to be”.
*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.
*TiS 417 / AoV2-133 / ATW 448 / VU387 / StJ / WoV683 / ELW397 / AA94 / HPP237 / HPPS323 / URW203 Loving Spirit, Loving Spirit (Murray). There are about a zillion tunes set for this. I prefer FELICITY (by Colin Gibson TiS 417), but also like RESTORATION. Lyrics are here.
*TiS 411 / AHB 328 / NCH266 / UMH537 / VU194 / LBW160 / CP658 / CP(E) 425 / W&R331 Filled with the Spirit's power (Peacey) A rollicking hymn; a classic and the lyrics are still good to sing today. I prefer the tune WOODLANDS for this hymn.
*TiS 674 / Iona (Common Ground, Heaven Shall Not Wait) / CH253 Inspired by love and anger Powerful lyrics, simple English folk tune. Lyrics (search for "inspired").
*ATOK 390 Put on love every day, never hide your love away (Walker) A fun song for kids! Good for kids.
John 6:35, 41-51
More about Jesus being the bread of life. Note that many of these songs will be suggested again next week because John just keeps going on about the bread of life. This means that you could introduce a new song this week, and sing it with more confidence next week when you repeat it!
*New Brunswick UC songs In Spirit we rise (Anderson) It would be great to sing this song about God's spirit working in and through us. "In Spirit we rise, rise, rise, to be bread for the world". Sorry, this isn't available yet online or in a songbook. I think it would be good to do this at BUC for the next couple of weeks.
*TiS 541 / CH674 / WoV722 / ELW535 / G(II)394 / GC562 / GC(II)529 / CP082 Hallelujah we sing your praises / Haleluyah! Pelo Tsa Rona. Joyous and simple song; "Christ the Lord to us said "I am wine I am bread" ". Good for kids.
*TiS 714 / AoV1-125 /ATE 270 / CH661 / UMH628 / VU466 / WoV709 / ELW472 / GA205 / G(II)588 / GC838 / GC(II)806 / RS928 / CP063 / W&R697 / Cha414 Eat this bread drink this cup (Batastini / Taize) Excellent, particularly if you have a capable cantor. Some resources say "Come to him and never be hungry", but other have "come to me / trust in me".
*ATW 474 You're like the sun that warms me / Bread of angels (Mann) This is a nice ballad, a favourite of many in our congregation. It may not be easy for a congregation without some introduction because the structure is a little tricky. Lyrics.
*TiS 569 / AHB 478 / NCH18/19 / CH167 / UMH127 / VU651 / LBW343 ELW618 / HPP432 / HPSS281 / CP565 / CP(E) 455 / W&R501 / Cha622 / 82Hml690 Guide me O thou great Jehovah / Redeemer (Williams) A rousing hymn of God’s presence and strength and making it to the other side. "Bread of heaven, feed me now and evermore." Sound sample and lyrics.
*TiS474 / AoV1-012 / ATE 295 / CH623 / SFFS 2236 / HPP553 / G(II)539 / GC839 / GC(II)743 / G(3)848 / CP465 / W&R649 / Cha284 / SP175 / URW054 / Lau475 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”. Lyrics and sound sample.
*TiS 535 / AoV1-049 / GA204 / G(II)597 / GC828 / GC(II)822 / G(3)945 I Am The Bread Of Life, you who come to me shall not hunger Different sources are very variable in how inclusive it is (earlier versions have "he who comes to me shall not hunger"), so check out your own source. Newer sources also have "And I will raise you up" rather than "I will raise him up". Spanish language sound sample. Lyrics and sheet music sample.
*TiS 239 / AHB 185 / ATE 236 / NCH48 / Lau746 Jesus the Christ said "I am the bread" / Jesus the Lord said "I am the bread" (Urdu) Good for kids and non-readers as it is very repetitive.
TiS 539 / CH671 / UMH629 / VU478 / WoV711 / ELW484 / GA191 / HPP531 / HPSS521 / GC815 / GC(II)816 / W&R705 / Cha429 You satisfy the hungry heart BICENTENNIAL This is quite nice, although I don't know it well. Sources vary in which verses they use, so feel free to pick and choose. You may prefer to use a soloist for the verses when you bring this to your congregation for the first time. Lyrics, music and quite nice sound sample here.
FFS03 As we Walk along beside you (Murray) Excellent words or recognising Christ in the word, the bread, the resurrection. A simple tune.
*AoVNG15 Bread of Life (Poirier) A nice gentle song. Would be good for distribution of communion. This was sung by the musicians on Maundy Thursday, and it would be good to sing it again.
*TiS 538 / AoV2-093 Feed us now Bread of life (Mann) One of my favourite communion songs. Simple to sing, and beautiful simple theology. “Piece of bread, cup of wine, Lord this food is good”. Lyrics (search for "feed us now"). Good for kids. I love how the liturgy in the link intersperses the words of institution with the singing of the song. I think it's so great that there are so many orders of worship on the Internet!
AoV1-027 / AoVK-102 / GA200 / G(II)613 / GC847 / GC(II)807 / G(3)924 / Lau473 We come to share our story / Song of the Body of Christ (Haas) Simple tune and good words "We come to share our story, we come to break the bread, we come to know our rising From the dead". Sung to a traditional Hawai'ian tune.
