Psalms that do not appear in the Lectionary

Psalm 6
  • PfAS006B Healer of Our Every Ill (Haugen) This is a chorus to a fairly well known song, and here is used as a Psalm refrain. It works well!  
  • A&M529 / PfAS006B My eyes are dim with weeping (Adam) This refrain is really lovely. Highly recommended.  
  • PfAS006C How long how long O Lord (Walhout) 
Psalm 7
  • PfAS007A Plaintive is the song I sing (Goreham) A hymn setting of the Psalm to a familiar tune (NUN KOMM DER HEIDEN LEILAND). Straightforward lyrics. New words to old tunes.
Psalm 10
  • MV072 / SFFS 2180 / GtG786 / GC(II)575 / G(3)671 / Cha671 / LUYH648 Why Stand So Far Away My God? (Ruth Duck)  Great words to the familiar tune MORNING SONG. New words to old tunes. There is also a very good, and slightly more dramatic tune from Douglas Simper for this, which I also like a lot. Music book available here.
Psalm 11
  • PfAS011A O Lord be our refuge (Morgan / Tel) Slightly old fashioned words, but good, and set to the familiar tune FOUNDATION. New words to old tunes.
Psalm 21
  • PfAS021A To you unequaled strength (Horgan) A good paraphrase to a quite intutive tune. 
Psalm 41
  • PfAS041A What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer (Scriven) A short Psalm response based on this well known old hymn; the refrain can be varied for each response, or remain the same throughout. Oldy-but-a-goody.
Psalm 47 Psalm 55
  • PfAS055A I need your help O Lord my God (Helen Otte) Quite simple and nice hymnlike Psalm. Simple helpful words. 
Psalm 56
  • PfAS056A In my day of fear (Iona community) A contemporary paraphrase, sung to a simple tune. You could also just use the refrain if you like, either with a cantor singing the verses, or with spoken verses. 
  • PfAS056C O God be merciful to me (Helen Otte) Ps 56; Simple words, a straight-forward hymn-like paraphrase. 
Psalm 57
  • NCH009 / StJ / ELW791 / SFFS 2001 / CP523 We Sing to You O God (Proulx) Good hymny hymn with inclusive lyrics of praise. A good opening hymn. Nice descant part also. 
  • PfAS057B I rest in the shadow of your wings (Julie Howard) A lovely simple Pasalm refrain, with optional harmony, and a simple harmonized section that can be sung under the spoken verses. This is really beautiful. It even has a part for bells. Could be done on a xylophone? 
  • Online Resource / Resounding Voices Awaken my soul to all its potential (Ellen Dreskin) This is just a wonderful morning prayer, and I couldn't think where else to list it. Free book to download. Amazing arrangement
Psalm 61
  • CH573 / UMH523 / GtG789 / PfAS061B / STB059 Jesus Savior Lord lo to thee I fly / Saranam Saranam (Daniel Niles) I think this would be an excellent song to sing, not only because the words are good and because the tune is simple and beautiful, but because we need to keep praying for the people of Sri Lanka. You could use just the refrain if you would like a short song - it works quite well on its own.  
Psalm 64
  • PfAS064B Better take shelter (Andrew Donaldson)  A simple and slightly jazzy refrain to a cantored or spoken Psalm.
  • Online Resource For those who cannot find a way (Adam Tice / Sally Ann Morris) A beautiful song that expresses our hope for the healing of pain that others bear. "Why, O God, why?". Sheet music sample and purchasing options.
Psalm 73
  • PfAS073A / LUYH333 All my life (Ken Medema) A gospel-style song with a catchy chorus; personal lyrics of God changing our vision, and being able to see anew.
  • PfAS073C Why do the powerful have it so good? (Andrew Donaldson) Ps 73; Very complicated, but could work well if you have the time to work on it. The lyric of "Why do the poerful have it so good" is great. I'd love to hear a recording of this. 
Psalm 74
  • TiS 265 / AHB 193 / AoV1-174 / NCH116 / CH273 / UMH211 / VU001 / LBW034 / ELW283 / GA285 / HPP92 / GtG088 / PH009 / GC317 / GC(II)323 / G(3)395 / CP089 / CP(E) 32 / W&R154 / Cha119 / 82Hml-056 / Lau112 / StF280 / LUYH061 / MP493 O come O come Emmanuel (Psaleroilum Cantionum Catholicarum) A very well known ancient Advent carol. Most versions are pretty inclusive. Lyrics, sheet music. There are also two alternate versions (one by Sue Wickham and one by John Henson), set to the same tune, but with more modern lyrics and ideas. See the Facebook Group for lyrics. Oldy-but-a-goody.  
  • Online Resource For those who cannot find a way (Adam Tice / Sally Ann Morris) A beautiful song that expresses our hope for the healing of pain that others bear. "Why, O God, why?". Sheet music sample and purchasing options.
Psalm 75
  • StB038 O Parent God, You're Merciful / Sirma apom saya dana (Horo) Simple song in Mundari (a language spoken by Munda people in East India, Nepal and Bangladesh) or English. It will need to be taught, but it's quite lovely. 
  • PfAS075A O God your deeds are unsurpassed (Michael Morgan) Ps 75; This is fairly formal, and quite solid. Good words to think about. 
  • MV120 / StS124 / R245 / ELW723 / HPP88 / GtG100 / G(II)376 / GC556 / GC(II)527 / G(3)622 / PfAS075B / URW018 My soul cries out with a joyful shout (Canticle of the Turning) (Rory Cooney) This is my favourite Magnificat! No, really!! "Could the world be about to turn?" It's sung to a folk tune (STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN). Lyrics & Sheet music samples. New words to old tunes
Psalm 83 
    PfAS083A / LUYH654 Do not keep silent O God (Iona Community) A haunting refrain, and quite plainly chanted psalm. Either use a cantor, or teach your congregation to chant this together - angrily! It will need a strong and confident leader. 
  • VU615 When quiet peace is shattered (Mary Nelson Keithahn) Words seeking healing in time of war. Lyrics.
Psalm 88
  • PfAS088B / Traditional Sometimes I feel like a motherless child (African-American spiritual) I love this song, and it really works well as a reflection on (or response to) this Psalm of abandonment. 
  • Taizé / A&M847 / GtG294 / G(II)456 / GC644 / PfAS088A / SP330 Within Our Darkest Night (Taizé) A lovely chant of continuing hope in the face of despair. Lyrics and sound samples. Good for kids.
  • Online Resource For those who cannot find a way (Adam Tice / Sally Ann Morris) A beautiful song that expresses our hope for the healing of pain that others bear. "Why, O God, why?". Sheet music sample and purchasing options.
Psalm 101
  • PfAS101A Your mercy and your justice (Martin Tel) A simple refrain based on a familiar hymn tune (All glory laud and honour).New words to old tunes.
Psalm 109
  • Online Resource Love stands with (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A good song of justice, about standing with the needy. It might be good to ask the congregation to just join in on the chorus when you first use this one, as the verses are better suited to a cantor or soloist. Lyrics, sound sample and sheet music.
  • Online Resource Move (Bruxvoort-Colligan) Minimal words would make this a good song to memorise and sing while you are next at a protest rally, with someone singing the verses through a megaphone. But, yeah, you can sing it in church too! Lyrics, sound sample and sheet music. 
Psalm 117
  • STB096 Let all nations come praise the Lord (Loh) Taiwanese. The round for the chorus would be quite good used on its own. It will need to be taught. 
  • PfAS117A / STB005 Let all nations / Ban-bin ah (Hsiang-chi Chang & I-to Loh) A simple Psalm refrain. I prefer the English translation in PfAS. 
  • TiS 73 / Taizé / CH77 / GA418 / GtG635 / G(II)364 / GC526 / GC(II)528 / G(3)623 / CP313 / Srce614 /  URW384 / Lau698 / StF778 Laudate Dominum / Sing Praise And Bless The Lord (Jacques Berthier) One of the more jolly Taizé chants. I prefer it in Latin, but for kids, this one is quite good fun in English. Cantor parts are based on Psalm 117. Good for kids. Sound sample and parts for learning.
  • TiS 72 / AHB 42 / NCH27 / CH146 / UMH101 / LBW550 / A&M637 / HPP36 / GtG327 / PH229 / CP344 / CP(E) 431 / Cha49 / PfAS117C / 82Hml-380 / StF075 From all that dwell below the skies (Isaac Watts) A very old hymn, known by many, which is entirely inclusive in its language for God, save for one Lord which you can replace with God if you like 'cos it's Public Domain! Oldy-but-a-goody.Lyrics and tune samples. 
Psalm 120
  • PfAS120A O Lord deliver me from liars (June Fischer Armstrong)  This work includes a read reflection, the song and a prayer. It could be quite powerful. It is not a congregational song, it's more for listening and reflecting on. 
  • PfAS120B / STB097 When my troubles arose (Rolando Tinio) This is a two part song. The congregation sings "Go forth, go forth, go forth… seek peace" while a soloist laments over the top. There is also a good drum pattern. Lyrics are in Tagalog or English. Challenging, but it's a challenging Psalm! 
  • Online Resource For those who cannot find a way (Adam Tice / Sally Ann Morris) A beautiful song that expresses our hope for the healing of pain that others bear. "Why, O God, why?". Sheet music sample and purchasing options.
  • PfAS129A I will sing a song of triumph (Martin Leckebusch) Fairly formal words, to a good Latvian melody (KAS DZIEDAJA). Straightforward paraphrase that doesn't avoid the awkward bits. 
Psalm 134
  • PH242 / PfAS134A / LUYH924 Come All You Servants of the Lord (Arlo Duba) PfAS has a great jazz arrangement of OLD HUNDRED; the words are OK; fairly formal. I mainly like this for the tune arrangement.
Psalm 136
  • STB115 God's love is everlasting (Indonesia) (Widyawan) A simple 2 part canon, with a hold at the end of each line. Will need to be taught. 
  • AoV2-156 / VU857 / GA078 / G(II)115 / GC131 / GC(II)73 / G(3)090 / PfAS136C Love Is Never Ending (Marty Haugen) Quite lovely verses with joyful congregational responses. A bit folky.  
  • PfAS136G Give thanks unto the Lord (Traditional Swahili) Call and response, with the response in English and Swahili. This would be really cool. 
  • PfAS136H O give thanks to the Lord (Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra) Cantored short verses with a simple congregational refrain.
Psalm 140
  • PfAS140A / LUYH656 Deliver me from evil (1912 Psalter; revised)  A good paraphrase to a well known tune PASSION CHORALE.  
Psalm 141
  • PfAS141A O Lord come quickly hear me pray (Marie Post / Martin Tel) This can be sung either as a round (to the tune of WHEN JESUS WEPT), or as verses, in which case I would use an alternate 8.8.8.8 tune, such as FEDERAL STREET. If using a round, you could choose whichever verse you would like to focus on, and perhaps read the rest of the Psalm.  New words to old tunes.
  • GA013 / G(II)12 / GC12 / PfAS141B Like Burning Incense (Ps 141) (Lori True) A moving arrangement of the Psalm, set to a laid-back jazz-inspired arrangement of the well known hymn tune PICARDY. You could use the refrain on its own as a response to Intercessions. If using the full Psalm, use a cantor for the verses, as the congregation might get confused by the unusual arrangement of the tune. New words to old tunes.
  • PfAS141C Let My Prayer Rise Up (Marty Haugen) This is great, and would be good to use for Intercessions any time. It is set as a two part song, but you could use it first as a cantor-led song, with the congregation joining in on the refrain. Then, as the congregation gets to know it, you could build it in complexity. It would work well during some candle lighting for prayers.  
  • PfAS141D O Lord I have cried to you (Galician Samohlasen) Thoroughly beautiful, if you have a choir, this would be lovely to use during intercessions. 
  • CH218 / StF146 Now that evening falls (John Bell) Night; evening blessing. Very simple tune and simple quiet words of rest. For an evening service! 
Psalm 142
  • PfAS142A Hear my cry and supplication (Clarence Walhout) Ps 142; A good paraphrase to a Sacred Harp tune RESTORATION. New words to old tunes.
Psalm 143
  • GtG782 / PfAS143A Hear my prayer O God (Carl P Daw) Simple paraphrase of the Psalm. Doesn't mince words, but neither does the psalm.  
  • PfAS143B I Lift My Soul to You Simple psalm refrain to the tune of WONDROUS LOVE.  New words to old tunes.  
Psalm 144

  • LBW038 / PfAS144A O Saviour Rend the heavens wide (German spiritual song) Sad and beautiful setting of this Psalm. The old hymn tune may not be familiar, but it is not too hard.

Gloria! Gloria!

Here's a list of some favourite Glorias:
  • ATOK 318 / Iona (SBL) / CH762 / MV036 / WoV788 / SFFS 2033 / URW403 Glory to God / Gloria di dios (Peru) Good fun. Great for kids - call and response. SFFS has a good Trinitarian formula for it. Sheet music. Lyrics and a slightly strange sound sample.
  • TiS 773 / ATW 431 / CH760 GA291 / G(II)199 / GC(II)253 / W&R240 / Cha034 / URW380 Glory to God / Gloria Gloria (Taize) The refrain is excellent - joyous, simple, a round. Everything. The verses aren't so fabulous, so I would just use the refrain. Good for kids. Sheet music and sound samples.
  • TiS 775 / ATOK 317 / Iona (M&G) / VU895 / GtG584 Glory glory glory glory be to God on high (Sosa) A simple Gloria.
  • Iona (TI1AU) / MV038 Glory to God / Nzamuranza (Mozambique / Matsikenyiri) Simple African call and response song. 
  • CoC20 Gloria (Bray) A pretty majestic gloria in 4 part harmony. 
  • CoC21 Gloria (Gibson) This Latin gloria could be sung as a simple chant, a 3-part canon or a four part chorale!
  • GC(II)190 Glory to God in the highest (Beneath the Tree of Life) (Haugen) Communion response A good joyful Gloria. Just needs a word substituion for "his people" to "God's people". The sound sample actually does that and it still works well. 
  • MV124 Glory to God in the Highest (Trinidad) A good simple Gloria from the Carribean Conference of Churches.
  • STB019 Glory be to You O God / Joy Probhu tomari joy (Bangladesh) (Shaha) A happy song from Bangladesh. The tune will need to be taught, but it's not difficult and the words are quite simple in English. The first phrase could be sung in Bengali if you would like to include some language other than English, but don't want to learn a lot of words in another language. 
  • STB127 Glory to God in the highest (Ekka) Gloria A Gloria from India. If you are unfamiliar with Indian melody lines, it would be helpful to find someone to sing it for your first. It's also in Kurukh language, which is one of the indigenous languages of India. It doesn't work so well in English. 
  • ACS911 Glory to God / Gloria a Dios (Martin Heenstra) A simple and quite lovely four part Gloria. Sound sample