Songs, Hymns & Music for Epiphany 3C (January 24th 2016)

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10

Listening to God's word. An example of early worship & generosity. 

• *MV028 / StJ / FFS25 / GC(II)507 / G(3)587 / StB255 God of the Bible / Fresh as the morning (Murray) Good words. I particularly like the tune by Alonso (MV and Gather hymnals), as the chorus is really joyous. I think this song would be a really good "fit" for our congregation. Good for kids (Alonso tune). Lyrics, sheet music sample. Sound sample. 
• CP447 / W&R671 Lord we hear your word with gladness (Clarkson) Good words honouring the word and the Word of God, set to a well known hymn tune (NETTLETON). Lyrics and tune sample. New words to old tunes 
  
• Iona (We walk his way) / CH780 / GtG455 Listen to the word which God has spoken (Anonymous Canadian) A nice simple chant or round. Could be used well to help people focus and be ready for the readings. Good to get a congregation to know over a number of weeks. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Pretty rough youtube recording.
• NCH70 / UMH660 / VU389 / WoV719 / ELW526 / A&M445 / HPP486 / GtG409 / PH461 / GC741 / GC(II)737 / G(3)843 / CP(E) 301 / W&R1 / Cha280 / STB049 / StF025 God is here as we your people (Pratt Green). Great lyrics, but not inclusive in all sources and set to a range of tunes. I like it sung to the familiar tune ABBOT'S LEIGH. Lyrics, sound sample and sheet music sample. New words to old tunes  
• TiS 430 / AHB 337 / Cha324 / StF164 Your words to me are life and health (Martin) I really like this old hymn. It’s a bit old fashioned, but it still works, I think. Lyrics. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• LBW232 Your word O Lord is gentle dew (Garve) Really lovely words of God's word as gentle dew, flaming sword and wondrous star. Beautiful imagery, and not mushy at all. Sung to a pretty straightforward hymn tune (AF HIMLENS). Lyrics and organ sound sample.

Psalm 19
Cosmic praise. God's laws are perfect; God's commands are sweeter than honey;

• *TiS 187 / AoV2-130 / CH149 / StS122 / A&M539 / SP247 Let all creation dance I just love the imagery of this one, and it's a very joyous and familiar hymn tune too. Lyrics New words to old tunes
• *PfAS019C Through the witness of creation / Lord You Have the Words (DeMey or Dohms) Two possible refrains to a chanted, read or cantored Psalm. The first (DeMey) is a lovely lilting refrain. I think this is really nice; be sure to lead it clearly or teach the congregation during the service. The second (Dohms) is simpler, and can be used as a round. 
• Emergent Psalter The heavens declare (Everett) A simple and quite good Psalm refrain. Everett also suggests using: ATA 117 By the rivers of Babylon (Farian, Reyan, Dowe and McNaughton) as a refrain for this Psalm. This is the Boney M version. It's not really very mournful. I can't resist though... here's a video. It was originally recorded by The Melodians. Good for kids 
• *CH172 / URW062 / StF116 Sing for God’s glory that colours the dawn of creation (Galloway) Beautiful poetic words of creation (first verse), release (2nd verse), justice (3rd verse) and saints (4th verse). Would be a good song to open worship. Sung to a very familiar hymn tune, LOBE DEN HERREN (TiS 111). Lyrics (loads a Word document). New words to old tunes
• GC(II)21 Words of Everlasting Life / Palabras de vida Eterna Simple bilingual (English / Spanish refrain) and cantored verses in either English or Spanish (or I guess you could alternate if you have a bilingual congregation). Sound sample. Sheet music sample.  
• *TiS 7 The sky tells the glory of God (Hughes) Excellent and simple cantor and refrain. could easily use the refrain with the Psalm being read also. Don't forget that these Psalm refrains are also great for smaller kids - they can join in without reading. Good for kids. 
• *MV31 / Linnea Good Pure love A simple two-part chant that picks up the Psalmist’s idea of the purity of God’s law “Pure love, pure truth, pure justice, God”. Would be great if you can teach it to some of the congregation before worship starts. Good for kids. 
• *AoVK-113 Thank you O Lord for this world of ours I like this kid's song. Really fun and interesting with two parts! Good for kids. 
• *AoV1-003 / HPP258 / GA394 / G(II)342 / GC497 / GC(II)495 / G(3)576 / Lau693 / StF803 / MP648 The heavens are telling the glory of God / Canticle of the Sun (Haugen) Energetic waltz of cosmic praise with great lyrics "Come dance in the forest, come play in the field, and sing, sing to the glory of the Lord". Sound sample. Lyrics and sheet music sample. 
• ATW 462 When I consider God's design / Hand in hand (Mann) Good words of all creation celebrating together. Tune is good, too. Lyrics.
• *TiS 156 / AHB 91 / AoV1-135 / ATA 123 / CH212 / UMH145 / VU409 / ELW556 / GA537 / A&M545 / HPP267 / GtG664 / PH469 / G(II)546 / GC756 / GC(II)748 / G(3)855 / CP003 / W&R35 / Cha053 / URW186 / 82Hml-008 / StF136 / Lau671 / MP467 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). Oldy-but-a-goody.
• *TiS 166 / AHB 102 / GA398 / StB035 Sing a new song sing a new song Excellent inclusive words from Australian poet James McAuley. The last verse annoys me a bit, but the rest is excellent. Lyrics.  
• *TiS 163 / AHB 112 / NCH556 / UMH150 / LBW463 / ELW771 / GtG024  / PH268 / W&R644 / Cha651 / URW084 / 82Hml-580 God who stretched the spangled heavens Good words of creation of nature and cities and creative possibilities for the future. AHB has a Father and old language, but it works okay; TiS and other sources are more inclusive. There are many possible tunes. I like it best to HOLY MANNA as in the link. Lyrics and sound sample.
  New words to old tunes
• *AoVK-50 / ATW 430 / NCYC'99 Come let us praise our God / A voice is heard (Trisha Watts) Excellent and energetic. Lyrics. Sound sample. Good for kids. 
• *HPP28 / GtG023 / PH285 / W&R24 / URW083 God You Spin the Whirling Planets (Jane Parker Huber / AUSTRIAN HYMN) Excellent words to a very familiar tune (TiS 772). Really good for the final hymn or response to the sermon. Lyrics. New words to old tunes
• AoV1-019 / CH151 / GA397 / G(II)340 / GC493 / GC(II)498 / G(3)575 / W&R39 All You Works of God (Haugen) Joyful call, response and chorus. This will take a little work to get your congregation into the rhythm of how this song works, but I really think it would be worth it. Lead sheet. Sound sample.  
• VU888 / LBW558 / ELW731 / GtG026 / PH458 / RS681 / CP358 / W&R642 Earth and All Stars Fun words of the universe united in praise. An easy hymn-like tune. I really like the "boiling test tubes" bit, although this verse is not in all hymnals. Lead sheet. Sound sample

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a  
Different parts, all one body - a continuation of last week's reading. Some of the song suggestions are the same as last week, so you may wish to repeat a song.

• *TiS 671 / AoV2-121 Made in God's Likeness (Lewis/Spence) Excellent Australian imagery. This is one of my very favourite songs. It is not difficult if you have a good musician at the helm. If it is new to your congregation, they will be able to join in on the verses by the time you get to the 3rd one. The change in tone with the verse really lifts this song. Good for older kids. 
• AoV1-130 / NCH444 / SFFS 2223 / HPP495 / GtG300 / G(II)533 / GC735 / GC(II)728 / G(3)835 / W&R595 / Cha494 We are one in the Spirit / They’ll know we are Christians by our love (Scholtes) A classic 60's song of unity and being an example to others. It's still pretty groovy, I reckon. Older version are really masculine. We often syncopate it a bit at Brunswick. Note that the 3-6 Sunday School class learned this song this term, so would be good to use. Lyrics and pretty silly sound sample. Good for kids.   
• *TiS 421 Where the Spirit is there's freedom (Harling) Fun and good; excellent fun for the pianist! Lyrics.  Good for kids. Can be sung with the congregation in two halves singing each part, which is not too hard once they have the hang of singing it in unison. I cannot understand why this is not in other common hymnals! Lyrics.  
• *TiS 412 / AHB 324 / ATE 251 / G(II)328 / GC468 / CP651 / W&R130 God sends us the Spirit to befriend and help us / Spirit Friend I like this song from Malawi, but the lack of inclusive language for God in some versions drives me a bit crazy. In Tom Colvin's book "Come Let us walk this road together" he uses more inclusive language. That is, he writes “God sends us the Spirit” instead of “God sends us His Spirit” and "Spirit of our Maker" rather than “Spirit of our Father”. Less inclusive lyrics and a strange sound sample. 
• *Tune In: Alive in me (Spirit of the Father, Spirit of our Brother, Spirit of the Living One, Alive in me). Catchy boppy pop song about God's spirit within us and within the world. Music sample, sound sample and lyrics here.
• TiS 414 / CH616 / UMH192 / VU582 / HPP134 / PH433 / GC550 / CP(E) 198 / Cha257 / StF398 There's a Spirit in the Air (Wren) A good song of getting the business of following Christ done. Speaking out, caring for others, being changed. Good, joyful tune too. Lyrics and a sample of one tune that you could use.  
• *Tune In: We will sing a new song to the world. An energetic song about the gospel, about singing all the new tunes and rhythms that God provides and creating a new earth. A good sending-out song. Sound sample and lyrics 
• *AoV1-129 / CH665 / UMH620 / VU467 / ELW701 / HPP525 / A&M461 / GtG530 / G(II)599 / GC830 / GC(II)813 / CP073 / W&R689 / Cha393 / Lau832 One bread, one body A classic. Don't play it too slow or it takes forever!! Particularly appropriate if you are celebrating communion.
• AoVK-148 / ATOK 388 There is one body (Watts/O'Brien) A good energetic song of unity. Good for kids. 
• MV141 We are all one people (Naytowhow) This Native American song really gets stuck in my head. I think it's really good. Might take some work to get your congregation going with it, though.  
• GtG768 / StJ / GC(II)645 We Are the Body of Christ / Somos el Cuerpo de Cristo Bilingual verses and choruses. Will be good for a congregation where both languages are spoken. 
• AoV1-086 / G(II)530 / GC733 / GC(II)727 / G(3)834 We are many parts, we are all one body (Haugen) I like the chorus much better than the verses, but they are really okay too. The chorus would work on its own. The sound sample at Hymnprint is horrifically slow, but look at the sheet music there.   
• MV177 This is my body naked before you (Damon)  Excellent words about Christ's body being both the broken people, and we who can help the broken. The tune is not easy. Maybe best sung by a soloist at first. 
• GGives1 Oh a body can't walk on its nose (Emmanuel Covenant Community) Great little song about being part of the body and working together. Chorus is "Oh I can't do without you and you can't do without me, 'cos each little member has a special work to do, to make the body grow". Good for kids.  
• AoV1-071 / GA530 / GC(II)742 / G(3)837 Gather Your People (Hurd) Excellent eucharistic theology. Sound sample. Lyric and sheet music sample.  
• AoV2-013 / AoVK-108 Different Gifts yet we are one (Russell) Perfect words for this passage. Tune is a bit tricky. 
• *CH613 / WoV687 / ELW401 / GtG287 Gracious Spirit hear our pleading (Niwagila) Good simple song from Tanzania about the Spirit working in a community; probably too many verses (especially in GtG which has 5!)? The refrain also works well on its own, and could be used as a prayer response; GtG has the refrain in Swahili: "Njoo Njoo Njoo Roho mwema". Sound sample.   
• NCH163 / VU588 / GA522 / G(II)534 / GC736 / Cha492 Many are the lightbeams (Cyprian of Carthage) Nice words "Our one light is Jesus". The Marty Haugen tune is joyful. This would be good for kids as there are not too many words. Good for kids Sound sample 
• PH437 / CP591 / W&R586 Our Cities Cry to You O God (Clarkson) Good words of helping to heal injustice in the world. Being the body of Christ. Sung to a very amiliar hymn tune. Lyrics and tune sample. 
• NCH398 / MV044 / W&R599 / URW072 Shadow and Substance (Damon) Good clear words of being Christ's community in all our diversity. A simple tune. Lyrics, sheet music and sound sample.  
• *NCH283 / SiS303 / CS117 / CH619 / CH620 / UMH393 / VU376 / HPP226 / HPSS322 / CP647 / W&R492 / Cha259 / Srce621 / StF395 / MP613 Spirit of the living God fall afresh on me (Iverson) Can get totally mushy. CH620 has alternative lyrics by Michael Baughen which are inclusive and communal! Certainly worth singing these: "Spirit of the living God, move among us all". Oldy-but-a-goody.
• AoVK-21 Weave one heart (Haugen) Excellent song, with call and response verses "many colours woven into one" Good for kids.  
• MV171 /  G(3)760 Christ has no body now but yours (Warner / Avila) A good song about being the body of Christ, and serving with "the joy of compassion".

Luke 4:14-21
Filled with the Spirit, Jesus begins his mission, in fulfilment of the prophets.

• Tune In: The Spirit of the Lord (Loukes) A beautiful and simple chant. Highly recommended. Lyrics, sound sample and songbook available here.
• *NCH062 Come share the spirit (Vicki Vogel Schmidt) Good words of the spirit coming to move through us and bring wholeness. Groovy tune, which is vaguely familiar. I think this could be a big hit for our church. 
• HiOS019 / STB248 Deep in the human heart (Bill Wallace) Excellent words, but may be best sung by a soloist rather than a congregation.
• *CH613 / WoV687 / ELW401 / GtG287 Gracious Spirit hear our pleading (Niwagila) Good simple song from Tanzania about the Spirit working in a community; probably too many verses (especially in GtG which has 5!)? The refrain also works well on its own, and could be used as a prayer response; GtG has the refrain in Swahili: "Njoo Njoo Njoo Roho mwema". Sound sample.   
• STB270 O God highest God (Thanga, India) This song from the Mizo people of India celebrates release from slavery. It is not an easy song for Western congregations, but perhaps there is someone in your congregation who could sing it? 
• *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. The words are really excellent, despite a slightly clunky translation. It would be worth teaching to your congregation! 
• TiS 473 / NCH314 / W&R615 / Cha655 / StF681 Community of Christ (Murray) Beautiful words to a traditional Hebrew synagogue melody (LEONI). Easy to sing. Lyrics (downloads a pdf of an excellent service of lamentation - scroll to the end). New words to old tunes
• *AoV1-061 / ATOK 355 / GtG359 / SFFS 2194 / G(II)521 / GC723 / GC(II)707 / G(3)814 / ZSS110 / SgTJ1035 Freedom is coming (South African) Excellent and lots of fun, especially if you have a keen African-style drummer in your congregation. It's really worth teaching the parts to your congregation before the service. It can get a bit confusing for the congregation otherwise. Sample sheet music. Good for kids. 
• Tune In Father of Earth, Mother of Sea (Brown) A good latin-rhythmed song that seeks Christ’s presence. Lyrics, sound sample, songbook 
• *TiS 420 Holy Spirit go before us (Elizabeth Smith) Great words of evangelism and justice to a simple lilting melody. If you think your congregation can't cope with a new tune this week, it can be sung to AUSTRIA (TiS 93).
• NCH164 / VU79 / StS030 / WoV652 / LBW652 / ELW314 / PH411 / GtG744 / W&R231 / URW138 Arise your light is come! (Duck) Good general words of Christ coming to bring justice to the familiar tune ST. THOMAS (TiS 271) New words to old tunes 
  
• *TiS 670 / SiS569 / AoVK-138 / ATE 258 / CH692 / Srce385 / MP376 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 will join in. Good for kids. Youtube. Lyrics
• TiS 284 / VU901 / ELW552 / W&R158 / GtG109 / Cha135 / URW012 / 82Hml-444 Blessed be the God of Israel / O Bless the God of Israel (Perry) Good words of Christ as the fulfiller of the prophets who will set God's people free From fear and darkness. Be aware that some versions (like TiS) use exclusively masculine language for God. URW and Chalice are inclusive. Set to the simple tune MERLE'S TUNE. New words to old tunes  
• NCH107 / LBW633 / ELW242 / GtG107 / GC346 / GC(II)351 / G(3)423 / W&R160 / Cha138 / Lau157 Awake Awake and greet the new morn (Haugen) Joyful song. Maybe best suited to the Northern Hemisphere? Sheet music samples. 
• TiS 657 / CH263 / VU700 / A&M559 / 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) or RHUDDLAN. Lyrics and midi.  New words to old tunes  
• MV127 I saw the rich ones (Mayberry) This is simple to sing and a great song for kids “But with God the world is turned upside down. The poor are embraced and the lost they are found. Let’s work for a world where all people are free. Where it’s good to feel good about God loving you and me”. Good for kids. 
• ATOK 389 Light of the nations (Mann) Simple and powerful words. Lyrics
• *TiS 253 / AoV2-119 / AoVK-103 / GA419 O Lord Jesus Marrkapmirr This simple song from an Aboriginal community in Arnhem land is easy to sing and talks of the timelessness of God’s love. “O Lord Jesus Marrkapmirr, all the power belongs to you”. There is some king and power language in this which may not work for some. Lyrics and strangely funky backing track.
• *CH348 / StS001 / LBW196 / ELW843 / A&M762 / G(3)625 / CP397 / W&R93 / SP304 / URW090 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. New words to old tunes 
  
• *TiS 179 / NCH273 / VU312 / GA379 / StJ / URW073 Praise with Joy the World's Creator One of my favourite hymns - strongly Trinitarian lyrics and excellent imagery. I particularly love the “One God in community” phrase. Some versions change "Son" to "Christ" to make it more inclusive. Lyrics (scroll down). New words to old tunes 
  
• *TiS 749 / AoV1-154 / AoVK-131 / ATE 305 / NCH360 / Iona (SBL, Freedom is coming) / CH800 / UMH497 / VU572 / WoV773 / ELW809 / GA493 / A&M481 / HPP340 / GtG746 / G(II)484 / GC677 / GC(II)674 / G(3)776 / W&R713 / Cha447 / SP234 / StF782 Send me Jesus / Thuma mina (South African) You all know this one, right? If you don't - it's great - simple, repetitive, and meaningful. Good for kids. Sheet music sample and lyrics. Youtube.
• *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 God's care for the Israelites. Free sheet music
• *NCYC ’93 / ATFG586 / Online Resource We will love / We will walk with you at the edges (Gardener) This is a good little rock number “We will walk with you at the edges, we will die with you at the cross roads, we will risk with you taking chances, we will love”. Or something like that. Sound sample & online purchase options.
• *ATOK 413 / Iona (HSNW) / CH533 / VU567 / StS039 / A&M510 / ELW798 / GA502 / SFFS 2130 / HPP317 / GtG726 / G(II)510 / GC700 / GC(II)687 / G(3)790 / CP430 / CP(E) 622 / W&R350 / URW060 / Lau877 / StF673 Will you come and follow me / The Summons (Iona / KELVINGROVE) A classic. Don't sing it too slowly or it really drags and takes forever!
•  *MV045 / SP&P051 Hamba nathi (Zulu). There are a lot of translations of this song. I like "Come walk with us, the journey is long". Good for kids 
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What ideas do you have? If you have some suggestions for any of the above readings, please join the conversation and post them in the comments below. I'd love to know what you're singing (or would like to sing...)