Songs, Hymns & Music for Easter 5C (15 May 2022)

Acts 11:1-18
Peter’s vision of the unclean animals; Acceptance of all who believe - church unity? 
Note that these songs will also fit next week's reading, so if you feel like introducing a new song, this would be a good week to do it.

• Online Resource In my father's house (Paul Somerville) A great new song, with an inspiring, and very singable chorus. Lyrics, sound sample at CCLI for members.
• Online Resource Sing a new world into being(Mary Louise Bringle) Great new words about building a new world of peace and justice where all are welcome. Set to a tune by Jane Marshall which should be quite straightforward but could also be sung to a known tune, like ABBOTS LEIGH. New words to old tunes if you want. Thanks to Taylor Sullivan for this suggestion.  Lyrics,  sheet music sample and purchasing options.
• Online Resource Gathered and Scattered (John Bell) Excellent lyrics of all of us being part of the one body of Christ. Sung to a simple tune. Works particularly well for congregations still having hybrid services. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options. Thanks also to Taylor Sullivan for this suggestion.
• TiS 411 / AHB 328 / NCH266 / UMH537 / VU194 / LBW160 / A&M633 / CP658 / CP(E) 425 / W&R331 Filled with the Spirit's power (John R Peacey) Excellent inclusive words to a very well known hymn tune. I prefer it sung to WOODLANDS. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes.
• TiS 648 / NCH388 / UMH560 / HPP289 / GtG754 / PH358 / W&R596 / Cha487 Help us accept each other (Fred Kaan) Very nice simple words about acceptance and love for all people. The tune varies in each hymn book. I like the lilting tune RUNNYMEDE in TiS, but if a more standard hymn is needed for your congregation, it can also be sung to AURELIA (The church's one foundation). Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes if you want.
• TiS 681 Lord let me see see more and more (Ross Langmead) A prayer to see, hear, care, learn and love with God. Very straightforward to sing. It can get a bit "ploddy". Might be a good idea to use different instrumentation, alternate women and men for a verse or two and definitely use an a cappella verse! If you don't do this often, singing a verse without accompaniment in a hymn with more than 4 verses gives the congregation an opportunity to hear each other. Lyrics.
• ATFG561 / Tune In / Online Resource Part of a fam'ly / Community (Dave Brown) A song about being welcomed and part of a community. Free downloadable song book with sound samples and lyrics. Good for kids.
• TiS 629 / AHB 558 / AoV2-136 / ATA 197 / CH544 / VU600 / Lau888 / StF256 When I needed a neighbor were you there (Sydney 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. Good for kids.
• Tune In / Online Resource Kingdom Come (Matthew Lees) A song about how things are not what we expect in God’s kingdom. Lots of words and good images including "there's no blacklist or admission fee" Sound sample and lyrics
• MV145 / CP418 / SP&P123 Draw the circle wide (Gordon Light) A great song about welcoming all people. Chorus is “Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still. Let this be our song, no-one stands alone, standing side by side, draw the circle wide”. Lyrics and a sound sample.
  
• CH198 / MV001 / HPP550 / A&M365 / GtG301 / GC753 / GC(II)741 / G(3)850 / SP176 / URW058/ Lau458 / StF409 Let Us Build a House / All are welcome (Marty Haugen) 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. New words to old tunes  

Psalm 148
All creation sings God's praise
You might want to consider finding an inclusive language version of this Psalm for the reading! NCH has good inclusive texts for all Psalms in their Psalter. 

• GWA023 Silver skeins of angel hair / Raise an Alleluia (Margaret McClarty) Beautiful words to be sung by a leader with the congregation joining on Alleluias and the chorus. Some Scottish words too! I am quite in love with the lightness and joy of it. Sound sample and lyrics (track 2).
  
• NCH766 / CH767 / CP324 / PfAS148G Hallelujah hallelujah (Dumisani Maraire) A simple and joyful Alleluia in 3/4 in 3 parts. This one is particularly good if you can get all three parts going. It's pretty straight forward, and catchy. PfAS uses it as a Psalm refrain for Psalm 148, or you can just continue the joy of the Easter season and sing some Alleluias somewhere else in the service. Or, you could choose an Alleluia that your congregation knows as a refrain for this Psalm. So many options... Good for kids Sound sample
• PH274 O God of Earth and Space (Jane Parker Huber) Terrific words to a well known Jewish hymn tune. "Wherever freedom reigns, where sin is overthrown, Where justice fused with mercy rules, there you are known. Give us the courage clear, to make the earth a home, For all to live in harmony, in Christ’s shalom." Highly recommended. Lyrics. New words to old tunes
• ATW 422 / NCYC'99 And you sun and moon and stars (Canticle of Daniel) (Don Stewart) This is a big favourite in our congregation. It has wonderful energy and excellent lyrics. Lyric video.
  
• CH169 / VU245 / SFFS 2020 / HPP26 / CP309 Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet (Natalie Sleeth) Fun. Good if you have extra instruments at your worship service. Careful not to let it get clunky. Sound sample and lyrics. Good for kids
• GtG017 Sing praise to God you heavens (Hermann Stuempfle) A fairly standard paraphrase of the Psalm. I just love the singing planets, and the mountains thrusting skywards. Ah, it's a good'un. Oh, and the sheep. I like those singing sheep. Sheet music sample and lyrics.
  
• NCH033 / UMH151 / VU251 / ELW738 / PH290 God created heaven and earth (Traditional Taiwanese hymn translated by Boris and Clare Anderson)  Excellent words of creation, sung to a Pi-po (Taiwanese) melody. It will need to be taught, but it is not too hard. Inspiring story of this hymn. Lyrics.
  
• CH174 / GtG019 God of great and God of small (Natalie Sleeth) Nice simple, children's song. Might work well with a cantor and response on the chorus. Kids could then sing it without having to read lots of words. Sound sample. Good for kids.
• TiS 715 / Srce2-112 Everything that has breath (Traditional Czech) A lovely simple round, set to the tune of "Ah poor bird". "Everything that has breath, praise the Lord of Hosts forever, praise the Lord". Would be a really nice relaxing start to worship. Good for kids. New words to old tunes
• AoV2-120 / AoVK-9 God Is Good let the sun and moon and stars say "God is Good" (Kathy Chan) Fun. Not easy, but probably worth the effort if you feel like learning something new, or giving your musicians a challenge. Lyrics and sound sample.  Good for kids.
• TiS 187 / AoV2-130 / CH149 / StS122 / A&M539 / SP247 Let all creation dance (Brian Wren) I just love the imagery of this one, and it's a very joyous and familiar hymn tune too. Lyrics and sheet music.
• TiS 181 / AoV2-032 / GC(II)497 / G(3)577 / CP589 Come O God of all the earth / Sing Out Earth and Skies (Marty Haugen) A very joyful song for cantor and congregation, or small group and congregation; this is a big favourite in our church. Sheet music, lyrics and sound sample.
• Online Resource / AoV1-019 / CH151 / GA397 / G(II)340 / GC493 / GC(II)498 / G(3)575 / W&R039 All You Works of God (Marty Haugen) Joyful cantor and response with a rousing chorus. Also good for kids. Lead sheet and lyrics. Lyric video. Sheet music available.
• 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.
• VU888 / LBW558 / ELW731 / GtG026 / PH458 / RS681 / CP358 / W&R642 Earth and All Stars (Herbert Brokering) 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
• GtG018 / PfAS148E Hallelujah sing praise to your creator (Tilly Lubis-Nainggolan)  Joyful words set to a traditional Indonesian melody (NYANYIKANLAH NYANYIAN BARU). GtG is more inclusive than PfAS.
• TiS 152 / NCH4 / UMH89 / VU232 / LBW551 / ELW836 / HPP22 / GtG611 / PH464 / GC529 / GC(II)520 / G(3)614 / CP425 / W&R59 / Cha002 / URW065 / 82Hml-376 Joyful joyful we adore thee (Henry van Dyke) Note that this hymn is not always very inclusive. I prefer more modern translations (e.g. TiS, VU, NCH, GC(II) ). Older version lyrics and tune sample.Oldy-but-a-goody.
• TiS 755 / ATA 196 / CH804 / VU884 / SFFS 2278 / A&M484 / HPP219 / GTG080 / CP662 / W&R710 / SP82 / Srcs830 / URW449 / Lau878 / STF487 / MP796  You shall go out with joy / The trees of the field (Stuart Dauerman) This is a good hand clappy foot stomping song. Fun to get faster. Lyrics and sound sample. Good for kids. 
• ATE 216 / Iona (SBL) / CH126 / StJ / ELW555 / PH472 / G(II)365 / GC527 / RS 671 / CP417 / W&R15 / StF042 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; note that not all versions are inclusive. Sheet music samples.  Good for kids!

Revelation 21:1-6a
A new heaven and a new earth; death will be no more; See I am making all things new.
Many of these songs will also be appropriate for the passage from Revelation which will be read next week, so this may be a good time to introduce a new song.

• Online Resource Free us God from past mistakes (David Bjorlin) A song seeking the renewal and freedom that comes from God's forgiveness. Set to the familiar tune ARFON. Sheet music sample, lyrics and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.
• AoV2-007 / AoVNG110 See I Make All Things New (Monica O'Brien / Trisha Watts) I really love this song. “New, as night turns to morning, the spirit is calling I’m with you, I make all things new”. A nice acapella sound sample. I usually play it with more of a jazz feel.
• AoV2-085 / Iona (T1AU) / MV115 / A&M328 / SP129 Behold behold I Make All Things New (John Bell) A nice hopeful upbeat short song. Highly recommended. Sound sample (scroll down) Good for kids.
• Tune In / Online Resource The desert will spring to life / Making things new (Sheree Anderson) A groovy one. Great for kids, and lots of fun. Free downloadable song book with sound samples and lyrics.. Good for kids.
• NCH613 / UMH726 / VU709 / GtG374 / PH453 / GC767 / GC(II)757 / G(3)863 / CP596 / 82Hml-582 O holy city seen by John (Walter Bowie) Strong lyrics to a very familiar hymn tune (MORNING SONG). Lyrics and sheet music sample.  New words to old tunes
• TiS 671 / AoV2-121 Made in God's Likeness (Patricia Lewis / Alister 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. Lyrics and slightly odd sound sample.  
• Online resource Behold I make all things new (Bruce Harding) A nice short song with a folky feel. Sound sample and free sheet music.
• ATE 212 Hush now for I am your God (Carol Littlemore) A comforting song for kids. Lyrics (downloads a ppt for a full service). 
• TiS 569 / AHB 478 / NCH18/19 / CH167 / UMH127 / VU651 / LBW343 / ELW618 / StF465 / A&M652 / HPP432 / GtG065 / PH281 / CP565 / CP(E) 455 / W&R501 / Cha622 / 82Hml690 / StF465 / Lau960 / MP201 Guide me O thou great Jehovah / Redeemer (William 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." Sheet music and lyrics. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• GA527 / G(II)540 / GC745 / GC(II)730 / G(3)847 / Lau1000 Jesus Christ Yesterday Today and Forever (Suzanne Toolan) A very simple refrain in English and Spanish, and multilingual cantor parts. That's fun! Works well without the cantor part too. Sheet music sample. Sound sample.
• TiS 217 / AHB 148 / NCH43 / CH519 / UMH384 / VU333 / A&M721 / LBW315 / ELW631 / A&M721 / GA463 / HPP48 / GtG366 / PH376 / GC622 / GC(II)613 / G(3)641 / CP485/6 / CP(E) 516 / W&R358 / Cha517 / Srce457 / URW100 / 82Hml-657 / Lau801 / StF503 / MP449 Love divine all loves excelling (Charles Wesley) Can't possibly sing this song too often! A beautiful classic song and most hymnals use a very inclusive version of this hymn, even the AHB! Lyrics and sound sample. You may also like to give Rend Collective Experiment's version a listen (hard for congregations to sing, but nice for listening). Oldy-but-a-goody.
• AoVK-123 / NCH3 / Iona (M&G) / UMH148 / VU308 / WoV794 / ELW837 / GtG021 / PH271 / G(II)338 / GC499 / G(3)911 / CP407 / W&R26 / Cha58 / URW232 / 82Hml-385 Many and Great O God are your works / Wakantanka Taku Nitawa (Joseph Renville) Good words. Simple tune. Sounds great accompanied by a good Native American-style drum beat, which is a great way to get people (especially kids) involved in music-making. Lyrics. 
• StJ / GtG048 / GC(II)505 / W&R444 / G(3)582 / URW144 / Srce2-502 Rain Down (Jaime Cortez) A good simple gospel song. A very easy chorus, and good verses too. Sound sample.
  
• AoV1-057 / G(II)485 /  GC678 / GC(II)663 / G(3)766 / Lau824 Awake from your slumber / City of God (Dan 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”. There is a little bit of non-inclusiveness in the middle. Sample sheet music & lyrics. Sound sample.
• TiS 666 / AoV2-113 / AoVK-126 / ATOK 409 / NCH526 / Iona (Common Ground, Freedom is Coming) / CH516 / VU646/647 / WoV650 / ELW866 / A&M483 / SFFS 2235 / HPP153 / GtG853 / G(II)357 / GC513 / GC(II)516 / G(3)594 / Cha442 / SP235 / Srce737 / StF483 / MP954 We are marching in the light of God / Siyahamba / Caminando (South African) A very popular chorus, with possible alternate verses, depending on your source. Sometimes people get anxious about the word "marching", but remember that this song comes from apartheid-era South Africa, where people were protesting so that they could vote in their own country. And the marching is toi-toing, much less militaristic than what you may imagine. Youtube. Good for kids.
• Tune In / Online Resource You in all our worries / All will finish well (Dave Brown) “In this world where injustice reigns, you are in the midst of pain”. Excellent words of reassurance in a difficult world. Free downloadable song book with sound samples and lyrics.
• Tune In / Online Resource Kingdom Come (Matthew Lees) A song about how things are not what we expect in God’s kingdom. Lots of words and good images including "there's no blacklist or admission fee" Free downloadable song book with sound samples and lyrics.
• Online Resource Grace beyond our brightest dreaming (Adam Tice) Excellent words. I love the phrase "Share the grace of vibrant living". Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options.
  

John 13:31-35
A new commandment - to love.

• TiS 699 / AHB 571 / ATN 65 / WoV664 / GA318 / Srce35 / Lau920 / StF242 / MP001 A new commandment I give unto you (Roy Crabtree) Note that older sources do not have inclusive words, but more recent publications use "others" rather than "all men" to make it inclusive for all people. Lyrics.Oldy-but-a-goody.
• Online Resource Sing a new world into being (Mary Louise Bringle) Great new words about building a new world of peace and justice where all are welcome. Set to a tune by Jane Marshall which should be quite straightforward but could also be sung to a known tune, like ABBOTS LEIGH. New words to old tunes if you want. Thanks to Taylor Sullivan for this suggestion.  Lyrics,  sheet music sample and purchasing options. 
  
• Online Resource We will rejoice in love (David Bjorlin) A beautiful song about walking and working together in love as God's people. Sound sample. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options. 
  
•  MV172 God says (Mary Bittner) A nice simple song about God asking us to be still, to look up, to speak out for God, and reach out to those in need". Lyrics.
• Online Resource Gathered and Scattered (John Bell) Excellent lyrics of all of us being part of the one body of Christ. Sung to a simple tune. Works particularly well for congregations still having hybrid services. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options. Thanks also to Taylor Sullivan for this suggestion.
• Online Resource Hear what I'm sayin' / Arms open wide (David MacGregor) A joyful song about building an expansive community. Sheet music, lyrics and sound sample.
• Taizé / MV075 / StS079 / SFFS 2118 / GtG284 / GC(II)479 / G(3)547 / SP99 / URW395 Holy Spirit Come to Us / Veni sancte spiritus tui amoris (Jacques Berthier) Gobsmackingly beautiful if you have a cantor, but it works well if you don't, too. Sheet music, translations, sound samples.
• Taizé / CH801 / MV170 / StJ / GtG205 / WoV665 / ELW642 / SFFS 2179 / GC408 / GC(II)430 / G(3)500 / CP553 / W&R399 / Cha523 / URW394 / StF783 / Lau244b Live in charity / Ubi Caritas (Jacques Berthier) Usually sung in Latin, but can also be sung just as beautifully as "Live in charity and steadfast love, live in charity; God will dwell with you." Sheet music and sound samples for practice. Good for 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 (Peter 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. 
• ATW 498 / Iona (T1AU) / MV 196 / SP&P182 / URW438 We will take what you offer (John Bell) An excellent simple short song that works well either as an upbeat chorus or as a reflective chant. "We will take what you offer. We will live by your word. We will love one another. And be fed by you Lord". Good for kids. Sound sample.
• TiS 670 / SiS569 / AoVK-138 / ATE 258 / CH692 / Srce385 / MP376 Jesus put this song into our hearts (Graham Kendrick) A fun Yiddish tune that gets even more fun if you get faster and faster as you go. Good for kids. Lyric video. 
• Iona (M&G) / ATAR609 / CH359 / MV033 / GtG137 / ZSS54 / StJ / ELW253 / GA293 / SFFS 2085 / G(II)276 / GC370 / GC(II)364 / G(3)429 / CP368 / W&R402 He came down that we may have love/ Jesus came bringing us hope (Traditional Cameroon) A lovely simple song - you can make up words and have a lot of fun with this if you also use some drums. Scottish sound sample. Good for kids.

Any ideas you could add? Please join in and add a comment below!