Songs & Hymns for Fauna Sunday - Season of Creation 2C (September 11 2022)

Job 39:1-12, 26-30
God shows Job the kingdom of the wild, where God’s Wisdom and nurture are ever present. 
Some songs suggested for St Francis' Day might also be appropriate. 

• Online Resource (BUC) Where were you? (Shawn Whelan) A beautiful new reflection on creation, awe and responsibility. Free sheet music and sound samples. 
• Online Resource Wake O My Soul to Earth and Sea and Sky (Pat Mayberry) A lovely new hymn with a rousing chorus. It would fit for many services during Season of Creation. Sheet music. 
  
• Online resource Will you come back with me to the birth of the Earth / Song of the Wild (Norm Habel) Excellent words of wonder. PDF.
• TiS 135 / AHB 70 / AoVK-110 / NCH31 / A&M533 / CH137 / UMH147 / VU291 / WoV767 / HPP35 / PH267 / GtG020 / CP415/6 / CP(E) 251 / W&R30 / Cha061 / Srce21 / StF100 / Lau685 / MP023 All things bright and beautiful (Cecil Frances Alexander) The TiS version has beautiful Australian imagery. If you are in Australia and your congregation only has the AHB or other versions of the music, it is worth making copies of the TiS lyrics; the congregation will know the tune. Verse 2 and 5 have masculine language for God. Oldy-but-a-goody. The original English lyrics from Ms Alexander are a bit different (note verse 3, which thankfully is rarely sung)! VU has some nice Canadian lyrics too, which would also work for people in the USA near the Rocky Mountains and Great Lakes.
• HiOS022 Creator God, we give you thanks (Colin Gibson) Fun song for kids and adults. The tune moves quickly and has lots of words, but it's quite fun. "Creator God we give you thanks for those who live in nest or tank, in basket, kennel, bowl or shed, on sofas, perches, straw for bed." Lyrics (downloads a pdf)
• Online Resource All of us belong (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A very simple song, with two parts that can be sung simultaneously about welcoming all creatures into the church. I especially like the second part "We have wings and paws and tails and toes and instincts and souls". Good for kids. Sound sample and lyrics. Sheet music for purchase (Worldmaking songbook)  
• CH143 Who put the colours in the rainbow? (Paul Booth) Quite tacky, but could be fun for Sunday School or a kids' choir. Youtube (with approximate lyrics) Good for kids.

Psalm 104:14-23, 31
God nurtures and sustains all creatures of the wild and joins with them and us in celebration.

• 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 New words to old tunes.
• TiS 671 / AoV2-121 Made in God's Likeness (Patricia Lewis / Alister Spence) "Called to create a new world for the Lord". Excellent images of rainforest birds praising God. 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 sound sample.
• Online Resource Brother Sister Creatures (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A simple and really lovely adaptation of Psalm 104. The chorus is very simple, and I think would really stick in the minds of kids "Oh I love my brother sister creatures!". Sheet music.  Sound sample, lyrics Good for kids.
• Online Resource / Resounding Voices So great a love (Mary Louise Bringle / Sally Ann Morris) Beautiful words about creation and what we can learn from the rest of our created world. Sound sample, sheet music sample, and purchasing option. Free book download here. 
  
• 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.
• NCH032 / UMH122 / VU229 / HPP32 / GtG022 / PH272 / CP414 / W&R29 / Cha070 God of the sparrow God of the whale (Jaroslav Vajda) This is a beautiful song, but for some reason it sounds kind of odd with an Australian accent. Works especially well this week with the lyric: “God of the rainbow, God of the cross, God of the empty grave”. Lyrics.
• Online Resource For all beings without speech (Julie Perrin) Beautiful words, set to a quite meditative melody by Shawn Whelan, about our need to care for all of creation. Sound sample, and free sheet music.
• CH227 / PfAS065A The earth is yours O God (Michael Saward) A simple hymn paraphrase of Psalm 65, that also fits this Psalm. To the tune ROSSLEIGH.  Lyrics.  
• URW086 Creation sings! Each plant and tree (Martin Leckebusch) Thoughtful words about our relationship with the earth and all that is in it. One of very few hymns that connects human creatures with the other creatures of our planet, and questions our desire to control all of earth. Sung to a fairly simple tune, that will need to be sung through once before the congregation joins in.  Lyrics (thanks Saide!)
  
• NCH34 / Iona (SL) / CH138 / SgTJ1065 Nourished by the rainfall the earth can come alive / Flowers of every colour now raise their heads in pride / As the rain is falling / Alabanza (Pablo Fernandez-Badillo) Complex words, but a simple repetitive tune. Inclusive, earthy. Great for a temperate Springtime. There are quite a few different English translations of this Puerto Rican song. I particularly like the translation in Church Hymnary / Hymns of Glory Songs of Praise. midi sample.  
• VU826 Bless O my soul / Hallelujah (Stralsund Gesangbuch / Melchior Vulpius) A responsive Psalm, with two possible responses, both to familiar traditional tunes. Joyful! One is "Bless O my soul the Almighty who rules all creation". The other is simply "Hallelujah! (x3)". Note that while both refrains would work well with these verses, VU does not have responsive or cantored verses for this week - you'll have to find them elswhere, and use these responses.

1 Corinthians 1:10-23
The Wisdom of God evident in creation.

• ACS971 / MV010 / GtG174 / URW099 / VF060 Come and seek the ways of wisdom (Ruth Duck) This song is more about the personification of Wisdom, but would work very well as a gathering song in the context of this reading. The tune in ACS, MV and GtG is a joyful 6/8 tune, but not familiar, so if it seems difficult, you could sing the same words to PICARDY (TiS 497). VF has a more challenging tune, which may be a bit tricky for a congregation. Lyrics.
• TiS 422 / CH594 / A&M242 / CP(E) 179 Come Holy Spirit come inflame our souls with love (Michael Forster) Excellent words to a well known hymn tune (DIADEMATA). "Spirit of truth, arise; inspire the prophet’s voice" It is not fully inclusive. Lyrics (powerpoint). New words to old tunes.
• HiOS156 Wisdom be our guide (Shirley Murray) Inspiring lyrics of peace and being grounded and inspired by Wisdom. The tune is quite simple, and the chorus will be easy to follow. Lyrics.
  
• Online Resource / GA183 Come Holy Spirit, the spirit of Wisdom / Gifts of the Spirit (Christopher Willcock) Good song. It's in 7/8 so you can't go wrong. The words are also excellent about God-with-us and the coming of the Spirit. This is also in New Song in an Ancient Land Vol 1 (in the Liturgy Library at BUC). Sound sample, sheet music sample and purchasing options.
  
• A&M504 / GC(II)644 / W&R577 / G(3)743 / SP167 / StF689 / Lau836 Summoned by the God who made us / Sing a New Church (Dolores Dufner) Excellent words of Christian unity and justice to the well-known tune NETTLETON (TiS 392). Would be a good final hymn. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• 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. Lyrics and pretty silly sound sample. Good for kids.   
• ATAR616 In my father's house (Paul Somerville) This is a great song of unity, with an inspiring, and very singable chorus. Sound sample. Good for older kids & teenagers.
• FFS08 Broken the body (Shirley Murray) Good words of a broken body of Christ and a broken Church seeking healing, unity and courage. Lyrics and sheet music. 
  
• TiS 411 / AHB 328 / NCH266 / UMH537 / VU194 / A&M633 / CP658 / CP(E) 425 / W&R331 Filled with the Spirit's power (John 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.
• MV174 Soil of God you and I (Digby Hannah) Good lyrics of inclusion, unity and growth. Fairly straightforward tune. Lyric video.
  
• NCH291 / PH273 O God the Creator (Elizabeth Thunderbird Haile / Cecil Corbett) Unusual, but good tune, and good words of our unity as God's created children. Chorus is "And we're brothers and sisters in God's love".  Lyrics.
• MV053 God who spread the boundless prairie (Herbert O'Driscoll) A good hymn for those in the prairies seeking unity; sung to ODE TO JOY. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• SFFS 2221 In Unity We Lift Our Song (Ken Medema) Excellent words to a well known hymn tune. Celebrates the life of a church. Good for a church anniversary too. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• Recorded Music One (U2) I like the Johnny Cash version of this, and even though it's about the reunification of Germany, this song could be interpreted as a song about the unity of the church. "One life with each other; Sisters, Brothers. One life but we're not the same, We get to carry each other, carry each other. One". Youtube (Johnny Cash!).
  

Luke 12:22-31
God provides for all leading us to live in harmony and not be stressed about possessions and power.

• GC(II)647 / G(3)749 / Lau949 Where Your Treasure Is (Marty Haugen) This song is based on this passage, and nearby verses. Quite easy to sing, particularly if the congregation only joins in on the chorus. Lyrics and partial sheet music. Sound sample.
• FFS42 Let there be peace and love (Cecily Sheehy) This is for the those in Aotearoa / NZ (or those who would like to sing in Māori as well as English. A simple song. Good for kids.  
• NCH34 / Iona (SL) / CH138 / SgTJ1065 Nourished by the rainfall the earth can come alive / Flowers of every colour now raise their heads in pride / As the rain is falling / Alabanza (Pablo Fernandez-Badillo) Complex words, but a simple repetitive tune. Inclusive, earthy. Great for a temperate Springtime. There are quite a few different English translations of this Puerto Rican song. I particularly like the translation in Church Hymnary / Hymns of Glory Songs of Praise. midi sample.
• Protest and Praise / Online Resource When our daily bread (David Bjorlin / Benjamin Brody) Turn away from the news and reflect on the beauty of God's creation and God's care for even the smallest part of it. Lyrics, sheet music and sound sample and purchasing options.
• NCH590 / CH621 Spirit of Jesus, if I love my neighbour (Brian Wren) Challenging words of offering help from a position of privilege and seeking to be set free from the entrapment of possessions “If I am hugging safety or possessions, uncurl my spirit as your love prevails, to join my neighbours, work for liberation, and find my freedom at the mark of nails”. Could also be sung to the tune PERFECT LOVE if your congregation would have trouble with the newer tune, in which case it's New words to old tunes. Sheet music and lyrics.
  
• Taizé / TiS 739 / AoV2-041 / ATOK 404 / VU290 / GA269 / SFFS 2054 / GtG820 / G(II)451 / GC639 / GC(II)626 / G(3)733 / CP568 / W&R421 / URW388 / Lau947 Nothing Can Trouble / Nada te turbe (Jacques Berthier) Excellent and quite well known Taizé chant. Spanish lyrics are not too hard for non-Spanish speakers. Sometimes this song seems impossibly hopeful (just quietly)... Sheet music, sound samples, lyrics and translations. Good for kids.

Do you have some ideas? Join the conversation and add them below!