Songs, Hymns & Music for Proper 22C / Ordinary 27C / Pentecost +17 (October 2nd 2022)

Lamentations 1:1-6 and Lamentations 3:19-26
General desolation and God’s constancy
See also suggestions for the Psalm, below.

• Online Resource / Tune In / NCYC '07 Forgive us now (Dave Brown). “As we forgive may we be healed, as we reach out….” An excellent ballad seeking forgiveness in a sinful world. Lyrics, sound sample and free downloadable songbook.
• Online Resource / Tune In Our God who weeps (Kate Scull) Very simple folk-like tune and challenging and hopeful lyrics. "When death has taken those held dear"... Lyrics, sound sample and free downloadable songbook.
• Online Resource Why do we listen and fail to hear / Lament - for a people with a people with a dulled heart (Shawn Whelan) This lament, and its wailing ooooh would fit quite well with this passage. Free downloadable sheet music.  Good for kids.
• MV027 Creator God you gave us life (Judith Snowdon) A lovely song, with a stirring chorus. I think it would be quite straightforward to sing: "Through hands that paint majestic skies, and voices chanting melody, with words that reach beyond the page, we comprehend your mystery. Lyric video.
  
• SiS560 / HPP44 / W&R60 / Cha087 / ZSS21 I Will Sing of the Mercies of the Lord forever (James Fillmore) An old well-known chorus, which is actually OK even though the language is pretty old fashioned. Lyrics & sheet music. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• SiS414 / ATA 153 / GtG059 / Srce686 / PfAS105B The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases (Edith McNeill) Can be a mushy favourite. The language is not inclusive in older versions; PfAS resolves that by using the line “God’s mercy never comes to an end”. PfAS uses it as a sung response to a Psalm. Older style lyrics & chords. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• TiS 617 / NCH413 / UMH517 / WoV736 / ELW626 / A&M605 / GtG818 / PH342 / W&R75 / 82Hml-695 / Lau428 By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered (Dietrich Bonhoeffer) Wonderful words by Bonhoeffer, but most tunes that this has been set to are a bit tricky (INTERCESSOR or HIGHWOOD). I quite like the tune in NCH (BONHOEFFER). The 5th verse is omitted in some hymnals. Lyrics. New words to old tunes  There is also a very nice contemporary tune for the same words by Douglas Simper in his book Singing the Journey.  It makes the words feel much more relevant sung to this tune, but it will need to be taught, or sung by a soloist.
• 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 / Lau671 Morning has broken (Eleanor 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.
• VU267 / W&R20 / A&M711 / SP288 / Lau897 Like a mighty river flowing (Michael Perry) Lovely words of the presence of God in nature. Lyrics and sheet music.  
• 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.
  
• CP517 / W&R503 O God your constant care and love (Glen Lanier) Quite good words about God's presence with us through our lives. Sung to a standard hymn tune. Lyrics.

Alternative to the 2nd Lamentations reading: Psalm 137

Refugees, those who have lost their homes, recent immigrants.

You may want to sing a song from the "Refugee Sunday" Suggestions page

• Iona (Psalms of Patience Protest & Praise) /  URW343 Beside the streams of Babylon (John Bell) Paraphrase of the Psalm, to a traditional Scottish tune which is very simple. Sound sample.
  
• AoV1-114 / HPP376 / G(II)430 / GC608 / GC(II)596 / G(3)683 / W&R430 / Lau964 You shall cross the barren desert / Be not afraid (Dolores Dufford) Beautiful words. Well known (at least, the chorus). Verses may be tricky. Lyrics.
• PfAS137E God of memory (Richard Leach) Even though this is set to a known tune (EBENEZER) the arrangement and words would lend itself to a more relaxed solo version, with much rubato (that's where you pull the time around so some bits are really slow). Lyrics.
• FFS60 Stranger standing at my door (Shirley Murray) Amazing words, but a tricky tune. Would be good if you have a good soloist in your congregation who would sing this and the congregation listen to the very meaningful words. Last verse is "I am fearful of your claim, yet I cannot turn away. Stranger with a foreign name, are you angel here to stay? You are messenger and guest, you the Christ I can't ignore, you my own compassion's test, stranger standing at my door; you the Christ I can't ignore." Lyrics. 
• The Sacred Harp When we our wearied limbs to rest (Nahum Tate and Nicholas Brady) There are many tunes for these old hymn words. I really love the tune by Judy Hauff in the Sacred Harp (WOOD STREET). It is not a congregational tune, unless your congregation are Sacred Harp singers; it's beautiful. Youtube.
• FFS34 I am standing waiting (Shirley Murray) Good words of justice for children of poor nations to the well known French melody AU CLAIR DE LA LUNE. "I am standing waiting, waiting at your door, one of hunger's children from a billion poor" Lyrics and sheet music PDF
• CH94 / VU859 / WoV656 / PH246 / GtG072 / RS543 / PfAS137A By the Babylonian Rivers (Ewald Bash) Good poetic paraphrase of the first four verses of the Psalm. Latvian folk tune (KAS DZIEDAJA) which is haunting and minor. I prefer this version of the Psalm to TiS85 by Milgate, which uses the same tune. Some versions have 4 verses and some have only 3. Sample sheet music and lyrics. Keyboard sound sample.
• Online Resource / Here in this place Come and share this land (Helen Wiltshire) A terrific song to help us learn that sharing our country and freedom is a great thing to be able to do. I think this would be Good for kids sung to ORIENTIS PARTIBUS, but maybe there is a more appealing tune for kids out there? Free sheet music.  
• TiS 708 / ATA 121 / VU858 / StJ / HPP569 / PH245 / CP294 / PfAS137C / URW342 By the waters the waters of Babylon (Traditional) That old round. Could be quite effective as a meditation. VU and URW pair this with a responsive reading of the Psalm which would also work well. Sheet music and lyrics. Good for kids. Alternately, you could use PfAS137D By the waters the waters of Babylon (Traditional) A versified version of the traditional round.
• GC(II)573 / G(3)672 / Lau216 By the waters of Babylon (Paul Tate) A different, more contemporary, version. Quite peaceful; good words. Sheet music sample and lyrics. Sound sample.
• ATA 117 By the rivers of Babylon (Brent Dowe / Trevor McNaughton) This is the Boney M version. Maybe this could work, but probably best to just have fun with it at the end of the service, as we have before. It's not really very mournful. I can't resist though... here's a video. It was originally recorded by The Melodians. An idea from "The Emergent Psalter" is to use the lines "may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight" as a Psalm refrain. Good for kids.
• MV016 / StJ / ELW528 / GA430 / SFFS 2157 / GtG466 / HPP410 / G(II)398 / GC570 / GC(II)550 / G(3)637 / RS710 / CP402 / URW378 / Lau701 Come and Fill our hearts/ Confitemini Domino (Jacques Berthier) A very familiar Taize chant. Sample and sheet music for practice.
• TiS 667 / G(II)415 / GC591 How shall I sing to God (Brian 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. Lyrics and sheet music sample.
  
• TiS 689 / ATE 286 / GtB Lord hear my praying, listen to me / Sorrowing song (Robin Mann) Powerful words of prayer to a simple tune. Words are straightforward about asking difficult questions of God. Lyrics. This song will work for next week as well, so now is a good time to introduce it.
• Online Resource / GA183 Come Holy Spirit, the spirit of Wisdom (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 and purchasing options.
  
• FFS78 Who are these strangers? (Colin Gibson) Good words of questioning faith; quite sad and challenging. The tune is new, but it quite intuitive. "Who are these strangers? Why do they throng, crowding the place where we belong? Why do they haunt us with their pain, eyes that have seen so many slain? We do not know them, yet we kneel and bring them to this holy place, where bread is broken, wine is shared, suffering met by love and grace".
• Online Resource A river flows through Babylon / En Babilonia Hay Ríos (Adam Tice) Excellent words to a contemporary tune; these words really speak strongly of sorrow, and the desire for justice. Sheet music sample, lyrics and purchasing options.
  
• AoV2-102 / GA509 Who will speak if we don't (Marty Haugen) Excellent challenging words. Sheet music preview. Sound sample.  Good for teenagers.
• TiS 690 / CH259 / A&M557 / StS115 / SP237 / Srce54 / StF693 / MP806 Beauty for brokenness hope for despair (Graham Kendrick) Themes of healing from personal and universal suffering and an emotive chorus. “Refuge from cruel wars, havens from fear, cities for sanctuary, freedoms to share, peace to the killing-fields, scorched earth to green; Christ for the bitterness, his cross for the pain”. It's a bit schmaltzy. Lyrics.
• TiS 421 Where the Spirit is there's freedom (Per Harling) Fun and good. 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. Lyrics. Good for kids

Alternative Hebrew Scripture Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 

Habakkuk despairs that the world is full of injustice, but is reassured that God will bring change.

• ATFG563 / NCYC'03 / The Red Book How long must we cry out? (Robin Mann) This is a big Brunswick favourite, great for young people in particular. "Teach me to do what is right, walk in the darkness, trust in the light and may love be the path I walk upon". Good for teenagers. Lyrics. Lyric video.
• TiS 447 / AHB 61 / CH112 / VU313 / LBW400 / ELW673 / A&M810 / CP560 / CP(E) 267 / 82Hml-371 / Lau887 / StF106 / MP699 God whose almighty word / Lord your almighty word chaos and darkness heard / Thou, whose almighty word (John Marriott) A good hymny hymn, very familiar, with the memorable “Let there be light” line at the end of each verse. TiS lyrics are fairly inclusive, but VU is better. Oldy-but-a-goody. Lyrics
• BUC Song Project Come out and shout (Dave Brown) It would be good to sing this song again, and it would be a joyous ending song for this reading. "No more need to fear and start to run, and I will give you strength".
• TiS 674 / Iona (Common Ground, Heaven Shall Not Wait) / A&M562 / CH253 / SP245 Inspired by love and anger (John Bell / Graham Maule) Powerful lyrics, simple English folk tune (SALLY GARDENS). Lyric video. New words to old tunes  
• SP&P137 The world is hungry for justice / Come Sweet Justice (Louis Gilio / Scott Ressman) These words are very suitable for this reading. It's a ballad and the verses would be best sung by the musicians at first, with the congregation joining in on the chorus until they get to know it.
• AoVK-29 Remember we are your people (Tony Barr) Simple three part chant "Remember we are your people, your people O God". This would work really well as a sung refrain during the prayer of confession. Sound sample. Good for kids.
• TiS 689 / ATE 286 / GtB Lord hear my praying, listen to me / Sorrowing song (Robin Mann) Powerful words of prayer to a simple tune. Words are straightforward about asking difficult questions of God. Lyrics. This song will work for next week as well, so now is a good time to introduce it.
• NCH461 Let us hope when hope seems hopeless (David Beebe) A lilting tune and good words of hope in the face of difficulty. A song of a maturing faith. Sound sample (long introduction). 
• SoG 790 / ATW 463 / Iona (T1AU) / ELW721 / SFFS 2219 / A&M835 / GtG750 / GC(II)451 / G(3)528 / W&R296 / URW436 Goodness is stronger than evil (Desmond Tutu / John Bell) Words from Archbishop Desmond Tutu. "Victory is ours, victory is ours, through him who loves us". Some congregations change the last line to "Compassion is ours, compassion is ours...". It depends on the context in which you sing it, I suppose. Sound sample. Good for kids. There is also a very moving choral version of these words and more from Desmond Tutu, arranged by Tom Keesecker. Available here (sound sample there too).

Psalm for the Habakkuk reading Psalm 37:1-9

• AoV2-054 / Iona (T1AU, LFB) / MV077 /  GtG414 / SFFS 2057 / G(II)438 / GC618 / RS 736 / SP&P111 / PfAS046D / URW409 / Lau909 / StF019 Be still and know that I am God (John Bell / Graham Maule) This simple chant is beautiful. Works as a round or in unison. Sound sample. Good for kids.
• CH716 / VU374 / FFS10 / SFFS 2128 / W&R477 / Cha575 Come and find the quiet centre (Shirley Murray) A good song for the beginning of worship. I would prefer to sing this to one of the more traditional melodies offered (Tune 1 in FFS) or BEACH SPRING (TiS 493). Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes  
• ATN 9 / NCH743 / CH755 / W&R450 / Srce68 / StF018 / MP048 Be Still and Know (Unknown) This is the old classic. Sources vary in the verses they have and the level of inclusiveness in the lyrics. Sheet music, chords and a range of videos.
  
• FFS04 Be still my heart (John Murray) A good opening to worship. With two possible simple tunes. "Be still my heart, my mind, my busy world - that I may hear God's word". Lyrics.
• Taizé / CH276 / VU22 / GtG090 / ELW262 / GA283 / A&M053 / G(II)256 / GC332 / GC(II)340 / G(3)406 / CP094 / W&R166 / PfAS037B / SP28 / URW396 / Lau088 Wait for the Lord (Jacques Berthier) "Wait for the Lord whose day is near, wait for the lord, keep watch, take heart". A lovely simple Taizé chant. Some older versions are not inclusive. Sheet music, translations and sound samples. 
• Online Resource / Resounding Voices / VT044 We long to know her the maker of heaven (Jacque Jones) Rich feminine imagery of God as creator, wisdom and bringer of justice. Sung to a tune that may be familiar (STAR OF THE EAST). Free book download here. New words to old tunes.
• VU763 / GtG706 / PfAS037A / LUYH850 Commit your way to God (William Tans'ur) A very simple Psalm refrain for spoken, or responsively read verses. 
• GWA004 Don't be anxious because of the wicked (Iona Abbey Worship Book) No tune! This is a responsively read version of the Psalm.
  

2 Timothy 1:1-14

Do not be ashamed; rely on God; “guard the good treasure”.

• Praise and Worship (I think) God has not given us a spirit of fear There’s a version of 2 Timothy 1:7 in an old “Praise and Worship” book. I know some very silly dance moves to it, but sorry Ken, I'm not making a video of them! Good for kids.
• TiS 690 / CH259 / A&M557 / StS115 / SP237 / Srce54 / StF693 / MP806 Beauty for brokenness hope for despair (Graham Kendrick) Themes of healing from personal and universal suffering and an emotive chorus. “Refuge from cruel wars, havens from fear, cities for sanctuary, freedoms to share, peace to the killing-fields, scorched earth to green; Christ for the bitterness, his cross for the pain”. It's a bit schmaltzy. Lyrics.
• MV 162 Christ within us hidden, Christ in all and each (Michael Leunig) Very simple tune with quite remarkable words based on a prayer by Michael Leunig. Why is this in a Canadian song book and not any Australian song books? *sigh* Verse 4 and 5 are particularly appropriate for this week’s reading “Christ, in bodies broken, Love new crucified. Christ, the Word new spoken, death by love defied; Christ, in love recovered. Christ, in hope revealed. Christ, in faith discovered. Christ in tombs unsealed”. 
• TiS 710 / CH758 / Iona (Enemy of Apathy) / VU204 Come Holy Spirit gracious heavenly dove (John Bell) A beautiful and simple chant. Sheet music sample and sound sample. 
  
• TiS 711 / ATOK 334 / Iona (M&G) / WoV681 / VU383 / SFFS 2124 / GtG283 / G(II)330 / StF038 Come O Holy Spirit / Wa Wa Wa Emimimo (Nigeria) This song is just fun. And very easy. Try to sing it in its original language (Yoruba), it sounds a bit inane in English and it’s not hard!! Encourage your congregation to dance a simple side-to-side step to this; they will enjoy it even more. If we can’t go a little crazy on Pentecost, what hope is there for us, really? A good song to help us remember that our faith is global, and to think of the church and all people in Africa. Sheet music and sound sample. Good for kids.
• AoV2-074 / GA399 / G(II)345 / GC491 From the corners of creation / Song at the Centre (Marty Haugen) Good words of praise in creation and a simple folk-like tune. Partial sheet music sample, keyboard sound sample.
• TiS 419 / NCH270 / CH592 / A&M252 / UMH544 / VU205 / WoV685 / ELW403 / HPP222 / GtG285 / PH314 / CP635 / CP(E) 185 / W&R327 / SP92 / 82Hml-513 / StF389Like the murmur of the dove's song (Carl P Daw) Excellent words and a simple tune about Christian unity. Each verse ends with "Come holy spirit, come". Lyrics and sheet music. 
• TiS 414 / NCH294 / CH616 / UMH192 / VU582 / HPP134 / PH433 / GC550 / CP(E) 198 / Cha257 / StF398 There's a Spirit in the Air  (Brian Wren) A good song of getting the business of following Christ done. Speaking out, caring for others, being changed. A joyful tune (it looks less so in TiS, but think of it in 6/8 instead of 6/4). Just think how brave Naaman's servant girl must have been. Seven verses – you might want to have different groups sing verses. The TiS suggestion to use INVERCARRY is (in my opinion) not necessary; it’s easier to the set tune. Sheet music and lyrics.
• UMH670 / VU418 / CP(E) 438 / W&R708 / 82Hml-347 Go forth for God go to the world in peace (John Peacey) Good solid words to a good solid hymn tune. Lyrics & sheet music.

Luke 17:5-10

The mustard seed.

• Seeds of Faith: The seed song (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) Supremely silly and fun. A good song to sing for the kid’s talk, and get them involved in the actions; it's a bit long... Lyrics and sound sample here. Good for (smaller) kids.
• Iona (LFB) He knew the greatness of the small (Iona) This song picks up a number of Bible texts, like this one, about the value of small things. It has an unusual meter and therfore has to be sung to the set tune, which will need to be taught. It can fit well with a responsive reading. Sound sample.
  
• A Singing Faith 27 As trees from tiny seeds can grow (Jane Parker Huber) Excellent words to a hymn-like tune. Can also be sung to O WALY WALY.  Preview. 
• ATA 181 Faith like a mustard seed (Bruce Prewer) A simple round. I would just sing the first verse.
• 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. Big choir and congregation. Good for kids.
• TiS 382 / AoV2-131 / ATN 15 / NCH238 / CH417 / UMH311 / VU186 / LBW280 / ELW570 / GA364 / A&M212 / HPP210 / GtG247 / G(II)318 / GC444 / GC(II)456 / G(3)534 / CP237 / CP(E) 153 / W&R311 / Cha230 / 82Hml-204 / Lau278 Now the green blade rises (John MacLead Campbell Crum) I love these words and this simple French folk tune. I particularly like this played to guitar, but TiS has an excellent piano arrangement too. Lyrics and tune sample. New words to old tunes 
• NCH433 / CH727 / UMH707 / VU703 / HPP474 / GtG250 / W&R515 / Cha638 In the bulb there is a flower (Natalie Sleeth) A simple song of hope symbolised in nature. Particularly good for those churches in colder Northern Hemisphere who have a while to go before Spring. Lyrics and sheet music.
• VU361 / AA123 Small things count (Shirley Murray) Good simple song. Good for kids, although there are a lot of words for non-readers. It would be nice to break this song up and sing it to the kids somehow. Sheet music and lyrics. Good for kids.
• WoV658 / ELW506 / URW078 The word of God is source and seed (Dolores Dufner) "The Word of God is breath and life; It comes to heal and wake and save. So let the Spirit touch and mend and rouse your dry bones from their grave". Lyrics (downloads a pdf)
• MV174 Soil of God (Holy Ground) (Jim Hannah) This is probably most appropriate for last week’s reading, but would also fit for this week. The tune is quite simple and the words are good “Soil of God, you and I, stand ready to bear seeds of faith nourished by God’s tender care”. Sound sample.
  
• UMH275 The kingdom of God is like a grain of mustard seed (Gracia Grindal) I don't have this hymnbook, so don't know what the tune is like, but the words are fine. Lyrics.
• Online Resource / Tune In Kingdom Come (Matthew Lees) A song about what the kingdom might be like, with plentiful images from the parables. Lyrics, sound sample and free downloadable songbook.
• TiS 691 Faith will not grow from words alone (Elizabeth Smith) Excellent strong words of a questioning faith to a familiar hymn tune. Lyrics. New words to old tunes 
• Taizé / AoVNG125 / MV146 / GC(II)637 / G(3)740 / PfAS024D The Kingdom of God is justice and peace and joy in the holy spirit (Taize) "Come, Lord and open in us the gates of your kingdom". A nice joyful Taizé chant. Sheet music and sound samples of parts for practice. Good for kids.
• Online Resource / Resounding Voices The kingdom of heaven is like a small seed (Rhonda Waters) Excellent words with a fun chorus "It is near! It is near! Christ bids us to see!". Sung to a familiar tune (TO GOD BE THE GLORY). Lyrics (scroll down).  Free book download here. New words to old tunes.
• ATA 181 Faith like a mustard seed (Bruce Prewer) A simple round. I would just sing the first verse. Good for kids
• Recorded music From little things big things grow (Paul Kelly) This tells the story of a Native Title claim which has very little to do with this reading except the acknowledgement that small steps can achieve something big. There's also a children's book based on this song which could make a good story for kids. Sound sample.
  
• NCH 540 We plant a grain of mustard seed (Mary Bryan Matney) A song about how human love is a taste of divine love. Great words to a fairly standard-sounding (but new) hymn tune. It would also work well with MORNING SONG (the tune for “Awake, awake to love and work”). Sound sample.  New words to old tunes 
• Online Resource / AoVK-28 / ATOK 376 Faith hope and love (Trish Watts) This is so easy, and so cool. If you have some groovy musicians, this can even be a very funky rock song. Very easy, and great for kids and non-readers. Sound sample and purchasing options. Good for kids.
• GtG176 If you only had faith / Si tuvieras fe (Caribbean / Pablo Sosa) A fun Caribbean song in English or Spanish. Awesome sound sample (in Spanish - dance along!). Good for kids.

Do you have some ideas you'd like to add? Please put them in the comments below