Songs, Hymns & Music for Proper 24C / Ordinary 29C / Pentecost +19 (October 16th 2022)

Jeremiah 31:27-34
Promise of a new covenant – God’s law written on Israel’s hearts. All will know God, not just hear about God. God will forgive their sins.

• TiS 679 / Online God of Jeremiah grieving (Brian Wren) If you are going to focus on Jeremiah for the next few weeks, this would be a good hymn to learn. The traditional Scottish tune KELVINGROVE is well known as the tune for "The Summons". Lyrics and free sheet music PDF.
• BUC Song Project Do not worry / The Promise (Elaine Loukes) A simple song reminding us of God's presence and promise. Good for kids.
• ATW 459 I don't believe in a God up in the sky / God Version 1.0 (Robin Mann) An excellent rock song about how we think about God, or not! Lyrics and mp3. Good for kids. 
• TiS 658 / AoV1-090 / ATE 296 / CH251 / UMH593 / VU509 / WoV752 / ELW574 / GA496 / A&M494 / HPP541 / GtG069 / PH525 / G(II)492 / GC(II)671 / G(3)777 / CP(E) 470 / W&R559 / Cha452 / Srce328 / Lau865 / StF663 / MP857 I the Lord of sea and sky / Here I am Lord (Dan Schutte) Song of God searching for us and our response. Very slow sound sample. Lyrics and sample sheet music. 
• UMH729 / VU682 / LBW161 / WoV762 / ELW711 / GtG373 / PH450 / CP573 / W&R539 / Cha711 / URW140 / 82Hml-597 O day of peace that dimly shines (Carl P Daw) A song of hoped-for peace. The tune in Chalice hymnal is really nice (CANDLER) or O WALY WALY which is used in URW. Other sources use JERUSALEM, which is a bit too militaristic for me. Lyrics and JERUSALEM sheet music.  New words to old tunes.  
• Worldmaking.net O Holy One (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A very simple song for the start of worship. It could be sung altogether as a congregation or responsively. We sang this every week of Lent one year. Sound sample and lyrics.  
• NCH286 / ATE 218 / VU375 / WoV684 / ELW396 / HPP239 / GtG291 / PH319 / W&R326 / Cha249 Spirit spirit of gentleness (James Manley) Lovely, gentle song. Very easy to sing, but can get slow and ponderous if you're not careful. Lyrics  
• Iona (M&G, T1AU) / MV099 / GC(II)673 / G(3)763 / Lau996 Stand O Stand Firm (Cameroon) I love having an excuse to sing this simple and powerful song. Very easy for your congregation. You can make up cantor parts too “Oh my sisters…. Oh my brothers… Oh my children….” or you can name countries you are praying for in your intercessions. Good for kids. Scottish sound sample. Lead sheet.
• ATA 184 Spring follows winter (love is the law) (Robin Mann) Lovely words to a familiar traditional English (?) melody. Mostly inclusive. Particularly good for the Southern Hemisphere where it's Spring.  Lyrics.
• TiS 560 / AHB 465 / NCH408 / CH192 / UMH132 / VU654/655 / WoV782 / ELW757 / A&M584 / CP529 / CP(E) 368 / Cha088 / Srce2-15 / 82Hml-665 / Lau959 / StF455 / MP016 All my hope on God is founded / is firmly grounded (Joachim Neander) Most translations of this well known German hymn are not inclusive, but the NCH and WoV are, so if you have those books (BUC people, we have NCH and WoV). Lyrics & sheet music. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• TiS 90 / AHB 44 / UMH60 / VU867 / GtG806 / PH253 / A&M673 / CP346 / CP(E) 473 / W&R79 / Cha20 / 82Hml-429 / StF079 / MP320 I'll praise my Maker while I've breath (Isaac Watts) A great classic hymn. Most sources are not inclusive; Voices United is! Lyrics and sound sample.  Oldy-but-a-goody.
• TiS 407 / AHB 320 / NCH292 / CH596 / UMH420 / VU382 / StJ / LBW488 / A&M236 / GA432 / HPP227 / GtG286 / PH316 / GC800 / GC(II)800 / CP649 / CP(E) 174 / W&R461 / Cha254 / Srce81 / URW167 / 82Hml-508 / Lau302 / StF370 / MP067 Breathe on me Breath of God (Edwin Hatch) An older style inclusive hymn. Good words seeking the spirits gifts of new life, purity and unity with Christ. If you sing this version, it can be sung to a lovely simple, and quite intuitive Celtic tune (ST COLUMBA). If you sing this version, it can also be sung to HAMPTON, TRENTHAM, or DURHAM. Recently, a reader (Adam Kukuk) posted a reworking of this hymn which I think it pretty cool. Have a listen (lead sheets available at the link on his site). Oldy-but-a-goody.

Psalm 119:97-104 
How excellent is the Law!

• LBW232 Your word O Lord is gentle dew (Carl Bernhard 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.
• VU250 / GA415 / G(II)372 / GC546 O God of Matchless Glory (Ruth Duck) Good song, simple tune (HASTINGS). Lyrics and sheet music. Sound sample.
• Iona (WWHW) / MV223 We will go with God / Sizohamba naye (Traditional Swaziland) A simple Zulu song from Swaziland. Good for the end of the service. Video with pronunciation and parts. Note that MV has a different set of English words; neither are a direct translation. Sound sample of a more traditional version. Good for kids.
• TiS 427 / AHB 333 / CP561 / CP(E) 515 Lord your word abiding (Henry Baker) Some use archaic language. Simple words and melody. Older style lyrics.
• CP447 / W&R671 Lord we hear your word with gladness (Margaret 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) / G(3)517 / StF775 We walk his way / Ewe Thina (South African) A joyful, simple South African song. Lyrics & sheet music.
• TiS 430 / AHB 337 / Cha324 / StF164 Your words to me are life and health (George Currie Martin) I really like this old hymn. It’s a bit old fashioned, but it still works, I think. Lyrics and sheet music. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• 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". Lyric variants and link to sheet music.  Good for kids.
• MV008 And on this path (Linnea Good) An energetic gospel style song. Here's a youtube video. We sing it much slower than this and as a gospel style song with big chords and a groovy bass part. I thought I'd never say that we sing something slower than anyone!
• AHB 341 A lamp for our feet has been given (Granton Douglas Hay). Solid words and a great old Welsh tune. I wouldn’t be desperate to sing this one, but if all you have is the AHB, it’s worth it.
• MV108 I know your word / Tu palabra (Simei Monteiro) A simple Brazillian rhythm and a catchy tune. Great for kids, and a good song for adults too. “I know your word, your word is a lamp to my feet O God. I know your word is a lamp, O God, to light my path forever”. Sound sample (in Spanish)  Good for kids.
• PfAS119G / PfAS199H O Lord my delight (Hal Hopson) Simple psalm refrain.
• ATFG585 /  PfAS119K Send out your light Lord send your truth (Iona) Very simple and quite lovely Psalm refrain or chant. Sound sample.
  

Alternate Hebrew Scripture: Genesis 32:22-31 
Jacob seeks forgiveness from Esau, sending his family onwards, he remains alone and wrestles all night, obtaining a blessing from a man/God; seeing God face to face.

• Public Domain Freedom is a constant struggle I love this song and I think it might work with this reading. Could be good used during prayers of confession or a time of lament; it doesn't have a happy ending. Historic sound sample. Lyrics and chords.
• TiS 691 Faith will not grow from words alone (Elizabeth Smith) This is an excellent hymn about doubting and struggling in faith. The tune is familiar and I find the words very helpful for thinking and doubting Christians. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• TiS 506 / AHB 430 / A&M424 / CP064 / CP(E) 281 / StF572 Author of life divine (Charles Wesley) Good inclusive words and a simple traditional tune; mystery of communion and seeing God's face. There is also a more modern tune from Carlton Young available from GIA music. Lyrics and sheet music. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• MV027 Creator God you gave us life (Judith Snowdon) “through the mist of time and space, we search for that which makes us whole…. our spirits soar beyond the veil to touch the very face of God”. A soaring tune that hits the “weepy” button for me, though I don’t know why. Easy to sing after a brief introduction, I think. Lyrics (scroll a bit).
• TiS 516 / AHB 438 / NCH336 / CH664 / UMH623 / VU459 / LBW211 / A&M447 / HPP521 / GtG517 / PH520 / GtG029 / CP(E) 304 / Cha416 / 82Hml-318 / MP230 Here O my Lord I see thee face to face / Here gracious Lord, we see you face to face (Horatio Bonar) I prefer the more chant-like setting of this (Adoro to Devote), but I know the hymn-like tune (ST AGNES) is probably more familiar. Some translations are more inclusive than others. Best if you are serving communion during your service. Lyrics & sheet music. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• FFS19 For the that hurt I create (Shirley Murray) Beautiful tunes (there are two) and words. Tune (ii) is most simple, so use that if you will sing it as a congregation, but tune (i) is good if you have musicians who can sing it for your congregation. If using tune (ii) you may like to suggest that your congregation join in on "forgive me, Lord, forgive", but make sure you teach it to them first, because the third one is different to the other three. "For the hurt that I create.... for the evil I condone... for works of peace I do not do... for hope and help that I refuse... forgive me Lord, forgive"
• ATOK 342 Jacob struggled for a blessing (Robin Mann). Excellent words. “When we struggle in the darkness, take away our fear and doubt. In the dirt beneath the surface quiet seeds begin to sprout”. Lyrics
• FFS20 Forgive forgive us Holy God (Shirley Murray) Very easy tune for a congregation to sing (and there are 5 verses to learn it in!). The words focus on our desensitisation to violence and our greed, so a nice fit for this week's reading. The final verse has a focus on communion, but still makes sense if you are not celebrating the eucharist this week. Lyrics and sheet music.
• UMH386 / A&M616 / CP539 / CP(E) 407 / URW148 / 82Hml-638 / StF461 Come O thou Traveler unknown (Charles Wesley) This is an older hymn, and will not suit all congregations. I think it's quite mysterious and good. Maddy Prior recorded a good folky version of it, here. Oldy-but-a-goody.  
• SP&P107 Great is your faithfulness O God of Jacob / Your grace is enough (Matt Maher) This very popular Christian rock song is pretty good. Note that the lyrics on most of Matt Maher's recordings are not the same as in SP&P. I quite like the changes he made for SP&P. The chorus is a bit repetitive, but "Your grace is enough" bears repeating really. Youtube.
• Online Resource / Tune In / NCYC '07 Forgive us now (Dave Brown) This is one of the best songs seeking forgiveness that I know. Lyrics, sound sample, and free sheet music. "Forgive us now, O mother love for all the idols we have built, For all the time we’ve worshipped there in company of dark despair. Forgive us mother of all hope”. 

Psalm for the Genesis Reading: Psalm 121

• Linnea Good I lift up my eyes (Linnea Good) A paraphrase. Has some jumps that could be tricky for the congregation, so would be good for musicians to present for the congregation. A flute, recorder or violin might be a nice addition. Book available here.
  
• Online Resource Going out and coming in (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan). A very simple Psalm refrain that could be used as a reflective chant or a refrain to a read version the Psalm. Sound sample. 
• AoV2-024 URW407 Holy Darkness (Dan Schutte) Beautiful words based on John of the Cross; picks up the idea of God being our shelter. Might want to use a cantor if this is not familiar to your congregation. URW has only the refrain. Lyrics and sound sample.
• TiS 548 / VU629 / A&M014 / PH340 / CP(E) 415 / W&R418 / SP3 / 82Hml-465 Eternal light shine in my heart (Christopher Idle) I really love this beautiful inclusive and ancient prayer. It is not familiar, but would be beautiful sung by a soloist until your congregation grows to know it. Lyrics.
• Ps Project God Is Holding Your Life (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) Lovely words, and a simple, repetitive chorus. Sung to a well known tune (O WALY WALY) with a simple chorus added! Sound sample and lyrics. Good for kids.
• AoVK-12 God is our shelter truly a friend indeed (Chris O'Hara) Groovy little round / more like a call and response really. Lyrics. Good for kids.
• Online resource I lift my eyes to the hills (Bruce Harding) A three part canon. It would be good to teach one, two, or all three parts to your congregation, and then sing it together. Take time to do this well, and it will stick with them. Free sheet music.
• Emergent Psalter When I look around (Brown) Another great refrain from this book. Sheet music (refrain only).
• The Beatles Help (John Lennon) Isaac Everett, in the Emergent Psalter, also suggested using the chorus of John Lennon's "Help" as a Psalm refrain. I think that would work really well, especially if it's a bit laid back. Video.
  
• TiS 77 / URW314 / Iona (PPPP) Lifting my eyes up to the hills (John Bell) While the version published in TiS has a masculine God, the version in URW is more inclusive - and possibly more recent Iona publications may also be inclusive. This is not very easy to sing, and will need to be taught. Sound sample. 
• Recorded Music Simple Song (Leonard Bernstein) This song from Leonard Bernstein's mass is really lovely. God is totally male, but it's beautiful, so I'm listing it anyway. Here's a version of it on Youtube. It's not quite as I sing it in the car, but trust me, it's not worth going through all the versions on Youtube. You could also play a recording of it. I think it could work well with a simple female vocalist too, but all the versions I can find are a bit too operatic for me to think of them as "simple".
• TiS 626 / AHB 557 / CH500 / GA423 / Lau869 Lord of creation to you be all praise! (Jack Winslow) A wonderful traditional and quite inclusive hymn to the familiar tune SLANE. Lyrics. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• Cha760 My help comes From God the maker of earth and sky (Marshall) Sung response, and responsively read passage.
• TiS 47 / AHB 46 / AoV1-175 / NCH25 / CH161 / UMH117 / VU806 / LBW504 / ELW806 / GA459 / A&M746 / HPP1 / GtG687 / PH210 / GC614 / GC(II)588 / G(3)688 / CP528 / CP(E) 537 / W&R84 / Cha067 /  Srce2-441 / URW200 / 82Hml-680 / PfAS090B / Lau955 / StF132 / MP498 O God our help in ages past (Isaac Watts) A good solid very well known hymn! The surprising thing about this one is that the language is inclusive for God in most sources. Not all sources are inclusive for humanity, so check. Lyrics and sheet music. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• PfAS121D My help comes only from the Lord (Daniel Richardson / Angel Napieralski) A nice simple, and quite happy refrain.
• MV129 / GtG845 / PfAS121F / STB053 To the hills I lift my eyes / To the high and kindly hills / Naega sanul hyanghayo (Song-suk Im) Korean setting of the Psalm. Lovely tune. The translations vary, but are good. Tune will need to be taught, or sung by your musicians.  Sound sample.
  
• Recorded Music Look up child (Lauren Daigle) This is not for congregational singing, but if you have space to listen this week, it's a fun pop song that fits this theme. Youtube.

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 
More about the word/law/scripture. Call to evangelism!

• TiS 420 Holy Spirit go before us every mind and heart prepare (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). Sound sample. New words to old tunes.
• 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. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• NCH357 / CH680 / G(II)487 / GC680 / GC(II)675 / G(3)774 / Lau425 You are called to tell the story (Ruth Duck) Excellent words. The simplest tune and best known tune would be REGENT SQUARE. Different sources use a range of tunes. Lyrics (downloads PDF). New words to old tunes.
• 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! Video.
  
• STB217 From the Bible We Learn God's Will / Phra-kham phii sawn hai rao ruu jak (Ruth and Inchai Srisuwan) This short, repetitive song from Thailand focuses on the kindness we learn from the Bible. The tune will need to be taught. 
• Traditional / StJ / GC(II)567 As I went down in the river to pray (African American Spiritual) The encouragement to pray together with each other, and to study the faith, is a good theme, and the song is a favourite in our congregation. Here's the clip from O Brother Where art thou, which made it so popular. Oldy but a goody.
  
• ATOK 348 / Iona (HSNW) / G(II)496 / GC692 / GC(II)697 / StF462 Come with me / Sing hey for the carpenter (Iona) Excellent. I love this one. Very joyous, and a big favourite in our congregation. Lyrics. Good for kids.
• Online Resource / 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. Sound sample and purchasing options. Youtube
• ATOK 412 / Iona (SBL, Common Ground) / CH250 / MV212 / A&M482 / GtG747 / SFFS 2184 / Lau855 / StF239 Sent by the Lord am I / Sent out in Jesus name / Enviado soy de Dios (Traditional Cuban) Great rhythm, good words and not too hard to sing (provided you sing it a little slowly the first time!) I prefer the MV translation "Sent out in Jesus' name". Good for kids. Lyrics.
• TiS 427 / AHB 333 / CP561 / CP(E) 515 Lord your word abiding (Henry Baker) Works for this passage too! Some use archaic language. Simple words and melody. Older style lyrics.
• 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 women sing a verse and men sing another to keep people going. The TiS suggestion to use INVERCARRY is (in my opinion) not necessary; it’s easier to the set tune. Lyrics and sheet music.
• UMH670 / VU418 / A&M478 / CP(E) 438 / W&R708 Go forth for God go to the world in peace (John Peacey) Good solid words to a good solid hymn tune. Lyrics and sheet music.
  
• NCH286 / ATE 218 / VU375 / WoV684 / ELW396 / HPP239 / GtG291 / PH319 / W&R326 / Cha249 Spirit spirit of gentleness (Jim Manley) Lovely, gentle song. Very easy to sing, but can get slow and ponderous if you're not careful. Lyrics  
• NCH182 / VU104 / SFFS 2103 / HPP147 / GtG191 / CP166 / W&R245 We have come at Christ's own bidding (Carl P Daw Jr) Excellent lyrics that bring the images of the transfiguration to the faith of today. Sung to the familiar and very lovely tune HYFRYDOL (TiS 517). Lyrics. Tune sample. New words to old tunes 

Luke 18:1-8
The persistent widow. God grants justice to the powerless.

• 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. 
• Linnea Good The way it should be (Linnea Good) Good kids song. Very easy, but will need to be briefly introduced. Lyrics. Good for kids.
• Taizé / TiS 741 / AoV1-017 / ATE 282 / LBW368 / ELW407 / GA431 / SFFS 2200 / GtG471 / G(II)410 / GC586 / GC(II)566 / G(3)666 / W&R484 / Srce519 / URW390 / Lau929 / PfAS013A / PfAS102A / MP908 O Lord hear my prayer (Jacques Berthier) A simple and very well known Taizé chant. Works well during intercessions. You could read the Psalm between repeats of this chant, or just use as a chant as is. Sheet music samples. Good for kids.
• MV028 / StJ / FFS25 / GC(II)507 / G(3)587 / StB255 God of the Bible / Fresh as the morning (Shirley 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.
• 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.
• Online Resource Hear the message we now are proclaiming / El mensaje que hoy proclamamos (Eleazar Torregosa) This jubilant Colombian song of liberty and new life for the poor and suffering would fit well with this reading. Good for kids. Free sheet music!
• Iona (M&G, T1AU) / MV099 / GC(II)673 / G(3)763 / Lau996 Stand O Stand Firm (Cameroon) I love having an excuse to sing this simple and powerful song. Very easy for your congregation. You can make up cantor parts too “Oh my sisters…. Oh my brothers… Oh my children….” or you can name countries you are praying for in your intercessions. Good for kids. Scottish sound sample. Lead sheet.
• Iona (M&G) / CH267 Blest be God blest be God for ever (Salvador Martinez) Beautiful words to a beautiful, but tricky Philippino melody (unless you have a Philippino congregation, in which case it's just a familiar folk tune). This would be great to ask a small group to sing if you have some good singers. Works especially nicely with a guitar. Sound sample.
  
• CH763 / MV193 God bless to us our bread (Traditional Argentinian) A lovely simple grace for meals and for communion. More Voices has Spanish and French lyrics as well as English. "God bless to us our bread, and give bread to all those who are hungry, and hunger for justice to those who are fed. God bless to us our bread". This would be very appropriate if you are celebrating communion this week. Sound sample. Good for kids.
• AoV2-102 / GA509 Who will speak if we don't (Marty Haugen) Excellent challenging words. Lyrics and sound sample. Good for teenagers.

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