Songs, Hymns & Music for Epiphany 3A (January 22nd 2023)

Isaiah 9:1-4
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; the rod of the oppressor is broken.

• Taizé / TiS 725 / ATE 275 / AoV2-167 / ATE 275 / StJ / GA538 / GtG678 / G(II)553 / GC763 / URW391 La tenebre / In our darkness there is no darkness in your sight, the deepest night is clear as the daylight. (Jacques Berthier) Also translated as "Our darkness is never darkness". Sample music and lyrics.
• TiS 263 / CH607 The bright wind is blowing the bright wind of heaven (Cecily Taylor) Excellent words of the changes brought about by a "bright wind" that blows away the chaff of our hating, and fans the flames of love. Joyful tune. Really appropriate in the current political climate! Sample sheet music.
• CH348 / StS001 / LBW196 / ELW843 / A&M762 / G(3)625 / CP397 / W&R93 / SP304 / URW090 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness (Rusty 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 and sheet music. New words to old tunes.
• AoV2-003 / ATOK 313 / CH543 / StJ / GA404 / A&M042 / ELW715 / GtG314 / GC(II)512 / G(3)590 / SP13 / URW114 / Lau883 / StF706 Longing for light we wait in darkness / Christ, be our light (Bernadette Farrell) One of my favourites, especially if someone can sing or play the descant line in the later verses. Sound sample and lyrics. Good for kids.   
• 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". Lyrics. Good for teenagers.
• 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 "bridge" section (and it confuses the congregation because it's so different). We just omit it (that's probably a bad thing to admit)! Sample sheet music & lyrics. Sound sample.
• 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.
• 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. Lyrics and sound samples. 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).
• TiS474 / AoV1-012 / ATE 295 / CH623 / SFFS 2236 / HPP553 / A&M363 / GtG401 / G(II)539 / GC839 / GC(II)743 / G(3)848  / CP465 / W&R649 / Cha284 / SP175 / URW054 / Lau475 Here in this place new light is streaming / Gather us in (Marty Haugen). Excellent words, very well known. “Nourish us well and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true”. Lyrics, sheet music and sound samples. 
• NCH107 / LBW633 / ELW242 / GtG107 / GC346 / GC(II)351 / G(3)423 / W&R160 / Cha138 / Lau157 Awake Awake and greet the new morn (Marty Haugen) Although this is usually sung in Advent, I think you could sing it in the Epiphany season. Lyrics, sheet music & sound sample.

Psalm 27:1, 4-9
God is our strength in times of trouble; longing for God

• Online Resource Be the light (Craig Mitchell / David MacGregor) I really like these words - the chorus is "Christ be our light Whom shall we fear? Deep in the night, Spirit, draw near". I think this would be quite straightforward for a congregation to pick up. Lyrics and sheet music.
• BUC Song Project Searching alone / Safe (Julia Potter & Elaine Loukes) This is a lovely simple and reassuring song. BUC only so far... 
• Online Resource The Lord is my light (Rawn Harbor) Big gospel style refrain, which could be used on its own with spoken verses, or cantored (if you have a gospel singer!). Sound and sheet music samples, and purchasing options. 
  
• CH487 Come let us seek our God’s protection (Tom Colvin & the people of Ghana) A lovely call and response; would work well after a prayer of confession. Sheet music & lyrics.
• MV217 Hey ney yana (Brooke Medicine Eagle) This Native American song could be great, sung accompanied with just a drum "I walk in beauty, yes I do, yes I do". Sounds nice on flute too, I think. Sound sample. Good for kids.
• TiS 16 / AoV2-073 / GA028 / Sing Allelulia 28 Do not be afraid I am with you (Christopher Willcock) Excellent cantor and refrain. Refrain would work well with a reader also. GA has a nice descant line. Lyrics and sound sample.
• ATE 212 Hush now for I am your God (Carol Littlemore) Lyrics (links to a PowerPoint presentation).
• NCH Psalter 27 Do not forsake me O God of my salvation (Lee Dengler) A very simple, and pretty cool Psalm refrain.
• PfAS027E My God is my light (Julie Howard) A nice and very simple Psalm refrain.
• Online Resource / Walk as one God will not forget you (Robin Mann) A simple melody with comforting and heartfelt lyrics. Songbook (PDF) for purchase.
• URW252 Find us, searching God, wherever we hide (Larry Peacock) A beautiful prayer based on the Psalm. No music. Maybe you could write some.
• Protest and Praise / Online Resource In our deepest grief / We wait for you (David Bjorlin / Randall Sensmeier) A beautiful song of waiting, even in sorrow and fear; not so easy to sing - I would use a soloist. Songbook for purchase. Sound sample (I prefer it to be a little more tentative than this).
  
• TiS 611 / AHB 543 / NCH436 / UMH577 / VU686 / LBW415 / ELW705 / A&M648 / HPP456 / PH420 / GtG307 / CP577 / CP(E) 448 / W&R569 / Cha464 / 82Hml-594 / StF682 / MP192 God of Grace and God of Glory (Harry Fosdick) A song about being courageous and wise. There are many possible tunes and many sets of words to this hymn. NCH has the most inclusive words, but TiS and AHB are okay too. They don’t hold back in verse 3. Chorus: “Grant us wisdom, Grant us courage, for the facing of this hour”. Don’t know about everyone else, but I know best the tune AHB 543 (ii). One version of the lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• CH573 / UMH523 / GtG789 / StB059 Jesus Savior Lord lo to thee I fly / Saranam Saranam (Daniel Niles) I think this would be an excellent song to sing, not only because the words are good and because the tune is simple and beautiful, but because we need to keep praying for the people of Sri Lanka. Sheet music.
• G(II)406 / GC482 I Need You to Listen (Marty Haugen / Francis Patrick Sullivan) A simple and very beautiful Psalm and response. The words to this are very lovely. Lead sheet. Sound sample.
• MV175 May we but wait (Will Petricko) Beautiful and simple two line song: "May we but wait upon Love's word, knowing our prayer is heard". Would be good as a response to the Intercessions.
• AoV1-139 O God Nothing Can Take Us from your love (Christopher Walker) Good refrain. Good verses. Cantor and congregational response. Sound sample.
• Worldmaking.net Open unto me light for my darkness (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan). Good for a more contemplative service. Sound sample and lyrics.
• Taizé / TiS 747 / ATE 214 / Iona (M&G) / GtG842 / PfAS027A / URW393 The Lord is my light, my light and salvation (Communauté de Taizé) A simple and very popular Taizé chant. Note that this is really easy on recorder if you have a kid in your congregation who is learning it. Good for kids. Youtube.
• 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 Taize chant. Sheet music, translations and sound samples.
• AoVNG71 / Taize / G(3)682 I am Sure I Shall See (Communauté de Taizé) One of the more upbeat Taize chants. Sheet music, translations and sound samples.
• 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.
• Psalm Project (Sharing the Road) / SP&P140 All of My Life (Richard Bruxvoort Colligan) Lovely chant-like verses and chorus. I think this would be good to do. Available here.
• VU753 / AA117 / A&M773 / SP306 Safe in the hands of God / Safe in your hands O God (Michael Perry) Good paraphrase of the Psalm. Tune will need to be played through at least once before the congregation join in. Lyrics.   
• VU754 God is my light and saving health (Jeremiah Clarke) Quite straightforward psalm response (just part of the very long original song) and responsive psalm. Older version of whole song.
  
• 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 547 / AHB 455 / AoV1-009 / NCH451 / CH465 / A&M595 / UMH451 / VU642 / WoV776 / ELW793 / HPP353 / GtG450 / PH339 / CP505 / CP(E) 386 / W&R502 / Cha595 / Srce70 / URW180 / 82Hml-488 / Lau970 / StF545 / MP051 Be thou my vision O Lord of my heart (8th century Irish) Most recent hymnals are fairly inclusive for this. Note that the High King phrase has been changed in some hymnals because it is masculine, but the hymn is based on an ancient story of St. Patrick refusing to follow the High King Logaire, and choosing instead the "High King of Heaven". Lyrics and tune 
• New Zealand Praise Saviour I heard your voice gently say (David Burt) Lovely words. I do not have a copy, so I cannot comment on the tune. Thanks to Margaret Garland for suggesting this. Lyrics are below in the comments, or here (scroll down). 
• Online Resource In the shadow of your wings I will sing your praises O Lord (Roc O'Connor) This is really beautiful and the congregation could be taught the chant. Unfortunately, it's only available in hard copy, but you may enjoy the sound sample anyway.
• GWA003 The Lord is my light / When the powers of evil overtake me (John Bell) This is a simple chorus, but the verse is best sung by a cantor (or read). The chorus would also work well on its own. Could not find any sound samples for this online yet.  
  

1 Corinthians 1:10-18 
Unity

• 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.
• 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. Lyric video. 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. New words to old tunes. 
• 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.
  
• Online Resource / 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 (Bob Hurd) A classic. Don't play it too slow or it takes forever!! Particularly appropriate if you are celebrating communion. Sound sample (kinda slow), and purchasing options.
  
• 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. Written by two Native American songwriters. Chorus is "And we're brothers and sisters in God's love". Lyrics.
  
• 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 options for listening. Good for kids. 
• MV174 Soil of God you and I (jim hannah) Good lyrics of inclusion, unity and growth. Fairly straightforward tune. Lyric video.
  
• MV053 God who spread the boundless prairie (Herbert O'Driscoll) A good hymn seeking unity, for those in the prairies. Lyrics (scroll down).
  
• SFFS 2221 In Unity We Lift Our Song (Ken Medema) Excellent words to a well known hymn tune (EIN FESTE BURG). Celebrates the life of a church. Good for a church anniversary too. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.

Matthew 4:12-23
John arrested, and Jesus starts his ministry. The calling of James and John.
Songs for the Isaiah reading, above will also be suitable.

• Online Resource I come to you (Hannah Brown) Thoughtful and repetitive words about leaving all to follow. Sung to the traditional American folk tune WAYFARING STRANGER, which may be familiar. Sheet music sample, lyrics, and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.   
  
• BUC Song Project There's A Fish In The Sea (Chris Lees) BUC resource only so far. A good song for kids. It's a little tricky. Good for kids.  
• SFFS 2101 / G(II)301 / GC688 / GC(II)693 / G(3)798 Two Fishermen (Suzanne Toolan) A nice medieval / minstrelly sounding tune and good words. This would be fun. Lead sheet. Sound sample.
• 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.  
• NCH504 / StJ / HPP545 / GtG170 / GC(II)679 You Walk along Our Shoreline (Sylvia Dunstan) Good words to a very familiar hymn tune (AURELIA). Lyrics. 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) A classic. Don't sing it too slowly or it really drags and takes forever! Lyrics and sound sample.
  
• FFS62 The Lord God walked in Paradise / Callings (Colin Gibson) This tune is quite tricky, but the words for verse 3 are very appropriate for this reading, which it weaves into remembering Adam and Eve in the garden and Moses with the burning bush. Lyrics and sheet music.
  
• CH340 When Jesus saw the fishermen (Edith Agnew) Simple words about the calling of the fishermen, set to a traditional carol tune (THE SEVEN JOYS OF MARY). Sound sample.  New words to old tunes.
• 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.
• Tune in / Online Resource We are the dream that's longing / Jesus is waiting (Dave Brown) An honest catchy rock song about our hesitation to follow and Jesus not only waiting, but continuing to work and change the world. A good sending-out song. Sound sample, lyrics and free songbook.
• TiS 589 / AHB 505 / NCH171 / CH509 / UMH398 / VU562 / LBW494 / ELW696 / A&M324 / HPP314 / GtG720 / CP432 / CP(E) 233 / W&R345 / Cha337 / 82Hml-550 / StF250 / LUYH121 / MP359 / VF128 / VF129 Jesus calls us; o'er the tumult (Cecil Frances Alexander) Great words. TiS sets it to ST CATHERINE, but it could be sung to other tunes (like STUTTGART or RESTORATION) if this is not familiar to your congregation (it’s not hard though). Lyrics and sheet music samples.  New words to old tunes.
• Recorded Music Bring 'em all in (Mike Scott) Thanks to Jonathan Evans for this suggestion. This song could work well as a call to inclusive and welcoming evangelism. Youtube.
• Tune In / Online Resource Hail the fisherfolk (Dave Brown) A bluesy litany of the saints, including the fishermen of yesterday and the fisherfolk of today. Sound sample and lyrics and free songbook.
• SFFS 2129 / HPP322 / W&R344 / Cha344 / Srce2-244 / MP272 I Have Decided to Follow Jesus / Jisuni jaman anga jarigken (Nokseng / Sadhu Sundar Singh) Good simple chorus, based on the words of an indigenous Garo martyr in the Assam region of India. My reflection on the origins of this song. You could sing it in its original language (Garo). Lyric video here. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• Online Resource Christ you stand before us all / You keep calling me (David MacGregor) This simple, boppy, catchy song is good for young and old. Good for kids. Sound sample. Sheet music.
• Iona (T1AU) / URW428 / Lau395 In love you summon in love I follow (John Bell) This is really beautiful and could be taught to the congregation, or sung by a choir. Sample sheet music.
  

Do you have ideas that you could add? I would love to hear them! Please add a comment below...