Songs, Hymns & Music for Epiphany 5A (February 5th 2023)

Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12)
Hypocrisy; the fast that matters to God is justice, generosity, hospitality, etc...

• Online Resource O Children of the Light / Ay Farzandane Nur (Anonymous Farsi) This is simple enough if you just limit yourself to one verse and chorus in both languages. Sheet music, Farsi, transliteration and English translation (the English translation is not for singing). Sound sample on youtube (which includes a singable English translation). Good for kids.
• Online Resource O God will you restore us? (BiFrost Arts) A really beautiful cantored Psalm 85 combined with Isaiah 58. You could use the refrain without the cantoring, or with a reader, or just on its own if you don't have a cantor. Lyrics, sound sample, and sheet music. 
  
• TiS 657 / CH263 / VU700 / A&M559 / AA50 / CP(E) 447 / Cha656 / SP242 God of freedom God of justice (Shirley Murray) Powerful lyrics. Can be sung to either TREDEGAR (new, but not too hard) or PICARDY (very familiar). Final verse is: "We are all tenants of your love; gather us round a common fire, warm us in company with Christ, give us the heart to feel, to share, table and lodging with free hand, space in our living, in our land". Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes. There is also a nice tune from Douglas Simper in his book if you'd like something quite new, but still hymn-like.
• 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 (Track 1).Good for kids.
• CH195 / StS053 / AA061 Here to the house of God we come (Shirley Murray) Good honest and challenging words and a simple, but unusual tune. Lyrics.
• TiS 416 Great God your Spirit like the wind (Alan Gaunt) Excellent words asking for God to shake us out of our complacency and give us compassion. I really wish it was set to a different tune - it is set to JERUSALEM and this seems to suck all the power out of the lyrics for me. It works with MAGNIFICAT (TiS173) which is fairly straightforward so I would try that if it's not too confusing for the congregation. Lyrics, sheet music, and sound samples.New words to old tunes.
• CH488 / AA130 Teach us O loving heart of Christ (Shirley Murray) Good, powerful words seeking forgiveness for those things we have not done or said. The tune is new, but fairly simple. Lyrics.
• WCC website Hear the message we now are proclaiming / El mensaje que hoy proclamamos (Eleazar Torregoza) 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 (Enemy of Apathy) / A&M466 / SP223 / StF654 / MP940 The love of God comes close (John Bell / Graham Maule) A good song of God's forgiveness. Simple melody, but will need to be taught. Lyrics. Lyric video.
  
• CH659 / MV173 / StJ / A&M566 / G(3)824 / W&R389 / SP251 / StF712 Put peace into each other’s hands (Fred Kaan) Good words for communion; tune is quite simple and flows nicely; note that there are a number of possible tunes. MV has a tune by Ron Klusmeier which is simple to sing (and has a nice descant, if desired). Thanks to Allan Baer for letting me know - here's a song sample of the Klusmeier tune. Different tune sound sample, sheet music with lyrics. Good for kids.

Psalm 112:1-9 (10)
It will be well for those who follow God's commands, like giving to the poor etc

• TiS 69 Light rises in darkness when justice rules our lives (S. T. Kimbrough / Carlton Young) A lovely Psalm response. Could be used with a sung or read version of the Psalm. The TiS translation is quite inclusive. It's from the United Methodist Liturgical Psalter (1989).
• Taize / AoV2-091 When the night becomes dark your love O Lord is a fire (Suzanne Toolan) A lovely simple chant. Sound sample and lyrics. 
• ATOK 354 / ELW801 / SFFS 2152 / GtG695 / SP&P128 / W&R373 / PfAS051A / ZSS178 / Srce95 / MP069 Change my heart O God / Cambiame Senor (Eddie Espinosa) A mushy old favourite.Thanks to Sylvia Griffiths for this and the next few suggestions. Lyrics and chords.
• 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.
• WCC website Hear the message we now are proclaiming / El mensaje que hoy proclamamos (Eleazar Torregoza) 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!
• URW223 (refrain 2) Like a tree that's planted by the water (African American) This simple and very well known refrain (it's "We shall not be moved") would work well with Psalm 112, even though this book lists it for Psalm 1. Good for kids.
• TiS 712 / AoV2-021 / ATE 269 / The tide has turned Create in us a clean heart O God (Digby Hannah) Good. A big favourite in our congregation. Lyrics & sound sample.
• Emergent Psalter Happy are they who fear God (Isaac Everett) A very simple Psalm refrain. Sample sheet music (refrain only).
• Iona (HSNW) / VU019 / A&M839 / SP326 Kindle a flame to lighten the dark and take all fear away (Iona) This song would also work well at various points in the service, including during intercessions. Good for kids A video showing how to teach the three parts.

1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16)
God's secret wisdom revealed by the Spirit

• BUC Song Project Take a deep breath / Deep in your soul (Sheree Anderson) A refreshing and simple song of the Spirit's transformative power. 
• 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.
• BUC Song Project Silent as the dawn / Spirit God you come (Elaine Loukes) Simple meditative song about the coming of the spirit. Beautiful images.
• TiS 418 / AoV2-075 / Iona (EoA, Common Ground) / CH593 / GA372 / A&M259 / Cha255 / SP94 / URW165 / StF393 / Lau305 She sits like a bird brooding on the waters / Enemy of Apathy (John Bell) My favourite Holy Spirit song. Beautiful words and very easy to sing, provided it is not played too quickly The Iona recordings are generally very quick, but there are a lot of words to fit in, so keep it elegantly moderate in speed! Lyrics and sound samples. 
• TiS 417 / AoV2-133 / ATW 448 / VU387 / StJ / WoV683 / ELW397 / AA94 / HPP237 / GtG293 / PH323 / CP657 / W&R135 / Cha244 / URW203 / StB220 Loving Spirit, Loving Spirit (Shirley Murray). There are about a zillion tunes set for this. I prefer FELICITY (by Colin Gibson TiS 417), but also like RESTORATION and OMNI DIE.Lyrics New words to old tunes (if you choose).
• STB037 Thousands and thousands of songs / Aayirem aayirem padelgellei (Francis) This Tamil song from India has a catchy chorus, which could be sung in English or Tamil. Slightly tacky youtube sound sample. The sound sample is in Tamil, so that could help you with your pronunciation!
• 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  
• 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.

Matthew 5:13-20 
My favourite (again, I have a few favourites): you are salt of the earth, and light of the world 

• BUC Song Project You the hope you the light / Send out the word (Dave Brown) Not really a congregational song, but it's just cool and joyful. Would be good for the musicians to sing during the offering. 
• Online Resource O Children of the Light / Ay Farzandane Nur (Unknown Farsi) Why not sing something from Iran? This is simple enough if you just limit yourself to one verse and chorus in both languages. Sheet music, Farsi, transliteration and English translation (the English translation is not for singing). Sound sample on youtube (which includes a singable English translation). Good for kids.
• Online Resource A Little Bit of Salt (Carolyn Winfrey-Gillette) Excellent and timely words, with a focus on welcoming refugees to the familiar tune LEONI. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• TiS 473 / NCH314 / W&R615 / Cha655 / StF681 / Lau895 Community of Christ (Shirley Murray) Beautiful words to a traditional Hebrew synagogue melody (LEONI). This doesn't specifically mention salt, but the message is the same! Easy to sing. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes  
• AoVNG52 / MV209 / GC(II)664 / G(3)775 / SP&P199  Go Make a Difference (Steve Angrisano) Groovy sending out song. "We are the salt of the earth, called to let the people see the love of God for you and me" Sound sample and lyrics. Good for kids & teenagers.
• Recorded music Light by light (Liz Frencham) This is a lovely song by a Melbourne-based  musician. One version here. BUC people, I have a gospel-style arrangement of this (somewhere...)
• Recorded music / Online Resource You are the light of the world (Cathy Pino) This is a lovely catchy refrain, which we have sung once before; if you have the CD you could play it. If not, and you have a clever musician, they could work out the chords (we did!). Good for kids (if you sing it). Sheet music. Sound sample. 
• AoV2-004 / NCH181 / GA478 / CP502 / G(II)468 / GC658 / GC(II)640 / G(3)734 / Lau854 You are a salt for the earth O People / Bring forth the kingdom (Marty Haugen) Joyful song. "Bring forth the reign of justice, bring forth the reign of peace...". Sheet music. Sound sample.
• CH252 / VU578 / GA481 / SFFS 2237 / G(II)471 / GC663 / GC(II)643 / G(3)744 / W&R551 / Lau828 As a Fire Is Meant for Burning (Ruth Duck) Excellent lyrics of unity across all nations set to the familiar tune BEACH SPRING. It's great. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes.
• 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 and sheet music.
• Online Resource Blessed are the poor (Adam Tice / Kate Williams) A lovely song. Not so much a congregational song, but you may find a good way to use it in your congregation. The chorus is very moving, and if you sang this last week, you could sing it again!  Sheet music sample, lyrics, sound sample, and purchasing options. 
  
• TiS 686 / ATE 292 Lord Jesus we belong to you / Because we bear your name (Robin Mann) A straightforward and practical song asking God to help us to follow Christ well, with a refrain of "because we bear your name". Lyrics
• AoVK-40 / NCH524 / UMH585 / ELW677 / A&M808 / HPP466 / G(II)358 / GC514 / GC(II)514 / G(3)591 This little light of mine (Traditional) The AoVK version has excellent verses that actually make the chorus make sense, but will need to be practiced. Check them out if you have a copy. In the meantime, hear Bruce Springsteen sing it here. It's amazing... Good for kids. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• HiOS001 A pinch of salt in a tasteless stew (Colin Gibson) This song is quite funny, and picks up this theme really well. It talks well about not over-doing things. "When you sprinkle it, just go lightly."
• STB254 / Hymns from the Four Winds: A Collection of Asian American Hymns #74 Light of the World, Salt of the Earth / Chu Li kau-tai goa kang-tia (T'in)  This Taiwanese song has a lovely tune, but it's a little tricky. The English translation is quite formal, but good. If you can only handle one verse, sing the first verse. "But if salt has lost its taste, and the light its fuel, and the city shuts its gates, whence can come renewal". Perhaps one to encourage your musicians to present to the congregation; especially if you have anyone from Taiwan in your congregation!
• ELW670  Build us up Lord (Mark Woesner / Donna Hanna) A joyful song seeking God's encouragement to do good. Sound sample. Lyrics. Thanks to Mary L for this suggestion.
  
• ATA 128 / NCH584 / VU087 / Cha469 I Am the Light of the World (Jim Strathdee) Good song for the Epiphany season (not immediately after Christmas day). Thanks Duncan for this suggestion.  Lyrics.

I would love to hear your ideas - please add them in a comment below, especially if there is a song you love that I haven't included.