Songs, Hymns & Music for Easter 5A (May 7, 2023)

Acts 7:55-60
Stephen’s vision and his stoning

• PfAS031A Empty broken lifeless (Shannon Cerneka and Orin Johnson)  A sorrowful chant-like refrain, and verses that should be best sung by a cantor. A good version for Passion Sunday. Lyrics.
• MV083 / FFS41 Let my spirit always sing (Shirley Murray) Good words about getting old. May be sung to a number of different tunes. A song for those who are aged or infirm. A good song to play in nursing homes, or in congregations with a large proportion of elderly who are wrestling with what it means to live in a body that doesn't do what it used to manage! Lyrics & sheet music. 
• 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. Sound sample and lyrics. Good for kids.
• PfAS031C / URW256 (Refrain 2) My times are in your hands (AnnaMae Meyer Bush) A simple two part. This would be worth teaching. (It's not the old chorus) It can be sung on its own, or as a Psalm refrain, or prayer response. Simply: “My times are in your hands. You strengthen me in strife. My hope is in your word. Your love preserves my life.” Sheet music sample. Good for kids.
• Iona / CH788 / MV104 / GtG659 Know that God is Good / Mungu ni mwema (Traditional Congo) This traditional African refrain is just lots of fun and very simple to sing. Good for kids and adults! Sheet music sample. Sound sample. Sound sample in Kenyan languages.
• GtG811 / PfAS031D / URW256 (Refrain 1) Make your face to shine upon your servant / Haz resplandecer tu rostro (Jay Weldon Wilkey) This is a lovely song. It can be sung on its own, or as a Psalm refrain, as in URW (use the section "Make your face to shine… loving kindness save me" as the refrain, and the section beginning "But as for me" at the conclusion of the Psalm). Clunky sound sample.
• TiS 682 / ATW 490 / GA236 / A&M355 / AA151 / SP148 When human voices cannot sing (Shirley Murray) Lovely words of healing in the face of grief. I prefer this sung to ST COLUMBA, which is the tune in GA and TiS. Lyrics
• ATAR669 Be my strength (Robin Mann) Words about familiar comforting things, and about becoming older and more frail. Excellent. Lyrics. 
• TiS 19 / Iona (PPP&P) / ATOK 339 In you O Lord I have found refuge (John Bell) A simple cantor and response Psalm. Sound sample, and mp3 available to purchase and download.
• Ps Project Into Your Hands (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A very very very very simple chant. Lyrics and sound sample.
• 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 (WAREHAM or WINCHESTER NEW). Lyrics.
• TiS 240 / AHB182 / CH393 / StF640 We turn to God when we are sorely pressed (Dietrich Bonhoeffer) Excellent words of our need for God, God's suffering, and God's generosity. Sung to a standard hymn tune. Lyrics and a number of translations. I much prefer the Church Hymnary version to the translations in TiS and AHB.
• CH725 Today I live one day shall come my death (Fred Kaan) An unusual theme remarking on the inevitability of death and that we have no need to fear it. Lovely tune. Lyrics.
• StJ / G(II)346 / GC506 / GC(II)508 / G(3)586 You Are All We Have (Francis Patrick O'Brien) A nice refrain and good cantor parts. Somewhat formal. Sound sample, sheet music sample and a different sound sample.
• AoV2-070 / ATW 496 / MV090 / StJ / G(3)719 Don't be afraid (John Bell) Excellent. I love this song of reassurance. "Don't be afraid, my love is stronger. My love is stronger than your fear". This song can be used as a response to intercessions. Good for kids. Sheet music. This song could be used as a Psalm response I think.

Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16
God as refuge and redeemer

• PfAS031A Empty broken lifeless(Shannon Cerneka and Orin Johnson)  A sorrowful chant-like refrain, and verses that should be best sung by a cantor. A good version for Passion Sunday. Lyrics.
• MV083 / FFS41 Let my spirit always sing (Shirley Murray) Good words about getting old. May be sung to a number of different tunes. A song for those who are aged or infirm. A good song to play in nursing homes, or in congregations with a large proportion of elderly who are wrestling with what it means to live in a body that doesn't do what it used to manage! Lyrics & sheet music. 
• 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. Sound sample and lyrics. Good for kids.
• PfAS031C / URW256 (Refrain 2) My times are in your hands (AnnaMae Meyer Bush) A simple two part. This would be worth teaching. (It's not the old chorus) It can be sung on its own, or as a Psalm refrain, or prayer response. Simply: “My times are in your hands. You strengthen me in strife. My hope is in your word. Your love preserves my life.” Sheet music sample. Good for kids.
• TiS 682 / ATW 490 / GA236 / A&M355 / AA151 / SP148 When human voices cannot sing (Shirley Murray) Lovely words of healing in the face of grief. I prefer this sung to ST COLUMBA, which is the tune in GA and TiS. Lyrics
• Iona / CH788 / MV104 / GtG659 Know that God is Good / Mungu ni mwema (Traditional Congo) This traditional African refrain is just lots of fun and very simple to sing. Good for kids and adults! Sheet music sample. Sound sample. Sound sample in Kenyan languages.
• GtG811 / PfAS031D / URW256 (Refrain 1) Make your face to shine upon your servant / Haz resplandecer tu rostro (Jay Weldon Wilkey) This is a lovely song. It can be sung on its own, or as a Psalm refrain, as in URW (use the section "Make your face to shine… loving kindness save me" as the refrain, and the section beginning "But as for me" at the conclusion of the Psalm). Clunky sound sample. 
• ATAR669 Be my strength (Robin Mann) Words about familiar comforting things, and about becoming older and more frail. Excellent. Lyrics. 
  
• TiS 19 / Iona (PPP&P) / ATOK 339 In you O Lord I have found refuge (John Bell) A simple cantor and response Psalm. Sound sample, and mp3 available to purchase and download.
• Ps Project Into Your Hands (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A very very very very simple chant. Lyrics and sound sample.
• 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 (WAREHAM or WINCHESTER NEW). Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• TiS 240 / AHB182 / CH393 / StF640 We turn to God when we are sorely pressed (Dietrich Bonhoeffer) Excellent words of our need for God, God's suffering, and God's generosity. Sung to a standard hymn tune. Lyrics and a number of translations. I much prefer the Church Hymnary version to the translations in TiS and AHB.
• CH725 Today I live one day shall come my death (Fred Kaan) An unusual theme remarking on the inevitability of death and that we have no need to fear it. Lovely tune. Lyrics.
• StJ / G(II)346 / GC506 / GC(II)508 / G(3)586 You Are All We Have (Francis Patrick O'Brien) A nice refrain and good cantor parts. Somewhat formal. Sound sample, sheet music sample and a different sound sample.
• AoV2-070 / ATW 496 / MV090 / StJ / G(3)719 Don't be afraid (John Bell) Excellent. I love this song of reassurance. "Don't be afraid, my love is stronger. My love is stronger than your fear". This song can be used as a response to intercessions. Good for kids. Sheet music. This song could be used as a Psalm response I think.

1 Peter 2:2-10
Taste that the Lord is good, living stones, christ the foundation, God's people

• TIS 624 / W&R453 / StF492 Christ be my leader by night as by day (Timothy Dudley-Smith) Excellent words of following Christ in times of struggle to a traditional Scottish melody. Sheet music and lyrics New words to old tunes.
• NCH371 God creation's great designer (Jane Parker Huber) Excellent words, particularly if you worship in an older church building, or have an anniversary to celebrate. Sung to a well-known tune (HOLY MANNA).New words to old tunes.
• NCH387 / GtG361 / PH443 / GC(II)646 / RS782 / CP524 / Lau829 O christ the great foundation (Timothy T'ingFang Lew) Excellent words of salvation and justice, sung to the tune of "The church's one foundation" (AURELIA); we have sung this, but not for a while. New words to old tunes Lyrics
• A&M504 / GC(II)644 / W&R577 / G(3)743 / SP167 / StF689 / Lau836 Summoned by the God who made us / Sing a New Church (Delores 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.
• TiS 636 / VU272 / WoV715 / LBW250 / ELW533 / GtG453 / PfAS078C / PfAS078D / URW076 / 82Hml-536 / Lau472 / MP182 God has spoken to his people Alleluia / God has spoken to the people Alleluia (Hasidic traditional) In many versions this song is not inclusive for God, or uses specifically Christian lyrics (which is odd, since it's a Jewish hymn). VU, PfAS GtG and WoV have gender inclusive language for God: "God has spoken to the people (Alleluia), God has spoken words of wisdom, Alleluia". WoV and PfAS also have the traditional Hebrew chorus of "Torah ora torah ora hallelujah" which means "The Lord is light" which would be great to sing and are the original words!  PfAS078D simply uses the first two lines of the first verse as a psalm refrain. The chorus is good for kids. One version of the lyrics. 
• NCH70 / UMH660 / VU389 / WoV719 / ELW526 / A&M445 / HPP486 / GtG409 / PH461 / GC741 / GC(II)737 / G(3)843 / CP(E) 301 / W&R1 / Cha280 / STB049 / StF025 God is here as we your people (Fred Pratt Green). Great lyrics, but not inclusive in all sources and set to a range of tunes. I like it sung to the familiar tune ABBOT'S LEIGH. Lyrics, sound sample and sheet music sample.New words to old tunes.
• NCH454 / UMH402 / HPP323 / GtG729 / PH372 / W&R457 / Cha589 Lord I want to be a Christian (Traditional African-American) This repetitive old song could be quite good, I think. More suitable for American congregations, I suspect. Oldy-but-a-goody. Lyrics and sheet music sample. 
• TiS 666 / AoV2-113 / AoVK-126 / ATOK 409 / NCH526 / Iona (Common Ground, Freedom is Coming) / CH516 / VU646/647 / WoV650 / ELW866 / A&M483 / SFFS 2235 / HPP153 / GtG853 / G(II)357 / GC513 / GC(II)516 / G(3)594 / Cha442 / SP235 / Srce737 / StF483 / MP954 We are marching in the light of God / Siyahamba / Caminando (South African) A very popular chorus, with possible alternate verses, depending on your source. Sometimes people get anxious about the word "marching", but remember that this song comes from apartheid-era South Africa, where people were protesting so that they could vote in their own country. Lyrics and history. Good for kids.
• TiS 468 / NCH309 / PH436 We are your people Spirit of grace (Brian Wren) I really like the lyrics to this one. The tune is a bit funny and the hymn is quite long - needs something to stop people plodding through it; maybe split the singing into male/female or different sides of the congregation. Lyrics and sheet music.
• HiOS70 I'm a living stone (Colin Gibson) A good call and response song that would work well for kids; there is only one line that is different between the leaders and the responders. Good for kids.
• Iona (LFB) Unsure when what was bright turns dark / Stumbling blocks and stepping stones (Iona) Doubt, suffering, healing of relationships. Very powerful lyrics. Tune is MARY MORRISON, but can also be sung to YE BANKS AND BRAES. New words to old tunes.
• SP&P115 We are all God's chosen people (Stephen Nix) A simple chorus about us all being equal in God's sight. Lyrics (downloads a PDF). Good for kids.

John 14:1-14
In my father’s house there are many dwelling places – Christ going to prepare a place for us. I am the way… exclusiveness of the gospel, the unity of Christ and the Father.

• ATAR616 In my father's house (Paul Somerville) A great song of unity, with an inspiring, and very singable chorus. Highly recommended. Sound sample. Good for older kids & teenagers.   
• ATW 494 For you deep stillness (Julie Perrin). This homegrown favourite is just excellent. Lyrics and mp3 sample. Might be nice to sing this at the end of the service. 
• Worldmaking.net Brother Jesus right beside me (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) This is a great rock song, especially good for kids because it's pretty simple. Lyrics and a very silly sound sample that IMHO does no justice to the song at all. We really rock it. Great for kids!
• TiS 687 God gives us a future (Elizabeth Smith) Great words to a very easy hymn tune. Careful not to let it get the tune get too pompous; the words are not! "God gives us a future, daring us to go into dreams and dangers on a path unknown. We will face tomorrow in the Spirit's power, we will let God change us for new life starts now!". Lyrics here (scroll down). Notice how the hymn has been split into to two parts to include the blessing and words of mission. New words to old tunes.
• Online Resource / Tune in 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. Lyrics, sound sample and free downloadable songbook.
• 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). Lyrics.
  
• AoV2-089 / Taize / MV086 / SFFS 2156 Give peace to every heart / Da Pacem Cordium (Jacques Berthier) A good, simple Taize chant. Sound samples, sheet music (not cantor lines though).
• GA527 / G(II)540 / GC745 / GC(II)730 / G(3)847 / Lau1000 Jesus Christ Yesterday Today and Forever (Suzanne Toolan) A very simple refrain in English and Spanish, and multilingual cantor parts. That's fun! Works well without the cantor part too. Sheet music sample. Sound sample.
• TiS 387 / CH416 / UMH318 / VU158 / LBW363 / ELW389 / A&M199 / GtG246 / PH108 / CP(E) 140 / W&R312 / 82Hml-182 / Lau272 / StF297 Christ is alive Let Christians sing (Brian Wren) Excellent words of Christ's saving, and still relevant grace. A couple of tunes are offered in different hymn books. I prefer TRURO. Lyrics and sheet music.  New words to old tunes.
• TiS 636 / VU272 / WoV715 / ELW519 / GtG453 / PfAS078C / PfAS078D / URW076 / 82Hml-536 / Lau472 / MP182 God has spoken to his people Alleluia / God has spoken to the people Alleluia (Hasidic traditional) In many versions this song is not inclusive for God, or uses specifically Christian lyrics (which is odd, since it's a Jewish hymn). VU, PfAS GtG and WoV have gender inclusive language for God: "God has spoken to the people (Alleluia), God has spoken words of wisdom, Alleluia". WoV and PfAS also have the traditional Hebrew chorus of "Torah ora torah ora hallelujah" which means "The Lord is light" which would be great to sing and are the original words!  PfAS078D simply uses the first two lines of the first verse as a psalm refrain. The chorus is good for kids. One version of the 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 / LUYH444/ VF088 Nothing Can Trouble / Nada te turbe (Theresa of Avila / Taizé) Excellent and quite well known Taizé chant. Spanish lyrics are not too hard for non-Spanish speakers. Sheet music, sound samples, lyrics and translations. Good for kids.
• TIS 624 / W&R453 / StF492 Christ be my leader by night as by day (Timothy Dudley-Smith) Excellent words of following Christ in times of struggle to a traditional Scottish melody. Sheet music and lyrics New words to old tunes.
• AoV2-085 / Iona (T1AU) / MV115 / A&M328 / SP129 Behold behold I Make All Things New (John Bell) A nice hopeful upbeat short song. Highly recommended. Sound sample (scroll down) Good for kids.
• Online Resource / Walk as One I am the way (Leigh Newton / David Froemming) A simple song, with powerful justice-focussed lyrics. Sound sample. Book for purchase.
  
• VU283 / AA047 God is the One whom we seek together (Colin Gibson) Simple song. Tune is a little tricky.
• NCH072 / UMH552 / VU362 / ELW530 / GtG311 / PH465 / CP534 / W&R597 / Cha278 Here O Lord Your Servants Gather / Sekai no Tomo (Tokuo Yamaguchi) Beautiful song about being a community of faith seeking strength and courage. Lovely simple Japanese tune. The story of this hymn. Lyrics. 
• STB281 From the unreal lead to the real / Asa toma sathgamaya (Sanskrit Bhajan) This traditional Sanskrit chant could be good to sing - "From death lead us to fullness of life!".  
• W&R104 / URW102 Hidden Christ Alive for Ever (Brian Wren) Wonderful and inspiring words of Christ in all things. Can be sung to HYFRYDOL or HOLY MANNA, so would be easily sung by most congregations. A good song for just after the sermon. Music and lyrics.  New words to old tunes.
• TiS 380 / AHB 303 / NCH253 / CH419 / UMH308 / VU173 / LBW145 / ELW376 / A&M218 / HPP203 / GtG238 / PH122 / CP210 / CP(E)160 / W&R310 / Cha218 / Srce694 / Lau287 / StF313 / MP689 Thine be the glory risen conquering Son (Albert Budry) One of the few older hymns that doesn't require updating, and beautiful harmonies... A great classic hymn! Lyrics and tune. Oldy-but-a-goody. 
• Recorded Music One Road to Freedom (Ben Harper) "Do you know which road you're travelling? Do you know where you want to be? With so many roads to travel, there's just one can set you free". A good song to help people think about what it means for there to be only one way to God. Don't forget that if you are playing recorded music to your congregation, it's a good idea to have the lyrics printed out or projected. Lyrics. Sound sample on a youtube video.

What ideas do you have? Please share them with others (and me!) by adding a comment below. 

Updated on the Isle of Skye 2023.