Songs and hymns for Proper 9A / Ordinary 14A / Pentecost +5 (July 9th 2023)

Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
Abraham’s servant finds Rebekah and she becomes Isaac’s wife.  
The suggestions for the Psalm would also fit well

• ATOK 320 / NCH351 / VU645 / StJ / WoV770 / ELW732 / SFFS 2051 / GtG488 / HPP516 / W&R680 / Cha075 I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry (John Ylvisaker) A song of God’s presence in all stages of life. Very simple tune to sing. This always makes me think of Center Church on-the-Green in New Haven, CT. Lyrics, and a nice (slow) sound sample (Youtube)
• AoV1-137 / ATOK 403 / GA306 / G(II)286 God Of Abraham lead us (Bernadette Farrell) This one is great. Just don't try to sing all 17 verses! Choose what you like… I love this energetic call and response with the response "Lead us to your kingdom". You can sing with a cantor and response, or you could split your congregation in the middle doing half and half, or you could just have people singing all the way through. Lyrics (and a slow sound sample). Sound sample (listen to the whole thing and see how they build it up). Maybe add a verse about Rebekah and Isaac?
• ATW 507 Where you tread (John Beavis) A beautiful and simple song based on the story of Ruth, it might be a good song to sing if you want to focus on the life-long relationship of Rebekah and Isaac. The melody is beautiful and very simple for a congregation to sing first time. We sang this once a couple of years ago, and it would be great to sing it again.

Psalm 45:10-17
A celebration of romantic love

• PfAS045B The throne of God is righteousness (Evangelical Lutheran Worship) A simple Psalm refrain to a familiar hymn tune (EIN FESTE BURG). Lyrics.
  
• Taizé / TiS 731 /  SFFS 2017 / GtG155 / G(II)377 / GC557 / GC(II)535 / G(3)618 / W&R212 / PfAS100G / URW383 / Lau691 Raise a song of gladness / Jubilate Servite (Taize) Glorious, fun round. If your congregation balks at singing in Latin, it can be sung in English as "Raise a song of gladness, all the earth, Christ has come, bringing peace, joy to every heart, Alleluia Alleluia, Joy to every heart (x2)". This is not a Gloria, but it has the feel of one! Sound sample. 
• AoV2-068 / VU695 God is passionate life (Colleen Fulmer) Good simple round with a peace / justice focus. Lyrics and a kind of odd sound sample.  Good for kids.
• TiS 654 / NCH362 / UMH643 / VU489 / WoV749 / G(II)628 / GC865 / GC(II)856 / G(3)966 / W&R612 / Cha499 / Lau416 When love is found and hope comes home (Brian Wren) Lovely words to the tune O WALY WALY celebrating loving relationships through all their changes. While this is often sung at weddings, I think it would also work in the context of a standard service. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• CH115 / MV089 / Iona (One is the body) / A&M722 / SP292 Love is the touch of intangible joy (Alison Robertson) Great words and a simple tune. "God is where love is, for love is of God". Lyrics (scroll).
• SgTJ1029 / MV094 Love knocks and waits (Daniel Damon) Lovely words of assurance and a simple lilting melody. Lyrics and sheet music.
• NCH540 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”). Lyrics (downloads pdf). New words to old tunes.
• VU769 God has blessed you forever and ever (Russian Orthodox) A lovely simple response to this Psalm. Can be sung with a responsive reading as set out in VU. Nice if you can build in the harmonies, but fine if you can't. 
• ATW 507 Where you tread (John Beavis) A beautiful and simple song based on the story of Ruth, it might be a good song to sing if you want to focus on the life-long relationship of Rebekah and Isaac. The melody is beautiful and very simple for a congregation to sing first time.
• MV085 / StJ / ELW814 / HPP319 / GtG698 / GC(II)692 / G(3)795 / SP130 / PfAS045B / URW441 / Lau395a / StF781 / LUYH741 Take O Take Me As I Am (Iona Community) A lovely simple chant. PfAS uses it as a refrain to a reading of the Psalm. Sound sample.
• AoVK-12 God is our shelter truly a friend indeed (Chris O'Hara) Groovy little round / more like a call and response really. Good for kids. Lyrics

Alternative reading: Song of Solomon 2:8-13

• MV031 Pure Love (Linnea Good) I think this song would be good for reflecting on God as the source of all love. Very simple and beautiful. Sound sample. Good for kids.
• Online Resource / Tune in The God that I Know (Sheree Anderson) A beautiful ballad with female and male images of a loving, embracing God. Free downloadable song book, sound samples.
• Online Resource O great lover who pursues us (Richard Bruxvoort Colligan) Great new words based on this passage, sung to the familiar tune HYFRYDOL. Lyrics, sound sample and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.
• Recorded Music Canticle (Clarion Fracture Zone / Mara / Martenitsa Choir) If you happen to have a recording of "Canticle" a jazz work commissioned by Paddington Uniting Church, first performed in 1997, this would be the time to dig it out and play at some point during the service. Listen or purchase here.
• Sacred Harp I am the rose of Sharon (William Billings) This is not a suggestion for your congregation, but if you happen to have Sacred Harp singers in your area, go join in and see if they sing this (they probably won't!). It's one of the more challenging "anthems" and quite excellent when done well. Listen to them singing it in Ireland. 
• Recorded Music Just (after song of songs) (David Lang / Trio Mediaeval) A long piece of very beautiful music, with a stunning repetitive litany of love as a metaphor for our relationship with God. Not quite sure how it might be used in a worship service, but it is very beautiful. Sound sample.  

Alternative Hebrew Scripture: Zechariah 9:9-12
God comes on a donkey and releases the prisoners

• VU901 / PH601 / WoV725 / PfAS1032 / URW010 Blest be the God of Israel (Song of Zechariah) (Carl P Daw) A simple and inclusive paraphrase to the well-known hymn tune KINGSFOLD (TiS 262). Lyrics and sheet music  
New words to old tunes
• URW357 Praise to the One who sets prisoners free (Elise Eslinger) A great tune, and the response can be sung in three parts, or as a round. Can be sung with one or two cantors / readers or without the cantors. The refrain alone as a round could be good for kids.
• TiS 284 / ELW552 / W&R158 / GtG109 / PH602 / Cha135 / Cha137 / URW012 / 82Hml-444 Blessed be the God of Israel / O Bless the God of Israel (Michael Perry) Good words of Christ as the fulfiller of the prophets who will set God's people free From fear and darkness. Be aware that some versions (like TiS) use exclusively masculine language for God. URW and Chalice are inclusive. Set to the simple tune MERLE'S TUNE. Lyrics and sheet music sample. 
• GC(II)755 / G(3)864 O the weary world is trudging / The trumpet in the morning (Rory Cooney) Song of release of prisoners and the trumpet's blast. Sound sample. Lead sheet.
• AA085 Let justice roll down like a river (Colin Gibson) Excellent song, and very easy to sing. Lyrics and sheet music. Good for kids.
• WCC website Hear the message we now are proclaiming / El mensaje que hoy proclamamos (Eleazar Torreglosa) This jubilant Colombian song of liberty and new life for the poor would fit well with this reading. Good for kids. Free sheet music!
• Tune In / Online Resource Father of Earth, Mother of Sea (Dave Brown) A latinesque song about the Spirit being with those who are victims, prisoners and the sick, as well as present in our prayers. Free downloadable song book, sound samples.

Alternative Psalm for the Zechariah reading: Psalm 145:8-14

God is excellent

• TiS 100 / AHB 3 / NCH017 / CH147 / UMH62 / VU217 / LBW527 / ELW835 / A&M532 / GA395 / HPP261 / GtG020 / PH455 / GtG015 / GC534 / GC(II)523 / G(3)611 / CP(E) / 250 / W&R23 / Cha022 / 82Hml-400 / Lau694 / StF099 / LUYH551 / MP007 All creatures of our God and King (Francis of Assisi) A good classic sing! Hymnals vary a LOT in their translations and verses included. Using only Alleluia Alleluia or "Sing your praises" as some hymnals do, eliminates the "Oh praise him" which makes it annoyingly male exclusive. NCH has "To you, O God, all creatures sing" and eliminates all kingly language. ELW has "All creatures worship God most high". Lyrics and sheet music. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• NCH017 To you O God all creatures sing (Francis of Assisi, adapted Miriam Therese Winter). This is a lovely new adaptation of the traditional words, sung to the same tune LASST UNS ERFREUEN. Lyrics (downloads a pdf, the words are on p3).  New words to old tunes
• MV048 I can feel you near me God / Jump for joy (Pat Mayberry) Good song for smaller kids about God being with us. I reckon you could get the kids to Jump in the chorus. Maybe it's a bit too happy clappy for some? Good for kids. 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.
  
• TiS 132 / AHB 65 / NCH277 / CH651 / UMH64 / VU315 / LBW165 / ELW413 / A&M276 / HPP243 / GtG001 / PH138 / G(II)332 / GC475 / GC(II)483 / CP001 / CP(E) 202 / W&R136 / Cha004 / Srce243 / 82Hml-362 / Lau468 / StF011 / MP237 Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty (Francis Reginald Heber) Old other-worldly language, but a surprisingly inclusive (in most hymnals) classic, and a great rousing hymn tune. Different resources have slightly altered lyrics. A surprisingly non-inclusive sample can be found here. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• MV176 Three things I promise (Brian Wren / Dan Damon) Beautiful words of seeking to live faithfully from Brian Wren. The set tune is unfamiliar, but very beautiful, and if not familiar to your congregation would make a good reflective piece (for the congregation to sing in later weeks). You could also sing it to one of the suggested alternate tunes PROSPECT and WAREHAM if you like.  Sound sample (to the newer tune). New words to old tunes.
• 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.
• TiS 152 / NCH4 / UMH89 / VU232 / LBW551 / ELW836 / HPP22 / GtG611 / PH464 / GC529 / GC(II)520 / G(3)614 / CP425 / W&R59 / Cha002 / URW065 / 82Hml-376 Joyful joyful we adore thee (Henry Van Dyke) Note that this hymn is not always very inclusive. I prefer more modern translations (e.g. TiS, VU, NCH, GC(II) ). Older version lyrics and sheet music sample. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• VU267 / W&R20 / A&M711 / SP288 / Lau897 / MP419 Like a mighty river flowing (Michael Perry) Lovely words of the presence of God in nature. Lyrics
• Taizé / MV009 O Come and let us sing to God our hope (Taize) "God's mercy is forever". Joyful gathering chant. Sound samples, sheet music.
• CH101 You are kind and full of compassion (The Grail, Inclusive Language Version) This is not a hymn, but a beautiful paraphrase of this Psalm that could be read as a poem or alternate translation reading.

Romans 7:15-25a
It’s really hard to do what’s right. Obedience. Discipleship.

• 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. Free downloadable song book, sound samples.
• Online Resource / Tune In / ATAR663 Save us in the time of trial (Shawn Whelan) A song with a reflective almost-Taize-like chorus about trying to follow even in the face of temptation. We have sung this a cuople of different ways, it's quite flexible. Free downloadable song book, sound samples.
• Online Resource / Tune In Come O God and visit us sick we pray / Your abundant life (Dave Brown) A joyful song "Lead us into your abundant life". Free downloadable song book, sound samples.
• Online Resource / Tune In Kingdom Come (Matthew Lees) A song about how things are not what we expect in God’s kingdom. Maybe not all daisies and sunshine. Lots of words and good images. Free downloadable song book, sound samples.
• 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. I will suggest this again next week, so maybe this is a good week to teach it if your congregation doesn't know it.
• NCH497 / SFFS 2208 / GtG741 / PH354 / G(II)508 / GC707 / GC(II)684 G(3)780 / CP513 / ZSS141 Guide my feet while I run this race (African-American) An excellent civil rights era song. Would work well as a meditative prayer for guidance or as an uplifting call to action at the end of the service.You could also make up your own lyrics. Lyrics.
• Taizé / AoV2-109 / CH772 / GA429 / GtG654 / A&M334 / SFFS 2195 / G(II)396 / GC566 / GC(II)546 / G(3)639 / SP128 / URW381 / Lau944 / W&R448 / StF776 / MP865 In the Lord I'll Be Ever Thankful / El Senyor (Jacques Berthier) A joyful and bouncy short song. Works well in English, German and Spanish at least. Good for kids. Sheet music, translations into many other languages, sound samples.
• ATA 200 / CH530 / VU639 / A&M757 / CP(E) 548 / URW109 / StF476 One more step along the world I go (Sydney Carter) A good fun kid's song from Sydney Carter which many of their parents will remember. "And it's from the old I travel to the new, keep me travelling along with you". Lyrics and sound samples. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• Online Resource / AoV2-102 / GA509 Who will speak if we don't (Marty Haugen) Excellent challenging words. Sound sample and sheet music preview and purchasing options. Good for teenagers.
• 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 Community) A classic. Don't sing it too slowly or it really drags and takes forever!
• TiS 607 / AoV2-126 / ATN 95 / CH528 / VU684 / StJ / A&M725 / SFFS 2171 / HPP406 / GtG753 / G(II)524 / GC726 / GC(II)721 / G(3)828 / CP(E)519/ W&R587 / Srce 462 / Lau898 / StF707 / MP456 Make me a channel of your peace (Sebastian Temple). Lovely. Nice if you can just start a capella...  Youtube video of Sinead O'Connor singing it and lyrics Oldy-but-a-goody.
• MV176 Three things I promise (Brian Wren / Dan Damon) Beautiful words of seeking to live faithfully from Brian Wren. The set tune is unfamiliar, but very beautiful, and if not familiar to your congregation would make a good reflective piece (for the congregation to sing in later weeks). You could also sing it to one of the suggested alternate tunes PROSPECT and WAREHAM if you like. Lyrics.
  
• StS040 / URW439 We will follow (Som’landela) (South African) Groovy song. Sample for listening here.
• VU575 / SFFS 2153 / GtG700 / PH369 / SP&P139 / W&R574 / Cha614 I'm Gonna Live So God Can Use Me (African American traditional) Good simple tune and meaningful words. Easy to sing and play around with. Good for kids, non-readers and for people for whom English is a second language.

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
A bit of angry stuff at the start, but then words of comfort

• Online Resource Are you tired worn and burdened? / Come to Me (The Porters Gate) I would use just the chorus of this, as I find the verse a bit odd (I think Jesus is going to lay heavy things on us sometimes!). Sound sample. Lyrics and chords.  
• HPP381 / GtG183 / G(II)454 / GC637 / GC(II)630 / G(3)727 / Cha353 Come to Me O Weary Traveler (Sylvia Dunstan) Nice words of rest set to this passage. Each verse starts with "Come to me", "Do not fear", "Take my yoke" and "Rest in me". It's set to a simple folk-song style tune which is very intuitive. There are multiple tunes for this. Lyrics, sheet music sample, and purchasing options for one version. 
• Online Resource Come all who are weary (Paul Zach / The Porters Gate) This would be a great song for a congregation to sing together, particularly in a quieter reflective moment. Recording. Lyrics and chords.
  
• NCH002 / ZSS117 Glory Glory Hallelujah! (African-American). Excellent chorus; includes the verse “We are climbing Jacob’s ladder” and “every rung goes higher higher”. Lyrics.
• Tune In / Online Resource God’s Mercy (Sheree Anderson) A beautiful ballad about recognising God's mercy in the everyday. Free downloadable song book, sound samples. 
• TiS 647 / AoV2-012 / ATN 25 Comfort, comfort all my people (Robin Mann) Easy to sing, beautiful lyrics. Chorus is “Comfort, comfort all my people, with the comfort of my word. Speak ye tender to my people, all your sins are taken away”. Note that most sources only list 2 verses, but there are two additional (more challenging) verses you may wish to consider using written for the Christmas Bowl in 1988; thanks to Simon for alerting me to them. Lyrics (including additional verses), mp3 sample.
  
• Iona / StS050 / GtG851 Come, bring your burdens to God / Woza nomthwalo wakho (South African) Simple slow chant (Sound sample here) 
• BUC Song Project Take a deep breath / Deep in your soul (Sheree Anderson) A lovely, repetitive song seeking space to experience God's renewing love.
  
• TiS 665 / AoV2-008 / Iona (Common Ground) / CH360 / A&M563 / VU117 / StJ / SP246 / Lau889 / StF251 Jesus Christ is waiting (John Bell) A good hymn that is quite simple to sing. Lyrics here (scroll down just a little bit).  New words to old tunes.
• TiS 693 / AoV1-031 / GA212 Come as you are that's how I want you (Deidre Browne) This song is beautiful, gentle, simple, and very well known. Lyrics and sound sample. A good song to start the service.
• Online Resource / Tune In / ATAR598 / NCYC 2009 God has laid a feasting table / Invitation (Shawn Whelan) Feminine imagery of God gathering her guests to a feasting table. Fun Cuban rhythm. Free downloadable song book, sound samples.
• ATAR593 Come to me all you who are weary (Florence Lang) A soothing and slightly schmaltzy chorus. Easy to sing and fun accompaniment to play. Sound sample and lyrics.
• Iona (Love from Below) / CP545 We will lay our burdens down (John Bell & Graham Maule) A groovy song arranged for part-singing. I just love this!
• Online Resource / URW166 Come God and hear my cry (Ruth Duck) Lovely words seeking restoration for tired faithful souls. Sung to the familiar tune TRENTHAM. Lyrics and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.
• AoVK-125 / ATW 489 Turn our sadness upside down (Leigh Newton) Good for kids, and adults too. Simple tune, but not so simple that it’s boring. Sheet music.
  
• Iona (T1AU) / URW428 / Lau395 In love you summon (John Bell) This is really beautiful and could be taught to the congregation, or sung by a choir. Sound sample.
• Online Resource All who are weary / Come to me (Christopher Grundy) Very very singable. Just lovely. This makes me so happy. Thanks to Darren Wright for this suggestion. Sound sample and purchasing options.
  
• TiS 590 / AHB 165 / AoVK-117 / NCH506 / UMH526 / VU664 / LBW439 / ELW742 / HPP408 / GtG465 / PH403 / CP532 / W&R473 / Cha585 / Srce 776 / StF531 / MP746 What a Friend we have in Jesus (Joseph Scriven) There is a bit of masculine language, which is understandable for such an old song. It has many other good things about it. I like both tunes. AOVK has different lyrics, written specifically for kids, which I think are worth singing. Lyrics.  Good for kids. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• CH716 / VU374 / FFS10 / SFFS 2128 / W&R477 / Cha575 Come and find the quiet centre (Shirley Murray) A good song for the beginning of worship. We usually sing it to BEACH SPRING (TiS 493). Lyrics and sound sample. New words to old tunes.
• Online Resource Come to me (Ross Langmead) A good song of comfort "for activists". Good questions about how much we need to follow, how desperate the need. Sheet music.
• TiS 585 / AHB 500 / AoV1-054 / ATA 137 / NCH489 / CH540 / VU626 / LBW497 / ELW611 / GtG182 / GA468 / GC646 / GC(II)622 / G(3)724 / CP508 / CP(E) 469 / Srce280 / 82Hml-692 / Lau795 / StF248 / MP275 I heard the voice of Jesus say (Horatio Bonar) Hymnals vary a lot in their translations of this older hymn and in the tunes to which it is set. Lyrics and sheet music. Oldy-but-mostly-a-goody.
• FFS28 God rest us (Michael Leunig) Beautiful words from Michael Leunig, seeking rest when we are tired, and awakening when we are asleep. Will need to be taught, but I think it's worth it. Lyrics.

What will you be singing? Please share your ideas in a comment below...