Songs, Hymns & Music for Proper 14A / Pentecost 19A / Pentecost +11 (August 13, 2023)

Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Joseph, the favoured son of Jacob is sold off as a slave by his jealous brothers.

I will suggest some of these songs again next week, so if you are tempted to sing something new, you can repeat it next week and it will still fit.

• SFFS 2169 / GtG445 / StF613 God How Can We Forgive (Ruth Duck) Good words of healing in the midst of broken relationships to the familiar tune LEONI. Lyrics (scroll down). New words to old tunes. 
• TiS 683 / WoV735 / ELW603 / W&R416 / StF649 God when human bonds are broken (Fred Kaan) These words pick up an unusual theme, and fit really well with this reading. There are a couple of possible tunes, none of which are immediately familiar, but they are not difficult either. Lyrics.
• MV074 When painful mem'ries haunt each day / When painful memories haunt each day (Ruth Duck) I suggest singing it to the more familiar Celtic tune KINGSFOLD (TiS 262). "When painful mem'ries haunt each day and dreams disturb the night, when life is washed with shades of grey and phantoms fill our sight, Christ stay beside us and embrace the child who dwells within; come, Healer, touch or lives with grace; restore our lives again." New words to old tunes.
• MV127 I saw the rich ones (Pat Mayberry) This song is not directly related to the passage, but the chorus of "But with God the world is turned upside down, the poor are embraced and the lost they are found. Let's work for a world where all people are free; where it's good to feel good about God loving you and me" would be a great song to use while telling a story. Lyrics. Good for kids.
• NCH429 God bless our homes with peace and love and laughter (Frank von Christierson) A rewrite of an older song to the easy tune CHARTERHOUSE seeking harmonious relationships and forgiveness within our households. 3rd verse "Forgive the hurts our selfishness inflicted on those we love and those who love us best. Christ, heal the scars, and draw us all together in God whose will is peace and joy and rest." Older style lyrics.
• 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. Thanks to Noodle Thrower for this suggestion. Lyrics

I will suggest the next four songs again in two weeks so it might be worth learning them now, and singing them again later. 

• ELW710 / CP575 Let streams of living justice (William Whitla) Awesome words of justice. Sung to the familiar tune THAXTED. Lyrics. It could probably work to a different (less pompous) tune too. New words to old tunes.
• Online resource Help Us O God to create a new future (Andrew Pratt) This song reflects on the slavery of the past, and its continuance, with a call to work until all are "Fully alive". Free sheet music.
• 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 (loads a pdf).
• TiS 674 / Iona (Common Ground, Heaven Shall Not Wait) / A&M562 / CH253 / SP245 Inspired by love and anger (Iona) Powerful lyrics, simple English folk tune (SALLY GARDENS). Lyrics. New words to old tunes  

Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b  

Praise God. A slave becomes a ruler.
Might be good to check the Inclusive Bible for this passage.
Any version of the Magnificat would work well with this reading: See here for suggestions 

• NCH022 / VU221 Sing praise to God who has shaped and sustains all creation! (Joachim Neander / Madeleine Marshall) A new translation of Neander's classic hymn "Praise to the Lord the Almighty…". I quite like this. Sung to LOBE DEN HERREN New words to old tunes. Lyrics.
• NCH Psalter Let the hearts of those who seek God rejoice! (Elaine Kirkland) Good joyous refrain, which could be used with the sung or read Psalm.
• AoVK-24 / Iona (T1AU) / CH756 Bless the Lord (Kenyan). A good call and response chant – would make a good processional. Words are: Bless the Lord (my sisters), Bless the Lord (my brothers) Bless the Lord there is no other God. I think our congregation would really enjoy this. The tune is identical to Re a mo Leboga. Sound sample of Re a mo leboga (scroll to the 3rd album).
• 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.
• ATW 457 / Iona (T1AU) / CH751 / MV050 / StS017 / GC(II)260 / G(3)328 / URW402 Alleluia (Norah Duncan) A simple Alleluia. Gather version has a descant cantor part. Sound sample (including cantor part and a gutsy pianist).
• ATN 51 / SFFS 2258 / SiS / MP601 Sing alleluia to the Lord (Linda Stassen-Benjamin) A simple and familiar song to many. It has nice soaring Alleluias and is not too hard. Substitute “Our God” if you like, as some hymnals do, if you want less "Lord"y language. Sound samples, lyrics, videos. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• ATW 460 / Iona (M&G) / CH752 / VU717 / WoV610 Alleluia (South Africa) (Gobingca George Mxadana) Beautiful and peaceful, especially if you can work all the harmonies in. Sound sample.
• MV187 / ELW682 We give our thanks / Re a mo leboga (Traditional Botswana) A great song to sing for the offering. Older style version. More upbeat version. Amazing video with a newer version. Good for kids.
• ATE 216 / Iona (SBL) / CH126 / StJ / ELW555 / PH472 / G(II)365 / GC527 / RS 671 / CP417 / W&R15 / StF042 O sing to the Lord / Cantai ao Senhor / Cantad al Señor (Traditional Brazilian) A good, fun and simple song that is easy to learn in Portuguese or Spanish too; note that not all versions are inclusive. Sheet music samples.  Good for kids.

Alternate Hebrew Scripture: 1 Kings 19:9-18 
Elijah finds God, not in the wind or the earthquake, or the fire, but in the silence

• ATW 435 / NCYC'99 Like the woman of old / Wellsprings (Don Stewart) A favourite song in our congregation about going to the "Wellsprings of life"and finding Jesus there. Picks up themes of tiredness, broken hearts and weariness, but makes the point that it's worth the effort. Lyrics (downloads pdf)
• Online Resource / Protest of Praise When our lives are ruled by fear (David Bjorlin) Strong words challenging us to move forward in faith; some of the words face quite specific challenges for congregations; sung to the familiar tune ABERYSTWYTH. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options.  New words to old tunes.  
  
• MV084 In you there is a refuge (Keri Wehlander / Linnea Good) A simple quiet song. "In you there is a silence, in you our minds are clear. When all we hear is discord may your quiet draw us near". Sound sample.
  
• Taizé / GtG814 / CP563 / PfAS062D In God alone my soul can find rest and peace / Mon ame se repose (Jacques Berthier) A beautiful healing chant from Taize. Words and music and sound samples for learning the parts. Good for kids.
• VU278 / URW221 In the quiet curve of evening (Julie Howard) Beautiful words. Simple tune. Particularly lovely for the Southern Hemisphere congregations who are in Winter. Lyrics.
• CH609 / A&M615 / CP(E) 403 Come living God when least expected (Alan Gaunt) Good words to a nice tune (SUNSET) of God coming when we are uninspired or God seems hidden. "Come now, as once you came to Moses within the bush alive with flame, or to Elijah on the mountain, by silence pressing home your claim". Lyrics. 
• ELW466 / FFS38 / SFFS 2255 / GtG533 In the singing in the silence (Shirley Murray) Lovely words, simple tune in FFS; there are quite a few tunes to this. Lyrics and sheet music.
  
• AoV2-006 / The tide has turned Deeper River / There's a river running deep within the silence of our souls (Digby Hannah). An excellent song of restoration for tired desert-like souls. Lyrics and sound sample.
  
• MV118 Me alone (Jamaican traditional) A very simple repetitive call-and-response song. Could work well as a reflective song. An elaborate choral version.
  
• CH716 / VU374 / FFS10 / SFFS 2128 / W&R477 / Cha575 Come and find the quiet centre (Shirley Murray) A good song for the beginning of worship. I would prefer to sing this to one of the more traditional melodies offered (Tune 1 in FFS) or BEACH SPRING (TiS 493). Lyrics and sheet music sample. New words to old tunes.
• ACS947 / CH133 / UMH113 / GtG011 / GC(II)563 / G(3)667 / Cha012 Source and sovereign rock and cloud (Timothy Troeger) Excellent words of many names for God / I AM. Can be sung to BIRINUS, but I would sing it to the more familiar ABERYSTWYTH. Sheet music and lyrics.New words to old tunes.
• W&R655 / URW202 Come Away from Rush and Hurry (Marva Dawn) Excellent words of resting in a sacred space to the familiar tune BEACH SPRING (TiS 493). Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• Recorded music In the stillness (Trisha Watts) This beautiful chant would fit well with the Psalm; from her album "Invokation". "In the stillness, there is a sweet gentle voice, calming the storm in the night". Available here (scroll down)
• Beneath the noise Beneath the noise (Nick Randall, Paul Sanders and Emily Sears) A lovely simple song to open worship. I'm not sure if this book is still available.
• Online resource Winter Snow (Audrey Assad) This is a lovely song, more for a soloist than congregation. "But you came like a winter snow quiet and soft and slow falling from the sky in the night to the earth below"; particularly good for Southern Hemisphere congregations who are still in Winter. Sound sample, lyrics and sheet music.  
• TiS 26 / AoV2-097 / Iona (LFB) / GA450 Just as a lost and thirsty deer (John Bell / Graham Maule) A quite simple paraphrase, set to a hymnlike tune. Lyrics and sound sample. 
• Online Resource Be with those who wander (Hannah Brown / Benjamin Brody) This song invites us to pray for those who are going through difficult times. The tune is quite lovely, and will be picked up fairly quickly I think. Sheet music sample and purchasing options. 
  
• Tune In / Online Resource / ATAR663 Save us in the time of trial (Shawn Whelan) A song with a reflective almost-Taize-like chorus. We have sung this a couple of different ways, it's quite flexible. Lyrics, sound sample and free downloadable songbook.
• Tune In / Online Resource You in all our worries / All will finish well (Dave Brown) “In this world where injustice reigns, you are in the midst of pain”. Excellent words of reassurance in a difficult world. Lyrics, sound sample and free downloadable songbook.
• TiS 415 / CH588 / WoV682 / 82Hml-506 Praise the Spirit in creation (Michael Hewlett) Amazing words of the Spirit moving, creating, inspiring. Tune is unfamiliar, but good. Note that TiS has masculine and militaristic language; seek out the newer lyrics in Church Hymnary. Lyrics (older version than in CH).
• 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.
  

Alternate Psalm: Psalm 85:8-13
God will speak peace; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. God’s forgiveness and steadfastness.

• AoV1-106 / UMH376 / WoV774 / ELW753 / GtG752 / G(II)528 / GC730 / GC(II)724 / G(3)822 / CP562 /  Cha297 / URW443 / 82Hml-712 / Lau904 / LUYH073 Dona Nobis Pacem (American folk song) This is very well known, and would fit well with this reading. Good for kids. Oldy-but-a-goody. Sheet music.
• Taizé / TiS 713 / Cha296 Dona nobis pacem domine / cordium (Jacques Berthier) There is a specific cantor line for Psalm 85 to go with this prayer of peace. Sound samples and sheet music for the refrain
• TiS 409 / AHB 322 / CH595 / UMH543 / VU202 / StJ / SLW43 / W&R328 / Cha250 / StF391 / MP488 O Breath of life come sweeping through us (Elizabeth Porter Head) This is a really good older style hymn with inclusive lyrics. Lyrics and sheet music. Not all verses are in all hymnals.
• AoVNG55 / Iona (WWHW) / G(II)74 / CP113 Come O Lord and Set Us Free (Daryl Ducote / Gary Daigle / Mike Balhoff) Good simple, inclusive refrain with a pretty groovy cantor line; could work for the younger set. This song appears in a few different formats. There is a full-length short song (WWHW) and a short 7 bar refrain (Gather), either would work well as a response. The refrain is exactly the same melody as the short song, but only uses the words "Come O Lord and set us free, come and set us free". Sample sheet music. Sound sample. 
• CH720 / A&M409 / GtG470 / G(3)653 / SP204 / Lau941 There is a longing in our hearts O Lord (Anne Quigley) Good words of longing for God's love, justice, wisdom, healing. A good song for before, during or after intercessions. Sound sample. Sheet music sample.
  
• G(II)254 / GC330 Let Me Taste Your Mercy Like Rain (Rory Cooney) Good words of both personal and communal redemption. Simple contemporary tune. Lyrics & lead sheet. Clunky sound sample.
• PfAS085C Righteousness and peace (Mary David Callahan) A nice simple refrain; a little bit majestic. "Righteousness and peace shall go before the Lord". Lyrics.
• CH198 / MV001 / HPP550 / A&M365 / GtG301 / GC753 / GC(II)741 / G(3)850 / SP176 / URW058/ Lau458 / StF409 Let Us Build a House / All are welcome (Marty Haugen / TWO OAKS) This song has wonderful lyrics of hope for what a Christian community can be like, and a chorus that joyfully says “All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place”. Sheet music sample. Sound sample. 
• TiS 217 / AHB 148 / NCH43 / CH519 / UMH384 / VU333 / A&M721 / LBW315 / ELW631 / A&M721 / GA463 / HPP48 / GtG366 / PH376 / GC622 / GC(II)613 / G(3)641 / CP485/6 / CP(E) 516 / W&R358 / Cha517 / Srce457 / URW100 / 82Hml-657 / Lau801 / StF503 / MP449 Love divine all loves excelling (Charles Wesley) A beautiful classic song and most hymnals use a very inclusive version of this hymn, even the AHB. Lyrics and sheet music.You may also like to give Rend Collective Experiment's version a listen (hard for congregations to sing, but nice for listening). Oldy-but-a-goody.
• MV222 May the peace of God be your peace (Neil McLaren) A lovely benediction. Will need to be taught first. Lyrics (scroll down).
  
• 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. Slow sound sample, sheet music with lyrics. Good for kids.
• Emergent Psalter Show us your mercy O God (Isaac Everett) A simple refrain and read Psalm. Sheet music sample.

Romans 10:5-15 
A 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). 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) Inclusive words to a very well known hymn tune. I prefer it sung to WOODLANDS. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes.
• 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. Sound sample. 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
• Online Resource / 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 would be REGENT SQUARE. A range of tunes are used in the sources available. Lyrics and sheet music (to the tune ROSEMARY). 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.
• Online Resource / 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! Sound sample, preview and sheet music available.
  
• AHB 168 / NCH166 / A&M675 / CP(E) 475 / MP328 Immortal love for ever full (John Greenleaf Whittier) Not all versions are inclusive. This is an older style hymn. Lyrics and sample sheet music.
  

Matthew 14:22-33  
Jesus walks on the water - Peter tries....

• Online Resource / Recorded Music God is a River (Peter Mayer) This song is not directly related to this passage, but the idea that God turns us upside down in the water sometimes fits with the story of Peter and our own fears and need for security. Excellent words about new possibilities of how we can think about God. Lyrics & chords. Youtube. 
• CH716 / VU374 / FFS10 / SFFS 2128 / W&R477 / Cha575 Come and find the quiet centre (Shirley Murray) A good song for the beginning of worship. I would prefer to sing this to one of the more traditional melodies offered (Tune 1 in FFS) or BEACH SPRING (TiS 493). Note that Jesus finally made it away from the crowd for some time in solitude. If you’d like to focus on that aspect of the story, you could use this song as a call to worship. Lyrics and sheet music sample. New words to old tunes,
• 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. This song celebrates the many people who have followed God’s call through the ages. Lyrics, sound sample and free downloadable songbook.
• SP&P003 Come Jesus is calling to you (Sue Strachan) Good song for kids. Very simple to sing. Lyrics (downloads a PDF that you will need to search through) Good for kids.
• Online Resource Brother Jesus right beside me (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) This is a great rock song, good for little kids. Lyrics and a sound sample that unfortunately does little justice to the song. We haven't done this for ages, but it can really rock. Great for kids.
• 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 I prefer it to other tunes (like STUTTGART or RESTORATION); you might like to try them if this is not familiar to your congregation. Lyrics and sheet music samples.  New words to old tunes.
• NCYC ’93 / ATFG586 We will love / We will walk with you at the edges (Graeme Gardener) This is a good little rock number “We will walk with you at the edges, we will die with you at the cross roads, we will risk with you taking chances, we will love”. Or something like that. Lyrics (scroll down). Hey, this is my brother's church, by the way. Good for kids.
• NCYC07 Labyrinth (Paul Chalson / Andrew Winton) A beautiful song about walking with God through all times. "To the heart of all that's sacred and to the margins we will walk the path with you". Excellent words. Not easy for a congregation, but if you have good musicians, they can sing it as a prayer for the congregation.
• ATN 84 / NCH490 / CH539 / UMH521 / LBW660 / WoV660 / ELW325 / HPP433 / GtG775/ PH363 / CP512 / W&R506 / Cha627 / ZSS69 / URW110 I want Jesus to walk with me (African-American) This is such a beautiful song, and picks up the idea of Jesus walking with us at all times. I especially like Eric Bibb's version. You could just play that, if you like.
• STB158 In the dawn of the morn (Masuko Endo) This is a beautiful Japanese perspective, and would be best sung by a soloist. Lyrics in English or Japanese.
• TIS 624 / W&R453 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. Lyrics and sheet music. 
• VU318 Christ be with me Christ within me (St. Patrick / Cecil Frances Alexander) A simple refrain setting of St. Patrick's Breastplate. A good song for the end of worship. Lyrics.
• Online Resource When my work takes me places I don't want to go / St Patrick's Breastplate (Porters Gate) Not a congregational song, but a great song to be aware of and to share. Youtube.
  
• CH577 / SFFS 2166  / GtG702 / W&R425 / Lau910 Christ be beside me (St Patrick / adapted James Quinn) Excellent lyrics similar to St. Patrick’s breastplate prayer to the tune BUNESSAN (Morning has broken), so very simple to sing. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• Recorded Music Christ Before Me (Malcolm Gordon) A song based on St. Patrick's Breastplate. Might be good to get your own musicians to sing this, if they can. This is on high rotation in my house. Sound sample and purchase options. 
• Celtic Daily Prayer (Northumbria Community) / Recorded Music Christ as a light (John Micael Talbot) A gentle song based on St. Patrick's Breastplate. Sound sample.
  
• AoV2-070 / ATW 496 / MV090 / StJ 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. Youtube of cute kids and actions. A more polished virtual choir.
• CH570 / UMH512 / W&R495 / Cha629 / ZSS164 When the storms of life are raging (stand by me) (Charles Tindley) A good gospel song. If you focus on slavery this week, you may like to let people know that Tindley's father was a slave and he, although free, also worked from childhood. Hymnals have a range of verses. Sound sample and lyrics. We sing it pretty upbeat. Good for kids (unless you sing it like Elvis). There is also this version by Tom Kendzia, which has a catchy chorus (at least, if you do it faster!).
• NCH472 / UMH474 / VU670 / WoV731 / ELW875 / HPP434 / GtG834 / PH404 / G(II)637 / GC874 / GC(II)847 / G(3)955 / CP509 / W&R500 / Cha628 / Srce2-496 Precious Lord take my hand (Thomas Dorsey) This is more of a favourite in the USA and would fit well with this reading. Early recording. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• MV138 My love colours outside the lines (Gordon Light) Excellent chorus and very singable “We’ll never walk on water if we’re not prepared to drown, body and soul need a soaking from time to time”. Youtube.
• Recorded music: Jesus is walking on the lake (Justin Roberts) From the album Why Not Sea Monsters? (New Testament). Okay, I don’t know if this would fit in a worship service, but it would be good to use for a Sunday School class. “Jesus is walking on the lake, lake lake, I think he made a mistake, stake, stake, he really should have used a boat, boat boat, ‘cos people don’t float, float, float”. Actually, Justin’s lyrics have very good theology, and if you feel like it, his CDs have lyrics and chords so you can play and sing it yourself; they are pretty hard to find now though.

Do you have some suggestions or comments? Please join the conversation by adding a comment below.