Songs for Proper 22A / Ordinary 27A / Pentecost +17 (October 8, 2023)

Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20
The Ten Commandments

• Iona / ATOK 311 / CH754 / GA401 Be still and know that I am God and there is none beside me (Iona) A simple song reflecting on the 1st commandment. Some versions have a 2nd verse.
• Seeds of Faith Ten Commandments (because God loves us) (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A fun song for musicians to lead and for kids to join in the counting. Could be a good way of helping kids learn the 10 commandments in a Sunday School setting. Good for kids. Lyrics and sound sample. 
• Online Resource Ten, Ten Commandments (David Kai) This is pretty silly, but also a lot of fun, and quite catchy. Good for a Sunday School setting. Sound samples, sheet music. Good for kids.
  
• AoVK-41 Moses climbed the mountain high Another good song to help kids learn the 10 commandments, probably better for Sunday School than congregational worship. There are other versions of this out there too, but this one is better. Good for kids.
• Online Resource Let there be rest (Hannah Brown / Benjamin Brody / Adam Tice) This song, which focuses on sabbath as a time of rest is very beautiful and I think would be great if you choose to focus on the practice of resting. Sheet music sample and purchasing options.
• NCH20 God of Abraham and Sarah (James Gertmenian) A great newish but very singable hymn tune with words that pick up the history of our faith, as well as some of the Psalm and Gospel themes this week. Excellent words. Could also be sung to NETTLETON if you want a familiar tune. Sound sample (Youtube). Lyrics (downloads a PDF) New words to old tunes.
• Protest and Praise / Online Resource O Spirit send doubt (David Bjorlin / Sally Ann Morris) A contemporary and thoughtful melody and lyrics that celebrate how faith grows through doubt and questions (not specifically about the ten commandments). Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options.
• Protest and Praise / Online Resource When God first promised Abram (David Bjorlin ) A hymn reflecting on how God comes to us in darkness (features Abram, Jacob, Moses and Rahab). Sung to the traditional tune CHRISTUS, DER IST MEIN LEBEN. Not specifically about the ten commandments, but about Moses going up the mountain. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options. New words to old tunes. 

Psalm 19
Cosmic praise. God's laws are perfect; God's commands are sweeter than honey;

• TiS 187 / AoV2-130 / CH149 / StS122 / A&M539 / SP247 Let all creation dance (Brian Wren) I just love the imagery of this one, and it's a very joyous and familiar hymn tune too. Lyrics New words to old tunes.
• CH172 / URW062 / StF116 Sing for God’s glory that colours the dawn of creation (Kathy Galloway) Beautiful poetic words of creation (first verse), release (2nd verse), justice (3rd verse) and saints (4th verse). Would be a good song to open worship. Sung to a very familiar hymn tune, LOBE DEN HERREN (TiS 111). Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• PfAS019C Through the witness of creation / Lord You Have the Words (Gregg DeMey or Dohms) Two possible refrains to a chanted, read or cantored Psalm. The first (DeMey) is a lovely lilting refrain. I think this is really nice; be sure to lead it clearly or teach the congregation during the service. The second (Dohms) is simpler, and can be used as a round.
• MV31 Pure love (Linnea Good) A simple two-part chant that picks up the Psalmist’s idea of the purity of God’s law “Pure love, pure truth, pure justice, God”. Would be great if you can teach it to some of the congregation before worship starts. Lyrics. Good for kids.
• Emergent Psalter The heavens declare (Isaac Everett) A simple and quite good Psalm refrain. Everett also suggests using: ATA 117 By the rivers of Babylon (Frank Farian, George Reyan, Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton) as a refrain for this Psalm. This is the Boney M version. It's not really very mournful. I can't resist though... here's a video. It was originally recorded by The Melodians. Sheet music (refrain only).Good for kids.
• TiS 156 / AHB 91 / AoV1-135 / ATA 123 / CH212 / UMH145 / VU409 / ELW556 / GA537 / A&M545 / HPP267 / GtG664 / PH469 / G(II)546 / GC756 / GC(II)748 / G(3)855 / CP003 / W&R35 / Cha053 / URW186 / 82Hml-008 / StF136 / Lau671 / MP467 Morning has broken (Eleanor Farjeon) This song makes me smile every time. Here's Yusuf Islam (when he was Cat Stevens) in 1976 (love those green boots).Oldy-but-a-goody.
• GC(II)21 Words of Everlasting Life / Palabras de vida Eterna Simple bilingual (English / Spanish refrain) and cantored verses in either English or Spanish (or I guess you could alternate if you have a bilingual congregation). Sound sample. Sheet music sample.
• TiS 163 / AHB 112 / NCH556 / UMH150 / LBW463 / ELW771 / GtG024  / PH268 / W&R644 / Cha651 / URW084 / 82Hml-580 God who stretched the spangled heavens (Catherine Cameron) Good words of creation of nature and cities and creative possibilities for the future. TiS and other more modern sources are more inclusive. There are many possible tunes. I like it best to HOLY MANNA as in the link. Lyrics and sound sample. New words to old tunes.
• TiS 7 The sky tells the glory of God (Howard Hughes) Excellent and simple cantor and refrain. could easily use the refrain with the Psalm being read also. Don't forget that these Psalm refrains are also great for smaller kids - they can join in without reading. Sound sample. Good for kids.
• Online Resource / AoVK-50 / ATW 430 / NCYC'99 Come let us praise our God / A voice is heard (Trisha Watts) Excellent and energetic. Lyrics. Sound sample. Good for kids.
• AoVK-113 Thank you O Lord for this world of ours I like this kid's song. Really fun and interesting with two parts! Good for kids.
• HPP28 / GtG023 / PH285 / W&R24 / URW083 God You Spin the Whirling Planets (Jane Parker Huber) Excellent words to a very familiar tune (TiS 772). Really good for the final hymn or response to the sermon. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• AoV1-003 / HPP258 / GA394 / G(II)342 / GC497 / GC(II)495 / G(3)576 / Lau693 / StF803 / MP648 The heavens are telling the glory of God / Canticle of the Sun (Marty Haugen) Energetic waltz of cosmic praise with great lyrics "Come dance in the forest, come play in the field, and sing, sing to the glory of the Lord". Sound sample. Lyrics and sheet music sample.
• Online Resource / Tune In Now's the time and now's the day / We will sing a new song to the world (Dave Brown) An energetic song about the gospel, about singing all the new tunes and rhythms that God provides and creating a new earth. A good sending-out song. Thanks to Saide for this suggestion. Sound sample, lyrics and free downloadable songbook.  
  
• Online Resource As rivers flow from a distant spring (David Bjorlin / William Beckstrand) Beautiful words using imagery of creation to inspire us to lives based in God's love that care for others, including the earth. Sound sample. Book available to purchase and download here. 
  
• ATW 462 When I consider God's design (Hand in hand) (Norm Habel / Robin Mann) Good words of all creation celebrating together. Tune is good, too, but will need to be introduced, perhaps by asking your musicians to sing the first verse and inviting the congregation to join in. The verse about "Black and white" could probably be updated a bit to reflect a greater diversity of cultures. Lyrics.
• Online Resource The Heavens Tell of Your Creative Glory / Los Cielos Cuentan la Gloria de Diosome (Horacio Vivares transl. David Bjorlin) An excellent folk song. Best for Spanish-speaking congregations, but works in English too. Sound sample. Songbook for purchase. 
  
• TiS 166 / AHB 102 / GA398 / StB035 Sing a new song sing a new song (James McAuley) Excellent inclusive words. The last verse annoys me a bit, but the rest is excellent. Lyrics. 
• Online Resource Every night and every morning (Adam Tice) Excellent words of God's creation from the atom to the universe, sung to the familiar tune NETTLETON. Sheet music sample and purchasing options. 
  
• Online Resource / AoV1-019 / CH151 / GA397 / G(II)340 / GC493 / GC(II)498 / G(3)575 / W&R039 All You Works of God (Marty Haugen) Joyful cantor and response with a rousing chorus. Also good for kids. Lead sheet and lyrics. Lyric video. Sheet music available.
• VU888 / LBW558 / ELW731 / PH458 / RS681 / CP358 / W&R642 / 82Hml-412 Earth and All Stars (Herbert Brokering) Fun words of cosmic praise - great for the start of a school year or term. I thought this tune was pretty straightforward, but my congregation struggled a bit with it. I really like the "boiling test tubes" bit, although this verse is not in all hymnals; the lyrics vary between sources, and not all are inclusive. One example of the lyrics. Good for kids, especially if sung with some humour.
• ELW561 / G(II)552 / GC762 / PfAS1040 / Lau12a Joyous Light of Heavenly Glory (Marty Haugen) Excellent words of light and darkness, sung to a simple hymn tune. Sheet music sample.

Alternative Hebrew Scripture: Isaiah 5:1-7
The promising vineyard that gives only wild grapes. God's frustrated.

• Tune In / Online Resource / NCYC07 Forgive us now (Dave Brown). “As we forgive may we be healed, as we reach out….” An excellent ballad seeking forgiveness in a sinful world. Lyrics, sound sample and free sheet music.
• Recorded Music If you had a vineyard (Sinéad O'Connor) Taken directly from this passage, this protest song is very moving. It's from the album "Theology". Video.
• Iona (Sent By the Lord) / MV066 Senzenina? / What have we done? (South African) This beautiful chant from South Africa asks the question that we often ask when things go wrong beyond belief. It's important to know what the song means when singing it. If you have some part-singers in your congregation, this would be particularly good. It's good to let people ask this question. It is also on the soundtrack for "The Power of One" so you could also play the recorded music if appropriate. Free sheet music. Good for kids.
• Online Resource / BUC Song Project Why do we listen and fail to hear / Lament - for a people with a people with a dull heart (Shawn Whelan) This lament, and it's wailing ooooh would fit quite well with this passage. Free sheet music and lyrics.  Good for kids.
• 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.
• PH437 / CP591 / W&R586 Our Cities Cry to You O God (Margaret Clarkson) Good words of helping to heal injustice in the world. Being the body of Christ. Sung to a very familiar hymn tune. Lyrics and tune sample.\
• Tune In / Online Resource Our God who weeps (Kate Scull) Very simple folk-like tune and challenging and hopeful lyrics. "When death has taken those held dear"... Lyrics, sound sample and sheet music.

Alternative Psalm for Isaiah reading: Psalm 80:7-15
Restore us, let your face shine that we may be saved. 

• TiS 265 / AHB 193 / AoV1-174 / NCH116 / CH273 / UMH211 / VU001 / LBW034 / ELW283 / GA285 / HPP92 / GtG088 / PH009 / GC317 / GC(II)323 / G(3)395 / CP089 / CP(E) 32 / W&R154 / Cha119 / 82Hml-056 / Lau112 / StF280 / MP493 O come O come Emmanuel (Psalerolium Cantionum Catholicarum) A very well known ancient Advent carol. Most versions are pretty inclusive. Lyrics, sheet music. There are also two alternate versions (one by Sue Wickham and one by John Henson), set to the same tune, but with more modern lyrics and ideas. See the Facebook Group for lyrics. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• CH573 / UMH523 / GtG789 / PfAS061B / 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. You could use just the refrain if you would like a short song - it works quite well on its own.  Story.  Lyrics & chords.
• TiS 42 / GA047 Lord make us turn to you, let us see your face and we shall be saved (Kathleen Boschetti) A simple refrain and mostly inclusive cantor part. We have sung this at Brunswick some years ago and it went very well. Don't forget that you can use these refrains with a reader if you don't have someone confident enough to cantor.
• PfAS080C O Shepherd hear and lead your flock (Michael Morgan) Strong mournful and formal words to the rather Christmassy tune ST LOUIS. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• Tune In / Online Resource Longing for you (Elaine Loukes) A simple chant of longing for God. Free downloadable songbook, lyrics and sound samples. Good for kids.
• W&R632 / Cha512 When Aimless Violence Takes Those We Love (Joy Patterson) Excellent words for a time of grieving violent death; this won't suit most congregations, but perhaps there is one who needs it this Advent. It's sung to the well known tune SURSUM CORDA. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• Emergent Psalter Restore us God (Isaac Everett) Another good refrain and read Psalm with instrumental backing. I'm still loving this book. Sheet music (refrain only, click on the Downloads tab)
• Tune In / Online Resource Our God who weeps (Kate Scull) Very simple folk-like tune and challenging and hopeful lyrics. "When death has taken those held dear"... Free downloadable songbook, sound samples and lyrics.
• Online Resource Restore us (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A hopeful contemporary song. This is simple enough for a congregation to sing the first time, I think, but if you're feeling less hopeful about the singing ability of your congregation, they could just join in on the VERY simple chorus! Lyrics, sound sample and sheet music.
• Online Resource / AoVK-29 Remember we are your people (Tony Barr) Simple three part chant "Remember we are your people, your people O God". This would work really well as a sung refrain during the prayer of confession. Sound sample, sheet music sample and purchasing options. Good for kids.
• VU239 O great Spirit how I long to hear (Doreen Clellamin) Written by a First Nations Canadian woman, this very simple song would be best with a good hand-clapping rhythm or drumming. Lyrics (in an order of service). 
• 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.
• NCH563 / MV143 / HPP260 / GC710 / GC(II)703 / G(3)811 / RS 636 / Cha684 / URW169 / Lau688 We cannot own the sunlit sky / Abundant life (Ruth Duck) I like these words full of hope for the future. I would prefer to sing it to the tune of "How can I keep From singing". LA GRANGE is the other option. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• Psalm Project (2010) Shout for Joy Turn and restore us (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) This is a little bit country. Very cool, and I think a younger congregation would probably pick this up fairly quickly. Sound sample.
• G(II)69 / GC74 The vineyard of the Lord (Michael Guimont) A very simple refrain and read or cantored Psalm. Sample refrain music and lyrics. Sound sample.

Philippians 3:4b-14
Righteousness through faith, and striving ahead

• Tune In / Online Resource A grain of wheat (Sheree Anderson) Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it won't form roots and grow. A boppy song with deeply meaningful lyrics. Reference recording, lyrics and free downloadable songbook.
• BUC Song Project Always amazed (Dave Brown) A hopeful song of seeking faith, and being inspired by stories like Paul's. This is new to BUC, so perhaps ask the musicians to present it? 
• 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!". Lyric video.
• TiS 382 / AoV2-131 / ATN 15 / NCH238 / CH417 / UMH311 / VU186 / LBW280 / ELW379 / GA364 / A&M212 / HPP210 / GtG247 / G(II)318 / GC444 / GC(II)456 / G(3)534 / CP237 / CP(E) 153 / W&R311 / Cha230 / 82Hml-204 / Lau278 / StF306 Now the green blade rises (John MacLeod Campbell Crum) I love these words and this simple French folk tune. I particularly like this played to guitar, but TiS has an excellent piano arrangement too. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes
• 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, translated by Eleanor Hull) 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 it makes it a bit clunky when you get to "O Ruler of all", and High Kings were clan leaders, so maybe we could do better. I'm still thinking about this. All that stuff about Loaghaire is more about the name of the tune BTW...  Lyrics. Oldy-but-a-goody..
• AoV2-033 / VU647 Travel on travel on (Sydney Carter) I think this old folk song would work well to pick up the theme of "pressing on". Lyrics and chords here.
• TiS 599 / AHB 520 / NCH448 / CH502 / UMH399 / VU506 / LBW406 / ELW685 / A&M787 / HPP349 / GtG697 / PH391 / CP435 / CP(E) 581 / W&R466 / Cha609 / Srce633 / 82Hml-707 / Lau874 / StF566 / MP624 Take my life and let it be (Frances Havergal) An oldy but a goody. Lyrics and story.  Oldy-but-a-goody.
• MV125 When a grain of wheat / Hitotsubu no (Toyohiko Kagawa) This is a lovely chant. It will need to be taught as it's a Japanese melody and the timing is unfamiliar to Western ears, but once known it should be quite straightforward to sing. Choral video, in Japanese.
  
• 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. And the marching is toi-toing, much less militaristic than what you may imagine. Inspiring choral video. Good for kids.  
• 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 Civil rights 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. Good for kids.
• Worldmaking.net O Author of Faith yet at work in our hearts (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) New words to an old tune “O Jesus our Christ, lead the way for our faith to give perseverance for running the race. You’ve gone on ahead for to stake out a claim. We trust in the journey and look for your footsteps. O Jesus our Christ, lead the way for our faith!” Lyrics and sound sample
• TiS 412 / AHB 324 / ATE 251 / G(II)328 / GC468 / CP651 / W&R130 God sends us the Spirit to befriend and help us / Spirit Friend (Tom Colvin and the people of Malawi) I like this song, but the lack of inclusive language for God sometimes drives me a bit crazy. In Tom Colvin's book "Come Let us walk this road together" he uses more inclusive language than many hymnals that include this song. That is, he writes “God sends us the Spirit” instead of “God sends us His Spirit” and "Spirit of our Maker" rather than “Spirit of our Father”. Good for kids. Lyrics and sheet music
• Online Resource Christ is for losers (Adam Tice / John Bell) A thoughtful song, although kind of strange, it might be appropriate depending on your sermon. Sung to the familiar tune DREAM ANGUS. Sheet music sample, lyrics, and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.  
  
• TiS571 / AHB 480 / CH529 / UMH438 / VU416 / A&M476 / CP467 / CP(E) 430 / W&R718 / StF550 / Lau861 / MP159 Forth in your / thy name O Lord I go (Charles Wesley) Timeless words about committing all our works to God. I like this hymn best played lightly and joyfully with a simple drum beat as a kind of minstrel tune, rather than a hymn. The old fashioned words seem to make a lot more sense to me that way. Some hymnals (including TiS) have sensitively modernised the words. Lyrics and sheet music Oldy-but-a-goody.

Matthew 21:33-46
The murderous tenants and Christ's followers still don’t understand.

• Tune in / NCYC'07 Forgive us now (Dave Brown) I've chosen this because sometimes we are the murderous tenants in the story, but God forgives. This is a beautiful and challenging song of forgiveness. Lyrics, sound sample and free sheet music.
• NCH387 / GtG361 / PH443 / GC(II)646 / RS782 / CP524 / Lau829 O Christ the great foundation (Timothy Ting Fang Lew) Excellent words of salvation and justice from Timothy Tingfang Lew, sung to the tune of "The church's one foundation" (AURELIA). Lyrics and sheet music New words to old tunes.
• TiS 590 / AHB 165 / AoVK-117 / NCH506 / UMH526 / VU663 / 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, but the song has so 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 and sheet music. Good for kids. Oldy-but-a-goody.

 What ideas do you have? Please share them in a comment below if there are any I have missed!