Songs, Hymns & Music for Proper 28A/Ordinary 33A/Pentecost +24 (November 19, 2023)

Judges 4:1-7
The Israelites turn against God and are oppressed. Deborah promises Barak victory over their oppressors.

• UMH81 Mother of Israel, leader of her armies / Sing Deborah Sing / Canta Debora Canta (Luiza Cruz) I think this song would be fun; I get uncomfortable about singing of glorious victory in battle, but it’s quite clear that the people who sing this song are the ones who are oppressed… Lyrics
• TiS 47 / AHB 46 / AoV1-175 / NCH25 / CH161 / UMH117 / VU806 / LBW504 / ELW806 / GA459 / A&M746 / HPP1 / GtG687 / PH210 / GC614 / GC(II)588 / G(3)688 / CP528 / CP(E) 537 / W&R84 / Cha067 /  Srce2-441 / URW200 / 82Hml-680 / PfAS090B / Lau955 / StF132 / MP498 / VU806 O God our help in ages past (Isaac Watts) A good solid very well known hymn! The surprising thing about this one is that the language is inclusive for God in most sources. Not all sources are inclusive for humanity, so check. Lyrics and sound sample. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• VF017 Arise arise Devorah (Deborah Lynn Friedman and Tamara Ruth Cohen) This song has a catchy chorus including a Hebrew phrase that means "Arise and sing". I would use a cantor for the verses, which tell the story of Devorah (Deborah) the prophet, if this is new to your congregation. Debbie Friedman singing the song (starts at 1:00). Good for kids (if you just get them to join in the chorus). .
• Online Resource Awake with timbrel and with dance (Mary Louise Bringle) A joyful celebration of many women of the Scriptures (including Deborah), sung to AZMON. Sheet music sample, lyrics, and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.

Songs from peoples who have struggled for freedom would also be good to sing. For example:

• ACS903 / AoV1-061 / ATOK 355 / GtG359 / SFFS 2194 / G(II)521 / GC723 / GC(II)707 / G(3)814 / ZSS110 / SgTJ1035 Freedom is coming (South African) Excellent and lots of fun, especially if you have a keen African-style drummer in your congregation. It's really worth teaching the parts to your congregation before the service. It can get a bit confusing for the congregation otherwise. A range of sound samples (Youtube). History of the song. Sheet music samples. Good for kids.
• 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. Choral version. Good for kids.
• Online Resource 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 and suffering would fit well with this reading. Good for kids. Free sheet music!

Psalm 123 
Have mercy on us. We’re tired of people looking down at us.
You might like to sing a Kyrie.

• Linnea Good To you I lift up my eyes (Linnea Good) A simple response. Good for kids.
• Taizé / TiS 725 / ATE 275 / AoV2-167 / ATE 275 / StJ / GA538 / GtG678 / G(II)553 / GC763 / URW391 In our darkness there is no darkness in your sight / La tenebre (Jacques Berthier) Also translated as "Our darkness is never darkness". Sample music and lyrics.
• VF091 Heal me Lord (Carol E Petersen) A beautiful and gentle two part song for healing and mercy. You could use a cantor for Part 1, or separate the congregation into two parts. I think you could also easily make up your own verses to fit your congregation. Sound sample (partway through a church service video). 
• TiS 674 / Iona (Common Ground, Heaven Shall Not Wait) / A&M562 / CH253 Inspired by love and anger (John Bell) Powerful lyrics, simple English folk tune. Lyric video. I love verse three “Don’t query our position! Don’t criticise our wealth! Don’t mention those exploited by politics and stealth!”. It’s easy for us to be judgemental on these things.
• Traditional / ATA 202 / GGives1 We're gonna move when the Spirit says move / I'm gonna sing when the spirit says sing (African American) Based on a traditional song. Some versions are "You gotta sing…." Many versions exist, you can even make up your own words. Lyrics and sheet music. 
• Emergent Psalter The snare is broken (Isaac Everett) A simple refrain to a read Psalm with improvised  music during the reading. Sample sheet music.
• Online Resource We lift our eyes to you (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A gentle song of moving on from the fear of terror and sorrow. It would be a beautiful meditation. Lyrics, sound sample and sheet music.

Alternative Hebrew Scripture: Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18 
God punishes the rich and complacent, and soon.

• TiS 674 / Iona (Common Ground, Heaven Shall Not Wait) / A&M562 / CH253 Inspired by love and anger (John Bell) Powerful lyrics, simple English folk tune. Lyric video. I love verse three “Don’t query our position! Don’t criticise our wealth! Don’t mention those exploited by politics and stealth!”. It’s easy for us to be judgemental on these things.
• GC(II)755 / G(3)864 O the weary world is trudging / The trumpet in the morning (Cooney) Song of release of prisoners and the trumpet's blast. Sound sample. Lead sheet.

Psalm for the Zephaniah reading: Psalm 90:1-8, (9-11), 12
A cry for God's clear presence.

• 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 / VF133 Take my life and let it be (Frances Havergal) An oldy but a goody. This is sung to many different tunes. Lyrics.  Oldy-but-a-goody.
• 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.
• W&R536 Through the Darkness of the Ages (Hilary Jolly) Good words for this Psalm, using the familiar tune ABBOT'S LEIGH. Note that lyrics for Christ includes the term Master which some may find problematic. Lyrics.  New words to old tunes .
• TiS 47 / AHB 46 / AoV1-175 / NCH25 / CH161 / UMH117 / VU806 / LBW504 / ELW806 / GA459 / A&M746 / HPP1 / GtG687 / PH210 / GC614 / GC(II)588 / G(3)688 / CP528 / CP(E) 537 / W&R84 / Cha067 /  Srce2-441 / URW200 / 82Hml-680 / PfAS090B / Lau955 / StF132 / MP498 O God our help in ages past (Isaac Watts) A good solid very well known hymn! The surprising thing about this one is that the language is inclusive for God in most sources. Not all sources are inclusive for humanity, so check. Lyrics and sound sample. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• CH247 / VU394 / G(II)491 / GC685 Moved by the Gospel Let Us Move (Ruth Duck) Excellent words about going out into the world to weave, and paint, and mime, and dance, and play music in the midst of all of life's craziness. Sung to the familiar tune ELLACOMBE.  This fits well with the verse "O prosper the work of our hands!" Lyrics. New words to old tunes.  
• NCH Psalter (at the back of the NCH hymnal) From everlasting to everlasting you are God (Elaine Kirkland) A really nice refrain for a read or chanted Psalm. Good for kids.
• PfAS090C Teach us to know the shortness of our days (Hal Hopson) A good, gentle Psalm refrain. "May wisdom dwell within our hearts"
• PfAS090D Wildflowers bloom and fade (Ruth Duck) Good and hopeful words, mixed in with some quite hard ones; sung to a Celtic style hymn tune. Each verse ends with the phrase "O God, our home". Sound sample (youtube).   
• AoVK-123 / NCH3 / Iona (M&G) / UMH148 / VU308 / WoV794 / ELW837 / GtG021 / PH271 / G(II)338 / GC499 / G(3)911 / CP407 / W&R26 / Cha58 / URW232 / 82Hml-385 Many and Great O God are your works / Wakantanka Taku Nitawa (Joseph Renville) Good words. Simple tune. Sounds great accompanied by a good Native American-style drum beat, which is a great way to get people (especially kids) involved in music-making. Lyrics.
• AoVNG77 In Every Age O God you have been our refuge (Janet Sullivan Whitaker) A really lovely song, and quite easy to sing. The verses are a little complicated, so you could just invite the congregation to join in the chorus. Lyrics and sound sample. 
• Online Resource Open now our hearts to wisdom (Richard Bruxvoort Colligan) Future-focussed words to the familiar tune BEACH SPRING. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• G(II)77 / GC83 In every age, O God, you have been our refuge (Michael Guimont) A nice simple refrain and good translation of the verses. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Sound sample.
• CH054 Lord you have always been our home (Church Hymnary) Good words. I like the tune ATHCHUINGE for this. Sound samples.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 
Keep awake, support each other.

• Online resource Hope still walks this land (Malcolm Gordon) Excellent words and a simple tune, with words about being ready for hope to come. Includes a verse in Maōri which you could choose to use, or omit if you need to. Sheet music for download.
  
• Taizé / CH276 / VU22 / GtG090 / ELW262 / GA283 / A&M053 / G(II)256 / GC332 / GC(II)340 / G(3)406 / CP094 / W&R166 / PfAS037B / SP28 / URW396 / Lau088 Wait for the Lord (Jacques Berthier) Wait for the Lord whose day is near, wait for the Lord, keep watch, take heart. A lovely simple Taize chant; some sources have cantor lines, and some older sources are not inclusive. Sheet music, translations and sound samples.
• 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 / VF133 Take my life and let it be (Frances Havergal) An oldy but a goody. This is sung to many different tunes - check with the older members of your congregation to make sure you choose "the right one"! Lyrics.   Oldy-but-a-goody.
• Taizé / AoV2-088 / ATOK 395 / CH793 / VU950 / ELW348 / GA325 / A&M172 / SFFS 2198 / GtG204 / W&R286 / SP61 / Lau249 / StF780 Stay with me / Bleibet hier (Jacques Berthier) A very well known chant. Sheet music and sound samples.
• VU633 / ELW326 / HPP511 / Cha489 / VF142 / Online Resource Bless now O God the journey (Sylvia Dunstan) Excellent words of travelling together as a community of faith. There are a number of possible tunes. Here is the one from ELW. If you would like a familiar one, it fits with LLANGLLOFAN. Choral version. New words to old tunes.  
• Online Resource TiS 642 / AHB 570 / VU410 / GA536 / G(II)547 / GC757 / GC(II)749 / G(3)856 / CP(E) 205 / URW185 / Lau673 This day God gives me strength of high heaven (James Quinn) There are a couple of possible tunes to this. I like BUNESSAN (morning has broken) best. The words are based on St. Patrick's Breastplate. Sound sample and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.  
• 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.
  
• 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. Sound sample. Good for kids.
• TiS 561 / AHB 467 / NCH494 / CH535 / LBW498 / A&M823 / CP(E) 621 / 82Hml-684 / Lau862 Who would true valor see / valour see (John Bunyan) A lovely old hymn, with old-world imagery. I think it still works OK. TiS and NCH have inclusive language throughout. CH and CP(E) do not have inclusive language, even for humanity. I really like the tune MONK'S GATE. Particularly nice with light instrumentation. A violin / flute and a bodhran may be all you need for this. Not very inclusive lyrics. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• Recorded song Walk in the light, beautiful light (Aretha Franklin). This song would be great if you have some gospel singers in your congregation! can listen to Aretha and some awesome choir singing it here.

Matthew 25:14-30
The parable of the talents / the parable of the angry master. 

• 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.
• ATOK 414 / Iona (LFB, Common Ground) / CH501 / GA485 / A&M788 / G(II)480 / GC673 / GC(II)655 / SP311 / StF513 / Lau850 Take this moment, sign and space (John Bell) A fairly well known favourite. Simple melody and beautiful words. Lyrics (includes a very skinny picture of Jesus).
• 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 / VF133 Take my life and let it be (Frances Havergal) An oldy but a goody. Lyrics and tune sample. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• ATW 459I don't believe in a God up in the sky / God Version 1.0 (Robin Mann) An excellent rock song about how we think about God. Lyrics and mp3. Good for kids & teenagers.
• Online Resource / WoV723 / ELW551 / SFFS 2241 The Spirit Sends Us Forth to Serve (Dolores Dufner) Great words of sending forth in service to the world sung to a well known hymn tune (CHESTERFIELD or LAND OF REST). Sing this at the end of your service! Sound and sheet music sample and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.
• NCH565 / LBW408 / ELW678 / GtG716 / PH422 / CP601 / W&R572 / Cha606 / URW091 God whose giving knows no ending (Robert Edwards) Excellent more formal words of thanks for God's many good gifts to us. Can be sung to a range of tunes including BEACH SPRING, HYFRYDOL, AUSTRIAN HYMN, RUSTINGTON. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes. 
  
• TiS 537 / ATE 297 / NCH347 / CH673 / VU468 / StS123 / WoV754 / ELW674 / HPP536 / GtG526 / PH514 / W&R698 / Cha422 / ZSS206 / URW096 Let us talents and tongues employ (Fred Kaan) Great for kids, excellent Jamaican rhythm which you can have a lot of fun with. It's also very adaptable and works well with any instruments. “Loaves abound!”. lyrics and slighty tacky midi sample here. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• Online Resource / SFFS 2175 Together We Serve (Dan Damon) Good hymn about service. Lyrics and sheet music sample.
  

What ideas do you have? Please share them in a comment below.