Songs and Hymns for Transfiguration B (February 11 2024)

2 Kings 2:1-12
Elisha’s devotion, inheritance and grief, Elijah taken up by a chariot.

• Seeds of Faith Do you know that I am your friend? / I’m Gonna Stick With You (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A fun song for kids. Lyrics, and sound sample. Good for kids.
• VU633 / ELW326 / HPP511 / Cha489 / VF142 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. If you would like a familiar one, it fits with LLANGLLOFAN. Video with lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• ATW 507 Where you tread (John Beavis) A beautiful and simple song based on the story of Ruth, but quite appropriate to the idea of standing alongside others. Very simple for a congregation to sing first time.
• UMH703 / HPP470 / GtG825 / W&R520 / Cha643 Swing Low Sweet Chariot (Traditional) If you want to talk about all of us going up to heaven, or to freedom. I'm not sure that this really relates to the reading, but thought I'd list it in case you're looking for it... Lyrics, sound sample, history.
• MV179 Sisters let us walk together (Judith Snowdon) A mournful song, that can be sung as 3 verses or as a round. It was written for a worship service to honour women killed in the Montreal Massacre of 1989. It would work for any service that reflects on people walking with each other through difficulty, and in grief. I think it reflects nicely the words of Elisha in this passage. Lyrics and story (scroll down).
  
• Recorded music Elijah (Rich Mullins) Maybe it would be good to sing something like this. Lyrics. Youtube. 
• Recorded Song Go like Elijah (Chi Coltrane) An energetic song about dying quickly. More a pop-culture reference than a theological statement, but it could be fun for the postlude. Thanks to Aboksu for this suggestion. Video. Lyrics. 
  
• AoV2-061 / ATE 249 As a dream receive your hist'ry (Andrew Tanner) A big favourite. There are actions too! The chorus is particularly excellent “We will rise up on wings like eagles, run and not be tired, show us your dreams and visions, warm our hearts with tongues of fire, tongues of fire”. I think this would work well with this reading if you think about the inheritance that we also receive from our forerunners in the faith. Lyrics. Good for kids.
• Taizé / MV075 / StS079 / SFFS 2118 / GtG284 / GC(II)479 / G(3)547 / SP100 / URW395 Holy Spirit Come to Us / Veni sancte spiritus / Tui amoris (Jacques Berthier) Best if you have a cantor, but works well if you don't, too. Sheet music, translations, sound samples.
• Online Resource / ATAR643 / Walk as One Fire of prophet cool wisdom of sage / Spirit lead us (Paul Somerville) An excellent song about knowing God through sacred stories, and being part of God's sacred story. This would be an excellent song for the entry of scriptures at the start of the service if this is your practice. It may be best sung first by a soloist. Sound sample. Book (PDF) available for purchase.

Psalm 50:1-6 
God the creator; Those who practice thanksgiving and righteousness will be saved.

• TiS 30 Be exalted O God above the earth (Jane Marshall) A simple and beautiful refrain, with an inclusive cantor line. If you have no cantor, it will work well with the Psalm read as verses between the refrains.
• 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.
• VU775 The mighty one God the Sovereign (Eleanor Daley) Good refrain and responsive reading
• Emergent Psalter To the wicked God says (Isaac Everett) Powerful words in this refrain. Nice 3/4 rhythm. Sheet music
• TiS 743 / AoVK-31 / CH170 / GGives1 Praise and thanksgiving let everyone bring (Edith Lovell Thomas) A simple round. Note that most versions have a masculine God; AoVK has inclusive language. Sample sheet music. Good for kids.
• Iona (T1AU) Give thanks worship and praise (John Bell) A four part short song of thanks. Can be used as a processional. Sound sample.
• Music by Heart 79 Out of Zion (Judith Dodge) A simple chant for congregational singing and improvisation. Sheet music sample.
  
• / 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.
• NCH565 / LBW408 / ELW678 / GtG716 / PH422 / CP601 / W&R572 / Cha606 / URW091 God whose giving knows no ending (Rusty 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 458 / AHB 388 / NCH095 / CH220 / UMH690 / VU437 / Songs for Liturgy / LBW274 / ELW569 / GA539 / A&M24 / GtG677 / PH546 / CP029 / CP(E) 22 / 82Hml-024 / Lau679 / StF147 / MP641 The day you gave us God is ended (John Ellerton) A lovely older hymn. Suitable only for evening services. Old school lyrics & sheet music. Oldy-but-a-goody.

2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Light shining in darkness, God shining in our hearts. Some odd stuff about the gospel being veiled to those who don’t want to hear it.

• Online Resource Great Eastern star igniting skies (Hannah Brown) Poetic words starting with the star and the child, passing through crucifixion to resurrection. Sung to the shape note tune KEDRON, which I love, but will need to be taught to most congregations. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.
• AoV2-003 / ATOK 313 / CH543 / StJ / GA404 / A&M042 / ELW715 / GtG314 / GC(II)512 / G(3)590 / SP13 / URW114 / Lau883 / StF706 Longing for light we wait in darkness / Christ, be our light (Bernadette Farrell) One of my favourites, especially if someone can sing or play the descant line in the later verses. Sound sample and lyrics. Good for kids. 
• AoVK-40 / NCH524 / UMH585 / ELW677 / A&M808 / HPP466 / G(II)358 / GC514 / GC(II)514 / G(3)591 This little light of mine (Traditional) The AoVK version has excellent verses that actually make the chorus make sense, but will need to be practiced. Check them out if you have a copy. In the meantime, watch Bruce Springsteen sing it here. It's amazing... Good for kids.  
• Taizé / TiS 747 / ATE 214 / Iona (M&G) / GtG842 / PfAS027A / URW393 The Lord is my light, my light and salvation (Jacques Berthier) A simple and very popular Taizé chant. Note that this is really easy on recorder if you have a kid in your congregation who is learning it. Good for kids. Youtube.
• AoV1-053 / AoVK-82 / GA256 Receive The Light of Christ (Erica Marshall) Simple round "Receive the light of Christ, May (it) shine within our hears, May the Christ Light fill us with joy and peace". Sound sample (of a non-inclusive version) Good for kids.
• Iona (HSNW) / VU019 / A&M839 / SP326 Kindle a flame to lighten the dark and take all fear away (Iona) This song would also work well at various points in the service, including during intercessions. Good for kids. Sound sample.
• Online Resource O Children of the Light / Ay Farzandane Nur (Anonymous Farsi) This is simple enough if you just limit yourself to one verse and chorus in both languages. Sheet music, Farsi, transliteration and English translation (the English translation is not for singing). Sound sample on youtube (which includes a singable English translation). Don't do it too fast!
• STB020 Praise Lord Jesus / Zan-mei Yesu (Chun-fa Tung) A joyful song with many hallelujahs and different parts for men and women. The tune is a Taiwanese melody so will need to be taught, and would be great with simple percussion (from children?). It is quite repetitive, so would not be hard to learn. Lyrics in English and Mandarin - you will probably need a Mandarin speaker to help with the pronunciation.
• Online Resource / Music by Heart 61 Arise shine for your light has come (Ruth Cunningham) A simple two-part chant, which can easily be taught before, or during, the service. Free sheet music. Good for kids.
• CH348 / StS001 / ELW843 / A&M762 / G(3)625 / CP397 / W&R93 / SP304 / URW090 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness (Rusty Edwards) Good words of Christ's ministry to all. Can be sung to the familiar tune NETTLETON, or the less familiar and very lovely tune JOEL.  Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes.
• Iona (One is the Body) / ATAR601 / MV103 Ka mana'o 'i 'o (Joe Kanoelehua Camacho) Hawai'ian song. Fun to sing and good words. The chorus is not too hard to sing in Hawai'ian if you teach it. Nice with guitar and/or ukelele. Lyrics and story (scroll down).  Sound sample. 
• SFFS 2005 Arise Shine for your light has come (Gary Smith) A simple call and response. Good for an intro to worship.
• TiS 548 / VU629 / HPSS340 / CP(E) 415 / W&R418 Eternal light shine in my heart (Christopher Idle) I really love this beautiful inclusive and ancient prayer. It is not familiar, but would be beautiful sung by a soloist until your congregation grows to know it. Lyrics.
  

Mark 9:2-9
Transfiguration story

• ATFG555 / NCYC03 Open your eyes / See Yourself (Robin Mann) “see yourself in the one who’s shining on the hill”. Puts the transfiguration in the context of a whole lot of other New Testament stories. Excellent newer song; verses are a little tricky. Lyrics. Good for kids.
• STB298 You are full of Light Lord Jesus (Syriac Liturgy) A simple song from South India. It's very beautiful - the tune will need to be taught. Probably simplest to sing it in English. 
• SFFS 2153 / GC(II)770 / G(3)878 / Cha182 Transform Us as you, transfigured (Sylvia Dunstan) Good words to the familiar and quite meditative hymn tune PICARDY (TiS 497). New words to old tunes Lyrics and sheet music preview 
• TiS474 / AoV1-012 / ATE 295 / CH623 / SFFS 2236 / HPP553 / A&M363 / GtG401 / G(II)539 / GC839 / GC(II)743 / G(3)848  / CP465 / W&R649 / Cha284 / SP175 / URW054 / Lau475 Here in this place new light is streaming / Gather us in (Marty Haugen). Excellent words, very well known. “Nourish us well and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true”. Lyrics and sheet music samples. 
• ACS954 / CH355 / VU210 / HPP81 / GtG274 / GC(II)525 / G(3)628 / CP630 / W&R99 / URW098 You Lord Are Both Lamb and Shepherd (Sylvia Dunstan) Beautiful words. Can be sung to many tunes. I like it to PICARDY or WESTMINSTER ABBEY. Lyrics and sound samples. New words to old tunes.
• NCH182 / VU104 / SFFS 2103 / HPP147 / GtG191 / CP166 / W&R245 We have come at Christ's own bidding (Carl P Daw Jr) Excellent lyrics that bring the images of the transfiguration to the faith of today. Sung to the familiar and very lovely tune HYFRYDOL (TiS 517). Lyrics. Tune sample.New words to old tunes.
• Online Resource / AoV2-103 / AoVK-115 / G(II)514 / GC712 / GC(II)715 Holy Ground (Donna Peña) I love the energy and passion in this song and the vision of the heavens embracing the earth. I especially like the “Do you believe in freedom? Yes we do Lord! Do you believe in justice? Justice for all!” call in the middle. Bilingual English/Spanish song. Good for kids. Sound sample, sheet music sample, and purchasing options (choral version). 
• Online Resource / ATFG 541 What is this scene? (David Froemming / Leigh Newton) A good story telling song. Not too difficult for the congregation to sing on a first attempt, but it will need a brief “teaching time” for the melody. You could also ask the musicians to present as part of the offering. The words are great. Free sheet music.
  
• Online Resource / TiS 255 / CH135 / VU434 / CP018 O laughing Light O first-born of creation (Sylvia Dunstan) A slightly more modern version of the Phos Hilaron. Words are good but the tune in TiS (ADRIAN) is a little tricky. You can also use CHRISTE SANCTORUM. I also very much like the new tune written by David Sims (no relation) in the link that follows. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options.
  
• Online Resource / URW432 Radiant light divine (Rufino Zaragoza) This is pretty lovely. A nice chant based on the Phos Hilaron. Sound and sheet music samples and purchasing options.
  
• Online Resource Seeing Jesus (Bruce Harding) A simple chant, needs at least 2 of the parts. Free sheet music.
  
• NCH183 / GtG193 Jesus take us to the mountain (Jaroslav Vajda) A very positive transfiguration hymn that asks good questions and provides some good challenges and clearly looks onward to Good Friday. Lyrics.
• Online Resource / TiS 268 / AHB 224 / AoV1-170 / NCH132 / CH320 / UMH246 / VU59 / LBW039 / ELW267 / GA295 / HPP107 / PH040 / GtG134 / GC343 / GC(II)353 / G(3)437 / CP154 / CP(E) 57 / W&R179 / Cha143 / Srce399 / 82Hml-100 / Lau156 / StF330 / MP393 Joy to the world The Lord is come (Isaac Watts) So, this was not actually written as a Christmas carol (read the lyrics: no baby Jesus), and I think it would work well for Christ the King Sunday and Transfiguration, so maybe it's worth a go! Lyrics and sheet music.  Oldy-but-a-goody.
• Online Resource / TiS 234 / AHB 390 / A&M281 / GC778 / GC(II)771 / G(3)877 / CP167 / CP(E)248 / VU103 / LBW89 / ELW315 / Lau209 How good Lord to be here / Tis Good Lord to Be Here (Joseph Robinson) Good solid words and a good solid tune (I like CARSLISLE best). I like the ending “But since you bid us leave the mount, come with us to the plain”. Sound and sheet music sample (to the tune SWABIA, which is also nice), and purchasing options. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• NCYC07 You shine (Kent Crawford) A good song, with an excellent chorus "You shine over us, you shine through us, so let your light shine on around the world". Definitely for the more youthful congregation. It would also work to play the CD from NCYC07 if you don't have a band of musicians. Good for teenagers..
• ATW 447 Thank you Jesus for ordinary miracles (Robin Mann) Fun and joyful. "Up in a cloud in the air"! Lyrics. Good for kids.
• Recorded Song Little Lights (Punch Brothers) This track from a recent Punch Brothers album sings of the desire of remaining in a transcendent place, but needing to return to reality - it made me think of the transfiguration, even though it's not written about it... I particularly like the line "guide us back to where we are from where we wanna be"... Lyrics. Sound.
• Recorded Song Transfiguration (Sufjan Stevens) I love this song. Lyrics. Here’s a video of him performing it live here on youtube, which is a bit more eclectic than the studio recording. Note: if playing recorded songs in worship, it's a really good idea to provide lyrics to the congregation either in a handout or using projection. Or you can get your musicians to play it for the congregation too.
• Lau215 / Online Resource Transfigure us O Lord (Bob Hurd) Really excellent words. Maybe better for a soloist. Thanks to the anonymous reader who suggested this. Sound sample & purchase options. Lyrics. 
  
• Online Resource Transfigure me (Christopher Grundy) I particularly like the chorus of this, that could be used as a sung response. The verses are also good. Youtube recording (rough, but gives you an idea). Sheet music. Free Bulletin Insert. 
• Online Resource Transfiguration (At Average) This song picks up on the disciples' desire for Christ to stay. Lyrics and sound sample. Instructional video for guitarists. Thanks to Tim Larson for this suggestion. 

What will you be singing? Add a comment, especially if it's something I haven't thought of!