Songs, Hymns & Music for Lent 3B (3 March 2024)

Exodus 20:1-17 
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. Sound sample and spoken meditation.
  
• 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). Lyric video. 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. Lyrics (DeMey).
  
• 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.
• Online Resource / 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). Sheet music (including the extra twiddly bits). 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 / 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.

1 Corinthians 1:18-25 

The foolishness of the cross

• Online Resource / TiS 356 / CH385 / Cha203 / StF273 Here hangs a man discarded (Brian Wren) Excellent words, particularly for this reading “Can such a clown of sorrows still bring a useful word where faith and love seem phantoms and every hope absurd?”. Also works very well with TiS 339 (Passion Chorale) if your congregation is scared of new tunes. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes.
• TiS 422 / CH594 / CP(E) 179 Come Holy Spirit come inflame our souls with love (Michael Lindsay Forster) Excellent words to a well known hymn tune. It is not gender-inclusive for God. Lyrics (links to a very impressive pew sheet). New words to old tunes.
• TiS 179 / NCH273 / VU312 / StJ / URW073 Praise with Joy the World's Creator (John Bell) One of my favourite hymns - strongly Trinitarian lyrics and excellent imagery. Lyrics (scroll down or search). New words to old tunes.
• ACS1096 / Cha333 / GtG230 / G(II)550 / GC760 / GWA096 / VU284 Joyful Is the Dark (Brian Wren) I really like these words which summarise the entire story arc of faith. Hymnals vary widely in the tunes they have set these lyrics to. GtG uses a really difficult key but the tune is nice. GWA uses GEARY, which I quite like, but will need to be taught. Lyrics and various sheet music samples.
  
• TiS 262 When pain and terror strike by chance (Brian Wren) These excellent words may be particularly helpful if you are in a community where there has been recent loss / disaster. Very familiar Irish folk tune. Lyrics.
  
• Recorded Music The cross is foolishness (John Michael Talbot) I don't really know this song, but came across a sound sample and the lyrics. I think it would be a good one to listen to, or play if someone has the music. 
• Unusual sources It really is a worry / Right side up (Downie) A good kid's song about how God's world is not upside down, but right side up. We have this in the folders at church. It's also in a book called "Praise God Together" and in "Kidsource 2". Good for kids.
• Unknown source Alleluia, the great storm is over (Bob Franke) lift up your wings and fly! I especially love the image of the infant sleeping while the mother sang until the bridegroom returned. The chorus is really catchy and very easy to sing. If not familiar, you can use a cantor or soloist for the verses and invite the congregation to join in the chorus. We tend to sing this more like a gospel anthem, but I don't think we've sung it in quite a while. Lyrics. Video with poor image but good sound.
• Online Resource God is like a foolish farmer (David Bjorlin) Many images of God as farmer, lover, ruler and shepherd, all of them "foolish", but all of them more loving and caring than our usual image of these types of people. Sung to the familiar tune RESTORATION. Lyrics and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.  
  

John 2:13-22
Jesus casts out the money-changers from the temple

• TiS 674 / Iona (Common Ground, Heaven Shall Not Wait) / A&M562 / CH253 / SP245 Inspired by love and anger (John Bell) Powerful lyrics, simple English folk tune. Lyrics. 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.
• TiS 473 / NCH314 / W&R615 / Cha655 / StF681 / Lau895 Community of Christ (Shirley Murray) Beautiful words to a traditional Hebrew synagogue melody (LEONI). Easy to sing. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes.
• FFS48 May the anger of Christ be mine (Colin Gibson) Excellent words and very singable tune. Free sheet music and lyrics.
• Online Resource / Full of the Spirit Jesus, barrier breaker / Radical for love (Heather Price) Gutsy pop song about how Jesus was not a rule maker, but a rule breaker! Highly recommended. Sound sample and music for purchase. 
• Online Resource God beyond our ways of knowing (Adam Tice / Randall Sensmeier) This hymn starts and ends with a verse seeking God's guidance, and the middle verse picks up the Gospel reading for each week of Lent in year B (that's this year). You may like to use it each week. Sung to a simple and catchy tune. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options. 
• Online Resource The church of Christ cannot be sold (David Bjorlin) Powerful words about how we must move forward as a church without worry about financial security. Set to the familiar folk tune STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN. Sound sample, sheet music and lyrics sample and purchasing options. New words to old tunes 
• 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 689 / ATE 286 / GtB Lord hear my praying, listen to me / Sorrowing song (Robin Mann) Powerful words of lamentation to a simple tune. It's not really an "angry" song, but it would also work for this reading. Words are straightforward about asking difficult questions of God. Lyrics. 
• Online Resource / MV157 I am a child of God (Bruce Harding) A simple song with powerful words. Verse 3 is especially suitable for this week "I am an angry voice, I am compassion and consternation, I am an angry voice. I am an angry voice". Free sheet music and sound sample. Good for kids?
• Online Resource Move (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) This song is based on Psalm 109, but will work very well for this reading. Minimal words would make this a good song to memorise and sing while you are next at a protest rally, with someone singing the verses through a megaphone. But, yeah, you can sing it in church too! Lyrics, sound sample and sheet music.
• Online Resource Faithfully Angry (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) This is based on Psalm 58, but also works well for this reading. There is a good tradition of anger in the Psalms...! While the recording is quite slow and gentle, it would also work at about double the speed with rocking guitars (but maybe as a solo instead of a congregational song). Lyrics, sound sample and sheet music.
• StF253 Love inspired the anger (Andrew Pratt) Excellent words about the transforming power of a loving anger, and a very simple tune. Lyric video.

What will you be singing? I'd love to hear your suggestions. Please add them in a comment below.