Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4
Habakkuk despairs that the world is full of injustice, but is reassured that God will bring change.
- GWA029 In ages past the mighty Lord by prophets spoke the word
(Michael Morgan) This is a song with very many verses; choose at least
verses 1 and 13 this week, and add whichever other verses suit your context. Set to the common tune KINGSFOLD. Some lyrics (not the Habakkuk verse!). New words to old tunes.
- ATFG563 / NCYC'03 / The Red Book How long must we cry out?
(Robin Mann) This is a big Brunswick favourite, great for young people in
particular. "Teach me to do what is right, walk in the darkness, trust
in the light and may love be the path I walk upon".
Good for teenagers. Lyrics. Lyric video.
- TiS 447 /
AHB 61 / CH112 / VU313 / LBW400 / ELW673 / A&M810 /
CP560 / CP(E) 267 / 82Hml-371 / Lau887 / StF106 / MP699 God whose almighty word / Lord your almighty word chaos and darkness heard / Thou, whose almighty word
(John Marriott) A good hymny hymn, very familiar, with the memorable “Let there be
light” line at the end of each verse. TiS lyrics are fairly inclusive,
but VU is better. Oldy-but-a-goody. Lyrics.
- TiS 674 / Iona (Common Ground, Heaven Shall Not Wait) / A&M562 / CH253 / SP245
Inspired by love and anger (John Bell / Graham Maule) Powerful lyrics, simple English folk tune (SALLY GARDENS). Lyric video. New words to old tunes
- SP&P137 The world is hungry for justice / Come Sweet Justice (Louis Gilio
/ Scott Ressman) These words are
very suitable for this reading. It's a ballad and the verses would be
best sung by the musicians at first, with the congregation joining in on
the chorus until they get to know it. Sound sample (in a service on Youtube).
- 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, purchasing options. Good for kids.
- 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. This song will work for next week as well, so now is a good time to introduce it.
- NCH461 Let us hope when hope seems hopeless (David Beebe) A lilting tune and good words of hope in the face of difficulty. A song of a maturing faith. Sound sample (long introduction).
- SoG 790 / ATW
463 / Iona (T1AU) / ELW721 / SFFS 2219 / A&M835 / GtG750
/ GC(II)451 / G(3)528 / W&R296 / URW436 Goodness is stronger than evil (Desmond Tutu / John Bell) Words from Archbishop Desmond Tutu. "Victory is ours, victory
is ours, through him who loves us". Some congregations change the last
line to "Compassion is ours, compassion is ours...". It depends on the
context in which you sing it, I suppose. Sound sample. Good for kids. There is also a very moving choral version of these words and more from Desmond Tutu, arranged by Tom Keesecker. Available here (sound sample there too).
Psalm 119:137-144
We can trust in God's righteousness even when we are in anguish.
Very few settings of this Psalm seem to focus on these verses.
- Online resource Psalm 119:137-144 (Stephen Pearson, USA) A contemporary and quite easy to sing paraphrase of this Psalm. Sheet music, sound sample and lyrics (menu at top of page).
- NCH36 / PH219 To God compose a song of joy (Ruth Duck, USA)
“The God of Justice comes to save; let earth make melody; For God will
judge with righteousness and rule with equity” Beautiful words. I prefer
this sung to the tune in NCH – the standard hymn tune RICHMOND (TiS 425). New words to old tunes
- Online resource Psalm 119: Tsadhe (Tom Quinlan) Tom Quinlan has recorded a simple and beautiful musical setting of the entire Psalm 119. He has a beautiful website
where each section can be listened to and downloaded. Chords and lyrics
also. A wonderful resource!
- PfAS119M Grant me understanding (Bradley Ellingboe, USA) A very simple short refrain "Grant me understanding, that I may live", based on the latter part of this Psalm.
- MV 108 I know your word / Tua Palavra é lâmpada (Simei
Monteiro, Brazil) A simple Brazillian rhythm and a catchy tune. Great for kids,
and a good song for adults too. “I know your word, your word is a lamp
to my feet O God. I know your word is a lamp, O God, to light my path
forever”. Sound sample (quite quick!). Good for kids.
Alternate Hebrew Scripture: Isaiah 1:10-18
Making offerings and celebrating festivals without doing good and working for justice doesn't please God.
- Online Resource / Tune In Peace In Our Time (Dave Brown, Australia) A groovy bossa nova song of peace and justice. Free downloadable sheet music, and sound sample.
- Online Resource / TiS 473 / NCH314 / W&R615 / Cha655 / StF681 Community of Christ (Shirley Murray, New Zealand) Beautiful words to a traditional Hebrew synagogue melody (LEONI). Easy to sing. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes.
- AA085 Let justice roll down like a river (Colin Gibson, New Zealand) Excellent song, and very easy to sing. Lyrics and sheet music Good for kids.
- TiS 663 / NCH108 / CH241 / VU680 / GtG077 / PH337 / W&R532 Isaiah the prophet has written
(Joy Patterson, USA) Excellent words of Isaiah's vision for the future; I
prefer to sing this to the tune JUDAS AND MARY (New words to old tunes). Lyrics (note: a different tune).
- Online Resource / AoV1-050 Act Justly
(Monica O'Brien / Trish Watts, Australia) Simple chant-like chorus, and strong verses. I love
this one. Sheet music sample, sound sample, purchasing options.
- Online Resource / AoVNG1 / CH685 / FFS17 / GtG769 / G(3)812 / W&R617 For everyone born / A place at the table
(Shirley Murray, New Zealand) Words of welcome and change to everyone regardless of
sex, age, sexuality. There are three possible tunes. The Lori True tune
is the most common. I like the Colin Gibson tune in FFS (and on the Hope
Publishing website that follows). This song is good for a service when
communion is
celebrated, but it makes sense without communion, too. DO NOT SING ALL
THE VERSES if you're looking at the Hope Publishing version. Choose the
ones that work for your community. I recommend not using verse 4, which
talks about both the abuser and the abused being welcome at the table,
and places the onus on the abused for forgiveness; it is a verse that
Shirley Murray decided later she would have liked to remove. There is
also an optional verse: "For gay and for straight...." Lyrics & sheet music.
- TiS 657 / CH263 / VU700 / A&M559 / AA50 / CP(E) 447 / Cha656 / SP242 God of freedom God of justice
(Shirley Murray, New Zealand) Powerful lyrics. Can be sung to either
TREDEGAR (new, but not too hard) or PICARDY (very familiar). Lyrics and sheet music sample. New words to old tunes. There is also a nice tune from Douglas Simper in his book if you'd like something quite new, but still hymn-like.
- HPP28 / GtG023 / PH285 / W&R24 / URW083 God You Spin the Whirling Planets
(Jane Parker Huber, USA / AUSTRIAN HYMN) 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.
- ATOK 390 Put on love every day, never hide your love away (Mary Lu Walker, USA) A groovy song that's good for kids! Lyrics (downloads a powerpoint)
Psalm for the Isaiah reading: Psalm 32:1-7
Honest confession forgiven by God. Identity.
You could sing a Kyrie (lots listed here). Some of them are good for kids.
- Online Resource / Tune In / NCYC '07 Forgive us now (Dave Brown). “As we forgive may we be healed, as we reach out….” An excellent ballad. Reference recording, lyrics and free downloadable songbook.
- Online Resource / Tune In Making things new (Sheree Anderson) A groovy one. Great for kids, and lots of fun. Reference recording, lyrics and free downloadable songbook.
- Online Resource / BUC Song Project Broken (Elaine Loukes) This song seeking God's open arms at the end of a dry journey fits this reading well. Sheet music, lyrics and sound sample.
- Cha739 Be glad in God and rejoice (Gary Smith) Responsive psalm with joyous sung refrain.
- MV095 How deep the peace (Lynn Bauman / Linea Good) Simple song. Would work particularly well as words of assurance after the prayers of confession. Lyric video.
- G(II)42 / GC44 I Turn to You in time of trouble (Rory Cooney) A quite nice inclusive cantor and response. Lyrics and sheet music. Sound sample.
- Online Resource / TiS
417 / AoV2-133 / ATW 448 / VU387 / StJ / WoV683 / ELW397 / AA94 /
HPP237 / GtG293 / PH323 / CP657 / W&R135 / Cha244 / URW203 / StB220 Loving Spirit, Loving Spirit (Shirley Murray).
There are about a zillion tunes set for this. I prefer FELICITY (by
Colin Gibson TiS 417), but also like RESTORATION and OMNI DIE. Free sheet music and lyrics. New words to old tunes.
- Emergent Psalter Show me which way to go (Isaac Everett) Simple refrain. Sheet music (refrain only).
- StS066 / PfAS032C While I keep silence
(David Wright) A very mournful song based on this Psalm. Best for a
meditative service; this will not suit all congregations, but there is
something quite compelling about it, and maybe particularly good for Lent. Sound sample.
- TiS 754 / SFFS 2055 / HPP457 / Cha554 / PfAS032B / Srce2-686 / MP793 You are my hiding-place (Michael Ledner) Very mushy, but somehow very satisfying and soothing. Particularly mushy sound sample and lyrics. Good for kids.
- SoG 790 / ATW
463 / Iona (T1AU) / ELW721 / SFFS 2219 / A&M835 / GtG750
/ GC(II)451 / G(3)528 / W&R296 / URW436 Goodness is stronger than evil (Desmond Tutu / John Bell) Words from Archbishop Desmond Tutu. "Victory is ours, victory
is ours, through him who loves us". Some congregations change the last
line to "Compassion is ours, compassion is ours...". It depends on the
context in which you sing it, I suppose. Sound sample. Good for kids. There is also a very moving choral version of these words and more from Desmond Tutu, arranged by Tom Keesecker. Available here (sound sample there too).
2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12
Words of greeting. Steadfastness during persecution.
- TiS 428 / AHB 340 / A&M658 / CP(E) 460 / 82Hml-628 / StF501
Help us O Lord to learn
(William Watkins Reid, USA) Great challenging words about being committed to learning the faith.
Boring tune though. I would sing it to ST THOMAS (TiS 271 / AHB 198). Lyrics. New words to old tunes
- TiS 470 /
CH742 / UMH708 / WoV689 / LBW26 / ELW264 / A&M308 /
GtG732 / CP(E) 227 / W&R531 / Cha476 / SP116 Rejoice in God’s saints today and all days!
(Fred Pratt Green, England) Great words about all the different saints and the
importance of remembering them. The 2nd verse which mentions "some carry
the gospel through fire and through flood" may be particularly
appealing. Works well to the tune PADERBORN, but would be even simpler
sung to LAUDATE DOMINUM which would be more familiar. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
- AoV1-130 / SFFS 2223 / HPP495 / GtG300 / G(II)533 / GC735 / GC(II)728 / G(3)835 / W&R595 / Cha494 We are one in the Spirit / They’ll know we are Christians by our love (Peter Scholtes, USA)
A
classic 60's song of unity and being an example to others. It's still
pretty groovy, I reckon. Older version are really masculine. We often
syncopate it a bit at Brunswick. Lyrics. Good for kids.
Luke 19:1-10
The story of Zacchaeus
- Online Resource I come to you (Hannah
Brown) Thoughtful and repetitive words about leaving all to follow.
Sung to the traditional American folk tune WAYFARING STRANGER, which may
be familiar. Sheet music sample, lyrics, and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.
- TiS 748 / GtB There once was a man as mean as could be (Digby Hannah) Good song for kids and great for this passage. Good for kids.
- MV127 I saw the rich ones
(Pat Mayberry) This is simple to sing and a great song for kids “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”. Lyric video. Good for kids.
- Online Resource / CH507 / AA079 Jesus I come trusting your kindness (Shirley Murray) Words of personal turning to and commitment to Christ. I prefer the tune in Alleluia Aotearoa. Sheet music (not the AA tune!) and lyrics.
- 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
(John Bell / Graham Maule) A classic.
Don't sing it too slowly or it really drags and takes forever! Lyrics video.
- 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, including being someone who welcomed the stranger. Highly recommended. Sound sample and music for purchase.
- ATOK 348 / Iona (HSNW) / G(II)496 / GC692 / GC(II)697 / StF462 Come with me / Sing hey for the carpenter (John Bell) Excellent. I love this one. Very joyous, and a big favourite in our congregation. Lyrics. Good for kids.
- Iona (T1AU) / MV110 / StS037 First born of Mary provocative preacher
(John Bell) A short, energetic song about the nature of Christ's life on
earth; the phrase "outsider's choice" resonates well with this passage. Lyrics.
- Online resource / ToSB251 Zacchaeus was a wee little man
(Traditional) If your kids know this song, there is another verse to
it, which continues the story - Jesus visits and Zacchaeus gives his
money away! Lyrics. Good for kids.
- GtG774 There is now a new creation (David Gambrell) Good words about all things being made new in Christ, from the the greatest to the least. "Come and join the celebration!". Sung to the familiar hymn tune STUTTGART. Thanks to Kathy Stear for this suggestion. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
Have some ideas you'd like to share? I'd love to hear them, and so would other readers - add a comment below!
If your congregation makes use of All Saints' Day as a time of remembering those known to members of your congregation who have passed away, you may also find the suggestions for funerals helpful. - GWA133 / Online Resource Thank God for saints of seasoned age (Ruth Duck, USA) An excellent song for All Saints Day, particularly including those of the older generation as they age. Sung to a new, but quite straightforward hymn tune. Lyrics and sheet music.
- GWA134 Called to be saints
(Alan Luff, England) Joyful words that call us to be saints in many different ways. Sung to the banger of a tune WOODLANDS (Tell out my soul). This would be good for the final hymn of your service. New words to old tunes.
- Online Resource / FFS57 Song of faith that sings forever (Shirley Murray, New Zealand) Simple tune and beautiful image of people throughout generations, alive and dead, taking up a song together; I think this would be particularly good for congregations and communities facing difficult times "And when life would overwhelm us,
when there seems no song to sing,
hear the constant voice of courage
out of fear and suffering". Can also be sung to ABBOTS LEIGH if you want New words to old tunes. Lyrics and links to sheet music.
- Iona (Love From Below) / A&M297 / SFFS 2283 / GC(II)786 / G(3)885 / SP114 / StF746/ Lau387 For all the saints who’ve shown your love
(John Bell) These beautiful lyrics are some of the best words about All
Saints' Day that I've come across, and would work for this reading too.
There are two tunes, and two slightly different sets of lyrics.
Love From Below uses the tune "ALL SAINTS" which is a John Bell
original. A nice tune, but not familiar, although not hard to learn at
all. The Gather hymnals publish a slightly different version of the
lyrics, sung to the tune O WALY WALY which is the tune for "The water is
wide", so much more familiar. Lyrics New words to old tunes.
- AA120 Sing of the saints who were loved and made beautiful (Marnie
Barrell) AA has these lovely words to a tune by Colin Gibson, but it
could also be sung to a modified version of the tune MYRRH-BEARING MARY
(see comments below).
- Tune In / Online Resource Hail the fisherfolk (Dave Brown) A bluesy song that remembers the saints of history and today. Lyrics, sound sample, free downloadable songbook.
- 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 (downloads a PDF). Video. New words to old tunes.
- Online Resource Heaven and Earth are Filled (Christopher Grundy) A beautiful, meditative chant about the great cloud of witnesses; very simple. The sheet music includes the string part. Lead sheet sample. Sheet music for purchase. Sound sample.
- NCH376 God we thank you for our people
(Ruth Duck) All Saints Good words to the tune HOLY MANNA. Some really nice
phrases "hardy spirits, rich in loving", and "thank you God for gentle
pleasure". An excellent forward-looking final verse, too. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
- TiS 470 / CH742 / UMH708 / WoV689 / LBW26 / ELW264 / A&M308 / GtG732 / CP(E) 227 / W&R531 / Cha476 / SP116 Rejoice in God’s saints today and all days!
(Fred Pratt Green) Great words about all the different saints and the
importance of remembering them. The 2nd verse which mentions "some carry
the gospel through fire and through flood" may be particularly
appealing. Works well to the tune PADERBORN, but would be even simpler
sung to LAUDATE DOMINUM which would be more familiar. Lyrics and some tune samples.New words to old tunes.
- AHB 551 / NCH295 / UMH712 / HPP506 / GtG730 / PH364 / 82Hml-293 I sing a song of the saints of God
(Lesbia Scott) A bit twee and it makes me giggle when we get to the "shepherdess on
the green", but I loved this song as a kid, especially the idea that
even I (a girl!) had potential. I think the "And I mean to be one too" part is
just great and no other songs seem to pick up that sentiment about All
Saints Day. It's mostly only good for older kids because it's a bit wordy. Lyrics and tune sample. New words to old tunes. There is also a new set of words, a slightly adapted version by David MacGregor which you may like to check out.
- TiS
455 / AHB 384 / NCH299 / CH740 / UMH711 / VU705 / LBW174 / ELW422 /
A&M296 / GA551 / HPP500 / GtG326 / PH526 / GC793 / GC(II)791 /
G(3)884 / CP276 / CP(E) 232 / W&R529 / Cha637 / Srce2-125 /
82Hml-287 / Lau371 / StF745 / MP148 For all the saints who from their labors rest
(William Walsham How) A classic, but sources vary widely in terms of
how ancient and/or inclusive the language and which verses are included.
NCH, VU and Gather hymnals are pretty good. Be aware that some versions
are really
quite militaristic and warlike, which may not be helpful to some
congregations. Oldy-but-a-mostly-goody. Old-school lyrics. As an alternative, you may like to use: Online Source For all the saints who from their labors rest (Cotter) A good adaptation of the traditional lyrics. Lyrics (downloads a pdf). New words to old tunes.
- Online Resource / NCH297 / CH736 / VU706 / StJ / AA45 HPSS528 / W&R518 / Cha649 / URW131 Give thanks for life the measure of our days
(Shirley Murray) Good and joyful words of remembrance. Can be sung to the familiar tune SINE
NOMINE "Give thanks for those whose lives shone with a light caught from
the Christ flame, gleaming through the night, who touched the truth,
who burned for what is right: Alleluia! Alleluia!". Sheet music and lyrics. New words to old tunes.
- ACS950 / HPP475 / Traditional Oh when the saints go marching in (Traditional) This could be a lot of fun. Here's Louis Armstrong's recording.
- ATN 77 / G(II)542 / GC749 O Welcome All You Noble Saints of Old / In Christ There Is a Table Set for All (Robert Stamps)
Radical hospitality. A song about God with us. Gather hymnals use "In
Christ there is a table set for all" which is much more inclusive than
the old "God and man at table are sat down". Good for celebration of
communion, but is fine without it, too. Lyrics (scroll down). Clunky sound sample.
- Online Resource I am full of the Spirit (Heather Price) A joyful song that celebrates that death is not the end, and that we can carry the stories of those who have gone before us. A great song to use for All Saints' Day particularly if you use it as a time of remembrance. Good for kids. Sound sample and music for purchase.
- Online Resource Fount of all goodness and womb of new birth (David
Bjorlin) A song originally written to farewell a beloved pastor, the
text thanks God for those who work for advocacy for marginalized people,
to empower people for ministry, and who have a prophetic vision for the
future of the church. This
is good for All Saints Day too! Set to
the familiar tune SLANE. Book available for purchase. New words to old tunes.
- Online Resource O God we give thanks for the saints gone before us (Carolyn Winfrey Gillette) Sung to the tune ASH GROVE this provides many images of the lives of the saints before us, beside us, and of the life of Christ. Don't play it too quickly as there are a lot of words and it could be challenging to sing. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
- UMH702 / StS092 / WoV691 / ELW426 / GC442 / GC(II)442 / G(3)539 / Lau451 Sing with All the Saints in Glory (William Irons) Sung to the well known tune, ODE TO JOY, these words focus on the joy of heaven. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
- ACS979 / G(3)845 Making Their Way down through the ages
(Delores Dufner) A good song if you are celebrating communion on
All Saints' Day. Sound sample. Lyrics (downloads a PDF).
- Online Resource / A&M311 / CP(E) 614 We sing for all the unsung saints (Carl P Daw
Jr) A great song about all the unsung saints. The set tune is not familiar,
and a little bit tricky. Could work with ELLACOMBE or KINGSFOLD instead.
Lyrics and sheet music sample.
- Online Resource For all who craft their words with skill (David
Bjorlin) A song originally written to farewell a beloved pastor, but I think it would also work well to celebrate the saints among us. Set to the familiar tune RESIGNATION. Sheet music sample and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.
- CH748 As stars adorn the night-veiled sky
(Carl P Daw
Jr) A simple hymn which talks about the value of recognising saints.
Language is fairly formal, but not archaic. Sung to the familiar hymn
tune WAREHAM (TiS 124) Lyrics and sheet music.
- Online Resource God make us agents of joyful rebellion (David
Bjorlin / Benjamin Brody) Joy as a tool of rebellion, and our role as modern-day prophets. Set to a new tune, which is lovely to sing. Sheet music sample and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.
- Online Resource A cloud of witnesses around us
(Brian Wren) Powerful words about the thousand alleluias being proclaimed through the generations. Lyrics and sheet music.
- Online Resource Even death now will have no power
(Richard Bruxvoort Colligan) A very simple refrain; this will need to be taught to a congregation, but it will be quite lovely if you choose to pursue this theme. Sound sample, lyrics and purchasing options.
- ACS977 / GtG506 Look who gathers at Christ's table (Thomas
Troeger / Michael Corzine) A strong hymn about how we join with
generations who have gone before us, when we come together to celebrate
communion. A good song if you are celebrating communion on All Saints' Day. Lyrics.
Join the conversation below! What will you be singing? Do you have any other ideas, or know of songs that others may like that are not listed here?
Updated in the air over New South Wales, and then 3 and 4 years later under lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic, then a couple of years later at LAX.
