Hosea 1:2-10
God is really angry and fed up with those Israelites, but there will be forgiveness.
- A Kyrie would work well - there are lots to choose from - here's a long list
- 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 6 this week, and you can sing other verses when you want to
sing about other prophets. Set to the common tune KINGSFOLD. Some lyrics (not the Hosea verse!). New words to old tunes.
- Online Resource / FFS20 Forgive forgive us Holy God
(Shirley Murray) Very easy tune for a congregation to sing (and there
are 5 verses to learn it in!). The words focus on our desensitisation to
violence and our greed, so a nice fit for this week's reading. The
final verse has a focus on communion, but still makes sense if you are
not celebrating the eucharist this week. Sheet music and lyrics.
- 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. Free downloadable song book, lyrics and sound samples.
- FFS19 For the hurt I create (Shirley Murray)
Beautiful tunes (there are two) and words. Tune (ii) is most simple, so
use that if you will sing it as a congregation, but tune (i) is also
worth using if you have some good musicians who can sing it for your
congregation. If using tune (ii) you may like to suggest to your
congregation that they simply join in on the "forgive me, Lord, forgive"
line, but make sure you teach it to them first, because the third one
is different to the other three. "For the hurt that I create.... for the
evil I condone... for works of peace I do not do... for hope and help
that I refuse... forgive me Lord, forgive"
- Iona (Enemy of Apathy) / A&M466 / SP223 / StF654 / MP940 The love of God comes close
(John Bell / Graham Maule) A good song of God's forgiveness. Simple melody. Lyrics. Sound sample.
- Online Resource / AoVNG55 / Taizé / G(3)959 / SP323 / Lau221 God is forgiveness / Bóg jest miłością (Taize)
"God is forgiveness, love and do not fear". A simple Taize chant which seems to suit this reading quite well. Sheet music, lyrics in many languages, sound samples.
- 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 particular 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. Sound sample. Good for kids.
- 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.
Psalm 85
God will speak peace; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. God’s forgiveness and steadfastness.
- Online Resource / AoV1-106 /
UMH376 / WoV774 / ELW753 / GtG752 / G(II)528 / GC730 / GC(II)724 / G(3)822 /
CP562 / Cha297 / URW443 / 82Hml-712 / Lau904 / LUYH073 Dona Nobis Pacem (American folk song) This is very well known, and would fit well with this reading. Good for kids. Oldy-but-a-goody. Sheet music.
-
Taizé / TiS 713 / Cha296 Dona nobis pacem domine / cordium (Jacques Berthier)
There is a specific cantor line for Psalm 85 to go with this prayer of
peace. Sound samples and sheet music for the refrain.
- PfAS085C Righteousness and peace (Mary David Callahan) A nice simple refrain; a little bit majestic. "Righteousness and peace shall go before the Lord". Lyrics.
- Online Resource Lord show us your mercy and love (Val
Parker) You'll need a good pianist for this, but it's a lovely refrain,
which could be used with a cantor and choir (as in the recording) or
more simply with a reader. Sound and sheet music samples and purchasing options.
-
TiS 409 / AHB 322 / CH595 / UMH543 / VU202 / StJ / SLW43 / W&R328 / Cha250 / StF391 / MP488 O Breath of life come sweeping through us (Elizabeth Porter Head) This is a really good older style hymn with inclusive lyrics. Lyrics and sheet music. Not all verses are in all hymnals.
- Online Resource O God will you restore us? (BiFrost
Arts) A really beautiful cantored Psalm, which combines this reading
with Isaiah 58. You could use the refrain without the cantoring, or with
a reader, or just on its own if you don't have a cantor. Lyrics, sound sample, and sheet music.&
-
AoVNG55 / Iona (WWHW) / G(II)74 / CP113 Come O Lord and Set Us Free
(Daryl Ducote / Gary Daigle / Mike Balhoff) Good simple, inclusive refrain, which can also be used with a pretty
groovy cantor line. This song appears
in a few different formats. There is a full-length short song (WWHW) and
a short 7 bar refrain (Gather), either would work well as a response.
The refrain is exactly the same melody as the short song, but only uses
the words "Come O Lord and set us free, come and set us free". Sample sheet music. Sound sample.
- CH720 / A&M409 / GtG470 / G(3)653 / SP204 / Lau941 There is a longing in our hearts O Lord
(Anne Quigley) Good words of longing for
God's love, justice, wisdom, healing. A good song for before, during or after
intercessions. Sound sample. Sheet music sample.
-
G(II)254 / GC330 Let Me Taste Your Mercy Like Rain (Rory Cooney) Good words of both personal and communal redemption. Simple contemporary tune. Lyrics & lead sheet. Clunky sound sample.
- Online Resource / CH198
/ MV001 / HPP550 / A&M365 / GtG301 / GC753 / GC(II)741 /
G(3)850 / SP176 / URW058/ Lau458 / StF409 Let Us Build a House / All are welcome (Marty Haugen / TWO OAKS) This song has wonderful lyrics of hope for what a
Christian community can be like, and a chorus that joyfully says “All
are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place”. Sheet music sample and purchasing options. Sound sample (lyric video).
- TiS
217 / AHB 148 / NCH43 / CH519 / UMH384 / VU333 / A&M721 / LBW315 / ELW631 /
A&M721 / GA463 / HPP48 / GtG366 / PH376 / GC622 / GC(II)613 / G(3)641 / CP485/6 / CP(E) 516 /
W&R358 / Cha517 / Srce457 / URW100 / 82Hml-657 / Lau801 / StF503 / MP449 Love divine all loves excelling
(Charles Wesley) A beautiful classic
song and most hymnals use a very inclusive version of this hymn, even
the AHB. Lyrics and sheet music.You may also like to give Rend Collective Experiment's version
a listen (hard for congregations to sing, but nice for listening). You
may also like to see an updated version by Sarah Agnew (see link in
Comments below). Oldy-but-a-goody.
-
MV222 May the peace of God be your peace (Neil McLaren) A lovely benediction. Will need to be taught first. Lyrics (scroll down).
-
CH659 / MV173 / StJ / A&M566 / G(3)824 / W&R389 / SP251 / StF712 Put peace into each other’s hands (Fred Kaan) Good words for communion; tune is quite simple and flows nicely. Slow sound sample, sheet music with lyrics. Good for kids.
-
Emergent Psalter Show us your mercy O God (Isaac Everett) A simple refrain and read Psalm. Sheet music sample.
Alternate Hebrew Scripture: Genesis 18:20-32
Abraham
debates God over the destruction of Sodom, and God is convinced to
forgive, and not to destroy the city if there are 10 righteous there...
- AoV1-137 / ATOK 403 / GA306 / G(II)286 God Of Abraham lead us
(Bernadette Farrell, England) This one is great. Just don't try to sing all 17 verses!
Choose what you like… I love this energetic call and response with the
response "Lead us to your kingdom". You can sing with a cantor and
response, or you could split your congregation in the middle doing half
and half, or you could just have people singing all the way through. Lyrics (and a slow sound sample). Sound sample (listen to the whole thing and see how they build it up). Good for kids.
- Iona (Enemy of Apathy) / A&M466 / SP223 / StF654 / MP940 The love of God comes close
(John Bell / Graham Maule, Scotland) A good song of God's forgiveness; not quite inclusive language for God - you can easily fix it. Simple melody. Lyrics. Sound sample.
- Online Resource / Tune In / NCYC '07 Forgive us now (Dave Brown, Australia) “As we forgive may we be healed, as we reach out….” An excellent ballad. Free downloadable song book, lyrics and sound samples.
Psalm for the Genesis reading: Psalm 138
God is great, strengthens us, protects us, God regards the lowly
- NCH Psalter Great is the glory of God A very simple refrain for a chanted (or read) Psalm.
- Linnea Good I lifted my voice and spoke your name, your word of answer swiftly came (Linnea Good, Canada) A very simple congregational response to the Psalm being spoken. It
would be great to do this. Need a confident reader who can preferably
lead the singing, or an attentive musician to come in at the right spot.
Good for kids.
- Emergent Psalter They shall sing of the ways of the Lord (Isaac Everett, USA) Simple psalm refrain and Psalm spoken over music in between the refrains. Sheet music (antiphon only).
- GC(II)700 / G(3)799 Lord you lead through sea and desert / You are strong you are holy (Sylvia Dunstan, Canada) Simple version of this psalm with a strong chorus. I don't know if our congregation would like it though. Sheet music. Sound sample.
- Iona (SBL) / CH140 / MV181 / WoV727 / ELW554 / G(II)341 / GC495 / StB178 Lord Your Hands Have Formed This World / The Earth is the Lord's (Ramon Oliano, Philippines) Good words of creation to a lovely, and not too difficult, Phillippino melody. Lyrics (first verse only)
- ATW 480 On the day I called (Bernadette Farrell, England) A simple and pretty lovely song. Sound sample.
- TiS 86 / Srce793 With my whole heart I will praise you O Lord
(Arlo Duba, USA) This refrain is fine. Verses should be read, perhaps while
playing quiet chords underneath.
Make sure to keep the chords quiet enough so they are not too distracting.
- NCH085 / SFFS 2082 / Cha623 / ZSS105 Woke Up This Morning (African-American Spiritual) A great Spiritual. If you don't have one of these sources, you can just make it up from this video. This could be a good Sunday to make use of those choir stalls...
Good for kids. Oldy-but-a-goody.
Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19)
“Do not let anyone disqualify you”…. a tricky reading, but I liked that phrase.
- Iona (M&G, T1AU) / MV099 / GC(II)673 / G(3)763 / Lau996 Stand O Stand Firm (Cameroon) I love having an excuse to sing this simple and powerful song; didn't Elijah have to be pretty brave?
Very easy for your congregation. You can make up cantor parts too “Oh my
sisters…. Oh my brothers… Oh my children….” or you can name countries
you are praying for in your intercessions. Good for kids. Scottish sound sample. Lead sheet.
- Online Resource / NCH332 / VU457 / ELW522 / SFFS 2268 / HPP528 / GC(II)738 / G(3)839 / CP061 / W&R695 As We Gather at Your Table (Carl P Daw) Could be sung to HOLY MANNA or NETTLETON, both can be found in most hymnals. Lyrics. Sound sample (lyric video to HOLY MANNA). New words to old tunes.
- TiS 367 / AHB 287 / NCH242 / CH412 / UMH306 / VU159 / LBW135 / ELW366 / A&M217 / GtG236 / PH119 / GC446 / GC(II)459 / G(3)525 / CP212 / CP(E)159 / W&R290 / Cha221 / 82Hml-208 / Lau275 / MP670 The strife is o'er the battle done
(Francis Pott) There are two possible tunes for this hymn. I prefer the tune by James Minchin (THE STRIFE IS O’ER), which is found in the
Australian Hymn Book, rather than the more traditional minstrelly
VULPIUS (Oldy-but-a-goody). The newer tune is pretty groovy, and has
lots and lots of Alleluias. The words also vary a lot between hymnals. My pick: TiS words and AHB tune
287 (ii). Yeah, this was my other church rock favourite of 1979. Old school lyrics.
- NCH438 / UMH377 / LBW346 / ELW785 / HPP390 / GtG840 / W&R428 / Cha561 / Srce784 / MP757 When peace like a river (Horatio Spafford) An older American hymn. Hymnals vary in how old fashioned the lyrics are, and only some include the chorus. Lyrics and sheet music. Oldy-but-a-goody.
- StS116I saw a tree by the riverside / The Tree Song (Ken Medema) A
great kid’s song about roots growing down to the water, and leaves
growing up to the sunshine, and bearing fruit, and all that great stuff. Good for kids. Lyrics.
Luke 11:1-13
Jesus teaches The Lord’s Prayer; everyone who asks receives.
- Online Resource Our Amma Abba Holy One
(Hannah Brown) A really nice gender-expansive rephrasing of the Lord's Prayer, set to a very familiar hymn tune. This would be great to use frequently. Lyrics, sheet music samples and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.
- Brunswick Song Project Our Father in Heaven (Dave
Brown) Written in 2019! This is very jazzy, and takes some learning. It
would be good to sing this again. It can be sung slowly or more
quickly. It's easier, and more chilled out if it's slower. Sound sample.
- PfAS1049 Abana in Heaven / Abana Alathi Fi Ssama
(Presbyterian Church of Egypt / Laila Constantine) I love this and think it would be very well
learned and remembered. It will need to be taught, but it would be worth
it, if you will use it often (e.g. if your congregation says the Lord's Prayer weekly). It
can also be sung in Arabic (the word Abana is "Father"). Beautiful sound sample in Arabic, with text. It could be sung very slowly and meditatively (as in the sample), or a bit more up-tempo, in which case I reckon it's Good for kids.
- URW454 Our Father in Heaven
(Plainsong) I wish I had the guts to try to get my congregation to
sing some Plainsong chant; it's easier to get a small group to do it though. This version has the modern translation.
- URW455 Holy one our only home, hallowed be your name
(Martha Blacklock, Mother Thunder Mission, USA) An excellent inclusive version of the Lord's Prayer from a feminist theological collective and worship group. The tune and words are really beautiful. The tune will need to be taught as it has some surprising jumps. Lyrics (includes many different versions of the Lord's Prayer).
- ATFG574 You are our Father you live in heaven (Warmun and Tiwi communities) Australian Aboriginal version of the Lord's Prayer. Sound sample and lyrics.
- Online Resource Ground of all being Mother of life (David Poole / John Phillip Newell) A modern translation and call and response version of the
Lord's Prayer. There are two key phrases, so it would not be hard to
teach if you have an attentive congregation. Youtube. Words. I'm sorry, but I can't find sheet music for this online any more.
-
URW457 Life-giver lover of us all (Laurie Aleona) An adaptation of the Lord's Prayer, set to the familiar tune TALLIS CANON. Lyrics (scroll down).
New words to old tunes.
- STB043 Lord we did not live up to your teachings / Amra tomar adesh rupe
(Shaha) A Bengali Kyrie, with a particular focus on Christ's teachings. The translation is good, and quite
challenging. This will need to be taught; it could be sung in Bengali,
because (like a Kyrie) it's repetitive. Sheet music sample.
- TiS 465 / AHB 399 / ATA 115 / NCH279 / A&M271 / Iona (SBL) / CH116 / GA381 / Lau313 / StF004 Our God in heaven / Father in heaven / Loving Creator grant to your children
(Elena Maquiso) I really like this hymn, especially the Philippino
folk melody to which it's set. Newer versions of the hymn from the
Christian Conference of Asia have altered the lyrics to "Our God in
heaven / Creator God" in the first verse. Other versions, such as CH4
have "Loving Creator / Parent and God". Old school lyrics and sheet music.
- URW453 Our Father in Heaven
(Jim Strathdee) A simple call and response arrangement of the more
modern translation of the Lord's Prayer. We used this a few times last
year at BUC and it worked well, but the congregation's opinion became quite divided... Sound sample (a little different to the newer versions of it).
- Online Resource / Full of the Spirit God who in all things lives within / My Lord' Prayer
(Heather Price) A rephrasing of the Lord's Prayer, that will be quite straightforward to sing, once taught, as it uses a similar phrase over and over. Sound sample and music for purchase.
- Online Resource / Australian Lutheran Hymnal Supplement Father God in Heaven (James Seddon). Sung to the Gullah tune "Kum ba ya". Youtube with lyrics.
- Online Resource Ask the complicated questions (David
Bjorlin / Southern Harmony) Excellent words about the value of questioning, doubting and seeking. Set to the shape note tune RESTORATION. There is also a more contemporary setting. Sample lyrics, sheet music and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.
- PH349 Let All Who Pray the Prayer Christ Taught (Thomas Troeger) I don't have a copy of this, but the lyrics look very good. It's sung to the tune CHESHIRE. Lyrics (downloads a PDF).
- ATFG575 / VU400 / WoV775 / ELW752 / SFFS 2193 / GtG469 / HPP403 / W&R489 / Cha305 / ZSS156 Lord Listen to Your Children Praying (Ken Medema) A simple, repetitive song which would be fun to play around with - you could do it fast or slow. Sheet music sample. Youtube sound sample (album version.
- TiS
607 / AoV2-126 / ATN 95 / CH528 / VU684 / StJ / A&M725 / SFFS 2171 / HPP406 /
GtG753 / G(II)524 / GC726 / GC(II)721 / G(3)828 / CP(E)519/ W&R587 / Srce 462 / Lau898 / StF707 / MP456 Make me a channel of your peace (Sebastian Temple). Lovely (though God is "master", so it's not really inclusive. Nice if you can just start a capella... Youtube video of Sinead O'Connor singing it and lyrics
- Online resource Our Father above us and all around us (Brian McLaren) I'm not actually sure that I like this, but you might like it. Video.
- Source Unknown Indwelling God infused throughout all existence
(Fred F Keip) This is a rewritten Lord's prayer. It's a bit wordy, but
quite helpful in reframing the Lord's Prayer with less baggage. Ed
Murray who is part of the Singing the Lectionary Facebook group has
written a good plainsong-like tune for this. Prayer.
- Music by Heart 85 Our Father in heaven
(Sanford Dole) A simple call and response arrangement of the more modern
translation of the Lord's Prayer. Needs a confident, and well rehearsed
leader!
- TiS 526 / AHB 451 / A&M712 / CP(E) 505 / StF594 / Lau772 / MP435 Lord Jesus Christ you have come to us (Patrick Appleford) The second verse is particularly appropriate. I haven't sung this for ages; not sure why. Lyrics.
- Recorded Music No Empty Phrases (Paul Demer) This is really lovely, and I think would be a nice song to play for a reflective (listening) Lord's Prayer. Sound sample and download (the download comes with chords too, so you can play it yourselves).
- Online Resource (choral work) Our Father / Journey Through the Lord's Prayer (Pepper Choplin) This is a full "worship experience". A choral cantata with narrations and prayers. It's not inclusive, and it's very schmaltzry, but it may be useful to someone and is pretty satisfying; I quite like the introduction on its own. Sound sample and purchasing options.
What ideas do you have? I'd love to hear your ideas - especially if it's something I've missed. Please add a comment below.
In 2025, this was updated in Edinburgh.
