Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Moses sees the Promised Land but cannot pass into it. The death of Moses, and appointment of Joshua as the new leader.
- God Gives 1 We will walk together into the Promised Land (Coates) A fun repetitive gospel-type song. I will suggest this again next week, so it could be a good week to introduce it. Great for kids.
- Tune In / Online Resource All will finish well (Dave Brown, Australia) If
you want to take the perspective of Moses who is missing out, this song
might be useful "You in all our darkness, you offer peace"... maybe.
Lyrics, free sheet music, and sound sample.
- ATA 114 Come my brother come my sister
(Joseph McCarthy) Nice and easy to sing. Has a repeated line of "come, my
brother, come", which would be better alternated with "come, my sister,
come", or even "come, together, come". Great words of hope about the Promised Land.
- UMH508 / VU643 / Cha535 Faith while trees are still in blossom
(Anders Frostenson, Sweden / translated Fred Kaan, USA) Excellent words of the need to have faith, and to take
action in order for the future to be brighter. Verse 4 is particularly
appropriate this week "Faith, uplifted, tamed the water of the undivided
sea, and the people of the Hebrews found the path that made them free".
There are multiple possible tunes. I like FOR THE BREAD, which is in
VU. Lyrics. Story.
- Recorded Music These Hands (Malcolm Gordon, Aotearoa / New Zealand) A gentle song of God's guidance, and support through life and death. Sound sample and purchase options.
Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17
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.
- Online Resource / Taizé / AoV2-109 / A&M334 / CH772 / GA429 / GtG654 / G(II)396 /
GC566 / GC(II)546 / G(3)639 / Lau944 / LUYH357 / MP865 / SFFS 2195 / SP128 / StF776 / URW381 / VT118 / W&R448 In the Lord I'll Be Ever Thankful / El Senyor
(Jacques Berthier, France) A joyful and bouncy short song. Works well in
English, German and Spanish (and probably other languages too). 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 .
- Public Domain / Online Resource / 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 / VT203 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 sheet music. 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).
- Public Domain / Online Resource / AoVK-123 / 82Hml-385 / Cha58 / CP407 / ELW837 / G(II)338 / GC499 / G(3)911
/ GtG021 / Iona (M&G) / NCH003 / NCH341 / PH271 / UMH148 / URW232 / VT128 / VU308 / W&R26 / WoV794 Many and Great O God are your works / Wakantanka taku nitawa
(Joseph Renville, Dakota, USA, paraphrased Philip Frazier, Sioux, USA)
Good words of praise to our Creator, seeking God's presence and
blessing. Good as an opening hymn. This was originally written in
Dakota, but most English paraphrases are the same. It sounds great
accompanied by a
good Native American-style drum beat, which is a great way to get people
involved in music-making. NCH and VT also have Dakota lyrics. NCH also
has a more recent paraphrase (NCH341). English lyrics. Dakota lyrics. Sheet music sample. Sheet music for purchase, with sound sample. Slow lyric video recording (long introduction).
- 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.
- CH054 Lord you have always been our home (Church Hymnary) Good words. I like the tune ATHCHUINGE for this. Sound samples.
- Sacred Harp 142 Through every age eternal God (Isaac Watts, England) This is really powerful, but realistically, only useful if you have Sacred Harp singers in your congregation. Video.
Alternative Hebrew Scripture: Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18
How to live a holy life: honesty, compassion, justice, love for neighbours
- TiS 657 / CH263 / VU700 / A&M559 / AA50 / CP(E) 447 / Cha656 / SP242 God of freedom God of justice
(Shirley Murray) Powerful lyrics. Can be sung to either TREDEGAR (new,
but not too hard) or PICARDY (very familiar) or RHUDDLAN. Lyrics and sheet music sample. New words to old tunes.
- 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. Nice if you can just start a capella... Youtube video of Sinead O'Connor singing it and lyrics and sound sample. Oldy-but-a-goody.
- AoV1-050 Act Justly
(Monica O'Brien / Trish Watts) Simple chant-like chorus, and strong verses. I love
this one. We have not sung this for quite some time at BUC. Sound sample.
- ATOK 390 Put on love every day, never hide your love away (Mary Lu Walker) A groovy song for kids! Sound sample. Good for kids.
- TiS 629 / AHB 558 / AoV2-136 / ATA 197 / CH544 / VU600 / Lau888 / StF256 When I needed a neighbor were you there
(Sydney Carter) A classic folk church song. Well known and fits well with this
theme. "And the creed and the colour and the name won't matter"... Lyrics. Good for kids.
- Online Resource / HiOS095 God in your Grace / Love is your way (Shirley Murray) Great tune and good lyrics for a prayer of
confession about losing our way and being accountable to each other.
Easy energetic tune. Lyrics and sheet music.
- Online Resource / ATFG561 / Tune In Part of a family interconnected / Community (Dave Brown) A song about being welcomed and part of a community. Sound sample, lyrics, and free downloadable songbook. Good for kids.
- Online Resource / NCH590 / CH621 Spirit of Jesus, if I love my neighbour (Brian Wren) Challenging
words of offering help from a position of privilege and seeking to be
set free from the entrapment of possessions “If I am hugging safety or
possessions, uncurl my spirit as your love prevails, to join my
neighbours, work for liberation, and find my freedom at the mark of
nails”. There are multiple tunes available. It could also be sung to PERFECT LOVE if your congregation
would have trouble with the newer tune. Sheet music and lyrics. New words to old tunes.
Psalm for the Leviticus Reading: Psalm 1
They who trust in the Lord shall be like a tree planted by the water with roots in the stream and will fruit even in drought.
- Online Resource You grow like the moss draping soft sodden logs (Hannah
Brown) Gentle words about God as growing moss, moving mountain and
ebbing ocean, and a call to slow down and trust. Sung to an old shape
note tune which will not be familiar but is very simple. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.
- Online resource Blessed are those who trust in God / By the stream
(Christopher Grundy) Oh my... this is just gorgeous! Best sung by a soloist for the
verses. The recording is so beautiful - it's easy to pull my
heartstrings with a cello and a mandolin... Youtube. Purchasing options.
- NCH Psalter001 My delight is in the law of God (Judy Hunnicutt) A very simple refrain and chanted Psalm.
- Online resource Blessed be
(David MacGregor, Australia) A simple, reflective song. Recording, lyrics, free sheet music.
- Linnea Good Strong as living Trees
(Linnea Good, Canada) A lovely haunting chant. Good for kids and adults alike.
- Online Resource / GWA203 / TLUS153 May this church be like a tree / Que esta iglesia sea un árbol (Pablo Sosa, Argentina) This
has lovely words about a the church having the qualities of a backyard
tree, a city tree, and Christ as the tree of life. It will need to be
taught. Sound sample, sheet music sample and purchasing options (complex arrangement). Sheet music (Spanish language only, melody and chords).
- StS116 I 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 and chords.
- Online resource Like a tree by the flowing water
(Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) Part of a series of songs based on Psalm 1, I
think the chorus of this is probably my favourite. In Australia, you
might want to use only the chorus because the word "rooted" means
something quite different over here. Sound samples, lyrics and purchasing options. Good for kids.
- NCH313 Like a tree beside the waters (James Martin)
Good congregational words of richness from the waters. Tune is a little
bit tricky, so will need to be introduced. It can also be sung to the
more familiar HYFRYDOL. Sound recording. New words to old tunes.
- CP462 The hidden stream that feeds (Thomas Troeger)
Good for the end of the service "We leave this watered place to work on
rocky ground, Yet even there the streams of grace sustain our daily
round. Lord, through our lives may others hear your living waters
drawing near." Instrumental lyric video.
- 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. Nice if you can just start a capella... Youtube video of Sinead O'Connor singing it and lyrics.
- URW223 Happy are they who delight
(Hal Hopson) A responsively read Psalm with an African-American spiritual refrain
"Like a tree that's planted by the water, we shall not be moved". I like
it. New words to old tunes.
- NCH438 / UMH377 / LBW346 / ELW785 / HPP390 / GtG840 / W&R428 / Cha561 / Srce784 / MP757 When peace like a river / It is well with my soul (Horatio Spafford) An older American hymn. Hymnals vary in how old fashioned the lyrics are, and only some include the chorus. Lyrics and tune.A nice recording by Audrey Assad.
- AoV2-006 / The tide has turned Deeper River / There's a river running deep within the silence of our souls (Digby Hannah) An excellent song of restoration for tired desert-like souls. Lyrics and sound sample.
- PfAS001B Happy are they who trust (Robert Thompson) A simple psalm response that can also be used as a round. Good for kids.
- PfAS001E How blest the people / Feliz la gente
(Juan Espinosa) This will take a little while to learn, but the chorus is
very simple, so perhaps use a cantor to sing the verses. Sound sample (in Spanish).
- TiS 1 / PfAS001C Happy are they who walk in God's wise way (Erik Routley) Excellent tune from Thailand. Words are a reasonable paraphrase and slightly old fashioned but quite fine. Sound sample.
- PfAS001F / URW224 Happy is the one (John Bell) Quite straightforward and good hymnlike paraphrase of the Psalm. Youtube.
- Public Domain Well I'm on my way to heaven / I shall not be moved / We shall not be moved Standard old folk song. You may also like this Johnny Cash version. History. Lyrics & chords. Thanks to Mark Kleiner for this suggestion!
- Online resource Blessed poor and shattered spirits / Heaven shall be yours
(Michael Mangan, Australia) A folksy song; not so easy for a
congregation to sing the verses, but might be good to listen to, and
invite the congregation to join in the joyous chorus. Sound sample. Hard copy book available to purchase here.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
The
love of the early church leaders for the people, their persistence
while persecuted and their gentleness with their community.
- Online Resource / ATW 498 / Iona (T1AU) / MV 196 / SP&P182 / URW438 We will take what you offer (John Bell, Scotland) An excellent simple short song that works well either as an upbeat chorus or as a reflective chant. "We will take what you offer. We will live by your word. We will love one another. And be fed by you Lord". Good for kids. Sound sample and sheet music for purchase.
- Online Resource / AoVK-148 / ATOK 388 There is one body (Trish Watts, Australia / Monica O'Brien, Australia) A fun and celebratory song! Sound sample, sheet music samples and purchasing options. Good for kids.
- Online Resource / 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.
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. Sound sample, including a litany of the saints, sheet music sample, purchasing options.
- Online Resource / FFS22 Gentle is the way of Jesus
(Shirley Murray, Aotearoa / New Zealand) Good words about the victory of gentleness over selfishness. A
nice tune too, which should be picked up quite quickly. Lyrics, and an alternate tune which is pretty groovy.
Matthew 22:34-46
Love God and love your neighbour as yourself. Whose son is the Messiah?
- Online Resource / ATW 498 / Iona (T1AU) / MV 196 / SP&P182 / URW438 We will take what you offer (John Bell) An excellent simple short song that works well either as an upbeat chorus or as a reflective chant. "We will take what you offer. We will live by your word. We will love one another. And be fed by you Lord". Good for kids. Sound sample and sheet music for purchase.
- ATOK 390 Put on love every day, never hide your love away (Mary Lu Walker) A groovy song for kids! Sound sample. Good for kids.
- NCH583 / GtG044 / StJ Like a mother who has borne us (Daniel Bechtel)
This has very appropriate lyrics on God as mother and father, and God's
presence when we follow by caring for neighbour. The tune is gentle,
soothing and simple. Lyric video (slow-ish). Lyrics (downloads an order of service).
- W&R27 God of Creation All-Powerful (Edith Clarkson) Good solid words to a well known tune (SLANE). Lyrics and sheet music sample. New words to old tunes.
- StS055 / SFFS 2168 / God Gives 1 Love the Lord your God
(Graeme Stewart) ...with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and love all
humankind as you would love yourselves and…. I really like this old
Sunday School round, with a groovy 50s feel to it. Lyrics, chords, and lots of kooky American Christian camp videos. Good for kids.
- GtG62 Love the Lord your God
(Jim & Jean Strathdee) A simple and quite lovely chant. Sound sample (which includes American sign language). Thanks to Shaun C for this suggestion. The guitar arpeggios really make this appealing! Good for kids.
- TiS 650 / ATA 191 / CH694 / A&M604 / NCH539 / VU595 / ELW659 / AA08 /
SFFS 2222 / HPP442 / GtG727 / G(II)476 / GC683 / GC(II)661 / G(3)751 / CP500 / CP(E) 393 /
W&R391 / Cha490 / SP263 / URW117 / Lau924 Brother, sister, let me serve you / Won't you let me be your servant? (Richard Gillard) I think you all know this one. Lyrics. NCH has a nice turn on the lyrics with "Won't you let me be your servant?" as the first line. Oldy-but-a-goody.
- TiS
640 / AHB 561 / ATE 310 / NCH498 / UMH432 / VU593 / WoV765 / ELW708 /
HPP446 / GtG203 / PH367 / G(II)296 / GC409 / GC(II)429 / G(3)505 / CP504
/ W&R273 / Cha600 / URW116 / 82Hml-602 / Lau241 / StF249 Jesu Jesu fill us with your love / Kneels at the feet of his friends (Tom Colvin & people of Ghana) Lyrics. Good for kids Oldy-but-a-goody.
- TiS 699 / AHB 571 / ATN 65 / WoV664 / GA318 / Srce35 / Lau920 / StF242 / MP001 A new commandment I give unto you
(Roy Crabtree) Note that older sources do not have inclusive words, but
more recent publications use "others" rather than "all men" to make it
inclusive for all people. Lyrics. Oldy-but-a-goody.
- TiS 774 / W&R684 For the life that you have given (Carl P Daw) A nice short song for the receipt of the offering. Lyrics.
- Online Resource Let our vocation be love (David
Bjorlin / Randall Sensmeier) Excellent words encouraging us to work for love; sung to a lovely new tune that is quite intuitive and would not be difficult. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.
- Online Resource / NCH590 / CH621 Spirit of Jesus, if I love my neighbour (Brian Wren) Challenging
words of offering help from a position of privilege and seeking to be
set free from the entrapment of possessions “If I am hugging safety or
possessions, uncurl my spirit as your love prevails, to join my
neighbours, work for liberation, and find my freedom at the mark of
nails”. There are multiple tunes available. It could also be sung to PERFECT LOVE if your congregation
would have trouble with the newer tune. Sheet music and lyrics. New words to old tunes (if you choose).
- TiS 629 / AHB 558 / AoV2-136 / ATA 197 / CH544 / VU600 / Lau888 / StF256 When I needed a neighbor were you there
(Sydney Carter) A classic folk church song. Lyrics. Good for kids. Oldy-but-a-goody.
Do you have some ideas to share? Please add a comment below! In 2026, I updated this in Boston Logan airport.
