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Songs, Hymns & Music for Proper 15A / Pentecost 20A / Pentecost +12 (August 16, 2026)

Genesis 45:1-15
Joseph and his brothers are reconciled.
  • Online Resource / VT144 God give me time  (Shirley Murray, Aotearoa / New Zealand) Powerful words about words - learning how to speak well, listen well, understand well, and follow The Word. VT sets the words to a beautiful tune (SEACHRIST) by John Horman, but omits verse 2. While this could, in theory, fit other tunes, I have not found a familiar tune that is better than SEACHRIST (which is also in GtG). Lyrics. Sheet music for SEACHRIST (using different words). 
  • NCH429 God bless our homes (Frank von Christierson, USA) A song to the easy tune CHARTERHOUSE seeking harmoniuos relationships and forgiveness within our households. 3rd verse "Forgive the hurts our selfishness inflicted on those we love and those who love us best. Christ, heal the scars, and draw us all together in God whose will is peace and joy and rest." Lyrics (older non-inclusive version).
  • SFFS 2169 / GtG445 / StF613 God How Can We Forgive (Ruth Duck, USA) Good words of healing in the midst of broken relationships to the familiar tune LEONI. Lyrics (scroll down). New words to old tunes.   
  • TiS 653 / NCH417 / CH526 / UMH383 / GC(II)453 / G(3)522 / W&R355 / Cha518 This is a day of new beginnings (Brian Wren, USA) "This is a day of new beginnings, time to remember and move on, time to believe what love is bringing, laying to rest the pain that's gone." Excellent words of reconciliation. A good New Year's Day hymn. There are two possible tunes. I prefer the more simple hymn-like tune by Carlton Young which is in most resources (including TiS). There is an optional final verse that can be used for Communion. Lyrics.
  • MV074 When painful mem'ries haunt each day / When painful memories haunt each day (Ruth Duck, USA) I suggest singing it to the more familiar Celtic tune KINGSFOLD (TiS 262). "When painful mem'ries haunt each day and dreams disturb the night, when life is washed with shades of grey and phantoms fill our sight, Christ stay beside us and embrace the child who dwells within; come, Healer, touch or lives with grace; restore our lives again."New words to old tunes. Lyrics.
  • TiS 683 / WoV735 / ELW603 / W&R416 / StF649 God when human bonds are broken (Fred Kaan, England) These words pick up an unusual theme, and fit really well with this reading. There are a couple of possible tunes, none of which are immediately familiar, but they are not difficult either. Lyrics.
  • AA035 Even if you’re small / You can walk tall (Cecily Sheehy, New Zealand) A kid's song about getting things wrong, saying sorry, being forgiven and starting again. Lyrics. Good for kids.
  • VU619 / WoV738 / ELW612 / SFFS 2213 / GtG795 / G(II)642 / GC882 / GC(II)854 / G(3)960 / RS 958 / CP612 / W&R630 / Cha506 / URW161 / Lau427 Healer of Our Every Ill (Marty Haugen, USA) Good straightforward words of healing and simple tune. "Give us strength to love each other, every sister, every brother". Can get overly mushy. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Sound sample.
  • Online Resource / A&M365 / CH198 / GC753 / GC(II)741 / G(3)850 / GtG301 / HPP550 / Lau458 / MV001 / SP176 / StF409 / URW058 / VT036 Let Us Build a House / All are welcome (Marty Haugen, USA) 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 option. Sound sample.
Psalm 133
How good it is when kindred live in unity. Oil running down the beard and dew on mountains.
  • GWA018 How very good how wonderful / Mily gyönyörüség íme lásd (Zóltan Sumonyi, Hungary/ Dániel Gryllus, Hungary) A fun setting of this Psalm, set to an Hungarian folk-music style tune, and a chorus that is just la la la la la. I would use a soloist for the verses. I really like this. Sound sample.
  • Singing from the Lectionary Exclusive! Behold how good and Oh how pleasant (Noelle Damico, USA) A beautiful chant that I remember every time I read this Psalm; I have an old photocopy of it and Noelle has given me permission to post it here, complete with my husband's guitarist scribbles. It can be sung as a simple chant, or sung with a responsive bilingual reading of the Psalm (Spanish/English) or really any way you like. You can access the file here (Google Drive document). Please let Noelle know if you use this (revdamico_at_gmail.com). Good for kids.
  • Emergent Psalter How good it is (Isaac Everett, USA) A good 3/4 swung Psalm refrain to a read Psalm. Sheet music (response) here.
  • NCH Psalter How pleasant to live in unity (Hyeon Jeong, USA?) A simple Psalm refrain for a chanted or read Psalm.
  • Online Resource Sharing the Road (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan, USA) A joyful song, with a simple refrain. I think this would work well either by using the chorus as a Psalm refrain, or by using both the chorus and verses intersected with a reading of the Psalm. The verses would be better sung by a soloist initially. I think the refrain would also be great sung more uptempo with some solid gospel harmonies... at least, that's what's happening in my head. Lyrics, sound sample and sheet music for purchase.
  • GtG398 / PfAS133C How very good and pleasant (Barbara Boertje, USA) This is sweet; perhaps a little mushy. I think older congregations would quite like this chorus. Sound sample.  
  • VU856 / CH90 / StJ / R212 / ELW649 / SFFS 2231 / GtG397 / Cha292 / Cha764b / PfAS133D O Look and Wonder / Miren que bueno (Pablo Sosa, Argentina) An energetic refrain, and verses are a paraphrase of the psalm. Lots of fun. Chalice also has it arranged as a Psalm response with reading if you prefer. Sound sample (in Spanish).
  • PfAS133B Behold how good and delightful (Unkonwn, Puerto Rica) A simple short song in English and Spanish sung to a traditional Puerto Rican tune. Sound sample.
  • Cha764a Unite us God unite us in your everlasting love (Unknown) Simple sung response, and responsive reading.
  • G(II)525 / GC727 / SP244 / URW335 How Good It Is, what pleasure comes (Ruth Duck, USA) Good words celebrating the joy of a faithful community. Sung to a familiar shape note tune. Lyrics (downloads a pdf). 
  • Online Resource / A&M365 / CH198 / GC753 / GC(II)741 / G(3)850 / GtG301 / HPP550 / Lau458 / MV001 / SP176 / StF409 / URW058 / VT036 Let Us Build a House / All are welcome (Marty Haugen, USA) 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 option. Sound sample.
  • AoVK-113 Thank you O Lord for this world of ours (Tony Barr, Australia) A good kids song in two parts.  Good for kids.
Alternative Hebrew Scripture: Isaiah 56:1, 6-8
Maintain justice, and do what is right; Welcome the foreigner and the outcast.
  • AoV1-050 Act Justly (Monica O'Brien / Trisha Watts) Simple chant-like chorus, and strong verses. I love this one. It's based on Micah 6:8, but works very well for this reading too.  Lyrics & sound sample.
  • 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. Oldy-but-a-goody.
  • 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. 
  • Online Resource / GWA222 Hear the message we now are proclaiming / El mensaje que hoy proclamamos (Eleazar Torreglosa, Colombia) This jubilant song of liberty and new life for the poor and suffering would fit well with this reading. Good for kids. Free sheet music. Sound sample.Lyric video (Spanish). Another recording (with hand claps!).
  • Online Resource / FFS60 Stranger standing at my door (Shirley Murray) Amazing words, but a tricky tune. Would be good if you have a good soloist in your congregation who would sing this and the congregation listen to the very meaningful words. Last verse is "I am fearful of your claim, yet I cannot turn away. Stranger with a foreign name, are you angel here to stay? You are messenger and guest, you the Christ I can't ignore, you my own compassion's test, stranger standing at my door; you the Christ I can't ignore.". Lyrics.
  • FFS78 Who are these strangers? (Colin Gibson) Good words of questioning faith; quite sad and challenging. The tune is new, but it quite intuitive. "Who are these strangers? Why do they throng, crowding the place where we belong? Why do they haunt us with their pain, eyes that have seen so many slain? We do not know them, yet we kneel and bring them to this holy place, where bread is broken, wine is shared, suffering met by love and grace".
  • Online Resource / FFS34 I am standing waiting (Shirley Murray) Good words of justice for children of poor nations to the well known French melody AU CLAIR DE LA LUNE. "I am standing waiting, waiting at your door, one of hunger's children from a billion poor" Lyrics and sheet music PDF. New words to old tunes. 
  • TiS 690 / CH259 / A&M557 / StS115 / SP237 / Srce54 / StF693 / MP806 Beauty for brokenness hope for despair (Graham Kendrick) Themes of healing from personal and universal suffering and an emotive chorus. “Refuge from cruel wars, havens from fear, cities for sanctuary, freedoms to share, peace to the killing-fields, scorched earth to green; Christ for the bitterness, his cross for the pain”. It's a bit schmaltzy. Video.
  • Online Resource The Children come (Carolyn Winfrey-Gillette) For those in the USA, this song focused on care for unaccompanied children entering the USA is particularly appropriate this week. Sheet music. 
  • Online Resource / AoV2-102 / GA509 Who will speak if we don't (Marty Haugen) Excellent challenging words. Sound sample and sheet music sample. Good for teenagers.
Alternative Psalm: Psalm 67
It could be good to use an Aaronic blessing in your service. I'm not sure why we always save it for baptisms. Here's my list of Aaronic blessings (scroll down, when you get to the page).
  • Online Resource / GWA010 Favour and bless us Lord (Grayson Warren Brown) A beautiful reworking of this Psalm, set to a tune that is very close to "Deep River" so will be readily sung by most congregations. Sound sample, sheet music sample, and purchasing options (choral setting).
  • Taize / TiS 731 /  SFFS 2017 / GtG155 / G(II)377 / GC557 / GC(II)535 / G(3)618 / W&R212 / PfAS100G / URW383 / Lau691 Raise a song of gladness / Jubilate Servite (Taize) Glorious, fun round. If your congregation balks at singing in Latin, it can be sung in English as "Raise a song of gladness, all the earth, Christ has come, bringing peace, joy to every heart, Alleluia Alleluia, Joy to every heart (x2)". This is not a Gloria, but it has the feel of one! Lyrics and sound sample.  Good for kids (and kids like Latin sometimes!).
  • STB285 When time began God fashioned all of this world (Unknown - Burma) The chorus to this is pretty fun, and is just happy "non-lexical syllables" (i.e. "hey la la la" type things). It is set to a traditional Kachin melody (Aw le le) and it would be good to sing this to honour the Kachin people of Burma. Sound sample.
  • VU786 / PfAS067C Let the peoples praise you (Henry Smart) Quite nice bouncy Psalm refrain with a read, cantored, or chanted Psalm.  Good for kids.
  • Linnea Good May every person, every creature, be an instrument of praise (Linnea Good) A very simple and quite lovely Psalm refrain.
  • Cha744 O God be gracious come and bless us (Carl P Daw) Very simple refrain and responsively read setting of this Psalm.
  • TiS 37 / AHB 117 Our God be gracious unto us (Phillip Charles Blake) A simple hymn setting of this Psalm. I would prefer to sing it to RICHMOND (TiS 425). Lyrics (PPT).  New words to old tunes. 
  • NCH421 / UMH131 / HPP552 / GtG336 / PH559 / GC571 / GC(II)549 / G(3)638 / W&R81 / Cha276 We gather together to ask for God's blessing (Traditional Dutch) A good song about living together as a community of faith, sung to a very familiar tune (KREMSER). Sources vary, and some are very masculine and old fashioned. Seek out the lyrics in the NCH, or you may be left with these lyrics (the tune is the same though). 
  • TiS 106 / AHB 14 / AoV1-189 / 82Hml-396 / A&M739 / CH182 / Cha715 / CP399 / CP(E) 530 / ELW840 / GA425 / GtG643 / GC565 / GC(II)545 / G(3)636 /  HPP283 /   Lau945 / LBW534 / LUYH543 / MP486 / NCH419 / PH555 / StF081 /UMH102 / VT114 / VU236 / W&R14 Now thank we all our God / Nun Danket Alle Gott (Martin Rinkhart, Germany) A classic song of thanks. The language is not entirely inclusive in all versions. Chalice, NCH have great inclusive words, and VT provides an inclusive version of verse 3 (and has the German lyrics!). The early English translation is n the public domain, so changing it yourself is also quite acceptable. Lyrics and sheet music. Oldy-but-a-goody.
  • VT026 Dhuh Pangeran ingkang Mahasuci / O Prince of peace, O holy God most high (Saptojoadi Sardjono, Java, Indonesia / Transl. Lawrence Yoder, USA) This is challenging to sing. The English translation is quite formal, but OK. Sound recording with older English translation (and solo introduction in Javanese). Lyrics.
  • NCH Psalter Let the peoples praise you O God (Peter Niedmann) A simple Psalm refrain.
  • Emergent Psalter May God be gracious and bless us (Isaac Everett) A good refrain that can also be used as a round.  Good for kids. Sheet music.
  • Online Resource Food is blessing (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) Great words focussed on food security and being faithful in the way we consume it. Sung to the familiar tune NETTLETON. New words for old tunes. Lyrics.  
  • Online Resource The earth has yielded its harvest (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) Lovely words for a modern approach to harvest thanksgiving. Lyrics, sound sample, and purchasing options.
Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
God is merciful to all. Some of the suggestions for the Matthew reading also fit with this reading. 
You might like to sing a Kyrie during the prayer of confession.
  • NCYC'03 God of grace God of mercy (Delia Crabbe, Australia) A gentle simple song seeking comfort and healing.
  • Online Resource / Tune In Like the sun upon my skin / God’s Mercy (Sheree Anderson, Australia / Canada) A beautiful ballad about identifying God's mercy in the beauty of creation. Lyrics, sound sample and free downloadable songbook.
  • TiS 693 / AoV1-031 / GA212 Come as you are that's how I want you (Deidre Browne, Australia) This song is beautiful, gentle, simple, and very well known. Lyrics. Slow and mushy Youtube. A good song to start the service.
Matthew 15:(10-20), 21-28
Jesus heals the Caananite woman's daughter. 
Again, you might like to sing a Kyrie during the prayer of confession.
  • Online resource She came to Jesus from outside the fold (Carolyn Winfrey Gillette) Excellent words based on this reading to the well known Irish tune SLANE (Be thou my vision). Lyrics.> New words to old tunes.
  • Online Resource / Tune In Like the sun upon my skin / God’s Mercy (Sheree Anderson) A beautiful ballad about identifying God's mercy in the beauty of creation. Lyrics, sound sample and songbook.
  • TiS 638 / NCH175 / CH717 / A&M518 / GtG793 / PH380 / UMH265 / LBW380 / ELW610 / PH380 / CP291 / CP(E) 346 / W&R638 / Cha503 / Lau430 / StF653 O Christ the healer we have come (Fred Pratt Green) Beautiful words and simple to sing. Good for intercessions. I like the tune INVERCARRY best, but it can also be sung to TALLIS' CANON if your congregation needs a more familiar tune. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes.
  • AoVK-28 / ATOK 376 Faith hope and love, this is what we long for (Trisha Watts) A groovy, easy, fun song. Good for kids.
  • Iona (SBL) / MV068 / G(II)405 / GC581 / GtG578 / PfAS009A Kyrie Guarany / On the poor, on the poor (Pablo Sosa) A simple Kyrie from Paraguay; This is our current favourite at Brunswick. The English translation varies depending on the source (we don't sing On the Poor). Sound sample in Guarani. Sound sample in English. Good for kids.
  • TiS 736 / AoV2-095 /ATOK 392 / CH776 / Iona (M&G) / UMH483 / VU946 / WoV602 / GA133 A&M372 / GtG579 / G(II)272 / GC272 / GC(II)249 / PfAS051J / SP184 / Cha298 / URW412 / Lau519 / LUYH635 Kyrie Eleison (Ukrainian) Very simple and beautiful Kyrie. Given current world events, it might be a good time to sing this. Often used. It is very easy to teach the bass part to the men in your congregation (even those who think they can't sing!). Youtube. Sheet music. Good for kids. 
  • Online Resource / 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, South Africa) "Victory is ours, victory is ours, through him who loves us". Some congregations change the last line to "Compassion is ours, compassion is ours...". I think it's just fine to be victorious over evil, frankly. Sound sample, sheet music sample and purchasing options. 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).
  • GWA218 / MV169 When hands reach out beyond divides (Keri K. Wehlander) Can be sung to a range of tunes. "When fear no longer guides our steps and days of war are done, God's dream for all shall live anew; our hearts will heal as one".
  • VU619 / WoV738 / ELW612 / SFFS 2213 / GtG795 / G(II)642 / GC882 / GC(II)854 / G(3)960 / RS 958 / CP612 / W&R630 / Cha506 / URW161 / Lau427 Healer of Our Every Ill (Marty Haugen) Good straightforward words of healing and simple tune. "Give us strength to love each other, every sister, every brother". Can get overly mushy. Lyrics and sheet music samples. Recording. 
  • Online Resource / AoVNG1 / CH685 / FFS17 / GtG769 / G(3)812 / TLUS023 / 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 four possible tunes! The Lori True tune is the most common. I like the Colin Gibson tune in FFS. 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. There is also a rewrite which has even more inclusion, which you may like to explore here.
  • TiS 728 Jesuchristo Reina reina ya! A fun Latin American song. It's particularly fun if someone is brave enough to yell out a "call" at the start of each verse. Sound sample.
  • Online Resource / A&M365 / CH198 / GC753 / GC(II)741 / G(3)850 / GtG301 / HPP550 / Lau458 / MV001 / SP176 / StF409 / URW058 / VT036 Let Us Build a House / All are welcome (Marty Haugen, USA) 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 option. Sound sample.
  • TiS 90 / AHB 44 / UMH60 / VU867 / GtG806 / PH253 / A&M673 / CP346 / CP(E) 473 / W&R79 / Cha20 / PfAS146A / 82Hml-429 / StF079 / MP320 I'll praise my Maker while I've breath (Isaac Watts) A great classic hymn. Most sources are not inclusive; Voices United and Chalice hymnal are! Lyrics and sheet music samples. Oldy-but-a-goody.
Do you have some ideas you would like to share? Please join in the conversation below by adding a comment. 
4 comments

Songs, Hymns & Music for Proper 14A / Pentecost 19A / Pentecost +11 (August 9, 2026)

Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Joseph, the favoured son of Jacob is sold off as a slave by his jealous brothers.
I will suggest some of these songs again next week, so if you are tempted to sing something new, you can repeat it next week and it will still fit.
  • SFFS 2169 / GtG445 / StF613 God How Can We Forgive (Ruth Duck, USA) Good words of healing in the midst of broken relationships to the familiar tune LEONI. Lyrics (scroll down). New words to old tunes. 
  • TiS 683 / WoV735 / ELW603 / W&R416 / StF649 God when human bonds are broken (Fred Kaan, USA) These words pick up an unusual theme, and fit really well with this reading. There are a couple of possible tunes, none of which are immediately familiar, but they are not difficult either. Lyrics.
  • MV074 When painful mem'ries haunt each day / When painful memories haunt each day (Ruth Duck, USA) I suggest singing it to the more familiar Celtic tune KINGSFOLD (TiS 262). "When painful mem'ries haunt each day and dreams disturb the night, when life is washed with shades of grey and phantoms fill our sight, Christ stay beside us and embrace the child who dwells within; come, Healer, touch or lives with grace; restore our lives again." Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
  • MV127 I saw the rich ones (Pat Mayberry, Canada) This song is not directly related to the passage, but the chorus of "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" would be a great song to use while telling a story. Lyrics. Good for kids.
  • NCH429 God bless our homes with peace and love and laughter (Frank von Christierson, USA) A rewrite of an older song to the easy tune CHARTERHOUSE seeking harmonious relationships and forgiveness within our households. 3rd verse "Forgive the hurts our selfishness inflicted on those we love and those who love us best. Christ, heal the scars, and draw us all together in God whose will is peace and joy and rest." Older style lyrics.
  • Online Resource / TiS 682 / ATW 490 / GA236 / A&M355 / AA151 / SP148 When human voices cannot sing (Shirley Murray, New Zealand) Lovely words of healing in the face of grief. I prefer this sung to ST COLUMBA, which is the tune in GA and TiS. Thanks to Noodle Thrower for this suggestion. Lyrics and sheet music.
I will suggest the next four songs again in two weeks so it might be worth learning them now, and singing them again later. 
  • ELW710 / CP575 Let streams of living justice (William Whitla, Canada) Awesome words of justice. Sung to the familiar tune THAXTED. Lyrics. It could probably work to a different (less pompous) tune too. New words to old tunes.
  • Online resource Help Us O God to create a new future (Andrew Pratt, USA) This song reflects on the slavery of the past, and its continuance, with a call to work until all are "Fully alive". Free sheet music.
  • 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 (loads a pdf). Sound recording.
  • TiS 674 / Iona (Common Ground, Heaven Shall Not Wait) / A&M562 / CH253 / SP245 Inspired by love and anger (Iona Community, Scotland) Powerful lyrics, simple English folk tune (SALLY GARDENS). Lyrics. New words to old tunes  

Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b  

Praise God. A slave becomes a ruler.
Might be good to check the Inclusive Bible for this passage.
Any version of the Magnificat would work well with this reading: See here for suggestions 

  • NCH022 / VU221 Sing praise to God who has shaped and sustains all creation! (Joachim Neander, Germany / translated, Madeleine Forell Marshall, USA) A new translation of Neander's classic hymn "Praise to the Lord the Almighty…". I quite like this. Sung to LOBE DEN HERREN New words to old tunes. Lyrics.
  • NCH Psalter Let the hearts of those who seek God rejoice! (Elaine Kirkland, USA) Good joyous refrain, which could be used with the sung or read Psalm.
  • AoVK-24 / Iona (T1AU) / CH756 Bless the Lord (Unknown, Kenya)   A good call and response chant – would make a good processional. Words are: Bless the Lord (my sisters), Bless the Lord (my brothers) Bless the Lord there is no other God. I think our congregation would really enjoy this. The tune is identical to Re a mo Leboga. Sound sample of Re a mo leboga (scroll to the 3rd album).
  • Iona / CH788 / MV104 / GtG659 Know that God is Good / Mungu ni mwema (Unknown, Congo) This joyous refrain is just lots of fun and very simple to sing. Good for kids and adults! Sheet music sample. Sound sample. Sound sample in Kenyan languages.
  • ATW 457 / Iona (T1AU) / CH751 / MV050 / StS017 / GC(II)260 / G(3)328 / URW402 Alleluia (Norah Duncan, USA) A simple Alleluia. Gather version has a descant cantor part. Sound sample (including cantor part and a gutsy pianist).
  • ATN 51 / SFFS 2258 / SiS / MP601 Sing alleluia to the Lord (Linda Stassen-Benjamin, USA) A simple and familiar song to many. It has nice soaring Alleluias and is not too hard. Substitute “Our God” if you like, as some hymnals do, if you want less "Lord"y language. Sound samples, lyrics, videos. Oldy-but-a-goody.
  • ATW 460 / Iona (M&G) / CH752 / VU717 / WoV610 Alleluia (Mxadana) (Gobingca George Mxadana, South Africa) Beautiful and peaceful, especially if you can work all the harmonies in. Sound sample.
  • MV187 / ELW682 We give our thanks / Re a mo leboga (Unknown, Botswana) A great song to sing for the offering. Older style version. More upbeat version. Amazing video with a newer version. Good for kids.
  • Online Resource / ATE 216 / CH126 / CP417 / ELW555 / G(II)365 / GC527 / Iona (SBL) / PH472 / RS 671 / W&R15 / StF042 / StJ / VT113 O sing to the Lord / Cantai ao Senhor / Cantad al Señor (Unknown, Brazil) A good, fun and simple song that is also easy to learn in Portuguese or Spanish; note that not all versions are inclusive. Public domain sheet music. Sound sample. Note how it is a call and response song in that sound sample! Youtube (keep an eye out for the innovative book-based güiro, and is she shaking a bag of pretzels?). Good for kids.
Alternate Hebrew Scripture: 1 Kings 19:9-18 
Elijah finds God, not in the wind or the earthquake, or the fire, but in the silence
  • GWA056 Listen in the silence listen in the noise (Linnea Good) A gentle call to listen; this is quite lovely. Sound sample. 
  • Online Resource / GWA059 Listen for God who speaks within our hearts (Andrew Brown / Jo Beesley) A lovely song, with 5 short verses, each telling of different ways that God speaks to us. The congregation can join in as it feels more familiar. Lyrics and sheet music for download. Sound sample.
  • ATW 435 / NCYC'99 Like the woman of old / Wellsprings (Don Stewart) A favourite song in our congregation about going to the "Wellsprings of life"and finding Jesus there. Picks up themes of tiredness, broken hearts and weariness, but makes the point that it's worth the effort. Lyrics (downloads pdf)
  • Online Resource / Protest of Praise When our lives are ruled by fear (David Bjorlin) Strong words challenging us to move forward in faith; some of the words face quite specific challenges for congregations; sung to the familiar tune ABERYSTWYTH. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options.  New words to old tunes.
  • MV084 In you there is a refuge (Keri Wehlander / Linnea Good) A simple quiet song. "In you there is a silence, in you our minds are clear. When all we hear is discord may your quiet draw us near". Sound sample.
  • Online Resource / Taizé / GtG814 / CP563 / PfAS062D In God alone my soul can find rest and peace / Mon âme se repose (Jacques Berthier) A beautiful healing chant from Taize. Words and music and sound samples for learning the parts. Good for kids.
  • VU278 / URW221 In the quiet curve of evening (Julie Howard) Beautiful words. Simple tune. Particularly lovely for the Southern Hemisphere congregations who are in Winter. Lyrics.
  • CH609 / A&M615 / CP(E) 403 Come living God when least expected (Alan Gaunt) Good words to a nice tune (SUNSET) of God coming when we are uninspired or God seems hidden. "Come now, as once you came to Moses within the bush alive with flame, or to Elijah on the mountain, by silence pressing home your claim". Lyrics. 
  • ELW466 / FFS38 / SFFS 2255 / GtG533 / TLUS026 In the singing in the silence (Shirley Murray, New Zealand) Lovely words, simple tune in FFS; there are quite a few tunes to this. Lyrics.
  • Online Resource / 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. Sound sample, sheet music samples, purchasing options. Lyric video.
  • MV118 Me alone (Jamaican traditional) A very simple repetitive call-and-response song. Could work well as a reflective song. An elaborate choral version.
  • Online Resource / CH716 / VU374 / FFS10 / SFFS 2128 / W&R477 / Cha575 Come and find the quiet centre (Shirley Murray) A good song for the beginning of worship. I would prefer to sing this to one of the more traditional melodies offered (Tune 1 in FFS) or BEACH SPRING (TiS 493). Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
  • ACS947 / CH133 / UMH113 / GtG011 / GC(II)563 / G(3)667 / Cha012 Source and sovereign rock and cloud (Timothy Troeger) Excellent words of many names for God / I AM. Can be sung to BIRINUS, but I would sing it to the more familiar ABERYSTWYTH. Sheet music (last page of PDF). New words to old tunes.
  • W&R655 / URW202 / VT008 Come away from rush and hurry (Marva Dawn) Excellent words of resting in a sacred space to the familiar tune BEACH SPRING (TiS 493). Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
  • Recorded music In the stillness (Trisha Watts) This beautiful chant would fit well with the Psalm; from her album "Invokation". "In the stillness, there is a sweet gentle voice, calming the storm in the night". Available here (scroll down)
  • Beneath the noise Beneath the noise (Nick Randall, Paul Sanders and Emily Sears) A lovely simple song to open worship. I'm not sure if this book is still available.
  • Online resource Winter Snow (Chris Tomlin / Audrey Assad) This is a lovely song, more for a soloist than congregation. "But you came like a winter snow quiet and soft and slow falling from the sky in the night to the earth below"; particularly good for Southern Hemisphere congregations who are still in Winter. Lyric video.  
  • TiS 26 / AoV2-097 / Iona (LFB) / GA450 Just as a lost and thirsty deer (John Bell / Graham Maule) A quite simple paraphrase, set to a hymnlike tune. Lyrics and sound sample. 
  • Online Resource Be with those who wander (Hannah Brown / Benjamin Brody) This song invites us to pray for those who are going through difficult times. The tune is quite lovely, and will be picked up fairly quickly I think. Sheet music sample and purchasing options.
  • Tune In / Online Resource / ATAR663 Save us in the time of trial (Shawn Whelan) A song with a reflective almost-Taize-like chorus. We have sung this a couple of different ways, it's quite flexible. Lyrics, sound sample and free downloadable songbook.
  • Tune In / Online Resource You in all our worries / All will finish well (Dave Brown) “In this world where injustice reigns, you are in the midst of pain”. Excellent words of reassurance in a difficult world. Lyrics, sound sample and free downloadable songbook.
  • TiS 415 / CH588 / WoV682 / 82Hml-506 Praise the Spirit in creation (Michael Hewlett) Amazing words of the Spirit moving, creating, inspiring. Tune is unfamiliar, but good. Note that TiS has masculine and militaristic language; seek out the newer lyrics in Church Hymnary. Lyrics (older version than in CH).
  • NCH286 / ATE 218 / VU375 / WoV684 / ELW396 / HPP239 / GtG291 / PH319 / W&R326 / Cha249 Spirit spirit of gentleness (Jim Manley) Lovely, gentle song. Very easy to sing, but can get slow and ponderous if you're not careful. Lyrics.
Alternate Psalm: Psalm 85:8-13
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.
  • Online Resource / TLUS090 For the trouble sand the sufferings / Pelas dores deste mundo (Rodolfo Gaede Neto, Brazil) This is a beautiful song, whether sung in English or Portuguese that expresses hope in the midst of sorry, and ends with a Kyrie elesion. Sound sample. Story. 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.&
  • Online Resource / 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 and purchasing options (but the sound sample is incorrect!). 
  • 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. Recording.
  • Online Resource / A&M365 / CH198 / GC753 / GC(II)741 / G(3)850 / GtG301 / HPP550 / Lau458 / MV001 / SP176 / StF409 / URW058 / VT036 Let Us Build a House / All are welcome (Marty Haugen, USA) 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 option. Sound sample
  • 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).
  • Online Resource / CH659 / MV173 / StJ / A&M566 / G(3)824 / W&R389 / SP251 / StF712 Put peace into each other’s hands (Fred Kaan, USA) Good words for communion. This can be sung to many different tunes. MV has a tune by Ron Klusmeier which is simple to sing (and has a nice descant, if desired). Thanks to Allan Baer for letting me know - here's a song sample and options for purchasing the Klusmeier tune. There is also a nice choral version with a tune by Joel Raney, which can be heard and purchased here (thanks to Tessa S for this suggestion). Or it can be sung to the familiar hymn tune ST COLUMBA. Lyrics, sheet music sample. New words to old tunes.
  • Online Resource / Emergent Psalter Show us your mercy O God (Isaac Everett) A simple refrain and read Psalm. Book available here.
Romans 10:5-15 
A call to evangelism
  • TiS 420 Holy Spirit go before us every mind and heart prepare (Elizabeth Smith) Great words of evangelism and justice to a simple lilting melody. If you think your congregation can't cope with a new tune this week, it can be sung to AUSTRIA (TiS 93). New words to old tunes.
  • TiS 411 / AHB 328 / NCH266 / UMH537 / VU194 / A&M633 / CP658 / CP(E) 425 / W&R331 \Filled with the Spirit's power (John Peacey) Inclusive words to a very well known hymn tune. I prefer it sung to WOODLANDS. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes.
  • ATOK 348 / Iona (HSNW) / G(II)496 / GC692 / GC(II)697 / StF462 Come with me / Sing hey for the carpenter (Iona) Excellent. I love this one. Very joyous, and a big favourite in our congregation. Lyrics. Sound sample. Good for kids.
  • Online Resource / TiS 749 / AoV1-154 / AoVK-131 / ATE 305 / NCH360 / Iona (SBL, Freedom is coming) / CH800 / UMH497 / VU572 / WoV773 / ELW809 / GA493 / A&M481 / HPP340 / GtG746 / G(II)484 / GC677 / GC(II)674 / G(3)776 / W&R713 / Cha447 / SP234 / StF782 Send me Jesus / Thuma mina (South African) You all know this one, right? If you don't - it's great - simple, repetitive, and meaningful. Good for kids. Sound sample and purchasing options. Youtube.
  • Online Resource / NCH357 / CH680 / G(II)487 / GC680 / GC(II)675 / G(3)774 / Lau425 You are called to tell the story (Ruth Duck) Excellent words. The simplest tune would be REGENT SQUARE. A range of tunes are used in the sources available. Lyrics. New words to old tunes .
  • ATOK 412 / Iona (SBL, Common Ground) / CH250 / MV212 / A&M482 / GtG747 / SFFS 2184 / Lau855 / StF239 Sent by the Lord am I / Sent out in Jesus name / Enviado soy de Dios (Traditional Cuban) Great rhythm, good words and not too hard to sing (provided you sing it a little slowly the first time!) I prefer the MV translation "Sent out in Jesus' name". Good for kids. Lyrics.
  • Online Resource / 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 (Iona) A classic. Don't sing it too slowly or it really drags and takes forever! Sound sample, preview and sheet music available.
  • AHB 168 / NCH166 / A&M675 / CP(E) 475 / MP328 Immortal love for ever full (John Greenleaf Whittier) Not all versions are inclusive. This is an older style hymn. Lyrics and sample sheet music.
Matthew 14:22-33  
Jesus walks on the water - Peter tries....
  • Online Resource / Recorded Music God is a River (Peter Mayer) This song is not directly related to this passage, but the idea that God turns us upside down in the water sometimes fits with the story of Peter and our own fears and need for security. Excellent words about new possibilities of how we can think about God. Lyrics & chords. Youtube. 
  • Online Resource / CH716 / VU374 / FFS10 / SFFS 2128 / W&R477 / Cha575 Come and find the quiet centre (Shirley Murray) A good song for the beginning of worship. I would prefer to sing this to one of the more traditional melodies offered (Tune 1 in FFS) or BEACH SPRING (TiS 493). Note that Jesus finally made it away from the crowd for some time in solitude. If you’d like to focus on that aspect of the story, you could use this song as a call to worship.  Lyrics. New words to old tunes. 
  • Tune In / Online Resource Hail the fisherfolk (Dave Brown) A bluesy litany of the saints, including the fishermen of yesterday and the fisherfolk of today. This song celebrates the many people who have followed God’s call through the ages. Lyrics, sound sample and free downloadable songbook.
  • SP&P003 Come Jesus is calling to you (Sue Strachan) Good song for kids. Very simple to sing. Lyrics (downloads a PDF that you will need to search through) Good for kids.
  • Online Resource Brother Jesus right beside me (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) This is a great rock song, good for little kids. Lyrics and a sound sample that unfortunately does little justice to the song. We haven't done this for ages, but it can really rock. Great for kids.
  • TiS 589 / AHB 505 / NCH171 / CH509 / UMH398 / VU562 / LBW494 / ELW696 / A&M324 / HPP314 / GtG720 / CP432 / CP(E) 233 / W&R345 / Cha337 / 82Hml-550 / StF250 / LUYH121 / MP359 / VF128 / VF129 Jesus calls us; o'er the tumult (Cecil Frances Alexander) Great words. TiS sets it to ST CATHERINE, but I prefer it to other tunes (like STUTTGART or RESTORATION); you might like to try them if this is not familiar to your congregation. Lyrics and sheet music samples.  New words to old tunes.
  • NCYC’93 / ATFG586 We will love / We will walk with you at the edges (Graeme Gardiner, Australia) This is a good little rock number “We will walk with you at the edges, we will die with you at the cross roads, we will risk with you taking chances, we will love”. Or something like that. Jesus broke rules, and that's OK sometimes. Graeme is a UCA minister, and if you don't have these resources, you could contact him for the music. Sound sample. Lyrics. Good for kids.
  • NCYC07 Labyrinth (Paul Chalson / Andrew Winton) A beautiful song about walking with God through all times. "To the heart of all that's sacred and to the margins we will walk the path with you". Excellent words. Not easy for a congregation, but if you have good musicians, they can sing it as a prayer for the congregation.
  • ATN 84 / NCH490 / CH539 / UMH521 / LBW660 / WoV660 / ELW325 / HPP433 / GtG775/ PH363 / CP512 / W&R506 / Cha627 / ZSS69 / URW110 I want Jesus to walk with me (African-American) This is such a beautiful song, and picks up the idea of Jesus walking with us at all times. I especially like Eric Bibb's version. You could just play that, if you like.
  • STB158 In the dawn of the morn (Masuko Endo) This is a beautiful Japanese perspective, and would be best sung by a soloist. Lyrics in English or Japanese.
  • Online Resource / TIS 624 / W&R453 Christ be my leader by night as by day (Timothy Dudley Smith) Excellent words of following Christ in times of struggle to a traditional Scottish melody. Lyrics. 
  • VU318 Christ be with me Christ within me (St. Patrick / Cecil Frances Alexander) A simple refrain setting of St. Patrick's Breastplate. A good song for the end of worship. Lyrics.
  • Online Resource / VT038 God be the love / O Christ Surround Me (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A good congregational version of St. Patrick's Breastplate. Easy for the congregation to join in on the "O Christ, Surround Me" until they get to know it and join in the later verses. Sound sample, lyrics and purchasing options (the book Worldmaking has the song in it).  
  • Online Resource When my work takes me places I don't want to go / St Patrick's Breastplate (Porters Gate) Not a congregational song, but a great song to be aware of and to share. Youtube.
  • CH577 / SFFS 2166  / GtG702 / W&R425 / Lau910 Christ be beside me (St Patrick / adapted James Quinn) Excellent lyrics similar to St. Patrick’s breastplate prayer to the tune BUNESSAN (Morning has broken), so very simple to sing. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
  • Recorded Music Christ Before Me (Malcolm Gordon) A song based on St. Patrick's Breastplate. Might be good to get your own musicians to sing this, if they can. This is on high rotation in my house. Sound sample and purchase options. 
  • Celtic Daily Prayer (Northumbria Community) / Recorded Music Christ as a light (John Micael Talbot) A gentle song based on St. Patrick's Breastplate. Sound sample.
  • AoV2-070 / ATW 496 / MV090 / StJ Don't be afraid (John Bell) Excellent. I love this song of reassurance. "Don't be afraid, my love is stronger. My love is stronger than your fear". This song can be used as a response to intercessions. Good for kids. Youtube of cute kids and actions. A more polished virtual choir.
  • CH570 / UMH512 / W&R495 / Cha629 / ZSS164 When the storms of life are raging (stand by me) (Charles Tindley) A good gospel song. If you focus on slavery this week, you may like to let people know that Tindley's father was a slave and he, although free, also worked from childhood. Hymnals have a range of verses. We sing it pretty upbeat. Good for kids (unless you sing it like Elvis). There is also this version by Tom Kendzia, which has a catchy chorus (at least, if you do it faster!).
  • NCH472 / UMH474 / VU670 / WoV731 / ELW875 / HPP434 / GtG834 / PH404 / G(II)637 / GC874 / GC(II)847 / G(3)955 / CP509 / W&R500 / Cha628 / Srce2-496 Precious Lord take my hand (Thomas Dorsey) This is more of a favourite in the USA and would fit well with this reading. Early recording. Oldy-but-a-goody.
  • MV138 My love colours outside the lines (Gordon Light) Excellent chorus and very singable “We’ll never walk on water if we’re not prepared to drown, body and soul need a soaking from time to time”. Youtube.
  • Recorded music: Jesus is walking on the lake (Justin Roberts) From the album Why Not Sea Monsters? (New Testament). Okay, I don’t know if this would fit in a worship service, but it would be good to use for a Sunday School class. “Jesus is walking on the lake, lake lake, I think he made a mistake, stake, stake, he really should have used a boat, boat boat, ‘cos people don’t float, float, float”. Actually, Justin’s lyrics have very good theology, and if you feel like it, his CDs have lyrics and chords so you can play and sing it yourself; they are pretty hard to find now though.
Do you have some suggestions or comments? Please join the conversation by adding a comment below. 
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