Acts 8:26-40
Philip and the conversion and baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch. The inclusion of outsiders.
You might like to use a song about baptism.
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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) 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. Sound sample.
- TiS 691 Faith will not grow from words alone (Elizabeth Smith) Excellent strong words of a questioning faith to a familiar hymn tune. I think
it's important to note that the Ethiopian, while clearly a questioning
sort of fellow, needed the guidance of another to gain understanding. Lyrics (links to a PDF order of service). New words to old tunes
- MV145 / CP418 / SP&P123 Draw the circle wide (Gordon Light) A great song about welcoming all people. Chorus is “Draw
the circle wide, draw it wider still. Let this be our song, no-one
stands alone, standing side by side, draw the circle wide”. Video with lyrics.
- NCH328 / GtG489 / PH499 / Cha378 Wonder of wonders here revealed (Jane Parker Huber) Fairly formal hymn, straightforward to sing; verse 2 could be omitted if you are not celebrating communion. Lyrics.
- ATFG561 / Tune In / Online Resource Part of a fam'ly interconnected / Community(David Brown) A song about being welcomed and how to work together as part of a community. "Part
of a family interconnected, this is community; Welcoming strangers,
visiting neighbours, this gives us dignity". Very singable song about
building community. Free downloadable songbook, sound samples and lyrics. Good for kids.
- AoV1-074 Come To The Water
(Frank Andersen) I love the words to this and it picks up the theme of
baptism. It is not entirely inclusive. You may also have favourites within your congregation that
relate to baptism that may be broadly applicable and good to ponder with
this reading. Lyrics and sound sample.
Psalm 22:25-31
God’s constant care. Everyone will worship God.
Most
settings of Psalm 22 focus on the first part of the Psalm (My God, my
God, why have you abandoned me). Here are some that pick up the latter
part of the Psalm.
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NCH007 / VU822 All people that on earth do dwell (Adapt: Thomas Troeger) Almost every hymnal has quite masculine words for this classic
hymn. I thoroughly recommend you look at this new adaptation. It is
joyous and very lovely. "All people that on earth do dwell, sing out
your faith with cheerful voice; Delight in God whose praise you tell,
whose presence calls you to rejoice". Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
- Online Resource / Tune In The God that I know (Sheree Anderson) A ballad drawing on God’s strength and comfort; not easy if unfamiliar. Free downloadable songbook, sound samples.
-
*PfAS022C What wondrous love is this
(Stith Mead) Refrain only, to be sung with a 2 reader version of the Psalm. Here's the whole song, but this only uses the first 2 lines. Oldy but a goody.
- 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. Free downloadable songbook, sound samples and lyrics.
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AoV1-073 / G(II)467 / GC657 I Will Not Die before I've lived to see that land
(Tom Conry) I really quite like this one. The verses may be best sung by a
small group, but a congregation who likes singing will do fine with it.
Some funny he / shes about God in there (in AoV), which kind of work.
Chorus is “For your right hand has delivered us from death. You have
regarded our tears, you who are goodness and grace”. Lyrics. Clunky sound sample.
- Online Resource / Tune In Shepherd of the night
(Elaine Loukes) "Have you ever felt the velvet night wrap you in her warmth". A
lovely song with a theme of God’s protection. This is tricky for a
congregation, so you might want to ask the musicians to play this. Free downloadable songbook, sound samples and lyrics.
- TiS 727 / SiS361 / ATE 208 / CH121 / AA70 / PfAS022F In the presence of your people (Brent Chambers) A good Yiddish tune - lots of fun for kids and adults. Good to get fast and dance around on this one. Good for kids. Or you could try:*VU745 In the presence of your people Refrain only for singing with a reading of
this Psalm. Lyrics (with two extra verses!).
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Online resource All the Ends of the Earth Shall Turn to you, O God (Bruce Harding)
A very simple one-liner from Bruce Harding, suitable for using with a
reading of the Psalm, or intercessions. Free sheet music.
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VU618 / CP558 God when I stand
(Herbert O'Driscoll) Good words; the tune will probably need to be taught, or
at least played through before the congregation sings it. The 4th verse
focuses on Thomas, but don't omit it, or you won't have the happy
ending. Lyrics.
1 John 4:7-21
God is love. Love each other.
All of these songs will fit well with next week's reading as well, so you may like to pick one that you'll repeat.
- MV31 Pure love (Linnea Good) A
simple two-part chant that picks up the Psalmist’s idea of the purity
of God’s law “Pure love, pure truth, pure justice, God”. Would be great
if you can teach it to some of the congregation before worship starts. Sound sample. Good for kids.
- 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). Oldy-but-a-goody.
- TiS 693 / AoV1-031 / GA212 Come as you are that's how I want you (Deidre Browne) This song is beautiful, gentle, simple, and very well known. Lyrics and sound sample. A good song to start the service.
- TiS 697 All the sleepy should have a place to sleep
(Rusty Edwards) Great chorus "Make love happen by God's grace and by
God's power. Let God move you on this day and in this hour. New
creations will then blossom like a flower for together we can be the
hands of God". Sound sample.
- AoV2-070 / ATW 496 / MV090 / StJ / G(3)719 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. Sound sample. Good for kids.
- GtB God is love and love is giving (Ross Langmead)
A simple kids' song about God's love. A round. Good for kids. Sound sample.
- CH115 / MV089 / Iona (Love from Below) Love is the touch of intangible joy (Alison Robertson) words of different kinds of love – deep friendship, romantic
love (Love is the lilt in a lingering voice), and the love of God. Each
verse ends with "God is where love is, for love is of God". Tune is
simple enough for a congregation to sing first go, and it has gorgeous
chords. Lyrics (loads a pdf).
- AoVK-44 God loves you and I love you (Traditional) Good old Sunday School song. AoV version is not too tacky; probably better in a Sunday School context, rather than during worship, but it depends on your congregation! Pretty silly sound sample. Good for kids.
- Iona (M&G) / ATAR609 / CH359 / MV033 / GtG137 / ZSS54 / StJ / ELW253 / GA293 / SFFS
2085 / G(II)276 / GC370 / GC(II)364 / G(3)429 / CP368 / W&R402 He came down that we may have love/ Jesus came bringing us hope
(Traditional Cameroon) A lovely simple song - you can make up words and
have a lot of fun with this if you also use some drums. For Brunswick
this year, this will be a nice reminder of Advent, when we sang this
every week. Scottish sound sample. Good for kids.
- 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) A classic! Lyrics. Good for kids Oldy-but-a-goody.
- TiS
152 / NCH4 / UMH89 / VU232 / LBW551 / ELW836 / HPP22 / GtG611 / PH464 / GC529 /
GC(II)520 / G(3)614 / CP425 / W&R59 / Cha002 / URW065 / 82Hml-376 Joyful joyful we adore thee (Henry Van Dyke) Note that this hymn is not always very inclusive. I prefer more modern translations (e.g. TiS, VU, NCH, GC(II). Oldy but a goody.Older version lyrics and tune sample.
- Taizé / CH801
/ MV170 / StJ / GtG205 / WoV665 / ELW642 / SFFS 2179 / GC408 /
GC(II)430 / G(3)500 / CP553 / W&R399 / Cha523 / URW394 / StF783 / Lau244b Live in charity / Ubi Caritas (Jacques Berthier)
Usually sung in Latin, but can also be sung just as beautifully as "Live in
charity and steadfast love, live in charity; God will dwell with you."
Sheet music and sound samples for practice. Good for kids.
John 15:1-8
Christ as the vine. We are the branches that need to bear fruit, and remain on the vine.
- TiS 686 / ATE 292 Lord Jesus we belong to you / Because we bear your name (Robin
Mann). A straightforward and practical song asking God to help us to
follow Christ well, with a refrain of "because we bear your name". Lyrics.
- ATW 487 Make your home in me (Fay White) A
simple beautiful invitation. “If you fly to the point of the day’s sunrise or
westward across the sea, if you travel to the uttermost ends of the
earth, there I will be; Make your home in me as I make my home in you.
I am everywhere that you can be. Make your home in me”. Lyrics.
- TiS
419 / NCH270 / CH592 / A&M252 / UMH544 / VU205 / WoV685 / ELW403 /
HPP222 / GtG285 / PH314 / CP635 / CP(E) 185 / W&R327 / SP92 / 82Hml-513 / StF389 Like the murmur of the dove's song (Carl Daw) Excellent words and a simple tune about Christian unity. Each verse ends with "Come holy spirit, come". Lyrics and sheet music.
- TiS 393 / GA365 Christ is alive with joy we sing (Pamela Stotter)
Joyful alleluias, and Easter images of Christ as grain of wheat, rising
sun, vine and bread. Sung to the familiar tune VULPIUS. Lyrics.
- FFS35 I am the vine and you are the branches (Shirley Murray) Fun tune and good words. Lyrics here, and a different tune, which also looks pretty good.
- G(II)479 / GC672 I am the vine and you the branches (Bob Hurd) Simple and good words. Lead sheet and lyrics. Sound sample.
- TiS 531 / NCH76 / UMH664 / VU481 / R171 / ELW330 / HPP578 / W&R712 Sent forth by God's blessing (Omer Westendorf)
Lovely joyful folk tune (THE ASH GROVE), and the analogy of the vine
and fruit is paramount in the first verse. NCH has a descant part
written in, so look at that if you have some good high singers. 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 (Iona) A classic.
Don't sing it too slowly or it really drags and takes forever! Lyrics.
- VU632 / StS100 / WoV695 / ELW447 / SFFS 2076 / StF617 / LUYH794 O blessed Spring where word and sign
(Susan Palo Cherwien) Imagery of Christ the vine and the changes that the seasons
bring. Hymnals vary in the tune
selected. I like it best to O WALY WALY. Lyrics.
- URW107 You are the vine and we are the branches
(Steve Garnaas-Holmes) This is quite good, and can be sung as a round. The
lyrics won't work for Australian congregations where being "rooted
in you" would mean something entirely different. Lyrics.
What will you be singing? I'd love to hear your ideas! Please share them in a comment below.
