Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
God is lamenting Israel's foolishness and the damage done to the earth.
- TiS 679 / Online God of Jeremiah grieving
(Brian Wren) If you are going to focus on Jeremiah for the next few weeks,
this would be a good hymn to learn. The traditional Scottish
tune KELVIN GROVE is well known as the tune for "The Summons". Lyrics and free sheet music PDF. New words to old tunes
- Online Resource We love to sound your praises (Carolyn Winfrey-Gillette) New words to the very familiar tune O SACRED HEAD. Lyrics and copyright info. New words to old tunes
- CH240 / W&R37 / StF727 / Lau687 / MP832 God in such love for us lent us this planet
(Fred Pratt Green) Really excellent lyrics of caring for creation and a
reminder that the Earth is God's. Not all versions are inclusive (CH
is). Lyrics and sheet music.
- TiS
668 / AoVK-34 / ATFG587 / NCH569 / CH243 / VU307 / R254 / ELW739 /
AA143 / A&M553 / GtG713 / G(3)805 / W&R38 / Cha693 /
URW189 / StF729 Touch the earth lightly
(Shirley Murray) Sings of the redemption of creation and our complicity in its
destruction. Sources vary in their set tunes. TiS has a good tune
(TENDERNESS) with a nice minor key change to the relative minor for the
second verse. Can also be sung to BUNESSAN, if you need a familiar tune. Youtube video with all lyrics. New words to old tunes (if you want).
- VU305 Into the unshaped silence
(S Curtis Tufts) Lovely words of a new day, a day of rest, and care for the
earth. You could choose just one verse and sing it as a round. Lyrics.
- Online Resource (Pilgrim Uniting) Behold and look with inner eye
(Helen Wiltshire) Care for the earth. A set of common meter words that can be
sung to FRENCH, on seeing the beauty of earth, acknowledging climate
change, and caring for the earth. Free songbook. New words to old tunes
- AHB 106 / CH238 / A&M543 / CP(E) 257 Lord bring the day to pass
(Ian Fraser) Excellent words. Care for the earth. New heavens and earth.
Can be sung to one of my favourite hymn tunes (LOVE UNKNOWN), but other
tunes
are also listed. Sound sample. New words to old tunes.
- MV135 Called by earth and sky (Pat Mayberry) Gentle song about being called to care for the earth. Sheet music.
- URW080 Great Lover calling us to share (Brian Wren) Challenging and beautiful words to the familiar tune PUER NOBIS. Lyrics and sheet music New words to old tunes
- Cha658 / URW081 Restless Weaver
(Cricket Harrison) Excellent words of our desire to help build God's new earth -
caring for creation and desiring justice for all. Sung to the familiar
tune HOLY MANNA. Lyrics. New words to old tunes
- NCH559 / PH266 / W&R36 Thank You God for Water Soil and Air (Brian Wren) Good words asking God to help us renew the face of the earth by caring for creation. A prayer of confession. Lyrics & sheet music.
- TiS 651 Take, take off your shoes (Jim Manley) A
fun slightly silly song for kids; this song is focussed on caring for the earth and
creation. Sound sample. Good for kids.
Psalm 14
Doesn't anyone around here believe in what is true?
- Emergent Psalter Fools say in their heart "There is no God" (Isaac Everett)
An excellent, modern refrain which is very singable, and can be sung
with a second refrain over the top from Psalm 53. Sheet music (refrain only).
- 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.
-
PfAS014B Prone to wander
(Robert Robinson) A simple refrain based on an old hymn, sung to
the first two lines of the familiar tune BEACH SPRING. I would sing this quite slowly and
reflectively. Lyrics are simply "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love". Tune sample and sheet music. New words to old tunes
- VU735 Dear God who loves all humankind
(Charles Hastings Parry) Simple familiar refrain. It's the first line of the old hymn
"Dear Lord and Father of Mankind" with a responsive Psalm setting. This
would be a nice way to do the Psalm this week. Sample sheet music. New words to old tunes
-
GC(II)660 / G(3)750 Deliver Us O Lord of Truth
(Hermann Steumpfle) Very challenging words to a good well known American folk
tune (LAND OF REST - TiS 324). "Deliver
us, O Lord of Truth, from speech unbacked by deed, from lives that by
their faithlessness deny our spoken creed" (don't worry, it gets more
positive in the later verses). Lyrics and sheet music sample. Sound sample.
New words to old tunes
- TiS 469 This is the truth we hold
(Basil Bridge) This is a new one for me. It has very positive words about
Christ as our truth through the ages. The tune is also new, but is not
difficult, especially if you play it through once before starting to
sing this. "This is the truth we hold, source of the joy we share, hope
that can make us bold, trusting the name we bear: that "Christ has died"
and "Christ is risen, in Christ shall all be made alive". Lyrics (downloads an order of service).
Alternative Hebrew Scripture: Exodus 32:7-14
The Golden Calf. Who brought the Israelites out of Egypt? A cow? Moses? God?
- Taizé
/ MV016 / StJ / ELW528 / GA430 / SFFS 2157 / HPP410 / GtG466 /
G(II)398 / GC570 / GC(II)550 / G(3)637 / CP402 / URW378 / Lau701 Come and Fill our hearts/ Confitemini Domino
(Jacques Berthier) Can be sun in English as "Come and fill our hearts with your
peace, you
alone O God are holy. Come and fill our hearts with your peace,
Alleluia". A good song of recommitment. Sound samples and sheet music.
- Online Resource / Tune In / NCYC'07 Forgive us now (Dave Brown) I
think I’ve been suggesting this one a lot lately, but it also fits well
with this reading “Forgive us now, O mother love for all the idols we
have built, For all the time we’ve worshipped there in company of dark
despair. Forgive us mother of all hope”. Lyrics, sound sample and free songbook
Psalm for the Exodus reading: Psalm 51:1-10
A Prayer for forgiveness and a new heart
You might like to sing a Kyrie.
- Online Resource Broken (Elaine Loukes) A gentle song for tired pilgrims. Sheet music, ecording and lyrics.
- Iona (SBL) / MV068 / G(II)405 / GC581 / GtG578 / PfAS009A Kyrie Guarany / On the poor, on the poor / Oré poriajú verekó (Pablo Sosa / Guarani people) 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 Greek (Hey, that's my family singing!) Good for kids.
- Online Resource Open my heart (Ana Hernandez) A beautiful 3 part chant, which also works as a single part chant. Sheet music. Youtube of the song being taught and sung in 3 parts.
- Online Resource / Tune In / NCYC '07 Forgive us now (Dave Brown) An excellent ballad. "Forgive us now, O mother love for all the idols we have built, For all
the time we’ve worshiped there in company of dark despair. Forgive us
mother of all hope”. Free downloadable songbook and 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. Free sheet music. Maybe this could work as a Psalm response?
- MV015 / GA186 Holy Sacred Spirit
(Monica Brown) Gentle chant, which would work well at the start of the
service. Can be used without the cantor part. "Holy Sacred Spirit,
breathe your breath on us". Youtube (VERY SLOW) Good to help kids settle.
- STB043 Lord we did not live up to your teachings / Amra tomar adesh rupe
(Bart Shaha) A Bengali Kyrie. 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.
- AoV1-158 / GA438 Create a new heart Holy Lord / A new heart for a new world
(Monica O'Brien / Trish Watts) Very simple melody, excellent words "Create a new heart
Holy Lord, beckon our lives through your word, open our eyes to your
call, United as one for your world". Lyrics and slightly odd sound sample.
- TiS 712 / AoV2-021 / ATE 269 / The tide has turned songbook Create in me / us a clean heart O God (Digby Hannah) A big favourite in our congregation, and a big favourite of mine. Lyrics & sound sample.
- GA040 Create in Me a Clean Heart O God (Monica O'Brien) Nice refrain and simple cantor part for this Psalm.
- GtG423 / W&R378 / PfAS051H Create in Me a Clean Heart O God (John Carter) A very simple, and repetitive version of the Psalm. Lyrics and sheet music sample.
- GC(II)409 / G(3)477 Lord Jesus Christ son of the living God (Carol Browning)
A simple chant based on "The Jesus Prayer" with a beautiful (and
optional) cantor which is really worth using. Nice chords! Nice sound sample and
sheet music sample Sound sample Lead sheet.
- Cha743 Create in me a clean heart O God (Carl Mueller) Very simple refrain based on a choral work, with a responsive reading. Here's a recording of the choral work.
- PfAS051I Lord Have Mercy (Kathleen Hart Brumm) A simple call and response Kyrie. Instrumental sheet music. Good for kids if you sing it with some energy.
- GtG431 / SFFS 2134 Forgive Us Lord / Perdon Senor
(Jorge Lockward / Raquel Mora Martínez) Call and response prayer of confession. Recording.
- NCH784 Create in Me a clean heart (Emma Lou Diemer) Easy to sing. Nice words.
- Online Resource Create in Me a pure Heart O God (Bruce Harding) A nice round, with an optional descant part. Good for kids. Free sheet music .
- Iona (Love and Anger) / StS067 / PfAS051G / STB120 Have mercy on us Lord / Khudaya rahem kar
(Pakistan) A nice alternative. It would be nice to get your
congregation to sing something from South Asia. PfAS uses only the first
line as a Psalm refrain, which may be the simplest approach for Anglo
congregations to dip their toes into South Asian melodies. Lyrics also
in Urdhu, but works well in
English too. Youtube
- Worldmaking.net O Tender God, Have Mercy (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A gentle, modern version of the Kyrie. Sound sample, lyrics and theology
- NCH589 / VU679 Let there be light O God of hosts!
(Frances Wheeler Davis) Hopeful words seeking an end to
war and unity and understanding between nations. Verse two "Open our lips!" Lyrics. History.
- ATOK 399 Holding out your hand (Gerry Holmes) I like this one. Good for kids.
- Psalm Project - Sharing the Road Wash Me Clean (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A nice, gentle reworking of the Psalm. Might be good to ask a musician to sing this one. Available here.
- TiS 729 / Iona (HSNW) Jesus Christ, Son of God have mercy upon us (John Bell) A very very simple call and response chant.
- ATOK 354 / ELW801 / SFFS 2152 / GtG695 / SP&P128 / W&R373 / PfAS051A / ZSS178 / Srce95 / MP069 Change my heart O God / Cambiame Senor (Eddie Espinosa) A mushy old favourite. Sound sample.
- Online Resource Create in Me (Tom Keesecker) A lovely choral piece. Listen to the full sound sample, it just gets better and better. Sound sample, PDF sample, and purchasing options.
- Online Resource Make a new heart
(Richard Bruxvoort Colligan) A simple chorus just right for joining in
on, and good choruses that could be sung by a cantor or a leader. Sound sample, lyrics and purchasing options.
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Grateful to be chosen; Some Glorias would be good.
- TiS
143 / AHB 80 / NCH1 / CH132 / UMH103 / VU264 / A&M676 / LBW526 / ELW834 / HPP37 /
GtG012 / PH263 / GC507 / CP(E) 474 / W&R48 / Cha066 / ZSS4 /
Srce296 / 82Hml-423 / Lau725 / StF055 / MP327 Immortal invisible God only wise (Walter Chalmers-Smith). An oldy-but-a-goody. "In light inaccessible hid from our eyes". Lyrics, tune sample. Words are mostly inclusive for God's gender, but for the
last verse which our congregation usually sings as "Great Father of
glory, pure Mother of light", except for the last time we sang it. Oldy-but-a-goody.
- CoC20 Gloria (Jillian Bray) A pretty majestic gloria in 4 part harmony.
- TiS 728 Jesuchristo Reina reina ya! (Latin American). Fun! Particularly if someone is brave enough to yell out a "call" at the start of each verse. Sound sample.
- ATOK 318 / Iona (SBL) / CH762 / MV036 / WoV788 / SFFS 2033 / GtG585 / SP&P078 / URW403 / StF753 Glory to God / Gloria di dios (Pablo Sosa / Peru) Good fun. Great for kids - call and response. SFFS has a good Trinitarian formula for it. Good for kids.
- TiS
773 / ATW 431 / NCH756 / CH760 / UMH072 / VU37 / WoV640 / GtG583 / GA291
/ G(II)199 / GC(II)253 / G(3)426 / W&R240 / Cha034 / URW380 / StF752 Glory to God / Gloria Gloria (Jacques Berthier) The refrain is excellent - joyous, simple, a round. Everything. The verses are not great. Sound sample. Good for kids.
- Iona (TI1AU) / MV038 Glory to God / Nzamuranza
(Mozambique / Patrick Matsikenyiri) Simple African call and response song. Sound sample.
- TiS 775 / ATOK 317 / Iona (M&G) / VU895 / GtG584 Glory glory glory glory be to God on high (Pablo Sosa) A simple Gloria.
- CoC21 Gloria (Colin Gibson) This Latin Gloria could be sung as a simple chant, a 3-part canon or a four part chorale!
- GC(II)190 Glory to God in the highest (Beneath the Tree of Life)
(Marty Haugen) Communion response A good joyful Gloria. Older versions have "his people", but newer versions have "God's people". Sound sample.
- MV124 Glory to God in the Highest (Trinidad) A good simple Gloria from the Caribbean Conference of Churches.
- TiS
129 / AHB 56 / AoV1-029 / ATA 131 / NCH547 / CH555 / UMH378 / VU266 /
LBW448 / ELW779 / A&M587 / GA437 / HPP334 / GtG649 / PH280 / G(II)434 / GC612 / GC(II)586 / G(3)645 /
CP352 / CP(E) 375 / W&R422 / Cha546 / ZSS202 / Srce25 / Lau846 / StF440 / MP031 Amazing grace how sweet the sound (John Newton) I once was lost... I think you all know this one. Nice youtube of some Sacred Harp singing, and a story. I love the recording of Dr G Yunipingu singing this in Yolngu; so sad that he is no longer singing on this earth. Oldy-but-a-goody.
Luke 15:1-10
The lost sheep and the lost coin are found; cause for celebration!
- TiS 179 / NCH273 / VU312 / GA379 / StJ / URW073 Praise with Joy the World's Creator (John Bell / Graham Maule) One of my favourite hymns - strongly Trinitarian lyrics and excellent imagery. I particularly
love the “One God in community” phrase. Some versions change "Son" to
"Christ" to make it more inclusive. Lyrics (scroll down).
- TiS 693 / AoV1-031 / GA212 Come as you are that's how I want you (Deirdre Browne) This song is beautiful, gentle, simple, and very well known. Lyrics and sound sample. A good song to start the service.
- VU360 / Cha074 A woman and a coin / the coin is lost (Jaroslav Vajda)
Very appropriate lyrics, which ask whether we are the lost child or
sheep. Tune is a little tricky so will need to be taught. Choral sound sample.
- TiS
129 / AHB 56 / AoV1-029 / ATA 131 / NCH547 / CH555 / UMH378 / VU266 /
LBW448 / ELW779 / A&M587 / GA437 / HPP334 / GtG649 / PH280 / G(II)434 / GC612 / GC(II)586 / G(3)645 /
CP352 / CP(E) 375 / W&R422 / Cha546 / ZSS202 / Srce25 / Lau846 / StF440 / MP031 Amazing grace how sweet the sound (John Newton) I once was lost... I think you all know this one. Nice youtube of some Sacred Harp singing, and a story. I love the recording of Dr G Yunipingu singing this in Yolngu; so sad that he is no longer singing on this earth. Oldy-but-a-goody.
- Online Resource God's great love is so amazing (Carolyn Winfrey-Gillette) Good words about this story, to the familiar tune CONVERSE (What a friend we have in Jesus). Lyrics.
- Online Resource ATAR598 / Tune In / NCYC 2009: God has laid a feasting table / Invitation
(Shawn Whelan). Feminine imagery of God gathering her guests to a feasting
table. Fun Cuban rhythm. Particularly good if you are celebrating
communion, but you don't need to be for it to make sense. Sound sample, sheet music and free downloadable songbook.
- MV020 God of still waiting
(Carl P Daw) Good words about God waiting for us and the promise brought by
the Spirit. Tune is quite beautiful, and will need to be taught at least
a little. Lyrics.
- Online Resource At the table all are equal (David
Bjorlin / Benjamin Brody)
A beautiful song of welcome, with a stirring and heartfelt chorus. This
could be sung before communion, and would work during distribution too.
Sound sample. Sheet music and lyrics preview and purchasing options.
- ATN 77 / G(II)542 / GC749 O Welcome All You Noble Saints of Old / In Christ There Is a Table Set for All (Robert Stamps) We
often sing "We and God at Table are sat down" instead of the original
"God and man at table are sat down" from ATN 77, however, the Gather
hymnals use "In Christ there is a table set for all" which I also really
like! Good for celebration of communion Older style lyrics. Good for kids.
- And something extra: A cool youtube stop motion animation of this story. Unfortunately the resolution is not good enough to project it...
Please add your suggestions in a comment below. I'd love to hear of any appropriate songs you may know.
Job 39:1-12, 26-30
God shows Job the kingdom of the wild, where God’s Wisdom and nurture are ever present.
Some songs suggested for St Francis' Day might also be appropriate.
- Online Resource (BUC) Where were you? (Shawn Whelan) A beautiful new reflection on creation, awe and responsibility. Free sheet music and sound samples.
- Online Resource Wake O My Soul to Earth and Sea and Sky
(Pat Mayberry) A lovely new hymn with a rousing chorus. It would fit for many services during Season of Creation. Sheet music.
- Online resource Will you come back with me to the birth of the Earth / Song of the Wild (Norm Habel) Excellent words of wonder. PDF.
- TiS
135 / AHB 70 / AoVK-110 / NCH31 / A&M533 / CH137 / UMH147 / VU291 / WoV767 /
HPP35 / PH267 / GtG020 / CP415/6 / CP(E) 251 / W&R30 / Cha061 /
Srce21 / StF100 / Lau685 / MP023 All things bright and beautiful (Cecil Frances Alexander) The TiS version has beautiful Australian imagery. If you are in Australia and your
congregation only has the AHB or other versions of the music, it is
worth making copies of the TiS lyrics; the congregation will know the
tune. Verse 2 and 5 have masculine language for God. Oldy-but-a-goody. The original English lyrics from Ms Alexander are a bit different (note verse 3, which thankfully is rarely sung)! VU has some nice Canadian lyrics too, which would also work for people in the USA near the Rocky Mountains and Great Lakes.
- HiOS022 Creator God, we give you thanks
(Colin Gibson) Fun song for kids and adults. The tune moves quickly and has lots of words, but it's quite fun. "Creator God we give you thanks for those who live in nest or
tank, in basket, kennel, bowl or shed, on sofas, perches, straw for
bed." Lyrics (downloads a pdf)
- Online Resource All of us belong (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A
very simple song, with two parts that can be sung simultaneously about
welcoming all creatures into the church. I especially like the second
part "We have wings and paws and tails and toes and instincts and
souls". Good for kids. Sound sample and lyrics. Sheet music for purchase (Worldmaking songbook)
- CH143 Who put the colours in the rainbow? (Paul Booth) Quite tacky, but could be fun for Sunday School or a kids' choir. Youtube (with approximate lyrics) Good for kids.
Psalm 104:14-23, 31
God nurtures and sustains all creatures of the wild and joins with them and us in celebration.
- TiS 187 / AoV2-130 / CH149 / StS122 / A&M539 / SP247 Let all creation dance (Brian Wren) I just love the imagery of this one, and it's a very joyous and familiar hymn tune too. Lyrics New words to old tunes
- TiS 671 / AoV2-121 Made in God's Likeness (Patricia Lewis / Alister Spence)
"Called to create a new world for the Lord". Excellent images of
rainforest birds praising God. This is one of my very favourite songs. It is not
difficult if you have a good musician at the helm. If it is new to your
congregation, they will be able to join in on the verses by the time
you get to the 3rd one. The change in tone with the verse really lifts
this song. Lyrics and sound sample.
- Online Resource Brother Sister Creatures (Richard
Bruxvoort-Colligan) A
simple and really lovely adaptation of Psalm 104. The chorus is very
simple, and I think would really stick in the minds of kids "Oh I love
my brother sister creatures!". Sheet music. Sound sample, lyrics Good for kids.
- AoV1-019 / CH151 / GA397 / G(II)340 / GC493 / GC(II)498 / G(3)575 / W&R39 All You Works of God
(Marty Haugen) Joyful call, response and chorus. This will take a little
work to get your congregation into the rhythm of how this song works,
but I really think it would be worth it. Lead sheet. Sound sample. Good for kids.
- NCH032 / UMH122 / VU229 / HPP32 /
GtG022 / PH272 / CP414 / W&R29 /
Cha070 God of the sparrow God of the whale
(Jaroslav Vajda) This is a beautiful song, but for some reason it sounds
kind of odd with an Australian accent. Works especially well this week
with the lyric: “God of the rainbow, God of the cross, God of the empty
grave”. Lyrics.
- CH227 / PfAS065A The earth is yours O God
(Michael Saward) A simple hymn paraphrase of Psalm 65, that also fits this
Psalm. To the tune ROSSLEIGH. Lyrics.
- URW086 Creation sings! Each plant and tree
(Martin Leckebusch) Thoughtful words about our relationship with the earth and
all that is in it. One of very few hymns that connects human creatures
with the other creatures of our planet, and questions our desire to
control all of earth. Sung to a fairly simple tune, that will need to be
sung through once before the congregation joins in. Lyrics (thanks Saide!)
- NCH34 / Iona (SL) / CH138 / SgTJ1065
Nourished by the rainfall the earth can come alive / Flowers of every
colour now raise their heads in pride / As the rain is falling /
Alabanza (Pablo Fernandez-Badillo) Complex words, but a simple repetitive tune.
Inclusive, earthy. Great for a temperate Springtime. There are quite a
few different English translations of this Puerto Rican song. I
particularly like the translation in Church Hymnary / Hymns of Glory Songs
of Praise. midi sample.
- VU826 Bless O my soul / Hallelujah
(Stralsund Gesangbuch / Melchior Vulpius) A responsive Psalm, with two
possible responses, both to familiar traditional tunes. Joyful! One is
"Bless O my soul the Almighty who rules all creation". The other is
simply "Hallelujah! (x3)".
Note that while both refrains would work well with these verses, VU does not have responsive or cantored verses for this week - you'll have to find them elswhere, and use these responses.
1 Corinthians 1:10-23
The Wisdom of God evident in creation.
- MV010 / GtG174 / URW099 / VF060 Come and seek the ways of wisdom
(Ruth Duck) This song is more about the personification of Wisdom, but would work
very well as a gathering song in the context of this reading. The tune in MV and GtG is
a joyful 6/8 tune, but not familiar, so if it seems difficult, you could sing the
same words to PICARDY (TiS 497). VF has a more challenging tune, which may be a bit tricky for a congregation. Lyrics.
- TiS 422 / CH594 / A&M242 / CP(E) 179 Come Holy Spirit come inflame our souls with love
(Michael Forster) Excellent words to a well known hymn tune (DIADEMATA).
"Spirit of truth, arise; inspire the prophet’s voice" It is not fully
inclusive. Lyrics (powerpoint). New words to old tunes
- HiOS156 Wisdom be our guide
(Shirley Murray) Inspiring lyrics of peace and being grounded and
inspired by Wisdom. The tune is quite simple, and the chorus will be
easy to follow. Lyrics.
- Online Resource / GA183 Come Holy Spirit, the spirit of Wisdom / Gifts of the Spirit
(Christopher Willcock) Good song. It's in 7/8 so you can't go wrong. The words are
also excellent about God-with-us and the coming of the Spirit. This is
also in New Song in an Ancient Land Vol 1 (in the Liturgy Library at BUC). Sound sample, sheet music sample and purchasing options.
- A&M504 / GC(II)644 / W&R577 / G(3)743 / SP167 / StF689 / Lau836 Summoned by the God who made us / Sing a New Church (Dolores Dufner)
Excellent words of Christian unity and justice to the well-known tune
NETTLETON (TiS 392). Would be a good final hymn. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
- AoV1-130 / NCH444 / SFFS 2223 / HPP495 / GtG300 / G(II)533 / GC735 / GC(II)728 / G(3)835 / W&R595 / Cha494 We are one in the Spirit / They’ll know we are Christians by our love (Peter Scholtes)
A
classic 60's song of unity and being an example to others. It's still
pretty groovy, I reckon. Older version are really masculine. We often
syncopate it a bit at Brunswick. Lyrics and pretty silly sound sample. Good for kids.
- ATAR616 In my father's house (Paul Somerville) This is a great song of unity, with an inspiring, and very singable chorus. Sound sample. Good for older kids & teenagers.
- FFS08 Broken the body (Shirley Murray) Good words of a broken body of Christ and a broken Church seeking healing, unity and courage. Lyrics and sheet music.
- TiS 411 / AHB 328 / NCH266 / UMH537 / VU194 / A&M633 / CP658 / CP(E) 425 / W&R331 Filled with the Spirit's power (John Peacey) Excellent inclusive words to a very well known hymn tune. I prefer it sung to WOODLANDS. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes.
- MV174 Soil of God you and I (Digby Hannah) Good lyrics of inclusion, unity and growth. Fairly straightforward tune. Lyric video.
- NCH291 / PH273 O God the Creator
(Elizabeth Thunderbird Haile / Cecil Corbett) Unusual, but good tune, and good words of our unity
as God's created children. Chorus is "And we're brothers and
sisters in God's love". Lyrics.
- MV053 God who spread the boundless prairie (Herbert O'Driscoll) A good hymn for those in the prairies seeking unity; sung to ODE TO JOY. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
- SFFS 2221 In Unity We Lift Our Song (Ken Medema) Excellent words to a well known hymn tune. Celebrates the life of a church. Good for a church anniversary too. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
- Recorded Music One (U2) I like the Johnny Cash version of this, and even though it's about
the reunification of Germany, this song could be interpreted as a song
about the unity of the church. "One life with each other; Sisters,
Brothers. One life but
we're not the same,
We get to carry each other, carry each other. One". Youtube (Johnny Cash!).
Luke 12:22-31
God provides for all leading us to live in harmony and not be stressed about possessions and power.
- GC(II)647 / G(3)749 / Lau949 Where Your Treasure Is
(Marty Haugen) This song is based on this passage, and nearby verses. Quite
easy to sing, particularly if the congregation only joins in on the
chorus. Lyrics and partial sheet music. Sound sample.
- FFS42 Let there be peace and love (Cecily Sheehy) This is for the those in Aotearoa / NZ (or those who would like to sing in Māori as well as English. A simple song. Good for kids.
- NCH34 / Iona (SL) / CH138 / SgTJ1065
Nourished by the rainfall the earth can come alive / Flowers of every
colour now raise their heads in pride / As the rain is falling /
Alabanza (Pablo Fernandez-Badillo) Complex words, but a simple repetitive tune.
Inclusive, earthy. Great for a temperate Springtime. There are quite a
few different English translations of this Puerto Rican song. I
particularly like the translation in Church Hymnary / Hymns of Glory Songs
of Praise. midi sample.
- Protest and Praise / Online Resource When our daily bread (David
Bjorlin / Benjamin Brody) Turn away from the news and reflect on the
beauty of God's creation and God's care for even the smallest part of
it. Lyrics, sheet music and sound sample and purchasing options.
- 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”. Could also be sung to the tune PERFECT LOVE if your congregation
would have trouble with the newer tune, in which case it's New words to old tunes. Sheet music and lyrics.
- Taizé / TiS
739 / AoV2-041 / ATOK 404 / VU290 / GA269 / SFFS 2054 / GtG820 / G(II)451 /
GC639 / GC(II)626 / G(3)733 / CP568 / W&R421 / URW388 / Lau947 Nothing Can Trouble / Nada te turbe (Jacques Berthier) Excellent and quite well known Taizé chant. Spanish lyrics are not too hard for non-Spanish speakers. Sometimes this song seems impossibly hopeful (just quietly)... Sheet music, sound samples, lyrics and translations. Good for kids.
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