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Songs and Hymns for Proper 25A / Ordinary 30A / Pentecost +21 (October 29, 2023)

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) 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". Great words of hope about the Promised Land.
  • UMH508 / VU643 / Cha535 Faith while trees are still in blossom (Anders Frostenson) 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.  
  • Recorded Music These Hands (Malcolm Gordon) 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.
  • TaizĂ© / AoV2-109 / CH772 / GA429 / GtG654 / A&M334 / SFFS 2195 / G(II)396 / GC566 / GC(II)546 / G(3)639 / SP128 / URW381 / Lau944 / W&R448 / StF776 / MP865 In the Lord I'll Be Ever Thankful / El Senyor (Jacques Berthier) A joyful and bouncy short song. Works well in English, German and Spanish at least. 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.  
  • 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 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 sound sample. 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).   
  • AoVK-123 / NCH3 / Iona (M&G) / UMH148 / VU308 / WoV794 / ELW837 / GtG021 / PH271 / G(II)338 / GC499 / G(3)911 / CP407 / W&R26 / Cha58 / URW232 / 82Hml-385 Many and Great O God are your works / Wakantanka Taku Nitawa (Joseph Renville) Good words. Simple tune. Sounds great accompanied by a good Native American-style drum beat, which is a great way to get people (especially kids) involved in music-making. Lyrics.
  • 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.
  • G(II)77 / GC83 In every age, O God, you have been our refuge (Michael Guimont) A nice simple refrain and good translation of the verses. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Sound sample.
  • CH054 Lord you have always been our home (Church Hymnary) Good words. I like the tune ATHCHUINGE for this. Sound samples.
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. There is also a nice tune from Douglas Simper in his book if you'd like something quite new, but still hymn-like.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Online Resource / ATFG561 / Tune In Community (Dave Brown) A song about being welcomed and part of a community. Sound sample, lyrics, and free downloadable songbook. Good for kids.
  • 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. 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 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. Sheet music sample and purchasing options.
  • NCH Psalter001 My delight is in the law of God (Judy Hunnicutt) A very simple refrain and chanted Psalm.
  • Online resourceLike a tree by the flowing water (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) Lovely simple words of connectedness, and a simple chorus. Good for kids. Lyrics, sound sample and purchasing options.
  • Linnea Good Strong as living Trees (Linnea Good) A lovely haunting chant. Good for kids and adults alike.
  • 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. Sheet music (go to page 3 of PDF). 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." Lyrics (scroll through document).
  • 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. A little snippet. 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 hymlike 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!
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) 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 / Monica O'Brien) A fun and celebratory song! Sound sample, sheet music samples and purchasing options. Good for kids.
  • 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. Scottish sound sample. Lead sheet.
  • FFS22 Gentle is the way of Jesus (Shirley Murray) 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. Sound sample. 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 and sheet music sample.
  • 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.   
  • 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. Lyrics and sample sheet music.
  • 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!
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Songs and Hymns for Marriage Ceremonies

In these suggested songs for weddings, I have focused on songs that don't demand the production of children or that the couple is heterosexual. In the Uniting Church in Australia, you don't have to be straight to get married, but if you're in a congregation or denomination that does not welcome same-gender weddings, it's good to sing songs that don't reinforce that exclusion.
You will probably want to sing a range of songs, including some traditional hymns, or even a meditative chant, depending on the type of service. Most of the songs I have listed here have a specific focus on weddings, but I have listed a couple of other songs that might give you some ideas for other types of songs you might like to sing at the end of the entry.
  • GA221 / AA25 / CP287 / W&R609 / StF603 Come to a wedding (Shirley Murray) Good wedding words that are not heterosexist, and simply celebrate love. Sung to BUNESSAN (Morning has broken), so easy for congregations that include lots of non-church-goers. Some versions (StF does) include the possibility of including the names of the happy couple in the final verse (which works well, unless one of them is named Methuselah). Lyrics. New words to old tunes
  • AoV2-086 If I speak in words of wisdom / Love Is The Greatest Gift Of All (Marshall Good) This is not exclusively a wedding song, but is very good for weddings, especially if 1 Corithians 13 is part of the service.
  • Online Resource O God bestow your love and care (Barbara Hamm) This song is particularly for weddings that may not be approved by all, whether it is because is it a same-sex wedding, a marriage of people of different faiths, or for any reason where the marriage may not be recognised and requires special support. Free sheet music
  • G(II)633 / GC870 / GC(II)859 / G(3)971 May God bless you hold and keep you (Vicki Klima) Excellent words with a very community-focused view of marriage. I wish I had known about this when I got married! Simple tune. Lead sheet and lyrics.
  • Protest and Praise / Online Resource We thank you God for human love (David Bjorlin) Excellent words celebrating all shapes of human love, and celebrating vows made to celebrate it; sung to the familiar tune FOREST GREEN. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options. New words to old tunes
  • Online Resource Bless this union (Mary Louise Bringle) This song is particularly appropriate for second marriages, or marriages late in life, because it acknowledges previous loves; sung to the familiar tune ROYAL OAK. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options. New words to old tunes
  • VU485 / Cha498 O God who gave humanity its name (Fred Kaan) Excellent words of a love that is large and seeking strength, throughout changing life. Could be sung to the familiar tune SURSUM CORDA if desired. New words to old tunes
  • Online Resource Glory to God source of love from the dawn of creation (Adam Tice) Uplifting and praise-filled words of love that is connected to God and to community, set to the familiar tune LOBE DEN HERREN. New words to old tunes. Lyrics, sheet music sample, purchasing options. 
  • NCH364 God today bless this new marriage (Marie Post) Good simple words celebrating a union of love and service to the tune of "Brother, Sister, Let me serve you". Lyrics (older version). New words to old tunes. 
  • Iona (LFB) / A&M345 / CP288 / SP132 Lord and lover of creation Good and sung to a very familiar tune (WESTMINSTER ABBEY). Can be used for any romantic union commitment ceremony. Lyrics here. New words to old tunes   
  • TiS 603 / AHB 526 / UMH645 / A&M348 / VU491 / LBW287 / HPP290 / PH533 / CP(E) 343 / W&R610 / StF605 / Lau415 / MP517 O perfect Love all human thought transcending (Dorothy Gurney) Sources vary in how old-fashioned the language is. Although this hymn is very old, it is still very relevant and beautiful today. Older style lyrics. 
  • TiS 654 / NCH362 / UMH643 / VU489 / WoV749 / G(II)628 / GC865 / GC(II)856 / G(3)966  / W&R612 / Cha499 / StF607 / Lau416 When love is found and hope comes home (Wren) Lovely words to the tune O WALY WALY, which also talks about the challenges faced by those committing to a lifelong loving relationship. Lyrics. New words to old tunes  
  • CH696 We come dear Lord to celebrate (Bell) A lovely joyful wedding song, to the familiar tune REPTON. Celebrating love, asking for God's blessings on the new family. New words to old tunes
  • CH697 / AA86 Let’s praise the Creator (Shirley Murray) Joyous wedding song. Not all verses are appropriate for same-sex unions as the words "husband and wife" make up a critical rhyme, but the words are so lovely, I wanted to list it. "The love that we wish them, the love that we pray for is stronger than storms and more gentle than breath, endures every trouble, is selfless and faithful, more precious than life and more lasting than death". 
  • ATW 507 Where you tread (John Beavis) A very simple and beautiful song based on Ruth's commitment to Naomi. A congregation would pick this up very quickly.
  • VU490 Our God creation's loving source (Joy Patterson) Lovely words celebrating God's love and love for each other sung to the familiar tune O WALY WALY. Lyrics. New words to old tunes
  • MV035 Holy one O Holy one (Farquharson) Gentle blessing song for a marriage or commitment service. Probably not immediately easy for a congregation to join in.

A work for choir or vocal quartet or recorded music

Song for Marriage Equality
  • Online Resource Praise the source of all creation giving life through all the earth (Jann Aldredge-Clanton) These new lyrics to the tune ODE TO JOY are about many excellent things, not just marriage equality, but I wanted to put this somewhere it may be found! Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
Songs that are not specifically about marriage that you may like to include: 
Really, you should just sing some hymns that are generally about God's goodness that you really love. 
  • 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 sound sample. 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. 
  • / AoV2-109 / CH772 / GA429 / GtG654 / A&M334 / SFFS 2195 / G(II)396 / GC566 / GC(II)546 / G(3)639 / SP128 / URW381 / Lau944 / W&R448 / StF776 / MP865 In the Lord I'll Be Ever Thankful / El Senyor (Jacques Berthier) A joyful and bouncy short song. Works well in English, German and Spanish at least. Good for kids. Sheet music, translations into many other languages, sound samples.
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