For some years, I've been meaning to make a page specifically focussed on Care or the Earth, or for Earth Day. Even though I've listed songs for Season of Creation, which focuses on these issues, it's helpful to have them all in one place. Our Worship Committee at Brunswick Uniting has also received a request from our Church Council to develop a "Climate Crisis Liturgy", so this is also a clearinghouse of sorts for web pages that already have these resources.
Liturgies and Prayers
Songs
- Online Resource For all beings without speech (Julie
Perrin, Australia) Beautiful words, set to a quite meditative melody by
Shawn Whelan, about our need to care for all of creation. Sound sample, and free sheet music.
- TLUS064 / VT828 There's a wild hope in the wind (Lora
Braun, Canada) I really like this song, and I think it will suit many
congregations. It's good to sing, and picks up on "the wind blows where
it wishes". Very focussed on renewal of the earth and our duty to care. I
think it would be simple to sing. Lyrics (downloads a PDF). Choral sound sample.
- Online Resource / Resounding Voices There are more waters rising (Saro
Lynch-Thomason, USA) A simple, catchy protest song about waters rising,
fires burning, and mountains falling, and our ability to struggle
through it. Teaching video. Free book download here.
- Online Resource / GWA162 The garden of the world / Lament for the Earth (Shirley Murray, New Zealand / Lim Swee Hong, Singapore) Clear words about the damage being done to the environment in the name of greed. A lament. It is set to a beautiful and simple tune. Lyrics and sheet music.
- GWA153 God the maker of the heavens and the planet that we share (Sam Hargreaves, England) Excellent words about God's love and labour over creation, and our call to care for it. Sung to CONVERSE, one of the tunes for "What a friend we have in Jesus" (it would also work for the other tune). Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
- SFFS 2059 I Am Your Mother. Do not neglect me! (Shirley Erena Murray, New Zealand) Great words about the earth as our mother and the need to care for her. Lyrics and sheet music.
- Online Resource / GWA159 Earth is full of wit and wisdom (Adam Tice, USA) Set to a familiar tune (HOLY MANNA) these words express the delightful diversity of all creation. In the original, the first verse metnions "the tiny roly-poly" which has been changed to "the tiny Highland midges". In Australia, we could sing about "the tiny slater beetle" or "the tiny lady beetle" or even "the tiny Queensland fruit fly", though I am not so thankful for that one. You can make up something. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options.
- GWA163 We know the earth belongs to you O Lord (Alison Robertson, Scotland) A lament for the way our planet is spoiled by greed, war, and our search for Wisdom in the midst of this. The tune is mournful and beautiful. The complexity of the lyrics makes me wonder if it would be better sung by a soloist so that the congregation can reflect. This is not something we do often at our church, but sometimes I think it is appropriate. Sound sample and lyrics.
- Online Resource Can Weeping for our Planet be Enough
(Adam Tice, USA / Sally Ann Morris, USA) Powerful words calling us to action,
rather than just lamenting the destruction around us. Contemporary tune
which will need to be taught. Sheet music, lyrics sample, and purchasing options.
- Online Resource / TLUS157 Where the green will rise again (Shirley Murray, New Zealand) Excellent, hopeful words about healing of the earth, set to the familiar tune WILD MOUNTAIN THYME. Sheet music.
- VU297 All praise to you O God of all creation
(Omer Westendorf, USA) Good words of God's role in creation and our role to
care for it. Sung to the familiar tune FINLANDIA. Lyrics.
New words to old tunes.
- Online Resource / URW155 Earth and all who breathe
(Ruth Duck, USA) Excellent words about care for creation, our role as stewards of
the earth, and the struggle against destructive progress. Sung to the
familiar tune ICH HALTE TREULICH STILL. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes.
- STB257 Green the wild fields
(I-to Loh, Taiwan) This song reflects on the way we devastate
creation and seeks repentance and better behaviour. The English
translation could be better, but I quite like it. Sound recording / Lyric video.
- Online Resource / TiS 668 / AoVK-34 / AA143 / A&M553 / ATFG587 / Cha693 / CH243 / ELW739 / GtG713 / G(3)805 / NCH569 / StF729 /
URW189 / VT145 / VU307 / W&R38 Touch the earth lightly
(Shirley Murray, New Zealand) Sings of the redemption of creation and
our complicity in its
destruction. Sources vary in their set tunes! My favourite is TENDERNESS
(in TiS), which changes to the relative minor for the sombre second
verse; I think this is quite powerful. It can also be sung to BUNESSAN,
if you need a familiar tune. Lyrics, sheet music. Lyric video. New words to old tunes (if you want).
- Online Resource / GWA165 We till the earth we tend the ground (Curtis Stephan, USA) This song is both about our role as labourers in the harvest, including both caring for creation, but also caring for each other, and bringing peace. It has an anthemic feel to it, and you may wish to focus on just a few verses at a time, rather than all 7 and the chorus. This song is based, in part, on Laudate Si. Sound sample, sheet music samples, and purchasing options. Full song lyric video.
- Online Resource / MV135 Called by earth and sky (Pat Mayberry, Canada) Gentle song about being called to care for the earth. Sheet music and lyrics.
- CH240 / W&R37 / StF727 / Lau687 / MP832 God in such love for us lent us this planet
(Fred Pratt Green, USA) 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.
- Online Resource / TLUS158 On this good earth (Shirley Murray, New Zealand) A good song about the joy that our earth brings about, but also the challenges of sharing its resources wisely. There are two possible tunes. TLUS uses a tune by Darryl Dewalt, while the Hope Publishing resource uses a tune by Daniel Damon. Both are very singable. Lyrics and sheet music.
- VU305 Into the unshaped silence
(S Curtis Tufts, USA) 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.
- Cha658 / URW081 Restless Weaver
(Cricket Harrison, USA) 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.
- Online Resource / GWA024 Your labour is not in vain (Wendell
Kimbrough / Paul Zach / Isaac Wardell) A soothing song about how the
work is worth it in the end. Not so much a congregational song,
but would work well for a time of reflection, with the congregation
joining in on the chorus "I am with you, for I have called you by name,
your labour is not in vain". Sound sample and chords for guitar. Sheet music and a different sound sample.
- 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.
- NCH559 / PH266 / W&R36 Thank You God for Water Soil and Air (Brian Wren, USA) 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.
