Songs, Hymns & Music for Season of Creation 2B / Humanity (September 12 2021)

Genesis 1:26-28
The creation of humanity
  • CH809 Praise God the Source of life and birth (Ruth Duck) Excellent inclusive doxology which can be sung instead of "Praise God from whom all blessings flow" to Old Hundredth. Highly recommended! Lyrics
  • Online Resource From the void sprang all creation (David Bjorlin) Words linking the birth of the cosmos to the birth of Christ and all human birth. Set to the familiar tune AR HYD Y NOS. Sheet music sample, lyrics and purchasing options. New words to old tunes. 
  • TiS 671 / AoV2-121 Made in God's Likeness (Patricia Lewis / Alister Spence) Excellent Australian imagery. 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 a synthesizer sound sample. I had an interesting discussion with a friend at church who doesn't like the line "Called to create a new world for the Lord", and I realised that I was interpreting the line quite differently to her. I think of it as a world being created that is "for God", like when you vote for someone.
  • NCH58 / CH618 / AA125 Spirit of love you move within creation (Shirley Murray) Good words; "come work with us and weave us into one". Lyrics. A range of tunes for this, both familiar and new. I like the Colin Gibson tune in AA (WEAVER), but it can also be sung to PERFECT LOVE. New words to old tunes
  • NCH467 / CH117 / VU320 / WoV769 / ELW735 / SFFS 2050 / HPP242 / GtG007 / Cha083 Mothering God you gave me birth (Jean Janzen) Lovely words to the well known tune MARYTON. Feminine trinitarian imagery. I like the tune MOTHER JULIAN (CH4 117(I)) best.  New words to old tunes. Lyrics
  • ACS948 / NCH274 / CH118 / SFFS 2046 / GTG003 / CP390 / Cha014 Womb of Life and source of being (Ruth Duck) Feminine trinitarian imagery. An easier tune, listed in some hymnals is IN BABILONE.  New words to old tunes. Others have LADUE CHAPEL which is a little less intuitive. Lyrics and sheet music.
  • W&R629 / Cha511 Strong Gentle Children, God made you beautiful (Dean Damon) The words to this are excellent - I don't actually know what the tune is like, but if you have a copy of either book, I think you should check it out.
  • Online Resource / Resounding Voices Infinite beauty love that moves the Heavens (Susan Palo  Cherwien / David Cherwien) Excellent words about the beauty of God's created world (including humans - "Sacred our bodies, kindred gift of starlight", and thanks for elders, relatives and family) and all that we can learn from it. Lyrics (scroll down). Free book download here. 
  • Online Resource Creator of this great land we adore you / Doxology (Ross Langmead) A strong favourite in our congregation.  A well-loved song, but suprisingly, I don't think it's published anywhere. Lyrics & sheet music.
  • Seeds of Faith Breath of Life (a creation story) (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan). A simple chant, with a narration of the creation story. The chant could be used on its own, but the creation story is also very beautiful. “Breath of life, breathe in me, you have created all I see… you have created even me”. Take a look at the website and listen to the sample to see what it’s like. Click on Music, then Seeds of Faith. Good for kids.
  • MV157 I am a child of God (Bruce Harding) A simple song with powerful words. Very easy to learn. I would just sing the first verse this week, as a round. Good for kids.
How majestic!
  • Emergent Psalter O God our sovereign (Isaac Everett) A lovely simple Psalm response and read Psalm over an instrumental backing. Sheet music (refrain only - click on "Downloads" tab). 
  • AoVK-50 / ATW 430 / NCYC'99 Come let us praise our God / A voice is heard (Trisha Watts) Excellent and energetic. Lyrics and synthesizer sound sample.  Good for kids.
  • Online Resource How Great is your name! (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A fun Psalm refrain for kids with a cantor part. Good for kids. Sound sample and sheet music.
  • TiS 163 / AHB 112 / NCH556 / UMH150 / LBW463 / ELW771 / GtG024 / PH268 / W&R644 / Cha651 / URW084 / 82Hml-580 God who stretched the spangled heavens (Catherine Cameron) Good words of creation of nature and cities and creative possibilities for the future. AHB has a Father and old language, but it works okay; TiS and other sources are better. There are many possible tunes. I like it best to HOLY MANNA as in the link. Lyrics and sound sample. New words to old tunes
  • PfAS008E O Lord Our Lord how majestic is your name (Alfred Fedak) Psalm response.
  • CH005 / PfAS008D / URW231 / StF112 O Lord our Lord throughout the earth (John Bell) A lovely hymnlike version of the Psalm, set to a traditional Scottish tune. I like the questioning nature of this hymn. New words to old tunes
  • ATW 462 When I consider God's design (Hand in hand) (Norm Habel) Good words of all creation celebrating together. Tune is good, too. Lyrics.
  • VU730 / URW229 God our God your glorious name (William Sherwin) Inclusive paraphrase of the Psalm with a joyous chorus. Lyrics (old version).
  • AoVK-113 n> Thank you O Lord for this world of ours (Barr) A good kids song in two parts.  Good for kids.
  • AoV1-003 / HPP258 / GA394 / G(II)342 / GC497 / GC(II)495 / G(3)576 / Lau693 / StF803 / MP648 The heavens are telling the glory of God / Canticle of the Sun (Marty Haugen) Energetic waltz of cosmic praise with great lyrics "Come dance in the forest, come play in the field, and sing, sing to the glory of the Lord". Sound sample. Lyrics and sheet music sample.
  • VU732 O God our God how glorious is your name (Michel Guimont) Inclusive responsive paraphrase of the Psalm with a simple refrain.
  • 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.
  • NCH Psalter008 How majestic is your name in all the earth (Lee Dengler) A very simple refrain and chanted Psalm.
  • URW097 All you works of God bless the Lord (Stephen Starke) Joyful words of creation's celebration to the Jamaican tune LINSTEAD (Let us talents and tongues employ). Fun! Lyrics. New words to old tunes
  • 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 / StF611 / 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 236 / AHB 178 / CH351 / UMH273 / VU570 / HPP157 / W&R634 Jesus' hands were kind hands (Margaret Cropper) Good old fashioned children's song. Lots of kids learn to play this on piano, so if you have some budding piano students in your congregation, it may be nice to invite one to play.  Sheet music & lyrics. Good for kids Oldy-but-a-goody.
  • 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 & lyrics. New words to old tunes. 
  • TiS 691 Faith will not grow from words alone (Elizabeth Smith) This is an excellent hymn about doubting and struggling in faith. The tune is familiar and I find the words very helpful for thinking and doubting Christians. Lyrics.
  • 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 kidsOldy-but-a-goody.
  • TiS 174 / UMH194 / A&M544 / CP(E)259 / 82Hml-585 / StF012 Morning glory starlit sky (William Hubert Vanstone) Quite formal words, but very very beautiful song of God's boundless love "Drained is love in making full, bound in setting others free, poor in making many rich, weak in giving power to be". Not all sources are inclusive. The tune is not difficult, but will need to be taught to a congregation if not familiar. The lyrics could also be read as a poem, and challenges the image of Christ as monarch, but also affirms God's reign. Lyrics.
  • TiS 721 / Iona (LFB) / URW431 / StF344 / Lau124 He became poor that we may be rich (Iona) A simple chant. Timing is a little bit tricky, so you will need to take a little time to teach it initially. This has gorgeous parts if you have some singers. 
  • MV155 Unbounded spirit breath of God (Brian Wren) Good solid words of commitment to faith and work; a communal song. Simple hymnlike tune. Lyrics & sheet music. 
  • Online Resource / Walk as One Come come come come together (David MacGregor) A boppy song about working together - a good song for sending out the congregation. Lyric video. Sheet music for purchase. 
Whoever wants to be great must be a servant
  • 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 / StF611 / 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.
  • 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
  • NCH70 / UMH660 / VU389 / WoV719 / ELW526 / A&M445 / HPP486 / GtG409 / PH461 / GC741 / GC(II)737 / G(3)843 / CP(E) 301 / W&R1 / Cha280 / STB049 / StF025 God is here as we your people (Fred Pratt Green). Great lyrics, but not inclusive in all sources and set to a range of tunes. I like it sung to the familiar tune ABBOT'S LEIGH. Lyrics, sound sample and sheet music sample. New words to old tunes. 
  • TiS 665 / AoV2-008 / Iona (Common Ground) / CH360 / A&M563 / VU117 / StJ / SP246 / Lau889 / StF251 Jesus Christ is waiting (John Bell) A good hymn that is quite simple to sing. Lyrics here (scroll down just a little bit).  New words to old tunes
  • Online Resource / Tune In Part of a fam'ly interconnected / Community (Dave Brown) A great and easy to sing song about being neighbourly and living for and with others. "A glass of water shared with the thirsty, this is community". Sound samples and free downloadable songbook Good for kids.
  • TiS 686 / ATE 292 Lord Jesus we belong to you / Because we bear your name (Robin Mann) Lyrics
  • TiS 414 / CH616 / UMH192 / VU582 / A&M265 / HPP134 / PH433 / GC550 / CP(E) 198 / Cha257 / StF398 There's a Spirit in the Air (Brian Wren) A good song of getting the business of following Christ done. Speaking out, caring for others, being changed. Good, joyful tune too.  Hymnals vary in the tunes they use. I like the TiS tune, which I tend to think of it in 6/8 instead of 6/4. Lyrics and a sheet music sample. 
  • ATFG530 Healing is flowing (Norm Habel) Nice words, to tune of Morning is broken (BUNESSAN) Lyrics. New words to old tunes
What ideas do you have? If you have some suggestions for any of the above readings, please join the conversation and post them in the comments below. I'd love to know what you're singing (or would like to sing...)  

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