Songs and Hymns for Proper 9C / Ordinary 14C / Pentecost +4 (July 3rd 2022)

2 Kings 5:1-14
Naaman’s healing; he wished it needed something special but really it was very simple.
See also the songs suggested for the Gospel reading.
  • TiS 638 / NCH175 / CH717 / A&M518 / GtG793 / PH380 / UMH265 / LBW380 / ELW675 / PH380 / CP291 / CP(E) 346 / W&R638 / Cha503 / Lau430 / StF653 O Christ the healer we have come (Fred Pratt Green) Beautiful words and simple to sing. Good for intercessions. I like the tune INVERCARRY best, but it can also be sung to TALLIS' CANON or WAREHAM. Lyrics and sheet music (of an alternative tune). New words to old tunes.
  • 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.
  • TiS 414 / NCH294 / CH616 / UMH192 / VU582 / 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. A joyful tune (it looks less so in TiS, but think of it in 6/8 instead of 6/4). Just think how brave Naaman's servant girl must have been. Seven verses – you might want to have women sing a verse and men sing another to keep people going. The TiS suggestion to use INVERCARRY is (in my opinion) not necessary; it’s easier to the set tune. Lyrics and sheet music.
  • 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. Lyrics. Good for kids.
  • AoV2-085 / Iona (T1AU) / MV115 / A&M328 / SP129 Behold behold I Make All Things New (John Bell) A nice hopeful upbeat short song. Highly recommended. Sound sample (scroll down) Good for kids.
  • AHB 167 Your arm O Lord in days of old (Edward Plumptre) A much older style of hymn, but would still be fine to sing "to hands that work and eyes that see give wisdom's heavenly lore, that whole and sick, and weak and strong may praise you evermore." Lyrics (older style) Oldy-but-a-goody.
Psalm 30
God turns mourning into dancing. Anger is but for a moment; Weeping may linger, but joy comes in the morning.
  • Emergent Psalter You have turned my lament into dancing (Isaac Everett) I really like this simple refrain - the chords really make it work. Sheet music (go to "downloads" tab)
  • CH683 / VU420 / A&M491 / GC(II)469 / G(3)546 / GtG295 / CP598 / W&R553 / SP156 / URW132 / Lau426 / StF402 Go to the world Go into all the earth (Sylvia Dunstan) Great words of sending out. Can be sung to a couple of different tunes. SINE NOMINE is the easiest and best known. Sound sample. Sheet music sample. New words to old tunes
  • PH181 / GtG805 Come Sing to God O Living Saints (Fred Anderson) Good, simple, inclusive, humble and realistic words based specifically on this Psalm. Sung to a well known hymn tune (I sing the mighty power of God). Many congregations choose to sing only the first and last verses; the middle two are much more challenging. Lyrics New words to old tunes
  • NCH433 / CH727 / UMH707 / VU703 / HPP474 / GtG250 / W&R515 / Cha638 In the bulb there is a flower (Natalie Sleeth) A simple song of hope symbolised in nature. Particularly good for those churches in colder Northern Hemisphere who have a while to go before Spring. Lyrics.
  • Iona (There is one among us) Lord you can turn all mourning into dancing (John Bell) An excellent simple refrain.  “Lord you can turn all mourning into dancing, evenings of grief to mornings of great joy”
  • URW255 You have turned our sadness into a joyful song (Elise Eslinger) A simple and joyful refrain with a read Psalm. 
  • TiS 647 / AoV2-012 / ATN 25 Comfort, comfort all my people (Robin Mann) Easy to sing, beautiful lyrics. Chorus is “Comfort, comfort all my people, with the comfort of my word. Speak ye tender to my people, all your sins are taken away”. Note that most sources only list 2 verses, but there are two additional (more challenging) verses you may wish to consider using written for the Christmas Bowl in 1988; thanks to Simon for alerting me to them. Lyrics (including additional verses), mp3 sample.
  • PfAS030D O choro pode durar / Though weeping and deepest sorrow (Simei Monteiro) The chorus is super-cool, with a driving rhythm (and a part for a triangle!). The verses will be best sung by a soloist, I think. Lyrics (in a powerpoint presentation).
  • ATE 253 He turned my mourning into dancing (Unknown) This is not at all inclusive, but if you change the lyrics to make it addressed to God “You turned my morning into dancing”, it’s much much better. Old school video with dance moves.
  • Tune In / Online Resource You in all our worries / All will finish well (Dave Brown) “In this world where injustice reigns, you are in the midst of pain”. Excellent words of reassurance in a difficult world. Sound sample and downloadable songbook.
  • NCH085 / SFFS 2082 / Cha623 / ZSS105 Woke Up This Morning (African-American Spiritual) A great Spiritual. If you don't have one of these sources, you can just make it up from this video.... This could be a good Sunday to make use of those choir stalls; could even get the kids to write their own lyrics... Surreal version here.  Good for kids.
  • TiS 181 / AoV2-032 / GC(II)497 / G(3)577 / CP589 Come O God of all the earth / Sing Out Earth and Skies (Marty Haugen) A very joyful song for cantor and congregation, or small group and congregation; this is a big favourite in our church. Sheet music, lyrics and sound sample.
  • CH683 / VU420 / A&M491 / GC(II)469 / G(3)546 / GtG295 / CP598 / W&R553 / SP156 / URW132 / Lau426 Go to the world Go into all the earth (Sylvia Dunstan) Great words of sending out. Can be sung to a couple of different tunes. SINE NOMINE is the easiest and best known. New words to old tunes Sound sample. Sheet music sample.
  • VU166 / SFFS 2210 Joy Comes with the Dawn (Gordon Light) Lovely words. The verses are very straightforward; it might be helpful to teach the chorus because there's a couple of jumps. Lyric slide show!
  • AoVK-125 / ATW 489 Turn our sadness upside down (Leigh Newton) Good for kids, and adults too. Simple tune, but not so simple that it’s boring. Sheet music sample. Good for kids.
  • PfAS030B I will praise you O Lord / Te Ensalzaré, Señor (John Bell) A lovely simple Psalm response - this one will work well sung as a response to the Psalm, or sung on its own where appropriate in the service. Works in Spanish too, and is Good for kids.  Sound sample.
  • PfAS030C All with joyful expectation (Michael Morgan)  Good celebratory words of resurrection and hope of new life. The tune YISRAEL V'ORAITA is very similar to LEONI, but has a significant change in the last line. Be aware! Lyrics and sound sample.   New words to (almost) old tunes
  • Beneath the Noise You alone are my God (Nick Randall) A lovely simple song with two verses and chorus based on Psalm 62 and Psalm 30. Quiet and reflective.
Alternate Hebrew Scripture: Isaiah 66:10-14 
Rejoice (see the Psalm), God as nurturing mother; a flourishing body - like grass!
  • AoV1-085 Like a child rests in its mother's arms (Christopher Walker) A very beautiful and simple refrain; works well on its own. Note that GtG and PfAS have removed the beautiful rest in the 2nd bar of the song, which is one of the things I love about it! I'm quietly outraged... Sound sample and sheet music for (paid) download (including the "restful rest") Good for kids
  • VU270 Dear Mother God your wings are warm (Janet Wootton) Good images of God as mother; the tune is not known and will need to be taught. Could also be sung to PERFECT LOVE, I think. Lyrics
  • Taizé / GtG814 / CP563 / PfAS062DIn God alone my soul can find rest and peace / Mon ame se repose (Jacques Berthier) A beautiful healing chant from Taize. Words and music and sound samples for learning the parts Good for kids.
  • VU280 Mother and God (Miriam Therese Winter) A short song, suitable for before the intercessions or communion. Beautiful words; some may find the breastfeeding God image a little challenging. Simple tune. Sound sample.
  • Online Resource / MV091 Cradle me in your arms (Bruce Harding) A simple assuring chant in times of suffering. Sheet music.
  • 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. Lyrics
  • VU484 God the all-holy Maker and Mother (Brian Wren) A Trinitarian song, with the first verse focussed on God as Mother. Sung to the familiar tune BUNESSAN. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes
  • BUC Song Project Mother Our God (Dave Brown) A plain-speaking song that celebrates the image of God as mother, and questions why we have found it hard.
  • Online Resource As a mother loves her children (David Bjorlin / Swedish Traditional Tune) Words drawing parallels between God's love for us and the love of a mother for her children. Sheet music sample, lyrics and purchasing options.
  • Online Resource Are you not also a mother? (Christopher Grundy) I really like this relaxed jazzy rendition of the prayer of St. Anselm (from around 1100). More for listening than congregational singing.  And yeah, saxophone, right? Live recording. You can find the translation of the prayer here
Psalm for the Isaiah Reading: Psalm 66:1-9 
Make a joyful noise, God’s brought us through some rough stuff.
You could sing an Alleluia!
  • AoVK-18 Clap your hands our God is good! (Monica Brown) Good kid's song. Good for kids
  • Tune In / Online Resource Peace In Our Time (Dave Brown) A groovy bossa nova song of peace and action for peace. Not easy for congregational singing. Sound sample and downloadable songbook.
  • ATE 216 / Iona (SBL) / CH126 / StJ / ELW555 / PH472 / G(II)365 / GC527 / RS 671 / CP417 / W&R15 / StF042 O sing to the Lord / Cantai ao Senhor / Cantad al Señor (Traditional Brazilian) A good, fun and simple song that is easy to learn in Portuguese or Spanish too; note that not all versions are inclusive. Sheet music samplesGood for kids!
  • 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.
  • NCH9 / StJ / ELW791 / SFFS 2001 / CP523 / URW293 We Sing to You O God (Gracia Grindal) Excellent new words to a standard hymn tune (DARWALLS 148th) New words to old tunes. Nice descant part also. Lyrics.
  • Taizé / GC(II)533 Sing to God with joyful hearts / Singt dem Herrn (Jacques Berthier) A joyful round. Works well in English and German, and probably other languages too. Sound samples, sheet music and lyrics
  • CH171 / A&M568 /  SP253 Take up the song and sing the praise of God (Rae Whitney) Simple, upbeat tune, and great words about creation, our choice and responsibility. Nice time signature. Sound sample.
  • Tune In / Online Resource You in all our worries / All will finish well (Dave Brown) “In this world where injustice reigns, you are in the midst of pain”. Excellent words of reassurance in a difficult world. Sound sample and downloadable songbook.
  • 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 / LUYH444/ VF088 Nothing Can Trouble / Nada te turbe (Theresa of Avila / Taizé) Excellent and quite well known Taizé chant. Spanish lyrics are not too hard for non-Spanish speakers. Sheet music, sound samples, lyrics and translations. Good for kids. 
  • MV175 May we but wait upon Love's word (Will Petricko) A simple refrain which would work well as a response for prayers of Intercession.
  • TiS 720 / AHB 295 / AoVK-85 / AoV2-046 / ATOK 319 / NCH236 / Iona (Many & Great, There is one among us) / CH345 / VU958 / StJ / A&M836 / SFFS 2026 / HPP571 / GtG591 / GC(II)261 / G(3)329 / W&R005 / Cha041 / ZSS76 / SP324 / PfAS150G / URW370 / Lau178 Halle halle hallelujah (Traditional Caribbean) A good Alleluia would work well for this passage, and I think this one is particularly excellent – simple, great for kids, good rhythm. PfAS uses it as a Psalm refrain which would work well for any translation of the Psalm. Good for kids. Sound sample.
  • AoVK-30 / ATW 419 / Iona (Common Ground, CAYP) / CH757 / MV002 / WoV717 / ELW819 / A&M361 / SFFS 2274 / HPP551 / GC(II)744 / G(3)849 / PfAS066B / SP&P022 / SP179 Come all you people (Uyai mose) (Zimbabwe) Joyful and pretty easy really for the congregation. If you have WoV or SP&P, they each have a nice Trinitarian version of this. Come and praise the "Most high" / "Saviour" / "Spirit". Awesome sound sample (much more energetic than what's in the hymnals!). Sound sample. Good for kids.
  • TiS 670 / SiS569 / AoVK-138 / ATE 258 / CH692 / Srce385 / MP376 Jesus put this song into our hearts (Graham Kendrick) A fun Yiddish tune that gets even more fun if you get faster and faster as you go. Try teaching your congregation a simple side to side “dance” step; give them an excuse to join in! Good for kids. Youtube. 
  • Taize / 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 Taize chant. Spanish lyrics are not too hard for non-Spanish speakers. Sheet music, sound samples, lyrics and translations. Good for kids. 
Galatians 6:(1-6), 7-16
Hmmmm…. if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life – don’t give up!
  • TiS 672 / GA554 Lord of earth and all creation (Honor Mary Thwaites) A call for renewal of creation and all God's created people in Australia; it can be a little nationalistic, so check the lyrics. Two possible tunes. The newer tune is good, but if your congregation can't do a new tune this week, it can also be sung to WESTMINSTER ABBEY which is very well known. Lyrics (split by words of mission and blessing). New words to old tunes (if you want).
  • NCH495 / HPP443 / GtG761 / PH343 / W&R581 / Cha453 Called as partners in Christ's service (Jane Parker Huber) A good song of commitment - particularly good if you are commisioning people to new roles this week, and good for any other service too. Sung to a standard tune (BEECHER).  Lyrics.
  • TiS 630 / AHB 554 The law of Christ alone can make us free (James McAuley) Not gender inclusive for God. The tune may be tricky if not familiar, so you may need to introduce the melody to your congregation. Lyrics (in a powerpoint presentation).
  • 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 421 Where the Spirit is there's freedom (Per Harling) Fun and good; I don't understand why this is not in more books! Lyrics.
  • Online Resource / GC(II)651 / G(3)755 You must never give up / Sizo Bambelela (South African) An excellent song from an amazing church in Capetown, South Africa. The phrase Bambelela means "Hold on". It would be fun to get a few singers together to sing the parts to this. If you purchase the music on this link, all royalties go to support the JL Zwane Church and their programs. Sheet music and sound sample, and purchasing optionsGood for kids. 
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
The 70 sent out with nothing, to be welcomed and to heal. Rejoice that your name is written in heaven.
  • MV140 As long as we follow / Na nzela na lola (Mwenze Kabemba) A simple song from the Congo. "As long as we hope there is a future for creation. We know this, we know this, God's reign will surely come". Youtube video of a pretty cool church choir
  • ATOK 348 / Iona (HSNW) / G(II)496 / GC692 / GC(II)697 / StF462 Come with me / Sing hey for the carpenter (John Bell) Excellent. I love this one. Very joyous, and a big favourite in our congregation. Lyrics. Good for kids. 
  • Online Resource / 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". Sound sample and purchasing options.
  • Iona (Heaven Shall Not Wait) When our Lord walked the earth / Gifts of the Spirit (John Bell) Familiar and easy tune, excellent words. Chorus is “Power to speak and heal, grace to know what’s real, wisdom, insight and faith, grace and understanding”. Sound samples.
  • ATOK 412 / Iona (SBL, Common Ground) / CH250 / MV212 / A&M482 / GtG747 / SFFS 2184 / Lau855 / StF239 Sent by the Lord am I / Sent out in Jesus name / Enviado soy de Dios (Traditional Cuban) Great rhythm, good words and not too hard to sing (provided you sing it a little slowly the first time!) I prefer the MV translation "Sent out in Jesus' name". Good for kids. Lyrics.
  • CH683 / VU420 / A&M491 / GC(II)469 / G(3)546 / GtG295 / CP598 / W&R553 / SP156 / URW132 / Lau426 / StF402 Go to the world Go into all the earth (Sylvia Dunstan) Great words of sending out. Can be sung to a couple of different tunes. SINE NOMINE is the easiest and best known. Sound sample. Sheet music sample. New words to old tunes
  • TiS 537 / ATE 297 / NCH347 / CH673 / VU468 / StS123 / WoV754 / ELW674 / HPP536 / GtG526 / PH514 / W&R698 / Cha422 / ZSS206 / URW096 Let us talents and tongues employ (Fred Kaan) Great for kids, excellent Jamaican rhythm which you can have a lot of fun with. It's also very adaptable and works well with any instruments. “Loaves abound!”. lyrics and slighty tacky midi sample hereOldy-but-a-goody.
  • TiS 638 / NCH175 / CH717 / A&M518 / GtG793 / PH380 / UMH265 / LBW380 / ELW675 / PH380 / CP291 / CP(E) 346 / W&R638 / Cha503 / Lau430 / StF653 O Christ the healer we have come(Fred Pratt Green) Beautiful words and simple to sing. Good for intercessions. INVERCARRY is good but not easy to sing. It also works to TALLIS' CANON or WAREHAM if your congregation needs a more familiar tune. Lyrics and sheet music (of an alternative tune). New words to old tunes.
  • Tune in / Online Resource We are the dream that's longing / Jesus is waiting (Dave Brown) An honest catchy rock song about our hesitation to follow and Jesus not only waiting, but continuing to work and change the world. A good sending-out song. Sound sample and downloadable songbook.
  • ATFG530 Healing is flowing (Norm Habel) Nice words, to tune of Morning is broken (BUNESSAN) Lyrics. New words to old tunes
  • W&R584 / Cha454 Come Celebrate the Call of God (Brian Wren) Good words to a lilting intuitive tune. This song is written to recognise a commissioning or the gift of a particular person's call, but it can also be sung with "our" instead of "her" to make it a song for a whole congregation. Sheet music and lyrics.
  • TiS 749 / AoV1-154 / AoVK-131 / ATE 305 / NCH360 / Iona (SBL, Freedom is coming) / CH800 / UMH497 / VU572 / WoV773 / ELW809 / GA493 / A&M481 / HPP340 / GtG746 / G(II)484 / GC677 / GC(II)674 / G(3)776 / W&R713 / Cha447 / SP234 / StF782 Send me Jesus / Thuma mina (South African) You all know this one, right? If you don't - it's great - simple, repetitive, and meaningful.Good for kids. Sound sample (Youtube).
Please share your ideas in the comments below! I'd love to hear them.

8 comments:

Aaron Coyle-Carr said...

This probably isn't a problem in most Lectionary churches, but my congregation will doubtless want some kind of "patriotic" music on the Sunday before the 4th. Any suggestions on music that might be patriotic enough to assuage their desires but also honor the Lectionary themes?

Jane Hessdorfer said...

Aaron -- don't know that it honours Lectionary but Battle Hymn of the Republic?

Lectionary Singer (Natalie Sims) said...

Hi Aaron,
I'm based in Australia, so I really don't know any patriotic songs for the USA.
Sorry. Hopefully others (like Jane) will provide some ideas. You could also try asking on the Facebook group.
best,
Natalie

Unknown said...

Aaron - Yes, I'm struggling with that, too....just reviewed the Patriotic hymns in the Hymnal 1982. Sigh. Not sure what might be helpful....Maybe some hymns about gratitude - "Now thank we all our God" etc.

thetangobois said...

My choir is doing a mash-up of Hear our Praises and Heal our Land. I changed the lyrics on the last part of the chorus from: "forgive our sin" to "change our hearts"...I hope it's not too big of an issue as I don't see what my sin has to do with the healing of our native land! I felt this was appropriate given what happened recently in Orlando, Florida. We need healing, not patriotism...and yet many want both! Hope this helps!

Erik Youngberg, Vancouver, Washington

Lynn said...

Will probably be using "This Is My Song" (to the tune Finlandia), found as #437 in The United Methodist Hymnal and #591 in The New Century Hymnal.

Natalie, thank you so much for sharing your wonderful work!

Unknown said...

How Beautiful, Our Spacious Skies sung to America, the Beautiful, with words by Miriam Therese Winter, is a favorite for patriotic hymns.It's in the New Century Hymnal.

Anonymous said...

We like to sing 'This Land is Your Land'. If you sing the verses about 'hungry' people and the verse about the 'no trespassing' sign the song is, sadly, still relevant and reminds us to care for God's gift of His beautiful creation & to love our neighbors.