Songs, Hymns & Music for Season of Creation 1C - Ocean Sunday (4 September 2022)

Songs related to the readings (not all with ocean focus) followed by a list of ocean-focussed songs:

Job 38:1-18
The birth of the earth and the mysterious ocean

• Online Resource (BUC) Where were you? (Shawn Whelan) A beautiful new reflection on creation, awe and responsibility. Free sheet music and sound samples.
  
• CH172 / URW062 / StF116 Sing for God’s glory that colours the dawn of creation (Kathy Galloway) Beautiful poetic words of creation (first verse), release (2nd verse), justice (3rd verse) and saints (4th verse). Would be a good song to open worship. Sung to a very familiar hymn tune, LOBE DEN HERREN (TiS 111). Lyrics. New words to old tunes
• Recorded music Where were you? (Justin Roberts) from the collaboration "Why Not Sea Monsters" and their album Songs from the Hebrew Scriptures. This kids' song has lovely words and could be good for an offertory or reflective music (it's not just for kids really). Remember to project or supply copies of the lyrics when using recorded music in worship as it's often hard to hear all the words. If you have a copy of the album, chords are also available, so your own musicians could also present this song to the congregation. Sound sample. Good for kids. 
• VU242 / LBW557 / ELW881 / GtG037 / PH554 / GC567 / GC(II)551 / G(3)635 / CP403 / W&R22 / Cha717 Let All Things Now Living (Katherine Davis) Lovely lyrics to the well known and quite jolly Welsh folk tune ASH GROVE. Not all sources are inclusive. Lyrics (older version). New words to old tunes
• ATAR629 Where were you? (Gerry Holmes) This song would suit a soloist rather than a congregation. Perhaps the congregation could join in on the chorus, but I think it would be better for them to just listen. Sound sample.
  
• MV190 Laughter lit the stars of morning (Lydia Pedersen) Lovely lyrics and a simple waltz melody. More a baptismal hymn than for a standard Sunday, but if you have a baptism this week, or would just like to use the lyrics of the first verse as a reflection, this would be good. Mind you, there’s nothing wrong with singing about baptism when there isn’t one on that particular day. "Laughter lit the stars of morning singing at the dawn of earth, angel throngs rejoiced to witness so miraculous a birth". Lyrics (downloads a large PDF). 
• Online Resource Where were you? (The Porter's Gate) This is not a congregational song, but may be good for reflection. Sound sample. 
  
• Online Resource For the blast of creation (Colin Gibson) Excellent words of cosmic creation sung to the familiar tune ST DENIO. Lyrics and PDF.  New words to old tunes
• Online Resource God who formed the mighty ocean (Timothy Dudley-Smith) I reckon these words are about perfect for Ocean Sunday, and can be sung to a range of standard hymn tunes - I like them best to ODE TO JOY. Lyrics.New words to old tunes
• TiS 418 / AoV2-075 / Iona (EoA, Common Ground) / CH593 / GA372 / A&M259 / Cha255 / SP94 / URW165 / StF393 / Lau305 She sits like a bird brooding on the waters (John Bell) My favourite Holy Spirit song. Beautiful words and very easy to sing, provided it is not played too quickly The Iona recordings are generally very quick, but there are a lot of words to fit in, so keep it elegantly moderate in speed! Lyrics and sound sample. 
• VU888 / LBW558 / ELW731 / HPSS458 / RS681 / CP358 / W&R642 / 82Hml-412 Earth and All Stars (Herbert Brokering) Fun words of cosmic praise. An easy hymn-like tune. I really like the "boiling test tubes" bit, although this verse is not in all hymnals. Not all versions are inclusive. Lyrics. Good for kids, especially if sung with some humour.
• VU248 / StJ / WoV799 / ELW861 / CP307 When long before time / The Singer and the song (Peter Davison) Easy tune. Nice imagery of God the Singer and Song Incarnate. Lyrics. 
• CH242 Is this the way you made the world (Douglas Gay) Wow! This song has a great tune, and wonderful wondering words; it's a little tricky! Sound sample.
  
• TiS 186 / NCH567 Stars and planets flung in orbit (Herbert Stuempfle) Great lyrics, the first verse particularly appropriate this week. Sung to the familiar tune PRAISE MY SOUL. Sheet music & lyrics.  New words to old tunes
• 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
• SP&P89 / Worldmaking.net Ground and Source of all that is (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) This song is very beautiful and easy to sing. Lyrics and sound sample.  
• Online Resource You spoke your word; the heavens sprang to being (David Lee) Excellent modern words of God's presence in Creation (and more!). Sung to good old LONDONDERRY AIR. Lyrics. New words to old tunes
• Cha055 O God of Every Shining Constellation (Albert Bayly) A good older hymn for this theme. Older style lyrics.
• TiS 119 / AHB 40 / NCH012 / UMH152 / VU231 / HPP39 / GtG032 /  PH288 / W&R31 / Cha064 / 82Hml-398 / Lau684 / StF107 / MP293 I sing the almighty power of God / We sing the mighty power of God (Isaac Watts) I really like this old hymn, especially sung to ELLACOMBE, but it can also be sung to FOREST GREEN. VU, NCH and Chalice have inclusive language, but other hymnals (like TiS and AHB, are not). Older style lyrics. Oldy-but-a-goody.

Psalm 104:24-26  
God's creation and playfulness with wild creatures in the oceans

• FFS63 These hills where the hawk flies lonely (Colin Gibson) This is a really beautiful song that would work well for all the Seasons of Creation Sundays. For this reading the phrase "Oceans where the great whales wander" is a particularly nice part. Lyrics & sample sheet music.
• 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. Some of the lyrics (not the Australian ones).Oldy-but-a-goody  
• STB114 Come holy spirit (I-to Loh) A lovely 3 part chant. The congregation can sing one part, while a soprano and tenor cantor (or groups) sing the other two parts, or you could split an adventurous congregation into 3 parts. Will need to be taught.
• TiS 175 / GtB Did you ever see a kookaburra laugh (Marion Lemin) A fun kid's song. "Where do all the good things come from?" Sound sample. Good for kids
• GtG323 / URW171 Sound a mystic bamboo song / Dong dong ay si dong ilay (Bill Wallace) Great multicultural words, celebrating God in all people. 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. 
• TiS 706 / Taize / AoV2-142 / A&M600 / SFFS 2013 / GtG544 / PH224 / GC(II)576 / G(3)620 / CP360 / PfAS103C / SP194 / Src79 / URW377 / Lau813  Bless the Lord my soul (Robert Batastini / Taize Community) A beautiful and very well known Taize chant. Sound samples, sheet music. Good for kids.
• MV015 / GA186 Holy Sacred Spirit (Monica Brown) Gentle chant. Can be used without the cantor part. "Holy Sacred Spirit, breathe your breath on us". Lyrics and a slightly odd sound sample. 
• UMH438 / VU416 / A&M476 / CP467 / CP(E) 430 / W&R718 / StF550 / Lau861 / MP159 Forth in thy name O Lord I go (Charles Wesley) Timeless words about committing all our works to God. I like this hymn best played lightly and joyfully with a simple drum beat as a kind of minstrel tune, rather than a hymn. The old fashioned words seem to make a lot more sense to me that way. Some hymnals (including TiS) have sensitively modernised the words. Older lyrics.  Oldy-but-a-goody. 
• TiS 188 Where wide sky rolls down and touches red sand (Elizabeth Smith) Great Australian imagery sung to a familiar hymn tune. Lyrics (scroll down to page 5). Organ sound sample (with lyrics - youtube). 
• Online Resource (BUC) Where were you? (Shawn Whelan) A beautiful new reflection on creation, awe and responsibility. Free sheet music and sound samples. 
  
• 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) ). Lyrics and sheet music.
• 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 and sheet music.
• G(II)90 / GC101 / GC(II)60 / G(3)076 Lord Send Out Your Spirit (Paul Lisicky) Could be fun to use just the refrain as a round. I would sing it much quicker than the sample. Sheet music sample. Sound sample.
• 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 involved in music-making. Lyrics here. Good for kids, if you get the drums out.
• TiS 65 Send forth your spirit O Lord and renew the face of the earth (Gregory Murray) Cantored Psalm. Refrain is simple and inclusive. Verses do not use inclusive language for God. Youtube.
• TiS 166 / AHB 102 / GA398 / StB035 Sing a new song sing a new song (James McAuley) Excellent inclusive words. The last verse annoys me a bit, but the rest is excellent. Lyrics.
• AoVK-113 Thank you O Lord for this world of ours (Barr) A good kids song in two parts.
• AoV2-051 / G(II)325 / GC463 / GC(II)481 / G(3)555 Spirit Blowing through Creation (Marty Haugen) Excellent. Don't rush or it's hard to get all the words out. Lyrics and sound samples. 
• NCH056 Breath of the living God / Soplo de Dios viviente (Osvaldo Catena) A joyful song in Spanish or English, set to a traditional Norwegian folk tune. The chorus is particularly great "Come now and live within us, come let your gifts enrich us, Breath of the living God, our Creator Spirit, Eternal Source". Sound sample and lyrics.
  
• 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)".

Ephesians 1:3-10  
Christ unites the cosmos 

• BUC Song Project Sing sing with me (Julia Potter) This lovely new song from a member of our congregation is great fun, and includes the phrase "Jesus calls us, let's go see what we can be, as God's family". Not available online yet. Good for kids.
• TiS 417 / AoV2-133 / ATW 448 / VU387 / StJ / WoV683 / ELW397 / AA94 / HPP237 / GtG293 / PH323 / CP657 / W&R135 / Cha244 / URW203 / StB220 / VF051 / LUYH793 Loving Spirit, Loving Spirit (Shirley Murray). There are about a zillion tunes set for this. I prefer FELICITY (by Colin Gibson TiS 417), but also like RESTORATION and OMNI DIE. Lyrics & sound sample. New words to old tunes (if that's what you choose) 
• Online resource Children of God (Bruce Harding) A simple two part chant. Will need to be taught. Sheet music sample.
• AoVK-119 We're God's family God's children (Trish Watts / Monica O'Brien) Good words. Catchy tune.  Good for kids.
• AoV2-037 Children Of God in one family (Christopher Walker) Great for kids. Sometimes we mess up, but God forgives. Sound sample and lyrics. Good for kids.
• TiS 465 / AHB 399 / ATA 115 / NCH279 / A&M271 / Iona (SBL) / CH116 / GA381 / Lau313 / StF004 Our God in heaven / Father in heaven / Loving Creator grant to your children (Elena Maquiso / Daniel Niles) I really like this hymn, especially the Philippino folk melody to which it's set. Newer versions of the hymn from the Christian Conference of Asia have altered the lyrics to "Our God in heaven / Creator God" in the first verse. Other versions, such as CH4 have "Loving Creator / Parent and God". History.
  
• 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.
• MV157 I am a child of God (Bruce Harding) A simple song with powerful words. Good for kids and adults alike. Very easy to learn. Sheet music and sound sample. Good for kids (just the first verse probably).
• TiS 180 / UMH105 / W&R58 / Cha013 God of many names (Brian Wren) If this is new it will need to be taught to your congregation as the tune is not intuitive, but it is worth knowing. The chorus is particularly appealing to kids. Lyrics
• NCH072 / UMH552 / VU362 / ELW530 / GtG311 / PH465 / CP534 / W&R597 / Cha278 / STB242 Here O Lord Your Servants Gather / Sekai no Tomo (Tokuo Yamaguchi) Beautiful song about being a community of faith seeking strength and courage. Lovely simple Japanese tune. Sound sample (piano only). Lyrics.
• TiS 428 / AHB 340 Help us O Lord to learn (William Watkins Reid) Great challenging (but quite formal) words about being committed to learning the faith. Good for a New Year message. Boring tune though. I would sing it to ST THOMAS (TiS 271 / AHB 198) Lyrics (with thees and thys, which are not in TiS). New words to old tunes.
• Online Resource / Tune In Community (Dave Brown) A great and very easy-to-sing contemporary song about being welcomed and part of a community. Free downloadable songbook, lyrics and sound samples. 

Luke 5:1-11
The risk of going into the deep, as the disciples who followed Christ.

• Online Resource I come to you (Hannah Brown) Thoughtful and repetitive words about leaving all to follow. Sung to the traditional American folk tune WAYFARING STRANGER, which may be familiar. Sheet music sample, lyrics, and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.    
  
• Tune In / Online Resource Hail the fisherfolk (Dave Brown) A bluesy litany of the saints, including the fishermen of yesterday and the fisherfolk of today. This song celebrates the many people who have followed God’s call through the ages. Lyrics, sound sample and free songbook.
• FFS62 The Lord God walked in Paradise (Colin Gibson) This tune is quite tricky, but the words for verse 3 are very appropriate for this reading, which it weaves into remembering Adam and Eve in the garden and Moses with the burning bush. Lyrics and sheet music. 
• CH340 When Jesus saw the fishermen (Edith Agnew) Simple words about the calling of the fishermen, set to a traditional carol tune (THE SEVEN JOYS OF MARY). Sound sample. New words to old tunes.
• ATOK 413 / Iona (HSNW) / CH533 / VU567 / StS039 / A&M510 / ELW798 / GA502 / SFFS 2130 / HPP317 / GtG726 / G(II)510 / GC700 / GC(II)687 / G(3)790 / CP430 / CP(E) 622 / W&R350 / URW060 / Lau877 / StF673 Will you come and follow me / The Summons (Iona) A classic. Don't sing it too slowly or it really drags and takes forever! Sound sample and lyrics.
• NCH504 / StJ / HPP545 / GtG170 / GC(II)679 You Walk along Our Shoreline (Sylvia Dunstan) Good words to a very familiar hymn tune (AURELIA). Sheet music sample (search for "you walk") 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. Lyrics, sound sample and free songbook.
• Online Resource / NCYC ’93 / ATFG586 We will love / We will walk with you at the edges (Graeme Gardiner) This is a good little rock number “We will walk with you at the edges, we will die with you at the cross roads, we will risk with you taking chances, we will love”. Or something like that. Jesus broke rules, and that's OK sometimes. Free sheet music and sound samples. Good for kids. 
  
• Gospelling to the Beat One man was Peter he lived by the sea (Llewellyn) A simple kid's song "stop what you're doing and follow me!" Good for kids.
• 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.
• TiS 589 / AHB 505 / NCH171 / CH509 / UMH398 / VU562 / LBW494 / ELW696 / A&M324 / HPP314 / GtG720 / CP432 / CP(E) 233 / W&R345 / Cha337 / 82Hml-550 / StF250 / LUYH121 / MP359 / VF128 / VF129 Jesus calls us; o'er the tumult (Cecil Frances Alexander) Great words. TiS sets it to ST CATHERINE, but I prefer it to other tunes (like STUTTGART or RESTORATION); you might like to try them if this is not familiar to your congregation. Lyrics and sheet music samples. Fun fact: Cecil Frances Alexander was a woman. Cecil! I know! New words to old tunes.
  
• TiS 242 / AHB 183 / AoV1-018 / ATN 27 / CH404 / UMH261 / VU352 / A&M667 / HPP163 / GtG157 / PH302 / G(II)481 / GC708 / GC(II)689 / G(3)796 / CP(E) 468 / W&R118 / Lau765 / StF247 I danced in the morning / Lord of the Dance (Sydney Carter). Lyrics. “I danced to the fishermen, to James and John….”.You all know this one, right? Good for kids Oldy-but-a-goody.
• SFFS 2101 / G(II)301 / GC688 / GC(II)693 / G(3)798 Two Fishermen (Suzanne Toolan) A nice medieval / minstrelly sounding tune and good words. This would be fun. Lead sheet. Sound sample.

Ocean Songs (just in case you don't have enough)

• 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 As the moon pulls the ocean (Christopher Grundy) A breathtaking song that draws a parallel between the way the moon and the sea interact with the way we interact with God. Video with lyrics (and Uillean pipes!). Sheet music. 
• SP&P091 O Great Spirit earth sun sky and sea (Adele Getty) A beautiful and simple meditative chant on the Spirit. This can be sung gently, or more energetically like a Native American chant, as here.
• Ocean is a call to worship (Daniel Damon) You could use all the verses of this gentle song, or just use the chorus as a chant. Quite a lovely call to worship, or prayer to re-enter worship at various points in the service. Lyrics and PDF. 
• NCH326 / VU449 / R158 / ELW455 / SFFS 2247 / CP042 / URW105 / StF376 Crashing waters at creation (Sylvia Dunstan) Excellent words to the familiar hymn tune STUTTGART that cover all those great water images of creation, the red sea, and baptism. The song is not baptism-specific though. It would be great to sing on any Sunday “Living water, never ending, quench the thirst and flood the soul. Wellspring, Source of life eternal, drench our dryness, make us whole”.  Can also be sung to the tune RESTORATION, which is a great Sacred Harp melody. Lyrics, sheet music and sound samples. There is also a version of this in "Music by Heart" (number 56) where a cantor sings the verses, while the congregation sings a simple refrain "To the bath and the table, to the prayers and the word, come, every seeking soul". New words to old tunes
• Online Resource God who formed the mighty ocean (Timothy Dudley-Smith) I reckon these words are about perfect for Ocean Sunday, and can be sung to a range of standard hymn tunes - I like them best to ODE TO JOY. Lyrics. New words to old tunes
• Church copies Flower of the forest (John McRae) I am not sure of the source of this, but we have it in our folders at church; it has themes of creation and specifically mentions mountains, forests, and oceans.
• Online Resource Watch once more the windswept storm clouds (Norm Habel) These excellent lyrics fit the tune LOBE DEN HERREN (Praise my soul the King of Heaven). Lyrics. New words to old tunes
• FFS63 These hills where the hawk flies lonely (Colin Gibson) This is a really beautiful song that would work well for all the Seasons of Creation Sundays. For this reading the phrase "Oceans where the great whales wander" is a particularly nice part. Lyrics & sample sheet music.

What will you be singing? Add a comment, especially if it's something I haven't thought of!

First written in Fitzroy, updated 2022 in LAX.