Songs and Hymns for Proper 20C / Ordinary 25C / Pentecost +15 (September 18th 2022)

Jeremiah 8:18-9:1
God weeps for the suffering of God's people

• GWA029 In ages past the mighty Lord by prophets spoke the word (Michael Mangan) This is a song with very many verses; choose at least verses 1 and 3 this week, and you can sing other verses when you want to sing about other prophets. Set to the common tune KINGSFOLD. Some lyrics (not the Jeremiah verse!). New words to old tunes.
• MV78 / CH168 / FFS30 / SFFS 2048 / SP&P069 / StF700 God weeps at love withheld (Shirley Murray) Pretty full-on lyrics of lamentation, that some may find difficult to sing simply because of the horrors it names. In the context of this story, I think this is okay. This is a really powerful story, let’s not water it down. Lyrics. 
• Traditional / ATA 124 / SLW42 / UMH494 / GtG472 / PH338 / W&R487 / Cha590 / PfAS079A Kumbaya, my Lord (African American Spiritual) I think this song is really beautiful sometimes. Sometimes it’s really awful too, unfortunately. If we sing this as a song from an enslaved community seeking the presence of God, it is much more meaningful than if we sing it as a 1960s folk song. My thoughts and some helpful links.
• TiS 679 / Online God of Jeremiah grieving (Brian Wren) If you are going to focus on Jeremiah for the next few weeks, this would be a good hymn to learn. The traditional Scottish tune KELVIN GROVE is well known as the tune for "The Summons". Lyrics and free sheet music PDF.
• Tune In / Online Resource Our God who weeps (Kate Scull) Very simple folk-like tune and challenging and hopeful lyrics. "When death has taken those held dear"... Reference recording, lyrics and free downloadable songbook.
• NCH553 / UMH375 / VU612 / WoV737 / ELW614 / HPP379 / GtG792 / PH394 / G(II)460 / GC648 / GC(II)617 / G(3)640 / W&R631 / Cha501 / ZSS114 / SgTJ1045 / 82Hml-676 There is a balm in Gilead (African-American) "If you cannot preach like Peter, if you cannot pray like Paul". This song is not so meaningful for Australians, but I know it is for Americans. It's a good one for those who feel discouraged about anything magnificent happening in their life of faith. Choral arrangement sound sample. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• Online Resource / Brunswick Music Project Why do we listen and fail to hear / Lament - for a people with a people with a dull heart (Shawn Whelan) This lament, and its wailing ooooh would fit quite well with this passage. Sheet music and lyrics.  Good for kids.

Psalm 79:1-9
A cry for forgiveness and deliverance in the face of destruction

• Traditional / ATA 124 / SLW42 / UMH494 / GtG472 / PH338 / W&R487 / Cha590 / PfAS079A Kumbaya, my Lord (African American Spiritual) I think this song is really beautiful sometimes. Sometimes it’s really awful too, unfortunately. If we sing this as a song from an enslaved community seeking the presence of God, it is much more meaningful than if we sing it as a 1960s folk song. My thoughts and some helpful links.
• MV064 Because you came (Shirley Murray) Powerful words of confession and forgiveness, sung to a lovely tune that will need to be taught, but will not be hard to teach. It has 5 verses, so maybe invite the congregation to join in as they hear it. Lyrics. 
• ATFG563 / NCYC'03 / The Red Book How long must we cry out? (Robin Mann) This is a big Brunswick favourite, great for young people in particular. "Teach me to do what is right, walk in the darkness, trust in the light and may love be the path I walk upon". Good for teenagers. Lyrics. Lyric video.
• PH437 / CP591 / W&R586 Our Cities Cry to You O God (Edith Margaret Clarkson) Good words of helping to heal injustice in the world. Being the body of Christ. This can be sung to a range of well known hymn tunes. New words to old tunes. Lyrics and sheet music samples.
• Online Resource / Walk as One Grant us your grace and forgive us (Leigh Newton) A beautiful prayer of confession which would work on any Sunday. Book (PDF) for purchase here.
  
• Online Resource / AoVK-29 Remember we are your people (Tony Barr) Simple three part chant "Remember we are your people, your people O God". This would work really well as a sung refrain during the prayer of confession. Sound sample and sheet music preview and purchasing options  (I would do it slower). Good for kids.
• Online Resource / Tune In / NCYC '07 Forgive us now (Dave Brown). “As we forgive may we be healed, as we reach out….” An excellent ballad seeking forgiveness in a sinful world. Reference recording, lyrics and free downloadable songbook.
• Online Resource / Brunswick Music Project Why do we listen and fail to hear / Lament - for a people with a people with a dull heart (Shawn Whelan) This lament, and its wailing ooooh would fit quite well with this passage. Free sheet music and lyrics.  Good for kids.
• Iona (LFB) Listen Lord (John Bell / Graham Maule) Beautiful chant-like chorus, can be used on its own or as a response, or used with the verses. Good to use for the intercessions. Sound sample (including verses).
  
• Taizé / TiS 741 / AoV1-017 / ATE 282 / LBW368 / ELW407 / GA431 / SFFS 2200 / GtG471 / G(II)410 / GC586 / GC(II)566 / G(3)666 / W&R484 / Srce519 / URW390 / Lau929 / PfAS013A / PfAS102A / MP908 O Lord hear my prayer (Jacques Berthier) A simple and very well known Taizé chant. Works well during intercessions. You could read the Psalm between repeats of this chant, or just use as a chant as is. Sheet music samples. Good for kids.
• Online resource May your compassion come quickly (Bruce Harding) A simple Psalm refrain. Free sheet music. 
• Emergent Psalter How long O Lord? (Isaac Everett) A simple, but interesting refrain. Sheet music sample. 
• Online Resource For those who cannot find a way (Adam Tice / Sally Ann Morris) A beautiful song that expresses our hope for the healing of pain that others bear. "Why, O God, why?". Sheet music sample and purchasing options.
  

Alternate Hebrew Scripture: Amos 8:4-7 
The endless grind of commerce; Turning feasting to mourning, a famine of God’s word.

• GWA029 In ages past the mighty Lord by prophets spoke the word (Michael Mangan) This is a song with very many verses; choose at least verses 1 and 8 this week, and add whatever other verses make sense in your context. Set to the common tune KINGSFOLD. Some lyrics (not the Amos verse!). New words to old tunes.
• AA085 Let justice roll down like a river (Colin Gibson) Excellent song, and very easy to sing. Lyrics. Sheet music. Good for kids.
• 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). 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.
• StS033 /  GA515 / G(II)516 / GC716 / GC(II)709 / G(3)810 Let Justice Roll Like a River (Marty Haugen) Verse 3 of this song is particularly appropriate for this passage. The song is quite simple, particularly if you use a soloist for the verses if this is new to you. Sound sample (I don't like this sample much) and sheet music sample and lyrics.
• VU699 / GtG772 / PH332 Live into hope of captives freed (Jane Parker Huber) Excellent wordsto the familiar tune TRURO. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• TiS 674 / Iona (Common Ground, Heaven Shall Not Wait) / A&M562 / CH253 / SP245 Inspired by love and anger (John Bell) Powerful lyrics, simple English folk tune (SALLY GARDENS). Lyric video.
  
• AoVK-28 / ATOK 376 Faith hope and love (Trish Watts) "Freedom for all, this is what we long for!" This is so easy, and so cool. If you have some groovy musicians, this can be a very funky rock song. Very easy, and great for kids and non-readers. Sound sample. Good for kids  
• TiS 689 / ATE 286 / GtB Lord hear my praying, listen to me / Sorrowing song (Robin Mann) Powerful words of prayer to a simple tune. Words are straightforward about asking difficult questions of God. Lyrics. This song will also work for next week, so now is a good time to introduce it.
• ELW710 / CP575 Let streams of living justice (William Whitla) Awesome words of justice. Sung to the familiar tune THAXTED. Lyrics. It could probably work to a different (less pompous) tune too.New words to old tunes.
• NCH593 / UMH519 / LBW562 / ELW841 / HPP304 / GtG339 / PH563 / W&R729 / Cha631 / ZSS113 / 82Hml-599 Lift every voice and sing (James Weldon Johnson) This suggestion is for those readers in the USA, where this song speaks about liberation of those who were in slavery in that country. Lyrics.
• Tune In / Online Resource / NCYC '07 Forgive us now (Dave Brown). “As we forgive may we be healed, as we reach out….” An excellent ballad. Free downloadable songbook, lyrics & sound samples.
• NCH317 Make a gift of your holy word / Mikotoba o kudasai (Yasushige Imakoma) Touching and mournful song seeking God's presence and the coming of justice. The tune is Japanese, and very beautiful. It would be best sung, at first, by a soloist with simple accompaniment. Lyrics.
• Taizé / AoVNG125 / MV146 / GC(II)637 / G(3)740 / PfAS024D The Kingdom of God is justice and peace and joy in the holy spirit (Taizé Community) "Come, Lord and open in us the gates of your kingdom". A nice joyful Taizé chant. Sheet music and sound samples of parts for practice. Good for kids.  

Psalm for the Amos reading: Psalm 113
You could also use an Alleluia as a Psalm refrain.

• TiS 179 / NCH273 / VU312 / StJ / GA379 / URW073 Praise with joy the world's Creator (John Bell and Graham Maule) It's not a direct fit, but I think it would work well, and it's great. Lyrics.  New words to old tunes.
• PfAS113A / MP163 From the rising of the sun (Kathy Wonson Eddy) A fun and joyful Psalm response.
• CH73 / PfAS113B Bless the Lord O saints and servants (Michael Morgan) Fairly standard hymn based on this Psalm; could be sung to AUSTRIAN HYMN or NETTLETON). Sheet music and lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• CH169 / VU245 / SFFS 2020 / HPP26 / CP309 Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet (Natalie Sleeth) Fun. Good for kids. Good if you have extra instruments at your worship service. 
• TiS 72 / AHB 42 / NCH27 / CH146 / UMH101 / LBW550 / A&M637 / HPP36 / GtG327 / PH229 / CP344 / CP(E) 431 / Cha49 / PfAS117C / 82Hml-380 / StF075 From all that dwell below the skies (Isaac Watts) A very old hymn, known by many, which is entirely inclusive in its language for God, save for one Lord which you can replace with God if you like 'cos it's Public Domain! Oldy-but-a-goody. Lyrics and sheet music.
• ATAR676 Lord, be the rising (Sandra Sears) This is quite lovely. The tune is simple and the words seek God in all goodness. 
• SiS?? From the rising of the sun (Paul Deming) An old chorus that will be familiar and fun for older congregations; it is not at all inclusive. This is particularly excellent in churches that face North or South, because then you can get the whole congregation doing jazz hands above their heads going East to West. Surely my childhood church (One Tree Hill Uniting) was not the only church to do this in the '70s? Rock on to this version on Youtube. Lyrics and chords. Oldy-but-a-goody.

1 Timothy 2:1-7
Pray for everyone, including national leaders; Christ our mediator.

• TiS 672 / GA554 Lord of earth and all creation (Michael Thwaites) Good Australian words, seeking a better future for all peoples of Australia; 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 or PRAISE MY SOUL which are both very well known. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• CH716 / VU374 / FFS10 / SFFS 2128 / W&R477 / Cha575 Come and find the quiet centre (Shirley Murray) A good song for the beginning of worship. I would prefer to sing this to one of the more traditional melodies offered (Tune 1 in FFS) or BEACH SPRING (TiS 493). Sheet music and lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• TiS 285 / VU363 / STB187 Your coming Lord to earth in Bethlehem (Wesley Milgate) Tricky, but good solid words and images. Verse 4 is particularly good if you are celebrating communion, and could be omitted if you don’t like to sing songs about communion when you are not celebrating it. Lyrics (downloads a PDF).
  
• CH659 / MV173 / StJ / A&M566 / G(3)824 / W&R389 / SP251 / StF712 Put peace into each other’s hands (Fred Kaan) Good words for communion; tune is quite simple and flows nicely. Slow sound sample, sheet music with lyrics. Good for kids.

Luke 16:1-13
The dishonest and shrewd manager; honesty, faithfulness.

• 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. 
• NCH562 / AA127 / Cha381 Take my gifts and let me love you (Shirley Murray) Good words about giving God ourselves, our goods, our money. Can be sung either to the set tune by Colin Gibson (TALAVERA TERRACE) which is a little tricky, or the more well known tune HOLY MANNA (New words to old tunes). A good offering song. Lyrics.
• Online resource To be faithful (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) This is a very simple, catchy short song about being faithful with what you are given. Note to BUC people, I have a copy of this book. Sound sample and lyrics.
• Online resource Forgive us God for all the things we waste (Shirley Murray) Excellent, tough words. I would prefer this sung to a more reflective tune as a hymn for forgiveness, but haven't found a better tune than the one set. Lyrics and sheet music. 
• Online resource Where your treasure is (David MacGregor) A very singable song about having hope and doing good with God in your heart. Youtube. Sheet music and lyrics.
  
• 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 & sheet music. New words to old tunes,

What ideas do you have? Please share them below!