Songs, Hymns & Music for Season of Creation 3C - Storm Sunday (September 18, 2021)

Job 28:20-27 
Wisdom in nature and weather - from the dawn of creation
  • 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 pdf).
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Online Resource For the blast of creation (Colin Gibson) Excellent words of cosmic creation sung to the familiar tune ST DENIO. Lyrics and PDFNew 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) 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
  • 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.
  • VU888 / LBW558 / ELW731 / PH458 / 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.  Sound sample.  
  • TiS 186 / NCH567 Stars and planets flung in orbit (Herman 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
  • Ground and Source of all that is (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) This song is very beautiful and easy to sing. Lyrics and sound sample.  
  • Cha055 O God of Every Shining Constellation (Albert Bayly) A good older hymn for this theme. 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). Lyrics and sheet music.  Oldy-but-a-goody.
  • TiS 447 / AHB 61 / CH112 / VU313 / LBW400 / ELW673 / A&M810 / CP560 / CP(E) 267 / 82Hml-371 / Lau887 / StF106 / MP699 God whose almighty word / Lord your almighty word chaos and darkness heard / Thou, whose almighty word (John Marriott) A good hymny hymn, very familiar, with the memorable “Let there be light” line at the end of each verse. TiS lyrics are fairly inclusive, but VU is better. Oldy-but-a-goody. Older style lyrics and sheet music.
  • AoVK-123 / NCH3 / Iona (M&G) / UMH148 / VU308 / WoV794 / ELW837 / PH271 / G(II)338 / GC499 / CP407 / W&R26 / Cha58 / URW232 / 82Hml-385 Many and Great O God are your works / Wakantanka Taku Nitawa (Joseph Renville) Good words. Simple tune. Needs a good Native American-style drum beat. This could work well with kids, especially if you get them to drum. Lyrics and sheet music. Good for kids.
Psalm 29
God's voice in the thunder. Quite a thunderous Psalm! Wind and flame, earthquakes and floods.
  • AoV1-190 / UMH431 / HPP308 / G(II)529 / GC731 / GC(II)723 / G(3)829 / W&R614 / Cha677 Let There Be Peace on Earth and let it begin with me (Jill Jackson-Miller and Sy Miller) Great for older kids. AoV changes "Brothers all are we, let me walk with my brother" to "We are family. Let us walk with each other". Good for kids. Lyrics. 
  • 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". Older version of lyrics
  • PfAS029A All on earth and all in heaven (Michael Mangan)  Great words sung to the familiar hymn tune EBENEZER "At God's voice the clouds assemble, thunder roars and torrents fall"… Lyrics (downloads PDF)  New words to old tunes
  • NCH Psalter 29 The voice of God is full of majesty (Bob Hurd). A very simple and beautiful refrain with a paraphrase of the Psalm that is inclusive without losing any of the majesty of this Psalm. Can be used with a reader or cantor. Highly recommended.
  • GtG010 Sing glory to the name of God (David Gambrell)  Good solid words, and joyful Alleluias (LASST UNS ERFREUEN!). A paraphrase of Psalm 29. Lyrics, sound and sheet music sampleNew words to old tunes
  • 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 (Philip Frazier) Good words. Simple tune. Sounds great accompanied by a good Native American-style drum beat, which is a great way to get people (especially kids) involved in music-making. Lyrics here.
  • TiS 447 / AHB 61 / CH112 / VU313 / LBW400 / ELW673 / A&M810 / CP560 / CP(E) 267 / 82Hml-371 / Lau887 / StF106 / MP699 God whose almighty word / Lord your almighty word chaos and darkness heard / Thou, whose almighty word (John Marriott) A good hymny hymn, very familiar, with the memorable “Let there be light” line at the end of each verse. TiS lyrics are fairly inclusive, but VU is better. Oldy-but-a-goody. Lyrics.
  • TiS 392 At the dawning of salvation (Jock Curle) Good hymn words of Easter theology and Christ’s presence at Creation to a fun standard American folk tune (NETTLETON) Lyrics. New words to old tunes
  • TiS 753 / ATFG558 / StS034 / R185 / ELW525 / SP&P082 You are holy you are whole (Per Harling) A fun and joyous latin-rhythmed song; can also be sung with two parts at the same time. Lyrics. Good for kids.
  • NCH462 / UMH109 / VU265 / WoV757 / ELW684 / PH134 / GC580 / RS711 / CP410 / W&R32 / Cha335 / URW067 / 82Hml-384 Creating God Your Fingers Trace (Jeffery Rowthorn) A good Trinitarian hymn about Creating, Sustaining and Redeeming God. There are many possible tunes. I like the Presence tune better. Lyrics and a sound sample. 
  • AoV2-089 / Taizé / MV086 / SFFS 2156 Give peace to every heart / Da Pacem Cordium (Jacques Berthier) A good, simple Taize chant. Sound samples, sheet music (not cantor lines though).
  • Recorded music / Online Resource I will praise you Lord for you have rescued me (Don Stewart) If I had the sheet music to this, I would get a cantor to sing the verses, and the congregation could join in the refrain. Not sure if it's published anywhere, but I love the bagpipe intro (and I'm trying to guess who played it). Recording (scroll down).
  • PfAS029D Your voice O Lord is a voice of splendour (Martin Tel) A very simple Psalm refrain.
  • TiS 569 / AHB 478 / NCH18/19 / CH167 / UMH127 / VU651 / LBW343 / ELW618 / StF465 / A&M652 / HPP432 / GtG065 / PH281 / CP565 / CP(E) 455 / W&R501 / Cha622 / 82Hml690 / StF465 / Lau960 / MP201 Guide me O thou great Jehovah / Redeemer (William Williams) A rousing hymn of God’s presence and strength and making it to the other side. "Bread of heaven, feed me now and evermore." Sound sample, lyrics and sheet music. Oldy-but-a-goody.
1 Corinthians 1:21-31 
Christ crucified is not the world's wisdom, but God's wisdom
  • TiS 356 / CH385 / Cha203 / StF273 Here hangs a man discarded (Brian Wren) Excellent words, particularly for this reading “Can such a clown of sorrows still bring a useful word where faith and love seem phantoms and every hope absurd?”. Also works very well with TiS 339 (Passion Chorale) if your congregation is scared of new tunes. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes
  • TiS 422 / CH594 / CP(E) 179 Come Holy Spirit come inflame our souls with love (Michael Lindsay Forster) Excellent words to a well known hymn tune. It is not gender-inclusive for God. Lyrics (links to a very impressive pew sheet). New words to old tunes
  • TiS 179 / NCH273 / VU312 / StJ / URW073 Praise with Joy the World's Creator (John Bell) One of my favourite hymns - strongly Trinitarian lyrics and excellent imagery. Lyrics (scroll down or search).New words to old tunes
  • VU284 /  GtG230 / G(II)550 / GC760 / Cha333 Joyful Is the Dark (Brian Wren) I really like these words. Hymnals vary widely in the tunes they have set these lyrics to. GtG uses a really difficult key but the tune is nice. VU uses this tune. I'm really not a big fan of either tune, but I think the tune in VU may be simpler.
  • TiS 262 When pain and terror strike by chance (Brian Wren) These excellent words may be particularly helpful if you are in a community where there has been recent loss / disaster. Very familiar Irish folk tune. Lyrics.
  • Recorded Music The cross is foolishness (John Michael Talbot) I don't really know this song, but came across a sample and the lyrics. I think it would be a good one to listen to, or play if someone has the music. 
  • Unusual sources It really is a worry / Right side up (Downie) A good kid's song about how God's world is not upside down, but right side up. We have this in the folders at church. It's also in a book called "Praise God Together" and in "Kidsource 2". Good for kids.  
  • Unknown source Alleluia, the great storm is over (Bob Franke) lift up your wings and fly! I especially love the image of the infant sleeping while the mother sang until the bridegroom returned. The chorus is really catchy and very easy to sing. If not familiar, you can use a cantor or soloist for the verses and invite the congregation to join in the chorus. We tend to sing this more like a gospel anthem, but I don't think we've sung it in quite a while. Lyrics. Video with poor image but good sound
    Luke 8:22-25
    Jesus stills the storm
    • CH570 / UMH512 / W&R495 / Cha629 / ZSS164 When the storms of life are raging (stand by me) (Charles Tindley) A good gospel song. It also fits very well with the Goliath reading "Lord, who never lost a battle, stand by me". Hymnals have a range of translations. Sound sample and lyrics. We sing it pretty upbeat. I am going to suggest this song for next week's gospel reading as well, so it might be worth teaching this week! Good for kids (unless you sing it like Elvis).
    • MV153 Body Mind and Spirit (Margaret Motum) A lovely gentle song about Christ as abundant life, resting within us stilling the stormy water. Easy to sing, and quite beautiful. Lyrics (scroll down).
    • UMH476 / GtG185 / PH373 Lonely the Boat / Kahm Kahm hahn Born Sanaoon (Helen Kim) Simple Korean melody to this storytelling song. I would only sing the first 3 verses, although others may find the last two meaningful as well. GtG has Korean lyrics. Lyrics
    • TiS 728 Jesucristo reina reina ya (Unknown Argentinian) This fun chorus from Argentina is just lots of fun, and our congregation hasn't sung it for a while. Good for kids.
    • FFS53 Out of the storms and seabirds' calling (Colin Gibson) The song is about people who travelled across the seas to establish a church in New Zealand, but it would work for Australia too. "Out of the storms and seabirds' calling, far from the islands of their birth, leaving an old world half behind them, seeking new paradise on earth, voyagers all, they sailed the future, settled and made this place their home".
    • Cha181 The storm is strong; we face the wind (Sylvia Dunstan) Simple story telling hymn. Sheet music sample with lyrics.  
    • Recorded Music Put your hand in the hand (Gene MacLellan) Last time we sang this, our congregation LOVED it. Really, only the chorus is worth singing in a worship context; perhaps verse 1 could be included, but verse 2 is just very odd (thanks Taizefreak for alerting me to this!). Original Recording by Anne Murray. Funkier version by Ocean.
    • Online Resource / R263 / GtG184 / ELW794 Calm to the waves (Mary Louise Bringle) I like the words of this simple chant, and the tune is simple. Sheet music sample, lyrics, and purchasing options.  
    • Recorded Music Into the Deep (Malcolm Gordon) Based directly on this passage "Even the wind and the waves will listen to your voice, oh speak your love and your grace and calm the storm within". Sound sample and purchase options
    • Online Resource / Walk as One Out in the boat (Nelson Varcoe) A fun song, with a call and response section which talks about all the ways we might feel like we're out in a boat. Book (PDF) available for purchase. Good for kids.
    • MV020 God of still waiting (Carl P Daw) Good words about God waiting for us and the promise brought by the Spirit. Tune is quite beautiful, and will need to be taught at least a little. Lyrics
    • Recorded music Storm (Lifehouse) This song could be very helpful, played for a congregation going through difficult times. I usually prefer songs that are more communal than personal, but hey... this would be really helpful for teenagers, I reckon. Youtube with lyrics 
    • ATAR670 Calm the storm (Jonathan Rundman) Good kids' song based on this passage. This is really simple and quite lovely. Sound sample (more upbeat).  Good for kids.
     What ideas do you have? Please share them below!

    4 comments:

    Susan Malthouse said...

    When you say, "Put your hand in the hand" (Traditional), do you mean the '60s folk/pop version??

    Lectionary Singer (Natalie Sims) said...

    Yes, and I've updated it so that this is clear. Turns out it's not Traditional at all! I thought it was much older...

    Taizefreak said...

    Put your hand in the hand definitely has the 1970s groove happening, and I could hear the echoes from my childhood just reading the title. It was only after I chose it and put the lyrics in the order of service that I realised the second verse is ordinary, to put it generously (apparently living with a wife and two children is as laudable an effort from a father as teaching your child to pray is from a mother). Ocean tried to improve it from the original by Gene McLennan (sung by Anne Murray), and theirs is better, but not brilliant. So I'm using the Ocean version and then planning on not using it again.

    Lectionary Singer (Natalie Sims) said...

    Oh my, yes, I hadn't seen those original lyrics for verse 2! I think when we did at Brunswick last time, we only sang verse 1. Thanks for letting me know.