Songs and Hymns for Proper 26C / Ordinary 31C / Pentecost +23 (October 30 2022)

Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4
Habakkuk despairs that the world is full of injustice, but is reassured that God will bring change.

• 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 13 this week, and add whichever other verses suit your context. Set to the common tune KINGSFOLD. Some lyrics (not the Habakkuk verse!). New words to old tunes. 
• 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.
• 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
• BUC Song Project Come out and shout (Dave Brown) It would be good to sing this song again, and it would be a joyous ending song for this reading. "No more need to fear and start to run, and I will give you strength".
• TiS 674 / Iona (Common Ground, Heaven Shall Not Wait) / A&M562 / CH253 / SP245 Inspired by love and anger (John Bell / Graham Maule) Powerful lyrics, simple English folk tune (SALLY GARDENS). Lyric video. New words to old tunes  
• SP&P137 The world is hungry for justice / Come Sweet Justice (Louis Gilio / Scott Ressman) These words are very suitable for this reading. It's a ballad and the verses would be best sung by the musicians at first, with the congregation joining in on the chorus until they get to know it.
• 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. 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 work for next week as well, so now is a good time to introduce it.
• NCH461 Let us hope when hope seems hopeless (David Beebe) A lilting tune and good words of hope in the face of difficulty. A song of a maturing faith. Sound sample (long introduction). 
• SoG 790 / ATW 463 / Iona (T1AU) / ELW721 / SFFS 2219 / A&M835 / GtG750 / GC(II)451 / G(3)528 / W&R296 / URW436 Goodness is stronger than evil (Desmond Tutu / John Bell) Words from Archbishop Desmond Tutu. "Victory is ours, victory is ours, through him who loves us". Some congregations change the last line to "Compassion is ours, compassion is ours...". It depends on the context in which you sing it, I suppose. Sound sample. Good for kids. There is also a very moving choral version of these words and more from Desmond Tutu, arranged by Tom Keesecker. Available here (sound sample there too).

Psalm 119:137-144
We can trust in God's righteousness even when we are in anguish.
Very few settings of this Psalm seem to focus on these verses.

• Online resource Psalm 119:137-144 (Stephen Pearson) A contemporary and quite easy to sing paraphrase of this Psalm. Sheet music, sound sample and lyrics (menu at top of page).
• NCH36 / PH219 To God compose a song of joy (Ruth Duck) “The God of Justice comes to save; let earth make melody; For God will judge with righteousness and rule with equity” Beautiful words. I prefer this sung to the tune in NCH – the standard hymn tune RICHMOND (TiS 425). New words to old tunes
• Online resource Psalm 119: Tsadhe (Tom Quinlan) Tom Quinlan has recorded a simple and beautiful musical setting of the entire Psalm 119. He has a beautiful website where each section can be listened to and downloaded. Chords and lyrics also. A wonderful resource!
• PfAS119M Grant me understanding (Bradley Ellingboe) A very simple short refrain "Grant me understanding, that I may live", based on the latter part of this Psalm.
• MV 108 I know your word / Tua Palavra é lâmpada (Simei Monteiro). A simple Brazillian rhythm and a catchy tune. Great for kids, and a good song for adults too. “I know your word, your word is a lamp to my feet O God. I know your word is a lamp, O God, to light my path forever”.   Lyrics (downloads a PDF). Good for kids.

Alternate Hebrew Scripture: Isaiah 1:10-18 
Making offerings and celebrating festivals without doing good and working for justice doesn't please God.

• Tune In / Online Resource Peace In Our Time (Dave Brown) A groovy bossa nova song of peace and justice. Free downloadable sheet music, and sound sample.
• TiS 473 / NCH314 / W&R615 / Cha655 / StF681 Community of Christ (Shirley Murray) Beautiful words to a traditional Hebrew synagogue melody (LEONI). Easy to sing. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes.
• AA085 Let justice roll down like a river (Colin Gibson) Excellent song, and very easy to sing. Lyrics and sheet music Good for kids.
• TiS 663 / NCH108 / CH241 / VU680 / GtG077 / PH337 / W&R532 Isaiah the prophet has written (Joy Patterson) Excellent words of Isaiah's vision for the future; I prefer to sing this to the tune JUDAS AND MARY (New words to old tunes). Lyrics (note: a different tune).
• AoV1-050 Act Justly (Monica O'Brien / Trish Watts) Simple chant-like chorus, and strong verses. I love this one. Lyrics and sound sample.
• AoVNG1 / CH685 / FFS17 / GtG769 / G(3)812 / W&R617 For everyone born / A place at the table (Shirley Murray) Words of welcome and change to everyone regardless of sex, age, sexuality. There are three possible tunes. The Lori True tune is the most common. I like the Colin Gibson tune in FFS (and on the Hope Publishing website that follows). This song is good for a service when communion is celebrated, but it makes sense without communion, too. DO NOT SING ALL THE VERSES if you're looking at the Hope Publishing version. Choose the ones that work for your community. I recommend not using verse 4, which talks about both the abuser and the abused being welcome at the table, and places the onus on the abused for forgiveness; it is a verse that Shirley Murray decided later she would have liked to remove. There is also an optional verse: "For gay and for straight...." Lyrics & sheet music.
• 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.
• HPP28 / GtG023 / PH285 / W&R24 / URW083 God You Spin the Whirling Planets (Jane Parker Huber / AUSTRIAN HYMN) Excellent words to a very familiar tune (TiS 772). Really good for the final hymn or response to the sermon. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• ATOK 390 Put on love every day, never hide your love away (Mary Lu Walker) A groovy song that's good for kids! Lyrics (downloads a powerpoint)

Psalm for the Isaiah reading: Psalm 32:1-7
Honest confession forgiven by God. Identity.
You could sing a Kyrie (lots listed here). Some of them are 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. Reference recording, lyrics and free downloadable songbook.
• Online Resource / Tune In Making things new (Sheree Anderson) A groovy one. Great for kids, and lots of fun. Reference recording, lyrics and free downloadable songbook.
• Online Resource / BUC Song Project Broken (Elaine Loukes) This song seeking God's open arms at the end of a dry journey fits this reading well. Sheet music, lyrics and sound sample.
  
• Cha739 Be glad in God and rejoice (Gary Smith) Responsive psalm with joyous sung refrain.
• MV095 How deep the peace (Lynn Bauman / Linea Good) Simple song. Would work particularly well as words of assurance after the prayers of confession.
• G(II)42 / GC44 I Turn to You in time of trouble (Rory Cooney) A quite nice inclusive cantor and response. Lyrics and sheet music. Sound sample.
• TiS 417 / AoV2-133 / ATW 448 / VU387 / StJ / WoV683 / ELW397 / AA94 / HPP237 / GtG293 / PH323 / CP657 / W&R135 / Cha244 / URW203 / StB220 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. Free sheet music and lyrics.  New words to old tunes.
• Emergent Psalter Show me which way to go (Isaac Everett) Simple refrain. Sheet music (refrain only).
• Online Resource Blessed are all those whose sins are forgiven (Douglas Gay) A setting of the Psalm set to the familiar tune WAS LEBET WAS SCHWEBET. Thanks to Doug for sharing this with us all. Lyrics. New words to old tunes 
• StS066 / PfAS032C While I keep silence (David Wright) A very mournful song based on this Psalm. Best for a meditative service; this will not suit all congregations, but there is something quite compelling about it, and maybe particularly good for Lent. Sound sample (Spotify).
  
• TiS 754 / SFFS 2055 / HPP457 / Cha554 / PfAS032B / Srce2-686 / MP793 You are my hiding-place (Michael Ledner) Very mushy, but somehow very satisfying and soothing. Particularly mushy sound sample and lyrics. Good for kids.
• SoG 790 / ATW 463 / Iona (T1AU) / ELW721 / SFFS 2219 / A&M835 / GtG750 / GC(II)451 / G(3)528 / W&R296 / URW436 Goodness is stronger than evil (Desmond Tutu / John Bell) Words from Archbishop Desmond Tutu. "Victory is ours, victory is ours, through him who loves us". Some congregations change the last line to "Compassion is ours, compassion is ours...". It depends on the context in which you sing it, I suppose. Lyrics and a range of sound samples. Good for kids. There is also a very moving choral version of these words and more from Desmond Tutu, arranged by Tom Keesecker. Available here (sound sample there too).

2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12
Words of greeting. Steadfastness during persecution.

• TiS 428 / AHB 340 / A&M658 / CP(E) 460 / 82Hml-628 / StF501 Help us O Lord to learn (William Watkins Reid) Great challenging words about being committed to learning the faith. Boring tune though. I would sing it to ST THOMAS (TiS 271 / AHB 198). Lyrics. New words to old tunes
• TiS 470 / CH742 / UMH708 / WoV689 / LBW26 / ELW264 / A&M308 / GtG732 / CP(E) 227 / W&R531 / Cha476 / SP116 Rejoice in God’s saints today and all days! (Fred Pratt Green) Great words about all the different saints and the importance of remembering them. The 2nd verse which mentions "some carry the gospel through fire and through flood" may be particularly appealing. Works well to the tune PADERBORN, but would be even simpler sung to LAUDATE DOMINUM which would be more familiar. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• AoV1-130 / NCH444 / SFFS 2223 / HPP495 / GtG300 / G(II)533 / GC735 / GC(II)728 / G(3)835 / W&R595 / Cha494 We are one in the Spirit / They’ll know we are Christians by our love (Peter Scholtes) A classic 60's song of unity and being an example to others. It's still pretty groovy, I reckon. Older version are really masculine. We often syncopate it a bit at Brunswick. Lyrics. Good for kids.   

Luke 19:1-10
The story of Zacchaeus 

• 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.
• TiS 748 / GtB There once was a man as mean as could be (Digby Hannah) Good song for kids and great for this passage. Good for kids.
• MV127 I saw the rich ones (Pat Mayberry) This is simple to sing and a great song for kids “But with God the world is turned upside down. The poor are embraced and the lost they are found. Let’s work for a world where all people are free. Where it’s good to feel good about God loving you and me”. Lyric video. Good for kids.
• CH507 / AA079 Jesus I come trusting your kindness (Shirley Murray) Words of personal turning to and commitment to Christ. I prefer the tune in Alleluia Aotearoa. Sheet music (not the AA tune!) and lyrics.
  
• 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 (John Bell / Graham Maule) A classic. Don't sing it too slowly or it really drags and takes forever! Lyrics video.
• Online Resource / Full of the Spirit Jesus, barrier breaker / Radical for love (Heather Price) Gutsy pop song about how Jesus was not a rule maker, but a rule breaker, including being someone who welcomed the stranger. Highly recommended. Sound sample and music for purchase.   
• 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.
• Iona (T1AU) / MV110 / StS037 First born of Mary provocative preacher (John Bell) A short, energetic song about the nature of Christ's life on earth; the phrase "outsider's choice" resonates well with this passage. Lyrics.
  
• Online resource / ToSB251 Zacchaeus was a wee little man (Traditional) If your kids know this song, there is another verse to it, which continues the story - Jesus visits and Zacchaeus gives his money away! Lyrics. Good for kids.

Have some ideas you'd like to share? I'd love to hear them, and so would other readers - add a comment below!