Songs and Hymns for the Baptism of Christ / Epiphany 1A (8 January 2023)

For Year B (2024), click here.

 

Isaiah 42:1-9
God's servant who brings sight to the blind and release to the captives

• ATOK 389 Light of the nations (Robin Mann) A simple prayer response - would work very well during the prayers of intercession. Lyrics.
• 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.
• CH484 / UMH579 / WoV666 / ELW358 / A&M169 / PH353 / CP442 / CP(E) 133 / W&R55 / SP57 / URW087 / StF499 Great God Your Love Has Called Us Here (Brian Wren) Good words to a standard hymn tune (MELITA). Gathering, confession, response, communion, and sending out all in one hymn. This is a good all-rounder. Lyrics & sheet music.  New words to old tunes
• VU699 / GtG772 / PH332 Live into hope of captives freed (Jane Parker Huber) Excellent words to the familiar tune TRURO. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• Online Resource Hear the message we now are proclaiming / El mensaje que hoy proclamamos (Eleazar Torregoza) This jubilant Colombian song of liberty and new life for the poor and suffering would fit well with this reading. Good for kids. Free 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, sheet music and sound sample. New words to old tunes
• TiS 256 / AoV2-077 / ATE 261 / CH374 / A&M489 / CP(E) 432 / SP153 / Srce160 / Lau749 / StF272 / MP162 From heaven you came helpless babe / Servant King (Graham Kendrick) Schmaltzy and I'm not a big fan, but I know this is very meaningful for a lot of people - and it's easy. Lyrics and chords.
• CP517 / W&R503 O God your constant care and love (Glen Lanier) Quite good words about God's presence with us through our lives. Sung to a standard hymn tune. Lyrics. 

Psalm 29
God's voice in the thunder. Quite a thunderous Psalm! Wind and flame, earthquakes and floods.

• HiOS107 GtG650 O Beauty ever ancient (Shirley Erena Murray)  Lovely words about the ancient yet new beauty of God in creation, in sound and darkness, and in movement. It has a one line chorus of "In gratitude, in worship, my being sings to you!". Set to two different tunes. Both are good. I mildly prefer ANCIENT BEAUTY (in GtG). 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.
• Online Resource This is the moment here is the place (Hannah Brown / Benjamin Brody) A good song of welcome which talks about the mystery of worship; sung to a lovely new tune in 6/8. There are enough verses for the congregation to pick it up the first time. Sheet music sample, lyrics and purchasing options. 
• 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 sample.  New 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.
• 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.

Acts 10:34-43  

Simple gospel summary: Christ crucified, risen, the call to follow and forgive.

• Tune In / Online Resource He left his home fam'ly friends / Unless a grain of wheat (Sheree Anderson) Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it won't form roots and grow. A boppy song with deeply meaningful lyrics. Reference recording, lyrics and free songbook.
• Online Resrouce Christ is Coming Ever Coming (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A modern hymn of salvation history. Lyrics and sound sample.
• In Every Corner Sing / AA039 / GA192 For the bread and wine and blessing (Shirley Murray) Very straightforward tune. Good Eucharist song. Really good song of healing.
• 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. Good for kids. Lyrics and sheet music samples.
  
• 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) A classic. Don't sing it too slowly or it really drags and takes forever! Sound sample.
  
• Online Resource / NCH357 / CH680 / G(II)487 / GC680 / GC(II)675 / G(3)774 / Lau425 You are called to tell the story (Ruth Duck) Excellent words. The simplest tune would be REGENT SQUARE. Different sources use a range of tunes. Sound sample, sheet music preview and purchasing options.
  
• 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.
• NCH054 / VU397 / WoV750 / LBW88 / ELW322 / PH471 / CP396 O praise the gracious power (Thomas Troeger) Good words of the world's salvation and the way the cross breaks down all that divides us. Sung to a joyful tune CRHISTPRAISE RAY. Lyrics.
• Online Resource O Spirit send doubt (David Bjorlin / Sally Ann Morris) A contemporary and thoughtful melody and lyrics that celebrate how faith grows through doubt and questions. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options.  

Matthew 3:13-17  

The baptism of Christ.
Note that songs about the descent of the dove may also be used next week, so this could be a good time to introduce something new. 

• URW106 Here at Jordan's river (Ruth Duck) Sung to NOEL NOUVELET, this song great for Baptism of Christ or any baptism. Verse three is a bit odd for Australians "root us in your work" doesn't make sense to us, but might be changed to "set us to your work" of "plant us in your work" if desired. Lyrics (scroll down) New words to old tunes
• TiS 270 / AHB 199 / NCH115 / CH334 / VU20 / LBW548 / ELW842 / A&M046 / GtG096 / PH010 / G(II)260 / GC321 / 322 / GC(II)344 / G(3)418 / CP103 / CP(E) 34 / W&R156 / 82Hml-076 / Lau094 / StF182 / MP538 On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry (Charles Coffin) If you would like inclusive lyrics, have a look at the New Century Hymnal’s version. If you’d like a groovy tune, check out AHB 199(ii) / GC322 – ST JOHN BAPTIST by Gary Lewis Miles and Betty Pulkingham. This is an excellent, fun tune. You can even combine the words of NCH115 with AHB199(ii) for the best of both worlds. But WINCHESTER NEW is also very good, and easy to sing if you don’t have a congregation full of people who grew up in the 60s and 70s. Lyrics and sheet music (Winchester New).
• Online resource Down by the Jordan (Carolyn Winfrey Gillette) Good words based on this reading, set to the well known hymn tune LOBE DEN HERREN or could be sung to AURELIA (Thanks, Ben!). Lyrics New words to old tunes
• PH071 Lord When You Came to Jordan (Brian Wren) I like the questioning words which ask what it might have been like. Would sing it to Llangllofan or ELLACOMBE (TiS 361) “Lord, bring us to our Jordan Of newly opened eyes, Through love, immersed in living, As You were once baptized. Sheet music and lyrics. New words to old tunes
• TiS 710 / CH758 / Iona (Enemy of Apathy) / VU204 Come Holy Spirit gracious heavenly dove (Iona Community) A beautiful and simple chant.
  
• Online Resource / NCH168 / VU084 O radiant Christ incarnate word (Ruth Duck) Good words; a little formal. WAREHAM is the easier tune. Sheet music sample, sound sample, and purchasing options (to a different tune).
  
• TiS 419 / NCH270 / CH592 / A&M252 / UMH544 / VU205 / WoV685 / ELW403 / HPP222 / GtG285 / PH314 / CP635 / CP(E) 185 / W&R327 / SP92 / 82Hml-513 / StF389 Like the murmur of the dove's song (Carl P Daw) Excellent words and a simple tune about Christian unity. Each verse ends with "Come holy spirit, come". Lyrics and sheet music.   
• ACS916 / GtG164 / CP045 Down Galilee's slow roadways (Sylvia Dunstan) Good words for adult baptism, or for any Sunday that reflects on Christ's baptism. Lyrics.
• NCH285 / CH591 / SFFS 2123 / URW164 O Holy Dove of God descending / Spirit now live in me (Jeffery Leech) Lovely simple tune, and beautiful words. Lyrics.
• Online Resource / Walk as One Spirit brooding in the silence (Sharonne Price / Leigh Newton) Excellent words about the Spirit in creation, at Christ's baptism, and in our lives today. A simple tune to sing also. Book (PDF) available for purchase here. 
• VU384 / SFFS 2052 / HPP229 / PH320 The Lone Wild Bird in lofty flight (Marty Haugen) Familiar tune and excellent words. First 3 verses and tune sample.
• StS008 / SFFS 2089 / GtG163 / PH409 / StF189 Wild and Lone the Prophet's Voice (Carl P Daw) Excellent, challenging words. I prefer this sung to ABERYSTWYTH which is well known and easily accessible. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes
• Recorded music Jesus looked down on the Jordan / Sea of God (John Coleman) This song is simple enough for the congregation to learn, or you could play the recording. Source and lyrics
• CH335 Out of the flowing river (Leith Fisher) Beautiful simple words of the Baptism of Christ with a call to go out and make the love revealed in Christ known through the world. A simple tune, but it will need to be taught. Sound sample.
  
• ATOK 344 You who puzzle on the Saviour's deeds / The New Road (John Beavis) A good song for older kids. Especially for Australian older kids. Lyrics (scroll down - way more verses than you need!). Good for older kids. 
• CH336 / A&M97 / SP26 Christ is our light! the bright and morning star (Leith Fisher) Good words to the tune HIGHLAND CATHEDRAL. Majestic. Lyrics (downloads a PDF). New words to old tunes
• UMH252 / WoV647 / LBW647 / ELW305 / PH072 / CP(E) 93 / W&R241 When Jesus Came to Jordan (Fred Pratt Green) Good words to a simple English folk tune. A bit formal. Lyrics and sheet music.
  
• Recorded music Jesus looked down on the Jordan / Sea of God (John Coleman) This song is simple enough for the congregation to learn, or you could play the recording. Source and lyrics
• TiS 253 / AoV2-119 / AoVK-103 / GA419 O Lord Jesus Marrkapmirr (Garrawarra family of Milingimbi) This simple song is easy to sing and talks of the timelessness of God’s love. “O Lord Jesus Marrkapmirr, all the power belongs to you”. Lyrics. Sound sample.
  
• TiS 250 / VU099 / ELW304 / PH070 / CP(E) 92 / 82Hml-121 Christ when for us you were baptized (Bland Tucker) A couple of different tunes are possible for these words, that are a story telling song, ending] with the words "Baptize us with your Spirit now, your cross on us be signed, that likewise in God's service we may perfect freedom find". Not all versions are inclusive. VU and PH are. Lyrics.
• NCH169 What ruler wades through murky streams (Thomas Troeger) Like the words, don't like the tune so much. There's a lovely version by Trish Bruxvoort-Colligan, if you can track it down. Lyrics (scroll down to a comment by Erik).
  

What will you be singing? I'd love to hear your ideas - please add a comment below.