Songs, Hymns and Music for Lent 4A (March 19, 2023)

1 Samuel 16:1-13
David as the anointed leader. The person God calls to lead may not be the person we would expect.

• Tune In / Online Resource Kingdom Come (Matthew Lees) A song about how things are not what we expect in God’s kingdom. Lots of words and good images including "there's no blacklist or admission fee" Sound samples, lyrics and free downloadable songbook. 
• Online Resource / AoV1-021 / ATOK 402 / StS114 / G(II)488 / GC682 / GC(II)669 / G(3)761 / Lau858 / MP830 God Has Chosen Me (Bernadette Farrell) Energetic, and great words of justice. We used to sing this a lot, but not so much lately. Can be rocky or smooth, however you like it. Good for kids. Sheet music for paid download. Sound sample and lyrics. 
• Online Resource / TiS 749 / AoV1-154 / AoVK-131 / ATE 305 / NCH360 / Iona (SBL, Freedom is coming) / CH800 / UMH497 / VU572 / WoV773 / ELW809 / GA493 / A&M481 / HPP340 / GtG746 / G(II)484 / GC677 / GC(II)674 / G(3)776 / W&R713 / Cha447 / SP234 / StF782 Send me Jesus / Thuma mina (South African) You all know this one, right? If you don't - it's great - simple, repetitive, and meaningful. Good for kids. Sound sample, sheet music samples, and purchasing options. Youtube.
• TiS 681 Lord let me see see more and more (Ross Langmead) An excellent song - kind of long with 5 verses, but very simple lyrics on some quite tricky themes. Try to use different instrumentation for each verse to keep it from being "ploddy". The tune is very natural to sing as well. Lyrics, sound sample and sheet music.
• NCH355 / UMH648 / VU514 / GtG303 / PH523 / W&R149 / Cha450 God the Spirit guide and guardian (Carl P Daw) Excellent, inclusive Trinitarian lyrics of God's guidance and blessing on leaders in the church community. Set to a variety of well known hymn tunes including HYFRYDOL (my favourite!), JEFFERSON, BLAENWERN and BETHANY. Lyrics. New words to old tunes. 

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd

• TiS 10 / AHB 16 / AoV1-144 / NCH479 / Iona (Common Ground) / CH14/16 / UMH136 / VU747/8 / StS099 / LBW451 / ELW778 / GA473 / HPP55 / GtG801 / PH170 / CP519 / CP(E) 594 / W&R86 / Cha0789 / Srce662 / Lau806 / StF480 / MP660 The Lord's my Shepherd I'll not want / God is my shepherd (Scottish Psalter) It's not inclusive, but I think it's more than a sentimental favourite. NCH, VU and Chalice all have an inclusive language version. Traditional lyrics and sound sample. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• MV126 Are you a shepherd? (Ruth Duck) Good and joyous. Lots of images of God: shepherd, teacher, mother, father. We sung this once last year, and it would be good to do it again. A catchy chorus, but it does need to be taught. Lyrics. Good for kids.
• ELW438 / HPP52 / GtG803 / PH172 / Cha080 / PfAS023A / 82Hml-664 My Shepherd Will Supply My Need / My Shepherd You Supply My Need (Isaac Watts) I quite like this version of the 23rd Psalm, although hymnals vary widely in how inclusive their lyrics are; I prefer the Chalice version. The tune (RESIGNATION) is from Southern Harmony. Chalice also has a nice responsive reading (Cha081) that fits with this version. Lyrics & sheet music. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• Cha734 (I) / URW244 My shepherd you supply my need and holy is your name (Isaac Watts) Responsive psalm with sung refrain to the tune of the first line of BROTHER JAMES' AIR. Lyrics to the old hymn on which this is based.  Oldy-but-a-goody.
• Online Resource / Tune In Like the sun upon my skin / God’s Mercy (Sheree Anderson) A beautiful ballad about identifying God's mercy in the beauty of creation. Free downloadable songbook, sound samples and lyrics.
• NCYC'07 Lead me on (Paul Gioia) A pretty cool gospel rock song. Sound sample.
  
• Online Resource / Tune In / ATAR596 He comes with his arms open wide / The God that I know (Sheree Anderson) A ballad drawing on God’s strength and comfort; not easy if unfamiliar. Free downloadable songbook, sound samples and lyrics.
• PfAS023I My shepherd is the Lord / El Señor es mi pastor (Ricardo Villarreal) I like this tune, and the paraphrase is good. It's particularly good for Spanish-speaking (or bilingual) congregations; it's fine in English too. Could also use the verses with a cantor. Sheet music.
  
• CH716 / VU374 / FFS10 / SFFS 2128 / W&R477 / Cha575 Come and find the quiet centre (Shirley Murray) A good song for the beginning of worship. We usually sing it to BEACH SPRING (TiS 493). Lyrics and sound sample. New words to old tunes. 
• Online Resource / AoV1-033 / WoV690 / ELW423 / SFFS 2058 / GtG473 / G(II)29 / GC31 / GC(II)23 / G(3)035 / PfAS023H / Lau951Shepherd Me O God (Marty Haugen) A nice reworking of the 23rd Psalm. The verses are a little challenging, so I would use the chant on its own: “Shepherd me O God beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life”. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Sound sample and paid download options. Or you could use Cha734(ii) / PfAS023G which use only the chorus, as a Psalm refrain.
• ACS954 / CH355 / VU210 / HPP81 / GtG274 / GC(II)525 / G(3)628 / CP630 / W&R99 / URW098 You Lord Are Both Lamb and Shepherd (Sylvia Dunstan) Beautiful words. Can be sung to many tunes. I like it to PICARDY or WESTMINSTER ABBEY. Lyrics and sound samples. New words to old tunes.
• Online Resource Surely Goodness and Mercy (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A gentle psalm refrain with a read psalm. Breathy sound sample, lyrics; sheet music available for purchase.
• W&R655 / URW202 Come Away from Rush and Hurry (Marva Dawn) Excellent words of resting in a sacred space to the familiar tune BEACH SPRING (TiS 493). Lyrics. New words to old tunes
• TiS 011 / AHB 98 / UMH137 / GA025 / G(3)034 My shepherd is the Lord (Joseph Gelineau) Of the two listed here, I prefer Response 1. A good alternative if you would like to use a cantored Psalm. Sound sample.
  
• Online Resource Breathe in the morning air (Helen Wiltshire) Lovely words for a soloist to sing at the start of a morning service to welcome the congregation. Sung to LOVE UNKNOWN, or could be sung to DARWALL'S 148th. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• G(II)458 / GC654 / GC(II)628 / G(3)725 With a Shepherd's Care (James Chepponis) Very nice words with feminine and masculine images for God. Would be very straightforward to sing. Sound sample of a fairly formal version.
• URW444 Go in peace walk in love (Trilby Jordan) A lovely blessing song that can be sung as a round. Sound sample (go to the very end of the video - 1:01:27).
  
• Taizé / GtG814 / CP563 / PfAS062D In God alone my soul can find rest and peace / Mon ame se repose (Jacques Berthier) A beautiful healing chant from Taize. Words and music and sound samples for learning the parts Good for kids.
• FFS39 It all depends on where I'm going (Colin Gibson) Good words of God's constant presence through all of life's travels, sung to a simple Celtic-style tune (TE HORO). Lyrics.
• Recorded Music 23rd Psalm (Bobby McFerrin) A beautiful feminine rendering of the Psalm. From the album Medicine Man. Listen to it here on Youtube. If you'd like to sing it, it's also in the Unitarian Universalist book "Singing the Journey" and "Music for Liturgy" from St. Gregory of Nyssa.
• Online Resource All of my days (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A gentle song with the chorus "All of my days, God's mercy follows". Would be simple to have the congregation join in on the chorus. Breathy sound sample, lyrics; sheet music available for purchase.
• Online Resource Surely Goodness and Mercy (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A gentle psalm refrain with a read psalm. Breathy sound sample, lyrics; sheet music available for purchase.

Ephesians 5:8-14
Living in the light. “Sleepers awake! Rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you”

• Tune In / Online Resource Light transcendent / Peace In Our Time (Dave Brown) A groovy bossa nova song of peace and justice. A bit tricky. Free downloadable songbook, sound samples and lyrics.
• AoV2-003 / ATOK 313 / CH543 / StJ / GA404 / A&M042 / ELW715 / GtG314 / GC(II)512 / G(3)590 / SP13 / URW114 / Lau883 / StF706 Longing for light we wait in darkness / Christ, be our light (Bernadette Farrell) One of my favourites, especially if someone can sing or play the descant line in the later verses. Don't play it too slowly - there is not meant to be a breath between "Longing for light" and "we wait in darkness". Just a tip. Sound sample and lyrics. Good for kids.
• TiS 129 / AHB 56 / AoV1-029 / ATA 131 / NCH547 / CH555 / UMH378 / VU266 / LBW448 / ELW779 / A&M587 / GA437 / HPP334 / GtG649 / PH280 / G(II)434 / GC612 / GC(II)586 / G(3)645 / CP352 / CP(E) 375 / W&R422 / Cha546 / ZSS202 / Srce25 / Lau846 / StF440 / MP031 Amazing grace how sweet the sound (John Newton) I once was lost... I think you all know this one. Nice youtube of some Sacred Harp singing, and a story. I love the recording of Dr G Yunipingu singing this in Yolngu. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• MV031 Pure Love (Linnea Good) I think this song would be good for reflecting on God as the source of all love. Very simple and beautiful. Sound sample. Good for kids.
• Taizé / AoV2-005 / A&M840 / GC(II)510 / SP327 / URW386 / StF360 Jesus Your Light / Jesus le Christ (Jacques Berthier) “Jesus your light is shining within us, let not my doubts and my darkness speak to me; Jesus your light is shining within us, let my heart always welcome your love”. One of the slightly more upbeat Taize chants. Sheet music, samples and translations. Good for kids.
• GA173 / G(II)577 / GC803 Awake O sleeper arise from death (Marty Haugen) Bright and joyful. Simple to sing, and brings the idea of waking up to live as God's people. Lyrics. Sound sample.
• Online Resource / AoV1-053 / AoVK-82 / GA256 Receive The Light of Christ (Jane Marshall) Simple round "Receive the light of Christ, May (it) shine within our hears, May the Christ Light fill us with joy and peace". Sound sample and purchasing options. Good for kids. 
• W&R543 / Online Resource  Come Build a Church (Ken Medema) Excellent words ("Come build a church of human frailty, come build a church of flesh and blood"). Not great for congregational singing, but excellent for a choir or musicians. Lyrics. Sound sample and sheet music for purchase.
• GA406 / G(II)356 / GC511 The Light of Christ surrounds us (Marty Haugen) Could be quite nice. Strong words, needs a cantor. Sound sample. Sheet music and lyrics.
• TiS 666 / AoV2-113 / AoVK-126 / ATOK 409 / NCH526 / Iona (Common Ground, Freedom is Coming) / CH516 / VU646/647 / WoV650 / ELW866 / A&M483 / SFFS 2235 / HPP153 / GtG853 / G(II)357 / GC513 / GC(II)516 / G(3)594 / Cha442 / SP235 / Srce737 / StF483 / MP954 We are marching in the light of God / Siyahamba / Caminando (South African) A very popular chorus, with possible alternate verses, depending on your source. Sometimes people get anxious about the word "marching", but remember that this song comes from apartheid-era South Africa, where people were protesting so that they could vote in their own country. Sound sample.
  
• TiS 548 / VU629 / A&M014 / PH340 / CP(E) 415 / W&R418 / SP3 / 82Hml-465 Eternal light shine in my heart (Christopher Idle) I really love this beautiful inclusive and ancient prayer. It is not familiar, but would be beautiful sung by a soloist until your congregation grows to know it. Lyrics.
  

John 9:1-41
Jesus heals the blind man on the Sabbath. Lots of stuff about blindness and seeing.

• TiS 547 / AHB 455 / AoV1-009 / NCH451 / CH465 / A&M595 / UMH451 / VU642 / WoV776 / ELW793 / HPP353 / GtG450 / PH339 / CP505 / CP(E) 386 / W&R502 / Cha595 / Srce70 / URW180 / 82Hml-488 / Lau970 / StF545 / MP051  Be thou my vision O Lord of my heart (8th century Irish, translated Eleanor Hull) Most recent hymnals are fairly inclusive for this. Note that the High King phrase has been changed in some hymnals because it is masculine, but it simply means Chieftan (which these days is male or female). Maybe you could change the words to "Chieftan of Heaven"? Tell me if you do this, OK? Lyrics and sheet music. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• Taizé / MV164 Christe lux mundi (Taize) A slower, and very simple Taize chant. Only works in Latin. Sound samples, sheet music.
• VU471 / W&R692 / URW122 / StF582 Eat this bread and never hunger (Dan Damon) Very simple tune. The first verse refers to this passage. Particularly good if you are celebrating communion this week, but will be fine if you are not. Lyrics and sheet music sample.
  
• STB020 Praise Lord Jesus / Zan-mei Ye-su (Chun-Fa Tung) A joyful song with many hallelujahs (so you may not want to sing it during Lent - this is just here in case you are looking at this passage at another time of year). It has different parts for men and women. The tune is a Taiwanese melody so will need to be taught, and would be great with simple percussion (from children?). It is quite repetitive, so would not be hard to learn. Lyrics in English and Mandarin - you will probably need a Mandarin speaker to help with the pronunciation.
• G(II)639 / GC876 / GC(II)844 / G(3)953 / Lau435 He Healed the Darkness of My Mind (Fred Pratt Green) Quite powerful words and a simple minor tune. This would be best, I think, sung by a soloist until your congregation knows it, but there would be power in each person thinking about these words as they sing. It doesn't have to sound like a solo from a musical, but if you want to act out the scene, I guess that could work. Sheet music and lyrics. Musical theatre style sound sample
•  CH348 / StS001 / LBW196 / ELW843 / A&M762 / G(3)625 / CP397 / W&R93 / SP304 / URW090 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness (Rusty Edwards) Good words of Christ's ministry to all. Can be sung to the familiar tune NETTLETON, or the less familiar and very lovely tune JOEL. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes.
• TiS 633 / AHB 563 Lord we are blind; the world of sight (David Edge) Beautiful formal words. The tune is not immediately singable, but is very beautiful. If you have musicians who could sing this for the congregation, that would be excellent.
• TiS 638 / NCH175 / CH717 / A&M518 / GtG793 / PH380 / UMH265 / LBW380 / ELW675 / PH380 / CP291 / CP(E) 346 / W&R638 / Cha503 / Lau430 / StF653 O Christ the healer we have come(Fred Pratt Green) Beautiful words and simple to sing. Good for intercessions. I like the tune INVERCARRY best, but it can also be sung to TALLIS' CANON if your congregation needs a more familiar tune. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes.
• TiS 579 / ATN 23 / GtB The blind man sat by the road and he cried / The Blind Man (Unknown) "O-o-o-o-o Show me the wa-a-a-ay! Show me the wa-a-a-ay! Show me the wa-a-a-ay, the way to go home". Lyrics (take note of the "crippled man" verse - might not be quite right for your congregation). I really like this video (note the 2nd verse of the woman at the well). Good for kids.
• Online resource The Blind Man (Bruce Harding) An excellent, relaxed, gospel-blues rendition of this passage. Free sheet music.
• 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) You all know this one, right? Lyrics and sheet music samples. Good for kids. Oldy-but-a-goody.

Got some ideas to share? Add them in a comment below...