Songs and Hymns for Proper 19A / Ordinary 24A / Pentecost +16 (September 17, 2023)

Looking for Season of Creation Resources? There are some suggestions on this page if you are following the 2023 theme of "Let Justice and Peace Flow" I have highlighted songs that are particularly appropriate within the lectionary with a globe of the earth 🌏. You may also like to see the suggestions for the Amos 5:24 reading (on this page - scroll partway down). If you are using the earlier version of Season of Creation, or are looking for additional Creation-themed songs, click here for Outback/Wilderness Sunday (Season of Creation 3A). 

 

Exodus 14:19-31
The crossing of the red sea

• Online Resource / Recorded music When Moses struck the water / Bura Fera (African American and Aboriginal Australian traditional) This Yorta Yorta song was learned from the Fisk Jubilee Singers, and would not be too difficult to sing. Many thanks to Claire Foley for this suggestion. Story, lyrics, and link to video. Sheet music.  
• 🌏 NCH326 / VU449 / R158 / ELW455 / SFFS 2247 / CP042 / URW105 / StF376 Crashing waters at creation (Sylvia Dunstan) Excellent words to the familiar hymn tune STUTTGART that cover all those great water images of creation, the red sea, and baptism. The song is not baptism-specific though. It would be great to sing on any Sunday “Living water, never ending, quench the thirst and flood the soul. Wellspring, Source of life eternal, drench our dryness, make us whole”.  Can also be sung to the tune RESTORATION, which is a great Sacred Harp melody. Lyrics, sheet music and sound samples. There is also a version of this in "Music by Heart" (number 56) where a cantor sings the verses, while the congregation sings a simple refrain "To the bath and the table, to the prayers and the word, come, every seeking soul". New words to old tunes.
• Music by Heart 56 To the bath and the table (Mark Howe) Where a cantor sings the verses, while the congregation sings a simple refrain "To the bath and the table, to the prayers and the word, come, every seeking soul". Sound sample and teaching video. 
• Online Resource Pharoah Pharoah oh baby let my people go (Unknown) Good kids song to the tune of Louie Louie... and it has actions! Video. Lyrics. Good for kids.
• ATA 142 / UMH134 / Traditional If I could I surely would / O Mary don’t you weep (Traditional) Lots of fun, and good for kids, but I’m not quite sure where Mary weeping fits into Pharoah’s army getting (clap) drowned dead… Here's Bruce Springsteen's version, which I love. Some of us at BUC played with this version in our 2 songs series. And then, there's Take 6, who do a very different, but totally awesome version. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• 🌏 ELW736 / SFFS 2060 / GtG005 God the sculptor of the mountains (John Thornburg) A song full of excellent imagery, including "God the cleaver of the sea". Tune will need to be taught, but won’t take long to learn. Good for congregations in times of transition. Lyrics, sound sample, and sheet music.
• NCH572 / UMH448 / WoV670 / HPP453 / GtG052 / PH334 / G(II)515 / GC715 / W&R618 / Cha663 / 82Hml-648 When Israel was in Egypt's land (African-American) Traditional song, quite familiar, and great to sing. Here's Louis Armstrong (and a few others) singing it. Good for kids Oldy-but-a-goody.
• Online Resource Awake with timbrel and with dance (Mary Louise Bringle) A joyful celebration of many women of the Scriptures (including Miriam), sung to AZMON. Sheet music sample, lyrics, and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.
• 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." Sheet music and lyrics. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• Online Resource / Resounding Voices There are more waters rising (Saro Lynch-Thomason) A simple, catchy protest song about waters rising, fires burning, and mountains falling, and our ability to struggle through it. Teaching video. Free book download here.   
• GtG040 God's word is upright / La palabra del Senor (Juan Luis Garcia) This song with a Spanish chorus (or English) is quite fun once you get to know the tune. Would be best with guitar if you have one. Sound sample. 
• Online Resource / Resounding Voices Love leads us through the wind and waves (Jeannette Windholm / Robert Buckley Farlee) Beautiful words of the healing that comes after passing through difficult times, and how we can celebrate with Miriam's dance, even through grief. Lyric video (sound quality is a bit muddy but you'll get the idea). Free book download here.
• Iona (LFB) / G(II)503 / GC701 / RS818 / StF464 God It Was who said to Abraham (John Bell) Easy tune. Good story words, which includes God's call to Joseph, along with a canon of others who were called by God. "God it was who said to Moses “Save my people, part the sea!” God it was who said to Miriam “Sing and dance to show you’re free!". Note that God is masculine; I think this has been changed in more recent editions of Love From Below. Lyrics and sheet music. Slow sound sample.  New words to old tunes.
• NCH002 / ZSS117 Glory, glory, hallelujah, since I laid my burdens down (African-American) Easy upbeat gospel song. Includes the verse “We are dancing Miriam’s dance now”. We had a lot of fun last time we sang this at Brunswick. Blues sound sample. 
• VU131 If our God had simply saved us (traditional Hebrew Passover song) This is a simple song, with a catchy Israeli melody and a one word refrain of "Dadayeinu", which kids could have a lot of fun with. Dadayeinu means "it would have been enough". It's quite long, so you may choose to sing only a couple of verses, and sing more in the weeks to come as the story continues to unfold. 
• TiS 47 / AHB 46 / AoV1-175 / NCH25 / CH161 / UMH117 / VU806 / LBW320 / ELW806 / GA459 / A&M746 / HPP1 / GtG687 / PH210 / GC614 / GC(II)588 / G(3)688 / CP528 / CP(E) 537 / W&R84 / Cha067 /  Srce2-441 / URW200 / 82Hml-680 / PfAS090B / Lau955 / StF132 / MP498 O God our help in ages past (Isaac Watts) A good solid very well known hymn! The surprising thing about this one is that the language is inclusive for God in most sources. Not all sources are inclusive for humanity, so check. Lyrics and sheet music. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• WCC website Hear the message we now are proclaiming / El mensaje que hoy proclamamos (Eleazar Torregosa) 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!
• Seeds of Faith God parted the Red Sea / Miriam’s Song (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A fun kid's song, where they can repeat the lines after a singer. Good for the children's address, if you can sing, or for Sunday School. Sound sample and lyrics.
• Iona (M&G, T1AU) / MV099 / GC(II)673 / G(3)763 / Lau996 Stand O Stand Firm (Cameroon) I love having an excuse to sing this simple and powerful song. Very easy for your congregation. You can make up cantor parts too “Oh my sisters…. Oh my brothers… Oh my children….” or you can name countries you are praying for in your intercessions. Good for kids. Scottish sound sample. Lead sheet.
• Singing the Living Tradition (Unitarian Universalist Hymnal) 220 / Online Resource Bring out the festal bread (Mark Belletini) Somehow I've ended up with a photocopy of this song to a traditional Hebrew melody found in many hymnals (PROMISED ONE - The King of Glory comes). If you happen to be celebrating communion this Sunday, this song would fit well; imagine dancing down the aisle to bring the bread forward (don't spill the wine though...); you may want to sing less verses. Lyrics and sound sample. 

Psalm 114
God’s power over earthly things in the context of the parting of the red sea
See above and below - I think there's enough ideas, but here's a couple more!

• PfAS114C(ii) Come You Faithful Raise the Strain (John of Damascus) PfAS uses the first line of this hymn as a call for a responsive refrain for this Psalm: "God has brought forth Israel into joy from sadness".
• ACS903 / AoV1-061 / ATOK 355 / GtG359 / SFFS 2194 / G(II)521 / GC723 / GC(II)707 / G(3)814 / ZSS110 / SgTJ1035 / StF697 Freedom is coming (South African) Excellent and lots of fun, especially if you have a keen African-style drummer in your congregation. It's really worth teaching the parts to your congregation before the service. It can get a bit confusing for the congregation otherwise. A range of sound samples (Youtube). History of the song. Sheet music samples. Good for kids.
• PfAS114C(i) Freedom is coming (South African) The same song as above, just used as a Psalm refrain - can even be used with a tone chanted Psalm. I would love to hear that!

Alternative to the Psalm: Exodus 15:1b-11, 20-21
The song of Moses and the song of Miriam (See suggestions above for Exodus 14 also)

• Online Resource / Recorded music When Moses struck the water / Bura Fera (African American and Aboriginal Australian traditional) This Yorta Yorta song was learned from the Fisk Jubilee Singers, and would not be too difficult to sing. Many thanks to Claire Foley for this suggestion. Story, lyrics, and link to video. Sheet music.
• AoVK-36 / VU649 / SFFS 2242 / URW118 Walk with me I will walk with you (John Rice) Nice simple words about being sent to do God's work. Good for kids I think. Also mentions Moses' call.
• Taize / TiS 709 Chuyo chuyo (Jacques Berthier) A Korean hymn, appropriate for an intercession response. Not hard for non-Koreans! It means "Lord hear us".
• Online Resource Awake with timbrel and with dance (Mary Louise Bringle) A joyful celebration of many women of the Scriptures (including Miriam), sung to AZMON. Sheet music sample, lyrics, and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.
• WoV692 / ELW419 / GtG324 / RS885 For all the faithful women (Herman Steumpfle) Great words of the faithfulness of women, including Hannah, Mary, Mary Magdalene, Deborah and Miriam. Sung to a very familiar tune (AURELIA). You could choose just the verses you want so it's not too long, (but all the verses are good). Some words are a bit odd (like the bit about saving "our race" could unfortunately be easily misconstrued). Lyrics. Would also be good for Mother's Day / Mothering Sunday.New words to old tunes.  
• VU876 For you my God my strength my song (Traditional Israeli) Simple sung refrain based on the folk tune Tzena Tzena, to be sung with a responsive reading of Exodus 15:1-13.
• ATOK 318 / Iona (SBL) / CH762 / MV036 / WoV788 / SFFS 2033 / GtG585 / SP&P078 / URW403 / StF753 Glory to God / Gloria di dios (Peru) Good fun. Great for kids - call and response. SFFS has a good Trinitarian formula for it. Good for kids.
• TiS 180 / UMH105 / W&R58 / Cha013 God of many names (Brian Wren) If this is new it will need to be taught to your congregation as the tune is not intuitive, but it is worth knowing. The chorus is particularly appealing to kids. Lyrics
• 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 and tune sample.
• TiS 367 / AHB 287 / NCH242 / CH412 / UMH306 / VU159 / LBW135 / ELW366 / A&M217 / GtG236 / PH119 / GC446 / GC(II)459 / G(3)525 / CP212 / CP(E)159 / W&R290 / Cha221 / 82Hml-208 / Lau275 / MP670 The strife is o'er the battle done (Latin 17th century, translated Franics Pott) There are two possible tunes for this hymn. I prefer the tune by James Minchin (THE STRIFE IS O’ER), which is found in the Australian Hymn Book, rather than the more traditional minstrelly VULPIUS (Oldy-but-a-goody). The newer tune is pretty groovy, and has lots and lots of Alleluias. The words also vary a lot between hymnals. My pick: TiS words and AHB tune 287 (ii), but maybe it's getting a bit dated? Yeah, this was my other church rock favourite of 1979. Lyrics.
  
• Recorded Music Moses Don't Get Lost There are lots of versions of this, including one by The Duhks, which I quite like. Not sure how it could be used, but wanted to get it out there.

Alternative Hebrew Scripture: Genesis 50:15-21  

Joseph forgives his brothers

• TiS 653 / NCH417 / CH526 / UMH383 / GC(II)453 / G(3)522 / W&R355 / Cha518 This is a day of new beginnings (Brian Wren) "This is a day of new beginnings, time to remember and move on, time to believe what love is bringing, laying to rest the pain that's gone." Excellent words of reconciliation. A good New Year's Day hymn. There are two possible tunes. I prefer the more simple hymn-like tune by Carlton Young which is in most resources (including TiS). There is an optional final verse that can be used for Communion. Lyrics.
• SFFS 2169 / GtG445 / StF613 God How Can We Forgive (Ruth Duck) Good words of healing in the midst of broken relationships to the familiar tune LEONI. Lyrics (scroll down). New words to old tunes.
• NCH429 God bless our homes (Frank von Christierson) A song to the easy tune CHARTERHOUSE seeking harmoniuos relationships and forgiveness within our households. 3rd verse "Forgive the hurts our selfishness inflicted on those we love and those who love us best. Christ, heal the scars, and draw us all together in God whose will is peace and joy and rest." Older style lyrics.
• AoVNG55 / Taizé / G(3)959 / SP323 / Lau221 God is forgiveness / Bóg jest miłością (Taize community) "God is forgiveness, love and do not fear". A simple Taize chant which seems to suit this reading quite well. Sheet music, lyrics in many languages, sound samples. 
• MV074 When painful mem'ries haunt each day / When painful memories haunt each day (Ruth Duck) I suggest singing it to the more familiar Celtic tune KINGSFOLD (TiS 262). "When painful mem'ries haunt each day and dreams disturb the night, when life is washed with shades of grey and phantoms fill our sight, Christ stay beside us and embrace the child who dwells within; come, Healer, touch or lives with grace; restore our lives again."New words to old tunes.  
• TiS 683 / WoV735 / ELW603 / W&R416 / StF649 God when human bonds are broken (Fred Kaan) These words pick up an unusual theme, and fit really well with this reading. There are a couple of possible tunes, none of which are immediately familiar, but they are not difficult either. Lyrics. 
• AA035 Even if you’re small (Cecily Sheehy) A kid's song about getting things wrong, saying sorry, being forgiven and starting again. Good for kids.
• VU619 / WoV738 / ELW612 / SFFS 2213 / GtG795 / G(II)642 / GC882 / GC(II)854 / G(3)960 / RS 958 / CP612 / W&R630 / Cha506 / URW161 / Lau427 Healer of Our Every Ill (Marty Haugen) Good straightforward words of healing and simple tune. "Give us strength to love each other, every sister, every brother". Can get overly mushy.Lyrics and sheet music sample. Sound sample.
• CH198 / MV001 / HPP550 / A&M365 / GtG301 / GC753 / GC(II)741 / G(3)850 / SP176 / URW058/ Lau458 / StF409 Let Us Build a House / All are welcome (Marty Haugen) This song has wonderful lyrics of hope for what a Christian community can be like, and a chorus that joyfully says “All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place”. Sheet music sample. Sound sample.

Psalm for the Genesis Reading: Psalm 103:(1-7), 8-13

• TiS 706 / Taizé / AoV2-142 / A&M600 / SFFS 2013 / GtG544 / PH224 / GC(II)576 / G(3)620 / CP360 / PfAS103C / SP194 / Src79 / URW377 / Lau813  Bless the Lord my soul (Jacques Berthier) A beautiful and very well known Taizé chant. Sound samples, sheet music. Good for kids.
• NCH174 Hear the voice of God so tender (Lavon Bayler) Good words of a tender God, with the repeated phrase "Bless God's holy name together, as the Spirit brings new life". Sung to a hymn tune that is new, but not difficult. Lyrics.
• MV45 You are holy you show us the way / Hamba nathi (Zulu) This is the song we sang during the (usually silent) procession at the start of our worship service for Advent in 2009. There are a lot of other translations and variations of this song. I also like the reinterpretation of "Come walk with us, the journey is long". Lyrics (multiple versions and link to sheet music). Great Youtube. Good for kids.
• Emergent Psalter Like the grass that grows and fades (Isaac Everett) A simple thoughtful refrain for the Psalm. Sheet music (refrain only).
• GtG619 / URW075 Praise my soul the God of Heaven (Lyte / adapted by Ecumenical Women's Center 1974) This is an inclusive rewrite of Praise My Soul the King of Heaven. It doesn't really connect with me personally, but you may still find it useful and appropriate for your congregation. Lyrics.New words to old tunes.   
• 🌏 TiS 136 / NCH023 / CH187 / UMH121 / VU271 / LBW290 / ELW587 / HiOS135 / A&M806 / HPP45,46 / GtG435 / PH298 / GC626 / GC(II)603 / G(3)644 / CP606 / CP(E) 598 / W&R61 / Cha073 / SP316 / 82Hml-469/70 / StF416 / Lau810 / MP683 There's a Wideness in God's Mercy (Frederick Faber) This is a good older style hymn. Not all sources are inclusive, but some (like NCH, GtG, StF) are. Lyrics.
  
• NCH013 O my soul bless your Creator (Christian Witt) An updated version of "Oh my soul bless God the Father" - a simple paraphrase of the Psalm, to a well known hymn tune STUTTGART.  Older style lyrics. New words to old tunes. 
  

Romans 14:1-12 
Do not judge each other; we are each accountable to God

• TiS 686 / ATE 292 Lord Jesus we belong to you / Because we bear your name (Robin Mann) A straightforward and practical song asking God to help us to follow Christ well, with a refrain of "because we bear your name". Lyrics (loads a pdf).
• ATFG540 NCH499 CH726 UMH356 VU581 ELW639 HPP342 GtG822 / PH400 G(II)474 GC666 GC(II)650 G(3)756 W&R415 Cha536 URW174 / URW175 / URW176 / StF485 / Lau906 In all our living / When We Are Living / Pues Si Vivimos (Mexican traditional) A simple and lovely song, in English and Spanish (though not all hymnals include the Spanish lyrics). Translations vary widely, so check yours. URW has two translations (URW174 and URW175. Lyrics. Sound sample.
  
• 🌏 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). Can also be sung to HOLY MANNA or ODE TO JOY. Really good for the final hymn or response to the sermon. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• ATW 459 I don't believe in a God up in the sky / God Version 1.0 (Robin Mann) An excellent rock song about how God doesn't necessarily work in the way we think. Lyrics and mp3. Good for tweens & teenagers..
• TiS 674 / Iona (Common Ground, Heaven Shall Not Wait) / A&M562 / CH253 Inspired by love and anger (John Bell) Powerful lyrics, simple English folk tune. Lyric video. I love verse three “Don’t query our position! Don’t criticise our wealth! Don’t mention those exploited by politics and stealth!”. It’s easy for us to be judgemental on these things. Also fits with the Gospel reading.New words to old tunes. 
• 🌏 StB23 / NCH005 / VU243 Praise to God praise to God for the greenness (Nobuaki Hanaoka) Earth's beauty; sung to a simple Japanese tune. A good hymn for kids who can read. Sheet music (scroll to p5). Good for kids.
• UMH088 / VU321 / CP329 Maker in whom we live (Charles Wesley) Good inclusive rewritten lyrics to DIADEMATA (or other tunes). The first verse picks up a lot on Acts 17:28. Lyric video. Oldy-but-a-goody.

Matthew 18:21-35
Forgive as you are forgiven. Spread God’s grace.

• Tune In / Online Resource / NCYC '07 Forgive us now (Dave Brown) This is one of the best songs seeking forgiveness that I know. Lyrics, sound sample, and free downloadable songbook. "Forgive us now, O mother love for all the idols we have built, For all the time we’ve worshipped there in company of dark despair. Forgive us mother of all hope”.
• MV064 Because you came (Shirley Murray) Powerful words of confession and forgiveness, sung to a lovely tune that will need to be taught. It has 5 verses, so maybe invite the congregation to join in as they hear it. Lyrics.
  
• NCH429 God bless our homes (Frank von Christierson) A song to the easy tune CHARTERHOUSE seeking harmoniuos relationships and forgiveness within our households. 3rd verse "Forgive the hurts our selfishness inflicted on those we love and those who love us best. Christ, heal the scars, and draw us all together in God whose will is peace and joy and rest." Older style lyrics.
  
• AoVNG55 / Taizé / G(3)959 / SP323 / Lau221 God is forgiveness / Bóg jest miłością (Taize) "God is forgiveness, love and do not fear". A simple Taize chant which seems to suit this reading quite well. Sheet music, lyrics in many languages, sound samples. 
• SFFS 2169 / GtG445 / StF613 God How Can We Forgive (Ruth Duck) Good words of healing in the midst of broken relationships to the familiar tune LEONI. Lyrics (scroll down). New words to old tunes.  
• NCH544 / MV076 / G(3)957 If I have been the source of pain, O God (Pablo Sosa). A song seeking forgiveness “If I’ve insisted on a peaceful life, far from the struggles that the gospel brings, when you prefer to guide me to the strife, Forgive me God". Lyrics. 
• AA035 Even if you’re small (Cecily Sheehy) A kid's song about getting things wrong, saying sorry, being forgiven and starting again. Good for kids.
• CH361 Forgiveness is your gift (Ian Fraser) Lovely words of forgiveness, restoration and new life, sung to a traditional Scottish melody, which may need to be taught (Solas An T’saoghail). Sound sample.
  
• TiS 648 / NCH388 / UMH560 / HPP289 / GtG754 / PH358 / W&R596 / Cha487 Help us accept each other (Fred Kaan) Very nice simple words about acceptance and love for all people. The tune varies in each hymn book. I like the lilting tune RUNNYMEDE in TiS, but if a more standard hymn is needed for your congregation, it can also be sung to AURELIA (The church's one foundation). Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes. 

What ideas do you have? I'd love to hear them! Please add a comment below...