Songs, Hymns & Music for Lent 2B (25 February 2024)

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 
God’s covenant with Abraham and Sarah

• Online Resource / AoV1-137 / ATOK 403 / GA306 / G(II)286 God Of Abraham lead us (Bernadette Farrell) This one is great. Just don't try to sing all 17 verses! Choose what you like… I love this energetic call and response with the response "Lead us to your kingdom". You can sing with a cantor and response, or you could split your congregation in the middle doing half and half, or you could just have people singing all the way through. Lyrics (and a slow sound sample). Sound sample (listen to the whole thing and see how they build it up). Sheet music samples and purchasing options. Good for kids.
• NCH020 God of Abraham and Sarah, God of Moses, Miriam's Guide (James Gertmenian) Salvation history in one song with a focus on justice, healing, courage. I suggested this for Transfiguration as well, so it might be good to sing it again. Fits well with all themes for this week. Could also be sung to NETTLETON if you want something familiar. Sound sample.
  
• VU634 / GtG051 / CP468 To Abraham and Sarah (Judith Fetter) A good interfaith hymn, and excellent words of being a pilgrim people. Sung to the familiar tune THORNBURY. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• NCH024 / GtG049 The God of Abraham praise (ben Judah) This hymn, based on the Jewish Yigdal prayer is quite masculine in most hymnals, which vary widely in which verses they include. The words are inclusive, yet still old-fashioned and poetic in NCH and GtG, so look for these versions instead. New words to old tunes.Mostly older style lyrics
• VU255 / CP348 The living God be praised (ben Judah) Another newer translation of the Yigdal "The God of Abraham praise". Excellent words, and of course, a familiar tune (LEONI). Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• Online Resource / GWA025 The God of Sarah praise (David Bjorlin) A broadening of the traditional song "The God of Ab'ram Praise" to include Sarah and Hagar; you make like to add some of these verses to the traditional words. I find verse 2 to be a bit colonial. Set to the traditional melody LEONI. Sound sample, sheet music and lyrics sample and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.    
  
• Online Resource Awake with timbrel and with dance (Mary Louise Bringle) A joyful celebration of many women of the Scriptures (including Sarah), sung to AZMON. Sheet music sample, lyrics, and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.
• MV 148 Hope of Abraham and Sarah (Ruth Duck & Judith Snowdon) This song is simple to sing and speaks of unity for the Abrahamic faiths (Islam, Judaism and Christianity). Lyrics.
• Online Resource I will set my bow in the clouds (Daniel Damon) A good song with lyrics that will fit multiple weeks of Lent. I will suggest this again during Lent this year. Sung to a simple and catchy tune. Lyrics and sheet music.
• NCH501 We are dancing Sarah's circle (Carole Etzler) Set to the familiar tune of "We are climbing Jacob's ladder", with positive imagery of increasing the size of the circle of inclusion. Lyrics. Sound sample. Good for kids.

Psalm 22:23-31
God’s constant care. Everyone will worship God.

Most settings of Psalm 22 focus on the first part of the Psalm (My God, my God, why have you abandoned me). Here are some that pick up the latter part of the Psalm.

• NCH007 / VU822 All people that on earth do dwell (Adapt: Thomas Troeger) Almost every hymnal has quite masculine words for this classic hymn. I thoroughly recommend you look at this new adaptation. It is joyous and very lovely. "All people that on earth do dwell, sing out your faith with cheerful voice; Delight in God whose praise you tell, whose presence calls you to rejoice". Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• Online Resource / Tune In 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.
• PfAS022C What wondrous love is this (Stith Mead) Refrain only, to be sung with a 2 reader version of the Psalm. Here's the whole song, but this only uses the first 2 lines. 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.
• Online Resource / AoV1-073 / G(II)467 / GC657 I Will Not Die before I've lived to see that land (Tom Conry) I really quite like this one. The verses may be best sung by a small group, but a congregation who likes singing will do fine with it. Some funny he / shes about God in there (in AoV), which kind of work. Chorus is “For your right hand has delivered us from death. You have regarded our tears, you who are goodness and grace”. Lyrics. Sound and sheet music samples and purchasing options.
  
• Online Resource / Tune In Shepherd of the night (Elaine Loukes) "Have you ever felt the velvet night wrap you in her warmth". A lovely song with a theme of God’s protection. This is tricky for a congregation, so you might want to ask the musicians to play this. Free downloadable songbook, sound samples and lyrics.
• TiS 727 / SiS361 / ATE 208 / CH121 / AA70 / PfAS022F In the presence of your people (Brent Chambers) A good Yiddish tune - lots of fun for kids and adults. Good to get fast and dance around on this one. Good for kids. Or you could try:VU745 In the presence of your people Refrain only for singing with a reading of this Psalm. Lyrics (with two extra verses!). 
• Online Resource O Love, you never turned away (Richard Bruxvoort Colligan) A simple two-part song which is a joyful take on the happy part of this Psalm. Easy to sing. Teaching video and links to resources. Good for kids.
• Online resource All the Ends of the Earth Shall Turn to you, O God (Bruce Harding) A very simple one-liner from Bruce Harding, suitable for using with a reading of the Psalm, or intercessions. Free sheet music.
• VU618 / CP558 God when I stand (Herbert O'Driscoll) Good words; the tune will probably need to be taught, or at least played through before the congregation sings it. The 4th verse focuses on Thomas, but don't omit it, or you won't have the happy ending. Lyrics.

Romans 4:13-25
The promise to Abraham came through his faith. Belief even in the face of impossibility.
See also the songs listed for the Genesis Reading, above.

• Online Resource / AoVK-28 / ATOK 376 Faith hope and love (Trish Watts) This is so easy, and so cool. If you have some groovy musicians, this can even be a very funky rock song. Very easy, and great for kids and non-readers. Sound sample and purchasing options. Good for kids.
• 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). 
• TiS 691 Faith will not grow from words alone (Elizabeth Smith) This is an excellent hymn about doubting and struggling in faith. The tune is familiar and I find the words very helpful for thinking and doubting Christians. Lyrics
• Online Resource / AoV1-137 / ATOK 403 / GA306 / G(II)286 God of Abraham lead us (Bernadette Farrell) I love this energetic call and response with the response "Lead us to your kingdom". Don't try to sing all 17 verses! Choose what you like... You can sing with a cantor and response, or you could split your congregation in the middle doing half and half, or you could just have people singing all the way through. Lyrics. Sound and sheet music samples, and purchasing options. Sound sample (listen to the whole thing and see how they build it up). Good for kids.
• Online Resource / GC(II)651 / G(3)755 You must never give up / Sizo Bambelela (South African) An excellent song from an amazing church in Capetown, South Africa. The phrase Bambelela means "Hold on". It would be fun to get a few singers together to sing the parts to this. If you purchase the music on this link, all royalties go to support the JL Zwane Church and their programs. Sheet music sample, sound sample, and purchasing options. Sound sample. Story. Good for kids.
• NCH501 We are dancing Sarah's circle (Carole Etzler) Set to the familiar tune of "We are climbing Jacob's ladder", with positive imagery of increasing the size of the circle of inclusion. Good for kids. New words to old tunes. One version of the lyrics.
• NCH020 God of Abraham and Sarah, God of Moses, Miriam's Guide (James Gertmenian) Salvation history in one song with a focus on justice, healing, courage. I suggested this for Transfiguration as well, so it might be good to sing it again. Fits well with all themes for this week. Could also be sung to NETTLETON if you want something familiar. Lyric video (kind of quick for a congregation (not to NETTLETON!). New words to old tunes.
• MV148 Hope of Abraham and Sarah (Ruth Duck) This song is simple to sing and speaks of unity for the Abrahamic faiths (Islam, Judaism and Christianity). Lyrics.
• 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. 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.
• VU634 / GtG051 / CP468 To Abraham and Sarah (Judith Fetter) A good interfaith hymn, and excellent words of being a pilgrim people. Sung to the familiar tune THORNBURY. Lyrics (about half way through the article) New words to old tunes.
• TiS 125 / AHB 53 / NCH24 / HPP24 / GC544 / CH162 / UMH116 / LBW544 / ELW831 / A&M791 / HPP24 / GtG049 / PH488 / CP347 / W&R016 / Cha024 / 82Hml-401 / Lau712 / StF091 / MP645 The God of Abr’am praise / The God of Abraham Praise (Daniel ben Judah / paraphrased Thomas Olivers) A very well known hymn based on the Yigdal. NOTE: The lyrics are quite masculine in most hymnals, which vary widely in which verses they include. The words are inclusive, yet still old-fashioned and poetic in the NCH; or even better, sing the new version listed below. Oldy-but-a-goody. Lyrics and sheet music.
• VU255 / CP348 The living God be praised (Daniel ben Judah) A new translation of "The God of Abraham praise". Excellent words, and of course, a familiar tune (LEONI). New words to old tunes. Lyrics and sheet music.
• Online resource Broken children everywhere (Jeanne Beale) These powerful lyrics encourage us to think of the impossibility that God loves us even as we are. Sung to tune of "Jesus loves me this I know". This could be a very powerful song, particularly if you have people in your congregation who struggle with feelings of unworthiness since childhood. Lyrics are below, in the comments.  New words to old tunes.

Mark 8:31-38
Jesus predicts his death, Peter rebukes him, those who lose their lives…

You may like to sing an Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)

• Online Resource God beyond our ways of knowing (Adam Tice / Randall Sensmeier) This hymn starts and ends with a verse seeking God's guidance, and the middle verse picks up the Gospel reading for each week of Lent in year B (that's this year). You may like to use it each week. Sung to a simple and catchy tune. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options.  
  
• TiS 607 / AoV2-126 / ATN 95 / CH528 / VU684 / StJ / A&M725 / SFFS 2171 / HPP406 / GtG753 / G(II)524 / GC726 / GC(II)721 / G(3)828 / CP(E)519/ W&R587 / Srce 462 / Lau898 / StF707 / MP456 Make me a channel of your peace (Sebastian Temple) Lovely. Nice if you can just start acapella... Some newer versions replace the phrase "O Master" with "O Spirit", which I quite like. Youtube video of Sinead O'Connor singing it and lyrics. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• TiS 473 / NCH314 / W&R615 / Cha655 / StF681 / Lau895 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. Note that this has the same tune as "The God of Abraham Praise".
• CP075 / W&R691 With the body that was broken (Carl P Daw) A more traditional hymn. I'm struggling to find hymns that fit this passage well and that I like, but this one is pretty good. The tune is not familiar to me, and is OK, but I think I would prefer it sung to ST THOMAS. Lyrics and tune sample. New words to old tunes.
• 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
• Online Resource / CH401 / VU121 / R139 / ELW334 / GA307 / HPP174 / G(II)288 / GC397 / GC(II)401 / G(3)475 /  CP179 / ChaP134 Tree of life and awesome mystery (Marty Haugen) Great words about the suffering of Christ, that is really very positive. "Tree of life and awesome mystery, in your death we are reborn; though you die in all of history, still you rise with every morn". Lyrics and Youtube. Purchasing options.
  
• 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 (Iona) A classic. Don't sing it too slowly or it really drags and takes forever! Lyrics.
  
• Online Resource / Tune In In the shape of a cross (Dave Brown) A cry to God for help and a call for God to enter our world. Free downloadable songbook

Alternate Gospel reading: Mark 9:2-9
Transfiguration story

• ATFG555 / NCYC03 Open your eyes / See Yourself (Robin Mann) “see yourself in the one who’s shining on the hill”. Puts the transfiguration in the context of a whole lot of other New Testament stories. Excellent newer song; verses are a little tricky. Lyrics. Good for kids.
• STB298 You are full of Light Lord Jesus / Velivu niranjor lisho (Syriac Liturgy / South India) A simple song from South India. It's very beautiful - the tune will need to be taught. Probably simplest to sing it in English. Sheet music sample.
  
• SFFS 2153 / GC(II)770 / G(3)878 / Cha182 Transform Us as you, transfigured (Sylvia Dunstan) Good words to the familiar and quite meditative hymn tune PICARDY (TiS 497). New words to old tunes Lyrics and sheet music preview 
• TiS474 / AoV1-012 / ATE 295 / CH623 / SFFS 2236 / HPP553 / A&M363 / GtG401 / G(II)539 / GC839 / GC(II)743 / G(3)848  / CP465 / W&R649 / Cha284 / SP175 / URW054 / Lau475 Here in this place new light is streaming / Gather us in (Marty Haugen). Excellent words, very well known. “Nourish us well and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true”. Lyrics and sheet music samples. 
• 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.
• NCH182 / VU104 / SFFS 2103 / HPP147 / GtG191 / CP166 / W&R245 We have come at Christ's own bidding (Carl P Daw Jr) Excellent lyrics that bring the images of the transfiguration to the faith of today. Sung to the familiar and very lovely tune HYFRYDOL (TiS 517). Lyrics. Tune sample.New words to old tunes.
• Online Resource / AoV2-103 / AoVK-115 / G(II)514 / GC712 / GC(II)715 Holy Ground (Donna Peña) I love the energy and passion in this song and the vision of the heavens embracing the earth. I especially like the “Do you believe in freedom? Yes we do Lord! Do you believe in justice? Justice for all!” call in the middle. Bilingual English/Spanish song. Good for kids. Sound sample, sheet music sample, and purchasing options (choral version). 
• Online Resource / ATFG 541 What is this scene? (David Froemming / Leigh Newton) A good story telling song. Not too difficult for the congregation to sing on a first attempt, but it will need a brief “teaching time” for the melody. You could also ask the musicians to present as part of the offering. The words are great. Free sheet music.
  
• Online Resource / TiS 255 / CH135 / VU434 / CP018 O laughing Light O first-born of creation (Sylvia Dunstan) A slightly more modern version of the Phos Hilaron. Words are good but the tune in TiS (ADRIAN) is a little tricky. You can also use CHRISTE SANCTORUM. I also very much like the new tune written by David Sims (no relation) in the link that follows. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options.
  
• Online Resource / URW432 Radiant light divine (Rufino Zaragoza) This is pretty lovely. A nice chant based on the Phos Hilaron. Sound and sheet music samples and purchasing options.
  
• Online Resource Seeing Jesus (Bruce Harding) A simple chant, needs at least 2 of the parts. Free sheet music.
  
• NCH183 / GtG193 Jesus take us to the mountain (Jaroslav Vajda) A very positive transfiguration hymn that asks good questions and provides some good challenges and clearly looks onward to Good Friday. Lyrics.
• Online Resource / TiS 268 / AHB 224 / AoV1-170 / NCH132 / CH320 / UMH246 / VU59 / LBW039 / ELW267 / GA295 / HPP107 / PH040 / GtG134 / GC343 / GC(II)353 / G(3)437 / CP154 / CP(E) 57 / W&R179 / Cha143 / Srce399 / 82Hml-100 / Lau156 / StF330 / MP393 Joy to the world The Lord is come (Isaac Watts) So, this was not actually written as a Christmas carol (read the lyrics: no baby Jesus), and I think it would work well for Christ the King Sunday and Transfiguration, so maybe it's worth a go! Lyrics and sheet music.  Oldy-but-a-goody.
• Online Resource / TiS 234 / AHB 390 / A&M281 / GC778 / GC(II)771 / G(3)877 / CP167 / CP(E)248 / VU103 / LBW89 / ELW315 / Lau209 How good Lord to be here / Tis Good Lord to Be Here (Joseph Robinson) Good solid words and a good solid tune (I like CARSLISLE best). I like the ending “But since you bid us leave the mount, come with us to the plain”. Sound and sheet music sample (to the tune SWABIA, which is also nice), and purchasing options. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• NCYC07 You shine (Kent Crawford) A good song, with an excellent chorus "You shine over us, you shine through us, so let your light shine on around the world". Definitely for the more youthful congregation. It would also work to play the CD from NCYC07 if you don't have a band of musicians. Good for teenagers..
• ATW 447 Thank you Jesus for ordinary miracles (Robin Mann) Fun and joyful. "Up in a cloud in the air"! Lyrics. Good for kids.
• Recorded Song Little Lights (Punch Brothers) This track from a recent Punch Brothers album sings of the desire of remaining in a transcendent place, but needing to return to reality - it made me think of the transfiguration, even though it's not written about it... I particularly like the line "guide us back to where we are from where we wanna be"... Lyrics. Sound.
• Recorded Song Transfiguration (Sufjan Stevens) I love this song. Lyrics. Here’s a video of him performing it live here on youtube, which is a bit more eclectic than the studio recording. Note: if playing recorded songs in worship, it's a really good idea to provide lyrics to the congregation either in a handout or using projection. Or you can get your musicians to play it for the congregation too.
• Lau215 / Online Resource Transfigure us O Lord (Bob Hurd) Really excellent words. Maybe better for a soloist. Thanks to the anonymous reader who suggested this. Sound sample & purchase options. Lyrics. 
  
• Online Resource Transfigure me (Christopher Grundy) I particularly like the chorus of this, that could be used as a sung response. The verses are also good. Youtube recording (rough, but gives you an idea). Sheet music. Free Bulletin Insert. 
• Online Resource Transfiguration (At Average) This song picks up on the disciples' desire for Christ to stay. Lyrics and sound sample. Instructional video for guitarists. Thanks to Tim Larson for this suggestion. 

What will you be singing? Please share your ideas in a comment below...