Songs, Hymns, Music for Proper 14B / Ordinary 19B / Pentecost +12 (August 11 2024)

2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33  
The death of Absalom and David's grief
You might find songs for Funerals helpful. 

• TiS 647 / AoV2-012 / ATN 25 Comfort, comfort all my people (Robin Mann) Easy to sing, beautiful lyrics. Chorus is “Comfort, comfort all my people, with the comfort of my word. Speak ye tender to my people, all your sins are taken away”. Note that most sources only list 2 verses, but there are two additional (more challenging) verses you may wish to consider using; they were written for the Christmas Bowl in 1988. Thanks to Simon for alerting me to them. Lyrics (including additional verses), mp3 sample.
• TiS 682 / ATW 490 / GA236 / A&M355 / AA151 / SP148 When human voices cannot sing (Shirley Murray) Lovely words of healing in the face of grief. I prefer this sung to ST COLUMBA, which is the tune in GA and TiS. Lyrics 
• The Sacred Harp 268 David's Lamentation (William Billings) One of our Sacred Harp group's favourite songs. You can listen to a field recording here (turn it up LOUD). This is not a serious suggestion for your congregation, but you could invite some singers to sing it. I think this song captures the depth of David's feelings. Lyrics.
• W&R632 / Cha512 When Aimless Violence Takes Those We Love (Joy Patterson) Excellent words reflecting on the many ways we grieve, sung to the well known tune SURSUM CORDA. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• Iona (Courage to say no / When grief is raw / Enemy of Apathy) / SP307 Sing my soul when hope is sleeping (John Bell / Graham Maule) "Sing, my soul, when hope is sleeping. Sing when faith gives way to fears; Sing to melt the ice of sadness Making way for joy through tears." This is not so easy to sing, so will need to be sung by a soloist or small group the first time. Tune sample.
  

Psalm 130  
Out of the depths I cry to you O Lord

We sung this only a month ago, when David grieved the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, so you could sing whichever version you used on June 30th. 

• Iona (Sent By the Lord) / MV066 Senzenina? / What have we done? (South African) This beautiful chant from South Africa asks the question that we often ask when things go wrong beyond belief. It's important to know what the song means when singing it. If you have some part-singers in your congregation, this would be particular good. It's good to let people ask this question. It is also on the soundtrack for "The Power of One" so you could also play the recorded music if appropriate. Free sheet music.
• Online Resource With the Lord there is mercy (Val Parker) A simple gospel refrain with cantored chant for the verses. You could use a reader for the verses if you don't have a cantor, the refrain makes sense without the verses. Sound and sheet music samples, and purchasing options.
  
• Recorded Music Out of the depths (Sinéad O'Connor) A sensitive and heart-felt version of this Psalm. From the album Theology. Youtube video. Lyrics. 
  
• 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.
• SFFS 2136 / NCH554 / GA227 / VU611 / G(II)636 / GC877 / Cha510 Out of the Depths O God we call to you (Ruth Duck) A simple and honest hymn, which sings this Psalm from the perspective of a community trying to work out its faith together. Excellent words and the tune is quite straightforward. Lyrics and video.
• Taizé / CH276 / VU22 / GtG090 / ELW262 / GA283 / A&M053 / G(II)256 / GC332 / GC(II)340 / G(3)406 / CP094 / W&R166 / PfAS037B / SP28 / URW396 / Lau088 Wait for the Lord (Jacques Berthier) Wait for the Lord whose day is near, wait for the lord, keep watch, take heart. A lovely simple Taize chant. Sheet music, translations and sound samples.
• PfAS130E In deep despair I cry to you (Joy Patterson)  Good words of hope, sung to the familiar and lovely tune MORNING SONG. Sheet music sample (downloads an order of service). New words to old tunes.
• Online Resource / AoVK-58 We wait in hope for the Lord / Wait in hope (Nathaniel Ford) Simple a cappella round "We wait in hope for the Lord, God is our help and our shield. And so our hearts rejoice, for we trust in God's holy name". Sound and sheet music sample and purchasing options. Good for kids.
• PfAS103B Out of the depths (Kathleen Harmon) A nice refrain. "Out of the depths I cry to you O Lord".
• G(3)143 With the Lord there is Mercy (Michael Guimont) A simple refrain to a cantor- or reader-lead reading. Sound sample.  
• Cha762 From the depths I cry to you God listen hear my voice (Goodrich) Simple sung response, and responsive reading. 
• Protest and Praise / Online Resource In our deepest grief / We wait for you (David Bjorlin / Randall Sensmeier) A beautiful song of waiting, even in sorrow and fear; not so easy to sing - I would use a soloist. Songbook for purchase. Sound sample (I prefer it to be a little more tentative than this).
• Online resource Out of the Depths (Bruce Harding) A simple four part arrangement which would be nice if you have a choir or quartet that could sing this. Sound sample and sheet music.
  
• Online Resource / NCH472 / UMH474 / VU670 / R297 / ELW875 / HPP434 / GtG834 / PH404 / G(II)637 / GC874 / GC(II)847 / G(3)955 / CP509 / W&R500 / Cha628 / LUYH465 Precious Lord take my hand (Thomas Dorsey) A classic gospel song. Free sheet music. Lyrics. Sound sample. Story.
• TiS 667 / G(II)415 / GC591 How shall I sing to God (Brian Wren) The words are excellent, but neither the tune in TiS or Gather hymnals is straightforward because of the difficult meter; this might be a good song for your musicians to present to start teaching the congregation so they can remember it in more difficult times. Lyrics and sheet music for the TiS version.
  
• PfAS130G For you my God I wait (Adam Tice) A good reflective song, needs to be played quite slowly and meditatively I think. Sound sample. 
• Online Resource Out of the depths (Thomas Keesecker) Although arranged for choir, this song is simple and repetitive enough to be used as a meditative song for congregational worship. Sound sample, PDF sample, and purchasing options.  

The next 3 are all variations of the same Gelineau (cantored) Psalm, but with different responses. They are all pretty good, so I'm listing them all! There is just one change needed to make the Psalm inclusive (just change "his word" to "God's word" and it will be fine).

• GA077 / GC128 Out of the depths / I place all my trust in you O God (Gelineau) The original response from Gelineau. Very simple. Words to the response are "I place all my trust in you O God, all my hope is in your saving word".
• G(II)113 / GC127 / GC(II)71 / G(3)87 Out of the Depths / With the Lord There Is Mercy (Gelineau / Haugen) This response is also quite simple, but a slightly different emphasis. "With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption". Not all versions are inclusive Sound sample and sheet music.
• TiS 81 Out of the depths / With the Lord there is Mercy (Gelineau / Carroll) Simple response is "With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption". We have used this once at Brunswick Uniting and it went quite well. Sound sample.

Alternative Hebrew Scripture:  1 Kings 19:4-8  

Elijah flees the threat of death; food provided by an angel;

• ATW 435 Wellsprings / Like the woman of old (Don Stewart) A favourite song in our congregation about going to the "Wellsprings of life" and finding Jesus there. Picks up themes of tiredness, broken hearts and weariness, but makes the point that it's worth the effort.
  
• MV118 Me alone (Jamaican traditional) A very simple repetitive call-and-response song. Could work well as a reflective song. Lyrics.
• Online Resource / Protest of Praise When our lives are ruled by fear (David Bjorlin) Strong words challenging us to move forward in faith; some of the words face quite specific challenges for congregations; sung to the familiar tune ABERYSTWYTH. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options.  New words to old tunes.
• ATW 474 You're like the sun that warms me / Bread of angels (Robin Mann) This is a nice ballad, a favourite of many in our congregation. It may not be easy for a congregation without some introduction because the structure is a little tricky. Lyrics.
• 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 and sound sample, and purchasing options.  Good for kids.
• Online Resource / Tune In Save us in the time of trial (Shawn Whelan) A song with a reflective almost-Taize-like chorus. We have sung this a couple of different ways, it's quite flexible. Free downloadable lyrics, sound sample and songbook
• Online Resource / Tune In You in all our worries / All will finish well (Dave Brown) “In this world where injustice reigns, you are in the midst of pain”. Excellent words of reassurance in a difficult world. Free downloadable lyrics, sound sample and songbook
• SP&P210 There's bread for the journey (Jim Strathdee) Simple song; good for kids.
• MV202 Bread for the Journey / Pain pour la route (Bruce Harding) A simple chant for the distribution of communion. Sound sample, sheet music and lyrics.
  
• AoV2-033 / VU647 Travel on travel on (Sydney Carter). I think this old folk song would work well to pick up the theme of persistence. Lyrics and chords here
• Online Resource / Songs for a Hopeful Church All the hungry all the thirsty (Elizabeth Smith ) Great words to open the service - a song of welcome, and of praise, and of sharing our gifts and challenges as a comunity, sung to ODE TO JOY. Thanks to Rosemary Booth for this suggestion. Lyrics. New words to old tunes. 
  

Psalm for the 1 Kings reading Psalm 34:1-8
I will bless the Lord at all times; this reading doesn't go on to the "taste and see" part of the Psalm (we'll have that next week!)

• AoVK-24 / Iona (T1AU) / CH756 Bless the Lord / My sisters (Kenyan) Simple and fun Kenyan call and response. "Bless the Lord there is no other God" Kids would really enjoy this, and with some African drumming, it would really be excellent. Good for kids. Lyrics, sheet music.
• 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.
• Iona / CH788 / MV104 / GtG659 Know that God is Good / Mungu ni mwema (Traditional Congo) This traditional African refrain is just lots of fun and very simple to sing. Good for kids and adults! Sheet music sample. Sound sample. Sound sample in Kenyan languages.
• G(II)44 / GC46 I Will Bless the Lord (Normand Gouin) A nice contemporary cantored Psalm with inclusive lyrics. Sound sample. Sheet music. 
• TiS 73 / Taizé / CH77 / GA418 / GtG635 / G(II)364 / GC526 / GC(II)528 / G(3)623 / CP313 / Srce614 /  URW384 / Lau698 / LUYH591 / StF778 Laudate Dominum / Sing Praise And Bless The Lord (Jacques Berthier) One of the more jolly Taizé chants. I prefer it in Latin, but for kids, this one is quite good fun in English. Good for kids. Sound sample and parts for learning.
• Taizé / TiS 739 / AoV2-041 / ATOK 404 / VU290 / GA269 / SFFS 2054 / GtG820 / G(II)451 / GC639 / GC(II)626 / G(3)733 / CP568 / W&R421 / URW388 / Lau947 / LUYH444/ VF088 Nothing Can Trouble / Nada te turbe (Theresa of Avila / Taizé) Excellent and quite well known Taizé chant. Spanish lyrics are not too hard for non-Spanish speakers. Sheet music, sound samples, lyrics and translations. Good for kids. 
  
  Here's the taste and see part of the Psalm:
• Online Resource Taste and See the Lord is Good (Rob Leveridge) Pretty good lyrics that lead to communion. Very catchy! Youtube celebrating community. Sound sample, purchasing options. 
• Online Resource / VU460 / R181 / ELW461 / SFFS 2126 / GtG509 / G(II)589 / GC820 / GC(II)817 / RS 845 / Cha419 / Lau477 / LUYH534 All who hunger gather gladly (Sylvia Dunstan) The words are great; I would sing it to the tune HOLY MANNA. There is a contemporary tune (by Bob Moore) is also very nice, but may need to be introduced to your congregation. “All who hunger gather gladly, holy manna is our bread. Come from wilderness and wand’ring, here, in truth, we will be fed. You that yearn for days of fullness, all around us is our food. Taste and see the grace eternal, Taste and see that God is good”. Sound sample, sheet music sample, lyrics and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.
• G(II)602 / GC835 / G(3)917 O Taste and See (Marty Haugen) Inclusive cantor line. Groovy and simple gospel style refrain. Sound sample
• AoV1-067 Taste And See (Bob Hurd) Great chilled out jazzy tune for this passage. Cantor plus refrain. Sound samples and sheet music previews.  
• GA203 Taste and see God's love for us (Deidre Browne / Kevin Lenehan) This could be really good and is simple enough to use during distribution of communion. It's unusual, and has particular verses for various times in the church year. It has an ostinato refrain (very very simple) and cantored choruses. The words are particularly lovely for the verses. "come to me, come to me and drink deeply, freely, taste and see my love". Inclusive too. Sound sample (instrumental only). 
• VU761 / SFFS 2267 / GC(II)827 Taste and See (James Moore) Simple chant. Some versions have verses. Sheet music and lyrics.  
• TiS 22 / AHB 597 Taste and see the goodness of the Lord (Christopher Willcock) A nice simple response for this Psalm. Could be used with a cantor, or more simply, someone speaking the Psalm with the congregation joining with the response between each stanza. Formal sound sample and sheet music samples.
• AoV1-083 / GA036 / GtG763 / G(II)46 / GC48 / GC(II)33 / G(3)047 / PfAS082B / URW257 / Lau892 The Lord Hears the Cry of the Poor (James Foley) The chorus for this makes a very good refrain for this Psalm, as set in PfAS. Sound sample and lyrics (including verses).
• Iona (LFB) / Lau930 Listen Lord (John Bell / Graham Maule) Beautiful chant-like chorus, can be used on its own or as a response, or used with the verses. Good to use for the intercessions. “Listen Lord, Listen Lord, not to our words but to our prayers. You alone, you alone, understand and care.” Sound sample (including verses).
• Taizé / TiS 741 / AoV1-017 / ATE 282 / LBW368 / ELW407 / GA431 / SFFS 2200 / GtG471 / G(II)410 / GC586 / GC(II)566 / G(3)666 / W&R484 / Srce519 / URW390 / Lau929 / PfAS013A / PfAS102A / MP908 O Lord hear my prayer (Jacques Berthier) A simple and very well known Taizé chant. Works well during intercessions. You could read the Psalm between repeats of this chant, or just use as a chant as is. Sheet music samples. Good for kids.

Ephesians 4:25-5:2  

Some good solid advice on living well as God's people

• Online Resource There's a tapestry you're weaving from the tangle of our lives / Tapestry (Weave us together) (Sam Hargreaves) This song was used at the recent Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia (and I suggested it for last week). It is a beautiful reflection on church unity and how we are all different; it would be good for Uniting Church congregations in particular to sing this! Sound sample, free sheet music and sound samples to download (registration needed for downloads). 
  
• Sacred Harp 178 Africa (William Billings) You know, if you do happen to have some Sacred Harp Singers in your congregation, who sang "David's Lamentation", you could also ask them to sing AFRICA. You can listen to it here. Lyrics are here.
• TiS 417 / AoV2-133 / ATW 448 / VU387 / StJ / WoV683 / ELW397 / AA94 / HPP237 / GtG293 / PH323 / CP657 / W&R135 / Cha244 / URW203 / StB220 / VF051 / LUYH793 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. Lyrics & sound sample. New words to old tunes (if that's what you choose) 
• Online Resource / ATFG561 / Tune In: Part of a fam'ly interconnected / Community (Dave Brown) A song about being welcomed and how to work together as part of a community. "Part of a family interconnected, this is community; Welcoming strangers, visiting neighbours, this gives us dignity". Very singable song about building community. Good for kids. Free downloadable lyrics, sound sample and songbook.
• ATOK 390 / GGives1 Put on love every day, never hide your love away (Mary Lu Walker) A fun song for kids! Sound sample.  Good for kids.
• NCH332 / VU457 / ELW522 / SFFS 2268 / HPP528 / GC(II)738 / G(3)839 / CP061 / W&R695 As We Gather at Your Table (Carl Daw) Beautiful, honest, encouraging words. Could be sung to HOLY MANNA, BEACH SPRING or NETTLETON, all very popular hymn tunes (did I mention that two of them are Sacred Harp tunes?), particularly good if you are celebrating communion this week. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes
• MV171 / G(3)760 Christ has no body now but yours (Steve Warner / Theresa of Avila) A good song about being the body of Christ, and serving with "the joy of compassion".  Sound sample.
• TiS 674 / Iona (Common Ground, Heaven Shall Not Wait) / A&M562 / CH253 / SP245 Inspired by love and anger (John Bell) Powerful lyrics, simple English folk tune. Lyrics (search for "inspired"). I love verse three “Don’t query our position! Don’t criticise our wealth! Don’t mention those exploited by politics and stealth!”.
• TiS 411 / AHB 328 / NCH266 / UMH537 / VU194 / A&M633 / CP658 / CP(E) 425 / W&R331 Filled with the Spirit's power (John Peacey) Excellent inclusive words, set to a range of well known hymn tune. I prefer it sung to WOODLANDS. New words to old tunes  Lyrics and hymn tune samples.
• Tune In Kingdom Come (Matthew Lees) A song about what the kingdom might be like, with plentiful images from the parables. “But this community’s where God reigns. The kingdom’s in you, the kingdom’s in me. The kingdoms among us, it’s not yet to be”. Free downloadable lyrics, sound sample and songbook

John 6:35, 41-51

More about Jesus being the bread of life. 

Note that many of these songs will be suggested again next week because John just keeps going on about the bread of life. This means that you could introduce a new song this week, and sing it with more confidence next week when you repeat it!

• Online Resource In Spirit we rise (Sheree Anderson) It would be great to sing this song about God's spirit working in and through us. "In Spirit we rise, rise, rise, to be bread for the world". Free sheet music, lyrics and recording.
• Taizé / TiS 714 / AoV1-125 /ATE 270 / CH661 / UMH628 / VU466 / WoV709 / ELW472 / GtG527 / GA205 / A&M442 / G(II)588 / GC838 / GC(II)806 / G(3)941 / RS928 / CP063 / W&R697 / Cha414 / SP229 / URW379 / Lau633 / StF583 Eat this bread drink this cup (Robert Batastini / Taizé Community) Excellent, particularly if you have a capable cantor. Some resources say "Come to him and never be hungry", but others have "come to me / trust in me". Sheet music.
• Online Resource / WoV701 / ELW487 / URW119 What Feast of Love (Dolores Dufner) Very poetic devotional language about Christ as the bread, light and wine. Sung to GREENSLEEVES. Maybe better as a solo initially so people can just listen to the beauty of the words. Perhaps sung during distribution of communion, or a song to sing while thinking about the prepared table? Sound sample and sheet music for purchase.  New words to old tunes
• ATW 474 You're like the sun that warms me / Bread of angels (Robin Mann) This is a nice ballad, a favourite of many in our congregation. It may not be easy for a congregation without some introduction because the structure is a little tricky. Lyrics.
• ATAR658 Jesus, you are the bread we long for (Bernadette Farrell) Excellent communion song, with 5 verses about God being bread and wine for those who starve and thirst; themes of healing, restoration and justice. Very straightforward flowing melody. We sang this not long ago, and it is really beautiful. It would be good to sing it again. Lyrics (in an order of service)
• 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 / LUYH529 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 lead sheet.   
• TiS 535 / SiS544 / AoV1-049 / ATA 167 / SLW63 / WoV702 / ELW485 / GA204 / GtG522 / G(II)597 / GC828 / GC(II)822 / G(3)945 / W&R703 / 82Hml-335 / Lau629 / LUYH842 / MP261 I Am The Bread Of Life, you who come to me shall not hunger (Suzanne Toolan) More recent versions are more inclusive, but be aware that God is mentioned (only once) as Father. "And I will raise you up..." Check the version you have. Sample. Thank you Shaun for suggesting this.
• 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 & lyrics. Oldy-but-a-goody.   
• ATW 473 / Lau625 / Online Resource Bread for the world a world of hunger (Bernadette Farrell) Very nice words. Tune a bit schmaltzy, but the words save it. A bit gutsy really. Good for a soloist during distribution of communion, or as a reflective song. Sound sample and purchasing options.
  
• FFS03 As we walk along beside you (Michael Perry) Excellent words or recognising Christ in the word, the bread, the resurrection. A simple tune.  Lyrics. 
• AoVNG15 / Online Resource Bread of Life (Michael John Poirier) A nice gentle song. Would be good for distribution of communion. Sound sample and purchasing options.
• TiS 538 / AoV2-093 Feed us now Bread of life (Robin Mann) One of my favourite communion songs. Simple to sing, and beautiful simple theology. “Piece of bread, cup of wine, Lord this food is good”. Lyrics. Good for kids.
  
• MV194 Bread of life feed my soul (Stephen Spencer) A simple communion prayer for healing and guidance.Lyric video.
• TiS 239 / AHB 185 / ATE 236 / NCH048 / StF252 / Lau746 / MP384 Jesus the Christ said "I am the bread" / Jesus the Lord said "I am the bread" (Anonymous - Urdu melody) This song set to a traditional Urdu melody is quite well nkown; translations vary a lot. I really like the translation in NCH. Lyrics.
• MV197 Bread of life broken and shared (David-Roger Gagnon) Quite nice verses and catchy chorus, which refers to this, and other famous bread-like readings. For communion. Lyrics (scroll down). 
• Online resource Amazing is the Christ who died (Norm Habel) Excellent words to the tune of Amazing Grace. Lyrics (PDF). 
• MV192 / ACS970 We come now to your table Lord you are the living bread (Traditional Caribbean) Very simple communion chorus from Jamaica. This would be best with harmonies and lots of percussion, or I think it would be just a bit dull. Could be very energetic and celebratory! Sound sample.  Good for kids.
  

Do you have some ideas you would like to add? Please join in, and add a comment below.