Songs, Hymns & Music for Proper 28B / Ordinary 33B / Pentecost 26 (17 November 2024)

1 Samuel 1:4-20 with 1 Samuel 2:1-10
Hannah wants a son, and prays to God without a mediator. She gets a son! 

followed by: Hannah’s song – God is great and feeds the hungry and all the rest of that excellent stuff

You can sing some non-Mary-specific Magnificats for this one.

• SFFS 2189 A mother lined a basket (Mary Nelson Keithahn) Quite a remarkable song about the nurture mothers provide and the risks they take in letting children go, with Jochabed and Hannah being prime examples. This celebrates more that Hannah's son did arrive. "A mother sewed a jacket lined in the softest wool, then dressed her little boy-child, her cup of blessing full. She brought him to the temple where he would serve and live. God's people had a prophet. She had such faith to give.". Could be sung to other tunes such as THORNBURY. Lyrics. New words to old tunes (if you choose one).
• 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. New words to old tunes.
• NCH015 My heart is overflowing (Miriam Therese Winter) Excellent words to a simple flowing tune. This song is one of very few written specifically based on Hannah's song. The tune is new, and there are many verses, so I would get your musicians to start up and invite the congregation to join as they feel comfortable to so do. Lyrics. Sound sample.
  
• TiS 690 / CH259 / A&M557 / StS115 / SP237 / Srce54 / StF693 / MP806 Beauty for brokenness hope for despair (Graham Kendrick) Themes of healing from personal and universal suffering and an emotive chorus. “Refuge from cruel wars, havens from fear, cities for sanctuary, freedoms to share, peace to the killing-fields, scorched earth to green; Christ for the bitterness, his cross for the pain”. It's a bit schmaltzy. Lyrics, sound samples and chord charts.
• Online Resource My heart rejoices, my horn is lifted up (Alicia Samaai) You may like to listen to this song, and perhaps play it for your congregation. This is not a congregational song, but I think it's really nice. Video.  
  
• Online Resource / TiS 172 / NCH119 / UMH198 / VU899 / GtG099 / PfAS1042 / Cha130 My soul gives glory to my God (John Mueller) Simple and beautiful words to a simple and beautiful tune. Inclusive lyrics. Lyrics (plus lyrics to lots of other magnificats). Scroll down and look for "ecumenical". I recommend the newer translation by Mary Louise Bringle, which can be seen, heard, and purchased here.
• 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. Sheet music samples. Good for kids  
• Tune In / Online Resource Father of earth, Mother of sea (Dave Brown) A latinesque song about the Spirit being with those who are victims, prisoners and the sick, as well as present in our prayers. Note particularly the phrase “Spirit who prays with us while war goes on… pray with us Lord”. Sound sample, lyrics and downloadable songbook. 
• TiS 560 / AHB 465 / NCH408 / CH192 / UMH132 / VU654/655 / WoV782 / ELW757 / A&M584 / CP529 / CP(E) 368 / Cha088 / Srce2-15 / 82Hml-665 / Lau959 / StF455 / MP016 All my hope on God is founded / is firmly grounded (Joachim Neander) Most translations of this well known German hymn are not inclusive, but the translation by Fred Pratt Green in UMH, NCH and WoV are; these are also available online, so use them! A really interesting article about the various translations. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• MV120 / StS124 / R245 / ELW723 / HPP88 / GtG100 / G(II)376 / GC556 / GC(II)527 / G(3)622 / PfAS075B / URW018 My soul cries out with a joyful shout (Canticle of the Turning) (Rory Cooney) This is my favourite Magnificat, and a big favourite at Brunswick. "Could the world be about to turn?" It's sung to a folk tune (STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN). Lyrics. New words to old tunes 
• Taizé / GC(II)530 / Lau689 Let Us Sing to the Lord / Benissez le Seigneur (Jacques Berthier) A joyous chant, with an optional cantor part. Sound samples, sheet music and translations. Good for kids. 
• Taizé / Iona (T1AU) / StS012 / GC(II)522 / G(3)630 / PfAS1018 Magnificat (Jacques Berthier) “Magnificat amina mea dominum” To be honest, I think it’s kind of funny to sing “Magnificat” as a lyric, but maybe that's just me. There are also alternative English lyrics (Sing out my soul), which are good if your congregation thinks singing in Latin is quirky. A catchy and happy Taize chant. Sheet music, sound samples, and English translation.
• Online resource Magnificat (Bruce Harding) A fun magnificat, using the Latin phrase “Magnificat amina mea deum”. I think our musicians would like this one! Sound sample and free sheet music. 
• Online Resource My heart exults in the Lord (Jason Silver) This could be sung quite beautifully by a soloist. Probably too challenging for a congregation. Sound sample, and links to sheet music available.
  

Alternative Hebrew Scripture: Daniel 12:1-3 
Apocalyptic vision of the resurrection of the dead

• AoV1-057 / G(II)485 /  GC678 / GC(II)663 / G(3)766 / Lau824 Awake from your slumber / City of God (Dan Schutte) I love the joyousness and sense of mission in this one. A really positive song “Let us build the city of God, let us turn our morning to dancing, for the Lord, our light and our love, has turned the night into day”. There is a little bit of non-inclusiveness in the middle. Sample sheet music & lyrics. Sound sample.
• SFFS 2005 Arise Shine for your light has come (Gary Alan Smith) A simple call and response. Good for an intro to worship. Normally used at Epiphany, but it could work here too.
• 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.

Psalm for the Daniel reading: Psalm 16  
Refuge in God who shows us life

• MV123 Day after day night after night (Lynn Bauman / Linnea Good) A lovely simple chant or Psalm refrain. Good for kids.
• 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 the hymn is based on an ancient story of St. Patrick refusing to follow the High King Logaire, and choosing instead the "High King of Heaven". Lyrics and tune. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• UMH438 / VU416 / A&M476 / CP467 / CP(E) 430 / W&R718 / StF550 / Lau861 / MP159 Forth in thy name O Lord I go (Charles Wesley) Timeless words about committing all our works to God. I like this hymn best played lightly and joyfully with a simple drum beat as a kind of minstrel tune, rather than a hymn. The old fashioned words seem to make a lot more sense to me that way. Some hymnals (including TiS) have sensitively modernised the words. Older lyrics and sheet music. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• TiS 613 / AHB 546 / ATOK 405 / CH166 / LBW469 / ELW765 / A&M713 / SFFS2197 / HPP265 / GtG683 / GC578 / GC(II)560 / G(3)663 / CP506 / CP(E) 507 / W&R469 / URW179 / 82Hml-482 / Lau969 / StF526 / MP882 Lord of all hopefulness Lord of all joy (Jan Struther) Most sources have it set to the excellent straightforward Irish tune (SLANE), and beautiful words. Would be a good choice for the final song. Others (like GtG) use COURTNEY, which I find a bit lame, but it's easy too. Lyrics. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• PfAS016D My heart is glad and my spirit rejoices (William Beckstrand) I really like the words and tune to this Psalm refrain. It will need to be sung through a couple of times before reading the Psalm. 
• CH656 / VU477 / PH507 / CP060 / A&M448 / GtG515 / CP(E) 305 / W&R706 / Cha420 / SP217 / URW120 I come with joy a child of God (Brian Wren) A good and jubilant communion hymn. Lyrics & sheet music. 
• AoVK-12 God is our shelter truly a friend indeed (Chris O'Hara) Groovy little round / more like a call and response really. Lyrics (pdf). Good for kids.
• StJ / G(II)22 / GC23 / GC(II)18 / G(3)029 / Lau40b Keep Me Safe O God (John Foley) Simple cantor and response "Keep me safe O God. You are my hope, you are my hope, O God". Lyrics and sample sheet music. Sound sample.   
• G(II)23 / GC24 / GC(II)19 / G(3)030 / URW235 You Will Show Me the Path of Life (Marty Haugen) Simple cantor and response "You will show me the path of life, you my hope and my shelter, in your presence is endless joy and your sight is my hope forever". Lyrics and sample sheet music. Sound sample.
• VU737 / VU738 /  PfAS016D / PfAS016C Protect me God: I trust in you (Michael Saward / Christian Strover) Simple psalm refrain that could be used with a sung or spoken verse. Lyrics.

Hebrews 10:11-14, (15-18), 19-25 
Christ’s single sacrifice to atone for our sins. Encourage and provoke one another

• Online Resource O Christ your crucifixion is here among us now (Hannah Brown) Beautiful words that speak of the suffering Christ with the suffering of the earth, war-torn places, and our own suffering. Sung to PASSION CHORALE. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.   
• TIS 624 / W&R453 / StF492 Christ be my leader by night as by day (Timothy Dudley-Smith) Excellent words of following Christ in times of struggle to a traditional Scottish melody. Lyrics New words to old tunes.
• Tune In / Online Resource He left his home, fam'ly, friends / 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 downloadable songbook. Good for kids & teenagers.
• Iona (Sent by the Lord) Men and women let us walk / Sarantanani (Bolivian folk tune) “Men and women, let us move, and let’s move together” It’s fun. Traditionally, it is very fast, but it doesn't need to be. Think of those pan-pipe playing buskers in your nearest city... Great for kids. Sound sample (not fast at all!).
• TiS 259 / Iona (Love From Below) Among us and before us Lord you stand (John Bell) Good words. The set tune (GATEHOUSE) will need to be taught. It can also be sung to SURSUM CORDA. Lyrics (powerpoint). New words to old tunes (if sung to SURSUM CORDA).
• NCH297 / CH736 / VU706 / StJ / AA45 / HPSS528 / W&R518 / Cha649 / URW131 Give thanks for life the measure of our days (Shirley Murray) This song is also good for funerals and is sung to the familiar tune SINE NOMINE. "Give thanks for life, the measure of our days, mortal we pass through beauty that decays, yet sing to God our hope, our love, our praise: Alleluia, Alleluia!". Lyrics (scroll down).
• TiS 542 / STB082 Far beyond our mind's grasp / Kay laking hiwaga (Francisco Feliciano) These beautiful devotional words are sung to a traditional Filipino tune. The tune is not easy, but is very haunting once you get to know it. If it is new to your congregation, it would be good to ask a soloist to sing it. STB has it in Pilipino as well as English. Sound sample.
  
• TiS 187 / AoV2-130 / CH149 / StS122 / A&M539 / SP247 Let all creation dance (Brian Wren) I just love the imagery of this one, and it's a very joyous and familiar hymn tune too. Lyrics New words to old tunes.
• Tune In / Online ResourceCommunity (Dave Brown) A great and easy to sing song about being neighbourly and living for and with others. "A glass of water shared with the thirsty, this is community". Reference recording, lyrics and free downloadable songbook.

Mark 13:1-8
It's not about how big the building is... Jesus predicts destruction of the temple. Not many songs out there about this... 

• Online Resource / BUC Song Project When the carpenter's on / Drive us out (Shawn Whelan) A spirited and lively song about being driven to new places by the Spirit - let's be brave in the face of destruction. Free sheet music and sound sample. 
• AoV2-070 / ATW 496 / MV090 / StJ Don't be afraid (John Bell) Excellent. I love this song of reassurance. "Don't be afraid, my love is stronger, my love is stronger than your fear". This song can be used as a response to intercessions. Sound sample. Good for kids.
• 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. New words to old tunes.
• TiS 288 / Iona Not the powerful not the privileged (John Bell) Note that the lyrics are masculine for God in one instance in the 4th verse. The lyrics are great though, so perhaps balance this song with some feminine imagery elsewhere in the service. The tune is not difficult. Lyrics (powerpoint)
• AoV1-056 / CH217 / GA541 / G(II)551 / GC761 / GC(II)750 / G(3)859 / URW201 / Lau881 God of Day and God of Darkness (Marty Haugen) This song is specific for evening services, but lovely words and set to a familiar tune (BEACH SPRING). I often think this is only good for an evening service, but the image of darkness and night doesn't have to be taken literally, and the call to rest at the end of the last verse would be good for those who take the celebration of Sabbath as a call to rest. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• Online Resource War will come kingdoms undone / Not the End (Malcolm Gordon) A folksy song about how all this destruction will come, but there is still more to come. Sound sample and digital track. 
• Online Resource We do not know what lies ahead (Allan Baer) Thank you Allan for sharing this song. A good song, to a simple tune, about facing difficult challenges and the hope that comes from Christ. Sheet music, sound sample, and the story behind the song. 
  

What ideas do you have? If you have some suggestions for any of the above readings, please join the conversation and post them in the comments below. I'd love to know what you're singing (or would like to sing...)