Songs and Hymns for Proper 10C / Ordinary 15C / Pentecost +5 (July 10th 2022)

Amos 7:7-17
Sometimes God leads us to speak the truth and that can get us in trouble.
  • Online Resource Holding up the light (Christopher Grundy) A great song for all about being brave enough to hold a light, no matter how small, when all around seems dark and difficult. Sheet music available here. Youtube. Good for kids.
  • NCH588 / StJ / WoV763 / ELW717 Let justice flow like streams (Jane Parker Huber) Excellent words to the very familiar tune ST THOMAS. This must be the only hymn in existence with the words "plumb-line" in it. I would not have found this without WoV, Pastor Tim - Thank you! Lyrics (downloads a pdf of a pretty amazing service - lyrics are on p3)  New words to old tunes
  • AoV2-102 / GA509 Who will speak if we don't? (Marty Haugen) Excellent challenging words; note that some versions say "Who will speak if you don't?". Sound sample (scroll). Good for teenagers.
  • 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; didn't Elijah have to be pretty brave? 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.
  • TiS 657 / CH263 / VU700 / A&M559 / AA50 / CP(E) 447 / Cha656 / SP242 God of freedom God of justice (Shirley Murray) Powerful lyrics. Can be sung to either TREDEGAR (new, but not too hard) or PICARDY (very familiar) or RHUDDLAN. Lyrics and sheet music sample. New words to old tunes. There is also a nice tune from Douglas Simper in his book if you'd like something quite new, but still hymn-like.
  • TiS 689 / ATE 286 / GtB Lord hear my praying, listen to me / Sorrowing song (Robin Mann) Powerful words of prayer to a simple tune. Words are straightforward about asking difficult questions of God. Lyrics (loads a pdf). 
  • Online Resource 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. This energetic song is not hard to sing, and if the congregation sings only the chorus, while a cantor sings the rest, they will be able to easily sing along by the 3rd verse without stress.  Free sheet music
  • Online Resource / Tune In / NCYC'07 Forgive us now (Dave Brown). “As we forgive may we be healed, as we reach out….” An excellent ballad. Free downloadable songbook, lyrics and sound samples
Psalm 82
God as judge, desiring justice.
  • MV028 / StJ / FFS25 / GC(II)507 / G(3)587 / STB255 God of the Bible / Fresh as the morning (Shirley Murray) Good words. I particularly like the tune by Alonso (MV and Gather hymnals), as the chorus is really joyous. I think this song would be a really good "fit" for our congregation. Good for kids (Alonso tune). Lyrics, sheet music sample. Sound sample.
  • Iona (M&G) / CH267 Blessed be God blessed be God for ever (Salvador Martinez) Beautiful words to a beautiful, but tricky Philippino melody, unless you have a Philippino congregation, in which case it's just a familiar folk tune (DANDANSOY). This would be great to ask a small group to sing, if you have some good singers in your congregation. Works nicely with a guitar.
  • TiS 657 / CH263 / VU700 / A&M559 / AA50 / CP(E) 447 / Cha656 / SP242 God of freedom God of justice (Shirley Murray) Powerful lyrics. Can be sung to either TREDEGAR (new, but not too hard) or PICARDY (very familiar) or RHUDDLAN. Lyrics and sheet music.New words to old tunes.
  • 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). 
  • Emergent Psalter You are gods all of you (Isaac Everett) A very different verse to focus on in this simple refrain. Sheet music (refrain only).
  • Online Resource Real justice for the earth (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) Funky refrain! This would be great - use a cantor for the verses, or use the refrain on its own. There is also a call and response section, which is most appropriate for US-based congregations. Recording, video, lyrics and link for sheet music.
Alternative Hebrew Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:9-14
God's word is very near; follow and prosper.
  • G(II)363 / GC518 / URW417 The Word Is Near You / The Word Is in Your Heart (Bob Moore) I would use the chorus of this alone as a reflective chant. Lead sheet. Fast sound sample.
  • MV048 I can feel you near me God / Jump for joy (Pat Mayberry) Good song for smaller kids about God being with us. I reckon you could get the kids to Jump in the chorus. Maybe it's a bit too happy clappy for some? Good for kids. Lyrics (search within page). 
  • Iona (Enemy of Apathy) / A&M466 / SP223 / StF654 / MP940 The love of God comes close (John Bell) A good song of God's forgiveness. Simple melody.  Lyrics.
  • URW143 The Grace of God is like a road (Michael Hudson) Beautiful words of God's presence and call to follow. Sung to a familiar tune THE GIFT OF LOVE, that is almost the same as O WALY WALY. Highly recommended. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
Psalm for the Deuteronomy reading: Psalm 25:1-10
Make me know your ways, teach me your paths. Trust in God
  • URW143The Grace of God is like a road (Michael Hudson) Beautiful words of God's presence and call to follow. Sung to a familiar tune THE GIFT OF LOVE, that is almost the same as O WALY WALY. Highly recommended. Lyrics (on last page of the pdf) 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 and sound sample.
  • Online ResourceI Lay Open (Psalm 25) (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A calm reflective chant that could be used as a responsive refrain, or as a devotional prayer. Sound sample & contact details for sheet music. 
  • Online Resource / Tune In Dare to Dream (Elaine Loukes) A great song about having a vision for the future, being lead by the light of Bethlehem’s star. "Dare to dream of new beginnings, Paths untried, by faith supplied".  Free downloadable songbook and sound sample
  • ATFG563 / NCYC'03 / The Red Book How long must we cry out? (Robin Mann) This is a big Brunswick favourite, great for young people in particular. "Teach me to do what is right, walk in the darkness, trust in the light and may love be the path I walk upon". Good for teenagers. Lyrics. Lyric video.
  • 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. And the marching is toi-toing, much less militaristic than what you may imagine. Amazing choral sound sample. Good for kids.
  • NCH Psalter 25 Your mercy and love have been from of old (Judy Hunnicutt) A lovely simple Psalm refrain.
  • Emergent Psalter Let me know your ways (Isaac Everett) A really good psalm response. I just love this book - I think I like every Psalm in it. Sheet music (refrain only).
  • Iona (WWHW) / MV223 We will go with God / Sizohamba naye (Traditional Swaziland) A simple Zulu song from Swaziland. Good for the end of the service. Video with pronunciation and parts. Note that MV has a different set of English words; neither are a direct translation. Sound sample of a more traditional version. Good for kids.
  • VU753 / AA117 / A&M773 / SP306 Safe in the hands of God / Safe in your hands O God (Michael Perry) Good paraphrase of the Psalm. Tune will need to be played through at least once before the congregation join in. Lyrics & Sheet music.
  • Online resource Make me know your ways (Bruce Harding) A nice laid back and groovy Psalm response or chant. Can work as a round, too. Sheet music. Good for kids.
  • GA280 / GtG089 / G(II)252 / GC328 / GC(II)336 / G(3)415 / Lau111 For you O Lord my soul in stillness waits (Marty Haugen) Nice refrain, and verses that contain a good range of images of God. Might be best for the congregation to join in only in the refrain as verses are long and have lots of words. Sound sample. Lead sheet & Lyrics
  • ATOK 414 / Iona (LFB, Common Ground) / CH501 / GA485 / A&M788 / G(II)480 / GC673 / GC(II)655 / SP311 / StF513 / Lau850 Take this moment, sign and space (John Bell) A fairly well known favourite. Simple melody and beautiful words. Lyrics (includes a very skinny picture of Jesus).
  • MV045 / SP&P051 Hamba nathi (Zulu). There are a lot of translations of this song. I like "Come walk with us, the journey is long". Sound sampleGood for kids  
  • TIS 624 / W&R453 / StF492 Christ be my leader by night as by day (John Bell) Excellent words of following Christ in times of struggle to a traditional Scottish melody. Lyrics New words to old tunes.
  • VU752 / G(II)34 / GC36 / GC(II)26 / G(3)039 / PfAS025A / URW248 To you O God I lift my soul (Marty Haugen) Simple lilting cantor and response "To you O Lord I lift my soul, to you I lift my soul". Lead sheet. Sound sampleAoV2-014 To You O God I Lift Up My Soul (Bob Hurd) I like this; it's pretty groovy, and has good lyrics; you could also use the chorus on its own, or with a read version of the Psalm. Sound sample and lyrics.
  • TiS 14 / GA026 To you, O Lord I lift my soul (Christopher Willcock) Good cantor and response. Sound sample.
  • TaizĂ© / 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 TaizĂ© chant. Some older versions are not inclusive. Sheet music, translations and sound samples  .
Colossians 1:1-14
Thanks for the community, thanks to God for forgiveness of sins.
  • Online Resource / ATFG561 / Tune In Community (Dave Brown) A song about being welcomed and part of a community. Free downloadable songbook, sound sample and lyrics. Good for kids.
  • Online Resource / AoVK-28 / ATOK 376 Faith hope and love, this is what we long for (Trish Watts) A groovy, easy, fun song. Sound sample, sheet music samples and purchasing options. Good for kids and youth.
  • Online Resource / MV145 / CP418 / SP&P123 Draw the circle wide (Gordon Light) A great song about welcoming all people. Chorus is “Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still. Let this be our song, no-one stands alone, standing side by side, draw the circle wide”. Sheet music.
  • Worship and Song 3152Let's walk together for a while / Welcome (Laurie Zelman / Mark Miller) A song of welcome, with a nice chorus. Sound sample. Thanks to thetangobois for this suggestion.
  • Iona (Love From Below) / A&M297 / SFFS 2283 / GC(II)786 / G(3)885 / SP114 / StF746/ Lau387 For all the saints who’ve shown your love (John Bell) These beautiful lyrics are some of the best words about All Saints' Day that I've come across, and would work for this reading too. There are two tunes, and two slightly different sets of lyrics. Love From Below uses the tune "ALL SAINTS" which by John Bell. A nice tune, but not familiar, although not hard to learn at all. The Gather hymnals publish a slightly different version of the lyrics, sung to the tune O WALY WALY which is the tune for "The water is wide", so much more familiar. Lyrics, sound samples and sheet music samples. New words to old tunes.     
  • TiS 549 / AHB 456 / CH538 / A&M642 / VU430 / CP(E) 439 / 82Hml-694 / Lau914 God be in my head and in my understanding (Unknown author, Sarum Primer, 13th century) I like these words, but I have never been able to work out when you might use it in congregational worship. Perhaps sung just before the sermon? If you use this song, please comment. If new to your congregation, I think it would need to be taught, but it is very short so could be sung a few times. I'm going to suggest this again next week, so you could sing it two weeks in a row so people can get to know it better. Lyrics and sheet music. Susan Bloomfield, a reader of this site has also offered this fun tune which makes it pretty Good for kids. Please contact her through her website if you use it.
  • TiS 470 / CH742 / UMH708 / WoV689 / LBW26 / ELW264 / A&M308 / GtG732 / CP(E) 227 / W&R531 / Cha476 / SP116 Rejoice in God’s saints today and all days! (Fred Pratt Green) Great words about all the different saints and the importance of remembering them. The 2nd verse which mentions "some carry the gospel through fire and through flood" may be particularly appealing. Works well to the tune PADERBORN, but would be even simpler sung to LAUDATE DOMINUM which would be more familiar. Lyrics and some tune samples. New words to old tunes.   
  • NCH398 / MV044 / W&R599 / URW072 Shadow and Substance (Daniel Damon) Good clear words of being Christ's community in all our diversity. A simple tune. Sample sheet music.
Luke 10:25-37
Love your neighbour, love God. The Good Samaritan.
  • TiS 650 / ATA 191 / CH694 / A&M604 / NCH539 / VU595 / ELW659 / AA08 / SFFS 2222 / HPP442 / GtG727 / G(II)476 / GC683 / GC(II)661 / G(3)751 / CP500 / CP(E) 393 / W&R391 / Cha490 / SP263 / URW117 / StF611 / Lau924 Brother, sister, let me serve you / Won't you let me be your servant? (Richard Gillard) I think you all know this one. Lyrics. NCH has a nice turn on the lyrics with "Won't you let me be your servant?" as the first line, which also avoids the binary-exclusive imagary of brother and sister.  Oldy-but-a-goody. 
  • NCH541 They asked “Who’s my neigbor and whom should I love?” (Jan Wesson) Great words, and a simply folkish tune that’s a bit like Sydney Carter’s hymn tunes. Challenging words that pick up the good Samaritan reading, but also very appropriate for this week’s reading. Lyrics & sheet music
  • NCH590 / CH621 Spirit of Jesus, if I love my neighbour (Brian Wren) Challenging words of offering help from a position of privilege and seeking to be set free from the entrapment of possessions “If I am hugging safety or possessions, uncurl my spirit as your love prevails, to join my neighbours, work for liberation, and find my freedom at the mark of nails”. Could also be sung to the tune PERFECT LOVE if your congregation woudl have trouble with the newer tune. Lyrics & sheet music. New words to old tunes.
  • ATOK 390 / GGives1 Put on love every day, never hide your love away (Mary Lu Walker) A fun song for kids; very catchy and it makes everyone smile! Sound sample. Good for kids.
  • TiS 629 / AHB 558 / AoV2-136 / ATA 197 / CH544 / VU600 / Lau888 / StF256 When I needed a neighbor were you there (Sydney Carter) A classic folk church song. Well known and fits well with this theme. "And the creed and the colour and the name won't matter"... Lyrics. Good for kids.
  • ATN 18 / NCH552 From the crush of wealth and power (Kendyl Gibbons) Good words about stepping out with courage to help those in pain and "bind all their wounds again". Well known tune (BRIDEGROOM). Lyrics, and a prompt for a lyric change. New words to old tunes 
  • TiS 640 / AHB 561 / ATE 310 / NCH498 / UMH432 / VU593 / WoV765 / ELW708 / HPP446 / GtG203 / PH367 / G(II)296 / GC409 / GC(II)429 / G(3)505 / CP504 / W&R273 / Cha600 / URW116 / 82Hml-602 / Lau241 / StF249 Jesu Jesu fill us with your love / Kneels at the feet of his friends (Tom Colvin & people of Ghana) Lyrics. Good for kidsOldy-but-a-goody.
  • CH115 / MV089 / Iona (Love from Below) / A&M722 / SP292 Love is the touch of intangible joy (Alison Robertson) Great words and a simple tune. "God is where love is, for love is of God". Lyrics (scroll).
  • ATW 498 / Iona (T1AU) / MV 196 / SP&P182 / URW438We will take what you offer (John Bell) An excellent simple short song that works well either as an upbeat chorus or as a reflective chant. "We will take what you offer. We will live by your word. We will love one another. And be fed by you Lord". Sound sample. 
  • MV031 Pure love (Linnea Good) A simple two-part chant that picks up the Psalmist’s idea of the purity of God’s law “Pure love, pure truth, pure justice, God”. Would be great if you can teach it to some of the congregation before worship starts. Sound sample. Good for kids.
  • 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. The tune is very natural to sing as well. Lyrics.
  • Online Resource In this world of strife and anger / Love our neighbour (Catherine MacDonald) Excellent, friendly new words to the familiar tune HOLY MANNA. Lyrics. New words to old tunes
  • Online Resource / Walk as One Grant us your grace and forgive us (Leigh Newton) A beautiful prayer of confession; it specifically mentions this passage "There were wounded on the road and we passed by", but would work on any Sunday. Book (PDF) for purchase here.
  • God Gives 1 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and love all humankind as you would love yourselves and…. I really like this old Sunday School round, with a groovy 50s feel to it. Lyrics. Great for kids.
  • 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 a capella...  Youtube video of Sinead O'Connor singing it and lyrics
  • Online Resource Who is my neighbour, my sister my brother (David MacGregor) A new song which talks about our call to love others. Sound sample (lyric video). Sheet music
  • UMH434 / VU702 / StJ / R249 / ELW725 / GtG762 / PH407 / W&R624 / Cha662 Cuando el Pobre / When a poor one / When the Poor Ones (Miguel Manzano / Jose Antonio Olivar) Wow… This song has a beautiful and interesting (but easy to sing) tune and really moving words ending with the phrase "God goes with us on the pathways of our lives" or "Then we know that God still goes that road with us" in each verse. I prefer the English translation in Church Hymnary (Bringle). Very highly recommended.The words to this are just wonderful liberation theology. Lyrics
  • Online Resource Let our vocation be love (David Bjorlin / Randall Sensmeier) Excellent words encouraging us to work for love; sung to a lovely new tune that is quite intuitive and would not be difficult. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing optionsNew words to old tunes.   
  • ELW341 / SFFS 2187 / G(II)549 / GC759 / GC(II)752 / G(3)857 / W&R627 / Cha471 / Lau675 Now it is evening / At evening (Fred Pratt Green) A song of justice and caring for others who are lonely, hungry in the city. The set tune is really good and simple, but it can also be sung to BUNESSAN New words to old tunes. Mostly makes sense for evening services only, but maybe it could work in the morning…? Lead sheet. Sound sample.
Please join the conversation and add your suggestion or response below!

7 comments:

Ann Pearson said...

Thank you Natalie. Such a wide spectrum of hymn resources. I am very grateful for the suggestions.

Adam Kukuk said...

Yes! "When the Poor Ones" is going to be a choir anthem this Sunday. Great suggestion.

thetangobois said...

For the Colossians reading, I found a beautiful song called "Welcome" in the Worship and Song - 3152 from the Methodist tradition...until it is taught, would be a great addition as a solo!

Erik in Vancouver, Washington, USA

ManjiDavid9 said...

I was wondering if you had any suggestions for songs/hymns themed for NAIDOC week?
David

Lectionary Singer (Natalie Sims) said...

Hi David,
That's s great idea! I have not done that this year; I only have a page for Sorry Day. I'll try to get a list of songs for NAIDOC week up for next year.
best,
Natalie

rose in maine said...

Thanks for this excellent resource. It's really helpful for discovering new hymns.Ruth Duck's new words to the Tallis canon tune, "Diverse in Culture, Nation, Race" might also fit well here. (Lyrics are included in this blog post: http://www.notesfromsusie.com/blog/2017/2/7/6i8xgkpy7d4mwflyczhljkaa69jety .)

Mary L said...

Another hymn for the Deuteronomy text that is good is "God's Word Is Our Great Heritage"