Singing from the Lectionary

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Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Most songs that fit with this reading are harvest thanksgiving songs. I doubt anyone would do harvest thanksgiving this week, but I'm listing them so you can find them when you do. I wish there was some authentic way to do harvest thanksgiving in the inner city. Having more veggie patches would help I guess...

*BUC Song ProjectHarvest our love (Brown). Let's not just talk about harvesting food, but offer God our lives as well. This song was written after Tune In was published, so only available at Brunswick Uniting so far.
Online ResourceFood is blessing (Bruxvoort-Colligan) Great words to the familiar tune NETTLETON. On the Singing From the Lectionary Facebook group. New words to old tunes.
*BUC Song ProjectIn spirit we rise (Anderson) Following the same idea as above, this talks about our lives being a rich harvest for God. Very catchy chorus.
*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 (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."Sound sample and lyrics. Oldy-but-a-goody.
*CH230 / VU517 / StF126 Praise God for the harvest of orchard and field A thoroughly modern harvest thanksgiving hymn, which would work for any service, not just a harvest thanksgiving. I would actually sing this to BONNIE GEORGE CAMPBELL (TiS 624), by just adding a single note anacrusis at the start of each line. Lyrics and a different tune sample.New words to old tunes.
NCH424 / SFFS 2061 / PH480 Praise Our God Above source of boundless love (Chao) Lovely words; traditional Chinese tune will need some practice, but is worth it. Lyrics and sound sample.
TiS 159 / AHB 94 / CH226 / VU300 /A&M285 / ELW734 / CP261 / CP(E) 271 / Lau733 God whose farm is all creation (Arlott) Simple words of caring for the crops and harvest as well as the rest of creation. Lyrics (song 9 in the booklet). Youtube pianist with lyrics (but no singing)
TiS 130 / AHB 59 / CH229 / VU520 / LBW362 / ELW681 / HPP284 / HPSS560 / CP258 / CP(E) 275 / 82Hml-291 / StF130 / MP732 We plow the fields and scatter (Nyland) I still like this old hymn, even if it brings to mind people sowing seed and then running away... Sources vary for how inclusive the language is. Oldy-but-a-goody.Lyrics and tune sample.
VU242 / LBW557 / ELW881 / GtG037 / PH554 / GC567 / GC(II)551 / G(3)635 / CP403 / W&R22 / Cha717 Let All Things Now Living (Davis) Lovely lyrics to the well known and quite jolly Welsh folk tune ASH GROVE. Not all sources are inclusive. Lyrics (older version). New words to old tunes
StJ / R233 / ELW695 / PH414 / CP260 / W&R570 As saints of old their first fruits brought / As Those of Old Their Firstfruits Brought (von Christierson) A fairly traditional and standard Harvest thanksgiving hymn. Lyrics and tune sample.
*Cha719 Come Sing a Song of Harvest (Pratt Green) A hymn that tries to bring the idea of harvest thanksgiving into the modern era. Lyrics (scroll down, but enjoy the other harvest songs listed on this site as you do).
NCH783 / WoV705 / ELW465 / GA194 / G(II)594 / GC825 / RS921 As the Grains of Wheat (Haugen) Quite simple flowing tune and nice words about grains becoming our communion bread. Good communion song for a Harvest Thanksgiving Service. Lyrics & Sheet music samples.
TiS 168 / NCH425 / CH231 / UMH97 / A&M284 / VU227 / WoV760 / ELW679 / GA426 / HPP287 / GtG036 / PH553 / RS704 / CP259 / CP(E) 254 / W&R723 / Cha714 / URW193 / Lau731 For the Fruit of All Creation / For the fruits of this creation (Pratt Green) Some sources are quite masculine (TiS), but some OK (NCH, GtG). Very easy and well known tune (AR HYD Y NOS) and pretty standard words of harvest thanksgiving. The phrase "in the just reward of labour" would be an interesting discussion point for this passage. Lyrics and tune sample. New words to old tunes

Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16

TiS 48 / AoV1-153 / ATOK 411 / VU808 / WoV779 / ELW787 / GA452 / HPP385 / GtG043 / G(II)433 / GC611 / GC(II)593 / G(3)691 / CP531 / W&R438 / PfAS091E / Cha077 / Lau952 You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord / On Eagle's Wings (Joncas) This is a big favourite all over the place. It has masculine imagery for God. This doesn't have to be sung slowly and meditatively - it also works very well as a more upbeat song. If it is not familiar to you, a cantor can be used for the verses. It is not inclusive. Lyrics.
AoV2-054 / Iona (T1AU, LFB) / MV077 / GtG414 / SFFS 2057 / G(II)438 / GC618 / RS 736 / SP&P111 / PfAS046D / URW409 / Lau909 / StF019 Be still and know that I am God (Bell / Maule) For kids, I think it may be better to focus on the positive for this reading, and this simple chant is beautiful. Works as a round or in unison. Good for kids.
MV096 And when you call for me (Bauman / Good) This simple chant "And when you call for me I have already answered... I am already there" might work nicely during the prayers of intercession. Tune is not immediately easy, so teach your congregation first. Good for kids.
ATOK 311 / CH754 / GA401 Be still and know that I am God and there is none beside me (Iona) A good alternative to the above song. I like the 2nd verse especially "I am the one who calls you my friends, and there is none beside me". CH doesn't have the 2nd verse. Good for kids.
PfAS091C Those who dwell in the shelter of God / El que habita al abrigo de Dios (Savage) A nice South American sounding tune, and good lyrics with a soothing chorus.
W&R633 Healer of My Soul keep me at even' (Talbot) A quiet meditative song. It might be best sung as a reflection if unfamiliar to your congregation. Video and lyrics.
*MV214 May God's sheltering wings (Snowdon) A nice simple blessing and benediction, which may be sung about a feminine or a masculine God. Lyrics (downloads a pdf).
MV062 / SP&P076 There is room for all / Chacun a sa place (Harding) A simple one-verse song; will need to be taught, but it won't take long to teach it. More communal than many other versions of this Psalm. Sound sample and sample sheet music.
PfAS091D Be with me Lord when I am in trouble (Parker) A nice refrain, which would resonate well with kids, for a cantored, or spoken, reading of the Psalm. Good for kids.
PfAS091D How safe it is, this hiding place (Leckebusch) A simple refrain for a cantored, or read, version of the Psalm. Very very easy.

Romans 10:8b-13
Everyone who confesses faith in Christ is saved

*AoV2-003 / ATOK 313 / CH543 / StJ / GA404 / A&M042 / ELW715 / GtG314 / GC(II)512 / G(3)590 / SP13 / URW114 / Lau883 / StF706 Longing for light we wait in darkness / Christ, be our light (Farrell) One of my favourites, especially if someone can sing or play the descant line in the later verses. Sound sample and lyrics. Good for kids.
*TiS 210 / AHB 141 / NCH42 / CH352 / UMH57 / VU326 / LBW42 / ELW295 / A&M742 / HPP74 / GtG610 / PH466 / CP306 / CP(E) 534 / W&R96 / Cha005 / Srce506 / 82Hml-493 / StF364 / MP496O for a thousand tongues to sing (Wesley) A classic. I particularly love NATIVITY for these words, and it's such a fun tune. Be careful with the words "ye dumb". Voices United has "Hear him you deaf, you voiceless ones, your tongues again employ" which is more respectful.Lyrics and one possible tune. Oldy-but-a-goody.
NCH072 / UMH552 / VU362 / ELW530 / GtG311 / PH465 / CP534 / W&R597 / Cha278 Here O Lord Your Servants Gather / Sekai no Tomo (Yamaguchi) Beautiful song about being a community of faith seeking strength and courage. Lovely simple Japanese tune. The story of this hymn. Lyrics.
*TiS 420 Holy Spirit go before us (Elizabeth Smith) Great words of evangelism and justice to a simple lilting melody. If you think your congregation can't cope with a new tune this week, it can be sung to AUSTRIA (TiS 93).New words to old tunes.
TiS 248 / 82Hml-603When Christ was lifted from the earth (Wren) Powerful words of Christ's sacrifice and acceptance of all people, without the cultural imperialism of some similar hymns. New hymn tune is not too hard, but could be replaced with many others if required. I think WILTSHIRE would work (TiS 112), but LAND OF REST is perhaps too jolly. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.

Luke 4:1-13
Jesus led into the wilderness

*CH338 / VU115 / StS036 / SFFS 2105 Jesus tempted in the desert (Stuempfle) Excellent story-telling hymn, sung to the familiar tune EBENEZER. Lyrics (scroll down).New words to old tunes.
*Tune In Save us in the time of trial (Whelan) A song with a reflective almost-Taize-like chorus. We have sung this a couple of different ways, it's quite flexible. Lyrics, sound sample and songbook available. Good for kids.
*MV118 Me alone (Jamaican traditional) A very simple repetitive call-and-response song. Could work well as a reflective song. Since this is from the Caribbean Conference of Churches, it could be good to sing this song and continue to pray for the people of Haiti, who must certainly be feeling alone and in the wilderness. Could work as a prayer response too.
*ATW 498 / Iona (T1AU) / MV 196 / SP&P182 / URW438We will take what you offer. 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". Good for kids.Sound sample.
*?SP&P097 The spirit led Jesus to the wilderness (Scheffler) A good catchy verse and chorus song for kids. The story of Jesus going into the wilderness. You might need to have a conversation about what it means to be tempted by the devil with the kids before singing this. We don't often talk about "The Devil". Good for kids.
*MV065 When we are tested and wrestle alone (Duck) Excellent words paralleling our struggles with those of Christ in the wilderness. The set tune WHEN WE ARE TESTED is not difficult, but it can also be sung to SLANE (TiS 547) if you need a familiar tune. First verse is "When we are tested and wrestle alone, famished for bread when the world offers stone, nourish us God, by your word and your way, food that sustains us by night and by day".New words to old tunes.
*TaizeIn God alone my soul can find rest and peace / Mon ame se repose (Berthier) A beautiful healing chant from Taize. Words and music and sound samples for learning the parts
*Tune In:You in all our worries / All will finish well“In this world where injustice reigns, you are in the midst of pain”. Excellent words of reassurance in a difficult world. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook available here.
Online resource:Jesus in the Desert(Damon) A simple hymn-like song. I like the simplicity of these words "Dreaming, waking, rising, you walked the barren land". Sheet music.
*Online resource:Out in the Wilderness(Beech) A groovy song, lots of angels, that I think kids will like. Good for kids. Sound sample.Sheet music for purchase.
Cha455 You Have Called Me (Edwards) A simple song, about being called from silence or the wilderness to serve. "Here I am, send me, here I am"
Worldmaking.netOpen unto me light for my darkness(Bruxvoort-Colligan) Good for a more contemplative service. Sample
Worldmaking.netO Christ, Lamb of God (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A more modern Agnus Dei, with Christ sharing our weakness. Lyrics and sound sample.
Here in this place We know ourselves beloved (Wiltshire) These words emphasize that we are loved by God even when called into the wilderness. Free sheet music here.
*ATAR626 / VU113 To the desert Jesus came / Together through the valley (Good) A good contemporary hymn, with a quite classically beautiful tune, for the start of Lent. A song about going together through the wilderness of Lent to Easter.
*SP&P065 As the grain was scattered on the hills (Clyde) A beautiful and simple melody with words from the Didache. This would be very beautiful before or during the distribution of communion, particularly when the congregation has been on a difficult journey. "On hillsides you feed us, through deserts you lead us, now at this table all are one in Christ. We have new life"

Some general Lent songs

VU108 / W&R250 Throughout These Lenten Days and Nights (Gertmenian) It's hard to find a song that talks about Lenten practice that is not too dated. I think this song would work quite well. Can be sung to WINCHESTER NEW or TALLIS CANON. Lyrics and sheet music that's a newer lilting, and quite nice tune. New words to old tunes.
TiS 684 Love will be our Lenten calling (Smith) Excellent words from Elizabeth Smith, and the set tune PICARDY is both beautiful and familiar. Lyrics (order of service that you'll need to search through).New words to old tunes.
*ATAR626 / VU113 To the desert Jesus came / Together through the valley (Good) A good contemporary hymn, with a quite classically beautiful tune, for the start of Lent. A song about going together through the wilderness of Lent to Easter.
VU109 / 82Hml-145 Now quit your care and anxious fear (Dearmer) A lovely joyful tune for Lent. Good, realistic, although slightly old-fashioned words. "Arise, arise, arise and make a paradise!" This could be sung through the whole Lenten season.

What will you be singing? Add a comment, especially if it's something I haven't thought of!

Update: Thank you everyone who donated to my fundraising campaign. We reached the target for the minimum rebuild of the site, and Claudine has already started work. It will take some weeks before you will see changes, but please be assured - they are happening! I am very grateful for everyone's support - it's good to see the end of the tunnel of endless manual updates. If you wanted to donate but ran out of time, it's still possible through direct contributions to my PayPal account. All money raised will always go directly into the site. Thanks again, Natalie

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
God makes a covenant with the childless Abram; God’s faithfulness

SiS414 / ATA 153 / GtG059 / Srce686 / PfAS105B The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases (McNeill) Can be a mushy favourite, and the language is not inclusive in older versions; PfAS uses “God’s mercy never comes to an end”. PfAS uses it as a sung response to a Psalm. Older style lyrics & chords. Oldy-but-a-goody.
Iona (LFB) / G(II)503 / GC701 / RS818 / StF464 God It Was who said to Abraham (Bell) Easy tune. Good story words. Note that God is masculine; I think this has been addressed in more recent editions of Love From Below. Lyrics and sheet music. Slow sound sample.
GtG042 / PH251 Your Faithfulness O Lord Is Sure (Patterson) Very simple paraphrase of this Psalm, sung to the familiar traditional tune WINCHESTER NEW. This is a paraphrase of Psalm 145 that fits very well for this passage. New words to old tunes.
*AoV1-137 / ATOK 403 / GA306 / G(II)286 God Of Abraham lead us (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 (downloads a pdf). Good for kids.
NCYC09 Stories of faith calling us to explore / Stories of Hope (Hanks / Newton) Not easy, but the words are great. Best to get someone to sing it - perhaps during the offering?
*Unknown source Nothing is impossible with God (Unknown) I found this ridiculously happy song, and I think you only need to change one word to make it one I would like. I think our kids would just really love this..... Anyone know where it's from? Youtube of some ridiculously happy and wholesome kids singing it. Good for kids

Psalm 27
God is our strength in times of trouble; longing for God

BUC Song ProjectSearching alone / Safe (Potter & Potter) This is a lovely simple and reassuring song. BUC only so far...
*TiS 16 / AoV2-073 / GA028 / Sing Allelulia 28 Do not be afraid I am with you (Willcock) Excellent cantor and refrain. Refrain would work well with a reader also. GA has a nice descant line.
URW252 Find us, searching God, wherever we hide (Peacock) A beautiful prayer based on the Psalm. No music. Maybe you could write some.
*TiS 611 / AHB 543 / NCH436 / UMH577 / VU686 / LBW415 / ELW705 / A&M648 / HPP456 / PH420 / GtG307 / CP577 / CP(E) 448 / W&R569 / Cha464 / 82Hml-594 / StF682 / MP192 God of Grace and God of Glory (Fosdick) A song about being courageous and wise. There are many possible tunes and many sets of words to this hymn. NCH has the most inclusive words, but TiS and AHB are okay too. They don’t hold back in verse 3. Chorus: “Grant us wisdom, Grant us courage, for the facing of this hour”. Don’t know about everyone else, but I know best the tune AHB 543 (ii). One version of the lyrics.New words to old tunes
*MV217 Hey ney yana (Eagle) This Native American song could be great, sung accompanied with just a drum "I walk in beauty, yes I do, yes I do". Sounds nice on flute too, I think. Good for kids.Lyrics and information.
ATE 212 Hush now for I am your God (Littlemore)
G(II)406 / GC482 I Need You to Listen (Haugen/Sullivan) A simple and very beautiful Psalm and response. The words to this are very lovely. Lead sheet. Sound sample.
*CH573 / UMH523 / GtG789 / StB059 Jesus Savior Lord lo to thee I fly / Saranam Saranam (Sri Lankan) I think this would be an excellent song to sing, not only because the words are good and because the tune is simple and beautiful, but because we need to keep praying for the people of Sri Lanka.
*MV175 May we but wait (Petricko) Beautiful and simple two line song. Would be good as a response to the Intercessions.
AoV1-139 O God Nothing Can Take Us from your love (Walker) Good refrain. Good verses. Cantor and congregational response. Sound sample.
*Worldmaking.net Open unto me light for my darkness(Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan). Good for a more contemplative service. Sound sample and lyrics.
*Taizé / TiS 747 / ATE 214 / Iona (M&G) / GtG842 / PfAS027A / URW393The Lord is my light, my light and salvation A simple and very popular Taizé chant. Note that this is really easy on recorder if you have a kid in your congregation who is learning it. Good for kids. Youtube.
*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 (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.
*AoVNG71 / Taize / G(3)682 I am Sure I Shall See (Taize) One of the more upbeat Taize chants. Sheet music, translations and sound samples .
*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.
Psalm Project (Sharing the Road) / SP&P140 All of My Life (Bruxvoort Colligan) Lovely chant-like verses and chorus. I think this would be good to do. Available here.
VU753 / AA117 / A&M773 / SP306 Safe in the hands of God / Safe in your hands O God (Perry) Good paraphrase of the Psalm. Tune will need to be played through at least once before the congregation join in.
VU754 God is my light and saving health (Clarke) Quite straightforward psalm response and responsive psalm.
PfAS027E My God is my light (Howard) A nice and very simple Psalm refrain.
*ATFG563 / NCYC'03 / The Red Book How long must we cry out? (Mann) This is a big Brunswick favourite, great for young people in particular. BUC liturgists please note that we have not sung this since 2010! "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.
*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) 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, tune and a little of the story. Oldy-but-a-goody.

Philippians 3:17-4:1
I think this says that greed is not good, and we should have our mind on higher things

*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.
*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) 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, tune and a little of the story. 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 (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. Here's an older version with the slow organ. Yeah, the slow organ is nice too, I suppose, but I really like it about twice that speed... Oldy-but-a-goody.
*NCH497 / SFFS 2208 / GtG741 / PH354 / G(II)508 / GC707 / GC(II)684 G(3)780 / CP513 / ZSS141Guide my feet while I run this race An excellent civil rights song. Would work well as a meditative prayer for guidance or as an uplifting call to action at the end of the service.You could also make up your own lyrics. Lyrics.Good for kids.
*ATA 200 / CH530 / VU639 / A&M757 / CP(E) 548 / URW109 / StF476 One more step along the world I go (Carter) A good fun kid's song from Sydney Carter which many of their parents will remember. "And it's from the old I travel to the new, keep me travelling along with you". Lyrics and a really slow and clunky sound sample.Good for kids.

Luke 13:31-35
Christ laments a city who has turned her back on her people; he long to comfort them and predicts that he will go, to return as the one who comes in the name of the Lord

*Tune In:Our God who weeps (Kate Scull) Very simple folk-like tune and challenging and hopeful lyrics. Reference recording, lyrics and songbook.
Online ResourceBlessed is the One (Harding) A good song, which will need to be taught at first, or might be nice to sing to the congregation by the musicians. Sound sample, sheet music available.
*VU270 Dear Mother God your wings are warm (Wootton) Good images of God as mother, and a call for us to also embrace the needy; the tune is not known and will need to be taught. Could also be sung to PERFECT LOVE, I think. New words to old tunes
MV214 May God's sheltering wings (Snowdon) A nice simple blessing and benediction, which may be sung about a feminine or a masculine God.
FFS09 Christ of the sad face (Murray/Gibson) Christ weeps for the city, the earth. A longing for peace. Lyrics and an alternative tune.
ELW341 / SFFS 2187 / G(II)549 / GC759 / GC(II)752 / G(3)857 / W&R627 / Cha471 / Lau675 Now it is evening / At evening (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. Mostly makes sense for evening services only, but maybe it could work in the morning…? Lead sheet. Sound sample.New words to old tunes
VU584 Through the heart of every city (Dunstan) Challenging words about caring for all God's people, particularly in the city. Tune is a quite straight forward hymn tune.
*MV091 Cradle me in your arms (Harding) A simple assuring chant in times of suffering. Sound sample.Sheet music sample. Purchase online.
*MV126 Are you a shepherd? (Duck) Good and joyous. Lots of images of God: shepherd, teacher, mother, father. A catchy chorus. Good for kids.
Taizé / GtG814 / CP563 / PfAS062DIn God alone my soul can find rest and peace / Mon ame se repose (Berthier) A beautiful healing chant from Taize. Words and music and sound samples for learning the parts Good for kids.
Tune In: The God that I know. A ballad drawing on God’s strength and comfort; not easy if unfamiliar. Lyrics and sample available here.

Alternate Gospel Reading Luke 9:28-36, (37-43a)
Transfiguration story

ATFG555 / NCYC03Open your eyes / See Yourself (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. Good for kids
*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 (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.
SFFS 2153 / GC(II)770 / G(3)878 / Cha182Transform Us as you transfigured (Dunstan) Good words to the familiar and quite meditative hymn tune PICARDY (TiS 497). Lyrics and sign language.New words to old tunes
*NCH182 / VU104 / SFFS 2103 / HPP147 / GtG191 / CP166 / W&R245 We have come at Christ's own bidding (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
*ATFG 541 What is this scene? (Froemming / 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.
*Bruce Harding Seeing Jesus A simple chant, needs at least 2 of the parts. Sample PDF, and available for purchase here.
*CH355 / VU210 / HPP81 / GtG274 / GC(II)525 / G(3)628 / CP630 / W&R99 / URW098 You Lord Are Both Lamb and Shepherd (Dunstan) Beautiful words. Can be sung to many tunes. I like it to PICARDY or WESTMINSTER ABBEY. Sound sample, lyrics and sheet music sample here.
NCH183 / GtG193 Jesus take us to the mountain (Vajda) A very positive transfiguration hymn that asks good questions and provides some good challenges and clearly looks onward to Good Friday. Lyrics.
*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 (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! Oldy-but-a-goody.
TiS 234 / AHB 390 / A&M281 / GC778 / GC(II)771 / G(3)877 / CP167 / CP(E)248 / VU103 / LBW89 / ELW315 / Lau209How good Lord to be here / Tis Good Lord to Be Here (Robinson / SWABIA) 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”. We sang this last year at BUC. Oldy-but-a-goody.
*NCYC07You shine (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.
*AoV2-103 / AoVK-115 / G(II)514 / GC712 / GC(II)715Holy Ground (Pena)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 and sheet music samples.
TiS 255 / CH135 / VU434 / CP018 O laughing Light O first-born of creation (Dunstan) A slightly more modern version of the Phos Hilaron. Words are good but the tune in TiS (ADRIAN) is a little tricky.
ATW 447 Thank you Jesus for ordinary miracles (Mann) Fun and joyful. "Up in a cloud in the air"! Lyrics.Good for kids.
Srce63 Can I ascend? / I'm Coming Up The Mountain (Redman) A bit "me me me" for my liking, but the youth in some congregations would probably like it, and I maybe shouldn't find these songs as embarrassing as I do. Lyrics and chords
*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.
Liturgy for the Whole Church (p69) The transfiguration (Bock) A narrated skit. If you have this book, or access to it, this would be good to do.
Lau215 / Online Resource Transfigure us O Lord (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 (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.

Got any ideas of your own for any of these readings? Please add them in the comments below!

Isaiah 55:1-9
Come to the waters, God's abundance is free for all, listen and live, seek God while near

*Taizé Let all who are thirsty come (Taizé) A lovely simple chant. Sheet music, sound samples for learning.
*Online Resource Dry (Somerville) An excellent song seeking refreshment from the living water and grace of Christ. It will need a little time for teaching, or ask your musicians to sing it. We used this at Brunswick on Ash Wednesday. Sound sample and sheet music.
BUC Song Project Broken (Loukes) This song seeking God's open arms at the end of a dry journey fits this reading well.
G(3)815 The Thirsty Cry for Water Lord (Stuempfle / Haugen) Excellent words. The tune is pretty straightforward. Lead sheet.Sound sample.
AoV1-074 Come To The Water (Andersen) A beautiful paraphrase of this reading. Familiar to many, but easy to sing if not. It is not entirely inclusive. Lyrics.
*Tune In / NCYC 2009 / ATAR598God has laid a feasting table / Invitation (Whelan). Feminine imagery of God gathering her guests to a feasting table. Sample and songbook.
*W&R655 / URW202 Come Away from Rush and Hurry (Dawn) Excellent words of resting in a sacred space to the familiar tune BEACH SPRING (TiS 493) Lyrics.New words to old tunes
*StS060 / G(II)538 / GC743 / GC(II)740 / G(3)842 / URW055 / Online Resource Come to me come to us you who are burdened (Cooney) Very lovely, simple, welcoming song. Sound sample, and music for purchase.
AoV1-151 / GtG479 / GA400 / G(II)350 / GC504 / GC(II)499 / RS 642Oh Everyone Who Thirsts (To Everyone That Thirsts) / Come to the feast (Haugen) Dramatic call and congregational response. This could be a lot of fun - don't try to do all the verses though... lyrics and sheet music sample. Sound sample (I'd probably do it more energetically than this sample).
TiS 34 O Lord you are my God for you I long (Dunn) Quite a nice paraphrase. Tune is not easy, but good once known.
AoVNG30/ SP&P016 / Srce2-24 All who are thirsty for justice / Come to the Water (Makeever) Nice song, and I really like the lyrics. A good song to be sung by the musicians to welcome the congregation, or before communion. Could be schmaltzy if you're not careful. Lyrics and sound sample.
VU870 / CP419 / W&R25 / URW069 Let all creation bless the Lord (Daw) A very majestic hymn (the to tune MIT FREUDEN ZART). A good opening hymn. Lyrics & sheet music.New words to old tunes
ATW 435Like the woman of old / Wellsprings 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.
*Taizé / MV102 / GC(II)648 / GC(3)752Jesus your spirit in us (Taizé) "Jesus your spirit in us is a wellspring of life everlasting" Lyrics in English and German. Sheet music sample. Very very slow sound sample. You know, Taize music is not necessarily slow. When one of the brothers visited here, he strongly encouraged us not to be so slow!
ATW 475Come to the banquet there’s a place for you. An excellent song by Melbourne singer and songwriter Faye White. "Though you maybe have no money, though you maybe feel unworthy, in your strength and in your weakness you are welcome, come." Good for kids.

Psalm 63:1-8
Thirst for God, being satisfied. You have been my help, shadow of your wings, my soul clings to you. A lot of the songs for the Isaiah reading fit with the Psalm this week.

CH142 A small thing like a hazelnut Really nice words and a simple tune. Song about God's love for all things and all people. Good for kids.
G(II)59 / GC63 As Morning Breaks / I Long for You (Balhoff) A simple cantor and response Psalm. Sound sample .
BUC Song Project Broken (Loukes) This song seeking God's open arms at the end of a dry journey fits this reading well.
BUC Song ProjectSearching alone / Safe (Potter & Potter) This is a lovely simple and reassuring song. BUC only so far...
URW281 In the shadow of your wings (Joncas) A nice response - it has two sets of words.
*Taizé / MV102 / GC(II)648 / GC(3)752Jesus your spirit in us (Taizé) "Jesus your spirit in us is a wellspring of life everlasting" Lyrics in English and German. Sheet music sample. Very very slow sound sample. You know, Taize music is not necessarily slow. When one of the brothers visited here, he strongly encouraged us not to be so slow!
GA043 / G(II)58 / GC62 / GC(II)42 / G(3)058 / URW280 / Lau213 O God I Seek You (Haugen) Nice cantor and refrain. Maybe a bit too mushy for some. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Sound sample.
*MV073 / LBW320 / ELW632 / GC(II)570 / G(3)668 O God Why Are You Silent? (Haugen) Excellent seeking words expressing grief and fear and the absence of God. Sung to the familiar PASSION CHORALE. Lyrics, sample sheet music. Sheet music sample.New words to old tunes
*Iona (Common Ground, Ps) / CH43 / GtG696 / PfAS063B / URW284 O God You Are My God (Bell) Good words of longing for God to a strong hymn tune (RESIGNATION). Lyrics (downloads PDF - scroll through). New words to old tunes
TiS 48 / AoV1-153 / ATOK 411 / VU808 / WoV779 / ELW787 / GA452 / HPP385 / GtG043 / G(II)433 / GC611 / GC(II)593 / G(3)691 / CP531 / W&R438 / PfAS091E / Cha077 / Lau952 You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord / On Eagle's Wings (Joncas) This is a big favourite all over the place. It has masculine imagery for God. This doesn't have to be sung slowly and meditatively - it also works very well as a more upbeat song. If it is not familiar to you, a cantor can be used for the verses. It is not inclusive. Lyrics.
*ATE 216 / Iona (SBL) / CH126 / StJ / ELW555 / PH472 / G(II)365 / GC527 / RS 671 / CP417 / W&R15 / StF042 O sing to the Lord / Cantai ao Senhor / Cantad al Señor (Traditional Brazilian) A good, fun and simple song that is easy to learn in Portuguese or Spanish too; note that not all versions are inclusive. Sheet music samples. Good for kids!
*CH720 / A&M409 / GtG470 / G(3)653 / SP204 / Lau941 There is a longing in our hearts O Lord (Quigley) Good words of longing for God's love, justice, wisdom, healing. A good song for before, during or after intercessions.
TiS 47 / AHB 46 / AoV1-175 / NCH25 / CH161 / UMH117 / VU806 / LBW504 / 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 (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 sound sample.Oldy-but-a-goody.

1 Corinthians 10:1-13
You've got to live right.

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.
ATW 505 Whatever you do (Ylvisaker) Simple and fun. Good for kids.
*TiS 494 / W&R678 / Cha375 In water we grow (Wren) Great words, especially if you have a baptism this week. Tune is quite straightforward. Lyrics.
Taizé / CH801 / MV170 / StJ / GtG205 / WoV665 / ELW642 / SFFS 2179 / GC408 / GC(II)430 / G(3)500 / CP553 / W&R399 / Cha523 / URW394/ StF783 / Lau244b Live in charity / Ubi Caritas (Taizé) Usually sung in Latin, but can also be sung just as beautifully as "Live in charity and steadfast love, live in charity; God will dwell with you."Sheet music and sound samples for practice. Good for kids.
ATA 169 Doin' it all to the glory of God (Boucher) Very silly and great fun for kids. Good for kids.
Recorded MusicHoly boldness (Caesar) Listen to this!! Cafe at the Gate of Salvation also recorded this.

Luke 13:1-9
Patience and care for the fruitless fig tree; God's patience with us.

*Tune in:Jesus is waiting(Brown) An honest catchy rock song about our hesitation to follow and Jesus not only waiting, but continuing to work and change the world. A good sending-out song. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook. Good for teenagers.
The tide has turned songbook Love and joy peace and patience / Fruit of the spirit (Hannah) Good words. Groovy chorus. Straightforward for congregational singing.
*NCH586 Come to tend God's garden (Dalles) Good words of growing a garden of justice and mercy. Sung to a simple English tune. Lyrics, and a nice way of singing it (scroll).
StS116I saw a tree by the riverside / The Tree Song(Ken Medema) A great kid’s song about roots growing down to the water, and leaves growing up to the sunshine, and bearing fruit, and all that great stuff. Good for kids. Older style recording (Evie Tornquist!)Lyrics.
*AoV2-006 / The tide has turned Deeper River / There's a river running deep within the silence of our souls (Digby Hannah). An excellent song of restoration for tired desert-like souls. Lyrics.
Online ResourceOne day the news was grim (Winfrey Gillette) Excellent lyrics that have a good take on this passage and the way we always ask questions to try and understand what is difficult. Sung to the familiar tune LEONI. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.

Got any ideas of your own for any of these readings? Please add them in the comments below!

Joshua 5:9-12
No more manna; food provided from the land. New relationship with God. Arrival. Settlement. Safety.

URW061 Bring us home on love's renewing tide (Romney) A lovely gentle song, that is very very easy to sing.
ATW 487 Make your home in me (White) A simple beautiful invitation. Written by Melbourne songwriter and teacher, Fay White. “If you fly to the point of the day’s sunrise or westward across the sea, if you travel to the uttermost ends of the earth, there I will be; Make your home in me as I make my home in you. I am everywhere that you can be. Make your home in me”.
Liturgy for the Whole Church p86 When life is dry and hot like a desert / God's love will bring you home (Bock) A simple song.
*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 (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."Sound sample and lyrics. Oldy-but-a-goody.
*CH230 / VU517 / StF126 Praise God for the harvest of orchard and field A thoroughly modern harvest thanksgiving hymn, which would work for any service, not just a harvest thanksgiving. I would actually sing this to BONNIE GEORGE CAMPBELL (TiS 624), by just adding a single note anacrusis at the start of each line. Lyrics and a different tune sample.New words to old tunes.
Online Resource A whole lot of harvest festival songs for kids (various) This site might be useful for finding some songs for kids that follow up on the idea of food coming from the land. More suitable for a harvest festival, and certainly good for kids. The Harvest Samba is pretty cool, but yes, festival-focussed - it depends on how solemn you get for Lent, I reckon.
*CH763 / MV193 God bless to us our bread (Traditional Argentinian) A lovely simple grace for meals and for communion. More Voices has Spanish and French lyrics as well as English. "God bless to us our bread, and give bread to all those who are hungry, and hunger for justice to those who are fed. God bless to us our bread". This would be very appropriate if you are celebrating communion this week. Sound sample (Track 1). Good for kids.

Psalm 32
Forgiveness
You could sing a Kyrie (lots listed here). Some of them are good for kids.

Tune In / NCYC '07:Forgive us now (Brown). “As we forgive may we be healed, as we reach out….” An excellent ballad. Lyrics and sound sample.
Tune In: Making things new (Sheree Anderson). A groovy one. Great for kids, and lots of fun. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook.
BUC Song Project Broken (Loukes) This song seeking God's open arms at the end of a dry journey fits this reading well.
Cha739 Be glad in God and rejoice (Smith) Responsive psalm with joyous sung refrain.
*MV095 How deep the peace (Bauman / Good) Simple song. Would work particularly well as words of assurance after the prayers of confession.
G(II)42 / GC44 I Turn to You in time of trouble (Cooney) A quite nice inclusive cantor and response. Lyrics and sheet music. Sound sample.
*TiS 417 / AoV2-133 / ATW 448 / VU387 / StJ / WoV683 / ELW397 / AA94 / HPP237 / GtG293 / PH323 / CP657 / W&R135 / Cha244 / URW203 / StB220Loving Spirit, Loving Spirit (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. Free sheet music and lyrics.
Emergent Psalter Show me which way to go (Everett) Simple refrain. Sheet music (refrain only).
*StS066 / PfAS032C While I keep silence (Wright) A very mournful song based on this Psalm. Best for a meditative service; this will not suit all congregations, but there is something quite compelling about it, and maybe particularly good for Lent.
TiS 754 / SFFS 2055 / HPP457 / Cha554 / PfAS032B / Srce2-686 / MP793 You are my hiding-place (Ledner) Very mushy, but somehow very satisfying and soothing. Particularly mushy sound sample and lyrics.Good for kids.
*ATW 463 / Iona (T1AU) / ELW721 / SFFS 2219 / A&M835 / GtG750 / GC(II)451 / G(3)528 / W&R296 / URW436Goodness is stronger than evil(Tutu / Iona) Words from Archbishop Desmond Tutu. "Victory is ours, victory is ours, through him who loves us". Some congregations change the last line to "Compassion is ours, compassion is ours...". It depends on the context in which you sing it, I suppose. Sound sample. Good for kids.

2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Everything old has passed away. Ministry of reconciliation. Haven’t made it yet.
Note that I will suggest some of these songs again for the Isaiah reading next week. This may be a good time to introduce a new song, because the theme will still fit next week.

*AoV2-085 / Iona (T1AU) / MV115 / A&M328 / SP129Behold behold I Make All Things New (Bell) A nice hopeful upbeat short song. Highly recommended. Sound sample (scroll down) Good for kids.
*Tune In: Making things new (Anderson) A groovy one. Great for kids, and lots of fun. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook. Good for kids.
AA019 / GA354 Church of the living Christ (Murray) Good words, and interesting call and response for most of the song. It would need to be learned before singing it. An alternative is to sing it to DARWALL'S 148th which is in most standard hymnals (Thanks to Margaret Ann for the suggestion).New words to old tunes.
TiS 683 / WoV735 / ELW603 / W&R416 / StF649 God when human bonds are broken (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.
*TiS 671 / AoV2-121 Made in God's Likeness (Lewis/Spence) Excellent Australian imagery. This is one of my very favourite songs. It is not difficult if you have a good musician at the helm. If it is new to your congregation, they will be able to join in on the verses by the time you get to the 3rd one. The change in tone with the verse really lifts this song. Good for kids.
*TiS 688 Come to be our hope O Jesus (Marachin) This is a really fun Latin American song from the World Council of Churches Assembly in Canberra. It's not easy the first time, but once you've heard it, it's very catchy and good for kids. The words are really excellent, despite a slightly clunky translation. Use some maracas. It would be worth teaching to your congregation! Good for kids.
*ATA 200 / CH530 / VU639 / A&M757 / CP(E) 548 / URW109 One more step along the world I go (Carter) A good fun kid's song from Sydney Carter which many of their parents will remember. "And it's from the old I travel to the new, keep me travelling along with you". Lyrics and a really slow and clunky sound sample.Good for kids.
*NCH387 / GtG361 / PH443 / GC(II)646 / RS782 / CP524 / Lau829 O Christ the great foundation (Lew) Excellent words of salvation and justice from Timothy Tingfang Lew, sung to the tune of "The church's one foundation" (AURELIA) which is in all standard hymnals. LyricsThere is a second possible tune (ABREU), which is more challenging. Note that the lyrics in the NCH are slightly different, and more inclusive. New words to old tunes.
*TiS 687 God gives us a future (Smith) Great words to a very easy hymn tune. Careful not to let it get the tune get too pompous; the words are not! "God gives us a future, daring us to go into dreams and dangers on a path unknown. We will face tomorrow in the Spirit's power, we will let God change us for new life starts now!". Lyrics here (scroll down). The hymn has been split into to two parts to include the blessing and words of mission. New words to old tunes.
*TiS 217 / AHB 148 / NCH43 / CH519 / UMH384 / VU333 / A&M721 / LBW315 / ELW631 / A&M721 / GA463 / HPP48 / GtG366 / PH376 / GC622 / GC(II)613 / G(3)641 / CP485/6 / CP(E) 516 / W&R358 / Cha517 / Srce457 / URW100 / 82Hml-657 / Lau801 Love divine all loves excelling (Wesley) Can't possibly sing this song too often! A beautiful classic song and most hymnals use a very inclusive version of this hymn, even the AHB! "Joy of heaven" *sigh*, so lovely! Lyrics and sound sample.You may also like to give Rend Collective Experiment's version a listen (hard to sing, but nice for listening). Oldy-but-a-goody.

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Prodigal Son. I came to call sinners. Jesus heals. Which is easier, to heal or forgive sins?

*TiS 129 / AHB 56 / AoV1-029 / ATA 131 / NCH547 / CH555 / UMH378 / VU266 / LBW448 / ELW779 / A&M587 / GA437 / HPP334 / GtG649 / PH280 / G(II)434 / GC612 / GC(II)586 / G(3)645 / CP352 / CP(E) 375 / W&R422 / Cha546 / ZSS202 / Srce25 / Lau846 / StF440 / MP031 Amazing grace how sweet the sound (Newton) I once was lost... I think you all know this one. Nice youtube of some Sacred Harp singing, and a story.And a new video of Gurrumul singing it in Yolngu with Paul Kelly. Oldy-but-a-goody.
*TiS 693 / AoV1-031 / GA212 Come as you are that's how I want you (Browne) This song is beautiful, gentle, simple, and very well known (in Australia, at least!). "I came to call sinners, not just the virtuous". Lyrics. Slow and mushy sound sample. A good song to start the service.
BUC Song Project Broken (Loukes) This song seeking God's open arms at the end of a dry journey fits this reading well.
NCH583 / StJ / GtG044 Like a mother who has borne us (Bechtel) Very easy and intuitive tune. Beautiful words of the way that God comforts us as mother and father, and how God walks with us when we help others.
ATE 284 / VU395 Come in, come in and sit down (Manley) A fun song. Great for kids. Teenagers think it's tacky, and sometimes I agree with them, because it's not very sophisticated. Lyrics (downloads a pdf). Good for kids.
*Tune In / NCYC 2009 / ATAR598God has laid a feasting table / Invitation (Whelan). Feminine imagery of God gathering her guests to a feasting table. Fun Cuban rhythm. Particularly good if you are celebrating communion, but you don't need to be for it to make sense. Sample and songbook. Good for teenagers.
*MV020 God of still waiting (Daw) Good words about God waiting for us and the promise brought by the Spirit. Tune is quite beautiful, and will need to be taught at least a little. Lyrics.
*ATN 77 / G(II)542 / GC749 O Welcome All You Noble Saints of Old / In Christ There Is a Table Set for All The Gather hymnals use "In Christ there is a table set for all" which is much more inclusive than "God and man at table are sat down". Good for celebration of communion Older style lyrics. Good for kids.
NCH202 / VU112 / StS058 O God how we have wandered (Nichols) This song is particularly suited to this reading. The words are difficult, and would require some sensitivity to those who would "the evil that we do" so condemning that they would find it hard to get to the beautiful words of compassion in the third verse. Each source has a different tune. It fits particularly nicely to PASSION CHORALE. New words to old tunes.
*TiS 179 / NCH273 / VU312 / StJ / GA739 / URW073 Praise with Joy the World's Creator One of my favourite hymns - strongly Trinitarian lyrics and excellent imagery. Lyrics (scroll down or search).New words to old tunes.
Online resource Joy in the Presence (Harding) A very simple little refrain. Could work well at a couple of points in the service. Sample and available here.
Online resource All we asked you gave and more (Gibson) Excellent words sung to a simple American folk tune. Lyrics. Sheet music.
Recorded MusicOur Father is Waiting (Malcolm Gordon) A nurturing song of welcome from a loving father. Sound sample and purchase options.
Recorded MusicHow can we be at home? (Malcolm Gordon) A searching song asking how we can find peace when our family (either church or biological) is incomplete. Sound sample and purchase options.

Have I missed a song you would like to share? Please join the conversation by adding a comment.

Isaiah 43:16-21
God's going to do a new thing, and the animals will like it too.

*AoV2-007 / AoVNG110 See I Make All Things New (O'Brien, Watts) I really love this song. “New, as night turns to morning, the spirit is calling I’m with you, I make all things new”. A nice acapella sound sample. I usually play it with more of a jazz feel.
*AoV2-085 / Iona (T1AU) / MV115 / A&M328 / SP129Behold behold I Make All Things New (Bell) A nice hopeful upbeat short song. Highly recommended. Sound sample (scroll down) Good for kids.
*Tune In Making things new (Anderson) A groovy one. Great for kids, and lots of fun. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook. Good for kids.
*ATA 200 / CH530 / VU639 / A&M757 / CP(E) 548 / URW109 / StF476 One more step along the world I go (Carter) A good fun kid's song from Sydney Carter which many of their parents will remember. "And it's from the old I travel to the new, keep me travelling along with you". Lyrics and a really slow and clunky sound sample.Good for kids.
*TiS 671 / AoV2-121 Made in God's Likeness (Lewis/Spence) Excellent Australian imagery. This is one of my very favourite songs. It is not difficult if you have a good musician at the helm. If it is new to your congregation, they will be able to join in on the verses by the time you get to the 3rd one. The change in tone with the verse really lifts this song. Lyrics (search for "Made in").
Cha054 The First Day of Creation is dawning in the soul (Troeger) Excellent words, about the new creation of our souls. Tune is not immediately simple, but to sing these words it would be worth spending some time learning this tune. Perhaps ask your musicians to present this to your congregation if it's not familiar. Lyrics.
AoV1-114 / HPP376 / G(II)430 / GC608 / GC(II)596 / G(3)683 / W&R430 / Lau964 You shall cross the barren desert / Be not afraid (Dufford) Beautiful words. Well known (at least, the chorus). Verses may be tricky. Lyrics.

Psalm 126
Those who sow in tears shall reap with joy

AoV1-021 / ATOK 402 / StS114 / G(II)488 / GC682 / GC(II)669 / G(3)761 / Lau858 / MP830 God Has Chosen Me (Farrell) Energetic, and great words of justice. We used to sing this a lot, but not so much lately. Can be rocky or smooth, however you like it. Good for kids. Sound sample and lyrics.
*Shout for Joy (Psalm Project) When we share God's dream (Bruxvoort-Colligan) Nice words, especially if you read Desmond Tutu's book to the kids this week. Sound sample & purchasing options. Good for kids.
SFFS 2182 / CP583 / GtG074 / PfAS126E When God Restored Our Common Life (Duck) Good words, based on Ps 126 to a familiar fairly upbeat hymn tune (RESIGNATION).
*Iona (Common Ground) / CH257 Singing we gladly worship the Lord together (Traditional Guatemalan) This song has a simple and energetic chorus with a great rhythm, and sings of us "sowing seeds of peace and love" in a troubled world. Good for kids.
Linnea Good It was a dream (Bauman / Good) A simple Psalm refrain.
TiS 177 / VU614 / Cha212In suffering love the thread of life (Johns / WALSALL) A more sombre choice, but comforting.
*TiS 670 / SiS569 / AoVK-138 / ATE 258 / CH692 / Srce385 / MP376Jesus put this song into our hearts (Kendrick) A fun Yiddish tune that gets even more fun if you get faster and faster as you go. Try teaching your congregation a simple side to side “dance” step. If you teach them and make it clear that it’s okay, you’ll be surprised how many people will join in. Good for kids.Youtube.Lyrics
Shout for Joy (Psalm Project) Rivers in the desert (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A nice way to present this Psalm to the congregation; this would work well during the offering.
PfAS126B Those who sow in tears (Ladies of the Grail) A simple Psalm refrain. Nice chords.
*PfAS126A / URW325When God first brought us back from exile (Daw) Good words based on the Psalm, and it's sung to WAYFARING STRANGER, which is a very cool tune. Lyrics. New words to old tunes (if you're in the USA)
Online resource:Those who sow in tears (Harding) A simple, joyful round. Available here. Good for kids.
URW327Wondrous God bring us back to you (Peacock) A simple Psalm prayer. No music. It's just a beautiful little prayer.
*NCH461Let us hope when hope seems hopeless (Beebe) A lilting tune and good words of hope in the face of difficulty. A song of a maturing faith. Sound sample (long introduction).
VU023 / CP104 Joy shall come even to the wilderness (Israeli traditional) Advent A traditional Israeli song. Excellent words and the tune is cool. Lyrics.
*G(II)110 / GC124 / GC(II)69 / URW326God Has Done Great Things for Us (Haugen) Lovely words “God has done great things for us. Filled us with laughter and music”. I really like this. Both the cantor part and the refrain are inclusive. Would work well also with the Psalm being read between the refrains. Sheet music and sound sample.

Philippians 3:4b-14
Righteousness through faith, and striving for something...

*Tune In: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 songbook.
*BUC Song ProjectAlways amazed (Brown) A hopeful song of seeking faith, and being inspired by stories like Paul's. This is new to BUC, so perhaps ask the musicians to present it?
TiS 382 / AoV2-131 / ATN 15 / NCH238 / CH417 / UMH311 / VU186 / LBW280 / ELW570 / GA364 / A&M212 / HPP210 / GtG247 / G(II)318 / GC444 / GC(II)456 / G(3)534 / CP237 / CP(E) 153 / W&R311 / Cha230 / 82Hml-204 / Lau278 / StF306Now the green blade rises(NOEL NOUVELET) I love these words and this simple French folk tune. I particularly like this played to guitar, but TiS has an excellent piano arrangement too. Lyrics and tune sample. New words to old tunes
*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) 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, tune and a little of the story. Oldy-but-a-goody.
AoV2-033 / VU647 Travel on travel on (Sydney Carter) I think this old folk song would work well to pick up the theme of "pressing on". Lyrics and chords here.
TiS 687 God gives us a future (Smith) Great words to a very easy hymn tune. Careful not to let it get the tune get too pompous; the words are not! "God gives us a future, daring us to go into dreams and dangers on a path unknown. We will face tomorrow in the Spirit's power, we will let God change us for new life starts now!". Lyrics here (scroll down). Notice how the hymn has been split into to parts to include the blessing and words of mission.
*MV125 When a grain of wheat / Hitotsubu no (Kagawa) This is a lovely chant. It will need to be taught as it's a Japanese melody and the timing is unfamiliar to Western ears, but once known it should be quite straightforward to sing. Sheet music.
*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. Good for kids.
*NCH497 / SFFS 2208 / GtG741 / PH354 / G(II)508 / GC707 / GC(II)684 G(3)780 / CP513 / ZSS141Guide my feet while I run this race An excellent civil rights song. Would work well as a meditative prayer for guidance or as an uplifting call to action at the end of the service.You could also make up your own lyrics. Lyrics.Good for kids.
Worldmaking.netO Author of Faith yet at work in our hearts (Bruxvoort-Colligan) New words to an old tune “O Jesus our Christ, lead the way for our faith to give perseverance for running the race. You’ve gone on ahead for to stake out a claim. We trust in the journey and look for your footsteps. O Jesus our Christ, lead the way for our faith!” Lyrics and sound sample
*TiS 412 / AHB 324 / ATE 251 / G(II)328 / GC468 / CP651 / W&R130God sends us the Spirit to befriend and help us / Spirit Friend I like this song from Malawi, but the lack of inclusive language for God sometimes drives me a bit crazy. In Tom Colvin's book "Come Let us walk this road together" he uses more inclusive language than many hymnals that include this song. That is, he writes “God sends us the Spirit” instead of “God sends us His Spirit” and "Spirit of our Maker" rather than “Spirit of our Father”. Good for kids.Less inclusive lyrics and a strange sound sample
*TiS 599 / AHB 520 / NCH448 / CH502 / UMH399 / VU506 / LBW406 / ELW685 / A&M787 / HPP349 / GtG697 / PH391 / CP435 / CP(E) 581 / W&R466 / Cha609 / Srce633 / 82Hml-707 / Lau874 / StF566 / MP624 Take my life and let it be (Havergal) An oldy but a goody. Lyrics and tune sample. 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 (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. Here's an older version with the slow organ. Yeah, the slow organ is nice too, I suppose, but I really like it about twice that speed... Oldy-but-a-goody.

John 12:1-8
Mary anoints Jesus' feet with oil

NCH210 / VU129 Said Judas to Mary (Carter) Great words to a simple folk tune. Lyrics.
NCH206 A woman came who did not count Tune is tricky and will need to be taught, but it's quite beautiful and haunting when you know it. Or you could ask your musicians to present it during the offering. Terribly out of focus video, but the sound is good, and the lyrics are listed.
TiS 696 / VU590 / CP463 / GtG201 / W&R585 A prophet-woman broke a jar (Wren) A song celebrating women in Biblical story and in our lives. The tune is good, and will need to be played through to your congregation before singing it, but just once should be OK. Lyrics.
*Taizé / TiS 739 / NCH772 / AoV2-041 / ATOK 404 / VU290 / GA269 / SFFS 2054 / GtG820 / G(II)451 / GC639 / GC(II)626 / G(3)733 / CP568 / W&R421 / URW388 / Lau947 Nothing Can Trouble / Nada te turbe (Berthier) 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.
*TiS 748 / GtBThere once was a man as mean as could be (Hannah) Good song for kids and great for this passage. Lyrics (scroll down) Good for kids.
ATFG547 At the table in his honour (Mann) Yeah. I think this would be good. "Make our passion always new".
*Iona From a high secret shelf / I will give what I have (Iona) Beautiful words based on this passage; tune is not easy, so it may be best sung by a soloist. Lyrics. Sound sample.
And now, the video for "Everything's Alright" from Jesus Christ Superstar. I just love this movie.

What will you be singing? Please join the conversation by adding a comment below!

Acts 5:27-32
The apostles get in trouble for teaching about Jesus, who gives forgiveness

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.
*AoV2-102 / GA509 Who will speak if we don't (Haugen) Excellent challenging words. Good for teenagers.Sheet music sample (chorus only). Sound sample.Lyrics.
*Taizé / A&M834 / 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.
*Tune In: O Spirit God / In the shape of a cross (Dave Brown) Puts our forgiveness in a global context. A cry to God for help and a call for God to enter our world. Reference recording, lyrics and songbook.
*Tune In: Our God who weeps (Kate Scull) Very simple folk-like tune and challenging and hopeful lyrics. Reference recording, lyrics, songbook. A beautiful song and easy to sing.
*CH348 / StS001 / LBW196 / ELW843 / A&M762 / G(3)625 / CP397 / W&R93 / SP304 / URW090 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness (Edwards) Good words of Christ's ministry to all. Can be sung to the familiar tune NETTLETON, or the less familiar and very lovely tune JOEL. Lyrics. New words to old tunes

Psalm 118:14-29
God’s steadfast love, This is the day that the Lord has made, The stone that the builders rejected…
Any Holy, holy, holy / Sanctus will work well.

TiS 74 / GA070 This is the day the Lord has made (Willcock) Unusual timing in this refrain, but once you've nailed it, it will be stuck in your head for the rest of the week, which is what I like about Psalm refrains.
VU175 This is the day that God has made (Sleeth) Good for kids especially
MV122 / Online Resource This is the day (Harding) This is a really simple nice jazzy song. Sound sample. Sample sheet music. Good for kids.
PfAS118D This is the day the lord has made (Patterson) A good 7/8 setting of the Psalm. It will need to be taught, but will be enjoyed.
*Cry Hosanna 14This, this is the day (Brian Howard) I really like this song. Here are the lyrics, but I can't even share a tune with you. If anyone out there recognises the lyrics, I'd love it if you could share the source. Here's a youtube version; a little more strident than I would sing it, but it will give you an idea.
G(II)102 / GC114 / GC(II)65 / G(3)081 This is the day the Lord has made (Let Us Rejoice) (Haugen) Joyful and sort of minstrelly. Verses should be sung by a cantor. The same tune can be used for Alleluias for this Psalm when it is not Palm Sunday. Sound sample. Sample sheet music.
Taizé / MV016 / StJ / ELW528 / GA430 / SFFS 2157 / HPP410 / G(II)398 / GC570 / GC(II)550 / RS710 / CP402 / URW378 Come and Fill our hearts/ Confitemini Domino Can be sung in English as "Come and fill our hearts with your peace, you alone O God are holy. Come and fill our hearts with your peace, Alleluia". Sound samples and sheet music.
*NCH387 / PH443 / GC(II)646 / RS782 / CP524 / Lau829 O Christ the great foundation (Lew) Excellent words of salvation and justice from Timothy Tingfang Lew, sung to the tune of "The church's one foundation" (AURELIA). New words to old tunesLyrics
*MV187 / ELW682 We give our thanks / Reamo leboga (Traditional Botswana) A great song to sing for the offering. Video of some guys and a keyboard having fun with it. Good for kids.
TiS 48 / AoV1-153 / ATOK 411 / VU808 / WoV779 / ELW787 / GA452 / HPP385 / GtG043 / G(II)433 / GC611 / GC(II)593 / G(3)691 / CP531 / W&R438 / PfAS091E / Cha077 / Lau952 You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord / On Eagle's Wings (Joncas) This is a big favourite all over the place. It has masculine imagery for God. This doesn't have to be sung slowly and meditatively - it also works very well as a more upbeat song. If it is not familiar to you, a cantor can be used for the verses. It is not inclusive. Lyrics.
*TiS 653 / NCH417 / CH526 / UMH383 / GC(II)453 / W&R355 / Cha518 This is a day of new beginnings "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 from Brian Wren. A good start to the Easter season. 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.
TiS 156 / AHB 91 / AoV1-135 / ATA 123 / CH212 / UMH145 / VU409 / ELW556 / HPP267 / HPSS469 / G(II)546 / GC756 / GC(II)748 / G(3)855 / CP003 / W&R35 / Cha053 / URW186 / 82Hml-008 / Lau671Morning has broken (Farjeon) This song makes me smile every time. Here's Yusuf Islam (when he was Cat Stevens) in 1976 (love those green boots).
PH484 Sing with Hearts (Malicsi) Sung to a traditional Kalinga melody, this song is a good one for celebrating music and dance in worship. It is quite simple, even if unfamiliar to Western ears.
Iona (We walk his way) / G(3)517 / StF775We walk his way / Ewe Thina A joyful, simple African song. I'm guessing it's from South Africa. Sound sample.
*Taizé / TiS 747 / ATE 214 / Iona (M&G) / GtG842 / PfAS027A / URW393The Lord is my light, my light and salvation A simple and very popular Taizé chant. Note that this is really easy on recorder if you have a kid in your congregation who is learning it. Good for kids. Youtube.
Iona (WWHW) / MV223 We will go with God / Sizohamba naye (Traditional Swaziland) A simple song from Swaziland. Good for the end of the service. Video with pronunciation and parts. It would be good to sing this at Brunswick again, it was introduced a couple of weeks ago. Note that MV has a different translation. Good for kids.
MV045 / SP&P051 Hamba nathi (Zulu). There are a lot of translations of this song. I particularly like "Come walk with us, the journey is long". Sheet music. Lyrics. Good for kids
Linnea Good / MV008And on this path (Good) An energetic gospel style song. Here's a youtube video. We sing it much slower than this and as a gospel style song with big chords and a groovy bass part. I thought I'd never say that we sing something slower than anyone!

Alternative Psalm: Psalm 150
Praise the Lord with lots of musical instruments

*TiS 715 Everything that has breath (Traditional Czech) A lovely simple round. I can't believe I've never noticed this one before. Would be a really nice relaxing start to worship.Good for kids.
TiS 179 / NCH273 / VU312 / StJ / GA739 / URW073 Praise with Joy the World's Creator One of my favourite hymns - strongly Trinitarian lyrics and excellent imagery; note that newer books (e.g. URW) have slightly different lyrics. Older lyrics (scroll down or search).New words to old tunes
CH152 / HPP5 / GtG033 / PH481 / StF084 Praise the Lord His Glories Show / Praise the Lord God's Glories Show (Lyte) Quite nice traditional hymn with lots of Alleluias. Not all versions are inclusive (GtG & NCH are).
TiS 242 / AHB 183 / AoV1-018 / ATN 27 / CH404 / UMH261 / VU352 / A&M667 / HPP163 / GtG157 / PH302 / G(II)481 / GC708 / GC(II)689 / G(3)796 / CP(E) 468 / W&R118 / Lau765 / StF247I danced in the morning / Lord of the Dance (Carter / SIMPLE GIFTS). Lyrics and tune sample.“I danced to the fishermen, to James and John….”. You all know this one, right? Good for kidsOldy-but-a-goody.
URW371 Tell God's wonders (Lyle) A simple refrain to a reponsive reading of this Psalm.
TiS 720 / AHB 295 / AoVK-85 / AoV2-046 / ATOK 319 / NCH236 / Iona (Many & Great, There is one among us) / CH345 / VU958 / StJ / A&M836 / SFFS 2026 / HPP571 / GtG591 / GC(II)261 / G(3)329 / W&R005 / Cha041 / ZSS76 / SP324 / PfAS150G / URW370 / Lau178 Halle halle hallelujah (Traditional Caribbean) A good Alleluia would work well for this passage, and I think this one is particularly excellent – simple, great for kids, good rhythm. PfAS uses it as a Psalm refrain which would work well for any translation of the Psalm. Good for kids.Sound sample.
TiS 187 / AoV2-130 / CH149 / StS122 / A&M539 / SP247Let all creation dance I just love the imagery of this one, and it's a very joyous and familiar hymn tune too. LyricsNew words to old tunes
*VU242 / LBW557 / ELW881 / GtG037 / PH554 / GC567 / GC(II)551 / G(3)635 / CP403 / W&R22 / Cha717 Let All Things Now Living (Davis) Lovely lyrics to the well known and quite jolly Welsh folk tune ASH GROVE. Not all sources are inclusive. Lyrics (older version). New words to old tunes
CH169 / VU245 / SFFS 2020 / HPP26 / CP309 Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet Praise the Lord (Sleeth) Fun. Good for kids. Good if you have extra instruments at your worship service; be careful not to let it get clunky.
*PfAS150D Alabad a nuestro Dios (Sorian) Lovely song from Mexico - best if sung energetically. Can be sung in Spanish or English.
*TiS 188 Where wide sky rolls down and touches red sand (Smith) Great Australian imagery sung to a familiar hymn tune. Sound sample. Lyrics (page 17) New words to old tunes
*StB040 / GtG617 / PfAS150C Blest be God praised forever (Anonymous) A setting of the Psalm from Pakistan. It is partly call and response, but not completely, so will need to be taught, unless you have the congregation only join in the repetitive parts. Great to get kids involved with finger cymbals or a simple drum beat. PfAS doesn't give a tempo, but StB indicates crotchet (quarter note) = 140.
AoVK-50 / ATW 430 / NCYC'99 Come let us praise our God / A voice is heard (Trisha Watts) Excellent and energetic. Good for kids.

Revelation 1:4-8
John's vision of Christ coming on the clouds.

TiS 728Jesuchristo Reina reina ya! A fun Latin American song. It's particularly fun if someone is brave enough to yell out a "call" at the start of each verse.
*CH289 / GC(II)341 Lift up your heads eternal gates(Weissel / Bell) I like how this reworking of the old standard turns the violent battle kingly God image on its head and points to Christ instead. "God's catchless and majestic strength in all it's height, depth, breadth, and length, now is revealed its power to prove, by Christ protesting "God is love!". The tune is a lovely old medieval-style tune, which should not be difficult. The chorus has been written in 4 parts which would be great if you can get some singers to sing the parts, or teach your congregation the chorus before the service starts. The parts for the chorus are very simple. Sound sample.Lyrics and lead sheet.
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 278 / AHB 213 O what a gift what a wonderful gift (Uhl) When I was a kid, I thought this song rocked. Like, I really thought it was as good as rock music, and cowboys. My mum must have been good on that reed organ at our church. Anyway, I still think it's pretty cool. Not sure how much congregations get into it these days.
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 / MP670The strife is o'er the battle done There are two possible tunes for this hymn. I prefer to sing it to the tune by James Minchin (THE STRIFE IS O’ER), which is found in the Australian Hymn Book, rather than the more traditional minstrellish VULPIUS (Oldy-but-a-goody). The newer tune is pretty groovy (I loved it as a kid!), and has lots and lots of alleluias. The words also vary a lot between hymnals. So, the best would be a combination of the TiS words and the AHB tune 287 (ii). Yeah, this was my other church rock favourite of 1979.
TiS 380 / AHB 303 / NCH253 / CH419 / UMH308 / VU173 / LBW145 / ELW376 / A&M218 / HPP203 / GtG238 / PH122 / CP210 / CP(E)160 / W&R310 / Cha218 / Srce694 / Lau287 / StF313 / MP689Thine be the glory risen conquering Son(Budry) One of the few older hymns that doesn't require updating, and beautiful harmonies... A great classic hymn! Lyrics and tune. Oldy-but-a-goody.
TiS 773 / ATW 431 / NCH756 / CH760 / UMH072 / VU37 / WoV640 / GtG583 / GA291 / G(II)199 / GC(II)253 / G(3)426 / W&R240 / Cha034 / URW380 / StF752 Glory to God / Gloria Gloria (Taize) The refrain is excellent - joyous, simple, a round. Everything. The verses are not great. Good for kids.
TiS 217 / AHB 148 / NCH43 / CH519 / UMH384 / VU333 / A&M721 / LBW315 / ELW631 / A&M721 / GA463 / HPP48 / GtG366 / PH376 / GC622 / GC(II)613 / G(3)641 / CP485/6 / CP(E) 516 / W&R358 / Cha517 / Srce457 / URW100 / 82Hml-657 / Lau801 / StF503 / MP449 Love divine all loves excelling (Wesley) Can't possibly sing this song too often! A beautiful classic song and most hymnals use a very inclusive version of this hymn, even the AHB! "Joy of heaven" *sigh*, so lovely! Lyrics and sound sample.You may also like to give Rend Collective Experiment's version a listen (hard to sing, but nice for listening). Oldy-but-a-goody.
TiS 279 / AHB 212 / SFFS 2091 / HPP158 / GC487 / GC(II)494 / CP632 / Lau107 The King of glory comes the nation rejoices (Jabusch) Fun and energetic song to a traditional Israeli folk melody. A good processional. Lyrics. Good for kids.
CH452 / AA57 Great ring of light (Gibson) Beautiful words of Christ's sacrifice and the image of a clear beam of love and light. The tune is also simple and beautiful, albeit unfamiliar.
*MV106 I am the dream and you the dreamer (Tufts) A beautiful and simple song, based on images from Rilke's "The Book of Hours". I like it as a reminder that God still comes to us in dreams. It's nice because sometimes it seems like the "I" is the singer of the song, and sometimes the "I" is God.
TiS 224 / AHB 159 / TOSB004 / NCH304 / CH457 / UMH154/5 / VU334 / LBW328 / LBW329 / ELW634 / A&M223 / HPP215 / PH142/3 / GtG263 / GC485 / GC(II)490 / G(3)570 / CP321/2 / CP(E)163 / W&R100/106 / Cha091 / Cha092 / Srce9 / 82Hml-450 / StF342 / Lau323 / MP013 All hail the power of Jesus' name (Perronet) Maybe this would work. I love the tune DIADEM, but maybe the words are too obscure for people who haven't grown up in the church... Might need some words of introduction? I think if you're going to use this reading, then you may as well sing something like this one. Oldy-but-a-goody.
*URW093 Christ is the Truth the Way (Duck) Excellent words of the leadership of Christ, sung to the majestic tune DIADEMATA. This is just excellent for this Sunday! New words to old tunes
ATW 437 I have seen the Lord A good one, but my notes aren't clear about why I like it.
*MV091 Cradle me in your arms (Harding) A simple assuring chant in times of suffering. Sound sample.Sheet music sample. Purchase online.

John 20:19-31
Jesus gives peace and the Holy Spirit; Thomas.

NCH249 / GA517 Peace I leave with you my friends (Norbert) Slow, simple and excellent words. A congregation will pick this up the first time through, I think.
TiS 691 Faith will not grow from words aloneExcellent strong words of a questioning faith to a familiar hymn tune.
Tune in: We are the dream that's longing / Jesus is waiting. An honest catchy rock song about our hesitation to follow and Jesus not only waiting, but continuing to work and change the world. A good sending-out song. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook available here.
Iona (Love From Below) / CH434 / CP232 Jesus is risen from the grave (CHILDER) Good, simple rhythm and tune. You can even make up some verses if you like. Good for kids. If you missed the Thomas verse at Easter (or missed singing this song), you could sing it this week instead. Good for kids.
ATOK 343 When disciples were frightened / Jesus come and stand among us (Mann) Lyrics here.
FFS07 Bring peace to us (John Murray) A simple chant with two possible tunes. Both are good. The first is a round. "Bring peace to us, bring peace through us, O God bring peace"
*Iona (LFB) / G(II)407 / GC583 God give us peace that lasts (Bell) Lovely words and a simple hymn tune. Prayer for peace, hope and love. This can also be sung to LOVE UNKNOWN. New words to old tunes"God give us peace that lasts, not through the fear of might, but through the force of love, and love of life and right. Where costly wars and weapons lure, Show us our Lord among the poor". Lyrics, sound sample and sheet music
GC(II)722 / G(3)826 Jesus give us your peace (Mahler) Gospel song. It kind of merges personal peace with global peace. "Jesus bring us your peace, bring us together, let all the fighting cease…" Good for kids and teenagers.Lyrics and sheet music. Sound sample.
*AoV1-091 / AoVK-68 / StS016 / G(II)527 / GC729 / GC(II)720/ G(3)821 Peace before us peace behind us (Haas) love this one. Reflective. Careful not too get too schmaltzy because it's long. Less is more. It's good to do something while singing this song. I did a circle dance at church to this once upon a time, but I can't remember how it went. It works well at a walking pace. Schmaltzy and SLOW sound sample. Lead sheet.Good for kids.
*CH786 May the God of peace go with us (Jamieson) A lovely benediction to a traditional Scottish tune. "May the God of peace go with us as we travel from this place; may the love of Jesus keep us firm in hope and full of grace". It's a wee bit tricky.
NCH271 / UMH538 / VU196 / PH131 / CP249 / W&R333 / Cha236Wind who makes all winds that blow(Troeger) Excellent words. Familiar tune (ABERYSTWYTH). New words to old tunes
*GGives2 What does peace look like to you (Dyson) A really nice simple song for kids about peace. Lots of questions about what peace might mean from images of nature, to an end to war. The last verse talks about a "bridge from God to man" which could be changed to "bridge from God to us". Good for kids.
TiS 363 / AHB 281 / NCH244 / CH431 / UMH317 / VU170 / LBW514 / ELW820 / A&M213 / GtG235 / PH116 / GC423 / GC(II)446 / G(3)532 / CP228 / CP(E)154 / W&R313 / Cha220 / 82Hml-203 / Lau280 O sons and daughters let us sing(O FILII ET FILIAE) Many versions and many verses. AHB has emphasis on Thomas verses, but Gather hymnals have some nice verses about the women finding Christ risen. This tune can be really pretty cool and varies in many hymnals: plainchant, hymn or fairly majestic contemporary mass music. Older version lyrics. Oldy but a goody
NCH288 / UMH503 / Cha260 Let it breathe on me (Lewis-Butts) Simple song welcoming the Spirit. This song makes me think of sweet Southern ladies in floral dresses singing in the breeze. I have no idea why.
*MV168 May peace be with you / Salamun Kullaheen (Traditional Lebanese) Simple chant in English and Arabic.
*SP&P034 Come and fill all my life (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A gentle and very simple song. Would be good for a meditation.
*Seeds of Faith Peace Be With You (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A very simple kids song about peace, and sharing peace. Sound sample and lyrics. Good for kids.
*Tune In Peace In Our Time (Brown) A groovy bossa nova song of peace and action for peace. Lyrics. Sound sample. Songbook.
TiS 749 / AoV1-154 / AoVK-131 / ATE 305 / NCH360 / Iona (SBL, Freedom is coming) / CH800 / UMH497 / VU572 / WoV773 / ELW809 / GA493 / A&M481 / HPP340 / GtG746 / G(II)484 / GC677 / GC(II)674 / G(3)776 / W&R713 / Cha447 / SP234 / StF782 Send me Jesus / Thuma mina (South African) You all know this one, right? If you don't - it's great - simple, repetitive, and meaningful.Good for kids.Sheet music sample and lyrics. Youtube
ATOK 412 / Iona (SBL, Common Ground) / CH250 / MV212 / A&M482 / GtG747 / SFFS 2184 / Lau855 / StF239 Sent by the Lord am I / Sent out in Jesus name / Enviado soy de Dios (Traditional Cuban) Great rhythm, good words and not too hard to sing (provided you sing it a little slowly the first time!) I prefer the MV translation "Sent out in Jesus' name". Good for kids.Lyrics.
*MV139 True faith needs no defence (Damon) Simple, slightly celtic tune, and lovely words. Highly recommended.
VU185 You tell me that the Lord is risen (Johns) A good hymn to a familiar hymn tune (NOEL) that tells the story of Thomas.

Recorded music: Doubting Thomas (Nickel Creek) One of the most powerful songs I know about being a postmodern doubting but faithful Christian. Lyrics here
Recorded music:I believe (Zehnder) A great laid-back song about finding it hard to believe in the midst of difficulty and the good times too. Sounds kind of like Sting, I think. "I believe, help my unbelief". Lyrics. Sound sample.
Recorded music:Have Mercy (Sandra McCracken) This lovely chant might be good to play during a time of reflection, perhaps while people are lighting candles or contemplating the sermon.... Sound sample and purchase options. Lyrics.

What will you be singing? Join the conversation and add a comment below - especially if it is something I have not thought of.

Written, in part, at the Australian Synchrotron and the rest was written in Flagstaff Gardens, Melbourne.

Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)
Saul on the road to Damascus. Call.

*AoV1-158 / GA438 Create a new heart Holy Lord / A new heart for a new world (O'Brien/Watts) Very simple melody, excellent words "Create a new heart Holy Lord, beckon our lives through your word, open our eyes to your call, United as one for your world". Sound sample and lyrics.
W&R584 / Cha454Come Celebrate the Call of God (Wren) Good words to a lilting intuitive tune. This song is written to recognise a commissioning or the gift of a particular person's call, but it can also be sung with "our" instead of "her" to make it a song for a whole congregation.
ATOK 412 / Iona (SBL, Common Ground) / CH250 / MV212 / A&M482 / GtG747 / SFFS 2184 / Lau855 / StF239 Sent by the Lord am I / Sent out in Jesus name / Enviado soy de Dios (Traditional Cuban) Great rhythm, good words and not too hard to sing (provided you sing it a little slowly the first time!) I prefer the MV translation "Sent out in Jesus' name". Good for kids.Lyrics.
CH683 / VU420 / A&M491 / GC(II)469 / G(3)546 / GtG295 / CP598 / W&R553 / SP156 / URW132 / Lau426 / StF402 Go to the world Go into all the earth (Dunstan) Great words of sending out. Can be sung to a couple of different tunes. SINE NOMINE is the easiest and best known. Sound sample.Sheet music sample.New words to old tunes
TiS 749 / AoV1-154 / AoVK-131 / ATE 305 / NCH360 / Iona (SBL, Freedom is coming) / CH800 / UMH497 / VU572 / WoV773 / ELW809 / GA493 / A&M481 / HPP340 / GtG746 / G(II)484 / GC677 / GC(II)674 / G(3)776 / W&R713 / Cha447 / SP234 / StF782 Send me Jesus / Thuma mina (South African) You all know this one, right? If you don't - it's great - simple, repetitive, and meaningful.Good for kids.Sheet music sample and lyrics. Youtube
AoV1-166 / UMH454 / VU371 / HPP354 / PH324 / GC(II)569 / G(3)651 / SP&P161 Open My eyes Lord help me to see your face (Manibusan) Very simple devotional song; different editions vary in how inclusive they are, so check. And yeah, don't get too mushy. Lyrics. Sound samples.
*BUC Song Project Drive us out (Whelan) A spirited and lively song about being driven to new places by the Spirit.

Psalm 30
God heals. Turns mourning into dancing. Weeping may linger, but joy comes in the morning.

Emergent Psalter: You have turned my lament into dancing (Everett) I really like this simple refrain - the chords really make it work. Sheet music (go to "downloads" tab)
PH181 / GtG805Come Sing to God O Living Saints (Anderson / ELLACOMBE) Good, simple, inclusive, humble and realistic words based specifically on this Psalm. Sung to a well known hymn tune (I sing the mighty power of God). Many congregations choose to sing only the first and last verses; the middle two are much more challenging. Lyrics for 1st & last verse (search for “come sing”). New words to old tunes
Iona (There is one among us)Lord you can turn all mourning into dancing An excellent simple refrain from John Bell “Lord you can turn all mourning into dancing, evenings of grief to mornings of great joy”
TiS 647 / AoV2-012 / ATN 25 Comfort, comfort all my people (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”. Lyrics, mp3 sample.
ATE 253He turned my mourning into dancing This is not at all inclusive, but if you change the lyrics to make it addressed to God “You turned my morning into dancing”, it’s much much better.
Tune In: You in all our worries / All will finish well“In this world where injustice reigns, you are in the midst of pain”. Excellent words of reassurance in a difficult world. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook available here.
*NCH085 / SFFS 2082 / Cha623 / ZSS105 Woke Up This Morning (African-American Spiritual) A great Spiritual. If you don't have one of these sources, you can just make it up from this video.... This could be a good Sunday to make use of those choir stalls; could even get the kids to write their own lyrics... Surreal version here. Good for kids.
TiS 181 / AoV2-032 / GC(II)497 / G(3)577 / CP589Come O God of all the earth / Sing Out Earth and Skies (Haugen) A very joyful song for cantor and congregation, or small group and congregation; this is a big favourite in our church. Sheet music, lyrics and sound sample.
CH683 / VU420 / A&M491 / GC(II)469 / G(3)546 / GtG295 / CP598 / W&R553 / SP156 / URW132 / Lau426 Go to the world Go into all the earth (Dunstan) Great words of sending out. Can be sung to a couple of different tunes. SINE NOMINE is the easiest and best known. New words to old tunesSound sample.Sheet music sample.
NCH433 / CH727 / UMH707 / VU703 / HPP474 / GtG250 / W&R515 / Cha638 In the bulb there is a flower (Sleeth) A simple song of hope symbolised in nature. Particularly good for those churches in colder Northern Hemisphere who have a while to go before Spring. Lyrics.
VU166 / SFFS 2210 Joy Comes with the Dawn (Light) Lovely words. The verses are very straightforward; it might be helpful to teach the chorus because there's a couple fof jumps. Lyric slide show!
AoVK-125 / ATW 489Turn our sadness upside down (Leigh Newton) Good for kids, and adults too. Simple tune, but not so simple that it’s boring. Lyrics (search in the page for "sadness"). Good for kids.
URW255 You have turned our sadness into a joyful song (Eslinger) A simple and joyful refrain with a read Psalm.
PfAS030B I will praise you O Lord (Bell) A lovely simple Psalm response - this one will work well sung as a response to the Psalm, or sung on its own where appropriate in the service. Works in Spanish too, and is Good for kids.
PfAS030C All with joyful expectation (Morgan) Good celebratory words of resurrection and hope of new life. The tune YISRAEL V'ORAITA is very similar to LEONI, but has a significant change in the last line. Be aware! New words to (almost) old tunes
*PfAS030D Though weeping and deepest sorrow (Monteiro) The chorus is super-cool, with a driving rhythm (and a part for a triangle!). The verses will be best sung by a soloist, I think.

Revelation 5:11-14
All those angels singing “Worthy is the Lamb” etc etc etc

TiS 753 / StS034 / R185 / ELW525You are holy you are whole(Harling) A fun and joyous latin-rhythmed song; can also be sung with two parts at the same time. Lyrics in English, Spanish, Swedish and a sound sample. Good for kids.
TiS 671 / AoV2-121 Made in God's Likeness (Lewis/Spence) Excellent Australian imagery. This is one of my very favourite songs. It is not difficult if you have a good musician at the helm. If it is new to your congregation, they will be able to join in on the verses by the time you get to the 3rd one. The change in tone with the verse really lifts this song. Lyrics (search for "Made in").
CH131 / Srce587 / MP924 Salvation belongs to our God (Howard / Turner) This is a bit hand-wavy for me, but it is a really good praise song and very popular.
*GtG068 Heaven opened to Isaiah (Rwandan) A very simple and joyful song from Rwanda that takes up John's vision and refers back to Isaiah's earlier vision. You could also just use the chorus on its own. "Holy, holy, you are holy, every angel voice proclaims; All the earth reflects your glory, every tongue sings out your praise"
TiS 181 / AoV2-032 / GC(II)497 / G(3)577 / CP589Come O God of all the earth / Sing Out Earth and Skies (Haugen) Another big favourite. Sheet music, lyrics.Sound sample.
TiS 187 / AoV2-130 / CH149 / StS122 / A&M539 / SP247 Let all creation dance I just love the imagery of this one, and it's a very joyous and familiar hymn tune too. Lyrics (downloads pdf).
TiS 72 / AHB 42 / NCH27 / CH146 / UMH101 / LBW550 / A&M637 / HPP36 / GtG327 / PH229 / CP344 / CP(E) 431 / Cha49 / PfAS117C / 82Hml-380 / StF075From all that dwell below the skies (Watts) A very old hymn, known by many, which is entirely inclusive in its language for God, save for one Lord which you can replace with God if you like 'cos it's Public Domain! Oldy-but-a-goody.Lyrics and tune samples.
TiS 720 / AHB 295 / aoVK-85 / AoV2-046 / ATOK 319 / NCH236 / Iona (Many & Great, There is one among us) / CH345 / VU958 / StJ / SFFS 2026 / HPP571 / GC(II)261 / G(3)329 / W&R005 / Cha041 / ZSS76 / SP324 / PfAS150G / URW370 / Lau178 Halle halle hallelujah (Traditional Caribbean) A good Alleluia would work well for this passage, and I think this one is particularly excellent – simple, great for kids, good rhythm; PfAS uses it as a Psalm refrain, which is a lovely idea, and you could maybe do a reading of this with a refrain. Sure. Why not? Good for kids.Sound sample.
TiS 242 / AHB 183 / AoV1-018 / ATN 27 / CH404 / UMH261 / VU352 / A&M667 / HPP163 / GtG157 / PH302 / G(II)481 / GC708 / GC(II)689 / G(3)796 / CP(E) 468 / W&R118 / Lau765 / StF247I danced in the morning / Lord of the Dance (Carter / SIMPLE GIFTS). Lyrics and tune sample.“I danced to the fishermen, to James and John….”. You all know this one, right? Good for kidsOldy-but-a-goody.

John 21:1-19
Disconsolate disciples go fishing and Jesus shows them where to fish. He feeds them fish and bread – the recognise him. He says Feed my sheep a lot.
I always want to eat Fish and Chips for lunch, at the beach, on this Sunday. Let's go!

Online resource:Peter said “I’m going fishing” (Gillette). Story telling song that ends in a call to the congregation. Sung to the well known tune BEECHER. Could be sung as a response to the sermon, or as a final song. Sheet music, lyrics etc.New words to old tunes
Iona (Heaven shall not wait / The courage to say no) James and Andrew, Peter and John / The Miraculous Catch (Bell) A lovely story telling song, set nicely to SCARBOROUGH FAIR. Would be a good way to present the story to your congregation. This song kind of annoys me that the women who followed Christ have become girls, but if you use a more recent edition of it, they have fixed that. Thanks to Noodle Thrower for throwing this one out for me to catch. Lyrics (scroll down)
*BUC Song Project Drive us out (Whelan) A spirited and lively song about being driven to new places by the Spirit.
Tune In: Hosanna (Dave Brown) A melancholy song that resolves with forgiveness. Not easy to sing, but good for your musicians to sing for the congregation. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook.
TiS 477 / Iona (LFB, Common Ground) / CH510 / StJ / GA529 / A&M450 / CP059 / SP218 / URW056 / StF028Jesus calls us here to meet him. Good words and a rollicking or gentle Celtic tune (depending on how you play it!). Lyrics (downloads PowerPoint slides) 4th verse (not in TiS, but in Iona sources) leads to communion. “Jesus calls us to confess him Word of life and Lord of all, sharer of our flesh and frailness saving all who fail or fall”.
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 / KELVINGROVE) A classic. Don't sing it too slowly or it really drags and takes forever!
Tune In:Hail the fisherfolk. A bluesy litany of the saints, including the fishermen of yesterday and the fisherfolk of today. Sound sample and lyrics.
Worldmaking.netBrother Jesus right beside me (Bruxvoort-Colligan) This is a great rock song, good for little kids and a favourite of much older kids too. Lyrics and a very silly sound sample that IMHO does no justice to the song at all. We really rock it. Great for kids!
ATW 509 / CH435 You hear the lambs a-cryin' (African-American) I don't think this one would be easy to sing as a congregational song, but it's really lovely to be sung to the congregation.
Online resourceA miracle on the sea (Bailey / Mayo) This is a fun song for a kid's choir, which would also work for a mixed choir. These kids are so darn cute. You can purchase it here.
MV199 / HiOS148 / GtG537 When at this table I receive a blessing (Murray) Particularly appropriate if you are celebrating communion this week. Excellent, strong words of communion and the different prayers that we may bring to the table.
SFFS 2137 / StF674 Would I Have Answered When You Called (Stuempfle) Excellent challenging words of our hesitance to follow, to a familiar tune (FOREST GREEN) Lyrics (scroll down). An interesting article about it. New words to old tunes

What songs will you be singing? Let me know - especially if it's something I've not listed here - by adding a comment.

Acts 9:36-43
Peter raises Tabitha/Dorcas from death. A faithful woman.

TiS 728 Jesucristo reina reina ya! A fun Puerto Rican song. It's particularly fun if someone is brave enough to yell out a "call" at the start of each verse. I quite like this translation; as the verses say "In my life...", "In your life...""In my house..." etc. Good for kids.
TiS 638 / NCH175 / CH717 / A&M518 / GtG793 / PH380 / UMH265 / LBW380 / ELW675 / PH380 / CP291 / CP(E) 346 / W&R638 / Cha503 / Lau430 / StF653 O Christ the healer we have comeBeautiful words and simple to sing. Good for intercessions. I like the tune INVERCARRY best, but it can also be sung to TALLIS' CANON if your congregation needs a more familiar tune. Lyrics and sound sample (of an alternative tune). New words to old tunes.
Tune In: You in all our worries / All will finish well“In this world where injustice reigns, you are in the midst of pain”. Excellent words of reassurance in a difficult world. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook
TiS 647 / AoV2-012 / ATN 25 Comfort, comfort all my people (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”. Lyrics, mp3 sample.
Tune In:Making things new (Sheree Anderson). A groovy one about God doing miraculous things. Great for kids, and lots of fun. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook. Good for kids.
NCH581 / HPP310 / G(II)523 / GC(II)718 / G(3)827 Lead us from death to life / World Peace Prayer (Kumar / Haugen) A different take on Christ's power over the forces of death. Quite simple to sing. Sheet music sample. Slow keyboard sample.
*GA173 / G(II)577 / GC803 Awake O sleeper arise from death (Haugen) Bright and joyful. Simple to sing, and brings the idea of waking up to live as God's people. Lyrics. Sound sample.

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd

TiS 10 / AHB 16 / AoV1-144 / NCH479 / Iona (Common Ground) / CH14/16 / UMH136 / VU747/8 / StS099 / LBW451 / ELW778 / GA473 / HPP55 / GtG801 / PH170 / CP519 / CP(E) 594 / W&R86 / Cha0789 / Srce662 / Lau806 / StF480 / MP660 The Lord's my Shepherd I'll not want / God is my shepherd It's not inclusive, but I think it's more than a sentimental favourite. NCH, VU and Chalice all have an inclusive language version. Traditional lyrics and sheet music.
*MV126 Are you a shepherd? (Duck) Good and joyous. Lots of images of God: shepherd, teacher, mother, father. We sung this once last year, and it would be good to do it again. A catchy chorus. Good for kids.
ELW438 / HPP52 / GtG803 / PH172 / Cha080 / PfAS023A / 82Hml-664 My Shepherd Will Supply My Need / My Shepherd You Supply My Need (Watts) I quite like this version of the 23rd Psalm, although hymnals vary widely in how inclusive their lyrics are; I prefer the Chalice version. The tune (RESIGNATION) is from Southern Harmony. Chalice also has a nice responsive reading (Cha081) that fits with this version.
*Cha734 (I) / URW244 My shepherd you supply my need and holy is your name Responsive psalm with sung refrain to the tune of the first line of Brother James' Air.
Tune In Like the sun upon my skin / God’s Mercy A beautiful ballad about identifying God's mercy in the beauty of creation. Lyrics, sound sample and songbook.
Tune In / ATAR596 He comes with his arms open wide / The God that I know (Anderson) A ballad drawing on God’s strength and comfort; not easy if unfamiliar. Lyrics and sample and songbook here.
NCYC'07 Lead me on (Gioia) A pretty cool gospel rock song. We used to sing this a lot, but not so much lately. Maybe worth reviving?
PfAS023I My shepherd is the Lord (Villarreal) I quite like this tune, and the paraphrase is good. It's particularly good for Spanish-speaking (or bilingual) congregations; it's fine in English too. Could also use the verses with a cantor.
AoV1-033 / WoV690 / ELW423 / SFFS 2058 / GtG473 / G(II)29 / GC31 / GC(II)23 / G(3)035 / PfAS023H / Lau951Shepherd Me O God (Haugen) A nice reworking of the 23rd Psalm. The verses are a little challenging, so I would use the chant on its own: “Shepherd me O God beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life”. Lyrics and a slightly odd sound sample.
*Cha734(ii) / PfAS023GShepherd Me O God (Haugen) Same as the above, but the chorus only, used as a Psalm refrain.
TiS 011 / AHB 98 / UMH137 / GA025 / G(3)034 My shepherd is the Lord (Gelineau) Of the two listed here, I prefer Response 1 (Gelineau). A good alternative if you would like to use a cantored Psalm.
G(II)458 / GC654 / GC(II)628 / G(3)725 With a Shepherd's Care (Chepponis) Very nice words with feminine and masculine images for God. Would be very straightforward to sing. Sound sample of a choral arrangement.
*CH355 / VU210 / HPP81 / GtG274 / GC(II)525 / G(3)628 / CP630 / W&R99 / URW098 You Lord Are Both Lamb and Shepherd (Dunstan) Beautiful words. Can be sung to many tunes. I like it to PICARDY or WESTMINSTER ABBEY. Sound sample, lyrics and sheet music sample here. New words to old tunes.
*Taizé / GtG814 / CP563 / PfAS062DIn God alone my soul can find rest and peace / Mon ame se repose (Berthier) A beautiful healing chant from Taize. Words and music and sound samples for learning the parts Good for kids.
FFS39 It all depends on where I'm going (Gibson) Good words of God's constant presence through all of life's travels, sung to a simple Celtic-style tune (TE HORO). Full music and lyrics here.
CH716 / VU374 / FFS10 / SFFS 2128 / W&R477 / Cha575 Come and find the quiet centre (Murray) A good song for the beginning of worship. We usually sing it to BEACH SPRING (TiS 493). Sheet music & lyrics. New words to old tunes.
*W&R655 / URW202 Come Away from Rush and Hurry (Dawn) Excellent words of resting in a sacred space to the familiar tune BEACH SPRING (TiS 493). New words to old tunes.
*Online Resource Breathe in the morning air (Wiltshire) Lovely words for a soloist to sing at the start of a morning service to welcome the congregation. Sung to LOVE UNKNOWN. Free sheet music (downloads a whole book!). New words to old tunes.
*Recorded Music23rd Psalm (Bobby McFerrin) A beautiful feminine rendering of the Psalm. From the album Medicine Man. Listen to it here on Youtube. If you'd like to sing it, it's also in the Unitarian Universalist book "Singing the Journey" and "Music for Liturgy" from St. Gregory of Nyssa.
Online Resource All of my days (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A gentle song with the chorus "All of my days, God's mercy follows". Would be simple to have the congregation join in on the chorus. Breathy sound sample, lyrics; sheet music available for purchase.
Online Resource Surely Goodness and Mercy (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A gentle psalm refrain with a read psalm. Breathy sound sample, lyrics; sheet music available for purchase.

Revelation 7:9-17

TiS 647 / AoV2-012 / ATN 25 Comfort, comfort all my people (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”. Lyrics, mp3 sample.
CH683 / VU420 / A&M491 / GC(II)469 / G(3)546 / GtG295 / CP598 / W&R553 / SP156 / URW132 / Lau426 / StF402 Go to the world Go into all the earth (Dunstan) Great words of sending out. Can be sung to a couple of different tunes. SINE NOMINE is the easiest and best known. Sound sample.Sheet music sample.New words to old tunes
VU128 / W&R269 / SP054 / World Council of Churches Assembly 1991 CanberraSanna sannanina An excellent African processional. Great for drumming and dancing as the Bible is brought forward; that would be pretty cool to do with any song really, especially if it's adults dancing, not just the kids! Good for kids
ATE 212 Hush now for I am your God (Littlemore)
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 (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 is a John Bell original. 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 New words to old tunes.
TiS 210 / AHB 141 / NCH42 / CH352 / UMH57 / VU326 / LBW42 / ELW295 / HPP74 / PH466 / CP306 / CP(E) 534 / W&R96 / Cha005 / Srce506 / 82Hml-493O for a thousand tongues to sing (Wesley) A classic. I particularly love NATIVITY for these words, and it's such a fun tune. My son, who is 8, loves it. Be careful with the words "ye dumb". Voices United has "Hear him you deaf, you voiceless ones, your tongues again employ" which is more inclusive. Oldy-but-a-goody.
*Taizé / MV075 / StS079 / SFFS 2118 / GtG284 / GC(II)479 / G(3)547 / SP99 / URW395 Holy Spirit Come to Us / Veni sancte spiritus / Tui amoris (Berthier) Gobsmackingly beautiful if you have a cantor, but it works well if you don't, too. Sheet music, translations, sound samples.
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 (Batastini / Taize) A beautiful and very well known Taize chant. Sound samples, sheet music. Good for kids.
ATE 247 / WoV791 / G(II)371 / GC542 / Cha029 Alabare / John saw the number Catchy refrain and verse about John seeing thousands in the air. Good for kids. Lyrics. Sound sample.

John 10:22-30
Messianic words from Jesus. I and the Father are one. My sheep hear my voice and they follow me.
See suggestions above for Psalm 23, as many pick up the same theme.

TiS 420Holy Spirit go before us every mind and heart prepare (Elizabeth Smith) Great words of evangelism and justice to a simple lilting melody. If you think your congregation can't cope with a new tune this week, it can be sung to AUSTRIA (TiS 93).
*TiS 589 / AHB 505 / NCH171 / CH509 / UMH398 / VU562 / LBW494 / ELW696 / A&M324 / HPP314 / GtG720 / CP432 / CP(E) 233 / W&R345 / Cha337 / 82Hml-550 / StF250 / MP359Jesus calls us; o'er the tumult (Alexander) Great words. TiS sets it to ST CATHERINE, but it could be sung to other tunes (like STUTTGART) if this is not familiar to your congregation (it’s not hard though). New words to old tunes.
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 / KELVINGROVE) A classic. Don't sing it too slowly or it really drags and takes forever!
*TiS 253 / AoV2-119 / AoVK-103 / GA419O Lord Jesus Marrkapmirr This simple song from an Aboriginal community in Arnhem land is easy to sing and talks of the timelessness of God’s love. “O Lord Jesus Marrkapmirr, all the power belongs to you”. There is some king and power language in this which may not work for some. Lyrics and sound sample.
TiS 542 / STB082 Far beyond our mind's grasp (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.
AoVK-47 / HPP51 / W&R80 / Lau973 He's Got the Whole World in His Hand / God's Got the whole world in safe hands (Traditional) It’s hard to make this inclusive. I’ve seen “God’s got the whole world in safe hands”, which is a little clumsy but alright. AoVK has "The whole world is in God's hands" which works OK. Good for kids.

What songs would you suggest? Add a comment below - I'd love to hear your ideas!

Acts 11:1-18
Peter’s vision of the unclean animals; Acceptance of all who believe - church unity?
Note that these songs will also fit next week's reading, so if you feel like introducing a new song, this would be a good week to do it.

*Online Resource In my father's house (Somerville) A great new song, with an inspiring, and very singable chorus. Lyrics, sound sample, and source.
TiS 411 / AHB 328 / NCH266 / UMH537 / VU194 / LBW160 / A&M633 / CP658 / CP(E) 425 / W&R331Filled with the Spirit's power (Peacey) Excellent inclusive words to a very well known hymn tune. I prefer it sung to WOODLANDS. Lyrics and hymn tune samples. New words to old tunes
*TiS 648 / NCH388 / UMH560 / HPP289 / GtG754 / PH358 / W&R596 / Cha487 Help us accept each other (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. New words to old tunes if you want.
*TiS 681 Lord let me see see more and more (Langmead) A prayer to see, hear, care, learn and love with God. Very straightforward to sing. It can get a bit "ploddy". Might be a good idea to use different instrumentation, alternate women and men for a verse or two and definitely use an a cappella verse! If you don't do this often, singing a verse without accompaniment in a hymn with more than 4 verses gives the congregation an opportunity to hear each other. Lyrics.
*ATFG561 / Tune InCommunity (Brown) A song about being welcomed and part of a community. Sound sample and lyrics. Good for kids.
*TiS 629 / AHB 558 / AoV2-136 / ATA 197 / CH544 / VU600 / Lau888 / StF256 When I needed a neighbor were you there (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.
*Tune InKingdom Come (Lees) A song about how things are not what we expect in God’s kingdom. Lots of words and good images including "there's no blacklist or admission fee"Sound sample and lyrics
*MV145 / CP418 / SP&P123Draw the circle wide (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”.
*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 (Haugen / TWO OAKS) 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

Psalm 148
All creation sings God's praise

*NCH766 / CH767 / CP324 / PfAS148G Hallelujah hallelujah (Maraire) A simple and joyful Alleluia in 3/4 in 3 parts. This one is particularly good if you can get all three parts going. It's pretty straight forward, and catcy. PfAS uses it as a Psalm refrain for Psalm 148, or you can just continue the joy of the Easter season and sing some Alleluias somewhere else in the service. Or, you could choose an Alleluia that your congregation knows as a refrain for this Psalm. So many options... Good for kidsSound sample
*PH274O God of Earth and Space (LEONI) Terrific words by Jane Parker Huber to a well known Jewish hymn tune. "Wherever freedom reigns, where sin is overthrown, Where justice fused with mercy rules, there you are known. Give us the courage clear, to make the earth a home, For all to live in harmony, in Christ’s shalom." Highly recommended. Lyrics.New words to old tunes
CH169 / VU245 / SFFS 2020 / HPP26 / CP309 Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet (Sleeth) Fun. Good if you have extra instruments at your worship service. Careful not to let it get clunky. Good for kids
GtG017 Sing praise to God you heavens (Stuempfle) A fairly standard paraphrase of the Psalm. I just love the singing planets, and the mountains thrusting skywards. Ah, it's a good'un. Oh, and the sheep. I like those singing sheep.
CH174 / GtG019 God of great and God of small (Sleeth) Nice simple, children's song. Might work well with a cantor and response on the chorus. Kids could then sing it without having to read lots of words. Good for kids.
ATW 422 / NCYC'99 And you sun and moon and stars (Canticle of Daniel) (Stewart) This is a big favourite in our congregation. It has wonderful energy and excellent lyrics.
*TiS 715 Everything that has breath (Traditional Czech) A lovely simple round. I can't believe I've never noticed this one before. Would be a really nice relaxing start to worship.Good for kids.
*URW097 All you works of God bless the Lord (Starke) Joyful words of creation's celebration to the Jamaican tune LINSTEAD (Let us talents and tongues employ). Fun! New words to old tunes.
TiS 187 / AoV2-130 / CH149 / StS122 / A&M539 / SP247 Let all creation dance I just love the imagery of this one, and it's a very joyous and familiar hymn tune too. Lyrics (downloads pdf).
TiS 181 / AoV2-032 / GC(II)497 / G(3)577 / CP589Come O God of all the earth / Sing Out Earth and Skies(Haugen) A very joyful song for cantor and congregation, or small group and congregation; this is a big favourite in our church. Sheet music, lyrics and sound sample.
AoV1-019 / CH151 / GA397 / G(II)340 / GC493 / GC(II)498 / G(3)575 / W&R039 All You Works of God (Haugen) Joyful cantor and response. If your musicians have any energy left after Christmas, they might enjoy playing with this. Probably good for kids.Lead sheet and lyrics. Silly sound sample.
TiS 72 / AHB 42 / NCH27 / CH146 / UMH101 / LBW550 / A&M637 / HPP36 / GtG327 / PH229 / CP344 / CP(E) 431 / Cha49 / PfAS117C / 82Hml-380 / StF075From all that dwell below the skies (Watts) A very old hymn, known by many, which is entirely inclusive in its language for God, save for one Lord which you can replace with God if you like 'cos it's Public Domain! Oldy-but-a-goody.Lyrics and tune samples.
VU888 / LBW558 / ELW731 / GtG026 / PH458 / RS681 / CP358 / W&R642 Earth and All Stars Fun words of the universe united in praise. An easy hymn-like tune. I really like the "boiling test tubes" bit, although this verse is not in all hymnals. Lead sheet. Sound sample
AoV2-120 / AoVK-9God Is Good let the sun and moon and stars say "God is Good" (Chan) Fun. Not easy, but probably worth the effort if you feel like learning something new, or giving your musicians a challenge. Good for kids.
GtG018 / PfAS148E Hallelujah sing praise to your creator (Lubis) Joyful words set to a traditional Indonesian melody (NYANYIKANLAH NYANYIAN BARU). GtG is more inclusive than PfAS.
TiS 152 / NCH4 / UMH89 / VU232 / LBW551 / ELW836 / HPP22 / GtG611 / PH464 / GC529 / GC(II)520 / G(3)614 / CP425 / W&R59 / Cha002 / URW065 / 82Hml-376 Joyful joyful we adore thee Note that this hymn is not always very inclusive. I prefer more modern translations (e.g. TiS, VU, NCH, GC(II) ). Older version lyrics and tune sample.Oldy-but-a-goody.
TiS 755 / ATA 196 / CH804 / VU884 / SFFS 2278 / A&M484 / HPP219 / GTG080 / CP772 / W&R710 / SP82 / Srcs830 / URW449 / Lau878 / STF487 / MP796 You shall go out with joy / The trees of the field (Dauerman) This is a good hand clappy foot stomping song. Fun. Good for kids.
ATE 216 / Iona (SBL) / CH126 / StJ / ELW555 / PH472 / G(II)365 / GC527 / RS 671 / CP417 / W&R15 / StF042 O sing to the Lord / Cantai ao Senhor / Cantad al Señor (Traditional Brazilian) A good, fun and simple song that is easy to learn in Portuguese or Spanish too; note that not all versions are inclusive. Sheet music samples. Good for kids!

Revelation 21:1-6
A new heaven and a new earth; death will be no more; See I am making all things new.
Many of these songs will be appropriate for the passage from Revelation which will be read next week, so this may be a good time to introduce a new song.

*AoV2-007 / AoVNG110 See I Make All Things New (O'Brien, Watts) I really love this song. “New, as night turns to morning, the spirit is calling I’m with you, I make all things new”. A nice acapella sound sample. I usually play it with more of a jazz feel.
*AoV2-085 / Iona (T1AU) / MV115 / A&M328 / SP129Behold behold I Make All Things New (Bell) A nice hopeful upbeat short song. Highly recommended. Sound sample (scroll down) Good for kids.
*Tune In Making things new (Anderson) A groovy one. Great for kids, and lots of fun. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook. Good for kids.
NCH613 / UMH726 / VU709 / GtG374 / PH453 / GC767 / GC(II)757 / G(3)863 / CP596 / 82Hml-582 O holy city seen by John (Bowie) Strong lyrics to a very familiar hymn tune (MORNING SONG) New words to old tunes
TiS 671 / AoV2-121 Made in God's Likeness (Lewis/Spence) Excellent Australian imagery. This is one of my very favourite songs. It is not difficult if you have a good musician at the helm. If it is new to your congregation, they will be able to join in on the verses by the time you get to the 3rd one. The change in tone with the verse really lifts this song. Lyrics (search for "Made in").
Online resource: Behold I make all things new (Harding) A nice short song with a folky feel. Sound sample. Sample sheet music. Purchase here.
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 (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."Sound sample and lyrics. Oldy-but-a-goody.
ATE 212 Hush now for I am your God (Littlemore)
GA527 / G(II)540 / GC745 / GC(II)730 / G(3)847 / Lau1000 Jesus Christ Yesterday Today and Forever (Toolan) A very simple refrain in English and Spanish, and multilingual cantor parts. That's fun! Works well without the cantor part too. Sheet music sample. Sound sample.
TiS 217 / AHB 148 / NCH43 / CH519 / UMH384 / VU333 / A&M721 / LBW315 / ELW631 / A&M721 / GA463 / HPP48 / GtG366 / PH376 / GC622 / GC(II)613 / G(3)641 / CP485/6 / CP(E) 516 / W&R358 / Cha517 / Srce457 / URW100 / 82Hml-657 / Lau801 / StF503 / MP449 Love divine all loves excelling (Wesley) Can't possibly sing this song too often! A beautiful classic song and most hymnals use a very inclusive version of this hymn, even the AHB! Lyrics and sound sample.You may also like to give Rend Collective Experiment's version a listen (hard for congregations to sing, but nice for listening). Oldy-but-a-goody.
AoVK-123 / NCH3 / Iona (M&G) / UMH148 / VU308 / WoV794 / ELW837 / GtG021 / PH271 / G(II)338 / GC499 / G(3)911 / CP407 / W&R26 / Cha58 / URW232 / 82Hml-385Many and Great O God are your works / Wakantanka Taku Nitawa (Lacquiparle) Good words. Simple tune. Sounds great accompanied by a good Native American-style drum beat, which is a great way to get people (especially kids) involved in music-making. Lyrics here.
StJ / GtG048 / GC(II)505 / W&R444 / G(3)582 / URW144 / Srce2-502 Rain Down (Cortez) A good simple gospel song. A very easy chorus, and good verses too.
AoV1-057 / G(II)485 / GC678 / GC(II)663 / G(3)766 / Lau824 Awake from your slumber / City of God (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.
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. Good for kids.
Tune In: You in all our worries / All will finish well (Brown) “In this world where injustice reigns, you are in the midst of pain”. Excellent words of reassurance in a difficult world. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook
Tune In:Kingdom Come (Lees) A song about how things are not what we expect in God’s kingdom. Lots of words and good images including "there's no blacklist or admission fee"Sound sample and lyrics

John 13:31-35
Where I am going, you cannot come.

TiS 699 / AHB 571 / ATN 65 / WoV664 / GA318 / Srce35 / Lau920 / StF242 / MP001 A new commandment I give unto you (Westwood) Note that older sources do not have inclusive words, but more recent publications use "others" rather than "all men" to make it inclusive for all people.Oldy-but-a-goody.
*MV172 God says (Bittner) A nice simple song about God asking us to be still, to look up, to speak out for God, and reach out to those in need".
*Taizé / MV075 / StS079 / SFFS 2118 / GtG284 / GC(II)479 / G(3)547 / SP99 / URW395 Holy Spirit Come to Us / Veni sancte spiritus / Tui amoris (Berthier) Gobsmackingly beautiful if you have a cantor, but it works well if you don't, too. Sheet music, translations, sound samples.
Taizé / CH801 / MV170 / StJ / GtG205 / WoV665 / ELW642 / SFFS 2179 / GC408 / GC(II)430 / G(3)500 / CP553 / W&R399 / Cha523 / URW394/ StF783 / Lau244b Live in charity / Ubi Caritas (Taizé) Usually sung in Latin, but can also be sung just as beautifully as "Live in charity and steadfast love, live in charity; God will dwell with you."Sheet music and sound samples for practice. Good for kids.
AoV1-130 / NCH444 / SFFS 2223 / HPP495 / GtG300 / G(II)533 / GC735 / GC(II)728 / G(3)835 / W&R595 / Cha494 We are one in the Spirit / They’ll know we are Christians by our love (Scholtes) A classic 60's song of unity and being an example to others. It's still pretty groovy, I reckon. Older version are really masculine. We often syncopate it a bit at Brunswick. Note that the 3-6 Sunday School class learned this song this term, so would be good to use. Lyrics and pretty silly sound sample. Good for kids.
ATW 498 / Iona (T1AU) / MV 196 / SP&P182 / URW438We will take what you offer. 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". Good for kids.Sound sample.
TiS 670 / SiS569 / AoVK-138 / ATE 258 / CH692 / Srce385 / MP376Jesus put this song into our hearts (Kendrick) A fun Yiddish tune that gets even more fun if you get faster and faster as you go. Try teaching your congregation a simple side to side “dance” step. If you teach them and make it clear that it’s okay, you’ll be surprised how many people will join in. Good for kids.Youtube.Lyrics
Iona (M&G) / ATAR609 / CH359 / MV033 / GtG137 / ZSS54 / StJ / ELW253 / GA293 / SFFS 2085 / G(II)276 / GC370 / GC(II)364 / G(3)429 / CP368 / W&R402 He came down that we may have love/ Jesus came bringing us hope (Traditional Cameroon) A lovely simple song - you can make up words and have a lot of fun with this if you also use some drums. Scottish sound sample. Good for kids.

Any ideas you could add? Please join in and add a comment below!

Acts 16:9-15
Conversion of the first gentile by Paul – Lydia and family

*Online Resource In my father's house (Somerville) A great new song, with an inspiring, and very singable chorus. Lyrics, sound sample, and source.
TiS 411 / AHB 328 / NCH266 / UMH537 / VU194 / LBW160 / A&M633 / CP658 / CP(E) 425 / W&R331Filled with the Spirit's power (Peacey) Excellent inclusive words to a very well known hymn tune. I prefer it sung to WOODLANDS. Lyrics and hymn tune samples. New words to old tunes
TiS 648 / NCH388 / UMH560 / HPP289 / GtG754 / PH358 / W&R596 / Cha487 Help us accept each other (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. New words to old tunes if you want.
TiS 681 Lord let me see see more and more (Langmead) A prayer to see, hear, care, learn and love with God. Very straightforward to sing. It can get a bit "ploddy". Might be a good idea to use different instrumentation, alternate women and men for a verse or two and definitely use an a cappella verse! If you don't do this often, singing a verse without accompaniment in a hymn with more than 4 verses gives the congregation an opportunity to hear each other. Lyrics.
*ATFG561 / Tune InCommunity (Brown) A song about being welcomed and part of a community. Sound sample and lyrics. Good for kids.
*TiS 629 / AHB 558 / AoV2-136 / ATA 197 / CH544 / VU600 / Lau888 / StF256 When I needed a neighbor were you there (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.
*Tune InKingdom Come (Lees) A song about how things are not what we expect in God’s kingdom. Lots of words and good images including "there's no blacklist or admission fee"Sound sample and lyrics
*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 (Haugen / TWO OAKS) 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
*MV145 / CP418 / SP&P123Draw the circle wide (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”.
Recorded musicLydia (Why Not Sea Monsters? / Justin Roberts) A slightly silly kids song which would be good for Sunday Schools. Sound sample and CD for download.

Psalm 67
It could be good to use an Aaronic blessing in your service. I'm not sure why we always save it for baptisms. Here's my list of Aaronic blessings (scroll down).

Taize / TiS 731 / SFFS 2017 / GtG155 / G(II)377 / GC557 / GC(II)535 / G(3)618 / W&R212 / PfAS100G / URW383 / Lau691 Raise a song of gladness / Jubilate Servite (Taize) Glorious, fun round. If your congregation balks at singing in Latin, it can be sung in English as "Raise a song of gladness, all the earth, Christ has come, bringing peace, joy to every heart, Alleluia Alleluia, Joy to every heart (x2)". This is not a Gloria, but it has the feel of one! Good for kids (and kids like Latin sometimes!)
VU786 / PfAS067C Let the peoples praise you (Smart) Quite nice bouncy Psalm refrain with a read, cantored, or chanted Psalm. Good for kids
*Linnea GoodMay every person, every creature, be an instrument of praise. A very simple and quite lovely Psalm refrain.
Cha744 O God be gracious come and bless us (Daw) Very simple refrain and responsively read setting of this Psalm.
TiS 37 / AHB 117 Our God be gracious unto us (Blake) A simple hymn setting of this Psalm. I would prefer to sing it to RICHMOND (TiS 425).
NCH421 / UMH131 / HPP552 / GtG336 / PH559 / GC571 / GC(II)549 / G(3)638 / W&R81 / Cha276 We gather together to ask for God's blessing (Traditional Dutch) A good song about living together as a community of faith, sung to a very familiar tune (KREMSER). Sources vary, and some are very masculine and old fashioned. Seek out the lyrics in the NCH, or you may be left with these lyrics (the tune is the same though). Here are some more inclusive lyrics (search for "god's blessing")
TiS 106 / AHB 14 / AoV1-189 / NCH419 / CH182 / UMH102 / VU236 / LBW534 / ELW840 / GA425 / A&M739 / HPP283 / GtG643 / PH555 / GC565 / GC(II)545 / G(3)636 / CP399 / CP(E) 530 /W&R14 / Cha715 / 82Hml-396 / Lau945 Now thank we all our God / Nun Danket Alle Gott (Rinkhart) A classic song of thanks. The language is not entirely inclusive in all versions. Chalice has great inclusive words. It's in the public domain, so changing the older English translation is quite acceptable. Older style lyrics and sound sample.Oldy-but-a-goody.
NCH PsalterLet the peoples praise you O God (Niedmann) A simple Psalm refrain.
*Emergent PsalterMay God be gracious and bless us (Everett) A good refrain that can also be used as a round. Good for kids. Sheet music.
*Online ResourceFood is blessing (Bruxvoort-Colligan) Great words focussed on food security and being faithful in the way we consume it. Sung to the familiar tune NETTLETON. New words for old tunes.Lyrics.

Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5
John's vision of the Holy City

Tune In:Making things new (Sheree Anderson). A groovy one about God doing miraculous things. Great for kids, and lots of fun. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook. Good for kids.
AoV2-007 / AoVNG110 See I Make All Things New (O'Brien, Watts) I really love this song. “New, as night turns to morning, the spirit is calling I’m with you, I make all things new”. A nice acapella sound sample. I usually play it with more of a jazz feel.
GtG376 / Cha703 / URW133 When All is Ended (Wren) Good words about the celebration of the new kingdom (wars ended, peace declared, compassion shown). Sung to the familiar tune SINE NOMINE or ENGELBERG. New words to old tunes. Sheet music
*AoV2-085 / Iona (T1AU) / MV115 / A&M328 / SP129Behold behold I Make All Things New (Bell) A nice hopeful upbeat short song. Highly recommended. Sound sample (scroll down) Good for kids.
*AoV1-057 / G(II)485 / GC678 / GC(II)663 / G(3)766 / Lau824 Awake from your slumber / City of God (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 "bridge" section; you know you could just miss it, and that would make the song less confusing! Sample sheet music & lyrics.Sound sample.
TiS 671 / AoV2-121 Made in God's Likeness (Lewis/Spence) Excellent Australian imagery. This is one of my very favourite songs. It is not difficult if you have a good musician at the helm. If it is new to your congregation, they will be able to join in on the verses by the time you get to the 3rd one. The change in tone with the verse really lifts this song. Lyrics (search for "Made in").
Online resource: Behold I make all things new (Harding) A nice short song with a folky feel. Sound sample. Sample sheet music. Purchase here.
Tune In: You in all our worries / All will finish well (Brown) “In this world where injustice reigns, you are in the midst of pain”. Excellent words of reassurance in a difficult world. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook
Tune In:Kingdom Come (Lees) A song about how things are not what we expect in God’s kingdom. Lots of words and good images including "there's no blacklist or admission fee"Sound sample and lyrics
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. Good for kids.
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 (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."Sound sample and lyrics. Oldy-but-a-goody.
NCH613 / UMH726 / VU709 / GtG374 / PH453 / GC767 / GC(II)757 / G(3)863 / CP596 / 82Hml-582 O holy city seen by John (Bowie, but not David Bowie) Strong lyrics to a very familiar hymn tune (MORNING SONG) New words to old tunes
*NCH576 / CH706 / UMH428 / VU678 / A&M635 / GtG346 / GA513 / GC719 / GC(II)712 / G(3)803 / CP576 / CP(E) 427 / W&R621 / Cha668 / Lau886 For the healing of the nations (Kaan) Excellent words seeking peaceful coexistence of the nations. Can be sung to a range of tunes including the very familiar WESTMINSTER ABBEY. Lyrics and another tune.New words to old tunes.
*VU718 / HPSS431 / W&R620 O God You Gave Your Servant John (Patterson) Terrific words contrasting the wealth and poverty contrasts in earthly cities with the Holy City. Sung to ST. PATRICK'S BREASTPLATE. or CANDLER.
NCH598 / UMH724 / LBW36 / ELW249 / W&R519 On Jordan's Stormy Bank I Stand / On River Jordan's Bank I stand Even though I don't dream of the life hereafter, there's something about this old song that has meaning for me. Translations vary, NCH is most inclusive. Sound sample and older lyrics.
NCH597 / UMH723 / VU710 / LBW221 / WoV690 / ELW547 / GtG375 / HPP480 / G(II)560 / GC774 / GC(II)761 / W&R522 / Cha701 / SgTJ1046 Shall we gather at the river? (Lowry) Again, this old song has a lot of meaning for many. Translations vary. NCH is most inclusive. Oldy-but-a-goody.Lyrics and music sample.

John 14:23-29
Jesus is going, but sends the spirit

NCH249 / GA517 Peace I leave with you my friends (Norbert) Slow, simple and excellent words. A congregation will pick this up the first time through, I think.
FFS07 Bring peace to us (John Murray) A simple chant with two possible tunes. Both are good. The first is a round. "Bring peace to us, bring peace through us, O God bring peace"
SP&P193 Peace be to you (Rose) A very simple benediction "peace be to you in all you do".
*BUC Song Project Take a deep breath / Deep in your soul (Anderson) "Let the spirit of love breathe your name..." A song about breathing in the spirit's renewing love.
*BUC Song Project Silent as the dawn / Spirit God you come (Loukes) A gentle song about God's spirit coming among us.
GC(II)722 / G(3)826 Jesus give us your peace (Mahler) Gospel song. It kind of merges personal peace with global peace. "Jesus bring us your peace, bring us together, let all the fighting cease…" Good for kids and teenagers.Lyrics and sheet music. Sound sample.
*CH786 May the God of peace go with us (Jamieson) A lovely benediction to a traditional Scottish tune. "May the God of peace go with us as we travel from this place; may the love of Jesus keep us firm in hope and full of grace". It's a wee bit tricky.
*Seeds of Faith Peace Be With You (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A very simple kids song about peace, and sharing peace. Sound sample and lyrics. Good for kids.
*GGives2 What does peace look like to you (Dyson) A really nice simple song for kids about peace. Lots of questions about what peace might mean from images of nature, to an end to war. The last verse talks about a "bridge from God to man" which could be changed to "bridge from God to us". Good for kids.
*AoV1-091 / AoVK-68 / StS016 / G(II)527 / GC729 / GC(II)720/ G(3)821 Peace before us peace behind us (Haas) love this one. Reflective. Careful not too get too schmaltzy because it's long. Less is more. It's good to do something while singing this song. I did a circle dance at church to this once upon a time, but I can't remember how it went. It works well at a walking pace. Schmaltzy and SLOW sound sample. Lead sheet.Good for kids.
*Iona (LFB) / G(II)407 / GC583 God give us peace that lasts (Bell) Lovely words and a simple hymn tune. Prayer for peace, hope and love. This can also be sung to LOVE UNKNOWN. New words to old tunes"God give us peace that lasts, not through the fear of might, but through the force of love, and love of life and right. Where costly wars and weapons lure, Show us our Lord among the poor". Lyrics, sound sample and sheet music
*Tune In Peace In Our Time (Brown) A groovy bossa nova song of peace and action for peace. Lyrics. Sound sample. Songbook.
ATW 487 Make your home in me (White) A simple beautiful invitation. Written by Melbourne songwriter and teacher, Fay White. “If you fly to the point of the day’s sunrise or westward across the sea, if you travel to the uttermost ends of the earth, there I will be; Make your home in me as I make my home in you. I am everywhere that you can be. Make your home in me”. This is quite different to the Vineyard / Josh Young version you can find all over the internet. I can't find a sample of this one, unfortunately.
TiS 536 / AHB 453 / VU130 / GtG202 / PH094 / CP(E) 130 / W&R275 / Cha385 / Lau248 / StF569An upper room did our Lord prepare (O Waly Waly) I really love this song, but we have not sung it much, even though it's so easy and lovely. Lyrics.New words to old tunes
*NCYC'87Peace will be with you my friends so do not be frightened (Unknown author) A lovely simple song.
TiS 398 / AHB 310 / AoV1-118 / NCH289 / CH489 / UMH475 / VU367 / GA375 / A&M238 / LBW508 / ELW804 / GtG282 / PH313 / GC465 / GC(II)471 / G(3)556 / RS617 / CP645 / CP(E) 175 / W&R330 / Cha582 / Srce100 / Lau303 / StF372 / MP089Come down O Love divine (Williams) Old fashioned, but still inclusive and very well known. Words and tune. Hymnals vary a lot in the lyrics with respect to thees and thys and words like "vesture". Oldy-but-a-goody.
*NCH288 / UMH503 / Cha260 Let it breathe on me (Lewis-Butts) Simple gentle gospel song welcoming the Spirit. You could just sing the first verse over and over. Good for kids.
CH589 / A&M240 Come Holy Spirit / Breath of Heaven (Bell) A lovely simple repetitive song. Includes verses like "Come , Word of Mercy" and "Come to disturb us"….
TiS 710 / CH758 / Iona (Enemy of Apathy) / VU204Come Holy Spirit gracious heavenly dove A beautiful and simple chant.
AoV1-106 / UMH376 / WoV774 / ELW753 / GtG752 / G(II)528 / GC730 / GC(II)724 / G(3)822 / CP562 / Cha297 / URW443 / 82Hml-712 / Lau904 Dona Nobis Pacem (American folk song) This is very well known, and would fit well with this reading. Good for kids.Oldy-but-a-goody.
Taizé / TiS 713 / Cha296 Dona nobis pacem domine / cordium (Berthier) A more solemn chant. Youtube.
*AoV2-070 / ATW 496 / MV090 / StJDon't be afraid (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. Good for kids.Sound sample.
TiS 412 / AHB 324 / ATE 251 / G(II)328 / GC468 / CP651 / W&R130God sends us the Spirit to befriend and help us / Spirit Friend I like this song from Malawi, but the lack of inclusive language for God sometimes drives me a bit crazy. In Tom Colvin's book "Come Let us walk this road together" he uses more inclusive language than many hymnals that include this song. That is, he writes “God sends us the Spirit” instead of “God sends us His Spirit” and "Spirit of our Maker" rather than “Spirit of our Father”. Less inclusive lyrics and a strange sound sample.
*Unusual Source: Blow through me Breath of God (Miriam Therese Winter) This chant is very beautiful. It takes a few listens for the congregation to pick it up, or you could ask the musicians to play it as a prayer for the congregation. "Like a pipe, like a flute, like a reed making melody". It can be found in "Songlines, Hymns, Songs, Rounds and Refrains for Prayer and Praise,Crossroad, New York, 1996" or "Womantalk Woman Prayer" (1987)
*AoV1-043Breathing now the life of God / Warm Our Hearts (Marshall) A beautiful and very simple round. "Breathing now the life of God the Spirit in us singing, come light up our hearts with joy! Heal and clear our eyes to see! Warm our hearts with peace. Warm our hearts with peace.” Highly recommended.
TiS 419 / NCH270 / CH592 / A&M252 / UMH544 / VU205 / WoV685 / ELW403 / HPP222 / GtG285 / PH314 / CP635 / CP(E) 185 / W&R327 / SP92 / 82Hml-513 / StF389Like the murmur of the dove's song (Daw) Excellent words and a simple tune about Christian unity. Each verse ends with "Come holy spirit, come". Lyrics and organ sample.
*TiS 737 / Iona (Common Ground, HSNW, T1AU) / A&M516 / SP142 / URW427 / Lau437Lord Jesus Christ lover of all (Bell) A beautiful and simple chant. Note that some versions (T1AU at least) have a beautiful 4 part harmony arrangement with excellent moving parts in the lower registers. Would work well during intercessions or during times of movement in the service.
*ATAR656 Heavy our hearts (Watts / Lord) A lovely soothing chant naming our heaviness and seeking God's shelter and healing.

John 5:1-9
The sick man waiting at the pool

Sacred Harp 34tThe Gospel Pool I don't imagine you will actually sing this, but if you happen to have Sacred Harp singers in your church, the lyrics fit very well. Lyrics.
*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 / MP908O Lord hear my prayer (Berthier) A simple and very well known Taizé chant. Works well during intercessions. Sheet music samples. Good for kids
*TiS 690 / CH259 / A&M557 / StS115 / SP237 / Srce54 / StF693 / MP806Beauty for brokenness hope for despair (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, but that never hurt anyone. Lyrics.
TiS 638 / NCH175 / CH717 / A&M518 / GtG793 / PH380 / UMH265 / LBW380 / ELW675 / PH380 / CP291 / CP(E) 346 / W&R638 / Cha503 / Lau430 / StF653 O Christ the healer we have comeBeautiful words and simple to sing. Good for intercessions. I like the tune INVERCARRY best, but it can also be sung to TALLIS' CANON if your congregation needs a more familiar tune. Lyrics and sound sample (of an alternative tune). New words to old tunes.
*CH348 / StS001 / LBW196 / ELW843 / A&M762 / G(3)625 / CP397 / W&R93 / SP304 / URW090 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness (Edwards) Good words of Christ's ministry to all. Can be sung to the familiar tune NETTLETON, or the less familiar and very lovely tune JOEL. Lyrics.New words to old tunes.
Online resource I want to be made well(Harding) A nice little chant, with a groovy baseline. Sound sample. Available here.

What ideas do you have? Please join the conversation by adding a comment below...

Acts 1:1-11 and Luke 24:44-53

I find it hard to find songs for Ascension day - don't you think the disciples must have felt a bit lost, especially in the Acts narration?

Taizé / CP194 / URW392 Stay with us / Bleib mit deiner Gnade / Night will soon fall (Taizé) Another good one from Taize. We sang this a while back at BUC, it would be good to do it again.Sheet music and sound samples.
*Online ResourceO Christ when you ascended (Winfrey-Gillette) Excellent down-to-earth words to a sort of familiar hymn tune (LANCASHIRE). Highly recommended. Lyrics. I would probably sing it to ELLACOMBE.New words to old tunes.
*TiS 185 Alleluia We praise you God Creator Lord (McIntyre) A chanted Alleluia based on Pachelbel's canon, coupled with some nice affirmations of faith from a 2nd part of the congregation, or cantor. This is quite lovely.
Taizé / TiS 730 / AoV1-152 / ATOK 387 / CH775 / UMH488 / WoV740 / ELW616 / GA308 / A&M838 / HPP214 / GtG227 / PH599 / G(II)293 / GC404 / GC(II)422 / G(3)510 /W&R285/ Cha569/ Srce387/ URW382/ Lau253 / StF777 Jesus remember me (Berthier) A beautiful chant, but we have not sung it often. Sheet music and sound samples.
*VU359 / AA059 / W&R454 / STB205 / Online Resource He came singing love (Gibson) A lovely image and reasonably straightforward song. Might need to be taught. Sheet music.
*TiS 541 / CH674 / WoV722 / ELW535 / GtG538 / G(II)394 / GC562 / GC(II)529 / G(3)626 / CP082 / SP&P190 / W&R709 / ZSS198 / URW400Hallelujah we sing your praises / Haleluyah! Pelo Tsa Rona. Joyous and simple song.Sound sample. Sheet music sample. Good for kids.
NCH70 / UMH660 / VU389 / WoV719 / ELW526 / A&M445 / HPP486 / GtG409 / PH461 / GC741 / GC(II)737 / G(3)843 / CP(E) 301 / W&R1 / Cha280 / STB049 / StF025 God is here as we your people (Pratt Green). Great lyrics, but not inclusive in all sources and set to a range of tunes. I like it sung to the familiar tune ABBOT'S LEIGH. Lyrics, sound sample and sheet music sample.New words to old tunes.
NCH271 / UMH538 / VU196 / PH131 / CP249 / W&R333Wind who makes all winds that blow(Troeger) Excellent words. Familiar tune (ABERYSTWYTH). Lyrics and sheet music sample. New words to old tunes.
TiS 387 / CH416 / UMH318 / VU158 / LBW363 / ELW389 / A&M199 / GtG246 / PH108 / CP(E) 140 / W&R312 / 82Hml-182 / Lau272 / StF297Christ is alive Let Christians sing (Wren) Excellent words of Christ's saving, and still relevant grace. A couple of tunes are offered in different hymn books. I prefer TRURO. Lyrics and sound sample. New words to old tunes.
TiS 419 / NCH270 / CH592 / A&M252 / UMH544 / VU205 / WoV685 / ELW403 / HPP222 / GtG285 / PH314 / CP635 / CP(E) 185 / W&R327 / SP92 / 82Hml-513 / StF389Like the murmur of the dove's song (Daw) Excellent words and a simple tune about Christian unity. Each verse ends with "Come holy spirit, come". Lyrics and organ sample.
NCH259 / LBW157 / ELW393 / PH141 / GtG258 / GC454 / GC(II)467 / G(3)545 / W&R322 / 82Hml-217 A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing (The Venerable Bede) Not all hymnals are inclusive or accessible. For example, they probably don't have the word "thitherward" like these lyrics. Thank goodness. It's quite formal, sung to a good hymn tune and with lots of Alleluias. It's good to sing hymns written before the year 1000 sometimes, don't you think? Sound sample and lyrics. Oldy-but-a-goody.
TiS 398 / AHB 310 / AoV1-118 / NCH289 / CH489 / UMH475 / VU367 / GA375 / A&M238 / LBW508 / ELW804 / GtG282 / PH313 / GC465 / GC(II)471 / G(3)556 / RS617 / CP645 / CP(E) 175 / W&R330 / Cha582 / Srce100 / Lau303 / StF372 / MP089Come down O Love divine (Williams) Old fashioned, but still inclusive and very well known. Words and tune. Hymnals vary a lot in the lyrics with respect to thees and thys and words like "vesture". Oldy-but-a-goody.
NCH462 / UMH109 / VU265 / WoV757 / ELW684 / PH134 / GC580 / RS711 / CP410 / W&R32 / Cha335Creating God Your Fingers Trace (Rowthorn) A good Trinitarian hymn about Creating, Sustaining and Redeeming God. There are many possible tunes. I like the Presence tune better. Lyrics and a sound sample.
TiS 414 / CH616 / UMH192 / VU582 / HPP134 / PH433 / GC550 / CP(E) 198 / Cha257 / StF398 There's a Spirit in the Air (Wren) A good song of getting the business of following Christ done. Speaking out, caring for others, being changed. Good, joyful tune too. Lyrics and a sample of one tune that you could use.
WoV743 / SFFS 2199 / SP&P093 / URW115 Stay with Us (Brokering) Simple song of comfort. This is a slightly mournful song, that could pick up on the loss that the disciples may have felt when Jesus ascended. I like the tune STAY WITH US best (WoV, URW, SP&P). Choral sound sample.
TiS 755 / ATA 196 / CH804 / VU884 / SFFS 2278 / A&M484 / HPP219 / GTG080 / CP772 / W&R710 / SP82 / Srcs830 / URW449 / Lau878 / STF487 / MP796 You shall go out with joy / The trees of the field (Dauerman) This is a good hand clappy foot stomping song. Fun. Good for kids.

What other songs would you sing about the Ascension? Join the conversation and add a comment below...

Acts 16:16-34
Paul and Silas imprisoned, freed and convert the jailor and family. The jailor ministers to them.

*TraditionalPaul and Silas bound in jail A great old song which could be a lot of fun; very simple to sing as it's quite repetitive. Good for kids and non-readers. 1935 recording of Josh White (youtube). Lyrics. Good for kids.
AoV1-061 / ATOK 355 / GtG359 / SFFS 2194 / G(II)521 / GC723 / GC(II)707 / G(3)814 / ZSS110 / SgTJ1035 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. Sample sheet music. Good for kids.
Taizé / AoVNG125 / MV146 / GC(II)637 / G(3)740 / PfAS024D The Kingdom of God is justice and peace and joy in the holy spirit (Taize) "Come, Lord and open in us the gates of your kingdom". A nice joyful Taizé chant. Sheet music and sound samples of parts for practice. Good for kids.
SP&P108 Send your Spirit to set us free (Hamm) A groovy little song. This would be fun to use with kids while telling the story. It could also work as a round, sung unaccompanied. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Good for kids.
L4tWC128 A story of freedom (Bock) A dramatic reading of the story for three people.
NCH553 / UMH375 / VU612 / WoV737 / ELW614 / HPP379 / GtG792 / PH394 / G(II)460 / GC648 / GC(II)617 / G(3)640 / W&R631 / Cha501 / ZSS114 / SgTJ1045 / 82Hml-676 There is a balm in Gilead (African-American) "If you cannot preach like Peter, if you cannot pray like Paul". This song is not so meaningful for Australians, but I know it is for Americans. It's a good one for those who feel discouraged about anything magnificent happening in their life of faith.Choral arrangement sound sample.
TiS 209 / AHB 138 / A&M588 / CH396 / UMH363 / HPP332 / CP(E) 376 / Srce31 / StF345 / MP033And can it be that I should gain (Wesley) Look, really I've mainly listed it because I like the "my chains fell off!"bit. It's not one of my favourites, and I don't like the idea of each of us pursuing Christ to death, but it's a classic and I know many of you will want to sing it. An oldy-but-really-not-so-goody.
Tune in: We are the dream that's longing / Jesus is waiting. An honest catchy rock song about our hesitation to follow and Jesus not only waiting, but continuing to work and change the world. "Come be our liberator, come and set us free". A good sending-out song. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook available here.
Cha277 Christians We Have Met to Worship (Atkins) This is sung to the familiar tune HOLY MANNA; the words have been updated a little from the Sacred Harp version. "Is there here a trembling jailor?"
Tune In: The Spirit of the Lord (Loukes) A beautiful and simple chant. "To open prison doors and set the captive free". Highly recommended. Lyrics, sound sample and songbook available here.

It might be appropriate to sing some modern songs against slavery. It still exists, people!
Here's a website with some excellent anti-slavery song suggestions.

*ELW710 / CP575 Let streams of living justice (Whitla) Awesome words of justice. Sung to the familiar tune THAXTED. Lyrics. It could probably work to a different (less pompous) tune too.New words to old tunes
Online resource Help Us O God to create a new future (Pratt) This song reflects on the slavery of the past, and its continuance, with a call to work until all are "Fully alive". Free sheet music.

Psalm 97
Pretty exciting and grand Psalm.

Taizé / GC(II)533 Sing to God with joyful hearts / Singt dem Herrn (Berthier) A joyful round. Works well in English and German, and probably other languages too. Sound samples, sheet music and lyrics.
TiS 179 / NCH273 / VU312 / StJ / GA739 / URW073 Praise with Joy the World's Creator One of my favourite hymns - strongly Trinitarian lyrics and excellent imagery; note that newer books (e.g. URW) have slightly different lyrics. Older lyrics (scroll down or search).New words to old tunes
**PfAS097A God reigns earth rejoices (Morgan) Excellent inclusive words with a joyful start and great imagery. To the tune NOEL NOUVELET, so very singable. New words to old tunes
Cha749 God of all to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise Familiar sung response and responsively read Psalm.
NCH6 / UMH126 / LBW542 / ELW281 / GtG645 / PH483 / URW070 Sing praise to God who reigns above / Sing praise to God our highest good (Schutz) Many versions of this old and easy to sing hymn are not inclusive, but a few are, like PH and NCH.
UMH729 / VU682 / WoV762 / ELW711 / PH450 / CP573 / W&R539 / Cha711 / URW140 / 82Hml-597 / Lau900 O day of peace that dimly shines (Daw) A song of hoped-for peace. The tune in Chalice hymnal is really nice (CANDLER), as is the tune listed in URW (THE GIFT OF LOVE). Other sources use JERUSALEM, which is a bit too militaristic for me. Lyrics and sound sample (JERUSALEM).Sound sample of CANDLER. New words to old tunes

Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21
Coming soon, alpha and omega, bright morning star, come all who are thirsty;
you could sing just about anything....

Traditional Bright morning star’s a risin’. Easy old American folk song. Lyrics (multiple versions). Gillian Welch singing it on youtube. I usually like it a lot faster, but this is beautiful. Thanks to Ched Myers for teaching this to me about 15 years ago.
AoV1-061 / ATOK 355 / GtG359 / SFFS 2194 / G(II)521 / GC723 / GC(II)707 / G(3)814 / ZSS110 / SgTJ1035 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. Sample sheet music. Good for kids.
AoV1-039 / GA277 / G(II)257 / Lau081 Come To Set Us Free come to make us your own (Farrell) I like this one. Good words of hope. Will need to be taught, but it's worth it. Lyrics and sound sample.
*TiS 780 May light come into your eyes (Treagus) A simple benediction or blessing for someone leaving, or being baptised.
*NCH576 / CH706 / UMH428 / VU678 / A&M635 / GtG346 / GA513 / GC719 / GC(II)712 / G(3)803 / CP576 / CP(E) 427 / W&R621 / Cha668 / Lau886 / StF696 For the healing of the nations (Kaan) Excellent words seeking peaceful coexistence of the nations. Can be sung to a range of tunes including the very familiar WESTMINSTER ABBEY. Lyrics and another tune.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 (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."Sound sample and lyrics. Oldy-but-a-goody.
TiS 217 / AHB 148 / NCH43 / CH519 / UMH384 / VU333 / A&M721 / LBW315 / ELW631 / A&M721 / GA463 / HPP48 / GtG366 / PH376 / GC622 / GC(II)613 / G(3)641 / CP485/6 / CP(E) 516 / W&R358 / Cha517 / Srce457 / URW100 / 82Hml-657 / Lau801 / StF503 / MP449 Love divine all loves excelling (Wesley) A beautiful classic song and most hymnals use a very inclusive version of this hymn, even the AHB. Lyrics and sound sample.You may also like to give Rend Collective Experiment's version a listen (hard for congregations to sing, but nice for listening). Oldy-but-a-goody.
MV019 / StS002 Maranatha Maranatha Come Lord Jesus Come (Skibsted) A very simple chant. You might also like to repeat a chant that you used in Advent if you can remember back that far.
GA406 / G(II)356 / GC511 The Light of Christ surrounds us (Haugen) Could be quite nice. Strong words, needs a cantor. Sound sample. Sheet music and lyrics.
AoV1-053 / AoVK-82 / GA256Receive The Light of Christ (Marshall) Simple round "Receive the light of Christ, May (it) shine within our hears, May the Christ Light fill us with joy and peace". Good for kids.

John 17:20-26
Oneness of all believers and lots of Johanine mysticism of God in Christ and Christ in us.

*BUC Song Project Sing, Sing with me (Potter) A fun song for kids about being part of God's family.
Online resourceWhole and holy, called in Christ (Bruxvoort-Colligan) Great lyrics and very simple tune. Lyrics and sound sample
*Online Resource In my father's house (Somerville) A great new song of unity, with an inspiring, and very singable chorus. Lyrics, sound sample, and source.
AoV1-130 / NCH444 / SFFS 2223 / HPP495 / GtG300 / G(II)533 / GC735 / GC(II)728 / G(3)835 / W&R595 / Cha494 We are one in the Spirit / They’ll know we are Christians by our love (Scholtes) A classic 60's song of unity and being an example to others. It's still pretty groovy, I reckon. Older version are really masculine. We often syncopate it a bit at Brunswick. Lyrics and pretty silly sound sample. Good for kids.
CH252 / VU578 / GA481 / SFFS 2237 / G(II)471 / GC663 / GC(II)643 / G(3)744 / W&R551 / Lau828 As a Fire Is Meant for Burning (Duck) Excellent lyrics of unity across all nations set to the familiar tune BEACH SPRING. Lyrics.New words to old tunes
TiS 548 / VU629 / A&M014 / PH340 / CP(E) 415 / W&R418 / SP3 / 82Hml-465Eternal light shine in my heart I really love this beautiful inclusive and ancient prayer. It is not familiar, but would be beautiful sung by a soloist until your congregation grows to know it.
TiS 411 / AHB 328 / NCH266 / UMH537 / VU194 / A&M633 / CP658 / CP(E) 425 / W&R331Filled with the Spirit's power Excellent inclusive words to a very well known hymn tune. I prefer it sung to WOODLANDS. Lyrics and hymn tune samples. New words to old tunes
TiS 670 / SiS569 / AoVK-138 / ATE 258 / CH692 / Srce385 / MP376Jesus put this song into our hearts (Kendrick) A fun Yiddish tune that gets even more fun if you get faster and faster as you go. Try teaching your congregation a simple side to side “dance” step; give them an excuse to join in! Good for kids.Youtube.Lyrics
TiS 179 / NCH273 / VU312 / StJ / GA739 / URW073 Praise with Joy the World's Creator One of my favourite hymns - strongly Trinitarian lyrics and excellent imagery; note that newer books (e.g. URW) have slightly different lyrics. Older lyrics (scroll down or search).New words to old tunes
NCH58 / CH618 / AA125 Spirit of love you move within creation (Murray) Familiar tune (PERFECT LOVE). Good words; "come work with us and weave us into one". Lyrics. New words to old tunes
ATW 462When I consider God's design (Hand in hand) Good words of all creation celebrating together. Tune is good, too. Lyrics.
URW134 God wills a full life for us all (Gregory) A communion hymn. Great words sung to the familiar tune AZMON; The first 3 verses could be sung before communion, and the last two afterwards. New words to old tunes. "Thanks be to God for faith renewed and unity restored. We go, one world, one family, to live Gods' loving word".
Recorded MusicOne (U2) For some reason, we listened to the Johnny Cash version of this a while back, and we thought that it could be interpreted as a song about the unity of the church (even though it's about the reunification of Germany). "One life with each other; Sisters, Brothers. One life but we're not the same, We get to carry each other, carry each other. One"

Please share your ideas for this week by adding a comment below...

Acts 2:1-21
The coming of the Holy Spirit. Note that most of the songs listed for this reading are good for many of the other readings this week.

*BUC Song ProjectTower of Mercy (Brown) A new-ish song from Dave. It would be great to have the musicians play this. "O sweep us into your great breath of life"
*BUC Song Project Drive us out (Whelan) A spirited and lively song about being driven to new places by the Spirit.
*ATAR643 Fire of prophet cool wisdom of sage / Spirit lead us (Somerville) An excellent song about knowing God through sacred stories, and being part of God's sacred story. This would be an excellent song for the entry of scriptures at the start of the service if this is your practice. It may be best sung first by a soloist. You could use it repeatedly during the Pentecost season. Sheet music & sound samples.
*ATAR607 Spirit of dreaming (Campbell Rate) Good open-ended words of hope for the coming of the Spirit, and a catching soothing melody, that gets a nice twist in the chorus. Sound sample, lyrics and purchasing options.
VU207 / LBW387 / PH124 / CP041 / 82Hml-299 Spirit of God Unleashed on Earth (Arthur) Great words to a wide range of tunes. I like TRURO best. New words to old tunes
VU199 Creative Spirit come to us (Latin 9th century) Great words to an old tune. I like the "Kaleidoscope of sevenfold light" bit. Sung to VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS. New words to old tunes
NCH267 / VU198 / PH127 / GtG280 / W&R329 Come O Spirit dwell among us (Alford) A good hymn to the familiar tune EBENEZER. New words to old tunes
*Online Resource Set us free for Freedom (Murray) Good challenging words, and two possible tunes, which are BOTH good, but quite different. The Klusmeier tune (1st in the download) is a good folk hymn tune, while the Gibson tune (2nd in the download) is more upbeat with a rousing chorus. Lyrics and free sheet music.
*Tune InSpirit of the Father, Spirit of our Mother / Alive in me Catchy boppy pop song about God's spirit within us and within the world. Music sample, sound sample and lyrics. Good for kids.Music sample, sound sample and lyrics.
*TiS 418 / AoV2-075 / Iona (EoA, Common Ground) / CH593 / GA372 / A&M259 / Cha255 / SP94 / URW165 / StF393 / Lau305She sits like a bird brooding on the waters (Bell) My favourite Holy Spirit song. Beautiful words and very easy to sing, provided it is not played too quickly The Iona recordings are generally very quick, but there are a lot of words to fit in, so keep it elegantly moderate in speed! Lyrics (scroll down).
SP&P025 Breathe on me O breath of God (Austin) A lovely simple song which can be sung as "breathe on me" or "breathe on us" depending on whether you want a personal or communal song.
*SP&P034 Come and fill all my life (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A gentle and very simple song. Would be good for a meditation.
*GA183 Come Holy Spirit the spirit of Wisdom (Willcock) Good song. It's in 7/8 so you can't go wrong. The words are also excellent about God-with-us and the coming of the Spirit This is also in New Song in an Ancient Land Vol 1 (in the Liturgy Library at BUC). Clunky sound sample.
*URW066 Holy Spirit wind of heaven (Garnaas-Holmes) Terrific words sung to the familiar tune ODE TO JOY. "Holy Spirit, Wind of Heaven, Breath of Life, our warmth and light"New words to old tunes
NCH271 / UMH538 / VU196 / PH131 / CP249 / W&R333 / Cha236Wind who makes all winds that blow(Troeger) Excellent words. Familiar tune (ABERYSTWYTH). New words to old tunes

G(3)549 Living Spirit Holy Fire (Duck) Lovely words, and a simple flowing tune. Lyrics and melody line. Sound sample.
*VU380 / SFFS 2122 / CP656 / SP&P006She Comes Sailing on the Wind / She flies on (Light) Excellent feminine imagery. The verses are quite tricky if your congregation is not familiar with them. You can suggest that they just join in on the chorus if you are concerned. This is a big favourite at our church. Lyrics (with lots of other good feminine songs - scroll down). This will be suggested next week too, so if you want to teach it, now is a good time.
*TiS 263 / CH607 The bright wind is blowing the bright wind of heaven (Taylor) Excellent words of the changes brought about by a "bright wind" that blows away the chaff of our hating, and fans the flames of love. Joyful tune.
SP&P005 Holy one may your presence here (Grundy) A joyful and quite quick chorus seeking enlightenment from the presence of Christ.
*AoV1-043Breathing now the life of God / Warm Our Hearts (Marshall) Simple round. "Breathing now the life of God the Spirit in us singing, come light up our hearts with joy! Heal and clear our eyes to see! Warm our hearts with peace. Warm our hearts with peace.” Short songs like this are great for kids. When teaching a song that breaks into a round, it’s best to work with as little accompaniment as possible; no accompaniment is best.Good for kids.
*NCH287 / FFS11Come teach us Spirit of our God (Murray/Jillian Bray) Excellent words and a good tune.
AoV1-095 / G(II)324 / GC459 Envia Tu Espíritu My other favourite holy spirit song. A catchy latin rhythm; verses are in English and the chorus is Spanish – not too hard for non-Spanish speakers, though.
GA377 / SP96 / StF374 / MP818 Come Holy Spirit descend on us (Bell) A simple call and response chant
CH589 / A&M240 Come Holy Spirit / Breath of Heaven (Bell) A lovely simple repetitive song. Includes verses like "Come , Word of Mercy" and "Come to disturb us"….
ELW400God of tempest God of whirlwind Really excellent words sung to the familiar tune CWM RHONDDA (Guide me O thou great Jehovah).Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes
NCH272 / VU195 / GtG289 / PH128 / W&R334 / Cha237 On Pentecost they gathered (Parker Huber) A simple story-telling hymn. Tune is a simple traditional tune. Lyrics.
*VU167 Christ is risen from the dead (Anonymous) Great simple round to the tune of KING OF KINGS with three sets of words for each of Easter, Pentecost and Reign of Christ. Obviously you'd want to use the Pentecost words this week. New words to old tunes
AoV2-058 Pulsing Spirit rippling river (Dufner) I've just written down in my notes that this is excellent but I can't remember why and I don't have the book this week. Lyrics.
*FFS58Spirit of peace (John Murray)Great words. Good simple chant, which may also be used as a round if you sing it to tune (ii).
*TiS 711 / ATOK 334 / Iona (M&G) / WoV681 / VU383 / SFFS 2124 / GtG283 / G(II)330 / StF038Come O Holy Spirit / Wa Wa Wa Emimimo (Nigeria) This song is just fun. And very easy. Try to sing it in its original language (Yoruba), it sounds a bit inane in English and it’s not hard!! Encourage your congregation to dance a simple side-to-side step to this; they will enjoy it even more. If we can’t go a little crazy on Pentecost, what hope is there for us, really? A good song to help us remember that our faith is global, and to think of the church and all people in Africa. Sound sample (Thanks Thom!) Good for kids.
A&M233 / CP(E) 365 A mighty wind invades the world (Stanbrook Abbey) Pentecost Excellent strong imagery of the Spirit moving through the world. Largely inclusive, but for a Trinitarian verse at the end.
TiS 398 / AHB 310 / AoV1-118 / NCH289 / CH489 / UMH475 / VU367 / GA375 / A&M238 / LBW508 / ELW804 / GtG282 / PH313 / GC465 / GC(II)471 / G(3)556 / RS617 / CP645 / CP(E) 175 / W&R330 / Cha582 / Srce100 / Lau303 / StF372 / MP089Come down O Love divine (Williams) Old fashioned, but still inclusive and very well known. Words and tune. Hymnals vary a lot in the lyrics with respect to thees and thys and words like "vesture". Oldy-but-a-goody.
*AoV2-061 / ATE 249As a dream receive your hist'ry (Tanner) A big favourite. There are actions too! The chorus is particularly excellent “We will rise up on wings like eagles, run and not be tired, show us your dreams and visions, warm our hearts with tongues of fire, tongues of fire”. Good for kids.Lyrics
SP&P091 O Great Spirit earth sun sky and sea (Getty) A beautiful and simple meditative chant on the Spirit. This can be sung gently, or more energetically like a Native American chant, as here.

Genesis 11:1-9

Babel.

ELW736 / SFFS 2060 / GtG005 God the sculptor of the mountains (Thornburg) A song full of excellent imagery. 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.
MV141 We are all one people (Naytowhow) A simple Native American song.
*URW155 The Earth and all who breathe (Duck) Excellent words about care for creation, our role as stewards of the earth, and the struggle against destructive progress (Babel is mentioned too!). Sung to the familiar tune ICH HALTE TREULICH STILL. Lyrics and sheet music sample (different possible tune). New words to old tunes.
NCH585 / CH254 / AA106 / GtG759 / PH385 / Cha681O God we bear the imprint of your face (Murray) Excellent words about the human family, and a plea for an end to racism and divisions. I'm not wild about the tune in the NCH (ROSEBERRY); others are better. Lyrics

Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
God as Creator, Sending the Spirit to renew the face of the earth

TiS 65Send forth your spirit O Lord and renew the face of the earth (Murray). A lovely refrain and a good paraphrase of the Psalm. The refrain doesn't really work well as a chant. The cantor part can be read if you don't have a cantor.
*TiS 135 / AHB 70 / AoVK-110 / NCH31 / A&M533 / CH137 / UMH147 / VU291 / WoV767 / HPP35 / PH267 / GtG020 / CP415/6 / CP(E) 251 / W&R30 / Cha061 / Srce21 / StF100 / Lau685 / MP023 All things bright and beautiful The TiS version has beautiful Australian imagery. If you are in Australia and your congregation only has the AHB or other versions of the music, it is worth making copies of the TiS lyrics; the congregation will know the tune. Verse 2 and 5 have masculine language for God. Oldy-but-a-goody
*MV130 / Linnea Good Rise up, O my soul A catchy little refrain! Good for kids
*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 (Batastini / Taizé) A beautiful and very well known Taizé chant. Sound samples, sheet music.Good for kids.
AoVK-123 / NCH3 / Iona (M&G) / UMH148 / VU308 / WoV794 / ELW837 / GtG021 / PH271 / G(II)338 / GC499 / G(3)911 / CP407 / W&R26 / Cha58 / URW232 / 82Hml-385Many and Great O God are your works / Wakantanka Taku Nitawa (Lacquiparle) Good words. Simple tune. Sounds great accompanied by a good Native American-style drum beat, which is a great way to get people (especially kids) involved in music-making. Lyrics here.
*PfAS104D Send Forth Your Spirit O Lord (Warner) Energetic hymn of praise. You could use both the verses and chorus, or only the chorus, as a Psalm refrain.
PfAS104G Lord Send Out Your Spirit (Duba) A simple Psalm refrain.
*AoV2-051 / G(II)325 / GC463 / GC(II)481 / G(3)555Spirit Blowing through Creation (Haugen) Excellent. Don't rush or it's hard to get all the words out.
MV015 / GA186 Holy Sacred Spirit (Brown) Gentle chant. Can be used without the cantor part. "Holy Sacred Spirit, breathe your breath on us". Good for kids.
*TiS 166 / AHB 102 / StB 35 Sing a new song sing a new song Excellent inclusive words from Australian poet James McAuley. The last verse annoys me a bit, but the rest is excellent. Lyrics.
*TiS 152 / NCH4 / UMH89 / VU232 / LBW551 / ELW836 / HPP22 / GtG611 / PH464 / GC529 / GC(II)520 / G(3)614 / CP425 / W&R59 / Cha002 / URW065 / 82Hml-376 Joyful joyful we adore thee Note that this hymn is not always very inclusive. I prefer more modern translations (e.g. TiS, VU, NCH, GC(II) ). Oldy-but-a-goodyOlder version lyrics and tune sample.
*TiS 187 / AoV2-130 / CH149 / StS122 / A&M539 / SP247Let all creation dance I just love the imagery of this one, and it's a very joyous and familiar hymn tune too. New words to old tunes. Lyrics
G(II)90 / GC101 / GC(II)60 / G(3)076 Lord Send Out Your Spirit (Lisicky) Could be fun to use just the refrain as a round. I would sing it much quicker than the sample. Sheet music sample. Sound sample.
TiS 188 Where wide sky rolls down and touches red sand (Smith) Great Australian imagery sung to a familiar hymn tune. Lyrics (scroll down).

Romans 8:14-17
Being led by the Spirit and God’s adopted children. See also the songs suggested for the Acts reading.

*Tune In: Father of Earth, Mother of Sea. A latinesque song about the Spirit being with those who are victims, prisoners and the sick, as well as present in our prayers. Lyrics, sound sample, sheet music.
*BUC Song Project Drive us out (Whelan) A spirited and lively song about being driven to new places by the Spirit.
*Taizé / TiS 747 / ATE 214 / Iona (M&G) / GtG842 / PfAS027A / URW393The Lord is my light, my light and salvation A simple and very popular Taize chant. Note that this is really easy on recorder if you have a kid in your congregation who is learning it. Good for kids. Youtube.
*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 (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 410 / AHB 323 / LBW523 / ELW582 / NCH59 / CP655 / 82Hml-511Holy Spirit, ever dwellingI like these words, but prefer to sing it to NETTLETON (TiS 392). Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes
TIS 415 Praise the Spirit in creation. Amazing words. Tune is unfamiliar, but good.
*Tune In Making things new(Anderson) A simple pop/rock song. “Take hold of the hope that I give, trust in me, reach out for the love you can live, eternally”. Good for kids. Lyrics and sample
*TiS 417 / AoV2-133 / ATW 448 / VU387 / StJ / WoV683 / ELW397 / AA94 / HPP237 / GtG293 / PH323 / CP657 / W&R135 / Cha244 / URW203 / StB220Loving Spirit, Loving Spirit (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 and some tunes. New words to old tunes
*TiS 465 / AHB 399 / ATA 115 / NCH279 / A&M271 / Iona (SBL) / CH116 / GA381 / Lau313 Our God in heaven / Father in heaven / Loving Creator grant to your children (Maquiso / Niles) I really like this hymn, especially the Philippino folk melody to which it's set. Newer versions of the hymn from the Christian Conference of Asia have altered the lyrics to "Our God in heaven / Creator God" in the first verse. Other versions, such as CH4 have "Loving Creator / Parent and God".
*VU379 / WoV688 / LBW459 / ELW786 / SFFS 2121 / Cha251 / URW079 O Holy Spirit root of life (Janzen, based on Hildegard) Good words of "Holy Spirit","Eternal Vigour" and "Holy Wisdom". I like the phrase "encompass us with wings unfurled". Simple known tune (PUER NOBIS).
*MV157I am a child of God (Harding) A simple song with powerful words. Very easy to learn. I would just sing the first verse this week, as a round. It's important to remember that God speaks through children. Good for kids.
*TiS 178 / G(II)335 / GC478 / GC(II)487 Praise the God who changes places I like the joy of the tune written by William Rowan (BOE) for this song. Lyrics and sign language here (scroll to the bottom for the lyrics). Sample here, to a different tune.

John 14:8-17, (25-27)
The promise of the Spirit; Peace I leave with you.

*ATW 494For you deep stillness Mann/Perrin. This homegrown favourite is just excellent. Lyrics and mp3 sample. Might be nice to sing this at the end of the service.
TiS 536 / AHB 453 / VU130 / GtG202 / PH094 / CP(E) 130 / W&R275 / Cha385 / Lau248 / StF569An upper room did our Lord prepare (O Waly Waly) I really love this song; it's so easy and lovely. Lyrics.New words to old tunes
SP&P025 Breathe on me O breath of God (Austin) A lovely simple song which can be sung as "breathe on me" or "breathe on us" depending on whether you want a personal or communal song.
*GA183 Come Holy Spirit the spirit of Wisdom (Willcock) Good song. It's in 7/8 so you can't go wrong. The words are also excellent about God-with-us and the coming of the Spirit This is also in New Song in an Ancient Land Vol 1 (in the Liturgy Library at BUC).
*URW066 Holy Spirit wind of heaven (Garnaas-Holmes) Terrific words sung to the familiar tune ODE TO JOY. "Holy Spirit, Wind of Heaven, Breath of Life, our warmth and light".
TiS 687 God gives us a future (Smith) Great words to a very easy hymn tune. Careful not to let it get the tune get too pompous; the words are not! "God gives us a future, daring us to go into dreams and dangers on a path unknown. We will face tomorrow in the Spirit's power, we will let God change us for new life starts now!". Lyrics here (scroll down). Notice how the hymn has been split into two parts to include the blessing and words of mission.New words to old tunes.
TiS 412 / AHB 324 / ATE 251 / G(II)328 / GC468 / CP651 / W&R130God sends us the Spirit to befriend and help us / Spirit Friend I like this song from Malawi, but the lack of inclusive language for God sometimes drives me a bit crazy. In Tom Colvin's book "Come Let us walk this road together" he uses more inclusive language than many hymnals. That is, he writes “God sends us the Spirit” instead of “God sends us His Spirit” and "Spirit of our Maker" rather than “Spirit of our Father”. Less inclusive lyrics and a strange sound sample.
CH344 / FFS01 / W&R635And Jesus said (Murray/Jillian Bray) Great words. Tune is a bit tricky.
AoV2-085 / Iona (T1AU) / MV115 / A&M328 / SP129Behold behold I Make All Things New (Bell) A nice hopeful upbeat short song. Highly recommended. Sound sample (scroll down) Good for kids.
NCH249 / GA517 Peace I leave with you my friends (Norbert) Slow, simple and excellent words. A congregation will pick this up the first time through, I think.
FFS07 Bring peace to us (John Murray) A simple chant with two possible tunes. Both are good. The first is a round. "Bring peace to us, bring peace through us, O God bring peace"

What ideas do you have? Join the conversation and add a comment below...

General Trinitarian hymns(reading-based selections follow)
Hymn tunes:

*ATAR605 God of creation gentle life-giver (Mitchell) Simple and lovely Trinitarian words to the tune BUNESSAN. I particularly like the phrase "stand with your people, whisper among us" when talking about Christ. New words to old tunes.
*Online Resource God of creation Lord of all beauty (Schuman) A different set of words also set to BUNESSAN. I like this one too. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
*TiS 179 / NCH273 / VU312 / GA379 / StJ / URW073 Praise with Joy the World's Creator One of my favourite hymns - strongly Trinitarian lyrics and excellent imagery. I particularly love the “One God in community” phrase. Some versions change "Son" to "Christ" to make it more inclusive. Lyrics (scroll down). New words to old tunes.
NCH278 / Cha062 / URW198 Creator God creating still (Parker Huber) Excellent hymn of hope for the future sung to a well known tune (ST ANNE). Lyrics and a critique. New words to old tunes.
*NCH355 / UMH648 / VU514 / GtG303 / PH523 / W&R149 / Cha450 God the Spirit guide and guardian (Daw) Excellent, inclusive Trinitarian lyrics of God's guidance and blessing on leaders in the church community. Set to a variety of well known hymn tunes including HYFRYDOL (my favourite!), JEFFERSON, BLAENWERN and BETHANY. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
*G(II)331 / GC472 / GC(II)488 / G(3)563 How Wonderful the Three-in-One (Wren) Stunning words sung to an old American Shape Note melody. New words to old tunes.Melody line, chords and lyrics.
*NCH467 / CH117 / VU320 / WoV769 / ELW735 / SFFS 2050 / HPP242 / GtG007 / Cha083 Mothering God you gave me birth (Janzen) Lovely words to the well known tune MARYTON. Feminine trinitarian imagery. I like the tune MOTHER JULIAN (CH4 117(I)) best. New words to old tunes. Lyrics (scroll down)
*NCH274 / CH118 / SFFS 2046 / GTG003 / CP390 / Cha014 Womb of Life and source of being (Duck / LADUE CHAPEL) Feminine trinitarian imagery. An easier tune, listed in some hymnals is IN BABILONE. New words to old tunes. Others have LADUE CHAPEL which is a little less intuitive. Lyrics.
TiS 631 / AHB 510 / A&M630 / PH136 / CP(E) 418 Sovereign Lord of All Creation (Cross) I have listed this because if you have access to the Presbyterian Hymnal, this has a much better translation of this hymn "Father Lord of all creation" that can be sung to the same tune. Nice images. New words to old tunes.

Contemporary:

*ATW 459 I don't believe in a God up in the sky / God Version 1.0An excellent rock song about how we think about God, or not! Lyrics and mp3. Good for kids.
*TiS 182 / AoV2-010 / NCH11 / CH134 / VU268 / GtG760 / SFFS 2047 / HPP13 / Cha010/ CP395Bring many names beautiful and good (Wren) This is a beautiful song, but it's very long (especially if sung too slowly). Try singing one verse unison, then one women, one men, then all together again, to keep people interested in what they are singing. Lyrics.
*URW126 Give thanks to the Source (Duck) Excellent words to a lovely lilting tune.
PH135 / G(II)333 / GC476 / W&R139 God Is One Unique and Holy (Wren) Good words focussed on God's unity although many-faceted. Inclusive and great imagery. The tune is quite simple. Lyrics, sheet music sample and tune sample.
AoV2-084 Father and Mother Creator And Poet (Sears) Trinitarian song with a Creation focus. Sound sample and lyrics.
*FFS47 Maker of mystery (Marnie Barrell/Gibson) Feminine trinitarian imagery. Tune is not hard, but can also be sung to the more familiar DOWN AMPNEY. New words to old tunes.
*G(3)561 Holy and blessed Three (Melley) This is a pretty cool new setting to the old words by John Marriott. Sound sample. Lead sheet.
*CH114 / AA110 O threefold God of tender unity (Wallace) Excellent inclusive Trinitarian words to a simple Celtic air. Lyrics
*MV043 / GtG009 / GC(II)484 / G(3)564 The play of the godhead (Bringle / Batastini) Lovely words and a very simple, intuitive tune. "The play of the Godhead, the Trinity's dance, embraces the earth in a sacred romance". Lyrics, sheet music sample and fairly plain and slow tune sample.
CP(E) 463 Holy Trinity of Love (Gaunt) Good solid words. Lyrics.
Recorded MusicSweetest Mystery (Malcolm Gordon) A lovely song about being part of a Trinity Community. Listening and purchasing options here.

World Music:

*AoVK-30 / ATW 419 / Iona (Common Ground, CAYP) / CH757 / MV002 / WoV717 / ELW819 / GtG388 / A&M361 / SFFS 2274 / HPP551 / GC(II)744 / G(3)849 / PfAS066B / SP&P022 / SP179 / StF022Come all you people (Uyai mose) Joyful and pretty easy really for the congregation. If you have WoV or SP&P, they each have a nice Trinitarian version of this. Come and praise the "Most high" / "Saviour" / "Spirit". Sheet music. Good for kids.
MV056 / STB001 O Come let us praise / Lajahle htaora Hp'ya (Shwe) A good song from Burma. Quite beautiful - will need to be taught to Western ears. Sheet music.

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
Wisdom, there from Creation

*Tune In / ATAR598 / NCYC 2009 God has laid a feasting table / Invitation (Whelan). Feminine imagery of God gathering her guests to a feasting table. Fun Cuban rhythm. Sample and songbook.
VU379 / LBW459 / ELW786 / SFFS 2121 / Cha251 / URW079O Holy Spirit root of life. Good words from Hildegard of Bingen to the simple known tune PUER NOBIS NASCITUR. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
*TiS 418 / AoV2-075 / Iona (EoA, Common Ground) / CH593 / GA372 / A&M259 / Cha255 / SP94 / URW165 / StF393 / Lau305She sits like a bird brooding on the waters (Bell) My favourite Holy Spirit song. Beautiful words and very easy to sing, provided it is not played too quickly The Iona recordings are generally very quick, but there are a lot of words to fit in, so keep it elegantly moderate in speed! Lyrics (scroll down).
*VU380 / SFFS 2122 / CP656 / SP&P006She Comes Sailing on the Wind / She flies on (Light) Excellent feminine imagery. The verses are quite tricky if your congregation is not familiar with them. You can suggest that they just join in on the chorus if you are concerned. This is a big favourite at our church. Lyrics (with lots of other good feminine songs - scroll down). This will be suggested next week too, so if you want to teach it, now is a good time.
*VU379 / WoV688 / LBW459 / ELW786 / SFFS 2121 / Cha251 / URW079 O Holy Spirit root of life (Janzen, based on Hildegard) Good words of "Holy Spirit","Eternal Vigour" and "Holy Wisdom". I like the phrase "encompass us with wings unfurled". Simple known tune (PUER NOBIS). New words to old tunes.
*MV010 / GtG174 / URW099 Come and seek the ways of wisdom (Duck) This song is more about the personification of Wisdom, but would work very well as a gathering song in the context of this reading. Tune is joyful, but not familiar, so if it seems difficult, you could sing the same words to PICARDY (TiS 497) New words to old tunes. Lyrics.
*MV 145 / CP418 / SP&P123Draw the circle wide (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”.
*CH604 Holy wisdom lamp of learning (Duck) Great words seeking wisdom, judgement, and celebrating a searching faith. Sung to a good joyful and easy hymn tune (IN BABILONE). Could also be sung to BEACH SPRING. New words to old tunes.
*GA183 Come Holy Spirit, the spirit of Wisdom (Willcock) Good song. It's in 7/8 so you can't go wrong. The words are also excellent about God-with-us and the coming of the Spirit. This is also in New Song in an Ancient Land Vol 1 (in the Liturgy Library at BUC).
*VU892 / CP392 / Cha258 Who comes from God as word and breath, Holy Wisdom (Michaels) Solid words about the place of wisdom in the Godhead. "Who lifts her voice for all to hear? Joyful Wisdom.Who shapes a thought and makes it clear? Truthful Wisdom: Teacher, drawing out our best, magnifies what we invest, names our truth, directs our quest. Wisest one, radiant one, welcome, holy Wisdom!". Lyrics and tune sample.
*URW206 In her house there is a table / Wisdom's Table (Gay) Sung to BEACH SPRING, this song has great words of being welcomed by Wisdom at her table through times of trouble. New words to old tunes.
*MV063 / StJ / GC(II)500 / G(3)583 Long before my journey’s start / Wisdom my road (Warner) Song for Wisdom. Pretty straightforward.
*HiOS156 Wisdom be our guide (Murray) Inspiring lyrics of peace and being grounded and inspired by Wisdom. The tune is quite simple, and the chorus will be easy to follow

Psalm 8
How majestic!

*Emergent Psalter O God our sovereign (Everett) A lovely simple Psalm response and read Psalm over an instrumental backing. Sheet music (refrain only)
*Online ResourceHow Great is your name! (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A fun Psalm refrain for kids with a cantor part. Good for kids. Sound sample and sheet music.
*AoVK-50 / ATW 430 / NCYC'99Come let us praise our God / A voice is heard (Trisha Watts) Excellent and energetic. Good for kids.
*TiS 163 / AHB 112 / NCH556 / UMH150 / LBW463 / ELW771 / GtG024 / PH268 / W&R644 / Cha651 / URW084 / 82Hml-580 God who stretched the spangled heavens Good words of creation of nature and cities and creative possibilities for the future. AHB has a Father and old language, but it works okay; TiS and other sources are better. There are many possible tunes. I like it best to HOLY MANNA as in the link. Lyrics and sound sample. New words to old tunes
PfAS008E O Lord Our Lord how majestic is your name (Fedak) Psalm response.
*CH005 / PfAS008D / URW231 / StF112 O Lord our Lord throughout the earth (Iona) A lovely hymnlike version of the Psalm, set to a traditional Scottish tune. I like the questioning nature of this hymn. New words to old tunes
ATW 462When I consider God's design (Hand in hand) Good words of all creation celebrating together. Tune is good, too. Lyrics.
VU730 / URW229 God our God your glorious name (Psalter / Sherwin) Inclusive paraphrase of the Psalm with a joyous chorus.
*AoVK-113 Thank you O Lord for this world of ours I like this kid's song. Really fun and interesting with two parts! Good for kids.
AoV1-003 / HPP258 / GA394 / G(II)342 / GC497 / GC(II)495 / G(3)576 / Lau693 / StF803 / MP648 The heavens are telling the glory of God / Canticle of the Sun (Haugen) Energetic waltz of cosmic praise with great lyrics "Come dance in the forest, come play in the field, and sing, sing to the glory of the Lord". Sound sample.Lyrics and sheet music sample.
VU732 O God our God how glorious is your name (Guimont) Inclusive responsive paraphrase of the Psalm with a simple refrain.
TiS 90 / AHB 44 / UMH60 / VU867 / GtG806 / PH253 / A&M673 / CP346 / CP(E) 473 / W&R79 / Cha20 / PfAS146A / 82Hml-429 / StF079 / MP320I'll praise my Maker while I've breath (Watts) A great classic hymn. Most sources are not inclusive; Voices United and Chalice hymnal are! Lyrics and sound sample.Oldy-but-a-goody.
NCH Psalter008 How majestic is your name in all the earth (Dengler) A very simple refrain and chanted Psalm.
*URW097 All you works of God bless the Lord (Starke) Joyful words of creation's celebration to the Jamaican tune LINSTEAD (Let us talents and tongues employ). Fun! New words to old tunes

Romans 5:1-5
Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through Christ who sent the Spirit.

Scripture in Song 29Therefore being justified by faith A relaxed swingy song which is a direct paraphrase of the passage. You can really jazz this up, especially if you play it in 3/4; then it sounds kind of like the Housemartins. Lyrics and sound sample (in 4/4).
*TiS 129 / AHB 56 / AoV1-029 / ATA 131 / NCH547 / CH555 / UMH378 / VU266 / LBW448 / ELW779 / A&M587 / GA437 / HPP334 / GtG649 / PH280 / G(II)434 / GC612 / GC(II)586 / G(3)645 / CP352 / CP(E) 375 / W&R422 / Cha546 / ZSS202 / Srce25 / Lau846 Amazing grace how sweet the sound (NEW BRITAIN/Newton) I once was lost... I think you all know this one. Nice youtube of some Sacred Harp singing, and a story. Oldy-but-a-goody.
*TiS 398 / AHB 310 / AoV1-118 / NCH289 / CH489 / UMH475 / VU367 / GA375 / A&M238 / LBW508 / ELW804 / GtG282 / PH313 / GC465 / GC(II)471 / G(3)556 / RS617 / CP645 / CP(E) 175 / W&R330 / Cha582 / Srce100 / Lau303Come down O Love divine (Down Ampney/Vaughan Williams) Old fashioned, but still inclusive and very well known. Words and tune. Hymnals vary a lot in the lyrics with respect to thees and thys and words like "vesture". Here's a folksy cover for your listening pleasure (Danke Yotin!). Oldy-but-a-goody.
*TiS 710 / CH758 / Iona (Enemy of Apathy) / VU204Come Holy Spirit gracious heavenly dove A beautiful and simple chant.
*AoVK-28 / ATOK 376 Faith hope and love, this is what we long for (Watts) A groovy, easy, fun song. Good for kids.

John 16:12-15
The Spirit of truth will guide you into all truth

TiS 419 / NCH270 / CH592 / A&M252 / UMH544 / VU205 / WoV685 / ELW403 / HPP222 / GtG285 / PH314 / CP635 / CP(E) 185 / W&R327 / SP92 / 82Hml-513 / StF389Like the murmur of the dove's song (Daw) Excellent words and a simple tune about Christian unity. Each verse ends with "Come holy spirit, come". Lyrics and organ sample.
*Tune InCover us with love (Loukes) This song may not be easy for congregations to sing, but it is great to listen to. “Be our vision Lord, in a world that’s filled with greed”... Lyrics, sound
*BUC Song ProjectSpirit God You come (Loukes) A simple slow song, with lovely imagery of the Spirit coming, we can be confident about it. It would work nicely during a time of reflection.
TiS 692 Sometimes a healing world is comfort (Michaels) A good song about healing. The verses take a little getting used to and the chorus is very joyous and simple. Perhaps get your congregation to join in as they become confident - there are 5 verses to learn on.
CH608 Spirit of truth and grace (Cunningham) Great words. They are not completely inclusive in their language for God, but the image of God as Father is a necessary part of this beautiful hymn, sung to a simple folk tune (Down Ampney). New words to old tunes
NCH286 / ATE 218 / VU375 / WoV684 / ELW396 / HPP239 / GtG291 / PH319 / W&R326 / Cha249Spirit spirit of gentleness (Manley) Lovely, gentle song. Very easy to sing, but can get slow and ponderous if you're not careful. Lyrics
TiS 430 / AHB 337 / Cha324 / StF164 Your words to me are life and health (Martin) I really like this old hymn. It’s a bit old fashioned, but it still works, I think. Lyrics. Oldy-but-a-goody.
*TiS 412 / AHB 324 / ATE 251 / G(II)328 / GC468 / CP651 / W&R130God sends us the Spirit to befriend and help us / Spirit Friend I like this song from Malawi, but the lack of inclusive language for God sometimes drives me a bit crazy. In Tom Colvin's book "Come Let us walk this road together" he uses more inclusive language than many hymnals. That is, he writes “God sends us the Spirit” instead of “God sends us His Spirit” and "Spirit of our Maker" rather than “Spirit of our Father”. Good for kids. Less inclusive lyrics and a strange sound sample.
TiS 422 / CH594 / A&M242 / CP(E) 179 Come Holy Spirit come inflame our souls with love (Forster / DIADEMATA) Excellent words to a well known hymn tune. "Spirit of truth, arise; inspire the prophet’s voice" It is not fully inclusive.
NCH63 / CH626 / UMH465 / VU368 / StS105 / LBW257 / ELW398 / HPP233 / CP(E) 184 / Cha241 Holy spirit truth divine (Longfellow) Good words seeking the presence of the Spirit in our lives. Hymn tune, very simple.
*TiS 711 / ATOK 334 / Iona (M&G) / WoV681 / VU383 / SFFS 2124 / GtG283 / G(II)330 / StF038Come O Holy Spirit / Wa Wa Wa Emimimo (Nigeria) This song is just fun. And very easy. Try to sing it in its original language (Yoruba), it sounds a bit inane in English and it’s not hard!! Encourage your congregation to dance a simple side-to-side step to this; they will enjoy it even more. If we can’t go a little crazy on Pentecost, what hope is there for us, really? A good song to help us remember that our faith is global, and to think of the church and all people in Africa. Sound sample (Thanks Thom!) Good for kids.
Online Resource Spirit of Truth (Harding) A good and groovy song. Sound sample, PDF and purchasing options.
CH613 / WoV687 / ELW401 / GtG287 Gracious Spirit hear our pleading (Niwagila) Good simple song about the Sprit. From Tanzania.

Let me know what else you would sing... new resources? Something I've missed? I'd love to hear about it! Add a comment below.

1 Kings 18:20-21, (22-29), 30-39
Elijah beats the pants off the prophets of Baal, and the Israelites get the point

AoV1-173 Holy Holy Holy Lord (Ham) Simple chant. "Holy holy holy Lord; praise and honour are yours, for you alone are worthy to receive the glory and praise." Lyrics and electronic sound sample, and a great story in the comments on how this song came to be written.
Taizé / GtG814 / CP563 / PfAS062DIn God alone my soul can find rest and peace / Mon ame se repose (Berthier) A beautiful healing chant from Taize. Words and music and sound samples for learning the parts Good for kids.
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.
AoV2-070 / ATW 496 / MV090 / StJ Don't be afraid (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. Good for kids.Sound sample.

Psalm 96
Sing a new song!

Recorded Music New Song (Audrey Assad) A lovely song about needing to find a new song to sing, and still praising God as well. Catchy. Youtube.
*BUC Song Project Sing, Sing with me(Potter) A fun song for kids about being part of God's family. Good for kids.
Tune In: We will sing a new song to the world (Brown) An energetic song about the gospel. Sound sample and lyrics.
*PfAS096C Let the heavens rejoice (TenClay) A joyous Psalm refrain. Would work well on its own as an acclamation or call to worship as well.
*PfAS096G Sing to the Lord no threadbare song (Daw) Just lovely words and a joyful 6/8 tune. "Sing to the Lord no threadbare song, no time-worn, toothless hymn!". I really quite like this one.
PfAS096F Sing to the Lord a new song (Soper) Good simple and inclusive words to the familiar tune ES IST EIN ROS ENTRSPRUNGEN. Fairly plain, but good.New words to old tunes.
*TiS 54 O praise the Lord all you nations (Willcock) Cantored version of the Psalm.
TiS 704 / AoV2-090 / NCH760 / Iona (M&G) / CH824 / VU431 / WoV786 / ELW846 / SFFS 2067 / GtG598 / G(II)369 / GC536 / W&R741 / ZSS56 / URW398 / StF770 Amen We Praise Your Name O God / Siakudumisa (South African) A simple and popular Amen. Not wild about the GIA hymnals English version. Sheet music sample. A choral version, which is very nice, but not very gutsy.
GC(II)521 / G(3)608 For your sun that brightens the day / We praise you (Haas) A nice joyful cantor and response. It's a bit more "praise and worshippy" than I normally like, but it's pretty good. Sheet music sample. Sound sample.
TiS 166 / AHB 102 / GA398 / StB 35 Sing a new song sing a new song Excellent inclusive words from Australian poet James McAuley. The last verse annoys me a bit, but the rest is excellent. Lyrics.
NCH009 / StJ / ELW791 / SFFS 2001 / CP523 We Sing to You O God (Proulx) Good hymny hymn with inclusive lyrics of praise. A good opening hymn. Nice descant part also.
*AoV2-050 / GA412 / G(II)381 / GC523 Sing O People Sing Our God Together (Haas) Lovely energetic song. Works well as a call to worship; call and response verses. Lyrics and sheet music sample. Sound sample.
*MV 180 Sing, Sing Out! Sing a new song (Hannah) An excellent two-part round. It’s worth teaching it to your congregation so they can sing it with confidence and break into two parts. Alternately, you could have a small group sing it in canon with the rest of the congregation.
*Taizé / GC(II)533 Sing to God with joyful hearts / Singt dem Herrn (Berthier) A joyful round. Works well in English and German, and probably other languages too. Sound samples, sheet music and lyrics here.
URW293 We Sing to You O God (Grindal) Good words to a standard hymn tune (DARWALL'S 148th). New words to old tunes.
CH207 Grant now your blessing upon this offering (Tinio) Simple short song for receipt of the offering to a familiar tune (HALAD) that alludes to this Psalm. New words to old tunes.
ATE 216 / Iona (SBL) / CH126 / StJ / ELW555 / PH472 / G(II)365 / GC527 / RS 671 / CP417 / W&R15 / StF042 O sing to the Lord / Cantai ao Senhor / Cantad al Señor (Traditional Brazilian) A good, fun and simple song that is easy to learn in Portuguese or Spanish too; note that not all versions are inclusive. Sheet music samples. Good for kids!

Alternative Hebrew Scripture: 1 Kings 8:22-23, 41-43
Solomon has built a house for God. Prays that all who pray “toward the house” be forgiven, fed, welcomed, healed including foreigners.

*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 (Haugen / TWO OAKS) 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
Brunswick UCA SongsTake this space (Brown / Lees / McKinnon) This song was written for the opening of our renovated church space and it would be good to sing it again.
*Taizé / GtG814 / CP563 / PfAS062DIn God alone my soul can find rest and peace / Mon ame se repose (Berthier) A beautiful healing chant from Taize. Words and music and sound samples for learning the parts Good for kids.
*Iona (LFB) / Lau930 Listen Lord (Iona / Bell) 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.”
Iona (SBL) / CH140 / MV181 / WoV727 / ELW554 / G(II)341 / GC495 / StB178 Lord Your Hands Have Formed This World / The Earth is the Lord's (Oliano) Good words of creation to a lovely, and not too difficult, Phillippino melody; it will need to be taught. Lyrics (first verse only)
*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 / MP908O Lord hear my prayer (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
*Online Resource In my father's house (Somerville) A great new song, with an inspiring, and very singable chorus. Lyrics, sound sample, and source.
CH133 / UMH113 / GtG011 / GC(II)563 / G(3)667 / Cha012 Source and sovereign rock and cloud (Troeger / ABERYSTWYTH) Excellent words of many names for God / I AM. Can be sung to BIRINUS, but I would sing it to the more familiar ABERYSTWYTH. Sheet music and lyrics. New words to old tunes

Galatians 1:1-12
Paul reminds the Galatians that they should be interested only in the true Gospel

*NCH387 / GtG361 / PH443 / GC(II)646 / RS782 / CP524 / Lau829 O Christ the great foundation (Lew) Excellent words of salvation and justice from Timothy Tingfang Lew, sung to the tune of "The church's one foundation" (AURELIA) which is in all standard hymnals. LyricsThere is a second possible tune (ABREU), which is more challenging. Note that the lyrics in the NCH are slightly different, and more inclusive.New words to old tunes.
STB066 Joy found in Truth Will Set the World free (Korea) (Kim) John 8:32 Simple words of seeking and living by truth. Fairly simple tune, but will need to be taught.
ATW 459 I don't believe in a God up in the sky / God Version 1.0An excellent rock song about how we think about God, or not! Lyrics and mp3. Good for kids
*MV031 Pure Love (Good) I think this song would be good for reflecting on truth. Very simple and beautiful. Good for kids.

Luke 7:1-10
The faithful Centurion; Christ's mission extends to the Gentiles.

CH348 / StS001 / LBW196 / ELW843 / G(3)625 / CP397 / W&R93 / SP304 / URW090 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness (Edwards) Good words of Christ's ministry to all. Can be sung to the familiar tune NETTLETON, or the less familiar and very lovely tune JOEL. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
*Iona (Love From Below / common ground) / CH718 / VU613 / A&M522 / GtG797 / G(II)401 / GC575 / GC(II)558 / G(3)657 / CP292 / CP(E) 348 / W&R628 / SP140 / URW146 / Lau433 / StF655 We Cannot Measure How You Heal (Bell) Really very excellent words to a very familiar celtic air. Easy to sing; be careful not to get too fast; it's tempting but the words need a slower tune. Sheet music sample. Sound sample.
Iona (Heaven Shall Not Wait) When our Lord walked the earth (Bell / PERSONET HODIE) Familiar and easy tune, excellent words. Chorus is “Power to speak and heal, grace to know what’s real, wisdom, insight and faith, grace and understanding”New words to old tunes.
TiS 638 / NCH175 / CH717 / A&M518 / GtG793 / PH380 / UMH265 / LBW380 / ELW675 / PH380 / CP291 / CP(E) 346 / W&R638 / Cha503 / Lau430 / StF653 O Christ the healer we have comeBeautiful words and simple to sing. Good for intercessions. I like the tune INVERCARRY best, but it can also be sung to TALLIS' CANON if your congregation needs a more familiar tune. Lyrics and sound sample (of an alternative tune). New words to old tunes.
AoVK-28 / ATOK 376 Faith hope and love, this is what we long for (Watts) A groovy, easy, fun song. Good for kids.

I'd love to hear your ideas, especially if you know of songs that I have not included. Please join the discussion by adding a comment below!

1 Kings 17:8-16 or 1 Kings 17:17-24
Elijah and the poor widow. God provides if we listen to God’s messenger. Hospitality. The resuscitation of the widow's son (if you continue the reading).

UMH434 / VU702 / StJ / R249 / ELW725 / GtG762 / PH407 / W&R624 / Cha662Cuando el Pobre / When a poor one / When the Poor Ones 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
Seeds of Faith Always Enough (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A cool and bluesy song that tells the story. This is not a congregational song, but could be sung by your musicians, or if you are a musical Sunday school teacher, you could use this to tell the story. Lyrics and sound sample.
Tune In: You in all our worries / All will finish well“In this world where injustice reigns, you are in the midst of pain”. Excellent words of reassurance in a difficult world. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook available here.
Tune In:Community (Brown) A song about being welcomed and part of a community. Sound sample and lyrics. "a glass of water shared with the thirsty". Good for kids.
CH763 / MV193 God bless to us our bread (Traditional Argentinian) A lovely simple grace for meals and for communion. More Voices has Spanish and French lyrics as well as English. "God bless to us our bread, and give bread to all those who are hungry, and hunger for justice to those who are fed. God bless to us our bread". This would be very appropriate if you are celebrating communion this week. Good for kids. Short video.
*CH655 / URW082 For your generous providing (Fisher) Lovely words to the well-known hymn tune HOLY MANNA. Particularly good if you celebrate communion this week. "Through the depths of joy and sorry, though the road be smooth or rough, fearless we can face tomorrow, for your grace will be enough". BUC people: I have a copy of this. New words to old tunes

Psalm for the first part of the 1 Kings reading: Psalm 146
God is great and cares for the widow, and brings justice etc.

Cha766 Blessed are the poor and needy for God's justice surely is theirs Simple, very familiar sung response, and responsive reading.
TiS 90 / AHB 44 / UMH60 / VU867 / GtG806 / PH253 / A&M673 / CP346 / CP(E) 473 / W&R79 / Cha20 / 82Hml-429 / StF079 / MP320I'll praise my Maker while I've breath (Watts) A great classic hymn. Most sources are not inclusive; Voices United is! Lyrics and sound sample. Oldy-but-a-goody.
*URW357 Praise to the One who sets prisoners free (Eslinger) A great tune, and the response can be sung in three parts, or as a round. Can be sung with one or two cantors / readers or without the cantors. The refrain alone as a round could be good for kids.
*WCC websiteHear the message we now are proclaiming / El mensaje que hoy proclamamos. 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!
Linnea Good Hallelujah my heart sings (Good) A nice version of this Psalm.
*Psalm Project (2010) Hallelujah Hallelujah The god of Jacob (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A nice way to present this Psalm to the congregation; this would work during the offering for our congregation, or have the congregation (including the kids) sing the Hallelujah bits as a Psalm refrain. Note to BUC: I have this! Sound sample and lyrics.
G(3)093 I will praise the Lord all my days (Joncas) A lovely Psalm refrain, very straightforward. The verses could be sung or read.
*TiS 702 / NCH768 / SFFS 2014 / GC257 / GC(II)263 / G(3)331 / PfAS146B / Lau539 Alleluia 7 (Taize) A very straightforward Alleluia that builds with energy. PfAS uses this as a refrain to a cantored (or read) version of Psalm 146.
WoV609 / GtG034 / SP&P055 / W&R735 / PfAS146B Hallelujah / Heleluyan (Muscogee / Webb) Native American Hallelujah. I like it. It's simple and straightforward. It can also be used as a round (come in on each bar), and with a strong drum beat on 1 and 3. PfAS146 uses it as a refrain to Psalm 146.
*PfAS146B Hallelujah / Puji Tuhan (Tamaela) A simple Bahasa Indonesian Alleluia set as a Psalm refrain for Psalm 146. It will need to be taught.

Psalm for the latter part of the 1 Kings reading: Psalm 30
God heals. Turns mourning into dancing. Weeping may linger, but joy comes in the morning.

Emergent Psalter: You have turned my lament into dancing (Everett) I really like this simple refrain - the chords really make it work. Sheet music (go to "downloads" tab)
PH181 / GtG805Come Sing to God O Living Saints (Anderson / ELLACOMBE) Good, simple, inclusive, humble and realistic words based specifically on this Psalm. Sung to a well known hymn tune (I sing the mighty power of God). Many congregations choose to sing only the first and last verses; the middle two are much more challenging. Lyrics for 1st & last verse (search for “come sing”). New words to old tunes
Iona (There is one among us)Lord you can turn all mourning into dancing An excellent simple refrain from John Bell “Lord you can turn all mourning into dancing, evenings of grief to mornings of great joy”
TiS 647 / AoV2-012 / ATN 25 Comfort, comfort all my people (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”. Lyrics, mp3 sample.
ATE 253He turned my mourning into dancing This is not at all inclusive, but if you change the lyrics to make it addressed to God “You turned my morning into dancing”, it’s much much better.
Tune In: You in all our worries / All will finish well“In this world where injustice reigns, you are in the midst of pain”. Excellent words of reassurance in a difficult world. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook available here.
*NCH085 / SFFS 2082 / Cha623 / ZSS105 Woke Up This Morning (African-American Spiritual) A great Spiritual. If you don't have one of these sources, you can just make it up from this video.... This could be a good Sunday to make use of those choir stalls; could even get the kids to write their own lyrics... Surreal version here. Good for kids.
TiS 181 / AoV2-032 / GC(II)497 / G(3)577 / CP589Come O God of all the earth / Sing Out Earth and Skies (Haugen) A very joyful song for cantor and congregation, or small group and congregation; this is a big favourite in our church. Sheet music, lyrics and sound sample.
CH683 / VU420 / A&M491 / GC(II)469 / G(3)546 / GtG295 / CP598 / W&R553 / SP156 / URW132 / Lau426 Go to the world Go into all the earth (Dunstan) Great words of sending out. Can be sung to a couple of different tunes. SINE NOMINE is the easiest and best known. New words to old tunesSound sample.Sheet music sample.
NCH433 / CH727 / UMH707 / VU703 / HPP474 / GtG250 / W&R515 / Cha638 In the bulb there is a flower (Sleeth) A simple song of hope symbolised in nature. Particularly good for those churches in colder Northern Hemisphere who have a while to go before Spring. Lyrics.
VU166 / SFFS 2210 Joy Comes with the Dawn (Light) Lovely words. The verses are very straightforward; it might be helpful to teach the chorus because there's a couple fof jumps. Lyric slide show!
AoVK-125 / ATW 489Turn our sadness upside down (Leigh Newton) Good for kids, and adults too. Simple tune, but not so simple that it’s boring. Lyrics (search in the page for "sadness"). Good for kids.
URW255 You have turned our sadness into a joyful song (Eslinger) A simple and joyful refrain with a read Psalm.
PfAS030B I will praise you O Lord (Bell) A lovely simple Psalm response - this one will work well sung as a response to the Psalm, or sung on its own where appropriate in the service. Works in Spanish too, and is Good for kids.
PfAS030C All with joyful expectation (Morgan) Good celebratory words of resurrection and hope of new life. The tune YISRAEL V'ORAITA is very similar to LEONI, but has a significant change in the last line. Be aware! New words to (almost) old tunes
*PfAS030D Though weeping and deepest sorrow (Monteiro) The chorus is super-cool, with a driving rhythm (and a part for a triangle!). The verses will be best sung by a soloist, I think.
Beneath the Noise You alone are my God (Randall) A lovely simple song with two verses and chorus based on Psalm 62 and Psalm 30. Quiet and reflective.

Galatians 1:11-24Paul was a persecutor, but then experienced God and was lead to change and proclaim Christ.

*TiS 210 / AHB 141 / NCH42 / CH352 / UMH57 / VU326 / LBW42 / ELW295 / A&M742 / HPP74 / GtG610 / PH466 / CP306 / CP(E) 534 / W&R96 / Cha005 / Srce506 / 82Hml-493 / StF364 / MP496O for a thousand tongues to sing (Wesley) A classic. I particularly love NATIVITY for these words, and it's such a fun tune. Be careful with the words "ye dumb". Voices United has "Hear him you deaf, you voiceless ones, your tongues again employ" which is more respectful.Lyrics and one possible tune. Oldy-but-a-goody.
TIS 624 / W&R453 / StF492Christ be my leader by night as by day Excellent words of following Christ in times of struggle to a traditional Scottish melody. LyricsNew words to old tunes
TiS 727 / ATE 208 / CH121 / VU745 / AA70 / PfAS022F In the presence of your people (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!
TiS 129 / AHB 56 / AoV1-029 / ATA 131 / NCH547 / CH555 / UMH378 / VU266 / LBW448 / ELW779 / A&M587 / GA437 / HPP334 / GtG649 / PH280 / G(II)434 / GC612 / GC(II)586 / G(3)645 / CP352 / CP(E) 375 / W&R422 / Cha546 / ZSS202 / Srce25 / Lau846 / StF440 / MP031 Amazing grace how sweet the sound (Newton) I once was lost... I think you all know this one. Nice youtube of some Sacred Harp singing, and a story.And a new video of Gurrumul singing it in Yolngu with Paul Kelly. Oldy-but-a-goody.
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 / KELVINGROVE) A classic. Don't sing it too slowly or it really drags and takes forever!

Luke 7:11-17
Jesus resuscitates the widow’s son.

Tune In:Our God who weeps (Kate Scull) Very simple folk-like tune and challenging and hopeful lyrics. "When death has taken those held dear"... Reference recording, lyrics and songbook.
TiS 737 / Iona (Common Ground, HSNW, T1AU) / A&M516 / SP142 / URW427 / Lau437 Lord Jesus Christ lover of all (Bell) A beautiful and simple chant. Note that some versions (T1AU at least) has a beautiful 4 part harmony arrangement with excellent moving parts in the lower registers.
TiS 638 / NCH175 / CH717 / A&M518 / GtG793 / PH380 / UMH265 / LBW380 / ELW675 / PH380 / CP291 / CP(E) 346 / W&R638 / Cha503 / Lau430 / StF653 O Christ the healer we have comeBeautiful words and simple to sing. Good for intercessions. I like the tune INVERCARRY best, but it can also be sung to TALLIS' CANON if your congregation needs a more familiar tune. Lyrics and sound sample (of an alternative tune). New words to old tunes.
*TiS 690 / CH259 / A&M557 / StS115 / SP237 / Srce54 / StF693 / MP806Beauty for brokenness hope for despair (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, but that never hurt anyone. Lyrics.
TiS 665 / AoV2-008 / Iona (Common Ground) / CH360 / A&M563 / VU117 / StJ / SP246 / Lau889 / StF251Jesus Christ is waiting (Bell) A good and well known hymn. Lyrics here (scroll down just a little bit). New words to old tunes
TiS 341 / AHB 257 / NCH222 / CH399 / VU143 / A&M147 / WoV661 / LBW094 / ELW782 / SFFS 2083 / HPP329 / GtG209 / PH076 / CP184 / CP(E) 112 / Srce2-426 / 82Hml-458 / Lau752 / StF277 / MP478 My song is love unknown (Crossman) I really love this old and beautiful song. I prefer it sung to LOVE UNKNOWN. Lyrics. Oldy but a goody It doesn't have to be saved up for Good Friday / Maundy Thursday. Lyrics.
TiS 728 Jesucristo reina reina ya! A fun Puerto Rican song. It's particularly fun if someone is brave enough to yell out a "call" at the start of each verse. Good for kids.

Do you have some ideas that others may find helpful? Please add a comment below!

1 Kings 21:1-10, (11-14), 15-21a
Jezebel and Ahab kill Naboth, take his land, and Elijah prophesies against Ahab
A Kyrie would work well - there are lots to choose from - here's a long list!

*Tune In / NCYC'07Forgive us now (Brown). “As we forgive may we be healed, as we reach out….” An excellent ballad. Lyrics and sound sample.
*Iona (SBL) / MV068 / G(II)405 / GC581 / GtG578 / PfAS009A Kyrie Guarany / On the poor, on the poor (Sosa) A simple Kyrie from Paraguay; This is our current favourite at Brunswick. The English translation varies depending on the source (we don't sing On the Poor). Sound sample (track 12). Good for kids.
Tune In Cover us with love (Loukes) This song may not be easy for congregations to sing, but it is great to listen to. “Be our vision Lord, in a world that’s filled with greed”. We have not sung this in a while... Lyrics, sound sample, and songbook
Tune InOur God who weeps (Kate Scull) Very simple folk-like tune and challenging and hopeful lyrics. "When death has taken those held dear"... Reference recording, lyrics and songbook.
FFS13 E te Ariki (Lord have mercy) (Render) A Maori Kyrie to a beautiful relaxed tune. Needs to be sung in Maori, and this would not be hard.

A good Sunday to acknowledge the violence by which land was taken from Native peoples in Australian and American history (Australian song suggestions follow).

*Online ResourceCreator God you made this land (Pearson) Words of reconciliation from the United Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress. "Great Spirit in this ancient land, speak in the stillness deep within. Remove all prejudice and fear, give life to all, new hope begin. Then help us gently walk as friends, while on this land your peace descends". Sung to the familiar tune ST PETERSBURG (TiS375). Lyrics (downloads a pdf). New words to old tunes.
Recorded MusicSpecial treatment (Paul Kelly) This song could work well during a prayer of confession; Archie Roach has recorded it too; I like his version better. Youtube. Lyrics

Psalm 5:1-8
A cry for God to listen and lead; God's hatred for deceit

*PfAS005B Give ear to our words O Lord (Hyder) Excellent chorus which works on its own or as a response to the Psalm. Highly recommended. Sound sample.
PfAS005C Hear my words O Lord (Scheer) Quite simple, but longish, Psalm refrain, which would work well on its own.
PfAS005A Hear O Lord my urgent prayer (Post) Straightforward metrical hymn-like Psalm.
*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 / MP908O Lord hear my prayer (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
SiSGive ear to my words, O Lord An old chorus, which may be familiar to many. A basic paraphrase with old language. I'm not sure of a source for this - I suspect it's in Scripture in Song. Chords and lyrics. Oldy-but-a-goody.
AoV1-137 / ATOK 403 / GA306 / G(II)286 God Of Abraham lead us (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).
Online resource In the Morning You Hear My Voice (Harding) Simple and quite lovely Psalm refrain. Sample pdf.
VU728 / URW226As morning dawns, God hear my cry (Marrier) or Lead me God, lead me in your righteousness (Wesley) Two simple and quite different refrains which can be used with a responsively read Psalm.
StJ / WoV777 / HPP346 / Srce308 / URW111 In the morning when I rise (Give me Jesus) (African-American Spiritual) I don't normally suggest "Jesus" songs to go with Psalms, but I think this one is worth bending the rules for. There are many possible ways of singing this. I like this version by Myrna Summers. But it's also often sung like this (Fernando Ortega).
Online ResourceGive ear to my words, O Lord (Kohlhase) Just stumbled on this on Youtube and thought some of you might like it. Very catchy and quite lovely. I'm not sure if he has sheet music available.
NCH Psalter005 Lead me O God in your righteousness (McMane) A very simple refrain and chanted Psalm.

Alternative Hebrew Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:26-12:10, 13-15
Nathan confronts David about his greed. David confesses.
You might like to sing a Kyrie, or see the suggestions for Psalm 32, below.

*Tune In / NCYC '07Forgive us now (Brown) An excellent ballad. Lyrics and sound sample. "Forgive us now, O mother love for all the idols we have built, For all the time we’ve worshiped there in company of dark despair. Forgive us mother of all hope”.
FFS19For the hurt I create (Murray) Beautiful tunes (there are two) and words. Tune (ii) is most simple, so use that if you will sing it as a congregation, but tune (i) is also worth using if you have some good musicians who can sing it for your congregation. If using tune (ii) you may like to suggest to your congregation that they simply join in on the "forgive me, Lord, forgive" line, but make sure you teach it to them first, because the third one is different to the other three. "For the hurt that I create.... for the evil I condone... for works of peace I do not do... for hope and help that I refuse... forgive me Lord, forgive"
FFS20Forgive forgive us Holy God (Murray / Gibson) Very easy tune for a congregation to sing (and there are 5 verses to learn it in!). The words focus on our desensitisation to violence and our greed, so a nice fit for this week's reading. The final verse has a focus on communion, but still makes sense if you are not celebrating the eucharist this week. Lyrics and free sheet music.
*TiS 693 / AoV1-031 / GA212 Come as you are that's how I want you (Browne) This song is beautiful, gentle, simple, and very well known. Lyrics (search for "come as you are"). Slow and mushy Youtube sample. A good song to start the service.
*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.
*BUC Song ProjectWhy do we listen and fail to hear / Lament - for a people with a people with a dulled heart (Whelan) This lament, and its wailing ooooh would fit quite well with this passage. Sorry this is not available outside the congregation yet. Good for kids

Psalm for the Samuel reading: Psalm 32
Honest confession forgiven by God. Identity.
You could sing a Kyrie (lots listed here). Some of them are good for kids.

Tune In / NCYC '07:Forgive us now (Brown). “As we forgive may we be healed, as we reach out….” An excellent ballad. Lyrics and sound sample.
Tune In: Making things new (Sheree Anderson). A groovy one. Great for kids, and lots of fun. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook.
BUC Song Project Broken (Loukes) This song seeking God's open arms at the end of a dry journey fits this reading well.
Cha739 Be glad in God and rejoice (Smith) Responsive psalm with joyous sung refrain.
*MV095 How deep the peace (Bauman / Good) Simple song. Would work particularly well as words of assurance after the prayers of confession.
G(II)42 / GC44 I Turn to You in time of trouble (Cooney) A quite nice inclusive cantor and response. Lyrics and sheet music. Sound sample.
*TiS 417 / AoV2-133 / ATW 448 / VU387 / StJ / WoV683 / ELW397 / AA94 / HPP237 / GtG293 / PH323 / CP657 / W&R135 / Cha244 / URW203 / StB220Loving Spirit, Loving Spirit (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. Free sheet music and lyrics.
Emergent Psalter Show me which way to go (Everett) Simple refrain. Sheet music (refrain only).
*StS066 / PfAS032C While I keep silence (Wright) A very mournful song based on this Psalm. Best for a meditative service; this will not suit all congregations, but there is something quite compelling about it, and maybe particularly good for Lent.
TiS 754 / SFFS 2055 / HPP457 / Cha554 / PfAS032B / Srce2-686 / MP793 You are my hiding-place (Ledner) Very mushy, but somehow very satisfying and soothing. Particularly mushy sound sample and lyrics.Good for kids.
*ATW 463 / Iona (T1AU) / ELW721 / SFFS 2219 / A&M835 / GtG750 / GC(II)451 / G(3)528 / W&R296 / URW436Goodness is stronger than evil(Tutu / Iona) Words from Archbishop Desmond Tutu. "Victory is ours, victory is ours, through him who loves us". Some congregations change the last line to "Compassion is ours, compassion is ours...". It depends on the context in which you sing it, I suppose. Sound sample. Good for kids.

Galatians 2:15-21
Justification through faith, not law. An implication that if you sin by trying to follow Christ then it’s really not so bad. A call to live by faith.

*NCYC ’95We will love / We will walk with you at the edges. This is a good little rock number “We will walk with you at the edges, we will die with you at the cross roads, we will risk with you taking chances, we will love”. Or something like that. Good for kids & teenagers.
TiS 691Faith will not grow from words aloneExcellent strong words of a questioning faith to a familiar hymn tune.
TiS 414 / NCH294 / CH616 / UMH192 / VU582 / HPP134 / PH433 / GC550 / CP(E) 198 / Cha257 / StF398 There's a Spirit in the Air (Wren) A good song of getting the business of following Christ done. Speaking out, caring for others, being changed. Good, joyful tune too. Lyrics and a sample of one tune that you could use.
AoVK-28 / ATOK 376 Faith hope and love (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. This remains my son's favourite church song. Good for kids
God Gives 2: Faith is like a muscle use it and it will grow This is a great song for kids. And grown ups who like to be silly. Good for kids
GGives 2 Don't just think about faith / Do it, do it, do it, do it (Boucher) Groovy kid's song about taking action. Lots of repetition so great for kids and non-readers. Good for kids
AoV2-023 / GA393 / G(II)339 / GC492 / StF496 / Lau686God beyond all names (Farrell). Excellent words. The verse can be tricky – lots of words to fit in, so don’t take it too fast. You may like to use a cantor, soloist or small group for the verses and ask the congregation to join in the chorus “All around us we have known you, all creation longs to hold you, in our living and our dying we are bringing you to birth”. Lyrics.

Luke 7:36-8:3
The woman bathes Jesus' feet at the Pharisee's house, and a listing of many faithful women.

NCH206 A woman came who did not count Tune is tricky, but quite beautiful and haunting when you know it. It's worth the effort. Terribly out of focus video, but the sound is good.
TiS 748 / GtBThere once was a man as mean as could be (Hannah) Good song for kids and great for this passage. Good for kids
TiS 696 / VU590 / CP463 / W&R585 A prophet-woman broke a jar (Wren) Celebrates many women's stories in the Bible. Tune is not immediately singable, but worth learning. Lyrics.
TiS 693 / AoV1-031 / GA212 Come as you are that's how I want you (Browne) This song is beautiful, gentle, simple, and very well known. Lyrics (search for "come as you are").
Tune In: God’s Mercy A beautiful ballad about recognising God's mercy in the everyday. Lyrics, sound sample, songbook.
WoV692 / ELW419 / GtG324 / RS885 For all the faithful women (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.
Online Resource / Recorded Music For our mothers of faith (Gordon) A good song about mothers and other women who have "mothered" us in the faith. Very simple chorus which would be great to sing along to. Sound sample, lyrics, and lead sheet available here.

Got an idea? Share it in a comment below!

1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a
Elijah flees the threat of death; food provided by an angel; God in the silence (not the wind, earthquake or fire) sends Elijah back, renewed, to his work.

*ATW 435 / NCYC'99Like the woman of old / Wellsprings 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. Lyrics (downloads pdf)
*MV084 In you there is a refuge (Wehlander / Good) A simple quiet song. "In you there is a silence, in you our minds are clear. When all we hear is discord may your quiet draw us near".
VU004 / G(II)255 / GC331 / GC(II)349 / G(3)412 God of All People / God of All Places (Haas) Good words of worship and hope. "Voice in our silence, song in our midst". Lyrics.
*VU278 / URW221 In the quiet curve of evening (Howards) Beautiful words. Simple tune. Particularly lovely for the Southern Hemisphere congregations who are at Winter Solstice. Lyrics.
Taizé / GtG814 / CP563 / PfAS062DIn God alone my soul can find rest and peace / Mon ame se repose (Berthier) A beautiful healing chant from Taize. Words and music and sound samples for learning the parts Good for kids.
CH609 / A&M615 / CP(E) 403 Come living God when least expected (Gaunt) Good words to a nice tune (SUNSET) of God coming when we are uninspired or God seems hidden. "Come now, as once you came to Moses within the bush alive with flame, or to Elijah on the mountain, by silence pressing home your claim". Lyrics and sound sample.
*AoV2-006 / The tide has turnedDeeper River / There's a river running deep within the silence of our souls (Digby Hannah). An excellent song of restoration for tired desert-like souls. Lyrics.
*ELW466 / FFS38 / SFFS 2255 / GtG533 In the singing in the silence (Murray) Lovely words, simple tune in FFS; there are quite a few tunes to this. Lyrics and single-use only downloadable PDF.
MV118 Me alone (Jamaican traditional) A very simple repetitive call-and-response song. Could work well as a reflective song.
CH133 / UMH113 / GtG011 / GC(II)563 / G(3)667 / Cha012 Source and sovereign rock and cloud (Troeger / ABERYSTWYTH) Excellent words of many names for God / I AM. Can be sung to BIRINUS, but I would sing it to the more familiar ABERYSTWYTH. Sheet music and lyrics. New words to old tunes
CH716 / VU374 / FFS10 / SFFS 2128 / W&R477 / Cha575 Come and find the quiet centre (Murray) A good song for the beginning of worship. I would prefer to sing this to one of the more traditional melodies offered (Tune 1 in FFS) or BEACH SPRING (TiS 493). New words to old tunes.
*W&R655 / URW202 Come Away from Rush and Hurry (Dawn) Excellent words of resting in a sacred space to the familiar tune BEACH SPRING (TiS 493). New words to old tunes.
*Recorded music: Trisha WattsIn the stillness This beautiful chant would fit well with the Psalm; from her album "Invokation". "In the stillness, there is a sweet gentle voice, calming the storm in the night". Available here (scroll down)
*Beneath the noiseBeneath the noise (Sanders / Randall) A lovely simple song to open worship. I'm not sure if this book is still available.
TiS 26 / AoV2-097 / Iona (LFB) / GA450 Just as a lost and thirsty deer (Bell / Maule) A quite simple paraphrase, set to a hymnlike tune.
Online resourceWinter Snow (Audrey Assad) This is a lovely song, more for a soloist than congregation. "But you came like a winter snow quiet and soft and slow Falling from the sky in the night to the earth below"; particularly good for Southern Hemisphere congregations. Sound sample, lyrics and sheet music.
*Tune In Save us in the time of trial (Whelan) A song with a reflective almost-Taize-like chorus. We have sung this a cuople of different ways, it's quite flexible. Lyrics, sound sample and songbook available.
*Tune In: You in all our worries / All will finish well“In this world where injustice reigns, you are in the midst of pain”. Excellent words of reassurance in a difficult world. Sound sample, lyrics and songbook available here.
TiS 415 / CH588 / WoV682 / 82Hml-506 Praise the Spirit in creation (Hewlett) Amazing words of the Spirit moving, creating, inspiring. Tune is unfamiliar, but good. Note that TiS has masculine and militaristic language; seek out the newer lyrics in Church Hymnary. Lyrics (older version than in CH)
NCH286 / ATE 218 / VU375 / WoV684 / ELW396 / HPP239 / GtG291 / PH319 / W&R326 / Cha249Spirit spirit of gentleness (Manley) Lovely, gentle song. Very easy to sing, but can get slow and ponderous if you're not careful. Lyrics
*SFFS 2202 / URW059 Come Away with Me to a quiet place (Keithahn) A lovely simple song of sanctuary and quietness.

Psalm 42 and 43
Longing for God like a deer longs for water

TiS 703 / ATE 206 / CH550 / VU766 / A&M592 / SFFS 2025 / GtG626 / HPP351 / W&R471 / PfAS042D / SP259 / Srce41 / URW267 / Lau965 / StF544 / MP037 As the deer pants for the water (Nystrom) Simple, well-known and fits with the Psalm on which it is based. TiS has only the first verse, which is just fine on its own.
URW166 Come God and hear my cry (Duck) Lovely words seeking restoration for tired faithful souls. Sung to the familiar tune TRENTHAM. New words to old tunes.
*TiS 026 / AoV2-097 / Iona (LFB) / GA450 Just as a lost and thirsty deer (Bell) Excellent and simple tune and words.
Music by Heart 09 O Send your light forth (McClellan) The rhythm is quite tricky and needs to be taught, but once you have it, it's a lot of fun, and sounds pretty cool with both parts going. It's listed as difficult, but I'm not sure that it is.
Cha740b As the deer longs for the waterbrook (Saliers) Responsive psalm with sung refrain.
MV116 / StF514 The thirsty deer longs for the streams (Mulrain / Caribbean) A calypso version of the Psalm!
*PfAS042C O Lord as a dear / Chuyo Sasumi (Loh) A sad and beautiful call and response from Korea. Will need to be taught. Suitable for a lament. Can be sung in English or Korean (but only if you have access to a person who can teach you how to pronounce the words).
*Worldmaking.net Your People Lament (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A quiet lament with verses; would fit particularly well for Brunswick at the moment. "Your people lament for our witness of suffering, Our anger and sorrow in light of Your holiness". Sound sample, lyrics etc.
*MV027 Creator God you gave us life (Snowdon) A lovely song, with a stirring chorus. I think it would be quite straightforward to sing: "Through hands that paint majestic skies, and voices chanting melody, with words that reach beyond the page, we comprehend your mystery. Lyrics (loads a pdf).
AHB 596 I shall go to the house of God (Murray) A Gelineau tone Psalm. The ANTIPHON II is the one by Murray, which could be used with a read or chanted Psalm.
PfAS043C / ATFG585 Send out your light (Iona) Very simple Psalm refrain for Psalm 43.
TiS 027 / PfAS043A Send out your light and your truth let them lead me (Gounod) A more plain psalm response.
*MV071 / GC(II)339 / G(3)417 When the wind of winter blows (Duck) A song of confession and lament, and expectation. Good for congregations in Winter...
VU768 Why restless why cast down my soul? / I will go to the altar of God (Wilson) I really like the first refrain, and the translation of the Psalm.

Alternative Hebrew Scripture: Isaiah 65:1-9
Despite the evil in the world, God will not destroy it

SgTJ1029 / MV094 Love knocks and waits (Damon) Lovely words of assurance and a simple lilting melody.
NCH583 / GtG044 / StJ Like a mother who has borne us (Bechtel) This has very appropriate lyrics on God as mother and father, and God's presence when we follow by caring for neighbour. The tune is gentle, soothing and simple. Sound sample. Lyrics (scroll to the end of the sermon).
*Tune in The God that I Know (Anderson) A beautiful ballad with female and male images of a loving, embracing God. Sound sample, sheet music sample and songbook.
*TiS 417 / AoV2-133 / ATW 448 / VU387 / StJ / WoV683 / ELW397 / AA94 / HPP237 / GtG293 / PH323 / CP657 / W&R135 / Cha244 / URW203 / StB220Loving Spirit, Loving Spirit (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. LyricsNew words to old tunes

Psalm for the Isaiah Reading: Psalm 22:19-28
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 (OLD 100TH). Almost every hymnal has quite masculine words for this classic hymn. I thoroughly recommend you look at the NCH and VU adaptation by Thomas Troeger. 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". New words to old tunes.
*PfAS022C What wondrous love is this (Mead) Refrains only, to be sung with a 2 reader version of the Psalm.
*AoV1-073 / G(II)467 / GC657 I Will Not Die before I've lived to see that land (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. Clunky sound sample.
*TiS 727 / SiS361 / ATE 208 / CH121 / AA70 / PfAS022F In the presence of your people (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 (Chambers - refrain only) Refrain only for singing with a reading of this Psalm.
Online resource All the Ends of the Earth Shall Turn to you, O God (Harding) A very simple one-liner from Bruce Harding, suitable for using with a reading of the Psalm, or intercessions. Sheet music available for purchase here.
Linnea Good So while I live my soul is yours A very simple refrain or chant.
*Tune In: Like the sun upon my skin / God’s Mercy A beautiful ballad about identifying God's mercy in the beauty of creation. Lyrics, sound sample and songbook.
*Tune In: The God that I know. A ballad drawing on God’s strength and comfort; not easy if unfamiliar. Lyrics and sample available here.
*Tune In:Shepherd of the night (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. Lyrics, sound sample and songbook.
VU618 / CP558 God when I stand (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.

Galatians 3:23-29
No more Jew nor Greek.... all children of God through faith

AoV1-129 / CH665 / UMH620 / VU467 / ELW701 / HPP525 / A&M461 / GtG530 / G(II)599 / GC830 / GC(II)813 / CP073 / W&R689 / Cha393 / Lau832 One bread, one bodyA classic. Don't play it too slow or it takes forever!! Particularly appropriate if you are celebrating communion. Oldy-but-a-goody.
AoVNG1 / CH685 / FFS17 / GtG769 / G(3)812 / W&R617 For everyone born / A place at the table (Murray) Words of welcome and change to everyone regardless of sex, age, sinfulness. There are three possible tunes. The Lori True tune is the most common. I like the Colin Gibson tune in FFS (and on the Hope Publishing website that follows). Use whatever you have! This song is good for a service when communion is celebrated, but it makes sense without communion, too. There is also an optional verse: "For gay and for straight...."Lyrics & sheet music.
AoVK-148 / ATOK 388There is one body (Watts/O'Brien) A good energetic song of unity. Good for kids.
MV141 We are all one people (Naytowhow) This Native American song really gets stuck in my head. I think it's really good. Might take some work to get your congregation going with it, though.
GA461 / G(II)445 / GC629 / GC(II)608 / G(3)699 God is love and all who live in love live in God (Haas) This is a nice cantor and refrain setting. The refrain is very simple and the cantor part is inclusive. The words are good for distribution of communion. Sample here, but it's pretty clunky. Lead sheet.
TiS 657 / CH263 / VU700 / A&M559 / AA50 / CP(E) 447 / Cha656 / SP242God of freedom God of justice(Murray / Guthrie Foote) Powerful lyrics. Can be sung to either TREDEGAR (new, but not too hard) or PICARDY (very familiar) or RHUDDLAN. Lyrics and midi. New words to (many) old tunes!
CH656 / VU477 / PH507 / CP060 / A&M448 / GtG515 / CP(E) 305 / W&R706 / Cha420 / SP217 / URW120 I come with joy a child of God (Wren) A good and jubilant communion hymn. Lyrics and a very slow tune sample here.
TiS 670 / SiS569 / AoVK-138 / ATE 258 / CH692 / Srce385 / MP376Jesus put this song into our hearts (Kendrick) A fun Yiddish tune that gets even more fun if you get faster and faster as you go. Try teaching your congregation a simple side to side “dance” step; give them an excuse to join in! Good for kids.Youtube.Lyrics
CH348 / StS001 / LBW196 / ELW843 / A&M762 / G(3)625 / CP397 / W&R93 / SP304 / URW090 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness (Edwards) Good words of Christ's ministry to all. Can be sung to the familiar tune NETTLETON, or the less familiar and very lovely tune JOEL. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
GC(II)482 / G(3)548 We Are One (Wright) A simple chorus. Quite nice. It's a bit like Kum ba yah, somehow. Would be great for an ecumenical service.
AoV1-130 / NCH444 / SFFS 2223 / HPP495 / GtG300 / G(II)533 / GC735 / GC(II)728 / G(3)835 / W&R595 / Cha494 We are one in the Spirit / They’ll know we are Christians by our love (Scholtes) A classic 60's song of unity and being an example to others. It's still pretty groovy, I reckon. Older version are really masculine. We often syncopate it a bit at Brunswick. Lyrics and pretty silly sound sample. Good for kids.
*AoVK-21 Weave one heart (Haugen) Excellent song, with call and response verses "many colours woven into one"

Luke 8:26-39
Jesus casts the Legion of demons into the pigs;
This is great in the Brick Bible, but a bit freaky for little kids.

*TiS 728 Jesucristo reina reina ya! A fun Puerto Rican song. It's particularly fun if someone is brave enough to yell out a "call" at the start of each verse. Good for kids.
*CH348 / StS001 / LBW196 / ELW843 / A&M762 / G(3)625 / CP397 / W&R93 / SP304 / URW090 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness (Edwards) Good words of Christ's ministry to all. Can be sung to the familiar tune NETTLETON, or the less familiar and very lovely tune JOEL. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
TiS 690 / CH259 / A&M557 / StS115 / SP237 / Srce54 / StF693 / MP806Beauty for brokenness hope for despair (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.
TiS 638 / NCH175 / CH717 / A&M518 / GtG793 / PH380 / UMH265 / LBW380 / ELW675 / PH380 / CP291 / CP(E) 346 / W&R638 / Cha503 / Lau430 / StF653 O Christ the healer we have comeBeautiful words and simple to sing. Good for intercessions. I like the tune INVERCARRY best, but it can also be sung to TALLIS' CANON if your congregation needs a more familiar tune. Lyrics and sound sample (of an alternative tune). New words to old tunes.
TiS 737 / Iona (Common Ground, HSNW, T1AU) / A&M516 / SP142 / URW427 / Lau437 Lord Jesus Christ lover of all (Bell) A beautiful and simple chant. Note that some versions (T1AU at least) has a beautiful 4 part harmony arrangement with excellent moving parts in the lower registers. Would work well during intercessions.
NCH502 / VU608 Dear God who loves all humankind / Dear God embracing humankind I really like these two new versions of "Dear Lord and Father of mankind". Lyrics.
TiS 692 Sometimes a healing world is comfort (Michaels) A good song about healing. The verses take a little getting used to and the chorus is very joyous and simple. Perhaps get your congregation to join in as they become confident - there are 5 verses to learn on.
*Iona (Love From Below / common ground) / CH718 / VU613 / A&M522 / GtG797 / G(II)401 / GC575 / GC(II)558 / G(3)657 / CP292 / CP(E) 348 / W&R628 / SP140 / URW146 / Lau433 / StF655 We Cannot Measure How You Heal (Bell) Really very excellent words to a very familiar celtic air. Easy to sing; be careful not to get too fast; it's tempting but the words need a slower tune. Sheet music sample. Sound sample.
Iona (Heaven Shall Not Wait)When our Lord walked the earth (Bell / PERSONENT HODIE) Familiar and easy tune, excellent words. Chorus is “Power to speak and heal, grace to know what’s real, wisdom, insight and faith, grace and understanding. New words to old tunes.

Do you have some ideas you'd like to share. Please add a comment below!

2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
Elijah taken up by a chariot, Elisha’s devotion and inheritance of the Spirit of God

Liturgy for the whole church p140 and p142 Elijah passes his mantle (Bock) A dramatic reading for three readers and a skit for two people with a narrator based on this reading.
AoV2-061 / ATE 249As a dream receive your hist'ry (Tanner) A big favourite. There are actions too! The chorus is particularly excellent “We will rise up on wings like eagles, run and not be tired, show us your dreams and visions, warm our hearts with tongues of fire, tongues of fire”.I think this would work well with this reading if you think about the inheritance that we also receive from our forerunners in the faith. Good for kids.Lyrics
BUC Song ProjectIn Spirit we rise (Anderson) It would be great to sing this song about God's spirit working in and through us. Sorry, this isn't available yet online or in a songbook.
TiS 398 / AHB 310 / AoV1-118 / NCH289 / CH489 / UMH475 / VU367 / GA375 / A&M238 / LBW508 / ELW804 / GtG282 / PH313 / GC465 / GC(II)471 / G(3)556 / RS617 / CP645 / CP(E) 175 / W&R330 / Cha582 / Srce100 / Lau303 / StF372 / MP089Come down O Love divine (Williams) Old fashioned, but still inclusive and very well known. Words and tune. Hymnals vary a lot in the lyrics with respect to thees and thys and words like "vesture". Oldy-but-a-goody.
TiS 711 / ATOK 334 / Iona (M&G) / WoV681 / VU383 / SFFS 2124 / GtG283 / G(II)330 / StF038Come O Holy Spirit / Wa Wa Wa Emimimo (Nigeria) This song is just fun. And very easy. Try to sing it in its original language (Yoruba), it sounds a bit inane in English and it’s not hard!! Encourage your congregation to dance a simple side-to-side step to this; they will enjoy it even more. If we can’t go a little crazy on Pentecost, what hope is there for us, really? A good song to help us remember that our faith is global, and to think of the church and all people in Africa. Sound sample (Thanks Thom!) Good for kids.
TiS 422 / CH594 / A&M242 / CP(E) 179 Come Holy Spirit come inflame our souls with love (Forster / DIADEMATA) Excellent words to a well known hymn tune. "Spirit of truth, arise; inspire the prophet’s voice" It is not fully inclusive; Lyrics. New words to old tunes
TiS 419 / NCH270 / CH592 / A&M252 / UMH544 / VU205 / WoV685 / ELW403 / HPP222 / GtG285 / PH314 / CP635 / CP(E) 185 / W&R327 / SP92 / 82Hml-513 / StF389Like the murmur of the dove's song (Daw) Excellent words and a simple tune about Christian unity. Each verse ends with "Come holy spirit, come". Lyrics and organ sample.
TiS 409 / AHB 322 / CH595 / UMH543 / VU202 / StJ / SLW43 / W&R328 / Cha250 / StF391 / MP488O Breath of life come sweeping through us (Elizabeth Porter Head) This is a really good older style hymn with inclusive lyrics. Lyrics and sound sample. Not all verses are in all hymnals.
NCH271 / UMH538 / VU196 / PH131 / CP249 / W&R333 / Cha236Wind who makes all winds that blow(Troeger) Excellent words. Familiar tune (ABERYSTWYTH). New words to old tunes
Unusual Source: Blow through me Breath of God (Miriam Therese Winter) This chant is very beautiful. It takes a few listens for the congregation to pick it up, or you could ask the musicians to play it as a prayer for the congregation. "Like a pipe, like a flute, like a reed making melody". It can be found in "Songlines, Hymns, Songs, Rounds and Refrains for Prayer and Praise, Crossroad, New York, 1996" or "Womantalk Woman Prayer" (1987). We have not sung this for some years so it will need to be retaught at BUC.
*Taizé / MV075 / StS079 / SFFS 2118 / GtG284 / GC(II)479 / G(3)547 / SP99 / URW395 Holy Spirit Come to Us / Veni sancte spiritus / Tui amoris (Berthier) Gobsmackingly beautiful if you have a cantor, but it works well if you don't, too. Sheet music, translations, sound samples.
GA377 / SP96 / StF374 / MP818 Come Holy Spirit descend on us (Bell) A simple call and response chant
CH589 / A&M240 Come Holy Spirit / Breath of Heaven (Bell) A lovely simple repetitive song. Includes verses like "Come , Word of Mercy" and "Come to disturb us"….
*GA183 Come Holy Spirit the spirit of Wisdom (Willcock) Good song. It's in 7/8 so you can't go wrong. The words are also excellent about God-with-us and the coming of the Spirit This is also in New Song in an Ancient Land Vol 1 (in the Liturgy Library at BUC).
*URW066 Holy Spirit wind of heaven (Garnaas-Holmes) Terrific words sung to the familiar tune ODE TO JOY. "Holy Spirit, Wind of Heaven, Breath of Life, our warmth and light". New words to old tunes
*ATAR643 Fire of prophet cool wisdom of sage / Spirit lead us (Somerville) An excellent song about knowing God through sacred stories, and being part of God's sacred story. This would be an excellent song for the entry of scriptures at the start of the service if this is your practice. It may be best sung first by a soloist. You could use it repeatedly during the Pentecost season.

Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20
God hears us in our trouble, even though God has the power over the seas and the wind

*VU791 God bend your ear and hear my prayer (Honore) A lovely simple and intuitive chant with an inclusive, responsive reading of this Psalm. Highly recommended
*Iona (LFB) / Lau930 Listen Lord (Iona / Bell) 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.
*PfAS077B In complete desperation / I refused to be comforted easily (Bell) Amazing lyrics (not entirely inclusive) which would speak well to many contemporary congregations. A simple tune. Highly recommended. Sheet music sample (incomplete).
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 Nothing Can Trouble / Nada te turbe (Berthier) 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.
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 / MP908O Lord hear my prayer (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
CH570 / UMH512 / W&R495 / Cha629 / ZSS164 When the storms of life are raging (stand by me) (Tindley) A good gospel song. Hymnals have a range of translations. Great for kids.Sound sample and lyrics.
PfAS077D By your strength you have redeemed your people (Pelz) A nice simple Psalm refrain.

Alternative Hebrew Scripture: 1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21
Elisha follows Elijah (after killing a yoke of oxen)

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 / KELVINGROVE) A classic. Don't sing it too slowly or it really drags and takes forever!
ATOK 348 / Iona (HSNW) / G(II)496 / GC692 / GC(II)697 / StF462Come with me / Sing hey for the carpenter (Iona) Excellent. I love this one. Very joyous, and a big favourite in our congregation. Lyrics. Good for kids.

Psalm for the 1 Kings reading: Psalm 16
Refuge in God who shows us life

*MV123 Day after day night afer night (Bauman / 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) 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, tune and a little of the story. 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 (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. Here's an older version with the slow organ. Yeah, the slow organ is nice too, I suppose, but I really like it about twice that speed... Oldy-but-a-goody.
*PfAS016D My heart is glad (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 (Wren) A good and jubilant communion hymn. Lyrics and a very slow tune sample here.
*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 (Struther) Excellent straightforward Irish tune (SLANE), and beautiful words. Would be a good choice for the final song. Oldy-but-a-goody.
*AoVK-12 God is our shelter truly a friend indeed (O'Hara) Groovy little round / more like a call and response really. Good for kids.
StJ / G(II)22 / GC23 / GC(II)18 / G(3)029 / Lau40b Keep Me Safe O God (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 (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.

Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Freedom and persistence. Works of the Flesh vs. Fruits of the Spirit. Triumph of the Spirit; being good neighbours.

*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.
AoV1-061 / ATOK 355 / GtG359 / SFFS 2194 / G(II)521 / GC723 / GC(II)707 / G(3)814 / ZSS110 / SgTJ1035 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. Sample sheet music. Good for kids.
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 (Struther) Excellent straightforward Irish tune (SLANE), and beautiful words. Would be a good choice for the final song. Oldy-but-a-goody.
CH611 Holy Spirit fill our hearts (Unknown) A lovely simple song. Good to teach to kids in Sunday School perhaps. Good for kids.
GtBGod is love and love is giving (Langmead) A simple kids' song about God's love. A round. We have sung this a bit. It would be good to repeat it. Good for kids.
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 (Colvin & people of Ghana) Lyrics. Good for kids
NCH401 / GtG308 / W&R388 O god in whom all life begins (Daw) Excellent words of living as a community of faith. Sung to a simple English melody.
AA123 / VU361 Small things count (Murray / Bray) Good simple morality song for kids. Easy to sing. Good for kids.
Fresh Sounds 53But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy and peace (Unknown) This is a simple chorus I still remember from Holiday Club at the Lutheran church in the next town when I was in Primary School. It's probably from Scripture in Song, but I don't know. I'd love to know if anyone knows where I can track it down - not that you'd need the sheet music, really.
NCH286 / ATE 218 / VU375 / WoV684 / ELW396 / HPP239 / GtG291 / PH319 / W&R326 / Cha249Spirit spirit of gentleness (Manley) Lovely, gentle song. Very easy to sing, but can get slow and ponderous if you're not careful. Lyrics
ATA 184 Spring follows winter (love is the law) (Mann) Lovely words to a familiar traditional English (?) melody. Mostly inclusive.
GGives2 The spirit produces love (Tolquhurst) A nice short boppy kids song directly quoting this passage. Good for kids
ATA 202 / GGives1 We're gonna move when the Spirit says move (Boucher) Fun song. There's a lot of kid's songs for this passage (note that none of them list the "Works of the Flesh"). Good for kids

Luke 9:51-62
It's not easy to follow Christ; you can't put it off.

CH195 / StS053 / AA061 Here to the house of God we come (Murray / Gibson) Good honest words and a simple, but unusual tune.
TIS 624 / W&R453 / StF492Christ be my leader by night as by day Excellent words of following Christ in times of struggle to a traditional Scottish melody. LyricsNew words to old tunes
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 / KELVINGROVE) A classic. Don't sing it too slowly or it really drags and takes forever!
TiS 686 / ATE 292Lord Jesus we belong to you / Because we bear your name (Robin Mann) Lyrics (loads a pdf).
TiS 561 / AHB 467 / NCH494 / CH535 / LBW498 / A&M823 / CP(E) 621 / 82Hml-684 / Lau862 / MP224Who would true valor see / valour see (Bunyan) A lovely old hymn, with old-world imagery. I think it still works OK. TiS and NCH have inclusive language throughout. CH and CP(E) do not have inclusive language, even for humanity. I really like the tune MONK'S GATE. Particularly nice with light instrumentation. A violin / flute and a bodhran may be all you need for this. Inclusive lyrics (loads a Word document).Oldy-but-a-goody.
TiS 687 God gives us a future (Smith) Great words to a very easy hymn tune. Careful not to let it get the tune get too pompous; the words are not! "God gives us a future, daring us to go into dreams and dangers on a path unknown. We will face tomorrow in the Spirit's power, we will let God change us for new life starts now!". Lyrics here (scroll down). Notice how the hymn has been split into to two parts to include the blessing and words of mission.
AoV2-070 / ATW 496 / MV090 / StJ Don't be afraid (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. Good for kids.Sound sample.
Iona (T1AU) / MV110 / StS037 First born of Mary provocative preacher (Bell) A short, energetic song about the nature of Christ's life on earth; the phrase "Itinerant preacher" resonates well with this passage.
*ATAR643 Fire of prophet cool wisdom of sage / Spirit lead us (Somerville) An excellent song about knowing God through sacred stories, and being part of God's sacred story. This would be an excellent song for the entry of scriptures at the start of the service if this is your practice. It may be best sung first by a soloist. You could use it repeatedly during the Pentecost season - particularly appropriate this week if you are also having the reading of Elijah.

Do you have some ideas? I'd love to hear about songs you would sing - add a note in the comments!

I wish I didn't have to write this entry, because I wish this had not happened. I know that many faith communities, particularly those who welcome LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex) people will be in mourning this week and may be looking for a song to sing to give voice to their grief, express their anger, and provide comfort.

Although I am based in Australia, this blog is also read by a lot of communities in the USA who continue to mourn the ongoing loss of life that they witness from gun violence. My prayers are with you as I write this.

Online ResourceLet speeches fall silent (Tice) These words are excellent - and express the need for confession by the church and our society for an environment that made this act possible. Sung to the familiar tune COLUMCILLE this will be immediately singable. Lyrics and sheet music.

Songs to lament the deaths of many

W&R632 / Cha512 When Aimless Violence Takes Those We Love (Patterson) Excellent words sung to the well known tune SURSUM CORDA. Lyrics.
MV179 People / Sisters let us walk together (Snowdon) A mournful (but still hopeful) song, that can be sung as 3 verses or as a round, written for a worship service to honour women killed in the Montreal Massacre of 1989. You can change the words to "People let us walk together" if the focus is not particularly on violence against women.
FFS05 Be their names remembered (Murray/Jillian Bray) Simple chant, good for singing in response to a list of names of those who have died (e.g. catastrophe, ANZAC day). "Be their names remembered in the heart of God".
ATAR606 / StS121 / FFS50 Nothing is lost on the breath of God (Colin Gibson) A beautiful song and very easy to sing even if new. "Nothing is lost on the breath of God, nothing is lost for ever; God's breath is love, and that love will remain, holding the world for ever. No feather too light, no hair too fine, no flower too brief in its glory; no drop in the ocean, no dust in the air, but is counted and told in God's story."Words and full sheet music. Sound sample.
Iona (Sent By the Lord) / MV066Senzenina? / 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 (loads a pdf).
Tune In / NCYC '07:Forgive us now (Brown). “As we forgive may we be healed, as we reach out….” An excellent ballad seeking forgiveness in a sinful world; the church as a whole needs to ask forgiveness for the way it has closed its doors to LGBTQI people, and pray for a new way forward. Lyrics, sound sample and songbook.
Tune In:Our God who weeps (Kate Scull) Very simple folk-like tune and challenging and hopeful lyrics. "When death has taken those held dear"... Reference recording, lyrics and songbook available here.
Brunswick Uniting Song ProjectWhy do we listen and fail to hear / Lament - for a people with a people with a dulled heart (Whelan) This lament, and its wailing ooooh would provide a good opportunity to reflect on how such a thing could happen, and why it's so difficult to make changes to prevent it happening again "We have turned away and our hearts have grown cold, heal us, help us to grieve". Good for kids

Songs for LGBTQI inclusion

AoVNG1 / CH685 / FFS17 / GtG769 / G(3)812 / W&R617 For everyone born / A place at the table (Murray) Words of welcome and change to everyone regardless of sex, age, sexuality. There are three possible tunes. The Lori True tune is the most common. I like the Colin Gibson tune in FFS (and on the Hope Publishing website that follows). Use whatever you have! This song is good for a service when communion is celebrated, but it makes sense without communion, too. There is also an optional verse: "For gay and for straight...."Lyrics & sheet music.
Online Resource / Rise Up Singing Songbook We are a gentle angry people (Near) I thought the time to sing this song had passed, but I guess not. Lyrics & Chords. Sound sample.
Online Resource For all the children (David Lohman) A beautifully hopeful hymn. Sheet music for purchase a lead sheet, and a very sincere Youtube video. "O, may our hearts and minds be opened, fling the church doors open wide. May there be room enough for everyone inside. For in God there is a welcome, in God we all belong; may that welcome be our song.
Online Resource Believe out loud (David Lohman) So, this is not much of a congregational song, it's more like a show tune, and could be sung with a soloist and get the congregation to join in on the joyful chorus. Sound sample, sheet music sample and purchasing options.
MV 145 / CP418 / SP&P123Draw the circle wide (Light) A great song about welcoming all people; it doesn't focus on LGBTQI people, but I think the image of "no-one stands alone" is really helpful in this instance. 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”.

Songs against gun violence

Online ResourceGive us a well of tears(Crider) Sung to the familiar tune TRENTHAM, this song was written after the murders in Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 17, 2015. They do not specifically refer to that event and could be helpful for this occasion too. Sheet music.

I'm sure there are many more songs that could be added. Please add your suggestions in the comments.

Songs, Hymns & Music for Lent 1C (February 14 2016)

Songs, Hymns & Music for Lent 2C (21 February 2016)

Songs, Hymns & Music for Lent 3C (February 28 2016)

Songs, Hymns & Music for Lent 4C (6 March 2016)

Songs, Hymns & Music for Lent 5C (13 March 2016)

Songs, Hymns & Music for Easter 2C (3 April 2016)

Songs, Hymns & Music for Easter 3C (April 10th 2016)

Songs, Hymns & Music for Easter 4C (17 April 2016)

Songs, Hymns & Music for Easter 5C (24 April 2016)

Songs, Hymns & Music for Easter 6C (1 May 2016)

Songs and Hymns for Ascension / Ascensiontide (5 May 2016)

Songs, Hymns & Music for Easter 7C (8 May 2016)

Songs, Hymns & Music for Pentecost C (15 May 2016)

Songs, Hymns & Music for Trinity Sunday (May 22 2016)

Songs, Hymns & Music for Proper 4C / Pentecost 2C (May 29 2016)

Songs, Hymns & Music for Proper 5C / Ordinary 10C / Pentecost +2 (June 5, 2016)

Songs, Hymns & Music for Proper 6C / Ordinary 11C / Pentecost +3 (June 12, 2016)

Songs and Hymns for Proper 7C / Ordinary 12C / Pentecost +4 (June 19, 2016)

Songs and Hymns for Proper 8C / Ordinary 13C / Pentecost +5 (June 26th 2016)

Songs and Music to Lament the Mass Murder in Orlando