Songs and Hymns for Proper 17C / Ordinary 22C / Pentecost +12 (August 28 2022)

Jeremiah 2:4-13
God is forsaken by the Israelites and grieves. See also the songs suggested for the Psalm.
  • TiS 679 / Online God of Jeremiah grieving (Brian Wren) If you are going to focus on Jeremiah for the next few weeks, this would be a good hymn to learn. The traditional Scottish tune KELVIN GROVE is well known as the tune for "The Summons". Lyrics and free sheet music PDF.
  • Online Resource We love to sound your praises (Carolyn Winfrey Gillette) New words to the very familiar tune O SACRED HEAD. Lyrics and copyright info. New words to old tunes
  • ATOK 322 / HSNW Lord where have we left you (Iona) This song, sung to a simple tune, is about leaving Christ behind at Christmas, so I'm merging the Hebrew Scriptures with the gospel, but I think it's a direction that you could take. Sound sample.
  • Tune In / Online Resource 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.
  • Tune In / NCYC '07 / Online Resource Forgive us now (Dave Brown). “As we forgive may we be healed, as we reach out….” An excellent ballad. Free songbook, lyrics and sound sample.
  • MV78 / CH168 / FFS30 / SFFS 2048 / SP&P069 / StF700 God weeps at love withheld (Shirley Murray) Pretty full-on lyrics of lamentation, that some may find difficult to sing simply because of the horrors it names. In the context of this story, I think this is okay. This is a really powerful story, let’s not water it down. Lyrics.  
Psalm 81:1, 10-16  
God provided Israel with everything, but they didn't listen; God still offers finest wheat and honey from the rock.
  • Emergent Psalter I hear a voice I had not known (Isaac Everett) A simple bluesy refrain. Sheet music (refrain only).
  • PfAS081A O be joyful (Malawi Traditional) A simple and joyful refrain for this Psalm which could be chanted or read. Energy! Sound sample.
  • TaizĂ© / GC(II)533 Sing to God with joyful hearts / Singt dem Herrn (Jacques Berthier) A joyful round. Works well in English and German, and probably other languages too. / Sound samples, sheet music and lyrics. Good for kids.
  • TiS 658 / AoV1-090 / ATE 296 / CH251 / UMH593 / VU509 / WoV752 / ELW574 / GA496 / A&M494 / HPP541 / GtG069 / PH525 / G(II)492 / GC(II)671 / G(3)777 / CP(E) 470 / W&R559 / Cha452 / Srce328 / Lau865 / StF663 / MP857 I the Lord of sea and sky / Here I am Lord (Dan Schutte) Song of God searching for us and our response. Very slow sound sample. Lyrics and sample sheet music
  • PfAS081A You satisfy the hungry heart (Omar Westendorf) Refrain only arranged as a Psalm response. Pretty nice. Sound sample & lyrics.
  • TiS 43 Sing to the Lord a new song (Christopher Willcock) Good energetic refrain. Nice time signature! Good words.
Alternate Hebrew Scripture: Sirach 10:12-18 or Proverbs 25:6-7
Don't be proud.
  • Tune In / NCYC '07 / Online ResourceForgive us now (Dave Brown). “As we forgive may we be healed, as we reach out….” An excellent ballad. Lyrics, sound sample and free songbook.
  • TaizĂ© / MV016 / StJ / ELW528 / GA430 / SFFS 2157 / HPP410 / GtG466 / G(II)398 / GC570 / GC(II)550 / G(3)637 / CP402 / URW378 / Lau701 Come and Fill our hearts/ Confitemini Domino (Jacques Berthier) Can be sun 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". A good song of recommitment. Obviously if you don't sing Alleluias during Lent, this is not for you. You could replace the Alleluia with Hosanna if you really want to sing it. Sound samples and sheet music.
  • 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".
  • Recorded Music Lay it down / Humility (Michael Gleason) A great song for kids. Not specifically Christian. It explains humility well. Good for kids. Lyrics (pdf). Available here. A happy group of kids on Youtube.
Psalm for the Sirach or Proverbs reading: Psalm 112 
It will be well for those who follow God's commands, like giving to the poor etc
  • TiS 69 Light rises in darkness when justice rules our lives (S. T. Kimbrough / Carlton Young) A lovely Psalm response. Could be used with a sung or read version of the Psalm. The TiS translation is quite inclusive. It's from the United Methodist Liturgical Psalter (1989).
  • Taize / AoV2-091 When The Night becomes dark your love O Lord is a fire (Suzanne Toolan) A lovely simple chant. Sound sample and lyrics. 
  • ATOK 354 / ELW801 / SFFS 2152 / GtG695 / SP&P128 / W&R373 / PfAS051A / ZSS178 / Srce95 / MP069 Change my heart O God / Cambiame Senor (Eddie Espinosa) A mushy old favourite.Thanks to Sylvia Griffiths for this and the next few suggestions. Lyrics and chords.
  • SFFS 2129 / HPP322 / W&R344 / Cha344 / Srce2-244 / MP272 I Have Decided to Follow Jesus / Jisuni jaman anga jarigken (Nokseng / Simon Karma Marak) Good simple chorus, based on the words of an indigenous Garo martyr in the Assam region of India. My reflection on the origins of this song. You could sing it in its original language (Garo). Lyric video here. Oldy-but-a-goody.
  • WCC website Hear the message we now are proclaiming / El mensaje que hoy proclamamos (Eleazar Torregoza) 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!
  • URW223 (refrain 2) Like a tree that's planted by the water (African American) This simple and very well known refrain would work well with Psalm 112, even though this book lists it for Psalm 1. Good for kids.
  • TiS 712 / AoV2-021 / ATE 269 / The tide has turned Create in us a clean heart O God (Digby Hannah) Good. A big favourite in our congregation. Lyrics & sound sample.
  • Emergent Psalter Happy are they who fear God (Isaac Everett) A very simple Psalm refrain. Sample sheet music (refrain only).
  • Iona (HSNW) / VU019 / A&M839 / SP326 Kindle a flame to lighten the dark and take all fear away (Iona) This song would also work well at various points in the service, including during intercessions. Good for kids A video showing how to teach the three parts.
Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 
Lots of good advice on hospitality, relationships, doing good, praising continously, Christ's constancy - some of the songs listed for the Gospel reading would also work.
  • 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.
  • AoV2-070 / ATW 496 / MV090 / StJ / G(3)719 Don't be afraid (John Bell) Excellent. I love this song of reassurance. "Don't be afraid, my love is stronger. My love is stronger than your fear". This song can be used as a response to intercessions. Good for kids. Sound sample. Sheet music preview.
  • ATN 18 / NCH552 From the crush of wealth and power (Kendyl Gibbons) Good words about stepping out with courage to help those in pain and "bind all their wounds again". Well known tune (BRIDEGROOM). Lyrics.    
  • Iona (TI1AU) / MV038 Glory to God / Nzamuranza (Mozambique / Patrick Matsikenyiri) Simple African call and response song. Sound sample.
  • NCH565 / LBW408 / ELW678 / GtG716 / PH422 / CP601 / W&R572 / Cha606 / URW091 God whose giving knows no ending (Rusty Edwards) Excellent more formal words of thanks for God's many good gifts to us. Can be sung to a range of tunes including BEACH SPRING, HYFRYDOL, AUSTRIAN HYMN, RUSTINGTON. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes
  • ATOK 390 Put on love every day, never hide your love away (Mary Lou Walker) A groovy song that's good for kids! Lyrics (downloads a ppt).
  • TiS 640 / AHB 561 / ATE 310 / NCH498 / UMH432 / VU593 / WoV765 / ELW708 / HPP446 / GtG203 / PH367 / G(II)296 / GC409 / GC(II)429 / G(3)505 / CP504 / W&R273 / Cha600 / URW116 / 82Hml-602 / Lau241 / StF249 Jesu Jesu fill us with your love / Kneels at the feet of his friends (Tom Colvin & people of Ghana) A classic! Lyrics. Good for kids  Oldy-but-a-goody.
  • TiS 629 / AHB 558 / AoV2-136 / ATA 197 / CH544 / VU600 / Lau888 / StF256 When I needed a neighbor were you there (Sydney Carter) A classic folk church song. Well known and fits well with this theme. "And the creed and the colour and the name won't matter"... Lyrics. Good for kids.
  • TiS 681 Lord let me see see more and more (Ross Langmead) An excellent song - kind of long with 5 verses, but very simple lyrics on some quite tricky themes. The tune is very natural to sing as well. Lyrics.
  • W&R104 / URW102 Hidden Christ Alive for Ever (Brian Wren) Wonderful and inspiring words of Christ in all things. Can be sung to HYFRYDOL or HOLY MANNA, so would be easily sung by most congregations. A good song for just after the sermon. Lyrics. New words to old tunes
  • CH656 / VU477 / PH507 / CP060 / A&M448 / GtG515 / CP(E) 305 / W&R706 / Cha420 / SP217 / URW120 / StF588 I come with joy a child of God (Brian Wren) A good and jubilant communion hymn. Lyrics and sheet music.
  • ELW341 / SFFS 2187 / G(II)549 / GC759 / GC(II)752 / G(3)857 / W&R627 / Cha471 / Lau675 Now it is evening / At evening (Fred Pratt Green) A song of justice and caring for others who are lonely, hungry in the city. The set tune is really good and simple, but it can also be sung to BUNESSAN. Mostly makes sense for evening services only, but maybe it could work in the morning…? Lead sheet. Sound sample.
  • TiS 617 / NCH413 / UMH517 / WoV736 / ELW626 / A&M605 / GtG818 / PH342 / W&R75 / 82Hml-695 / Lau428 By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered (Dietrich Bonhoeffer / Pratt Green) Wonderful words by Bonhoeffer. Lousy tune. Words fit well to O Perfect Love if you find the tune too tricky. Can also be sung to BERLIN or INTERCESSOR. The 5th verse is omitted in some hymnals. Lyrics.  New words to old tunes There is also a very nice contemporary tune for the same words by Douglas Simper in his book Singing the Journey.  His tune somehow makes the words feel much more relevant; it will need to be taught, or sung by a soloist.
  • TiS 468 / NCH309 / PH436 We are your people Spirit of grace (Brian Wren) I really like the lyrics to this one. The tune is a bit funny and the hymn is quite long - needs something to stop people plodding through it; maybe split the singing into male/female or different sides of the congregation. Lyrics and sheet music.
  • TiS 650 / ATA 191 / CH694 / A&M604 / NCH539 / VU595 / ELW659 / AA08 / SFFS 2222 / HPP442 / GtG727 / G(II)476 / GC683 / GC(II)661 / G(3)751 / CP500 / CP(E) 393 / W&R391 / Cha490 / SP263 / URW117 / StF611 / Lau924 Brother, sister, let me serve you / Won't you let me be your servant? (Richard Gillard) I think you all know this one. Lyrics. NCH has a nice turn on the lyrics with "Won't you let me be your servant?" as the first line.  Oldy-but-a-goody.
Luke 14:1, 7-14
Christ's new rules of hospitality
  • Tune In / Online Resource / ATAR598 / NCYC 2009 God has laid a feasting table / Invitation (Shawn Whelan) Feminine imagery of God gathering her guests to a feasting table. Fun Cuban rhythm. Sound sample, lyrics and free songbook.
  • TiS474 / AoV1-012 / ATE 295 / CH623 / SFFS 2236 / HPP553 / A&M363 / GtG401 / G(II)539 / GC839 / GC(II)743 / G(3)848  / CP465 / W&R649 / Cha284 / SP175 / URW054 / Lau475 Here in this place new light is streaming / Gather us in (Marty Haugen) Excellent words, very well known. “Nourish us well and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true”. Lyrics and lead sheet.  
  • ATW 475 Come to the banquet there’s a place for you (Faye White) An excellent song by Melbourne singer and songwriter. Lyrics (scroll quite a bit). Good for kids.
  • Online Resource At the table all are equal (David Bjorlin / Benjamin Brody) A beautiful song of welcome, with a stirring and heartfelt chorus. This could be sung before communion, and would work during distribution too. Sound sample. Sheet music and lyrics preview and purchasing options.
  • ATFG561 / Online Resource / Tune In Community (Dave Brown) A song about being welcomed and part of a community. Sound sample, lyrics and free songbook. 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. Sound sample (Track 1). Good for kids
  • ATE 284 / VU395 Come in, come in and sit down (Jim Manley) A fun song. Great for kids. Teenagers think it's tacky, and sometimes I agree with them. Lyrics. Good for kids.
  • TiS 686 / ATE 292 Lord Jesus we belong to you / Because we bear your name (Robin Mann) Lyrics.
  • TiS 650 / ATA 191 / CH694 / A&M604 / NCH539 / VU595 / ELW659 / AA08 / SFFS 2222 / HPP442 / GtG727 / G(II)476 / GC683 / GC(II)661 / G(3)751 / CP500 / CP(E) 393 / W&R391 / Cha490 / SP263 / URW117 / StF611 / Lau924 Brother, sister, let me serve you / Won't you let me be your servant? (Richard Gillard) I think you all know this one. Lyrics. NCH has a nice turn on the lyrics with "Won't you let me be your servant?" as the first line.  Oldy-but-a-goody.
  • NCH332 / VU457 / ELW522 / SFFS 2268 / HPP528 / GC(II)738 / G(3)839 / CP061 / W&R695 As We Gather at Your Table (Carl P Daw) Could be sung to HOLY MANNA or NETTLETON, both very popular hymn tunes. Lyrics & sheet music. New words to old tunes.
  • Online Resource God is like a foolish farmer (David Bjorlin) Many images of God as farmer, lover, ruler and shepherd, all of them "foolish", but all of them more loving and caring than our usual image of these types of people. Sung to the familiar tune RESTORATION. Lyrics and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.  
Got any ideas you'd like to add? Please write a comment below!

2 comments:

Shaun C said...

To go along with the Gospel reading in Luke: "I'm Gonna Eat at the Welcome Table" (GtG 770)

michaeljm007 said...

I would add "Honey in the Rock" by Brooke Ligertwood, Brandon Lake, and Mitch Wong.