Songs and Hymns for Proper 9C / Ordinary 14C / Pentecost +6 (July 7th 2013)

2 Kings 5:1-14
Naaman’s healing; he wished it needed something special but really it was very simple. 
*TiS 638 / NCH175 / CH717 / A&M518 / UMH265 / LBW380 / ELW675 / PH380 / CP291 / CP(E) 346 / W&R638 / Cha503 / Lau430 O Christ the healer we have come Beautiful words and simple to sing. Good to sing during intercessions. I like the tune INVERCARRY best. Lyrics and sound sample (of an alternative tune)
*TiS 182 / AoV2-010 / NCH11 / CH134 / VU268 / SFFS 2047 / HPP13 / CP395 Bring 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. 
*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.
*TiS 414 / CH616 / UMH192 / VU582 / HPP134 / HPSS433 / GC550 / CP(E) 198 There's a Spirit in the Air (Wren) Great words, to a joyful tune (it looks less so in TiS, but think of it in 6/8 instead of 6/4). Just think how brave Naaman's servant girl must have been. Seven verses – you might want to have women sing a verse and men sing another to keep people going. The TiS suggestion to use INVERCARRY is (in my opinion) not necessary; it’s easier to the set tune. Lyrics and tune sample.
*MV157 I 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.
*AoV2-085 / Iona (T1AU) / MV115 Behold behold I Make All Things New (Bell) A nice hopeful upbeat short song. Picks up the theme of Naaman being restored to health. Lyrics (downloads a pdf). Good for kids. 
AHB 167 Your arm O Lord in days of old (Plumptre) A much older style of hymn, but would still be fine to sing "to hands that work and eyes that see give wisdom's heavenly lore, that whole and sick, and weak and strong may praise you evermore."
See also the songs suggested for the Gospel reading.

Psalm 30
God heals. Turns mourning into dancing. Anger is but for a moment; 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 (refrain only) 
PH181 Come 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”). 
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 253 He 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 / CP589 Come O God of all the earth / Sing Out Earth and Skies (Haugen) Another big favourite. Sheet music, lyrics. Sound sample.   
*CH683 / VU420 / GC(II)469 / CP598 / W&R553 / SP156 / URW132 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. 
NCH433 / CH727 / UMH707 / VU703 / HPP474 / 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 489 Turn 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!  
*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.

Alternate Hebrew Scripture: Isaiah 66:10-14 
Rejoice (see the Psalm), God as nurturing mother; a flourishing body - like grass!
*AoV1-085 Like a child rests in its mother's arms (Walker) A very beautiful and simple refrain; works well on its own. Good for kids
*Taize / CP563 In God alone my soul can find rest and peace / Mon Ame Se Repose (Berthier) A very beautiful chant from Taize. Sample music, and sound files to learn all the parts here. Good for kids
*MV091 Cradle me in your arms (Harding) A simple assuring chant in times of suffering. Sound sample. Sheet music sample. Purchase online.

Psalm for the Isaiah Reading: Psalm 66:1-9 
Make a joyful noise, God’s brought us through some rough stuff.
You could sing an Alleluia!
AoVK-18 Clap your hands our God is good! (Brown) Good kid's song. Good for kids
Tune In Peace In Our Time (Brown) A groovy bossa nova song of peace and action for peace. Not easy for congregational singing. Lyrics. Sound sample. Songbook.
*TiS 152 / NCH4 / UMH89 / VU232 / LBW551 / ELW836 / HPP22 / 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. Older version lyrics and tune sample.
*TiS 210 / AHB 141 / NCH42 / CH352 / UMH57 / VU326 / LBW42 / ELW295 / HPP74 / PH466 / CP306 / CP(E) 534 / W&R96 / Cha005 / Srce506 / 82Hml-493 O 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. Lyrics and one possible tune.
*2010ATE 216 / Iona (SBL) / CH126 / StJ / ELW555 / PH472 / G(II)365 / GC527 / RS 671 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. Some versions also have multiple verses (e.g. CH). Sound sample (click on the play button). Good for kids 
StJ / 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.
MV163 River running in you and me (Macdonald / Light) Terrific words with lots of river imagery, a song of the spirit, and of challenge when times are hard. If this is not familiar, just get a soloist to sing it while the congregation joins in the last line "River run deep, river run free". The verses are not metrical, so it will take more time to sing them with confidence.
*Taize / 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.
NCH9 / StJ / ELW791 / SFFS 2001 / CP523 / URW293 We Sing to You O God (Proulx) Good hymny hymn with inclusive lyrics. Nice descant part also.
MV175 May we but wait (Petricko) A simple refrain which would work well as a response for prayers of Intercession.  
*AoVK-30 / ATW 419 / Iona (Common Ground, CAYP) / CH757 / MV002 / WoV717 / ELW819 / A&M361 / SFFS 2274 / HPP551 / GC(II)744 / G(3)849 / PfAS066B / SP&P022 / SP179 Come 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". Sound sample. Good for kids.

Galatians 6:(1-6), 7-16
Hmmmm…. very Pauline… if you sow to to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life – don’t give up!
TiS 672 / GA554 Lord of earth and all creation (Thwaites) Good Australian words. Two possible tunes. The newer tune is very good, but if your congregation can't do a new tune this week, it can also be sung to WESTMINSTER ABBEY which is very well known. Lyrics (split by words of mission and blessing).
UMH581 / LBW423 / ELW712 / PH427 / GC681 / GC(II)668 / G(3)764 / Cha461 / CP585 / W&R575 / URW204 / 82Hml-610 / Lau885 Lord Whose Love in Humble Service / Lord whose love through humble service (Bayly) Good solid words of mission to a familiar tune (IN BABILONE or BEACH SPRING). Not all sources are inclusive. Lyrics and tune sample.
TiS 630 / AHB 554 The law of Christ alone can make us free Great words by Australian poet James McAuley; not gender inclusive for God. The tune may be tricky if not familiar, so you may need to introduce the melody to your congregation.
*TiS 421 Where the Spirit is there's freedom (Harling) Fun and good. Lyrics.
*TiS 650 / AoV2-169 / ATA 191 / CH694 / A&M604 / NCH539 / VU595 / ELW659 / AA08 / SFFS 2222 / HPP442 / G(II)476 / GC683 / GC(II)661 / G(3)751 / CP500 / CP(E) 393 / W&R391 / Cha490 / SP263 / URW117 / Lau924 Brother, sister, let me serve you / Won't you let me be your servant? (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.
NCH495 / HPP443 / PH343 / W&R581 / Cha453 Called as partners in Christ's service (Huber) A good song of commitment - particularly good if you are commisioning people to new roles this week, and good for any other service too. Sung to a standard tune. 
*GC(II)651 / G(3)755 / Online Resource You must never give up / Sizo Bambelela (South African) An excellent song! Would be fun to get a few singers together to sing the parts to this, though maybe not as many times through as in the sound sample. Free sheet music. Sound sample.  Good for kids. 

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
The 70 sent out with nothing, to be welcomed and to heal. Rejoice that your name is written in heaven.
MV140 As long as we follow / Na nzela na lola (Kabemba) A simple song from the Congo. "As long as we hope there is a future for creation. We know this, we know this, God's reign will surely come". Youtube video of a pretty cool church choir. 
*ATOK 348 / Iona (HSNW) / G(II)496 / GC692 / GC(II)697 Come 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.
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”
*TiS 638 / NCH175 / CH717 / A&M518 / UMH265 / LBW380 / ELW675 / PH380 / CP291 / CP(E) 346 / W&R638 / Cha503 / Lau430 O Christ the healer we have come Beautiful words and simple to sing. Good to sing during intercessions. I like the tune INVERCARRY best. Lyrics and sound sample (of an alternative tune)
*TiS 537 / ATE 297 / NCH347 / CH673 / VU468 / StS123 / WoV754 / ELW674 / HPP536 / HPPS514 / PH514 / W&R698 / Cha422 / ZSS206 / URW096 Let us talents and tongues employ Great for kids, excellent Jamaican rhythm which you can have a lot of fun with. It's also very adaptable and works well with any instruments. “Loaves abound!”. lyrics and slighty tacky midi sample here.  Good for kids.
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.
ATFG530 Healing is flowing (Habel) Nice words, to tune of Morning is broken (BUNESSAN) Lyrics.
*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".
W&R584 / Cha454 Come 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.
*TiS 749 / AoV1-154 / AoVK-131 / ATE 305 / NCH360 / Iona (SBL, Freedom is coming) / CH800 / UMH497 / VU572 / WoV773 / ELW809 / HPP340 / G(II)484 / GC677 / GC(II)674 / G(3)776 / W&R713 / Cha447 / SP234 Send me Jesus / Thuma mina You all know this one, right? Good for kids.
*ATOK 412 / Iona (SBL, Common Ground) / CH250 / MV212 / SFFS 2184 / Lau855 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". Lyrics. Good for kids.
*CH683 / VU420 / GC(II)469 / G(3)546 / 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. Sound sample. Sheet music sample. 

Songs and Hymns for Proper 8C / Ordinary 13C / Pentecost +5 (June 30th 2013)

2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
Elijah taken up by a chariot, Elisha’s devotion and inheritance of the Spirit of God
Litury 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 249 As 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 
Unpublished BUC songs In 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 711 / ATOK 334 / Iona (M&G) / VU383 / SFFS 2124 / G(II)330 Come O Holy Spirit / Wa Wa Wa Emimimo (Nigeria) This song is just fun. And very easy. Please 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. 
*2007TiS 398 / AHB 310 / AoV1-118 / NCH289 / CH489 / UMH475 / VU367 / GA375 / LBW508 / ELW804 / PH313 / GC465 / GC(II)471 / G(3)556 / RS617 / CP645 / CP(E) 175 / W&R330 / Cha582 / Srce100 / Lau303 Come 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".
*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.
*TiS 419 / AHB 596 / NCH270 / CH592 / UMH544 / VU205 / WoV685 / ELW403 / A&M252 / HPP222 / PH314 / CP635 / CP(E) 185 / W&R327 / Cha245 / SP92 / 82Hml-513 Like the murmur of the dove's song (Daw) Excellent words and a simple tune. Each verse ends with "Come holy spirit, come" . Lyrics and organ sample here.
*TiS 409 / AHB 322 / CH595 / UMH543 / VU202 / StJ / W&R328 / Cha250 O Breath of life come sweeping through us (Elizabeth Porter Head) Very well known hymn tune and words. Lyrics.
NCH271 / UMH538 / VU196 / PH131 / CP249 / W&R333 Wind who makes all winds blow Excellent words. Familiar tune (ABERYSTWYTH).
*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)
*Taize / MV075 / StS079 / SFFS 2118 / GC(II)479 / G(3)547 / SP99 / URW395 Holy Spirit Come to Us / Veni sancte spiritus / Tui amoris (Berthier) Best if you have a cantor, but works well if you don't, too. Sheet music, translations, sound samples.
GA377 / SP96 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"

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).
*TiS 741 / AoV1-017 / ATE 282 / LBW368 / ELW407 / GA431 / SFFS 2200 / G(II)410 / GC586 / GC(II)566 / G(3)666 / Taize / W&R484 / Srce519 / URW390 / Lau929 O Lord hear my prayer (Berthier) A simple and very well known Taize chant. Works well during intercessions. You could read the Psalm between repeats of this chant, or just use as a chant as is. Good for kids.   
*Taize / TiS 739 / AoV2-041 / ATOK 404 / VU290 / GA269 / SFFS 2054 / 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 Taize chant. Spanish lyrics are not too hard for non-Spanish speakers. Sheet music, sound samples, lyrics and translations. 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 / R276 / ELW798 / GA502 / SFFS 2130 / HPP317 / G(II)510 / GC700 / GC(II)687 / G(3)790 / CP430 / CP(E) 622 / W&R350 / URW060 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 Come 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 / PH339 / CP505 / CP(E) 386 / W&R502 / Cha595 / Srce70 / URW180 / 82Hml-488 / Lau970 Be thou my vision O Lord of my heart (8th century Irish) Most recent hymnals are fairly inclusive in their language for this. Please note that the High King imagery is quite important in terms of Irish history. This 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, but choosing instead the "High King of Heaven". Probably worth telling this story to your congregation if you choose this song. "be thou my armour, my sword for the fight" Lyrics, tune and a little of the story.
*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.
*TiS 571 / AHB 480 / CH529 / UMH438 / VU416 / CP467 / CP(E) 430 / W&R718 Forth in thy name O Lord I go A nice old minstrelly tune, and timeless words about committing all our works to God. Lyrics.  
*PfAS016D My heart is glad (Beckstrand) Ps 16; 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 / CP(E) 305 / W&R706 / Cha420 / SP217 / URW120 I come with joy a child of God (Wren) A good and jubilant communion hymn.
StJ / G(II)22 / GC23 / GC(II)18 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.
*TiS 613 / AHB 546 / ATOK 405 / CH166 / LBW469 / ELW765 / SFFS / 2197 / HPP265 / GC578 / GC(II)560 / G(3)663 / CP506 / CP(E) 507 / W&R469 / URW179 / 82Hml-482 Lau969 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.
VU737/8 Protect me God: I trust in you (Strover) Simple refrain
G(II)23 / GC24 / GC(II)19 / 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 / SFFS 2194 / G(II)521 / GC723 / GC(II)707 / ZSS110 / SgTJ1035 Freedom is coming 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 boring if the congregation don't know they get to listen to the other parts! Partial sheet music, sound sample (search for Freedom). Good for kids.
*TiS 613 / AHB 546 / ATOK 405 / CH166 / LBW469 / ELW765 / SFFS2197 / HPP265 / GC578 / GC(II)560 / G(3)663 / CP506 / CP(E) 507 / W&R469 / URW179 / 82Hml-482 / PfAS1036 / Lau969 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. Lyrics.
CH611 Holy Spirit fill our hearts (Unknown) A lovely simple song. Good to teach to kids in Sunday School perhaps. Good for kids.
GtB God is love and love is giving (Langmead) A simple kids' song about God's love. A round. We sang this a few months ago, but not since. It would be good to repeat it. Good for kids.
*TiS 640 / AHB 561 / ATE 310 / NCH498 / UMH432 / VU593 / WoV765 / ELW708 / HPP446 / HPSS367 / G(II)296 / GC409 / GC(II)429 / CP504 / W&R273 / Cha600 / URW116 / 82Hml-602 Jesu Jesu fill us with your love / Kneels at the feet of his friends (Colvin & people of Ghana) A classic. Good for kids. Lyrics
NCH401 / 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.
Unknown source But 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 / PH319 / W&R326 / Cha249 Spirit spirit of gentleness (Manley) Lovely, gentle song. Very easy to sing, but can get slow and ponderous if you're not careful.
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 Christ be my leader by night as by day. Excellent words of following Christ in times of struggle to a traditional Scottish melody. Lyrics
*ATOK 413 / Iona (HSNW) / CH533 / VU567 / StS039 / R276 / ELW798 / GA502 / SFFS 2130 / HPP317 / G(II)510 / GC700 / GC(II)687 / G(3)790 / CP430 / CP(E) 622 / W&R350 / URW060 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 292 Lord 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 Who 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).

Winter & Winter Solstice Songs

Recorded music Longest Night (Mayer) This is a lovely and very appropriate song, which you might like to play. Lyrics and source. Sound sample.


NCH434 / VU530 / HPP275 / PH292 / CP427 All beautiful the march of days (Wile)  
*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.

URW418 God comes to us (Damonte) A simple song, a little bit Advent and Christmassy, but it can also just be Wintry! "God comes to us on Winter night, in baby's breath, in firelight, God comes to us. Could be used as a chant, or at various points during the service.  

HiOS139 Through winter cold (Murray) A lovely lilting tune and words about the hope of spring after Winter. Best for places that have snow.  
NCH432 / CH234 Tis winter now; the fallen snow Simple words based on Psalm 74, sung to O Waly Waly