Songs, Hymns & Music for Lent 1C (February 17 2013)

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 vegie patches would help I guess...
*Tune In II Harvest 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.
*Tune In II In 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 / HPP432 / PH281 / CP565 / CP(E) 455 / W&R501 / Cha622 / 82Hml690 / Lau960 Guide me O thou great Jehovah / Redeemer (Williams) A rousing hymn of God’s presence and strength and making it to the other side. Sound sample and lyrics.
*CH230 / VU517 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.
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.
CH240 / W&R37 God in such love for us lent us this planet (Pratt Green) Really excellent lyrics of caring for creation in the context of harvest. Lyrics (scroll down, but enjoy the other harvest songs listed on this site as you do).
TiS 159 / AHB 94 / CH226 / VU300 / R252 / ELW734 / CP261 / CP(E) 271 / Lau733 God whose farm is all creation (Arlott) Good for a harvest thanksgiving service. Simple words of caring for the crops and harvest as well. Sound sample and lyrics.
TiS 130 / AHB 59 / CH229 / VU520 / LBW362 / ELW681 / HPP284 / HPSS560 / CP258 / CP(E) 275 / 82Hml-291 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. Lyrics and tune sample.
*VU242 / LBW557 / ELW881 / HPSS554 / GC567 / GC(II)551 / G(3)635 / CP403 / W&R22 / Cha717 Let All Things Now Living (Davis) Lovely lyrics to the well known Welsh folk tune ASH GROVE. Some sources are quite masculine, but others have used inclusive language for God. Lyrics (non-inclusive version).
StJ / R233 / ELW695 / HPSS414 / 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).
TiS 168 / NCH425 / CH231 / UMH97 / VU227 / WoV760 / ELW679 / GA426 / HPP287 / HPSS553 / 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, but some OK. Very easy and well known tune and pretty standard words. Lyrics and tune sample.

Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
*TiS 48 / AoV1-153 / ATOK 411 / VU808 / WoV779 / ELW787 / GA452 / HPP385 / 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 in all sources.
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.
*AoV2-054 / Iona (T1AU, LFB) / MV077 /  SFFS 2057 / G(II)438 / GC618 / RS 736 / SP&P111 / PfAS046D / URW409 / Lau909 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. I'd much rather sing this than the more well known version. Works as a round or in unison. 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 / ELW715 / GC(II)512 / G(3)590 / SP13 / URW114 / Lau883 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 and sheet music sample here. Good for kids.
AoVK-33 / W&R119 / URW401 Come into God's presence singing Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia Good sung introit. I particularly like the arrangement and lyrics in AoVK.
*TiS 210 / AHB 141 / NCH42 / CH352 / UMH57 / VU326 / LBW42 / ELW295 / HPP74 / PH466 / CP306 / CP(E) 534 / W&R96 / Cha005 / Srce506 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 9, loves it. In the AHB, Christ is masculine, but I think that's okay; please note that VU has lyrics that sing "you voiceless ones" instead of "him praise you dumb" which not only gets rid of a word that's a bit rude, but also broadens the meaning of it. Lyrics and one possible tune.
NCH072 / UMH552 / VU362 / ELW530 / 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. Sound sample and 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).
TiS 248 / 82Hml-603 When 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.

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).
*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 / URW438 We 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". 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".
*Taize In 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. 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.net Open unto me light for my darkness (Bruxvoort-Colligan) Good for a more contemplative service. Sample
Worldmaking.net O Christ, Lamb of God (Bruxvoort-Colligan) A more modern Agnus Dei, with Christ sharing our weakness. Lyrics and sound sample.
*TiS 745 / AoV1-048 / ATN 34 / SiS96 / CH641 / UMH405 / VU356 / WoV783 / GA456 / HPP370 / PH333 / GC615 / GC(II)600 / CP458 / W&R349 / Cha354 / Srce593 / 82Hml-711 Seek ye first the kingdom of God (Lafferty) A classic. Versions vary widely in the inclusiveness of their versions. A tip: GA, WoV and VU have all made this gender inclusive for God by simply replacing "his righteousness" with "God's righteousness". And "We do not live by bread alone". Words from Theresa of Avila. Note that this has lots of Alleluias, so may not be appropriate for Lent in some churches.
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. 

Some general Lent songs
VU108 / W&R250 Throughout These Lenten Days and (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 for only two verses.
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 (downloads a pdf that you'll need to search through).