You can find a YouTube playlist here with many of the songs suggested below.
Gathering
The psalm is a good starting point today with the wonders we see in the sky above us calling us to recognise the glory of God throughout the day and the night. There are some wonderful older hymns which are rooted in these themes such as The spacious firmament on high (CH 148), Awake my soul and with the sun (CH 210 / MP 804) and Jesus shall reign where’er the sun (CH 470 / MP 379). More contemporary options include Indescribable (MP 1170 / CCLI) and God of dawn, each day’s renewal (Hymnary / Hope) which can be sung to Abbot’s Leigh. Let everything that has breath (MP 1001 / CCLI) and From life’s beginning (Let praise resound) (Resound) would more generally pick up the theme of praising God the creator.
Word
The stars declare his glory (CH 10) is a great example of reimagining a psalm in contemporary language while The heavens tell Your glory (Grace) is another option for a metrical version. God’s glory fills the heavens (PFAS 19B) is an arrangement of the music from Haydn’s “The heavens are telling the glory of God” to make it singable as a hymn tune. This is probably not something you would learn from scratch but would be brilliant for a congregation where a lot of people were familiar with the original. Nature shines with beauty (GWA 161 / Resound) connects this psalm with other scripture passages about creation.
It’s worth noting that Psalm 19 ends with a verse that is often spoken before a sermon and you could consider a sung version of this such as May the words of my mouth (WGRG), May the words of my mouth (GWA 60 / CCLI) or Psalm 19 (CCLI).
Response
Hark the glad sound! the Saviour comes (CH 277 / MP 210) would commonly be considered an Advent hymn but is actually a paraphrase of the central verses in today’s Gospel reading where Jesus reads from Isaiah and El mensaje que hoy proclamamos / Hear the message we now are proclaiming (GWA 222 / H 46) is also based on the same verses. There are many well known songs which pick up the broader themes in the passage including Will you come and follow me (CH 533), Inspired by love and anger (CH 253), Beauty for brokenness / God of the poor (CH 259 / MP 806) and God of all comfort (GWA 226 / Resound). The Lord of the earth (GWA 312 / WGRG) is worth particularly noting as it is inspired by Óscar Romero and call us to “respond to the cries of the poor”.
As with last week, the Epistle focuses on everyone in the church being different but also an essential part of a bigger whole, this time using the metaphor of parts of the body. Similar songs will be relevant including One is the body (CH 679), Like the murmur of the dove’s song (CH 592), I am the church, you are the church (CH 204) and We are many parts (GIA) while We are parts of Christ's own body (GIA) is sung to the well known tune HOLY MANNA and considers the experience of exclusion in light of this passage. Songs about unity are also worth considering such as We are one in the Spirit (Hymnary), One church, one voice (GWA 200 / Satellite), Oh how good it is (GWA 199 / Townend) and the Saskatchewan Cree song We are all one people (MV 141) which can be effectively introduced through call and response.
The passage with Ezra reading the law in Nehemiah could link to songs focusing on the approach to or illumination of the Word. There are many to choose from in a huge range of styles, with hymns such as Look upon us, blessèd Lord (CH 601), Spirit of God, unseen as the wind (CH 600 / MP 1351) and Speak, O Lord (GWA 58 / MP 1350 / CCLI / Getty), worship songs such as We come to hear your word (GWA 57 / Resound) and Your word, O Lord (Resound), and short chants including Listen for the word which God has spoken (CH 780), For the Word of God in scripture (GWA 55) and Alleluia (Greenbelt 10) (GWA 54 / WGRG).
Sending
There are a number of themes you could finish with based on the different readings.
Firstly, you could pick up on the words from Isaiah which Jesus reads in the synagogue and how we are called to respond to them with Jesus Christ is waiting (CH 360), God of all comfort (GWA 226 / Resound), Build your kingdom here (GWA 129 / CCLI) or El mensaje que hoy proclamamos / Hear the message we now are proclaiming (GWA 222 / H 46).
Alternatively you could focus on unity and the Church as one body with songs such as Oh how good it is (GWA 199 / Townend), One church, one voice (GWA 200 / Satellite), Miren qué bueno / How good it is (CH 90) or Mily gyönyöruség, íme, lásd / How very good, how wonderful (GWA 18), the latter two both settings of Psalm 133.
Finally, you could respond to the instruction in Nehemiah to be joyful with Fill your hearts with joy and gladness (CH 103), Give me joy in my heart (Hymnary) or You shall go out with joy (CH 804).
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