Songs for Worship: Song suggestions

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Nov 12, 2012

Advent Song: In the Depth of Winter's Darkness

Here’s a contemporary hymn for Advent from Joy Patterson. You might try singing it to the traditional Christmas carol tune Oh, how joyfully (SICILIAN MARINERS), or Angels from the Realms of Glory (REGENT SQUARE)…or one of these other traditional tunes (in 8.7.8.7.8.7. meter):

LAUDA ANIMA (Praise, my soul, the King of heaven)

NEANDER (Open now the gates of beauty)

In the Depth of Winter’s Darkness

In the depth of winter's darkness,

lost in gloomy shades of night,

all humanity stands watching,

waiting for God's promised Light.

Alleluia, alleluia,

come, Lord Jesus, quickly come!

Now the time of preparation--

with repentance hope, resolve,

let us ready minds and spirits

for the Christ who comes in love.

Alleluia, alleluia,

come, Lord Jesus, quickly come!

Once he came, and still he's coming,

mystery both new and old--

what the hour of his new Advent

prophets have not known or told.

Alleluia, alleluia,

come, Lord Jesus, quickly come!

Doing justice, showing mercy,

praying, praising, let us wait

so that we may greet his coming

ready for the Daystar's Light.

Alleluia, alleluia,

come, Lord Jesus, quickly come!

~ written by Joy F. Patterson in Come, You People of the Promise. Words copyright © 1994 Hope Publishing Company. If you use this hymn in worship, be sure to report it on your CCLI license. Text reprinted here by permission.

For many other new song texts for Advent, visit Hope Publishing Company’s Online Hymnody website. http://www.hopepublishing.com/

Advent Song: Welcome, Jesus

Here’s a contemporary hymn for Advent from Dan Damon. The song is set to a tune called SWEETWATER (see it here). Or—if your congregation would prefer to use a tune they already know, you might sing it to one of the following traditional tunes (or any other tune in 8.7.8.7. meter):

PEACE (Peace is flowing like a river)

CROSS OFJESUS (Cross of Jesus, cross of sorrow)

GILLARD (The Servant Song)

If your congregation would prefer a more contemporary musical setting, you might consider using Brian Doerksen’s The River tune instead. If you decide to try that, you might make the last stanza the refrain.

Welcome, Jesus, You Are Welcome

Welcome, Jesus, you are welcome

in this world made hard by fear;

loving reach us, living teach us,

Jesus, you are welcome here.

Welcome, Jesus, you are welcome

in the ghettos we have made;

give the tattered, bruised, and battered

winter shelter, summer shade.

Welcome, Jesus, you are welcome

with the wealthy and the poor;

give the broken love unspoken,

open wide each prison door.

Welcome, Jesus, you are welcome.

Let your loving light appear.

In our seeing, in our being,

Jesus, you are welcome here.

~ written by Daniel Charles Damon, in Fields of Mercy. Words copyright © 2005 Hope Publishing Company. If you use this hymn in worship, be sure to report it on your CCLI license. Text reprinted here by permission.

For many other new song texts for Advent, visit Hope Publishing Company’s Online Hymnody website.

Christmas Song: The Debut (to "Jingle Bells")

Here’s a new song for Christmas from Rev. Christine Sobania’s Freshly Squeezed Liturgy blog. It’s set to the tune of Jingle Bells.

Rev. Sobania writes: I wrote it a few years ago, and it was featured on the favorite Moravian Church publication known as "the bulletin back." I am often requested to share the words with others, so here they are. Celebrate!

The Debut

(to the tune of Jingle Bells)

Refrain
In this crowd sing out loud: Glory to the One!
God has made things personal by sending us the Son.
In this crowd sing out loud: Glory! Allelu!
Celebrate the birth of Christ --the day of his debut.

Stanza 1

The faithful waited long for God to intervene--
To rule with power and might, to give them what they dreamed.
What a big surprise! The Savior was a child!
The Christmas story goes to show God’s plans are really wild!

Refrain

Stanza 2

God’s love is for all, there can be no doubt.
The poor, the weak, the small--no one is left out!
The reason Jesus came: God wanted to be near;
God wanted to draw close to us, and that is why we cheer!
Refrain

~ written by Rev. Christine Sobania Johnson on her blog, Freshly Squeezed Liturgy. http://freshlysqueezedliturgy.blogspot.com/

Advent Song: God Almighty, We Are Waiting

Here’s a contemporary hymn for Advent from Ann Bell Worley. You might try singing it to HOLY MANNA (Brethren, we have met to worship) or NETTLETON (Come Thou Fount of Ev’ry Blessing)… or check the Metrical Index at the back of most hymnals for other tunes in 8.7.8.7.D meter.

If you're looking for a more contemporary setting, you might consider using the tune to Brian Doerksen’s The River.

God Almighty, We Are Waiting

God Almighty, we are waiting for a savior to appear.

Meet us in our desert journey; give a sign that you are near:

burning bushes, parted waters, food aplenty in the wild.

As we look for signs and wonders, help us see you in a child.

God Incarnate, we are waiting for the feast day of your birth.

Looking back and looking forward to the Christ's return to earth.

Help us to proclaim the gospel, 'til the world is reconciled.

Let us set your holy table for each woman, man, and child.

God, the Spirit, we are waiting for your presence here and now.

Humbled by our sinful weakness, at your mercy we will bow.

Search our hearts and make us ready, speak in language strong and mild,

help each one of us, your people, to receive you like a child.

~ written by Ann Bell Worley, in New Hymns of Hope. Words copyright © 2005 Hope Publishing Company. If you use this hymn in worship, be sure to report it on your CCLI license. Text reprinted here by permission.

Christmas Song: Hear How the Bells

Here’s a contemporary hymn text for Christmas from Timothy Dudley-Smith. You might try singing it to LASST UNS ERFREUEN (All Creatures of Our God and King). http://www.hymnary.org/tune/lasst_uns_erfreuen

If your congregation is more accustomed to singing in a contemporary style, why not use David Crowder’s setting of that tune (All Creatures of Our God and King)? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cObXwn-EgGY

Hear How the Bells of Christmas Play

Hear how the bells of Christmas play!

Well may they ring for joy and say,

O praise him! Alleluia!

God has fulfilled his promised word,

born is our Saviour and our Lord,

O praise him! O praise him!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Let all the waiting earth rejoice,

lift every heart and every voice,

O praise him! Alleluia!

Sing now the song to angels given,

Glory to God in highest heaven!

O praise him! O praise him!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

As through the silence of the skies

shepherds in wonder heard arise,

O praise him! Alleluia!

So may we hear again with them

songs in the night at Bethlehem,

O praise him! O praise him!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

All nature sang at Jesus' birth,

Hail the Creator come to earth!

O praise him! Alleluia!

Sun, moon and shining stars above,

tell out the story of his love,

O praise him! O praise him!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Hear how the bells of Christmas play!

Well may they ring for joy and say,

O praise him! O praise him!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Come now to worship and adore,

Christ is our peace for evermore,

O praise him! Alleluia!

~ written by Timothy Dudley-Smith, and published in Beneath a Travelling Star. Words copyright © 1987 Hope Publishing Company. If you use this hymn in worship, be sure to report it on your CCLI license. Text reprinted here by permission.

For many other new song texts for Christmas, visit Hope Publishing Company’s Online Hymnody website. http://www.hopepublishing.com/html/main.isx?sitesec=40.1.0.0

Sending Song: Christ has no body here but ours

There’s a song on Steve Bell’s excellent CD, Kin-dness, which would serve as a wonderful ‘sending’ song in worship. The text is by Teresa of Avila; the music was composed by Brian McLaren. I first heard it used at the Institute for Worship Studies a number of years ago, and I’m really delighted that Steve is bringing it to a wider audience.

The song first appeared on the album, Songs for a Revolution of Hope, released in October, 2007 by Brian McLaren and the Restoration Project. If you go to that site, you can hear that song—and fourteen others—done in their original versions, and view the lyrics and the guitar chords.

You can also find lyrics for the song on the CCLI website (look for "With Kindness"). A lead sheet is available on the Canadian Foodgrains Bank Fast for Change website.

Here are some related passages of scripture that might be useful in leading this song: Romans 12; 2 Corinthians 6:3-6; Galatians 2:20; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 4:1-6; Ephesians 5:1-2; Colossians 3:14-16.

Steve Bell’s Kin-dness CD is available on iTunes and on his website.

Christ Has No Body Here But Ours

(Kindness)

Christ has no body here but ours

No hands, no feet here on earth but ours

Ours are the eyes through which He looks

On this world with kindness

Ours are the hands through which He works

Ours are the feet on which He moves

Our are the voices through which He speaks

To this world with kindness

Through our touch, our smile, our listening ear

Embodied in us, Jesus is living here

Let us go now, inspirited

Into this world with kindness.

Advent Song: Hope is Dawning

If you’re looking for an Advent song to use during the lighting of the Advent wreath (or at another spot in the worship service), here’s a song from Johnny Parks, Matt Maher, Michael Gungor and Aaron Keyes. The words are below.

Visit http://www.worshiptogether.com/songs/songdetail.aspx?iid=1030051 to listen to the music; visit CCLI for the music/chords (song number 5444481).

Hope is Dawning

(Scripture references: Psalm 39:7; Lamentations 3:26, Isaiah 64:1)

Verse 1
Open up the skies and rain the heavens down, the heavens down
Father open up the skies and rain the heavens down on us

Verse 2
Open up our eyes to see Your glory found, it’s all around
Jesus open up our eyes to see Your glory’s all around

Chorus
We are longing
Hope is dawning
Heaven’s falling
Come Lord Jesus

Verse 3
Open up our hearts to say, “Have Your way, have Your way”
Spirit, open up our hearts to say, “Won’t You come and have Your way”

Copyright © 2011 Thankyou Music (PRS) (adm. worldwide at EMICMGPublishing.com excluding Europe which is adm. by Kingswaysongs) / Spiritandsong.Com Pub (BMI) (adm. at EMICMGPublishing.com) / worshiptogether.com Songs (ASCAP) (adm. at EMICMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.