For the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (August 14) -- “Psalm 67” (Choristers Guild #CGA589) for combined choirs can also be sung by a cantor with the congregation singing the refrain. This anthem on the psalm for this day is from our musical Paul & Co. and is still available on a “print on demand” basis.
For the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (August 21) – If the story of Moses’ birth is read in the Exodus scriptures this Sunday, use the hymn, “A Mother Lined A Basket” (#2189 in THE FAITH WE SING/SING THE FAITH), or its anthem setting, “Love Enough to Give” (Choristers Guild #CGA808) for combined choirs). The anthem setting could be done as a solo with a flute descant on the last stanza. Our collection of songs for ages 4-7, SING THE STORIES OF GOD’S PEOPLE: Thirty More Songs for the Youngest Singers (Augsburg), includes “Jochebed’s Lullaby” which supports the Old Testament reading for today.
For the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time (August 28) – consider having children sing “Moses and the Burning Bush” and “Let My People Go” from SING THE STORIES OF GOD’S PEOPLE (Augsburg).
For the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (September 4) – Our hymn, “Time Now to Gather,” included in TIME NOW TO GATHER:NEW HYMNS FOR THE CHURCH FAMILY (Abingdon) and #2265 in THE FAITH WE SING/SING THE FAITH is an effective invitation to Communion.
For the Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (September 11) – On the tenth anniversary of the tragic attack against the U.S., consider using “We Know Our God Is Faithful” (Choristers Guild #CGA937), commissioned by Choristers Guild after the event. This anthem is for unison and combined choirs with keyboard. The text may also be used as a hymn, sung to AURELIA. Two others hymns were widely used after the attacks: “When We Are Called to Sing Your Praise” (THE FAITH WE SING/SING THE FAITH #2216), and “When Quiet Peace Is Shattered,” included in VOICES UNITED, #615 (United Church of Canada hymnal), and COME AWAY WITH ME (Abingdon). The latter is also available in an anthem setting (Hinshaw HMC-1281) for SATB with keyboard. Another appropriate hymn is “Good Shepherd, Our Leader, Provider, and Guide” from THE SONG LINGERS ON (Zimbel).
For the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (September 18) – Consider having children sing “In the Wilderness” from our collection, SING THE STORIES OF GOD’S PEOPLE (Augsburg).
For the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (September 25) – “Like Ancient People on A Quest,” a hymn from THE SONG LINGERS ON (Zimbel), uses Lakota imagery to focus on values of the Christian life. It would support today’s lesson from Philippians.
For the Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time and World Communion Sunday (October 2) – “Circle The Table” (Abingdon #337208) is a unison anthem that could be used as an invitation to the table. The anthem includes suggestions for choreography. Our anthem for SATB and piano, “Come to the Table” (Zimbel #Z223), emphasizes that the table is open to all believers. If the Exodus scripture is read, John’s “God Called Moses” (Choristers Guild CGA907) for unison voices and optional descant (vocal or flute) includes a paraphrase of the ten commandments for solo or choral reading. Also, consider having children sing “The Great Laws” from our collection, SING THE STORIES OF GOD’S PEOPLE (Augsburg).
For the Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (October 9) – Psalm 23 is one of the psalms suggested. Consider the hymn, “Good Shepherd, Our Leader, Provider, and Guide” from THE SONG LINGERS ON (Zimbel).
For the Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Children’s Sabbath/Sunday, October 16) – Our hymn, “Your Spirit, God, Calls Us to Pray,” from our collection, COME AWAY WITH ME (Abingdon), and SING JUSTICE (Selah/Alternatives for Simple Living), is appropriate for this day. It is available in anthem form for unison treble voices and SATB, with optional descant and congregation, keyboard, and optional handchimes or handbells (Abingdon).
For the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (October 23) – Have children sing “Moses and Joshua,” based on Deuteronomy 34:1-12, from our collection, SING THE STORIES OF GOD’S PEOPLE (Augsburg).
For the Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time (Reformation Sunday, October 30) -- “God of Every Generation” from THE SONG LINGERS ON (Zimbel) is a good opening hymn, and an anthem arrangement for SATB or multiple choirs, with optional vocal or flute descant and piano, is available from Zimbel (#Z224).
For the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time (November 6) – If the reading from Amos is used, take a look at “We Praise You, God of All Creation” from THE SONG LINGERS ON (Zimbel). The hymn tune is a harmonization of a melody from Saint-Saens’ Piano Concerto No. 4.
For the Reign of Christ Sunday (November 20) – The hymn, “When Jesus Was A Refugee,” from THE SONG LINGERS ON supports the Gospel reading from Matthew. We have an unpublished anthem, “Come Now, Good Friends, Who Are Blessed,” that is a dramatic paraphrase of Matthew 25:31-46. It is for unison voices, piano, and optional flute and handbells. There are short sections for solo voices or small ensembles, and a part that is spoken with the accompaniment. Contact us for a copy.
Thanksgiving Ecumenical or Interfaith Worship – If your church participates in an ecumenical or interfaith service for this national holiday, and you want to sing “Now Thank We All Our God” as a hymn, contact us for a copy of our two alternate stanzas to replace the third Doxological stanza in the original text. The alternate stanzas make the hymn accessible to people of all faiths.
Fourth Sunday of Advent (December 18) – The first stanza of our unpublished hymn, “When Mary Heard the Angel Say” (Surprised by Angels) is based on the Gospel reading, Luke 1:26-38. The next two stanzas tell of the angel’s visits to Joseph and the shepherds. The fourth stanza suggests the purpose of the visits (revelation of God’s will) was the greatest wonder of all. The fifth stanza expresses the longing and hope that we will recognize God’s angels among us. The hymn was commissioned for a service of lessons and carols in a church in South Dakota, and John provided a harmonization for SATB choir, an alternate accompaniment for a string quartet, a flute descant, and a handbell enhancement, all of which can be mixed and matched at will. For information, contact us.
Christmas Eve (December 24) – Our hymn, “One Holy Night in Bethlehem” (THE FAITH WE SING/SING THE FAITH, #2097) is a simple, joyful retelling of the birth of Jesus. It is also available in an anthem setting for unison treble choir, unison mixed choir, and SATB with optional descant and keyboard accompaniment (Abingdon.) Two others hymns from THE FAITH LINGERS ON (Zimbel) are “Song of the Creche” (which can be sung as figures are placed in a crèche or dramatized with live actors) and “On Christmas Eve We Celebrate” (which recognizes the pain people grieving the loss of a loved one feel at this time.) Another option is our anthem, “The Cold Night Is Quiet,” for SATB with piano and optional flute (Choristers Guild # CGA1035) which emphasizes waiting for the birth to happen. It is appropriate at the beginning of the Christmas Eve service but also can be used during Advent. One more possibility is our anthem, “Shepherd’s Carol,” for unison voices and piano with optional solos/small ensembles and flute (Augsburg #0-8006-3809-3). The chorus serves as the narrator, and the solo parts represent the shepherds, Mary, and a young shepherd boy wondering if his gift of a song is enough to bring the baby. This anthem lends itself to dramatization. Younger children could sing “Gloria,” a song based on Luke 2:1-20, from our collection, SING THE STORIES OF JESUS (Augsburg).
First Sunday after Christmas (January 1) – “Spirit-Child Jesus,” a hymn from our collection COME AWAY WITH ME (Abingdon), is #3062 in the new United Methodist supplement, WORSHIP AND SONG (Abingdon). It recognizes the spiritual presence of Christ in familiar Christmas traditions, and calls us, as his disciples, to continue to respond to that presence throughout the year, long after the decorations are put away. Children could sing “Finding Jesus” (based on Matthew 2:1-11) from our collection, SING THE STORIES OF JESUS:Twenty-Five Songs for the Youngest Singers (Augsburg).