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Music - Friday, 7 April 2023 – Good Friday, Year A
Introduction
There are many music choices available each week. You will find music suggestions for each reading drawn from the Lutheran Hymnal, the All Together song books and Together in Song. In addition, we have selected the Top 4 Public Domain hymns, the Top 4 All Together and LHS songs under copyright and the Top 4 Contemporary Music suggestions each week. You may like to mix and match from these lists to suit your context.
Use music carefully on Good Friday. Do not use it as a gap-filler. Periods of silence, when intentional, should proliferate. Many actions that might normally be accompanied by music may be done in silence, such as entering and leaving the church and during the distribution and reception of holy communion. If the over-riding atmosphere of Good Friday is one of silence, then at those points where music is employed, it will have an altogether greater effect.
Good Friday Song
Sarah Richter has written and performed an original song for Good Friday. You can view the video here. Sarah has given permission for her work to be used for worship. Please acknowledge Sarah by name as the author of this song when including it in worship services.
Top 4 Public Domain
If you enjoy traditional hymn singing or your congregation does not have a copyright license, here are our recommended Public Domain hymns for the week:
If a title is hyperlinked, that means that modernised lyrics are available. MP3 backing tracks have been recorded for you to use.
LHB 55 O dearest Jesus - Backing track
LHB 52 O sacred head - Backing track
LH 70 Stricken, smitten and afflicted - Backing track
LHB 54 When I survey (for the procession of the cross) - Backing track
LHS 69 Glory be to Jesus - Backing track
Top 4 All Together and LHS songs under copyright
Copyright information for the following suggestions has been provided. Please ensure that you are reporting the use of any material under copyright.
LHS 752 A purple robe, a crown of thorns (CCLI, One Licence)
AT 245 (orange ) You are the prisoner (CCLI, One Licence)
AT 347 O dearest Jesus (CCLI, One Licence)
AT 387 Jesus, remember me (One Licence)
Top 4 Contemporary Music Suggestions
The following songs have been carefully reviewed, and are recommended for use in congregational worship, primarily because they point people to Christ and proclaim the message of his word in music and song for this Sunday in the lectionary cycle. They also fit well with other selection guidelines as highlighted in Tips for song selection and Fact Sheet 6: Music in Worship. While the use of a particular song by a band or organisation is not necessarily an endorsement of that group or the entire body of their work, we recognise that any scriptural song is a Spiritual song that can be used to complement a rich diet of worship for God’s people.
Please note, the hyperlinked Youtube clips are provided to give you a sense of how music can be performed or for personal use. You must always obtain permission from the creators of the music videos and the creators of the song before using clips in worship, unless permission is explicitly stated beneath the video.
I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say - Emu Music - CCLI arrangement by Alanna Glover
Come O Sinner - Sovereign Grace - CCLI by Jordan Kauflin (Sheet music available from https://sovereigngracemusic.org/music/songs/come-o-sinner/)
The King In All His Beauty - Sovereign Grace - CCLI by Matthew Boswell & Matthew Papa (Sheet music and lyrics available from https://sovereigngracemusic.org/music/songs/the-king-in-all-his-beauty/)
The Wondrous Cross – Reawaken Hymns - Reawaken Hymns Public Domain lyrics, arrangement by Nathan Drake. (Chord sheets available for free at https://www.reawakenhymns.com/thewondrouscross )
It Was Finished Upon That Cross - Keith & Kristyn Getty, CityAlight - CCLI by Jonny Robinson, Nigel Hendroff, Rich Thompson
Song/Hymn suggestions based on the Lectionary readings
Some LHS hymns have modernised lyrics. Click on underlined hymns to see the new lyrics.
Please click here to go to the Modernised Hymns page.
G3, G4 . . . = Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . .ro.; GS = Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH
First Reading: Isaiah 52 :13 – 53:12
LHS
48 Lamb of God most holy* G5
55 O dearest Jesus* G4 (mod TIS 337)
57 A Lamb goes uncomplaining forth (v 1)* G5
58 O world, see thy Life languish * G3 (mod TIS 338)
60 Christ, the life of all the living (tune 478) G5
66 Go, my soul, to Calvary G5
70 Stricken, smitten and afflicted* G3
73 Go to dark Gethsemane* (tune 170) G5
81 O perfect life of love!* G5
84 There is a green hill far away G5
156 Jesus our Saviour, of true joy the giver (v 4)* G3 (mod TIS 208)
AT
22 He was wounded (CCLI)
261 The Servant King (CCLI)
347 O dearest Jesus (CCLI, One Licence)
TIS
208 Jesus has come, and brings joy as our Saviour (v 4)
249 No weight of gold or silver
337 O dearest Jesus
338 See, world, your life suspended
350 There is a green hill far away
Second Reading: Hebrews 10:16-25
LHS
65 Lord Jesus, we give thanks to Thee* G5
67 And can it be that I should gain (vv 1,3,4) (tune Sagina TIS 209)
173 Before the throne of God above G5
282 Draw nigh, and take the body of the Lord* G5 (mod TIS 498)
325 Approach, my soul, the mercy seat G5
859 Seek, O seek the Lord (One Licence)
AT
217 Shine, Jesus, shine (CCLI, One Licence)
345 Nothing but the blood (Public Domain)
TIS
209 And can it be that I should gain (vv 1,3,5)
219 Jesus comes with all his grace
464 Seek, O seek the Lord
498 Draw near and take the body of our Lord
542 Far beyond our mind’s grasp
675 Lord, the light of your love
Second Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
LHS
73 Go to dark Gethsemane (v 1)* G5
81 O perfect life of love * G5
173 Before the throne of God above G5
AT
171 Dying, you destroyed our death (Public Domain)
185 Jesus, Son of God and man (One Licence)
TIS
205 Join all the glorious names (vv 8,9)
206 With joy we meditate the grace
235 A man there lived in Galilee
374 Entered the holy place above
377 Where high the heavenly temple stands
Gospel Reading: John 18:1 – 19:42
LHS
49 Alone Thou goest forth, O Lord G5 Prayer
50 Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle Praise
51 Let Thy blood in mercy poured* G5 Prayer
52 O sacred head, now wounded* G6 Prayer (mod TIS 339)
53 Jesus, refuge of the weary* G3 Prayer
54 When I survey the wondrous cross G5 Praise (see TIS 342)
55 O dearest Jesus, what law hast Thou broken* G4 Meditation (mod TIS 337)
58 O world, see thy Life languish* G3 Meditation (mod TIS 338)
59 Jesus, I will ponder now* G8 Meditation
60 Christ, the life of all the living (tune 478) G5 Praise
62 My song is love unknown G5 (alt tune LHS A8, G8) Praise (see TIS 341)
63 O darkest woe! Meditation
65 Lord Jesus, we give thanks to Thee* G5 Prayer
66 Go, my soul, to Calvary G5 Meditation
69 Glory be to Jesus* G6 Praise (see TIS 344)
70 Stricken, smitten and afflicted* G3 Meditation
71 Come to Calvary’s holy mountain* G5 Meditation
73 Go to dark Gethsemane* (tune 170) G5 Meditation
75 We sing the praise of Him who died G5 Praise (mod TIS 347)
78 Jesus, who for my transgression G6 Praise
79 Lord Jesus, when we stand afar G8 Prayer
80 Praise to the Holiest in the height G8 Praise (mod TIS 141)
81 O perfect life of love!* G5 Meditation
82 Jesus, in Thy dying woes (Parts V,VI) G5 Prayer
84 There is a green hill far away G5 Meditation (see TIS 350)
85 According to Thy gracious word G5 Meditation
620 O dearest Lord, Thy sacred head G6 Prayer
752 A purple robe, a crown of thorns (CCLI, One Licence)
Meditation
754 Jesus dying on the cross (One Licence)
758 The royal banners forward go G8 Meditation (see TIS 332) (Public Domain)
AT
139 Christ humbled himself (CCLI, One Licence)
143 Jesus dying on the cross (One Licence)
245 You are the prisoner Meditation (CCLI, One Licence)
335 You rode into Jerusalem (vv 4-7) (CCLI) Meditation
338 In a dusty old place (v 4) Meditation
347 O dearest Jesus Meditation (Please use freely for religious purposes, with the following acknowledgement: © Matthew Thiele, 1997. Used with permission from Matthew Thiele.)
387 Jesus, remember me (One Licence)
TIS
141 Praise to the Holiest in the height
331 Sing, my tongue Praise
332 The royal banners forward go Meditation
334 At the cross her vigil keeping Meditation
335 To Christ the Prince of peace Praise
337 O dearest Jesus Meditation
338 See, world, your life suspended Meditation
339 O sacred head Praise
340 Before the cock crew Prayer
341 My song is love unknown Praise
342 When I survey the wondrous cross Praise
343 Nature with open volume stands Praise
344 Glory be to Jesus Praise
345 Were you there? Meditation
347 We sing the praise Praise
350 There is a green hill Meditation
352 O dearest Lord, thy sacred head Meditation
354 O Jesus crucified Meditation
355 Man more than man Meditation
502 Soul of my Saviour, sanctify my breast Prayer
515 According to thy gracious word
Other Suitable Hymns and Songs: 'ALL TOGETHER' SONGS FOR GOOD FRIDAY
LHS
AT
22 He was wounded (CCLI)
27 Lord of the dance (CCLI, One Licence)
139 Christ humbled himself (CCLI, One Licence)
143 Jesus dying on the cross (One Licence)
261 From heaven you came (Servant Song) (CCLI)
335 And we stood right there (CCLI)
345 Nothing but the blood (Public Domain)
347 O dearest Jesus (Please use freely for religious purposes, with the following acknowledgement: © Matthew Thiele, 1997. Used with permission from Matthew Thiele.)
387 Jesus, remember me (One Licence)
449 Walk him along (CCLI)
451 Saviour of the world (One Licence)
TIS
Psalms
Psalm 22
The following paraphrase of selected verses of Psalm 22 by David Schütz (altered) is sung to the tune Herzliebster Jesus (O dearest Jesus) (LH 55, ATO 347). If reproducing this version, please put ‘Words (c) David Schütz’ at the beginning or the end of the psalm.
verses1-2
My God, my God, why, why am I forsaken?
Why don’t you help me? Why will you not listen?
My God, by day I cry, but you don’t answer,
night brings no sleeping.
verses 3-5
Yet you are holy, ‘throned on Israel’s praises.
In you our fathers trusted, and you saved them.
To you they cried, you were the one who saved them.
You did not shame them.
verses 6-8
But I’m a worm, despised, no longer human;
scorned by the people, mocked by those who see me.
They sneer and tell me: ‘Trust in God to save you –
if you have pleased him.’
verses 9-11a
Yet it was you who from the womb, first brought me;
and since my birth, I clung to you for safety.
You’ve been my God, Lord, since my mother bore me:
Don’t be far from me!
verses 11b-14a
Trouble is near, and there is none to help me.
Like bulls, my foes all circle and surround me.
They bare their teeth and roar at me like lions –
my strength is failing!
verses 14b-15
Like water poured out, and like wax that’s melting,
my heart is breaking; all my bones disjointed,
my mouth is dry, my tongue is thick and swollen –
in death you lay me.
verses 16-18
Now come the wicked, who like dogs surround me;
My bones stick out; my hands and feet they’re piercing.
They stare and gloat; they share my clothes among them;
for them they gamble.
verses 19-22
Lord, don’t be far off! Quickly come to save me
from these wild lions, dogs who want to kill me!
Then I’ll proclaim your name to all my people:
with them I’ll praise you!
Music resources Vol 3- Psalm Settings: Psalm 22 p30 , Psalm 22 p32 , Psalm 22 p33 , Psalm 22 p34
Advice for Congregations Without Musicians
LCA Music Resources
Downloadable Hymnal Resources (including downloadable backing tracks and lyric PPTs)
Modernised Hymn Lyrics
Hymnal Index (by tune and scriptural link)
All Together Index (by tune, scriptural link and theme)
Five Songs of Faith
For further Music Resources click here.
OTHER HELPFUL WEBSITES FOR CHURCH MUSIC
While the LCA does not necessarily endorse the content of these websites, you may find them helpful in your worship planning.
While the LCA does not necessarily endorse the content of these websites, you may find them helpful in your worship planning.
Together to Celebrate: lectionary based song and hymn suggestions from a variety of sources.
Singing from the Lectionary: has song and hymn suggestions based on the RCL from other hymnals.
Song Select: catalogues CCLI licensed music. You can search for more contemporary songs by theme. If your congregation has a paid subscription you can also download sheet music and other resources.
Hymns Without Words: mp3 downloads of hymn tunes.
Metrical Psalms by Dale Schoening : Psalms set to well known hymn tunes.
