During social distancing, The Crystal Ball indicates likely choices for a recording for the online services, assuming the first set psalm is to be used.
[Letters in square brackets] every second week apply to Zoom services at South Woden only. Worship leaders indicated are invited to advise the Webmaster of any preferences in theme, music or reading. If you are not using a psalm then no recording will be undertaken, but you may wish to suggest a different song for an alternative reading.
If not qualified by […], it will be a YouTube service @SWUC.
1 Nov 20, Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37. The fine refrain in The Emergent Psalter has three interesting and contrasting parts, problematical in isolation. A simple alternative is Consider the steadfast love in The New Century Hymnal.
- At South Woden we follow the All Saints’ reading which is Psalm 34:1-10,22. [Zoom KF] The last verse celebrates the many recognised and unknown everyday saints around us, leading to a preference for the refrain in the New Century Hymnal on this statement:
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
8 Nov 20, Psalm 78:1-7. Together in Song 41 We shall listen (a Covideo has already been recorded for an earlier service) or 636 God has spoken are convenient and suitable.
15 Nov 20, Psalm 123. [Zoom D&TC] Two simple and singable refrains with appropriate lyrics appear in the Linnea Good tune To you I lift my eyes, and in Psalms for All Seasons 123A, Our eyes rest on you Lord, awaiting your kindness. [SWUC hears the second of these.]
22 Nov 20, Psalm 100. PFAS presents half a dozen enticing options from around the world, of which the responsorial 100F ‘Make a joyful noise’, is an easy tune. On the next page, 100H is more attractive musically with a tune by Lucien Deiss (1921-2007). Chosen for SWUC.
Year B and Advent begin.
29 Nov 20, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19. [Hybrid, JP, JP and HS. Maybe a Taizé service @SWUC] Otherwise: PFAS 80E is Restore us again, a good message for our times.
- For the memories: we will not be able to reproduce our past fun when singing echo voices in call-and-response in this tune:
6 Dec 20, Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13. [Zoom, R&WM] Together in Song 45 Show us your mercy has not been sung at South Woden, so maybe the time has come. Verses are sung to a double tone.
13 Dec 20, Psalm 126. An easy choice is TiS 80 , ‘The Lord has done great things for us’. In days gone by, we have been satisfied by our Orthodox setting with the support of our male voice group, not to be repeated in 2020 (below). However, given that responses are not really happening online, perhaps a song without the preferred responsorial form would go well; PFAS 126A is set to the nice American spiritual tune Wayfaring stranger.
20 Dec 20, Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26. [SW: Hybrid, TC GB; lessons and carols, no psalm.] Together in Song, No 46 by Christopher Willcock is characteristically musical. PFAS 89B is also suitable using selected verses according to the theme.
25 Dec 20, Psalms 96, 97 or 98. [SW: no psalm] Of the many suitable choices, PFAS 96C ‘Let the heavens rejoice’ might suit; while 97 has the attraction of picking up the theme of divine justice:
27 Dec 20, Psalm 148. Together in Song tempts with a tuneful John Bell song, Glory to God above, in TiS 94. PFAS offers a whole bunch of interesting international ideas; and this home-grown song, which can be sung as a round, is also available:
Psalms in the South 