The Season of Creation runs from 1st September, the day of care for creation to 4th October, the feast of St Francis of Assisi. The theme for 2023 is ‘Let justice and peace flow’ and the logo is a flowing river.
“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”
Amos 5:24
The theme, based on a passage from the book of Amos, fits extremely well with the reading in the Catholic lectionary and more suggestions may be found by looking at the suggestions for the appropriate weeks in the Liturgy Planner.
The hymns in the list below all have a strong theme of justice and peace or link to the idea of peace flowing like a river. Obviously the list is far from exhaustive. For general hymns suitable for the season of creation, see this post.
Abundant life – Ruth Duck
‘For we are part of all that is within life’s river flowing’
GIA have two arrangements of this text by Ruth Duck. The one by Marty Haugen can be sung as a congregational hymn or use the more elaborate arrangement for SATB plus optional children’s choir or descant. This arrangement is in the collection ‘All are welcome’.
Laudate #688
Go be justice to the nations – Martin J Willett
Sung to ‘Nettleton’ which if easy to learn if you don’t know it. This would be an excellent sending out song, especially for Mass as it links what we have received in Communion with what we are called to do outside. ‘Break the bread of true communion, pour the cup of true concern’.
God of day and God of darkness – Marty Haugen
Not the most obvious of hymns to sing during the daytime but it would be very good for an evening service with verses 2 and 3 being most appropriate. I suggest you omit verse 5 if it is not evening.
Laudate #881 CFE #218
Let justice roll down like a river – Adam Tice, Benjamin Brody
This hymn has a very gospelly feel to it. The words are taken from the same passage from Amos that inspired the theme of this year’s season of creation. This is a very recent addition to the GIA catalogue so unfortunately, there is no recording.
Let justice roll like a river – Marty Haugen
A song with a strong gospel feel for cantor, choir and assembly. In the collection ‘Wondrous love’ and several others. Hear it here.
Laudate #895
Like a mighty river flowing – Michael Perry
A straight hymn likening the perfect peace of God to much of nature. Not really justice but more linking with the theme of peace flowing like a river.
Laudate #897 CFE #367
O day of peace – Carl Daw
Sung to the well-known tune of ‘Jerusalem’ this hymn looks forward to the time when the whole world will be at peace.
Laudate #900
Available from Hope publishing.
The peace of the earth be with you – Guatemalan arr John Bell, tr Christine Carson
Linking very well with the theme of peace flowing like a river. This piece can be found in the book ‘There is one among us’.
Laudate #901
Available from Iona and GIA where there is also a more elaborate arrangement by Marty Haugen.
The voice of God calls out today – Jenny Wakely
A contemporary hymn showing God’s way is not man’s way. Sung to ‘Kingsfold’ or any other DCM tune.
There is a longing – Ann Quigley
Praying for justice, we ask God to be near us and hear our prayer.
Laudate #941 CFE #916
Available from OCP where the octavo has choir harmony and also parts for a string trio.
We are young, we are old (Jubilee Song)– Bernadette Farrell
Written for the millennium in 2000 and reminding us of the ancient meaning of proclaiming a year of jubilee, the refrain contains the line ‘Like a living stream let mercy flow’.
CFE #916
Available from OCP, with a trumpet part, and in the collection ‘Restless is the heart.
What does the Lord require – Albert Bayley, Erik Routley
A straightforward hymn that is in many hymn books. Listen to it here.
Laudate #893 CFE #796
Available from Hope publishing.
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