Creation Songs
Overview
The selection of songs and hymns that follow provide another set of resources for celebration with creation. They are written with a sensitivity to both the splendour of creation and the Earth community as our partner in worship. These songs are designed to stir our faith is God as the cosmic power creating our planet, the cosmic impulse groaning with our planet and the cosmic presence healing our planet.
Collection One
The first collection of creation songs included is Habel Hymns Volume One—Songs for Celebrating with Creation [3.4 Mb PDF file]. This collection was prepared for use in The Season of Creation, but includes songs written over many years. One feature of this collection is that many songs are written to known melodies as specified. Musicians are free to write new melodies to these songs if they choose.
Collection Two (in Preparation)
The second collection is by William (Bill) Wallace from New Zealand.
Invitation
An invitation is extended to songwriters to submit a collection of creation songs or hymns that are suitable for use in The Season of Creation. We would be delighted to include collections that reflect how diverse cultures connect with creation, the Creator and the cosmic Christ.
Copyright
As with other resources on this website, the songs in these collections are made available free for use in any worship context. No permission is needed for their use in worship, whether in church or some other arena.
Where a party wishes to publish one or more of these songs and the accompanying music in a book, they should contact the relevant administrator specified at the beginning of each collection. Habel Hymns Volume One, for example, is administered by Willow Connections – info@willowconnections.com.au
Availability
Where a printed musical version of these collections is available, the distributor is named at the beginning of the collection. So, for example, Habel Hymns Volume 1 is available through Kentigern Resource Centre, PO Box 7878 Baulkham Hills BC, NSW 2153 Australia – mlevine@kentigern.com.au
Themes
The hymns in these collections are intended to extend our worship senses beyond simply praising God as our Creator and thanking God for creation. Major emphases of these hymns and songs include:
- Celebrating the presence of the Creator with creation
- Groaning with creation and the Spirit in creation
- Exploring our interconnection with the worlds of creation
- Embracing the God who, in Christ, joined the web of creation
- Singing songs of praise with our kin in creation
- Linking our spirit with the spiritual in creation
- Rejoicing with the cosmic Christ who fills creation
- Anticipating the healing and renewal of creation
- Linking the Gospel with the rebirth of creation