Music videos for online UU worship (2024)

Using Music Videos in Worship

All Unitarian Universalist congregations and worship leaders are asked to review our new WorshipWeb guidelines (PDF) , developed in collaboration with the Association for UU Music Ministries (AUUMM). These new guidelines apply to all videos on this page, except for the videos below identified as commissioned.

These videos are intended to lighten the burdens imposed by online worship. They should not be used to justify decreasing the wages or positions of professional music staff. We also ask that you provide full attribution to the composers and lyricists on your screens, not just verbally, for each piece that you incorporate into worship.

Music Submissions

Before sending WorshipWeb your music video(s), please review our music submission guidelines.

Song-Leading Music

These videos create an intimate, easy way to learn new songs. They were commissioned, and can be used without making further financial donations.

"Bright Morning Star," (Vimeo) taught, led, and accompanied on guitar by Mark David Buckles. The melody is different than the version in our hymnal; additional words by Matt Meyer.
"Filled with Loving Kindness," (Vimeo)a version of the Buddhist Metta

(lovingkindness) prayer, as taught, sung, and accompanied by Mark David Buckles. "May I (*you, we, all) be filled with loving kindness; may I* be well. May I* be peaceful and at ease; and may I* be happy."
"I've Got Peace Like a River" (Vimeo)(by Marvin V. Frey; #100 in Singing the Living Tradition) led and accompanied on guitar by Mark David Buckles.
"Shine On Me, " (Vimeo)taught and led, in three parts, by Melanie DeMore.

Hymns

Jess Huetteman invites you to review her YouTube channel with 65 UU hymns (YouTube). Pay-what-you-can via Jess's PayPal.
Dave Rowe has a YouTube channel with original music as well as UU hymns. Pay-what-you-can to Dave's virtual tip jar.

Singing the Living Tradition

"The Lone Wild Bird" (GoogleDrive) (#15in Singing the Living Tradition; words by H.R. MacFayden, tune from William Walker's Southern Harmony, based on Harmony by Thomas Somerville.) Adapted & arranged by Nylea L. Butler-Moore.Video by the UU Virtual Singers of the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos, NM; Nylea Butler-Moore, Music Director; Rick Bolton, AV Engineer. If you use this video, please email Nylea at nyleab@uulosalamos.org. Pay-what-you-can to the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos.
"You That Have Spent the Silent Night" (GoogleDrive) (#41inSinging the Living Tradition; words by George Gascoigne, music by Nikolaus Herman, harmony by J.S. Bach.) Video by the UU Virtual Singers of the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos, NM; Yelena Mealy, piano; Nylea Butler-Moore, Music Director; Rick Bolton, AV Engineer. If you use this video, please email Nylea at nyleab@uulosalamos.org. Pay-what-you-can to the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos.
"Lady of the Seasons' Laughter" (YouTube)(#51 in Singing the Living Tradition; music by David Hurd; words by Rev. Kendyl Gibbons). Video by River of Grass UU.
"Abide with Me" (Vimeo)(#101 in Singing the Living Tradition; music by William Henry Monk, verses 1-2 by Henry Francis Lyre, verse 3 by Rev. Erika Hewitt). Guitar and singing by Lea Morris. Pay-what-you-can to Lea.
"My Life Flows On in Endless Song" (Vimeo)(#108 in Singing the Living Tradition; Quaker text paired with melody written by American Baptist minister Robert Wadsworth Lowry). Piano and melodica by Michael Frye-Hunt; vocals by Dorothy Frye-Hunt.
"Spirit of Life" (GoogleDrive) (#123in Singing the Living Tradition; music and words by Carolyn McDade,harmony by Grace Lewis-McLaren.) Choral arrangement by Nylea L. Butler-Moore. Video by the UU Virtual Singers of the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos, NM; Nylea Butler-Moore, Music Director; Rick Bolton, AV Engineer. If you use this video, please email Nylea at nyleab@uulosalamos.org. Pay-what-you-can to the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos.
"I Sought the Wood in Summer" (YouTube) (#328 in in Singing the Living Tradition; music: Hal Hopson, ©Hope Publishing Co. Requires One License. words: Willa Cather.) Performed by Kim Hamel, Jeri Searle, & Linda Himes Accompaniment: James Boyle. Make a pay-what-you-can donation; Venmo ID @himesmusic.
"Come, Sing a Song with Me" (YouTube) as an animal puppet video (#346 in in Singing the Living Tradition; music and words by Carolyn McDade). Created by MaryJane Wagner for an intergenerational service.
NEW lyrics for "Gather the Spirit" (YouTube) (#347 in Singing the Living Tradition; music and traditional words by Jim Scott; new lyrics by Pat Lamanna). If you use this or any of Jim's music, please make a love offering on his website.
"Now Let Us Sing" (YouTube) (#368 in Singing the Living Tradition; anonymous). Taught and sung by Rev. Suzelle Lynch. Please make a Venmo donation to @Susan-Lynch-120.
"Dona Nobis Pacem" (YouTube) (#388 in Singing the Living Tradition; traditional Latin canon). Singing by the Washington Ethical Society (Washington, D.C.), produced by Lea Morris. Pay-what-you-can to Lea.
"To See a World" (GoogleDrive) (#398in Singing the Living Tradition; words by William Blake, music traditional Norwegian, arranged by Edvard Grieg.) Video by the UU Virtual Singers of the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos, NM; Nylea Butler-Moore, Music Director; Rick Bolton, AV Engineer. If you use this video, please email Nylea at nyleab@uulosalamos.org. Pay-what-you-can to the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos.
"As We Leave This Friendly Place" (GoogleDrive) (#414inSinging the Living Tradition; Vincent B. Silliman, music by J.S. Bach, adapt. fromChorale 38.) Video by the UU Virtual Singers of the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos, NM; Yelena Mealy, piano; Nylea Butler-Moore, Music Director; Rick Bolton, AV Engineer. If you use this video, please email Nylea at nyleab@uulosalamos.org. Pay-what-you-can to the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos.
Please visit theOneness of Everythingplaylist (YouTube), created by Paul Thompson (Music Director at the UU Church of the Palouse, Moscow ID), of multiple hymns from our UU hymnals. Please make a pay-what-you-can donation.

Singing the Journey

"Morning Has Come (YouTube)" (words & music by Jason Shelton;#1000 in Singing the Journey).Created by Paul Thompson (Music Director at the UU Church of the Palouse, Moscow ID). Please make a pay-what-you-can donation.
"Meditation on Breathing (Vimeo)"(words & music by Sarah Dan Jones; #1009 in Singing the Journey). Performed by Mary Pratt and Rev. Jim Magaw, UU Church of the South Hills, Pittsburgh PA. Pay-what-you-can; choose "non-pledge collections" and leave a note in the comments section.
"When I Am Frightened (MP4)" (words & music by Shelly Jackson Denham; #1012 in Singing the Journey). Created by the Minnesota Valley UU Fellowship. Shelley's daughters ask that you please donate, as you're able, to Heritage UU Church in Cincinnati, choir or children’s music program.
"Open My Heart" (YouTube) (words & music by Henry S. Flurry; #1013 in Singing the Journey). Performed by Susan T. Mashiyama. If you use this song, please share that info with Henry Flurry as a form of connection and affirmation.
"Woyaya" (YouTube) (words & music by Loughty Amoa, Solomon Amarfio, Robert M. Bailey, Roy Bedeau, Francis T. Osei, Whendell K. Richardson, and Mac Tontoh; #1020 in Singing the Journey). Created by Paul Thompson (Music Director at the UU Church of the Palouse, Moscow ID). Please make a pay-what-you-can donation.
"Lean on Me (MP4)" (words & music by Bill Withers; #1021 in Singing the Journey). Created by the Minnesota Valley UU Fellowship.
"When the Spirit Says Do" (YouTube) (#1024 in Singing the Journey).Words & music: African American spiritual, arr. Mark Freundt. Vocals and piano by Ruben Piirainen, Music Director, Unitarian Universalist Church West (Brookfield, WI). Please make a pay-what-you-can donation; PayPal: jrubenp@yahoo.com/Venmo: @jrubenp.
"Blue Boat Home" (YouTube) (words by Peter Mayer; #1064 in Singing the Journey). Created by Paul Thompson (Music Director at the UU Church of the Palouse, Moscow ID). Please make a pay-what-you-can donation.
"Ancient Mother"(YouTube) (tradtional Navajo prayer; #1069 in Singing the Journey). Performed by Susan T. Mashiyama.
"The Earth Is Our Mother (Vimeo)"(attributed to the Hupa tribe ofnorthern California; #1073 in Singing the Journey). Created by Sandi E (UU Fellowship of Franklin, NC). Please read this "use with care" blog post by Rev. Kimberley Debus. Make a pay-what-you-can-donation.

Hymn-Based Music

These videos are great to use as preludes or musical meditations/interludes in your online worship services:

"We Are Gathered" (YouTube), whose text (to a familiar hymn) was written specifically for virtual worship by Amanda Udis-Kessler. Video by video by Jane Clabaugh. Please make a donation to The Movement for Black Lives or Color of Change.
Adam and Matt Podd's arrangement of"My Life Flows on in Endless Song" ("How Can I Keep From Singing") (YouTube), featuring musicians and singers from Grace Chorale of Brooklyn,First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn, andFirst Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn. (Quaker text; melody byAmerican Baptist minister Robert Wadsworth Lowry; #108 in Singing the Living Tradition). Adam's PayPal ID: adampodd@gmail.com/Venmo: @adampodd
"We Are" by Dr. Ysaÿe Barnwell (Vimeo), performed by Dr. Ysaÿe Barnwell and the UUA General Assembly 2020 virtual choir. Produced and Directed by Benjie Messer. Video Editing and Motion Graphics by Izzy Hyman. Audio Editing by Sam Plattner. Photos by Clint McKoy, Christopher L. Walton, Paul Becker, Janine Gelsinger, and contributed by members of the choir. All audio and videos was captured by musicians in their own homes. Dr. Barnwell notes that if you've purchased scores for each of your singers, there is nothing else required. However, if you wish to use this piece in worship, please send a one-time fee of $30 to Barnwells Notes, Inc., 2441Tunlaw Rd NW, Washington, D.C. 20007-1819.

Classical

"Art Thou Troubled?" (YouTube) (Music by G.F. Handel; words by W.G. Rothery) Brandon Hornsby-Selvin, tenor; Adam Podd, piano. Adam's PayPal ID: adampodd@gmail.com/Venmo: @adampodd
“Sarabande” (YouTube) by Edvard Grieg. Performed by Ruben Piirainen, Music Director, Unitarian Universalist Church West (Brookfield, WI). Please make a pay-what-you-can donation; PayPal: jrubenp@yahoo.com/Venmo: @jrubenp.
“The Evening Star” (YouTube) by Felix Medelssohn. Performed by Ruben Piirainen, Music Director Unitarian Universalist Church West (Brookfield, WI). Please make a pay-what-you-can donation; PayPal: jrubenp@yahoo.com/Venmo: @jrubenp.
"Sonata in C Major" (YouTube) by Domenico Scarlatti. Performed on harpischord by Ruben Piirainen, Music Director, Unitarian Universalist Church West (Brookfield, WI). Please make a pay-what-you-can donation; PayPal: jrubenp@yahoo.com/Venmo: @jrubenp.
"Sonata in G Major" (YouTube) by Domenico Scarlatti. Performed on harpischord by Ruben Piirainen, Music Director, Unitarian Universalist Church West (Brookfield, WI). Please make a pay-what-you-can donation; PayPal: jrubenp@yahoo.com/Venmo: @jrubenp.
"Vocalise (YouTube) by Sergei Rachmaninoff (Op. 34 No. 14). Candice Helfand-Rogers, soprano; Adam Podd, piano. Adam's PayPal ID: adampodd@gmail.com/Venmo: @adampodd

(Mostly) Original Music

"Better Angels" (YouTube), written and performed by Kiya Heartwood. Please make a PayPal donation: kiyaheartwood@gmail.com.
"Song of Alleluia & Call to Worship" (YouTube) by Matt Meyer. Please make a pay-what-you-can donation; Venmo: mattdrums / PayPal: matt@rhythmrevelations.com .
"The Tide Is Rising" (YouTube) by Rabbi Shoshona Meira Friedman
& Yotam Schachter © 2015, recorded by Sandi E. Permission to use if not-for-profit. PDF of sheet music available here. Please make a pay-what-you-can donation via PayPal.
"Bright Future" by Sandi E., for dedication ceremonies. Sandi has created a children's version (YouTube) and a version for adults (YouTube). Please make a pay-what-you-can donation via PayPal.
"Count on Me" (YouTube) by Bruno Mars, covered by musicians from First Unitarian Brooklyn Choir; Adam Podd, Director of Music. Adam's PayPal ID: adampodd@gmail.com/Venmo: @adampodd. This is an ASCAP song, requiring a WorshipCast or other applicable license.
"I Want To Hold Your Hand" (YouTube) by Lennon & McCartney, covered bymusicians from First Unitarian Brooklyn Choir; arranged by Adam Podd, Director of Music. Adam's PayPal ID: adampodd@gmail.com/Venmo: @adampodd. This is an ASCAP song, requiring a WorshipCast or other applicable license.
"The Way" (GoogleDrive). Words by Unknown Author, music by Nylea L. Butler-Moore. Video by the UU Virtual Singersof the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos, NM; Nylea Butler-Moore, Music Director & piano; Larry Rybarcyk, acoustic guitar; Rick Bolton, AV Engineer. If you use this video, please email Nylea at nyleab@uulosalamos.org. Pay-what-you-can to the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos.
Elizabeth Alexander offers you "This Is What Democracy Looks Like (Vimeo)," a rally-ready protest chant performed by the Twin Cities Justice Choir, as well as a range of other videos on her website. Make your pay-what-you-can offering.
"My Roots Go Down (YouTube," by Sarah Pirtle, who wrote this song during a UU women's retreat in the 1970s. Video by Rev. Christopher Watkins Lamb and Kara Shobe. Read donation guidelines.
"Why Not Every Man? (Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel) (YouTube)," Traditional Spiritual / arr. Adam Podd, featuring the First Unitarian Brooklyn Quartet. Produced and Edited by Adam Podd for First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn. Adam's PayPal ID: adampodd@gmail.com/Venmo: @adampodd
"Elijah (YouTube,"a song in memory of Elijah McClain. Written by Bill Harley and arranged for chorus by Peter Amidon. Additional arrangement by Adam Podd featuring the First Unitarian Brooklyn Choir & The Westerlies. Adam's PayPal ID: adampodd@gmail.com/Venmo: @adampodd
"Let Justice Roll Down (YouTube)," words & music ©Aileen Vance/Avenida Music, recorded and produced by Lea Morris. Pay-what-you-can to Lea.
"Slip Away" from Jerry Price's album "Light on the Horizon"
"We Are Living Earth (YouTube)" written and performed by James Underberg. Make a pay-what-you-can donation , and please write to James if you use this video; follow video link for address.
"The Journey Becomes Our Home (YouTube)" written and performed by James Underberg. Make a pay-what-you-can donation , and please write to James if you use this video; follow video link for address.
"We Shine (YouTube)" written and performed by James Underberg. Make a pay-what-you-can donation , and please write to James if you use this video; follow video link for address.
"Called To Love (YouTube)" written and arranged byDarrell Courtleyand performed by Darrell and his wife, Mary Courtley. This congregational song was inspired by the Eighth Principle. If you use this video, please notify Darrell atdcourtley@gmail.com. Pay-what-you-can to the Morristown UU Fellowship.
"Lifted in Love (Vimeo)," written by Carl Karush and Lea Morris, and performed by Lea Morris. Pay-what-you-can to Lea.
"I Have Decided (YouTube)," written and played by Dave Rowe based on the quote from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: "I have decided to stick with love; hate is too great a burden to bear." Please visit Dave's virtual tip jar to make a love offering.
"Meditation (YouTube)," written and arranged byDarrell Courtleyand performed by Darrell and his wife, Mary Courtley. This would be appropriate for a time of quiet reflection. If you use this video, please notify Darrell atdcourtley@gmail.com. Pay-what-you-can to the Morristown UU Fellowship.
"Song of Gratitude (YouTube)," written and played by Dave Rowe. Please visit Dave's virtual tip jar to make a love offering.
"Bring Me Little Water, Silvie (YouTube)," a video created by Adam Podd and First Unitarian Church, Brooklyn, NY, for their water communion. Adam's PayPal ID: adampodd@gmail.com/Venmo: @adampodd
"Give Up the Fight (Breathe)" (YouTube), a meditation by Rev. Gretchen Haley overlaid with a song by Christopher Watkins Lamb. (See also text only of Gretchen's "Surrender to This Life.") Read donation guidelines.
"We Will Not Stop Singing" (YouTube)written by The Chapin Sisters (Lily & Abigail). Song copyright The Chapin Sisters, published by sad pony music and foggy mountain music (ASCAP). Arranged by Adam Podd, featuring the First Unitarian Brooklyn Choir (w/ Dennis Wees, Kiena Williams, Brandon Hornsby-Selvin, and Candice Helfand-Rogers). Adam's PayPal ID: adampodd@gmail.com/Venmo: @adampodd
"Heart Is Wide Open" (YouTube), a song to calm and open your heart by Danya River. You can also use the audio-only file. Make a donation to Danya’s recording fund so she can continue making meaningful music to share with the world.
"Hard Times" (YouTube) by Stephen Foster; performed by Kiya Heartwood. Please make a PayPal donation: kiyaheartwood@gmail.com.
"Good Intentions" (YouTube), a chant created by Sandi E (UU Fellowship of Franklin, NC). Make a pay-what-you-can-donation.