Here is the summary of responses to my request for explicitly sacred,
preferably biblical choral pieces suitable for liturgical, lectionary-based
Sunday worship.....something that doesn't sound like a high school choir
concert closer.....for Sunday, July 4. Thanks to those who responded.

1. "America the Beautiful," arr. by Buryl Red; SATB/piano/optional solo
instrument; Triune Music (no. TUM 115, distributed by Lorenz?)
2. "Heal Our Land", a new piece with text by Senator Orrin
Hatch/Perry/Schrader. Published by Somerset Press, SP825. It incorporates
one verse of America and is rather easy, begins mp and ends p.
3. Ernest Bloch's setting of "America" for his symphony "America." I am not
sure who has it now for it was published by C.C. Birchard, 1929; code #808.
It is not the traditional tune for America.
4. "This Is the Land That I Love" by Rose Marie Cooper. Published by
Lawson-Gould, 1997, #52689.
5. "Let There Be Peace on Earth" by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson, arr. Hawley
Ades. Shawnee Press A-626.
6. "God of Our Fathers," stirring hymn in most hymnals.
7. A PSALM OF JOY by the Moravian composer Johann Friedrich Peter. It's a
compilation of music that was used for the first fourth of July celebration
in Salem, NC in 1783.
8. There is a hymn I only remember as "the Navy Hymn" about those who go down
to the sea and trust in the Lord. I think Benjamin Brittain used it in
"Noe's Fludde" as well.
9. "The God Who Gave Us Life Gave Us Liberty" from "Testament of
Freedom" by Randall Thompson, based on the writings of Jefferson.
10. An American Hymn - setting of America the Beautiful, arr. Cecil Effinger
G. Schirmer #11522, SATB with organ, piano or brass choir
11. "Blessed is the Nation Whose God is the Lord," by Hubert Bird, pub.
formerly C. Fischer, now available directly from him
12. Seeds Grow to Plants (From "Canticles of America") by John Rutter
13. "I Vow To Thee, My Country," by Gustav Holst, G. Shirmer #11334, unison.
Powerful text, melodic line and strong organ accompaniment. Text by
Cecil Spring Rice, who wrote the words while he was British Ambassador
at Washington in 1918. Melody is taken from "Jupiter" No. IV of "The
Planets."
14. Randall Thompson's "Alleluia"
15. America the Beautiful - Rob Landed (Publisher?)

Dean McIntyre