I have had VERY LITTLE formal music training, so l may be unable to properly express my dilemma. I hope you understand my frustra

I want to play the recorder in church, where most songs start at middle C or higher and range about one to one-and-a-half octaves (soprano part.) This is the amazing Baptist one part harmony. The alto notes in the hymnal start at the A or G below middle C, but the recorder fingering charts indicate an alto recorder's lowest note is the F above middle C. What gives? Why don't the notes agree? I was playing the tenor, which was the perfect range, but l'm getting arthritis in my right hand and it hurts too much to stretch my hands that far.