There are a lot of good songs for kids during Advent, many are listed in the entries for each Sunday. Here are some that would fit during any week of Advent; you could sing them more than once! You may also like to look at the list of Candle Lighting songs.
- BUC Resource Flame of love come Holy Spirit (Julie
Perrin / Helen Burnham / Julia Potter) This song is really beautiful,
but not available online yet. I will get back to this at some stage; email me if you'd like a copy. Sound sample. Good for kids.
- Online Resource / GWA091 Centuries of waiting / The Angels Say (Margaret
McLarty / Stephen Fischbacher / Suzanne Butler) A fun song, with lots
of verses and a stirring chorus. You could just choose the one with
Zechariah in it for this week. I would make the verses alternating
between a cantor and chorus, just like this recording, as the first and
third lines are a little tricky in meter. It doesn't have to sound like a kid's song as it does in the video. Lyric video and purchasing options. Good for kids.
- Online Resource Hey Mary!
(Sam & Malcolm Gordon) A lovely children's song about the annunciation.
It captures the surprise and the universality of God's arrival to each
of us. Youtube and sheet music. Good for kids.
- Music by Heart 59 Come light of lights
(Ruth Cunningham) A good two-part chant that would be a nice
meditative song for any week of Advent: "Come light of lights into my
heart. Come wisdom of spirit into my heart". It can be sung quite slowly
and meditatively, or more energetically and joyfully, depending on your
context; it can also be split into a round! Two videos: A quick version and a slow version. Good for kids.
- CH256 / VU424 / GtG765 / StF411 May the God of hope go with us every day
(Alvin Schutmaat) Simple joyful song with a focus on working for
peace, working with the "God of peace" who fills our lives with "love
and joy and peace"; I would sing just the first verse and chorus. A good
song for
the end of the service; be careful it doesn't get too pedestrian or
childish - think of traditional Argentinian music, which is what it is. Lyrics.
Good for kids.
- Online Resource / GWA080 / MV045 / SP&P051 Hamba nathi
(Zulu / Xhosa) There are a lot of translations of this South African song. This is
the song we sang during Advent 2009 for the (usually silent) procession at the start of
our worship service, and we wrote verses for each week. We
sang it in Zulu followed by one line in English on the repeat. Week 1:
You are holy, you show us the way. Week 2: Justice is coming, prepare
the way. Week 3: Singing and shouting, we're walking the way. Week 4:
We're walking to freedom, come join in the song. There are many translations of this song, even though the original
language simply means "Go with us our Saviour"! Sound sample. Sheet music. Here's how it was sung for the soundtrack of Invictus. Here's another good version, with some great harmonies. Good for kids.
- AoVK-52 O Emmanuel, come into our hearts
(Michael Mangan) with 3 verses. In 2008 we sang just the chorus on Advent 1, then added
one verse for each week. Verse 1 “We your people are waiting for you..”
Verse 2 “ We, your people are longing for you”. Verse 3 “ We your
people are ready for you”. Could use a cantor for the verse and
congregation join in the chorus. Would be great with good Latin or
African percussion. We sang this in 2013 during Advent, and it worked
well. Lyrics & sound sample. Good for kids.
- CoC30 Look toward Christmas!
(Shirley Murray) I particularly like tune (i); very joyous! A fun
song looking forward to Christmas. Quite good for kids. I like the image of the angels flexing their wings! Sheet music and lyrics.
- Online Resource Hear the message we now are proclaiming / El mensaje que hoy proclamamos
(Eleazar Torreglosa, Colombia) This jubilant song of liberty and new
life for the poor and suffering would fit well with Advent. Good for kids. Free sheet music. Sound sample.
- AoVK-28 / ATOK 376 Faith hope and love
(Trish Watts) This is so easy, and so cool. If you have some groovy
musicians, this can even be a very funky rock song. Very easy, and great
for kids and non-readers. Sound sample. Good for kids.
- Online Resource / Tune In Kingdom Come (Matthew Lees) A song about how things are not what we expect in God’s kingdom. Lots of words and good images. Good for kids. Free sheet music, sound samples and lyrics.
- Tune In: Longing for you (Elaine Loukes) A simple chant of longing for God. Free downloadable songbook. Good for kids.
- Online Resource / AoVK-29 Remember we are your people (Tony Barr)
Simple three part chant "Remember we are your people, your people O
God". This could also work really well as a sung refrain during the prayer of
confession. Sound sample, sheet music sample, purchasing options. Good for kids.
- Online Resource / Tune In Making things new (Sheree Anderson). A groovy one. Great for kids, and lots of fun. Good for kids. Free sheet music, sound samples and lyrics.
- ACS905 We are waiting for Jesus
(John Helgen) A simple song with quite powerful lyrics about Christ coming to bring peace; "Sun of justice shine upon us". It could be possible to use this as a Advent candle lighting song. Sound sample. Good for kids.
- Online Resource Prepare the way of the Lord (Jeff Lowery / David King) An upbeat song, good for kids and teenagers, I think. The verses are kind of wordy, but they're good words. The verses follow the traditional advent themes of peace, hope, joy and
love, so you could also sing it every Sunday of Advent. Sound sample. Good for kids.
- Online Resource / VU010 Prepare the way of the Lord
(Michael Burkhardt) A lovely simple round in 6:8. "Prepare the way of the Lord!
X2 Make a straight path for him, make a straight path. Prepare the way
of the Lord!" You can split into 6 groups for this one! What fun! Sheet music sample. Sound sample. Purchasing options (book). Good for kids.
- Online Resource / AoVK-50 / ATW 430 Come let us praise our God / A voice is heard (Trisha Watts) Excellent and energetic. Sound sample, sheet music sample and purchasing options. Good for kids.
- Iona (M&G) / CH359 / MV033 / ZSS54 / StJ / GtG127 / ELW253 / GA293 / SFFS
2085 / G(II)276 / GC370 / GC(II)364 / G(3)429 / CP368 / W&R402 He came down that we may have love / Jesus came bringing us hope
(Traditional Cameroon) The translation in "More Voices" (Jesus came
bringing...) seems particularly appropriate for Advent. A lovely simple
song - you can make up words and have a lot of fun with this if you also
use some drums. Lyrics and sound samples. Good for kids.
- Online Resource / AoV1-143 Light Of Christ, light flaming bright
(Rufino Zaragoza) Simple chant. "Light of Christ, light flaming bright, burn
in my heart holy fire". Sound sample, sheet music sample, and purchasing options. Good for kids.
- Taizé / UMH207 / VU10 / StS014 / GtG095 / GC336 / GC(II)330 / G(3)400 / W&R174 / Cha121 Prepare the way of the Lord (Jacques Berthier) A lovely simple round. Sheet music and clunky sound sample. Good for kids.
- ACS903 / AoV1-061 / ATOK 355 / GtG359 / SFFS 2194 / G(II)521 / GC723 / GC(II)707 / G(3)814 / ZSS110 / SgTJ1035 Freedom is coming
(South African) Excellent and lots of fun, especially if you have a
keen African-style drummer in your congregation. It's really worth
teaching the parts to your congregation before the service. It can get a
bit confusing for the congregation otherwise. A range of sound samples (Youtube). History of the song. Sheet music samples. Good for kids.
-
ATFG563 / NCYC'03 / The Red Book How long must we cry out?
(Robin Mann) This is a big Brunswick favourite, great for young people in
particular. "Teach me to do what is right, walk in the darkness, trust
in the light and may love be the path I walk upon".
Good for teenagers. Lyrics. Lyric video.
- TiS 279 / AHB 212 / SFFS 2091 / HPP158 / GC487 / GC(II)494 / CP632 / Lau107 The King of glory comes the nation rejoices (Willard Jabusch) Fun and energetic song to a traditional Israeli folk melody. A good processional. Lyrics and chords. Oh, and of course, Stephen Colbert's dance moves. Good for kids.
- TiS
666 / AoV2-113 / AoVK-126 / ATOK 409 / NCH526 / Iona (Common Ground,
Freedom is Coming) / CH516 / VU646/647 / WoV650 / ELW866 / A&M483 / SFFS 2235 /
HPP153 / GtG853 / G(II)357 / GC513 / GC(II)516 / G(3)594 / Cha442 / SP235 / Srce737 / StF483 / MP954 We are marching in the light of God / Siyahamba / Caminando (South
African) A very popular chorus, with possible alternate verses,
depending on your source. Sometimes people get anxious about the word
"marching", but remember that this song comes from apartheid-era South
Africa, where people were protesting so that they could vote in their
own country. And the marching is toi-toing, much less militaristic than
what you may imagine. Amazing choral sound sample. Good for kids.
- AoVK-58 We wait in hope for the Lord
(Nathaniel Ford) Simple a cappella round "We wait in hope for the Lord, God is
our help and our shield. And so our hearts rejoice, for we trust in
God's holy name". Sound sample, sheet music sample, and purchasing options. Good for kids.
- Seeds of Faith Prepare the Way For Love (Richard
Bruxvoort-Colligan) A good song for kids. I think it would be fun to
make up additional verses for this one so it could carry through the
whole of Advent. Sound sample. BUC people, I have this book. Good for kids.
- ATFG510 Sing a song of praise and glory / Advent News (Donald Schmidt) A fun and simple advent song - would be good any week of Advent. Good for kids.
- AoV1-190 / UMH431 / HPP308 / G(II)529 / GC731 / GC(II)723 / W&R614 / Cha677 / G(3)829 Let There Be Peace on Earth and let it begin with me
(Sy Miller / Jill Jackson) Well known, and great for older kids. AoV changes
"Brothers all are we, let me walk with my brother" to "We are family.
Let us walk with each other". Good for kids. Lyrics, sheet music, sound samples. Oldy-but-a-goody.
- AoV1-106 /
UMH376 / WoV774 / ELW753 / GtG752 / G(II)528 / GC730 / GC(II)724 / G(3)822 /
CP562 / Cha297 / URW443 / 82Hml-712 / Lau904 / LUYH073 Dona Nobis Pacem (American folk song) This is very well known, and would fit well with this reading as a Psalm refrain. Sound sample. Good for kids. Oldy-but-a-goody.
- AoV2-003
/ ATOK 313 / CH543 / StJ / GA404 / A&M042 / ELW715 / GtG314 /
GC(II)512 / G(3)590 / SP13 / URW114 / Lau883 / StF706 Longing for light we wait in darkness / Christ, be our light
(Bernadette Farrell) One of my favourites, especially if someone can sing or
play the descant line in the later verses. Sound sample and lyrics.
Good for kids.
- ACS904 / TiS 688 Come to be our hope O Jesus / Tú Jesús, nuestra esperanza (Jaci Marachin) This is a really fun Latin American song from the World
Council of Churches Assembly in Canberra. It's not easy the first time,
but once you've heard it, it's very catchy. The words are really
excellent, despite a slightly clunky translation. It would be worth
teaching to your congregation! Sound sample with a great guitar line. Here's another quite different version. Good for kids.
- AoV2-085 / Iona (T1AU) / MV115 / A&M328 / SP129 Behold behold I Make All Things New (John Bell) A nice hopeful upbeat short song. Highly recommended. Sound sample (scroll down) Good for kids.
- NCH121 / UMH210 / VU005 / WoV629 / ELW266 / W&R163 / Cha139 All earth is waiting / All earth is hopeful / Toda la tierra espera al Salvador (Alberto Taule) Fun Catalonian tune, good words, although the English translations vary between sources. Could be good for kids. A nice recording from Chile in Spanish. Slow and majestic organ sample and English lyrics.
