Winter & Winter Solstice Songs (updated for 2023)

• Recorded music Longest Night (Peter Mayer) This is a lovely and very appropriate song, which you might like to play. Lyrics and source. Sound sample.
• VU278 / URW221 In the quiet curve of evening (Juliana Howards) Beautiful words about God's presence in the spaces of our lives. Simple tune. Lyrics.
• URW418 God comes to us (Dirk Damonte) A simple song, a little bit Advent and Christmassy, but it can also just be Wintry! "God comes to us on Winter night, in baby's breath, in firelight, God comes to us. Could be used as a chant, or at various points during the service. Sound sample.  
• ACS1096 / Cha333 / GtG230 / G(II)550 / GC760 / GWA096 / VU284 Joyful Is the Dark (Brian Wren) I really like these words which summarise the entire story arc of faith. Hymnals vary widely in the tunes they have set these lyrics to. GtG uses a really difficult key but the tune is nice. GWA uses GEARY, which I quite like, but will need to be taught. Lyrics and various sheet music samples. 
  
• HiOS139 Through winter cold (Shirley Murray) A lovely lilting tune and words about the hope of spring after Winter. Best for places that have snow. Lyrics and sheet music.  
• NCH432 / CH234 Tis winter now; the fallen snow (Samuel Longfellow) Simple words based on Psalm 74, sung to O WALY WALY. The words are beautiful, but not completely inclusive in CH234.  Sheet music and lyrics. New words to old tunes. 
• VU078 Sing till sundown hum your joy (Eileen Spinelli) A song for snowy places. This is a quite delightful song of hope "Now we're dancing through the snow"! Lyrics.
• VU181 Midnight sharpness starfields fading (Neil Lemke / David Kai) Quite nice gentle Winter evening song. Lyrics, and link to video.
• NCH434 / VU530 / HPP275 / PH292 / CP427 All beautiful the march of days (Frances Wile) Winter snow and ice. Sung to the familiar tune FOREST GREEN. Lyrics and sample sheet music. New words to old tunes.
• Online Resource Behold the night (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) This is a simple chant "Behold the night, there are gifts here in the dark, soon the sun returns". Youtube.    
  
• MV071 / GC(II)339 / G(3)417 / Online Resource When the wind of Winter blows (Ruth Duck) This is very beautiful, and can be used either as a choral work (online version) or as a congregational song (hymnals). Best if you can teach the two-part refrain to the congregation; you could also use a soloist for the verses. Sheet music and sound samples. 
• Taizé / A&M847 / GtG294 / G(II)456 / GC644 / PfAS088A / SP330 Within Our Darkest Night (Jacques Berthier) A lovely chant of continuing hope in the face of despair. Lyrics and sound samples. Good for kids.
• Online Resource / NCH432 / CH234 Tis winter now; the fallen snow (Samuel Longfellow) Simple words based on Psalm 74, sung to O WALY WALY. The words are beautiful, though not completely inclusive in CH234. Lyrics and sample sheet music. New words to old tunes 

Songs for all seasons:

• Unknown Source We'll weave a love / Song of Community (Carolyn McDade) A song of all seasons. It's a little bit tricky to learn, but once learned, you will not forget it "We'll weave a love that greens sure as spring, then deepens in summer to the fall autumn brings". Sheet music (downloads a pdf)
• Online Resource Flow'ring in the summer / Faithful Seasons (Helen Wiltshire) Australian imagery for all the seasons, and how it's worth celebrating them! This book is no longer available online, but if you have a copy, now is the time to get it out.
  
• STB026 Seasons Come Seasons Go / Ella kaladollu (Kannada Bhajan) I think this song from India would not be too hard to learn, but it will need to be taught because the melody (THANDHEYU) will not be familiar. The words are really quite lovely, including the English translation.
• VU632 / StS100 / WoV695 / ELW447 / SFFS 2076 / StF617 / LUYH794 O blessed Spring where word and sign (Susan Palo Cherwien) Imagery of Christ the vine and the changes that the seasons bring, this song speaks of all four seasons. Hymnals vary in the tune selected. I like it best to O WALY WALY.  Lyrics