Songs that you could use over and over again for kids during the Pentecost season. There are also songs listed for specific readings in the weekly posts. In this list are songs with fairly general themes that fit the season.
If you don't regularly sing an Alleluia in your service, these are also particularly good for short children's songs .Here is a list of some favourites.
Songs about the Holy Spirit:
- Tune In Spirit of the Father, Spirit of our Mother / Alive in me (Sheree Anderson) Catchy boppy pop song about God's spirit within us and within the world. Music sample, sound sample and lyrics. Good for kids. Free downloadable songbook.
- CH613 / WoV687 / ELW401 / GtG287 Gracious Spirit hear our pleading (Niwagila) Good simple song about the Spirit. From Tanzania. Good for kids.
- AoV2-061 / ATE 249 As a dream receive your hist'ry (Andrew Tanner) A big favourite. There are actions too! The chorus is particularly excellent “We will rise up on wings like eagles, run and not be tired, show us your dreams and visions, warm our hearts with tongues of fire, tongues of fire”. Good for kids. Lyrics.
- Online Resource / AoV1-043 Breathing now the life of God / Warm Our Hearts (Jane Marshall) Simple round. "Breathing now the life of God the Spirit in us singing, come light up our hearts with joy! Heal and clear our eyes to see! Warm our hearts with peace. Warm our hearts with peace.” Short songs like this are great for kids. When teaching a song that breaks into a round, it’s best to work with as little accompaniment as possible; no accompaniment is best. Sound sample, lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options. Good for kids.
- TiS 711 / ATOK 334 / Iona (M&G) / WoV681 / VU383 / SFFS 2124 / GtG283 / G(II)330 / StF038 Come O Holy Spirit / Wa Wa Wa Emimimo (Nigeria) This song is just fun. And very easy. Try to sing it in its original language (Yoruba), it sounds a bit inane in English and it’s not hard!! Encourage your congregation to dance a simple side-to-side step to this; they will enjoy it even more. If we can’t go a little crazy on Pentecost, what hope is there for us, really? A good song to help us remember that our faith is global, and to think of the church and all people in Africa. Youtube of John Bell teaching it Good for kids.
- MV015 / GA186 Holy Sacred Spirit (Monica Brown) Gentle chant. Can be used without the cantor part (in fact, that is what we normally do in our congregation). "Holy Sacred Spirit, breathe your breath on us". Lyrics and sound sample. Good for kids.
- TiS 421 Where the Spirit is there's freedom (Per Harling) Fun and good; excellent fun for the pianist! Lyrics. Good for kids.
- TiS 412 / AHB 324 / ATE 251 / GA184 / G(II)328 / GC468 / CP651 / W&R130 God sends us the Spirit to befriend and help us (Tom Colvin / people of Ghana) I like this song from Malawi, but the lack of inclusive language for God sometimes drives me a bit crazy. In Tom Colvin's book "Come Let us walk this road together" he uses more inclusive language than many hymnals that include this song. That is, he writes “God sends us the Spirit” instead of “God sends us His Spirit” and "Spirit of our Maker" rather than “Spirit of our Father”. Lyrics and sheet music. Good for kids.
- Taizé / AoVNG125 / MV146 / GC(II)637 / G(3)740 / PfAS024D The Kingdom of God is justice and peace and joy in the holy spirit (Taize community) "Come, Lord and open in us the gates of your kingdom". A nice joyful Taize chant. Sheet music and sound samples of parts for practice. 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.
- 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.
- Online Resource / ATW 463 / Iona (T1AU) / ELW721 / SFFS 2219 / A&M835 / GtG750 / GC(II)451 / G(3)528 / W&R296 / URW436 Goodness is stronger than evil (Desmond Tutu) Words from Archbishop Desmond Tutu. "Victory is ours, victory is ours, through him who loves us". Some congregations change the last line to "Compassion is ours, compassion is ours...". It depends on the context in which you sing it, I suppose. Sound sample, sheet music sample and purchasing options. Good for kids.
- AoV2-070 / ATW 496 / MV090 / StJ Don't be afraid (John Bell) Excellent. I love this song of reassurance. "Don't be afraid, my love is stronger. My love is stronger than your fear". This song can be used as a response to intercessions. Sound sample. Good for kids.
- Online Resource / 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 and sheet music sample and purchasing options. Good for kids.
- Iona / CH788 / MV104 / GtG659 Know that God is Good / Mungu ni mwema (Traditional Congo) This traditional African refrain is just lots of fun and very simple to sing. Good for kids and adults! Sheet music sample. Sound sample. Sound sample in Kenyan languages.
- Taizé / TiS 739 / AoV2-041 / ATOK 404 / VU290 / GA269 / SFFS 2054 / GtG820 / G(II)451 / GC639 / GC(II)626 / G(3)733 / CP568 / W&R421 / URW388 / Lau947 / LUYH444/ VF088 Nothing Can Trouble / Nada te turbe (Theresa of Avila / Taizé) Excellent and quite well known Taizé chant. Spanish lyrics are not too hard for non-Spanish speakers. Sheet music, sound samples, lyrics and translations. Good for kids.
- Taizé / TiS 741 / AoV1-017 / ATE 282 / LBW368 / ELW407 / GA431 / SFFS 2200 / GtG471 / G(II)410 / GC586 / GC(II)566 / G(3)666 / W&R484 / Srce519 / URW390 / Lau929 / PfAS013A / PfAS102A / MP908 O Lord hear my prayer (Jacques Berthier) A simple and very well known Taizé chant. Works well during intercessions. You could read the Psalm between repeats of this chant, or just use as a chant as is. Sheet music samples. Good for kids.
- Iona (M&G, T1AU) / MV099 / GC(II)673 / G(3)763 / Lau996 / LUYH445 Stand O Stand Firm (Cameroon) I love having an excuse to sing this simple and powerful song. Very easy for your congregation. You can make up cantor parts too “Oh my sisters…. Oh my brothers… Oh my children….” or you can name countries you are praying for in your intercessions. Scottish sound sample. Lead sheet.
- AoVK-29 Remember we are your people (Tony Barr) Simple three part chant "Remember we are your people, your people O God". This would work really well as a sung refrain during the prayer of confession. Good for kids.Slightly clunky sound sample.
- AoVK-12 God is our shelter truly a friend indeed (Chris O'Hara) Groovy little round / more like a call and response really. Good for kids. Lyrics
- Online Resource / GC(II)651 / G(3)755 You must never give up / Sizo Bambelela (South African) An excellent song from an amazing church in Capetown, South Africa. The phrase Bambelela means "Hold on". It would be fun to get a few singers together to sing the parts to this. If you purchase the music on this link, all royalties go to support the JL Zwane Church and their programs. Sheet music and sound sample, and purchasing options. Good for kids.
- MV045 / SP&P051 Hamba nathi (Zulu). There are a lot of translations of this song. I like "Come walk with us, the journey is long". Here's a good version, with some great harmonies. And, a version which is slightly different from what's published in the hymnals.
- 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. Sound sample. Good for kids.
- Online Resource Holding up the light (Christopher Grundy) A great song for all about being brave enough to hold a light, no matter how small, when all around seems dark and difficult. Sound sample and purchasing options. Sound sample. Good for kids.
- TiS 706 / Taizé / AoV2-142 / A&M600 / SFFS 2013 / GtG544 / PH224 / GC(II)576 / G(3)620 / CP360 / PfAS103C / SP194 / Src79 / URW377 / Lau813 Bless the Lord my soul (Jacques Berthier) A beautiful and very well known Taizé chant. Sound samples, sheet music. Good for kids..
- NCYC'97 Insansa ku mwamba (Traditional Zambian) A good African song. Joy in God's Kingdom, Joy in God, Joy in Heaven. NCYC'97 has an extra vocal part which is really simple and effective. Good for kids.
- NCH085 / SFFS 2082 / Cha623 / ZSS105 Woke Up This Morning (African-American Spiritual) A great Spiritual. If you don't have one of these sources, you can just make it up from this video. This could be a good Sunday to make use of those choir stalls... Good for kids. Oldy-but-a-goody.
- Worldmaking.net Brother Jesus right beside me (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) This is a great rock song, good for little kids and a favourite of much older kids too. We haven't sung this for a couple of years, and it would be good to do it again. Lyrics and a very silly sound sample that does no justice to the song at all.Good for kids.
- PfAS092B Mah Gadlu / Oh how great are your works (Shefa Gold) A good short song that can also be sung as a round, with optional echoing Hallelujah as your congregation gets to know it. Lyrics are in Hebrew and English. Sound sample as a chant. Good for kids.
- ATA 200 / CH530 / VU639 / A&M757 / CP(E) 548 / URW109 One more step along the world I go (Sydney Carter) A good fun kid's song from Sydney Carter which many of their parents will remember. "And it's from the old I travel to the new, keep me travelling along with you". Lyrics. Good for kids.
- AoVK-113 Thank you O Lord for this world of ours (Tony Barr) A good kids song in two parts. Good for kids.
- TiS 728 Jesucristo reina reina ya This fun chorus from Argentina is just lots of fun, and our congregation hasn't sung it for a while. Sound sample. Good for kids.
- BUC New Songs Sing sing with me (Julia Potter) This fun new song from a member of our congregation is great fun, and includes the verse "Dance, dance with me; feel the music, feel the beat, Move, move your feet, keep it on repeat." Good for kids.
- TiS 670 / SiS569 / AoVK-138 / ATE 258 / CH692 / Srce385 / MP376 Jesus put this song into our hearts (Graham Kendrick) A fun Yiddish tune that gets even more fun if you get faster and faster as you go. Try teaching your congregation a simple side to side “dance” step; give them an excuse to join in! Good for kids. Youtube. Lyrics.
- VU128 / A&M162 / GtG597 / W&R269 / SP054 / World Council of Churches Assembly 1991 Sanna sannanina (South African) An excellent African processional, which simply means "Hosanna". GtG has the option of singing the Holy Holy to this tune, but I think that just seems a bit odd. Great for drumming. Sound sample (scroll to the 2nd album). Good for kids..
- AoVK-119 We're God's family God's children (Trish Watts / Monica O'Brien) Good words. Catchy tune. Good for kids.
- AoV2-037 Children of God in one family (Christopher Walker) Great for kids. Sometimes we mess up, but God forgives. Good for kids.
- MV157 I am a child of God (Bruce Harding) A simple song with powerful words. Good for kids and adults alike. Very easy to learn. Good for kids (just the first verse probably).
- ATE 216 / Iona (SBL) / CH126 / StJ / ELW555 / PH472 / G(II)365 / GC527 / RS 671 / CP417 / W&R15 / StF042 O sing to the Lord / Cantai ao Senhor / Cantad al Señor (Traditional Brazilian) A good, fun and simple song that is easy to learn in Portuguese or Spanish too; note that not all versions are inclusive. Some versions have multiple verses. Sheet music samples. Good for kids.
- MV007 Gather us in ground us in you (David Hann) A simple chant which would be great for a quieter invitation to worship. Good for kids.
- Online Resource / ATFG561 / Tune In: Part of a fam'ly interconnected / Community (Dave Brown) A song about being welcomed and how to work together as part of a community. "Part of a family interconnected, this is community; Welcoming strangers, visiting neighbours, this gives us dignity". Very singable song about building community. Works well for kids as well. A big favourite at Brunswick Uniting. Good for kids. Downloadable song book, lyrics & sound samples.
- AoV1-021 / ATOK 402 / StS114 / G(II)488 / GC682 / GC(II)669 / G(3)761 / Lau858 / MP830 God Has Chosen Me (Bernadette Farrell) Energetic, and great words of justice. We used to sing this a lot, but not so much lately. Can be rocky or smooth, however you like it. Good for kids. Sound sample and lyrics.
- NCH497 / SFFS 2208 / GtG741 / PH354 / G(II)508 / GC707 / GC(II)684 G(3)780 / CP513 / ZSS141 Guide my feet while I run this race (African-American Spiritual) Another excellent civil rights song. Would work well as a meditative prayer for guidance or as an uplifting call to action at the end of the service.You could also make up your own lyrics. Lyrics. Good for kids.
- 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.Good for kids
- Online Resource I will sing of your love, love, love (Christopher Grundy) This is just so joyfully happy, and very catchy. Lyrics and sound sample. Sheet music for purchase. Good for kids
- SP&P062 You shall love our God (Ruth Sandberg) An excellent round, which could be sung in unison, as a round, or in 4 parts. I really quite like this. I think this would be Good for kids..
- GtB / On the Road God is love and love is giving (Ross Langmead) A simple kids' song about God's love. A round. Sound sample. Good for kids.
- AoV2-068 / VU695 God is passionate life (Colleen Fulmer) Good simple round with a peace / justice focus. Good for kids.
- ATOK 412 / Iona (SBL, Common Ground) / CH250 / MV212 / A&M482 / GtG747 / SFFS 2184 / Lau855 / StF239 Sent by the Lord am I / Sent out in Jesus name / Enviado soy de Dios (Traditional Cuban) Great rhythm, good words and not too hard to sing (provided you sing it a little slowly the first time!) I prefer the MV translation "Sent out in Jesus' name". Good for kids. Lyrics.
- Online Resource / TiS
749 / AoV1-154 / AoVK-131 / ATE 305 / NCH360 / Iona (SBL, Freedom is
coming) / CH800 / UMH497 / VU572 / WoV773 / ELW469 / ELW809 / GA493 / A&M481 / HPP340 / GtG746 / G(II)484
/ GC677 / GC(II)674 / G(3)776 / W&R713 / Cha447 / SP234 / StF782 Send me Jesus / Thuma mina (South African) You all know this one, right? If you don't - it's great - simple, repetitive, and meaningful. Good for kids. Sound sample and purchasing options.
- Taizé / CH801 / MV170 / StJ / GtG205 / WoV665 / ELW642 / SFFS 2179 / GC408 / GC(II)430 / G(3)500 / CP553 / W&R399 / Cha523 / URW394 / StF783 / Lau244b Live in charity / Ubi Caritas (Taizé / Jacques Berthier) Usually sung in Latin, but can also be sung just as beautifully as "Live in charity and steadfast love, live in charity; God will dwell with you." Sheet music and sound samples for practice. Good for kids.
- ATOK 390 Put on love every day, never hide your love away (Mary Lu Walker) A fun song for kids! It's a while since we've sung this, but it's fun. Sound sample. Good for kids.
- MV149 / CoC35 Peace for our children (Doreen Lankshear-Smith) A simple and quite repetitive (in a nice way) song that prays for peace for children, women, men, families, nations… and the soul. Good for kids.
- 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. Good for kids. Oldy-but-a-goody.
- CH659 / MV173 / StJ / A&M566 / G(3)824 / W&R389 / SP251 / StF712 Put peace into each other’s hands (Fred Kaan) Good words for communion; tune is quite simple and flows nicely. Slow sound sample, sheet music with lyrics. Good for kids.
- Taizé / GtG814 / CP563 / PfAS062DIn God alone my soul can find rest and peace / Mon ame se repose (Jacques Berthier) A beautiful healing chant from Taize. Words and music and sound samples for learning the parts
- Iona (M&G) / ATAR609 / CH359 / MV033 / GtG137 / ZSS54 / StJ / 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) A lovely simple song - you can make up words and have a lot of fun with this if you also use some drums. For Brunswick this year, this will be a nice reminder of Advent, when we sang this every week. Lyrics. Good for kids.
- MV31 Pure love (Linnea Good) A simple two-part chant that picks up the Psalmist’s idea of the purity of God’s law “Pure love, pure truth, pure justice, God”. Would be great if you can teach it to some of the congregation before worship starts. Good for kids.
- Online Resource Peace, Salaam, Shalom
(Pat Humphries) This is a beautiful and simple chant with two optional
obligato lines. The congregation could easily sing the basic round as a
meditative focus, or (more quickly) as a round for kids. Good for kids. Sheet music for purchase. Sound sample. We usually sing it more slowly, like this.
Updated in 2024 on a train in Sweden.
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