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Songs, Hymns & Music for Trinity Sunday A (31 May 2026)

General Trinitarian hymns (reading-based selections follow)

Hymn tunes:

  • Online Resource / TLUS003 A whisper from the universe (Carl P Daw, USA) Lovely words about creation and about God coming to earth in human form, and the Holy Spirit guiding our lives. Sung to the well known hymn tune REPTON. Lyrics. New words to old tunes. 
  • Songs for a Hopeful Church Sing the praise of God our maker (Elizabeth Smith, Australia) Excellent words with rich images of the Trinity, beyond all human speech. Sung to the familiar tune MICHAEL (All my hope on God is founded). I really like these words, but they are not so easy to access, unless you have this older book, sadly. New words to old tunes.  
  • ATAR605 God of creation gentle life-giver (Craig Mitchell, Australia) Simple and lovely Trinitarian words to the tune BUNESSAN. I particularly like the phrase "stand with your people, whisper among us" when talking about Christ. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
  • VU322 O God whose first creative word (Judith Fetter, Canada) Good Trinitarian words with lovely imagery. Sung to a simple old hymn tune MELITA. Lyrics. New words to old tunes. 
  • Online Resource God of creation Lord of all beauty (Thom Shuman, USA) A different set of words also set to BUNESSAN. I like this one too. Lyrics.  New words to old tunes.
  • NCH278 / Cha062 / URW198 Creator God creating still (Jane Parker Huber), USA Excellent hymn of hope for the future sung to a well known tune (ST ANNE). Lyrics and a critique. New words to old tunes.
  • TiS 179 / NCH273 / VU312 / GA379 / StJ / URW073 Praise with Joy the World's Creator (John Bell & Graham Maule, Scotland) One of my favourite hymns - strongly Trinitarian lyrics and excellent imagery. I particularly love the “One God in community” phrase. Some versions change "Son" to "Christ" to make it more inclusive. Lyrics. New words to old tunes. 
  • NCH467 / CH117 / VU320 / WoV769 / ELW735 / SFFS 2050 / HPP242 / GtG007 / Cha083 / VF072 Mothering God you gave me birth (Jean Janzen, USA) Lovely words to the well known tune MARYTON. Feminine trinitarian imagery. I like the tune MOTHER JULIAN (CH4 117(I)) best. Lyrics.
  • NCH355 / UMH648 / VU514 / GtG303 / PH523 / W&R149 / Cha450 God the Spirit guide and guardian (Carl Daw, USA) Excellent, inclusive Trinitarian lyrics of God's guidance and blessing on leaders in the church community. Set to a variety of well known hymn tunes including HYFRYDOL (my favourite!), JEFFERSON, BLAENWERN and BETHANY. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes.
  • ACS948 / Cha014 / CH118 / CP390 / GtG003 / NCH274 / SFFS 2046 / VT112 Womb of Life and source of being (Ruth Duck, USA) Feminine trinitarian imagery. An easier tune, listed in some hymnals is IN BABILONE. Others have LADUE CHAPEL which is a little less intuitive. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
  • Online Resource / G(II)331 / GC472 / GC(II)488 / G(3)563 How Wonderful the Three-in-One (Brian Wren, USA) Stunning words sung to an old American Shape Note melody. New words to old tunes. Lyrics and sheet music, and purchasing options.
  • HiOS033 Glorious are you (Joy Cowley, New Zealand) Beautiful words about the Trinity; wonderful images. The tune is new, and will need to be taught, but is light and joyful. "You are the symphony of the stars and planets, you are the music of the atoms within us". Also works as a prayer. Lyrics.
  • StF008 God with us: Creator Father (Alan Gaunt, England) More good words for Trinity Sunday, to the familiar tune ODE TO JOY. Lyrics.  New words to old tunes.
  • Online Resource Holy Mother Queen Creator (Adam Michael Wood, USA) A completely feminine song about the Trinity. Unfortunately, I am no longer able to access this, but if anyone has some leads, please let me know. New words to old tunes.
  • Online Resource God eternal timeless moment (David Lee, England) Excellent words sung to BLAENWERN, with many beautiful images of God. Lyrics.
Contemporary tunes:  
  • ACS1015 / GWA132 As a mother comforts her child (Brian Wentzel, USA) This is a lovely short song with multiple feminine images of God, ending with the phrase "The Trinity of love will be with you". Sound sample.
  • Online Resource / BUC Song Project When the carpenter's on / Drive us out (Shawn Whelan) A spirited and lively song about being driven to new places by the Spirit. Free sheet music and sound sample.
  • Online Resource / TiS 182 / AoV2-010 / CH134 / CP395 / GtG760 / HPP13 / NCH011  / SFFS 2047 / VF106 / VT134 / VU268 Bring many names beautiful and good (Brian Wren, USA) This is a beautiful song with a wide variety of images for God that provoke reflection. Because it has so many images, it's also very long (especially if sung too slowly). Try singing one verse unison, then one women, one men (or different sides of the church, or different ages), then all together again, to give people a chance to list and reflect on what they are singing. Lyrics and sheet music. 
  •  AoV2-084 Father and Mother Creator And Poet (Sandra Sears) Trinitarian song with a Creation focus. Sound sample and lyrics.
  • VU324 / AA078 / URW426 Jesus come to our hearts like falling rain (William Worley) A simple devotional song, with images of God in nature. Lyrics.
  • FFS47 Maker of mystery dreamer of what will be (Marnie Barrell) Feminine trinitarian imagery. Tune is not hard, but can also be sung to the more familiar DOWN AMPNEY. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
  • Online Resource / PH135 / G(II)333 / GC476 / W&R139 God Is One Unique and Holy (Brian Wren) Good words focussed on God's unity although many-faceted. Inclusive and great imagery. The tune is quite simple. Lyrics, sheet music sample and tune sample.
  • Online Resource / ACS946 / MV043 / GtG009 / GC(II)484 / G(3)564 The play of the godhead (Mary Louise Bringle) Lovely words and a very simple, intuitive tune. "The play of the Godhead, the Trinity's dance, embraces the earth in a sacred romance". Lyrics, sheet music sample, and purchasing options. 
  • StF007 God who made the stars of heaven (Ruth Duck) Good words, the tune is a little tricky, but quite lovely. Sound sample.  
  • ATW 459 I don't believe in a God up in the sky / God Version 1.0 (Robin Mann) An excellent rock song about how we think about God, or not! Sound sample and lyrics. Good for kids.
  • Online Resource / URW126 Give thanks to the Source (Ruth Duck, USA) Excellent words, particularly appropriate before communion, to a lovely lilting tune from Jane Marshall. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options. 
  • CH114 / AA110 O threefold God of tender unity (William Wallace) Excellent inclusive Trinitarian words to a simple Celtic air. Lyrics .
  • CP(E) 463 Holy Trinity of Love (Alan Gaunt) Good solid words.
  • Recorded Music Sweetest Mystery (Malcolm Gordon) A lovely song about being part of a Trinity Community.  Listening and purchasing options here. 
  • SP&P121 We are all one (Tom Rasely) This simple song has a Trinitarian message of unity. One in God. One in Christ. Come Holy Spirit. Quite simple to sing. Sound sample (youtube).
  • Iona (Common Ground) / URW447 / StF648 God to enfold you (John Bell) A simple blessing. Best if you can have all the parts covered. Youtube.
World Music:
  • AoVK-30 / ATW 419 / Iona (Common Ground, CAYP) / CH757 / MV002 / WoV717 / ELW819 / A&M361 / SFFS 2274 / HPP551 / GC(II)744 / G(3)849 / PfAS066B / SP&P022 / SP179 / VT002 Come all you people (Uyai mose) (Unknown, Zimbabwe) Joyful and pretty easy really for the congregation. If you have WoV or SP&P, they each have a nice Trinitarian version of this. Come and praise the "Most high" / "Saviour" / "Spirit". Awesome sound sample (much more energetic than what's in the hymnals!). Sound sample. Good for kids.
  • STB286 O most holy o most holy (Unknown, Sri Lanka, paraphrased by Shirley Murray, New Zealand) This is a traditional Sinhalese (Sri Lankan) worship song. If you want to sing all the verses (one for each member of the Trinity, plus one for all three!), I would suggest singing just in English, unless you have Sri Lankans in your congregation. Alternatively, you could choose a single verse to sing in Sinhala. Sound sample in Sinhala and Tamil.
  • MV056 / STB001 O Come let us praise / Lajahle htaora Hp'ya (Saw Gideon Tun Shwe, Burma / Myanmar) Quite beautiful - will need to be taught to Western ears. Now is a good time to be singing something from Myanmar. Sheet music. 
  • CH613 / WoV687 / ELW401 / GtG287 Gracious Spirit hear our pleading (Wilson Niwagila, Tanzania) Good simple song about the Spirit. You can also use the chorus on its own as a refrain. Sound sample (with actions!).
Genesis 1:1-2:4a
The first creation story
  • TLUS007 God spoke to the darkness (Chuc Wilson, Canada) A lovely hymn about the steps of creation, set to an easy to sing, new hymn tune by Jane Best. 
  • Online Resource / GWA160 Praise for the depth of space (Ally Barrett, England) There are not many hymns that talk about the cosmos, and the desire for knowing and understanding it. This is a wonderful hymn, and can be sung to many known hymn tunes, like LOVE DIVINE or DARWALL's 148th. I think I like the majesty of the latter better. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
  • Resource Our hearts proclaim a living God (Hannah Brown, USA) Wide-ranging feminine imagery of our extraordinary God, who is full of surprises, fierce, protesting, and compassionate. Sung to the familiar tune ELLACOMBE. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.
  • Online Resource / GWA159 Earth is full of wit and wisdom (Adam Tice, USA) Set to a familiar tune (HOLY MANNA) these words express the delightful diversity of all creation. In the original, the first verse mentions "the tiny roly-poly" which has been changed to "the tiny Highland midges" in the Scottish GWA hymnal. In Australia, we could sing about "the tiny slater beetle" or "the tiny lady beetle" or even "the tiny Queensland fruit fly", though I am not so thankful for that one. You can make up something. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.
  • Online Resource / Resounding Voices / TLUS056 / VT044 We long to know her the maker of heaven (Jacque Jones, USA) Rich feminine imagery of God as creator, wisdom and bringer of justice. Sung to a tune that may be familiar (STAR OF THE EAST). Free book download here. New words to old tunes.
  • Online Resource Are you the friendly God? (Brian Wren, USA) A powerful song with rich metaphors reflecting on the different possible natures of God in creation (but not limited to creation). The tune is not immediately easy, so you could invite the congregation to join in on the chorus the first time you use it. Lyrics and sheet music. 
  • Online Resource Love these human bodies (Hannah Brown, USA) If you choose to focus on our bodies as gifts from God, these words are very thoughtful, and express love for the diversity and movement of our physical selves. Sung to the tune GRANHAM (In the Bleak Midwinter). Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.
  • Online Resource In woods and wetlands (Hannah Brown, USA / Sally Ann Morris, USA) A song that mourns the destruction of the earth and expresses hope that we can mend the damage we have done. The tune is new, but is not too difficult. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.
  • SFFS 2059 I Am Your Mother. Do not neglect me! (Shirley Erena Murray, New Zealand) Great words about the earth as our mother and the need to care for her. Lyrics and sheet music.
  • VU297 All praise to you O God of all creation / Stewards of Earth (Omer Westendorf, USA) Good words of God's role in creation and our role to care for it. Sung to the familiar tune FINLANDIA.  Lyrics (scroll down!). New words to old tunes.
  • CH809 / VT071 Praise God the Source of life and birth (Ruth Duck, USA) Excellent inclusive doxology which can be sung instead of "Praise God from whom all blessings flow" to Old Hundredth. Highly recommended! Lyrics New words to old tunes.
  • CH242 Is this the way you made the world (Douglas Gay) Wow! This song has a great tune, and wonderful wondering words. Highly recommended. Sound sample.
  • Online Resource / URW155 The Earth and all who breathe (Ruth Duck) Excellent words about care for creation, our role as stewards of the earth, and the struggle against destructive progress. Sung to the familiar tune ICH HALTE TREULICH STILL. Lyrics and sheet music sample.  New words to old tunes  .
  • AHB 329 / GC462 / GC(II)475 / G(3)551 / CP638 / 82Hml-501 / VT053 / VU200 O Holy Spirit by whose breath (Rabanus Maurus, Germany) Quite nice hymn from around 800 CE! It varies in translation and inclusivity in all hymnals. I would sing this to DUKE STREET. Lyrics. Old words to old tunes.
  • Online Resource / STB269 God of the galaxies spinning in space (Shirley Murray) Excellent words about our beautiful creation, and our call to care for it. Chorus is "Let us care for your garden and honour the earth". It has 5 verses, so get the congregation to join in as they learn it. Sheet music and lyrics.
  • STB257 Green the wild fields (I-to Loh) This Taiwanese song reflects on the way we devastate creation and seeks repentance and better behaviour. The English translation could be better, but I quite like it. Sound sample.
  • Online Resource / AA126 / STB222 / StF396 Spirit who broods spirit who sings (Shirley Murray) Good repetitive words, to a soothing Taiwanese tune (in STB) or a lilting waltz (in StF). Sheet music and lyrics.
  • TiS 157 / AHB 103 / CH246 / A&M547 / PH297 / CP411 / CP(E) 263 O Lord of every shining constellation / Great God of every shining constellation (Albert Bayly) Great words; the tune in the Australian hymnals (NORTHBROOK) is a little tricky. Note that AHB is masculine for all people, so look up other sources for inclusive language. Lyrics (older version).
  • NCH057 / VU379 / WoV688 / LBW459 / ELW399 / SFFS 2121 / CP(E) 188 / Cha251 / URW079 / VF055 O Holy Spirit root of life (Jean Janzen) Good words of "Holy Spirit","Eternal Vigour" and "Holy Wisdom". I like the phrase "encompass us with wings unfurled". Simple known tune (PUER NOBIS). Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
  • Seeds of Faith Breath of Life (a creation story) (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A simple chant, with a narration of the creation story. The chant could be used on its own, but the creation story is also very beautiful. “Breath of life, breathe in me, you have created all I see… you have created even me”. Sound sample and lyrics. Good for kids.
  • Online Resource People of the earth come tremble (Hannah Brown) Excellent words about the complex glory of creation, the damage we have done, our responsibility to care for it, and the joy we find in its beauty. Can be sung to the known tune PLEADING SAVIOUR or to a new tune by Benjamin Brody. Sheet music sample, lyrics and purchasing options. New words to old tunes..
  • TiS 447 / AHB 61 / CH112 / VU313 / LBW400 / ELW673 / A&M810 / CP560 / CP(E) 267 / 82Hml-371 / Lau887 / StF106 / MP699 God whose almighty word / Lord your almighty word chaos and darkness heard / Thou, whose almighty word (John Marriott) A good hymny hymn, very familiar, with the memorable “Let there be light” line at the end of each verse. TiS lyrics are fairly inclusive, but VU is better. Oldy-but-a-goody. Lyrics & sheet music. 
  • StF109 In the darkness of the still night (Margaret Rizza) Good words connecting God's creative love with our own lives and concerns. The tune is gentle, but not simple. I suggest encouraging the congregation to join in on the line "Creator God you are there" during the verses for the first time it is used (but let them know that the tune is a little bit different in the middle of the verse, compared to the end of the verse). Lyric video.
  • NCH462 / UMH109 / VU265 / WoV757 / ELW684 / HPSS134 / GC580 / RS711 / CP410 / W&R32 / Cha335 / URW067 / 82Hml-384 Creating God Your Fingers Trace (Jeffery Rowthorn) A good Trinitarian hymn about Creating, Sustaining and Redeeming God. There are many possible tunes. I like the Presence tune better. Lyrics and sheet music. 
  • VU282 Long before the night was born / This Ancient Love (Carolyn McDade) This is a beautiful creation song; wonderful imagery of feminine God loving the world into being. The tune is not familiar, and a little tricky, so best to get your musicians to start the song, and ask the congregation to join in as they become comfortable. Lyric video.
  • TiS 418 / AoV2-075 / Iona (EoA, Common Ground) / CH593 / GA372 / A&M259 / Cha255 / SP94 / URW165 / StF393 / Lau305 She sits like a bird brooding on the waters (John Bell) My favourite Holy Spirit song. Beautiful words and very easy to sing, provided it is not played too quickly The Iona recordings are generally very quick, but there are a lot of words to fit in, so keep it elegantly moderate in speed! Lyrics and sound sample.   
  • SP&P118 Imago Dei (Jill Kirsten Warner) This energetic song has a simple groovy chorus about being made in God's image, and good verses about what that might mean. Sound sample. Good for kids.
  • CP256 Yours the hand that made creation (Elliot Rose) Lyric video.
  • TiS 156 / AHB 91 / AoV1-135 / ATA 123 / CH212 / UMH145 / VU409 / ELW556 / GA537 / A&M545 / HPP267 / GtG664 / PH469 / G(II)546 / GC756 / GC(II)748 / G(3)855 / CP003 / W&R35 / Cha053 / URW186 / 82Hml-008 / StF136 / Lau671 / MP467 Morning has broken (Ellen Farjeon) This song makes me smile every time. Here's Yusuf Islam (when he was Cat Stevens) in 1976 (love those green boots).Oldy-but-a-goody.
  • SSSL31 (Songs from the Still Strange Land) From the beginning / Let the light shine (Neil Quintrell / Doug Simper) Good song, tricky accompaniment, but once you get it it's okay. Will need to be taught to most congregations, or could be presented by the musicians at some point in the service.
  • Online Resource / TiS135 / AHB 70 / AoVK-110 / A&M533 / Cha061 / CH137  / CP415/6 / CP(E) 251 / GtG020 / HPP35 / Lau685 / MP023 / NCH31 / PH267 / Srce21 / StF100 / UMH147 / VT177 / VU291 / W&R30 / WoV767 All things bright and beautiful (Cecil Frances Alexander, Ireland) The TiS version has beautiful Australian imagery. If you are in Australia and your congregation only has the AHB or other versions of the music, it's worth making copies of the TiS lyrics. Editions vary in the language used for God, some are more inclusive than others. Oldy-but-a-goody. The original English lyrics are a bit different (note verse 3, which thankfully is rarely sung)! VU has nice Canadian lyrics, which would also work for people in the USA near the Rocky Mountains and Great Lakes.
  • ATW 469 Wind is moving on the waters (Gerry Holmes) Nice earthy round. Very simple. Good for kids.
  • CH144 I love the sun it shines on me (Gwen Smith) Very simple kid's song, that somehow avoids being tacky despite being really really simple. Little kids would especially like this. Lyrics. Good for kids.
  • Online Resource Let There Be Light (Bruce Harding) A simple Taize-style chant "God said let there be light, and there was light, and there was light". Sheet music.
  • NCH58 / CH618 / AA125 Spirit of love you move within creation (Shirley Murray) Good words; "come work with us and weave us into one". Lyrics. A range of tunes for this, both familiar and new. I like the Colin Gibson tune in AA (WEAVER), but it can also be sung to PERFECT LOVE. New words to old tunes.
  • Online Resource / CP408 / Cha247 Wind upon the waters (Marty Haugen) I really love the words to this song. “Wind upon the waters, voice upon the deep, rouse your sons and daughters, wake us from our sleep, breathing life into all flesh, breathing love into all hearts, living wind upon the waters of my soul.” Note to our liturgists, I have a copy of this at home if you would like to use it. Sound sample, sheet music preview, and choral version for purchase.
  • Online Resource / Full of the Spirit It's in my nature to nurture (Heather Price) A joyful song celebrating our roles as co-creators of gardens - I think this fits well with our call to care for the earth. Sound sample and music for purchase.
  • TiS 392 At the dawning of salvation (Jock Curle) Good hymn words of Easter theology and Christ’s presence at Creation to a fun standard American folk tune (NETTLETON). Lyrics.  New words to old tunes.
  • Online Resource / TiS 668 / AoVK-34 / AA143 / A&M553 / ATFG587 / Cha693 / CH243 / ELW739 / GtG713 / G(3)805 / NCH569 / StF729  / URW189 / VT145 / VU307 / W&R38 Touch the earth lightly (Shirley Murray, New Zealand) Sings of the redemption of creation and our complicity in its destruction. Sources vary in their set tunes! My favourite is TENDERNESS (in TiS), which changes to the relative minor for the sombre second verse; I think this is quite powerful. It can also be sung to BUNESSAN, if you need a familiar tune. Lyrics, sheet music. Lyric video. New words to old tunes (if you want).
  • Online Resource / TiS 187 / AoV2-130 / CH149 / StS122 / A&M539 / SP247 Let all creation dance (Brian Wren) I just love the imagery of this one, and it's a very joyous and familiar hymn tune too. Lyrics and sheet music.
  • NCH274 / CH118 / SFFS 2046 / GTG003 / CP390 / Cha014 Womb of Life and source of being (Ruth Duck) Feminine trinitarian imagery. An easier tune, listed in some hymnals is IN BABILONE. Others have LADUE CHAPEL which is a little less intuitive. Lyrics and sheet music.
  • Online Resource Made in the image (David MacGregor) A lovely simple song that would be easy for congregations to pick up quickly. Sound sample. Lyrics. Sheet music.
  • Online Resource / Resounding Voices Our hears proclaim a living God (Hannah Brown) Excellent words of our creative, powerful and feminine God. Set to the familiar tune ELLACOMBE.  New words to old tunes. Free book download here.
  • Online Resource As breath swept over formless sea (Adam Tice) Beautiful Trinitarian words of creation to the familiar tune CONDITOR ALME SIDERUM. Sheet music sample, lyrics and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.
  • Online Resource / Resounding Voices So great a love (Mary Louise Bringle / Sally Ann Morris) Beautiful words about creation and what we can learn from the rest of our created world. Sound sample, sheet music sample, and purchasing option. Free book download here.  
  • Online Resource Creator of this great land we adore you / Doxology (Ross Langmead) A strong favourite in our congregation. Sheet music.
  • Online Resource Imago Dei (Richard Bruxvoort Colligan) A simple chorus with simple verses. Very catchy! Lyrics, sound sample, lyric video, and purchasing options.
  • TiS 242 / AHB 183 / AoV1-018 / ATN 27 / CH404 / UMH261 / VU352 / A&M667 / HPP163 / GtG157 / PH302 / G(II)481 / GC708 / GC(II)689 / G(3)796 / CP(E) 468 / W&R118 / Lau765 / StF247 I danced in the morning / Lord of the Dance (Sydney Carter). Lyrics. You all know this one, right? Good for kids Oldy-but-a-goody
  • A&M220 / SP81 Word that formed creation (Marty Haugen) Really lovely words of creation to the familiar tune NOEL NOUVELET. New words to old tunes.
Psalm 8
How majestic!
  • Emergent Psalter O God our sovereign (Isaac Everett) A lovely simple Psalm response and read Psalm over an instrumental backing. Book available here. 
  • AoVK-50 / ATW 430 / NCYC'99 Come let us praise our God / A voice is heard (Trisha Watts, Australia) Excellent and energetic. Lyrics and synthesizer sound sample.  Good for kids.
  • Online ResourceHow Great is your name! (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A fun Psalm refrain for kids with a cantor part. Good for kids. Sound sample and sheet music.
  • TiS 163 / AHB 112 / NCH556 / UMH150 / LBW463 / ELW771 / GtG024 / PH268 / W&R644 / Cha651 / URW084 / 82Hml-580 God who stretched the spangled heavens (Catherine Cameron) Good words of creation of nature and cities and creative possibilities for the future. AHB has a Father and old language, but it works okay; TiS and other sources are better. There are many possible tunes. I like it best to HOLY MANNA as in the link. Lyrics and sound sample. New words to old tunes.
  • PfAS008E O Lord Our Lord how majestic is your name (Alfred Fedak) Psalm response. Sound sample (includes plainchant cantor part).
  • Online Resource As rivers flow from a distant spring (David Bjorlin / William Beckstrand) Beautiful words using imagery of creation to inspire us to lives based in God's love that care for others, including the earth. Not easy to sing, so maybe better to have a soloist sing it. Sound sample. Book available to purchase and download here.
  • CH005 / PfAS008D / URW231 / StF112 O Lord our Lord throughout the earth (John Bell) A lovely hymnlike version of the Psalm, set to a traditional Scottish tune. I like the questioning nature of this hymn. Sound sample. New words to old tunes.
  • Online Resource For all things worth praising (David Bjorlin, USA) Lovely poetic words celebrating all the vast and all the small elements of creation. Sung to the familiar tune THE ASH GROVE. Don't take it too fast, or the poetry will be lost! Sheet music sample, lyrics and purchasing options. New words to old tunes.
  • ATW 462 When I consider God's design (Hand in hand) (Norm Habel) Good words of all creation celebrating together. Tune is good, too, but will need to be introduced, perhaps by asking your musicians to sing the first verse and inviting the congregation to join in. The verse about "Black and white" could probably be updated a bit to reflect a greater diversity of cultures. Sound sample and lyrics.
  • VU730 / URW229 God our God your glorious name (William Sherwin) Inclusive paraphrase of the Psalm with a joyous chorus. Lyrics (old version).
  • AoVK-113 Thank you O Lord for this world of ours (Barr) A good kids song in two parts.  Good for kids.
  • Online Resource / AoV1-003 / HPP258 / GA394 / G(II)342 / GC497 / GC(II)495 / G(3)576 / Lau693 / StF803 / MP648 The heavens are telling the glory of God / Canticle of the Sun (Marty Haugen) Energetic waltz of cosmic praise with great lyrics "Come dance in the forest, come play in the field, and sing, sing to the glory of the Lord". Sound sample, sheet music samples, and purchasing options.
  • VU732 O God our God how glorious is your name (Michel Guimont) Inclusive responsive paraphrase of the Psalm with a simple refrain. 
  • GWA088 Bright morning maker (Marjorie Dobson, England) This song about God's presence in the morning, daytime, evening, and night talk of God's presence among us throughout our days. The tune is not easy. Lyrics.
  • TiS 90 / AHB 44 / UMH60 / VU867 / GtG806 / PH253 / A&M673 / CP346 / CP(E) 473 / W&R79 / Cha20 / PfAS146A / 82Hml-429 / StF079 / MP320 I'll praise my Maker while I've breath (Isaac Watts) A great classic hymn. Most sources are not inclusive; Voices United and Chalice hymnal are! Lyrics and sheet music samples. Oldy-but-a-goody.
  • NCH Psalter008 How majestic is your name in all the earth (Lee Dengler) A very simple refrain and chanted Psalm.
  • Online Resource The Heavens Tell of Your Creative Glory / Los Cielos Cuentan la Gloria de Diosome (Horacio Vivares transl. David Bjorlin) An excellent folk song. Best for Spanish-speaking congregations, but works in English too. Sound sample. Songbook for purchase.
2 Corinthians 13:11-13
What a great benediction; I like the "Put things in order" bit....
  • 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 and purchasing options. Good for kids. 
  • Online Resource / NCH249 Peace I leave with you my friends (Ray Repp) Slow, simple and excellent words. A congregation will pick this up the first time through, I think. Sound sample, previews, and purchasing options.
  • GA517 Peace I leave with you my friends (Gregory Norbert) This one is less familiar to me, but I also like it, although the verses use exclusively masculine terms for God. Sound and sheet music samples.
  • GGives2 What does peace look like to you (Jane Dyson) A really nice simple song for kids about peace. Lots of questions about what peace might mean from images of nature, to an end to war. The last verse talks about a "bridge from God to man" which could be changed to "bridge from God to us".
  • TiS 782 / UMH665 / VU964 / Cha437 Go now in peace (Natalie Sleeth, USA) A good simple benediction that can be sung as a round. If you have xylophones or marimbas, kids could be involved in playing the accompaniment in TiS. Careful because it can end up really clunky on piano alone. Lyrics and sound samples. Good for kids.
  • FFS07 Bring peace to us (John Murray) A simple chant with two possible tunes. Both are good. The first is a round. "Bring peace to us, bring peace through us, O God bring peace"
  • Online Resource / Iona (LFB) / G(II)407 / GC583 God give us peace that lasts (John Bell) Lovely words and a simple hymn tune. Prayer for peace, hope and love. This can also be sung to LOVE UNKNOWN. "God give us peace that lasts, not through the fear of might, but through the force of love, and love of life and right. Where costly wars and weapons lure, Show us our Lord among the poor". Lyrics, sound sample and sheet music.
  • Online Resource / GC(II)722 / G(3)826 Jesus give us your peace (Michael Mahler) Gospel song. It kind of merges personal peace with global peace. "Jesus bring us your peace, bring us together, let all the fighting cease…" Choral sheet music sound sample, sheet music sample, and purchasing options.   
  • CH786 May the God of peace go with us (Ian Jamieson) A lovely benediction to a traditional Scottish tune. "May the God of peace go with us as we travel from this place; may the love of Jesus keep us firm in hope and full of grace". Not super easy to sing; set to a traditional Scottish ballad (AE FOND KISS). Sound sample. 
  • Seeds of Faith Peace Be With You (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A very simple kids song about peace, and sharing peace. Sound sample and lyrics.
  • Online Resource / Tune In Peace In Our Time (Dave Brown) A groovy bossa nova song of peace and action for peace. Lyrics. Sound sample. Free downloadable songbook..
  • Online Resource / MV211 Go now in peace guided by the light (Pedro Rubalcava) Lovely English / Spanish benediction or commissioning prayer with an excellent rhythm. "Go now in peace guided by the light of Christ, so you may be nourished by the Word of Life". Sheet music sample and purchasing options.
  • TiS 623 Lord Christ true peace of all above (Brian Moore) A lovely, simple, inclusive, and slightly old fashioned song for the end of the service; set to a familiar tune. Lyrics, sound sample. New words to old tunes.
  • CH114 / AA110 O threefold God of tender unity (Bill Wallace) Excellent inclusive Trinitarian words to a simple Celtic air (or to a standard hymn tune). Lyric video. New words to old tunes.
Matthew 28:16-20
The great commissioning
  • Tune In / Online Resource We will sing a new song to the world (Dave Brown) An energetic song about the gospel. A good sending-out song. “Now’s the time and now’s the day, we can sing our life again”. Lyrics. Sound sample. Free downloadable songbook.
  • CH683 / VU420 / A&M491 / GC(II)469 / G(3)546 / GtG295 / CP598 / W&R553 / SP156 / URW132 / Lau426 / StF402 Go to the world Go into all the earth (Sylvia Dunstan) Great words of sending out. Can be sung to a couple of different tunes. SINE NOMINE is the easiest and best known. Lyrics (scroll down). New words to old tunes.
  • 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. 
  • Tune In / Online Resource Hail the fisherfolk (Dave Brown) A bluesy litany of the saints, including the fishermen of yesterday and the fisherfolk of today and encourages us to “hear the call, and live the way, beside God to make a stand for truth and mercy in this land”. Lyrics. Sound sample. Free downloadable songbook.
  • Online Resource / AoVNG53 Go Out! (Trisha Watts) Go out and spread the good news! Great words and a groovy tune. Sound sample and purchasing options.
  • TiS 617 / NCH413 / UMH517 / WoV736 / ELW626 / A&M605 / GtG818 / PH342 / W&R75 / SP164 / 82Hml-695 / Lau428 By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered (Dietrich Bonhoeffer) Wonderful words by Bonhoeffer. Lousy tune. Words fit well to O Perfect Love if you find the tune too tricky. Can also be sung to BERLIN or INTERCESSOR. The 5th verse is omitted in some hymnals. Lyrics. 
  • MV172 God says (Mary Bittner) A nice simple song about God asking us to be still, to look up, to speak out for God, and reach out to those in need".
  • TiS 411 / AHB 328 / NCH266 / UMH537 / VU194 / A&M633 / CP658 / CP(E) 425 / W&R331 Filled with the Spirit's power (John Peacey) Excellent inclusive words to a very well known hymn tune. I prefer it sung to WOODLANDS. Lyrics and sheet music samples.
  • Online Resource At the table all are equal (David Bjorlin / Benjamin Brody) A beautiful song of welcome, with a stirring and heartfelt chorus. This could be sung before communion, and would work during distribution too. Sound sample. Sheet music and lyrics preview and purchasing options.
  • Tune in / Online Resource  We are the dream that's longing / Jesus is waiting (Dave Brown) An honest catchy rock song about our hesitation to follow and Jesus not only waiting, but continuing to work and change the world. A good sending-out song. Lyrics. Sound sample. Free downloadable songbook.
  • NCH154 / UMH251 / VU43 / LBW070 / ELW290 / HPP110 / PH029 / GtG136 / GC359 / GC(II)363 / G(3)428 / W&R218 / Cha167 / ZSS59 / 82Hml-099 / Lau164 / MP179 Go tell it on the mountain (African American ) Very simple and lots of fun. There are lots of versions of the lyrics. Good for kids. 
  • Online Resource / TiS 749 / AoV1-154 / AoVK-131 / ATE 305 / NCH360 / Iona (SBL, Freedom is coming) / CH800 / UMH497 / VU572 / WoV773 / 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. Samples and purchasing options.
  • STB289 Now I know by God's own grace (Cambodia) A call and response benediction. Would be simple to sing, in English, and if you have members who speak Khmer, could be good to learn! Sheet music sample. 
  • Online Resource / TiS 477 / Iona (LFB, Common Ground) / A&M450 / CH510 / CP059 / GA529 / SP218 / StJ / URW056 / VT031 Jesus calls us here to meet him (John Bell & Graham Maule, Scotland) Good words and a rollicking or gentle Celtic tune (depending how you play it). Don't get too gentle though, or it is very hard to sing; there should not need to be a breath after EVERY line! 4th verse (in some sources) leads to communion; be aware that older versions use exclusively male pronouns for God. Lyrics, sheet music sample, and purchasing option. Video with lyrics and a pretty flute solo. 
  • UMH584 / VU512 / StJ / WoV756 / ELW579 / GA313 / A&M499 / HPP542 / GtG298 / PH429 / GC456 / GC(II)466 / G(3)544 / CP433 / W&R592 / Cha459 / SP162 / 82Hml-528 / Lau870 Lord You Give the Great Commission (Jeffery Rowthorn) Good traditional hymn of evangelism. Lyrics and sheet music samples.
  • Online Resource / TiS 531 / NCH76 / UMH664 / VU481 / R171 / ELW330 / HPP578 / W&R712 Sent forth by God's blessing (Omer Westendorf) Lovely joyful folk tune (THE ASH GROVE), and the analogy of the vine and fruit is paramount in the first verse. NCH has a descant part written in, so look at that if you have some good high singers. Sound sample, sheet music samples, purchasing options. New words to old tunes.
  • WoV755 / ELW576 / SFFS 2243 / GtG733 / PH435 / W&R552 / ZSS99 We All Are One in Mission (Rusty Edwards) Good solid words to a well known hymn tune (KUORTANE). Would be a good ending for the service. Lyrics.
  • Online Resource / TLUS102 When you pass through the waters / Nothing to Fear (Isaac Wardell, Audrey Assad, Paul Zach, USA) This soothing and repetitive song is pretty straightforward to sing; when we are talking about going out into the world, sometimes we get a bit fearful, so this might suit. Lyric Video. Sheet music.  
  • Online Resource / VT038 God be the love / O Christ Surround Me (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A good congregational version of St. Patrick's Breastplate. Easy for the congregation to join in on the "O Christ, Surround Me" until they get to know it and join in the later verses. Sound sample, lyrics and purchasing options (the book Worldmaking has the song in it).    
  • Iona (T1AU) / Cha430 Lo I Am With You to the end of the world (John Bell) Simple repetitive verses, in a nice minor key. Thanks to Ken Wells for this suggestion. Sound sample (youtube). 
If you have some ideas to share, please join in the conversation and add a comment below!
3 comments

Pentecost Songs for Kids (updated for 2026)

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: 

  • Online Resource / VT054 Come Holy Spirit / Kindle in us your love (Deanna Witkowski, USA) A jazzy and upbeat refrain which could be used at multiple parts of the service for Pentecost, and other Sundays too. Sound sample. Sheet music for purchase. Good for kids.  
  • CH613 / WoV687 / ELW401 / GtG287 Gracious Spirit hear our pleading (Wilson Niwagila, Tanzania) Good simple song about the Spirit. Lyrics. Good for kids. 
  • Online Resource / Tune In Spirit of the Father, Spirit of our Mother / Alive in me (Sheree Anderson, Australia / Canada) 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. 
  • AoV2-061 / ATE 249 As a dream receive your hist'ry (Andrew Tanner, Australia) 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, USA) 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 (Unknown, 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, Australia) 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, Sweden) 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 / GWA223 MV146 / GC(II)637 / G(3)740 / PfAS024D The Kingdom of God is justice and peace and joy in the holy spirit (Taizé Community, France) "Come, Lord and open in us the gates of your kingdom". A nice joyful chant. Sheet music and sound samples of parts for practice. Good for kids.
Songs about hope in the future and trusting in God: 
  • ACS903 / AoV1-061 / ATOK 355 / GtG359 / SFFS 2194 / G(II)521 / GC723 / GC(II)707 / G(3)814 / ZSS110 / SgTJ1035 Freedom is coming (Unknown, South Africa) 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). 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, England) 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, South Africa) "Victory is ours, victory is ours, through him who loves us". Some congregations change the last line to "Compassion is ours, compassion is ours...". I think it's just fine to be victorious over evil, frankly. Sound sample, sheet music sample and purchasing options. Good for kids.
  • AoV2-070 / ATW 496 / MV090 / StJ Don't be afraid (John Bell, Scotland) 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, Australia) 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 (Unknown, 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, Spain / Taizé Community, France) 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, France) 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.
  • Online Resource / Iona (M&G, T1AU) / MV099 / GC(II)673 / G(3)763 / Lau996 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. Good for kids. Sound sample (with an extra Litany of the Saints on top, which I just find confusing), and sheet music links for purchase.
  • 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 would work really well as a sung refrain during the prayer of confession. Sound sample, sheet music sample and purchasing options. Good for kids.
  • Online Resource / AoVK-12 God is our shelter truly a friend indeed (Chris O'Hara) Groovy little round / more like a call and response really. Sound sample, sheet music sample and purchasing options. Good for kids.
  • Online Resource / GC(II)651 / G(3)755 / TLUS103 You must never give up / Sizo Bambelela (JL Zwane Memorial Church, South Africa) 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.  
  • Online Resource / GWA080 / MV45 / SP&P051 / VT023 Hamba nathi (Unknown, Zulu, South Africa) There are many sets of English words to this tune, which is best sung in its original language (isiZulu). I like "Come walk with us, the journey is long", even though the original language simply means "Go with us Lord", so versions using "Go with us Lord, and set us all free" are also good, particularly as a sending song. VT has a more interesting cantor line than most sources, and nice additional verses. Sound recording (concert version for inspiration). Lyric video (slowish version for congregations). Sheet music. 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. 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. Sheet music purchasing options. Sound sample. Good for kids.
Songs about loving God, God's love for us and the beauty of Creation: 
  • 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 / SP54 / VT079 / World Council of Churches Assembly 1991  Sanna sannanina (Unknown, South Africa) An excellent Xhosa 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. Sheet music sample. Good for kids.
  • Online Resource / AoVK-119 We're God's family God's children / One for Others (Trish Watts / Monica O'Brien) Good words. Catchy tune. Sound sample, sheet music sample, purchasing options. Good for kids.
  • Online Resource / AoV2-037 Children of God in one family (Christopher Walker) Great for kids. Sometimes we mess up, but God forgives. Sound sample, sheet music sample, purchasing options. 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. Sound sample. Good for kids (just the first verse probably).
  • Online Resource / ATE 216 / CH126 / CP417 / ELW555 / G(II)365 / GC527 / Iona (SBL) / PH472 / RS 671 / W&R15 / StF042 / StJ / VT113 O sing to the Lord / Cantai ao Senhor / Cantad al Señor (Unknown, Brazil) A good, fun and simple song that is also easy to learn in Portuguese or Spanish; note that not all versions are inclusive. Public domain sheet music. Sound sample. Note how it is a call and response song in that sound sample! Good for kids.
  • Online Resource / MV007 Gather us in ground us in you (David Hann) A simple chant which would be great for a quieter invitation to worship. Sheet music. Good for kids.
Songs about being God's community and doing God's work
  • 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.
  • Online Resource / 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, sheet music sample, and purchasing options.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.
  • Online Resource / 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. Sheet music for purchase. 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.
  • Online Resource / AoV2-068 / VU695 God is passionate life / Passionate God (Colleen Fulmer) Good simple round with a peace / justice focus. Sheet music, lyrics and sound sample. 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 (Jacques Berthier, France) 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.
Songs about peace
  • 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. Lyric video. Good for kids.
  • Online Resource / 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. History, sheet music and sound sample. Good for kids. Oldy-but-a-goody.
  • Online Resource / CH659 / MV173 / StJ / A&M566 / G(3)824 / W&R389 / SP251 / StF712 Put peace into each other’s hands (Fred Kaan, USA) Good words for communion. This can be sung to many different tunes. MV has a tune by Ron Klusmeier which is simple to sing (and has a nice descant, if desired). Thanks to Allan Baer for letting me know - here's a song sample and options for purchasing the Klusmeier tune. There is also a nice choral version with a tune by Joel Raney, which can be heard and purchased here (thanks to Tessa S for this suggestion). Or it can be sung to the familiar hymn tune ST COLUMBA. Lyrics, sheet music sample. New words to old tunes.
  • Taizé / GtG814 / CP563 / PfAS062D In God alone my soul can find rest and peace / Mon âme se repose (Jacques Berthier, France) A beautiful healing chant from Taize. Words and music and sound samples for learning the parts Good for kids.
  •  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. Sound sample. 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, then in 2025 in Melbourne Airport, and in 2026 at home in Fitzroy. 

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