November 2019
December 2019
Advent
Candle-lighting songs and other songs you make like to start looking at
as you think about Advent… I will keep adding to
these as the weeks go by, so check back from time to time. There will also songs for each week of Advent 2019 - see the panel on the right hand side for links (or the Coming Up in the Lectionary tab) as they are updated.
A specific song for blessing the Christmas Bowl
- *Online Resource An empty bowl, uplifted hands (Bob Faser) Good words for just before the start of Advent, when the Christmas Bowl is blessed, ready for contributions during the Advent season. Sung to the tune WINCHESTER NEW. Lyrics.
Specific Candle-Lighting songs
- SP&P088 The Universe is bending
(Jeremy McLeod) While not specifically an Advent candle lighting song,
I think this could work for such prayers, as it is simple to change
just one word every week. Lyrics, sheet music.
- Online Resource Shine a candle (Lucy Graham) A simple and quite lovely song that could be sung each week of Advent. Free sheet music and notes for bringing the song to life.
- Online Resource Kindle a flame within our hearts (Philip Garside) A beautiful gentle song, with lyrics that can be altered for each week of Advent. Sheet music and lyrics.
- 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 and it could
easily work as an Advent Candle lighting song. Just sing hope, love,
peace or joy, depending on the week. Would be more exciting and
energetic with some African drums, rather than a quiet reflective candle
lighting song. Lyrics and sound samples. Good for kids.
- *GA279 / A&M56 / SP019 Word of Justice / Advent Litany
(Bernadette Farrell) A good call and response for Advent, with many
many verses. Only use a few each week. The cantor says one line, then
the congregation respone "Allelulia!", the cantor again, then
"Maranatha! Sound sample.
- Online Resource Light a candle bright and tall (David Wood)
Excellent words to the tune for "As with Gladness"; a new verse for
each week and one for Christmas day. I'm thinking we might sing this at
home when we light our candles! Lyrics and free sheet music. Good for older kids.
- Online Resource In twilight's calm and gentle space / Season of Gifts (Helen Wiltshire) Based on the themes of GIFT: Grace Illumination Faith Transformation. Free book download.
- CH284 / StS015 Hope is a candle once lit by the prophets
(Richard Leach) Excellent words for candle lighting, including a verse for each
candle and one for Christmas Day. Sung to a nice Scottish folk tune
(GALLOWAY TAM). Lyrics
- MV221 I am walking a path of peace
(Janet Tissandier) A simple song for a benediction or an Advent Candle Song;
words can be altered to paths of love, grace, hope, joy etc. Obligato from Alan Baer. Good for kids.
- GtG467 / STB058 Give Us Light / Jyothi dho Prabhu
(Charles Vas) This song in Hindi or English is simple and repetitive and could
be sung in either language (with a little teaching time). You could
sing all 5 verses or just a few. It might also work during Advent as a
candle lighting song, although you will need to consult with a Hindi speaker to change the lyrics. Sound sample.
- *MV220 Hope shines as the solitary star
(Catherine Maclean) A nice song seeking personal growth and connection that reflects the love of Christ. It will need to be
taught, but once taught it's easily sung. Lyrics
- Online Resource Be still and know (adapted) (Richard Schwedes) An adaptation of the old familiar tune (ATN9) with a verse for each week. Lyrics sheet New words to old tunes.
- GA272 Maranatha Maranatha Come Lord Jesus Come (Jane Wood) A good, simple Advent chant with some nice verses and prayers to go with each week.
- VU007 / HPP109 / W&R165 / Cha132 Hope is a star that shines in the night / When God is a child
(Brian Wren) A candle lighting song with a chorus sung each week "When God is
a child there's joy in our song. The last shall be first and the weak
shall be strong, and none shall be afraid". Lyrics.
- *GC(II)326 Lead Us to Your Light (Carol Browning) Good advent song. You could sing one verse each week, concluding with the final verse on Christmas day. Youtube.
- Online Resource: Prepare the way of the Lord (Jeffrey Lowery) 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. Youtube.
- Online resource The Advent candle shines with hope (Jay Padgett) New words for each week of Advent to a nice traditional hymn tune (MARYTON). This would go very easily in most congregations. Best sung fairly slowly. New words to old tunes. Free sheet music.
- Online Resource Hope is a light (Daniel Damon) A simple and quite nice Advent candle lighting song. Free sheet music.
- VU599 Living Christ bring us love
(Daniel Damon) A very simple song. Could be used as a Candle-lighting
song during Advent. Lyrics.
Anytime in Advent songs (some could also be used for candle-lighting, or sung each week as a theme song)
- *Online Resource Come Christmas Child (Shirley Murray) A wonderful new song celebrating that Christ will come amid the pain and hurt that exists in the world. The tune is not easy - it will need to be taught, but the lyrics will make it worth the time! Lyrics and sheet music.
- *Online Resource Drawing Nearer (Christopher Grundy) An excellent contemporary song about the lack of peace within the world and within our souls, and the desire for God to "steal our hearts - like a baby". It's great. Free sheet music. Sound sample (youtube). I would use this first by a soloist, and invite the congregation to join in as they get the hang of it.
- Online Resource Christ comes again (Barbara Hamm) Very easy to sing, and good lyrics about where Christ can be found in our everyday lives. Lyrics and sheet music.
- 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 lovely 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. Sound sample. 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.
- MV019 Maranatha (Louise Skibsted) This simple chant, simply “Maranatha, Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus, come”
might work well if you are having a more meditative approach to the
Advent season. We used this in 2013 and 2014 and I'm not sick of it yet.
- *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. I particularly like this translation.
- *MV028 / StJ / FFS25 / GC(II)507 / G(3)587 God of the Bible / Fresh as the morning
(Shirley Murray) Good words. I particularly like the tune by Alonso, as the
chorus is really very wonderful. This is a song worth learning for
Advent, but can be sung all through the year. I think this song would be a really good "fit" for our
congregation. Sound sample. Lyrics.
- 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. Good for kids.
- *CoC30 Look toward Christmas!
(Shirley Murray) I particularly like tune (i); very joyous! A fun
song looking forward to Christmas. I don’t know if it would last the
distance of singing it every week before Christmas. Quite good for kids. I like the image of the angels flexing their wings!
- Taize
/ CH276 / VU22 / GtG090 / ELW262 / GtG090 / GA283 / G(II)256 / GC332 /
GC(II)340 / G(3)406 / CP094 / W&R166 / PfAS037B / SP28 / URW396 / Lau088 Wait for the Lord (Jacques Berthier) Wait for the Lord whose day is near, wait for the lord, keep watch, take heart. A lovely simple Taize chant. Sheet music, translations and sound samples.
- StF045 Earth's creator everyday God
(Bernadette Farrell) A responsive call and response chant that
celebrates the everyday presence of God in all things, ending each verse with "come, be with us". This would work
well during an extended period of meditation in your service. You could also choose to use it throughout Advent, choosing verses as appropriate. Lyrics and sound sample.
- CH784 Come light light of God / Lumière de Dieu (Grandchamp Community) A lovely simple chant. Would be beautiful for Advent candle lighting. Simple harmonies.
- *MV045 Hamba nathi
(Zulu) 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 a lot of
other translations and variations of this song. I like "Come walk with us, the journey is long". Good for kids.
- ATFG 514 Emmanuel Carol / God of light we are waiting for you
(Gael Berberick) This is probably not one to sing every week, but is definitely worth looking at as a
general resource for Advent.
- MV011 / StS007 / GtG091 / GC(II)338 / G(3)405 Come, come Emmanuel / Advent gathering song (James Chepponis)
The simple chant is quite lovely, and the cantor soars beautifully. It
could be quite formal if you like. Can work as a chant without the
cantor part; you could choose particular cantor verses for each week, or
even make up your own, which is what we've done at Brunswick. At other
times of year it can be used with the Cantor for confession. Slow sound sample. Sheet music sample.
- Iona (HSNW) / VU019 / A&M839 / SP326 Kindle a flame to lighten the dark and take all fear away (Iona) This song would also work well as a simple candle lighting chant during Advent in the Northern Hemisphere. Sound sample.
- GC(II)339 When the wind of winter blows
(Ruth Duck) Northern Hemisphere-specific Advent song. Best if you live
somewhere where it actually snows.
- GC(II)352 / G(3)442 Gift of God O Emmanuel
(Marty Haugen) A nice chant-like refrain and Cantor line. Note that this one
needs a cantor. Would be excellent for Advent and then Christmas day.
Many verses which can be sung, so choose the most appropriate for your
congregation or write your own. Sound sample. Sheet music sample.
- *HPP216 / GtG092 While We Are Waiting Come (Claire Cloniger) A lovely simple chant of anticipatory praise.
- GC324 / RS 492 Here in this world where darkness surrounds us / Come O Hope of your people / Advent Gathering
(Rory Cooney) Excellent questioning words. Cantor and response. Simple to
sing, and quite beautiful "Show us your face, O promise of dawn". It's
in 7/8 so it immediately appeals to me.... Sheet music sample.
- Online Resource An ancient story told (Leonie Percival) New words to the very familiar tune LEONI, inspired by a refugee family within the author's church community. Sheet music.
New words to old tunes.
- *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.
- Tune In: Dare to Dream (Elaine Loukes)
A great song about having a vision for the future, being lead by the
light of Bethlehem’s star. "Dare to dream of new beginnings, Paths
untried, by faith supplied". Free downloadable songbook.
- *AoVK-58 We wait in hope for the Lord
(Nethaniel 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". Good for kids.
- STB268 / VF033 The grain is ripe (Shirley Erena Murray) Hopeful words of harvest, sung to a familiar-ish tune. It has some tricky timing, so be clear when you lead it.
- URW424 Come Lord Jesus (Carey Landry) An extremely simple chant that could be used in Advent.
- CH281
/ UMH202 / VU009 / WoV626 / LBW626 / ELW248 / A&M47 / HPP83 / GtG105 /
PH012 / G(II)337 / GC318 / GC(II)337 / G(3)409 / CP091 / CP(E) 35 / W&R161
/ Cha142 / SP015 / VF034 People look East, the time is near
(Eleanor Farjeon) Bouncy and joyful Advent song. Note that it is
cold-climate Northern Hemisphere specific.
- *Iona / VU33 Watch watch and pray (Iona) A very short Advent chant; could be used at various times during the service, maybe even during intercessions. Also has lyrics specific for Maundy Thursday.
- Music by Heart 63 Tar a thighearna (Ruth Cunningham) Advent A simple and beautiful chant based on ancient Celtic words meaning "Come Lord, come thou Being". Youtube.
- AoV2-123 / AoVK-59 Twilight then darkness
(Phil Porter) A lovely Advent candle song, which could be good for
Northern Hemisphere people. In the Southern Hemisphere, you could
possibly use this at dinner time, if you live closer to the equator than
me. Darkness comes pretty late in a Melbourne Summer.
- AoV2-043 / ATFG520 / CoC40 / NCH538 / SFFS 2095 / GC(II)355 / G(3)449 / SP&P174 / W&R223 / ZSS63 / VF035 Star-Child (Shirley Murray) A lovely lovely carol. Very easy to sing. A big favourite! Lyrics and sample sheet music.
- ATFG542 / CH480 Word of the Father / Come Lord Come
(John Bell) A simple call and response with more verses than you need,
adapt them for each week.
Choral works
We don't usually have a choir at Brunswick, but we often pull one together at Advent. Here are a few choral ideas.
- Online Resource There is a yearning / The Yearning (Craig Courtney) This is quite beautiful, and will appeal to a range of congregations, as it can be interpreted quite broadly. It has arrangements both for SATB and TTBB choirs. Sheet music & sound sample.
- Iona Lullaby Lullaby God comes tomorrow / Advent Lullaby (John Bell) Just gorgeous. This is not necessarily a choral work - it could also be sung by a (clever) congregation, or the congregation could sing one part, accompanied by a choir. Sound sample
- Online Resource Light of the World (Laura Daigle) I quite like listening to Laura Daigle sing this, and the choir arrangement looks quite manageable. Sheet music & sound sample.
Advent Blessings
- SP&P201 Peace peace deep peace (Thomas) A very simple benediction, that could also work well as a blessing to someone who is leaving the congregation. Could be used creatively in Advent - by changing the verses each week (Peace, Love, Joy and Hope)
- *FFS57 Song of faith that sings forever (Shirley Murray) Simple tune and beautiful image of people throughout generations, alive and dead, taking up a song together; I think this would be particularly good for congregations and communities facing difficult times "And when life would overwhelm us,
when there seems no song to sing,
hear the constant voice of courage
out of fear and suffering". Can also be sung to ABBOTS LEIGH if you want New words to old tunes. Lyrics and sheet music.
- Iona (Love From Below) / A&M297 / SFFS 2283 / GC(II)786 / G(3)885 / SP114 / StF746/ Lau387 For all the saints who’ve shown your love
(John Bell) These beautiful lyrics are some of the best words about All
Saints' Day that I've come across, and would work for this reading too.
There are two tunes, and two slightly different sets of lyrics.
Love From Below uses the tune "ALL SAINTS" which is a John Bell
original. A nice tune, but not familiar, although not hard to learn at
all. The Gather hymnals publish a slightly different version of the
lyrics, sung to the tune O WALY WALY which is the tune for "The water is
wide", so much more familiar. Lyrics New words to old tunes.
- AA120 Sing of the saints who were loved and made beautiful (Marnie
Barrell) AA has these lovely words to a tune by Colin Gibson, but it
could also be sung to a modified version of the tune MYRRH-BEARING MARY
(see comments below). Lyrics (downloads a pdf)
- Tune In / Online Resource Hail the fisherfolk (Dave Brown) A bluesy song that remembers the saints of history and today. Lyrics, sound sample, free downloadable songbook.
- *CH172 / URW062 / StF116 Sing for God’s glory that colours the dawn of creation
(Kathy Galloway) Beautiful poetic words of creation (first verse), release
(2nd verse), justice (3rd verse) and saints (4th verse). Would be a good
song to open worship. Sung to a very familiar hymn tune, LOBE DEN
HERREN (TiS 111). Lyrics (scroll down). New words to old tunes.
- *Online Resource Heaven and Earth are Filled (Christopher Grundy) A beautiful, meditative chant about the great cloud of witnesses; very simple. The sheet music includes the string part. Recording and link to sheet music.
- *NCH376 God we thank you for our people
(Ruth Duck) All Saints Good words to the tune HOLY MANNA. Some really nice
phrases "hardy spirits, rich in loving", and "thank you God for gentle
pleasure". An excellent forward-looking final verse, too. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
- TiS 470 / CH742 / UMH708 / WoV689 / LBW26 / ELW264 / A&M308 / GtG732 / CP(E) 227 / W&R531 / Cha476 / SP116 Rejoice in God’s saints today and all days!
(Fred Pratt Green) Great words about all the different saints and the
importance of remembering them. The 2nd verse which mentions "some carry
the gospel through fire and through flood" may be particularly
appealing. Works well to the tune PADERBORN, but would be even simpler
sung to LAUDATE DOMINUM which would be more familiar. Lyrics and some tune samples. New words to old tunes.
- AHB 551 / NCH295 / UMH712 / HPP506 / GtG730 / PH364 / 82Hml-293 I sing a song of the saints of God
(Lesbia Scott) A bit twee and it makes me giggle when we get to the "shepherdess on
the green", but I loved this song as a kid, especially the idea that
even I (a girl!) had potential. I think the "And I mean to be one too" part is
just great and no other songs seem to pick up that sentiment about All
Saints Day. It's mostly only good for older kids because it's a bit wordy. Lyrics and tune sample. New words to old tunes.
- TiS
455 / AHB 384 / NCH299 / CH740 / UMH711 / VU705 / LBW174 / ELW422 /
A&M296 / GA551 / HPP500 / GtG326 / PH526 / GC793 / GC(II)791 /
G(3)884 / CP276 / CP(E) 232 / W&R529 / Cha637 / Srce2-125 /
82Hml-287 / Lau371 / StF745 / MP148 For all the saints who from their labors rest
(William Walsham How) A classic, but sources vary widely in terms of
how ancient and/or inclusive the language and which verses are included.
NCH, VU and Gather hymnals are pretty good. Be aware that some versions
are really
quite militaristic and warlike, which may not be helpful to some
congregations. Oldy-but-a-mostly-goody. Old-school lyrics. As an alternative, you may like to use: Online Source For all the saints who from their labors rest (Cotter) A good adaptation of the traditional lyrics. Lyrics (downloads a pdf). New words to old tunes.
- HPP475 / Traditional Oh when the saints go marching in (Traditional) This could be a lot of fun. One All Saints' Day, I went to Trinity Church on the Green in New Haven, Connecticut, where a New Orleans style jazz group played this. It was just great.
- ATN 77 / G(II)542 / GC749 O Welcome All You Noble Saints of Old / In Christ There Is a Table Set for All (Robert Stamps)
Radical hospitality. A song about God with us. Gather hymnals use "In
Christ there is a table set for all" which is much more inclusive than
the old "God and man at table are sat down". Good for celebration of
communion, but is fine without it, too. Lyrics (scroll down). Clunky sound sample.
- UMH702 / StS092 / WoV691 / ELW426 / GC442 / GC(II)442 / G(3)539 / Lau451 Sing with All the Saints in Glory (William Irons) Sung to the well known tune, ODE TO JOY, these words focus on the joy of heaven. Lyrics, sample sheet music, tune sample (search for "sing with all"). New words to old tunes.
- A&M311 / CP(E) 614 We sing for all the unsung saints (Carl P Daw
Jr) A great song about all the unsung saints. The set tune is not familiar,
and a little bit tricky. Could work with ELLACOMBE or KINGSFOLD instead
Lyrics and tune sample.
- CH748 As stars adorn the night-veiled sky
(Carl P Daw
Jr) A simple hymn which talks about the value of recognising saints.
Language is fairly formal, but not archaic. Sung to the familiar hymn
tune WAREHAM (TiS 124) Lyrics and sheet music
- Online Resource A cloud of witnesses around us
(Brian Wren) Powerful words about the thousand alleluias being proclaimed through the generations. Lyrics and sheet music.
Join the conversation below! What will you be singing? Do you have any other ideas, or know of songs that others may like that are not listed here?
Updated in the air over New South Wales!
