Songs, Hymns and Music for Advent 1C (December 1, 2024)

As well as considering the songs listed below, you may wish to explore more "general" Advent songs. Here is a list.

Jeremiah 33:14-16
The days are coming for God's promise of justice and righteousness to be fulfilled

• TiS 265 / AHB 193 / AoV1-174 / NCH116 / CH273 / UMH211 / VU001 / LBW034 / ELW283 / GA285 / HPP92 / GtG088 / PH009 / GC317 / GC(II)323 / G(3)395 / CP089 / CP(E) 32 / W&R154 / Cha119 / 82Hml-056 / Lau112 / StF280 / MP493 O come O come Emmanuel (Psalerolium Cantionum Catholicarum) A very well known ancient Advent song. The lyrical reference to Israel is confusing and this year (2024) in particular will require some exposition for your congregation. Traditional English translation and sheet music. Many have written alternate versions (one by Sue Wickham and one by John Henson), set to the same tune, but with more modern lyrics and ideas. You may prefer to sing these lyrics (also quoted in the comments below) by Avery Arden which seek God's intervention to liberate Palestine. Oldy-but-a-goody and New words to old tunes. 
• Online Resource Hear the message we now are proclaiming / El mensaje que hoy proclamamos (Eleazar Torreglosa) This jubilant Colombian song of liberty and new life for the poor would fit well with this reading. Good for kids. Free sheet music. Sound sample.
• 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 and sheet music sample and purchasing options.  Good for kids
  
• Online Resource / Tune In Kingdom Come (Matthew Lees) A song about how things are not what we expect in God’s kingdom. Lots of words and good images. Good for kids. Free sheet music, sound samples and lyrics
• Online Resource / Tune In: Making things new (Sheree Anderson). A groovy one. Great for kids, and lots of fun. Good for kids. Free sheet music, sound samples and lyrics
• 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.
• Online Resource Jesus faithful ancient tree (Hannah Brown / Benjamin Brody) Excellent words with many images of Jesus as a tree, root, branch and trunk. The tune is simple and readily singable. Lyrics, sheet music sample and purchasing options. Sound sample. 
• Taizé / MV016 / StJ / ELW528 / GA430 / SFFS 2157 / HPP410 / GtG466 / G(II)398 / GC570 / GC(II)550 / G(3)637 / CP402 / URW378 / Lau701 Come and Fill our hearts/ Confitemini Domino (Jacques Berthier) Can be sun in English as "Come and fill our hearts with your peace, you alone O God are holy. Come and fill our hearts with your peace, Alleluia". A good song of recommitment. Obviously if you don't sing Alleluias during Lent, this is not for you. You could replace the Alleluia with Hosanna if you really want to sing it. Sound samples and sheet music.
• Online Resource / ACS901 / GWA098 Now the heavens start to whisper (Mary Louise Bringle) Excellent words of the whole of creation waiting for the rod of Jesse to spring forth, set to the Welsh tune SUO GÂN. Sound sample, sheet music sample and choral version for purchase. New words to old tunes.
• VU023 / CP104 Joy shall come even to the wilderness (Israeli traditional) A traditional Israeli song. Excellent words and the tune is cool. Lyrics.  
• Recorded music There's a new world coming / New World Coming (Nina Simone) A song about the old world passing away, and the dawning of a new world of peace. This version has a spoken word section which references Revelation 15, but the other recordings of this song do not hold a candle to Nina Simone. Recording. 
  

Psalm 25:1-10
Make me know your ways, teach me your paths. Trust in God

• Online Resource To you, O Lord I lift my soul (Val Parker) I really like this very simple response (which has only two notes, but really good chords!). It can be used with a cantor and choir if you have one, but for many congregations, just the response will be useful to use with spoken verses. Sound and sheet music samples and purchasing options.
• URW143 The Grace of God is like a road (Michael Hudson) Beautiful words of God's presence and call to follow. Sung to a familiar tune THE GIFT OF LOVE, that is almost the same as O WALY WALY. Highly recommended. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• Online Resource / Tune In Like the sun upon my skin / God’s Mercy (Sheree Anderson) A beautiful ballad about identifying God's mercy in the beauty of creation. Free downloadable songbook and sound sample.
• Online Resource I Lay Open (Psalm 25) (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A calm reflective chant that could be used as a responsive refrain, or as a devotional prayer. Sound sample & contact details for sheet music. 
• Online Resource / 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 and sound sample
• ATFG563 / NCYC'03 / The Red Book How long must we cry out? (Robin Mann) This is a big Brunswick favourite, great for young people in particular. "Teach me to do what is right, walk in the darkness, trust in the light and may love be the path I walk upon". Good for teenagers. Lyrics. Lyric video.
• TiS 666 / AoV2-113 / AoVK-126 / ATOK 409 / NCH526 / Iona (Common Ground, Freedom is Coming) / CH516 / VU646/647 / WoV650 / ELW866 / A&M483 / SFFS 2235 / HPP153 / GtG853 / G(II)357 / GC513 / GC(II)516 / G(3)594 / Cha442 / SP235 / Srce737 / StF483 / MP954 We are marching in the light of God / Siyahamba / Caminando (South African) A very popular chorus, with possible alternate verses, depending on your source. Sometimes people get anxious about the word "marching", but remember that this song comes from apartheid-era South Africa, where people were protesting so that they could vote in their own country. And the marching is toi-toing, much less militaristic than what you may imagine. Amazing choral sound sample. Sheet music. Good for kids.
• NCH Psalter 25 Your mercy and love have been from of old (Judy Hunnicutt) A lovely simple Psalm refrain.
• Emergent Psalter Let me know your ways (Isaac Everett) A really good psalm response. I just love this book - I think I like every Psalm in it. Sheet music (refrain only).
• Iona (WWHW) / MV223 We will go with God / Sizohamba naye (Traditional Swaziland) A simple Zulu song from Swaziland. Good for the end of the service. Video with pronunciation and parts. Note that MV has a different set of English words; neither are a direct translation. Sound sample of a more traditional version. Good for kids.
• Online Resource / VU753 / AA117 / A&M773 / SP306 Safe in the hands of God / Safe in your hands O God (Michael Perry) Good paraphrase of the Psalm. Tune will need to be played through at least once before the congregation join in. Lyrics & Sheet music.
• Online resource Make me know your ways (Bruce Harding) A nice laid back and groovy Psalm response or chant. Can work as a round, too. Sheet music. Good for kids.
• GA280 / GtG089 / G(II)252 / GC328 / GC(II)336 / G(3)415 / Lau111 For you O Lord my soul in stillness waits (Marty Haugen) Nice refrain, and verses that contain a good range of images of God. Might be best for the congregation to join in only in the refrain as verses are long and have lots of words. Sound sample. Lead sheet & Lyrics
• ATOK 414 / Iona (LFB, Common Ground) / CH501 / GA485 / A&M788 / G(II)480 / GC673 / GC(II)655 / SP311 / StF513 / Lau850 Take this moment, sign and space (John Bell) A fairly well known favourite. Simple melody and beautiful words. Lyrics.
• Online Resource / 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". Sound sample. Sheet music.  Good for kids  
• TIS 624 / W&R453 / StF492 Christ be my leader by night as by day (John Bell) Excellent words of following Christ in times of struggle to a traditional Scottish melody. Lyrics New words to old tunes.
• Online Resource / VU752 / G(II)34 / GC36 / GC(II)26 / G(3)039 / PfAS025A / URW248 To you O God I lift my soul (Marty Haugen) Simple lilting cantor and response "To you O Lord I lift my soul, to you I lift my soul". Lead sheet. Sound sample. Purchasing options.
  
• AoV2-014 To You O God I Lift Up My Soul (Bob Hurd) I like this; it's pretty groovy, and has good lyrics; you could also use the chorus on its own, or with a read version of the Psalm. Sound sample and lyrics.
• TiS 14 / GA026 To you, O Lord I lift my soul (Christopher Willcock) Good cantor and response. Sound sample.
• Taizé / CH276 / VU22 / GtG090 / ELW262 / GA283 / A&M053 / 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 Taizé chant. Some older versions are not inclusive. Sheet music, translations and sound samples.

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
It's good to get together with other people of faith? Not sure where to head with this reading. Suggestions welcomed!

• NCH112 Keep awake be always ready (Arthur Clyde) New words to the tune for the traditional Advent hymn "Wake awake for night is flying" (WACHET AUF). I particularly like the second verse of this one. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• ATW 498 / Iona (T1AU) / MV 196 / SP&P182 / URW438 We will take what you offer (John Bell) An excellent simple short song that works well either as an upbeat chorus or as a reflective chant. "We will take what you offer. We will live by your word. We will love one another. And be fed by you Lord". Good for kids. Sound sample.

Luke 21:25-36
Signs to be seen and Christ coming in glory. Be alert!

• Online Resource / Tune In Tune in (Natalie Sims) A simple kid’s song. “Tune in, tune in, there’s a message coming in.” Encourages kids to look and listen for signs of God’s love. Free sheet music, sound samples and lyrics
• TiS 217 / AHB 148 / NCH43 / CH519 / UMH384 / VU333 / A&M721 / LBW315 / ELW631 / A&M721 / GA463 / HPP48 / GtG366 / PH376 / GC622 / GC(II)613 / G(3)641 / CP485/6 / CP(E) 516 / W&R358 / Cha517 / Srce457 / URW100 / 82Hml-657 / Lau801 / StF503 / MP449 Love divine all loves excelling (Charles Wesley) Can't possibly sing this song too often! A beautiful classic song and most hymnals use a very inclusive version of this hymn, even the AHB! "Joy of heaven" *sigh*, so lovely! Lyrics and sheet music.You may also like to give Rend Collective Experiment's version a listen (hard to sing, but nice for listening). Oldy-but-a-goody.
• CH452 / AA57 Great ring of light (Colin Gibson) Beautiful words of Christ's sacrifice and the image of a clear beam of love and light. The tune is also simple and beautiful, albeit unfamiliar. Sheet music.
  
• TiS 279 / AHB 212 / SFFS 2091 / HPP158 / GC487 / GC(II)494 / CP632 / Lau107 The King of glory comes the nation rejoices (Willard Jabusch) Fun and energetic song to a traditional Israeli folk melody. A good processional. Lyrics and chords. Oh, and of course, Stephen Colbert's dance moves. Good for kids.
• TiS 181 / AoV2-032 / GC(II)497 / CP589 Come O God of all the earth / Sing Out Earth and Skies (Marty Haugen). Another big favourite. Good for kids. Sheet music, lyrics. Sound sample.
• NCH112 Keep awake be always ready (Arthur Clyde) New words to the tune for the traditional Advent hymn "Wake awake for night is flying" (WACHET AUF). I particularly like the second verse of this one.  Lyrics. New words to old tunes.

What ideas do you have? If you have some suggestions for any of the above readings, please join the conversation and share them as a comment below. I'd love to know what you're singing (or would like to sing...)