Songs, Hymns & Music for Advent 3C (15 December 2024)

As well as the songs listed below, you may wish to sing a more "general" Advent type song. Here is a list of general Advent suggestions.

Zephaniah 3:14-20 
Sing out! God's going to fix the world's problems.

• GWA029 In ages past the mighty Lord by prophets spoke the word (Michael Mangan) This is a song with very many verses; choose at least verses 1 and 14 this week, and add whichever other verses suit your context. Set to the common tune KINGSFOLD. Some lyrics (not the Zephaniah verse!). New words to old tunes. 
• Online resource Sing Zion's daughter! (Taylor Burton-Edwards) A modern paraphrase of the reading set to the familiar tune MORNING SONG. Would be very straightforward - but there are lots of verses! Free sheet music. 
• NCH36 / PH219 To God compose a song of joy (Ruth Duck) “The God of Justice comes to save; let earth make melody; For God will judge with righteousness and rule with equity” Beautiful words. I prefer this sung to the tune in NCH – the standard hymn tune RICHMOND (TiS 425). Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• Online resource / Tune In:We will sing a new song to the world (Dave Brown) An energetic song about the gospel. Free downloadable songbook, sound samples. 
• Online resource When will the daughters of Zion rejoice (The Porter's Gate) This picks up on the imagery of the daughters of Zion rejoicing, but turns it into a song of redemption and hope for the future. There's a lot of beauty in this song. Lyric video. 
• 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.
  
• MV180 Sing, Sing Out! (Sing a new song) (Jim Hannah) An excellent two-part round. It’s worth teaching it to your congregation so they can sing it with confidence and break into two parts. Alternately, you could have a small group sing it in canon with the rest of the congregation. Lyrics.
• ATE 216 / Iona (SBL) / CH126 / StJ / ELW555 / PH472 / G(II)365 / GC527 / RS 671 / CP417 / W&R15 / StF042 O sing to the Lord / Cantai ao Senhor / Cantad al Señor (Traditional Brazilian) A good, fun and simple song that is easy to learn in Portuguese or Spanish too; note that not all versions are inclusive. Sheet music samples.  Good for kids.
• Taizé / GC(II)533 Sing to God with joyful hearts / Singt dem Herrn (Jacques Berthier) A joyful round. Works well in English and German, and probably other languages too. Sound samples, sheet music and lyrics Good for kids.
• AoV1-071 / GA530 / GC(II)742 / G(3)837 / Lau462 Gather Your People (Bob Hurd) Excellent! Eucharistic theology. Sound sample and lyrics.
• Online Resource Sing with joy you Advent people! (David Wood) A lovely set of words for this Sunday, set to the tune for "Angels we have heard on high". This may satisfy people in your congregation who just can't wait until Christmas to sing a carol. Lyrics and PDF.
• GtG376 / Cha703 / URW133 When All is Ended (Brian Wren) Good words about the celebration of the new kingdom (wars ended, peace declared, compassion shown). Sung to the familiar tune SINE NOMINE or ENGELBERG or to a new tune (YOGANANDA). Lyrics & sheet music (YOGANANDA). Sound sample (to YOGANANDA) . New words to old tunes.  
• ACS926 Surely God is my salvation (Zebulon Highben) Set to a familiar Hasidic tune, this is fun. With a chorus "Shout aloud O daughter Zion", it's going to be catchy! Sheet music.  

Isaiah 12:2-6
More singing praises to God. Trust. See suggestions for Zephaniah reading above.

• Online Resource Our God is our wholeness (Richard Bruxvoort Colligan) Excellent new words about trusting in God, based on God's track record in salvation history. Sung to the tune of O Come All Ye Faithful. Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• NCH36 / PH219 To God compose a song of joy (Ruth Duck) “The God of Justice comes to save; let earth make melody; For God will judge with righteousness and rule with equity” Beautiful words. I prefer this sung to the tune in NCH – the standard hymn tune RICHMOND (TiS 425). Lyrics. New words to old tunes.
• Online resource Come with rejoicing (Richard Garland) Good words that cover themes in all the readings this week, sung to the well known tune BUNESSAN. Sheet music. New words to old tunes.
• NCH109 With joy draw water (Anne McKinstry) Good words based on this and another Isaiah Advent reading. Sung to a familiar Celtic tune (ST COLUMBA) this would not be difficult. A little formal. Lyrics and sound sample. New words to old tunes.
• Taizé / AoV2-109 / CH772 / GA429 / GtG654 / A&M334 / SFFS 2195 / G(II)396 / GC566 / GC(II)546 / G(3)639 / SP128 / URW381 / Lau944 / W&R448 In the Lord I'll Be Ever Thankful / El Senyor (Jacques Berthier) A joyful and bouncy Taize song. Works well in English, German and Spanish at least. Good for kids. Sheet music, translations into many other languages, sound samples.
• NCH107 / LBW633 / ELW242 / GtG107 / GC346 / GC(II)351 / G(3)423 / W&R160 / Cha138 / Lau157 Awake Awake and greet the new morn (Marty Haugen) Joyful song - a bit Christmassy, and very Northern hemispheric at this time of year! Lyrics and sheet music.
• ACS926 Surely God is my salvation (Zebulon Highben) Set to a familiar Hasidic tune, this is fun. With a chorus "Shout aloud O daughter Zion", it's going to be catchy! Sheet music. 
  
• AoVK-124 Shout to the Lord for joy all the earth (Nathaniel Ford) Fun three part song.  Sound sample. Good for kids.
• G(II)129 / GC148 / GC(II)81 / Lau399 Cry out with joy and gladness / With Joy you shall draw water (Marty Haugen) A nice arrangement of this reading. The tune is really similar to "Let us build a house", so maybe it would be confusing? It's very straightforward to sing. Lyrics, sheet music sample, sound sample.
• TiS 545 / Iona (LFB) / CH676 / VU482 / StF598 Shout for joy! The Lord has let us feast (John Bell) Particularly appropriate if you are celebrating communion. Energetic and quite simple to sing. Lyrics.
• MV222 May the peace of God be your peace (Neil McLaren) A lovely benediction. Will need to be taught first. Lyrics.
• AoV1-072 / GA341 / A&M191 / SP74 / Lau692 We Shall Draw Water (Paul Inwood) Cantor and congregational refrain. Quite nice. Youtube sound sample.
• ATW 435 Like the woman of old / Wellsprings (Don Stewart) A favourite song in our congregation about going to the "Wellsprings of life" and finding Jesus there. Picks up themes of tiredness, broken hearts and weariness, but makes the point that it's worth the effort. It's not specifically related to this reading, but would probably work quite well. Sound sample.
  

Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice, be gentle, God's near, don't worry, bring your worries to God and peace will come.

• UMH729 / VU682 / LBW161 / WoV762 / ELW711 / GtG373 / PH450 / CP573 / W&R539 / Cha711 / URW140 / 82Hml-597 O day of peace that dimly shines (Carl Daw) A song of hoped-for peace. The tune in Chalice hymnal is really nice (CANDLER) or O WALY WALY which is used in URW. Other sources use JERUSALEM, which is a bit too militaristic for me. Lyrics and JERUSALEM sheet music.  New words to old tunes.  
• STB289 / Sing with the World Now I know by God's own grace / Ey lou nis (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! “Now I know by God’s own grace all of you are the children of God. So with hope go out in peace, bring good news to all people on earth." Sound sample.
• Here in this place May we love goodness and give praise (Helen Wiltshire) Lovely words for the end of the service. Sung to the tune OMBERSLEY, but will also work with TALLIS CAROL. Lyrics here. New words to old tunes.
• Unknown source Alleluia, the great storm is over (Bob Franke) lift up your wings and fly! I especially love the image of the infant sleeping while the mother sang until the bridegroom returned. The chorus is really catchy and very easy to sing. If not familiar, you can use a cantor or soloist for the verses and invite the congregation to join in the chorus. We tend to sing this more like a gospel anthem. Lyrics. Video with poor image but good sound.
• Taizé / TiS 739 / AoV2-041 / ATOK 404 / VU290 / GA269 / SFFS 2054 / GtG820 / G(II)451 / GC639 / GC(II)626 / G(3)733 / CP568 / W&R421 / URW388 / Lau947 / LUYH444/ VF088 Nothing Can Trouble / Nada te turbe (Theresa of Avila / Taizé) Excellent and quite well known Taizé chant. Spanish lyrics are not too hard for non-Spanish speakers. Sheet music, sound samples, lyrics and translations. Good for kids.
• Recorded music If this thing should spill (Born in the Flood) A plea for peace to dwell in us and overflow. Sounds kind of like U2. Lyrics. Slideshow (with sound sample and lyrics).
• Online Resource / Walk as One I can do all things (Maratja Dhamarraṉdji) This song is based on Philippians 4:13, which never appears in the Lectionary, so I am listing it here anyway. It is very simple, catchy, and can be sung in English, Djambarrpuyŋu or Kriol. Good for kids. Book (PDF) available for purchase.
  
• 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…" Good for kids and teenagers. Lyrics and sheet music. Sound sample.
• Taizé / AoV2-109 / CH772 / GA429 / GtG654 / A&M334 / SFFS 2195 / G(II)396 / GC566 / GC(II)546 / G(3)639 / SP128 / URW381 / Lau944 / W&R448 / StF776 / MP865 In the Lord I'll Be Ever Thankful / El Senyor (Jacques Berthier) A joyful and bouncy short song. Works well in English, German and Spanish at least. Good for kids. Sheet music, translations into many other languages, sound samples.
• AoVK-75 / VU249 / SLW010 / HPP397 / W&R650 / MP577 Rejoice in the Lord Always and again I say rejoice (Unknown) This is a fun Sunday School-type song, that also works as a round. I used to love this, and I'll admit that I still think it's fun; we used to stand up and sit down a lot in this for fun. Note that the tune varies between sources. Cute kids singing. Good for kids.Oldy-but-a-goody.
• 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. Scottish sound sample. Lead sheet.
• ATW 485 Praying in the morning (Treagus) Good song for kids about praying all the time. Good for kids.
• AoV1-106 / UMH376 / WoV774 / ELW753 / GtG752 / G(II)528 / GC730 / GC(II)724 / G(3)822 / CP562 /  Cha297 / URW443 / 82Hml-712 / Lau904 Dona Nobis Pacem (American folk song) This is very well known, and would fit well with this reading. Sound sample, lyrics and sheet music. Good for kids. Oldy-but-a-goody.
• Taizé / TiS 713 / Cha296 Dona nobis pacem domine / cordium (Jacques Berthier) A more solemn chant. Youtube.
• 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 Taize chant; some sources have cantor lines, and some older sources are not inclusive. Sheet music, translations and sound samples.
• Singing the Journey (Douglas Simper) In times of joy God is near (Gregory McConnell / Douglas Simper) A simple flowing song about God being near in all of life. Book available here.

Luke 3:7-18
John preaches it! Reprimands everyone and then tells them how they should live right.

• Online Resource / AoVK-50 / ATW 430 Come let us praise our God / A voice is heard (Trisha Watts) Excellent and energetic. Sound sample, sheet music for purchase. Good for kids. 
• Online Resource In these times (Marty Haugen) This is not specifically an Advent song, but when I hear John saying telling his listeners that their ancestry does not give them special rights, I think about those people in my country who do not want to welcome the poor and the stranger. This is a song I think John might be singing in Australia, and probably elsewhere in the world, today. Sound sample & info.
• Online Resource / GWA091 Centuries of waiting / The Angels Say (Margaret McLarty / Stephen Fischbacher / Suzanne Butler) A fun song, with lots of verses and a stirring chorus. You could just choose the one with Zechariah in it for this week. I would make the verses alternating between a cantor and chorus, just like this recording, as the first and third lines are a little tricky in meter. It doesn't have to sound like a kid's song as it does in the video. Lyric video and purchasing options. Good for kids.
• Online Resource / 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. Sound sample and Spanish lyrics. Sheet music sample and purchasing options.
  
• TiS 263 / CH607 The bright wind is blowing the bright wind of heaven (Cecily Taylor) Excellent words of the changes brought about by a "bright wind" that blows away the chaff of our hating, and fans the flames of love.  Joyful tune. Sound sample.
  
• StS008 / SFFS 2089 / GtG163 / PH409 / StF189 Wild and Lone the Prophet's Voice (Carl Daw) Excellent, challenging words. I prefer this sung to ABERYSTWYTH which is well known and easily accessible. Lyrics and sheet music. New words to old tunes.
• Tune In / Online Resource Dare to Dream (Elaine Loukes) A great song about having a vision for the future, being lead by the light of Bethlehem’s star. Free downloadable songbook, sound samples. 
• TiS 270 / AHB 199 / NCH115 / CH334 / VU20 / LBW548 / ELW842 / A&M046 / GtG096 / PH010 / G(II)260 / GC321 / 322 / GC(II)344 / G(3)418 / CP103 / CP(E) 34 / W&R156 / 82Hml-076 / Lau094 / StF182 / MP538 On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry (Charles Coffin) If you would like inclusive lyrics, have a look at the New Century Hymnal’s version. If you’d like a groovy tune, check out AHB 199(ii) / GC322 – ST JOHN BAPTIST by Gary Lewis Miles and Betty Pulkingham. This is an excellent, fun tune. You can even combine the words of NCH115 with AHB199(ii) for the best of both worlds. But WINCHESTER NEW is also very good, and easy to sing if you don’t have a congregation full of people who grew up in the 60s and 70s. Lyrics and sheet music.Oldy-but-a-goody.
• STB158 In the dawn of the morn / No ni idete (Masuko Endo) This is a beautiful Japanese perspective, and would be best sung by a soloist. Lyrics in English or Japanese. 
• ACS904 / TiS 688 Come to be our hope O Jesus / Tú Jesús, nuestra esperanza (Jaci Marachin) This is a really fun Latin American song from the World Council of Churches Assembly in Canberra. It's not easy the first time, but once you've heard it, it's very catchy. The words are really excellent, despite a slightly clunky translation. It would be worth teaching to your congregation! We sang this a couple of times during Advent. Sound sample with a great guitar line. Here's another quite different version. Good for kids.
• MV155 Unbounded spirit breath of God (Brian Wren) Good solid words of commitment to faith and work; a communal song. Simple hymnlike tune. Sheet music and lyrics.
  

Got any ideas of your own for any of these readings? Please add them in the comments below!  

 

Updated in 2024 in Kanpur, India.